Status
Checked out
Due 19 Feb 2023
Series
Description
"Kevin Kwan, bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians, is back with a wickedly funny new novel of social climbing, secret e-mails, art-world scandal, lovesick billionaires, and the outrageous story of what happens when Rachel Chu, engaged to marry Asia's most eligible bachelor, discovers her birthfather. On the eve of her wedding to Nicholas Young, heir to one of the greatest fortunes in Asia, Rachel should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond from JAR, a wedding dress she loves more than anything found in the salons of Paris, and a fiance willing to sacrifice his entire inheritance in order to marry her. But Rachel still mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won't be able to walk her down the aisle. Until: a shocking revelation draws Rachel into a world of Shanghai splendor beyond anything she has ever imagined. Here we meet Carlton, a Ferrari-crashing bad boy known for Prince Harry-like antics; Colette, a celebrity girlfriend chased by fevered paparazzi; and the man Rachel has spent her entire life waiting to meet: her father. Meanwhile, Singapore's It Girl, Astrid Leong, is shocked to discover that there is a downside to having a newly minted tech billionaire husband. A romp through Asia's most exclusive clubs, auction houses, and estates, China Rich Girlfriend brings us into the elite circles of Mainland China, introducing a captivating cast of characters, and offering an inside glimpse at what it's like to be gloriously, crazily, China-rich"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member melissarochelle
Read from April 23 to 29, 2015
I didn't think Crazy Rich Asians needed a follow-up novel, but apparently there was more to learn about how much money is spent by the filthy rich Chinese on the absurd and incredible. Shopping sprees in Paris, extravagant private jets, super fancy sports cars, wearing
Fun books and I do hope there's at least one more so we can see (maybe) the next phase in Nick & Rachel's relationship. After all...first comes love, second comes marriage, then...you know there's that baby carriage. Maybe that will soften Ah Ma's cold, rich heart.
I didn't think Crazy Rich Asians needed a follow-up novel, but apparently there was more to learn about how much money is spent by the filthy rich Chinese on the absurd and incredible. Shopping sprees in Paris, extravagant private jets, super fancy sports cars, wearing
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next season this season. There's also the American Born Chinese, Rachel, who provides a nice break away from the insanely wealthy. I mean, these books are awesomely fun. They're perfect for fans of the Shopaholic series but you don't have to deal with Becky's angsty money problems because these folks just don't have any! Fun books and I do hope there's at least one more so we can see (maybe) the next phase in Nick & Rachel's relationship. After all...first comes love, second comes marriage, then...you know there's that baby carriage. Maybe that will soften Ah Ma's cold, rich heart.
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LibraryThing member norabelle414
When Eddie Cheng introduces his aunt Eleanor to his banking client Bao Shaoyen, he thinks he's just getting two old ladies off his back. But then Mrs. Bao shows Eleanor a photo of her son and everything changes - he looks exactly like Eleanor's soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Rachel Chu. Mrs. Bao's
Is it possible this book is even better than the first?? This one has a little bit more of a plot, and some intrigue and a mystery toward the end. Most of the characters that did not work well in the first book are absent, and there is plenty of Astrid and Eddie. Nick and Rachel's relationship is more fleshed out. Kitty Pong makes a triumphant return and it is delightful. I really loved her plotline of an Eliza Doolittle-esque social makeover, and then her just saying "fuck it!" in the end . I hope she and Rachel spend some time together in the next book because I think they would really like each other. Carlton and Colette are great characters as well. My only complaint is that this book could have used a dramatis personae or a family tree, like the first book had. It's hard to keep track of all the characters! But really fantastic all around. I'm ready for the next one!
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husband is Rachel's long-lost father! Rachel and Nick, newly wed, return to Asia so that Rachel can spend time with her newfound father and half-brother. This time they are headed to Shanghai and Hong Kong, where they rub elbows with the Chinese nouveau riche - as polar opposite to Nick's Singaporean family as two groups of ridiculously rich people could be. Meanwhile, Kitty Pong, former soap opera star, suspected former porn star, now wife of Nick's obnoxious bro friend Bernard Tai, has enough money to buy anything she wants in the world except for one little thing - respect. So she sets out on a quest to rebrand herself as Mrs. Katherine Tai.Is it possible this book is even better than the first?? This one has a little bit more of a plot, and some intrigue and a mystery toward the end. Most of the characters that did not work well in the first book are absent, and there is plenty of Astrid and Eddie. Nick and Rachel's relationship is more fleshed out. Kitty Pong makes a triumphant return and it is delightful. I really loved her plotline of
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LibraryThing member Nickelini
Shallow. Boring. Badly written. Terrible dialogue. No plot. No ending. Too many characters. Too many tedious descriptions of the brands characters were using, wearing, living in. Too many pages (almost 500!). But I made myself finish this utter drek.
It's supposed to be satire, and the cover blurb
The most annoying thing was that every time I picked it up, I had to flip back a few pages because I could never remember what was going on and who these characters even were. There was a character list in the front of the book, but it only listed about half the characters in the novel. I had to keep checking it until the end.
A nice break with a fluffy novel can be therapeutic, but this one was just crap.
Why I Read This Now: Book club. I will be making my opinions known. I can't believe I spent over 2 weeks on this garbage.
Recommended for: creative writing teachers to use as an example of what not to write. Others looking to read some lifestyles of the rich and famous should just dig out a Jackie Collins novel from the 80s.
It's supposed to be satire, and the cover blurb
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says "Snarky . . . wicked . . . funny" (NYT). I could see the author attempting humour but it didn't even make me smile. The most annoying thing was that every time I picked it up, I had to flip back a few pages because I could never remember what was going on and who these characters even were. There was a character list in the front of the book, but it only listed about half the characters in the novel. I had to keep checking it until the end.
A nice break with a fluffy novel can be therapeutic, but this one was just crap.
Why I Read This Now: Book club. I will be making my opinions known. I can't believe I spent over 2 weeks on this garbage.
Recommended for: creative writing teachers to use as an example of what not to write. Others looking to read some lifestyles of the rich and famous should just dig out a Jackie Collins novel from the 80s.
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LibraryThing member lexxa83
Pretty much hated this book. If it is based on real life, it is one of the saddest things I have read in a long time. I cant imagine anyone living even remotely close to the lifestyles in the book. I get that the are supposedly the "crazy rich" but based on the characterization I could only
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conclude that they were more just plain "crazy." Therefore I detested the characters, could't even identify a plot, and wondered what portion of the book was supposed to be snarky and tongue in cheek in any recognizable way. I honestly have no idea who might enjoy this book, and as such would never recommend anyone waste their time reading it. Show Less
LibraryThing member mcelhra
China Rich Girlfriend picks up about two and half years after Crazy Rich Asians ended. Nick and Rachel are finally getting married, assuming Nick’s meddling mother will stay out of the way. They are also searching for Rachel’s birth father, which brings them to Mainland China. If you though the
In addition to catching up with Rachel and Nick, we also get to see what Michael and Astrid and Kitty and Bernard have been up to. A whole new cast of characters who live in China and Hong Kong are introduced as well. My favorite new character is Corinna, a consultant who helps new money Asians integrate into the billionaire class. She teaches them how to act and dress refined and lets them in on insider information like which hotel is the right one in which to have high tea and that one refers to the Mandarin Oriental hotel as simply “the Mandarin”. I think the funniest part of this book is the memo she sends to a new client outlining everything she must to do fit in with the ultra-wealthy. She gives her a reading list with books like Pride and Prejudice and Anna Karenina on it. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is on the list but crossed out! I’m going to assume that means that Kwan thinks Franzen is as big of an ass as I do.
As always, I must point out any references to Unitarian Universalism since they are quite rare in popular culture. In this book, a character says, “I didn’t really care for that we-are-all-nature Unitarian minister.” So funny!
I didn’t think this book was quite as good as Crazy Rich Asians but I still liked it a lot. Kwan uses footnotes in this book in the same way he did in Crazy Rich Asians. They are informative but also sometimes so droll I was laughing out loud. If you enjoy comedies of manners and laughing, this book is for you. Kwan has said he originally planned Crazy Rich Asians to be the first book in a trilogy. I hope he sticks to his plan because I want to visit these characters again.
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ultra wealthy class of Singapore in Crazy Rich Asians was over the top outrageous, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet! China is all about new money billionaires who have it and want to flaunt it unlike the discreet rich in Singapore. As unfathomable as some of the things the billionaires in this book do, they are actually true to life. Kwan spent time in China researching this book. He has said that he actually had to tone some of the crazy things the wealthy do because even though they actually happened, they would not be believable to the reader.In addition to catching up with Rachel and Nick, we also get to see what Michael and Astrid and Kitty and Bernard have been up to. A whole new cast of characters who live in China and Hong Kong are introduced as well. My favorite new character is Corinna, a consultant who helps new money Asians integrate into the billionaire class. She teaches them how to act and dress refined and lets them in on insider information like which hotel is the right one in which to have high tea and that one refers to the Mandarin Oriental hotel as simply “the Mandarin”. I think the funniest part of this book is the memo she sends to a new client outlining everything she must to do fit in with the ultra-wealthy. She gives her a reading list with books like Pride and Prejudice and Anna Karenina on it. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is on the list but crossed out! I’m going to assume that means that Kwan thinks Franzen is as big of an ass as I do.
As always, I must point out any references to Unitarian Universalism since they are quite rare in popular culture. In this book, a character says, “I didn’t really care for that we-are-all-nature Unitarian minister.” So funny!
I didn’t think this book was quite as good as Crazy Rich Asians but I still liked it a lot. Kwan uses footnotes in this book in the same way he did in Crazy Rich Asians. They are informative but also sometimes so droll I was laughing out loud. If you enjoy comedies of manners and laughing, this book is for you. Kwan has said he originally planned Crazy Rich Asians to be the first book in a trilogy. I hope he sticks to his plan because I want to visit these characters again.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
Note: This review may contain spoilers for Crazy Rich Asians.
Nick and Rachel, after all the hurdles, are finally getting married. But in the last few days before the wedding, Rachel's father suddenly emerges and much to everyone's surprise turns out to be a high-ranking official in China. As part
As with the previous novel in this series, I was again surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. Filled with a wide cast of characters, most of whom are obscenely rich and who have an entirely skewed perception of morality and reality, it remains fascinating reading. While almost none of the characters really grow or change, the plot propels everything along at a wonderful clip and leaves you compelled to understand the various machinations of many of the characters that surround our central pair of Nick and Rachel. There's also the luscious descriptions of places, food, and fashions that while occasionally overwhelming give a true sense of place. And there's often a hint of snarky humour either in the text of the novel itself or in the footnotes sprinkled liberally throughout. If you enjoyed the first novel, you'll want to pick up this one.
Nick and Rachel, after all the hurdles, are finally getting married. But in the last few days before the wedding, Rachel's father suddenly emerges and much to everyone's surprise turns out to be a high-ranking official in China. As part
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of their honeymoon, the newlyweds go to visit Rachel's father and to meet the rest of her newly discovered family. But as with their previous trip to Asia, hazards lurk that neither of them expected.As with the previous novel in this series, I was again surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. Filled with a wide cast of characters, most of whom are obscenely rich and who have an entirely skewed perception of morality and reality, it remains fascinating reading. While almost none of the characters really grow or change, the plot propels everything along at a wonderful clip and leaves you compelled to understand the various machinations of many of the characters that surround our central pair of Nick and Rachel. There's also the luscious descriptions of places, food, and fashions that while occasionally overwhelming give a true sense of place. And there's often a hint of snarky humour either in the text of the novel itself or in the footnotes sprinkled liberally throughout. If you enjoyed the first novel, you'll want to pick up this one.
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LibraryThing member BrandieC
3.5 stars
I requested an ARC of China Rich Girlfriend because I saw that it was written by the "bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians." When I started reading China Rich Girlfriend, I realized that I had confused Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians with Mohsin Hamid's How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising
". . . Eleanor, discreetly dressed in a chic camel-colored Akris pantsuit, racing green MaxMara swing coat, and her signature gold-rimmed Cutler and Gross sunglasses [fn] . . .
[fn] Eleanor, who normally didn't wear pricey designer clothes and made a point of bragging that she "started getting brand-name fatigue back in the seventies," kept a few choice pieces reserved specifically for special occasions like today."
Now imagine 130 pages of that. I almost gave up.
I continued reading, however, and discovered that Kwan can be a decent writer when he focuses on his characters and their relationships, rather than their clothes. I enjoyed reading about the complex social hierarchies; I thought the Deep South was bad enough, but it's got nothing on the staggeringly rich society of Hong Kong and Shanghai. The chapter entitled "Social Impact Assessment," in which a consultant advises a nouveau riche bride on how to alter all aspects of her appearance and life to fit in with Hong Kong society is particularly funny; who knew (other than Kwan, apparently) that the appropriate uniform for domestic helpers is a navy blouse and white cotton slacks from J. Crew? I could have used a few family tree diagrams to keep everyone straight, but even without them, China Rich Girlfriend ended up being a light piece of chick lit fluff, good for a read on the beach.
I received a free copy of China Rich Girlfriend through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I requested an ARC of China Rich Girlfriend because I saw that it was written by the "bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians." When I started reading China Rich Girlfriend, I realized that I had confused Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians with Mohsin Hamid's How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising
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Asia, a 2014 Tournament of Books contender which I found shallow, but amusing. (Give me a break; they both have "Rich" and "Asia" in their titles.) Part One of China Rich Girlfriend is just shallow, with a ridiculous amount of brand-name-dropping and irritating footnotes. Here's a representative example from the Prologue:". . . Eleanor, discreetly dressed in a chic camel-colored Akris pantsuit, racing green MaxMara swing coat, and her signature gold-rimmed Cutler and Gross sunglasses [fn] . . .
[fn] Eleanor, who normally didn't wear pricey designer clothes and made a point of bragging that she "started getting brand-name fatigue back in the seventies," kept a few choice pieces reserved specifically for special occasions like today."
Now imagine 130 pages of that. I almost gave up.
I continued reading, however, and discovered that Kwan can be a decent writer when he focuses on his characters and their relationships, rather than their clothes. I enjoyed reading about the complex social hierarchies; I thought the Deep South was bad enough, but it's got nothing on the staggeringly rich society of Hong Kong and Shanghai. The chapter entitled "Social Impact Assessment," in which a consultant advises a nouveau riche bride on how to alter all aspects of her appearance and life to fit in with Hong Kong society is particularly funny; who knew (other than Kwan, apparently) that the appropriate uniform for domestic helpers is a navy blouse and white cotton slacks from J. Crew? I could have used a few family tree diagrams to keep everyone straight, but even without them, China Rich Girlfriend ended up being a light piece of chick lit fluff, good for a read on the beach.
I received a free copy of China Rich Girlfriend through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member dcoward
Absolutely delightful social satire. Such a fun read.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Such a book of fantasy. It is really fun reading about very rich billionaires. Surprising it also has a message. Lots of people and hard to get straight. Missed the grandmother.
LibraryThing member Writermala
It is not surprising that Kevin Kwan's debut novel Crazy Rich Asians is being made to a movie. This book which is somewhat of a sequel is also hilarious. All the characters are "Weapons of Mass Consumption," and this makes for entertaining reading. The incidents highlighting obscenely rich
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purchases are interspersed with a story with all the mystery resolved at the end. Good lighthearted fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member flourgirl49
Entertaining read about the extremely rich people - young and old - in Hong King and Singapore. These are the continuing adventures of the people first introduced in "Crazy Rich Asians." Enjoyable.
LibraryThing member BillieBook
I LOVED 'Crazy Rich Asians' and didn't quite realize this was a direct sequel until I started reading, at which point I became extremely happy. I love Rachel and Nick, who are kind of the calm, normal center of this whirlwind world of over-the-top everything. Not only did we get to catch up with
And, no, you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this--you just have to be able to embrace insanity.
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our favorite crazy-rich Asians (or is that crazy, rich Asians) from the previous book, but we got a whole new group of characters who embrace all that is outrageous and excessive. Though this volume is darker than the first, it's still a perfect vacation read. Poolside cabana umbrella drinks a Kevin Kwan novel = a perfect afternoon.And, no, you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this--you just have to be able to embrace insanity.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Rachel and Nick are finally getting married. Rachel wishes she had been able to locate her biological father before the wedding, but she has no doubts about marrying Nick, no matter what crazy stuff happened a couple years ago, when they visited his family in Singapore. Then, during the wedding
I loved Crazy Rich Asians when I read it last year, so picking up this sequel was a no-brainer. I found it just as much fun as its predecessor. The shenanigans of the obscenely rich continue to amuse.
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rehearsal, Nick’s estranged mother flies in to tell them that she has located Rachel’s father. He’s a prominent politician in mainland China, and he’s very interested in establishing a relationship with Rachel (his wife, less so). Rachel and Nick adjust their honeymoon plans to include an extended visit to China — but will this visit to Asia be less fraught with drama than their last trip?I loved Crazy Rich Asians when I read it last year, so picking up this sequel was a no-brainer. I found it just as much fun as its predecessor. The shenanigans of the obscenely rich continue to amuse.
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LibraryThing member mpvu
Didn't like this 2nd book in the Crazy Rich Asians series as much as the first - the drama didn't pack as much of a punch and the characters' motives seemed a little shaky at times. I enjoyed the developments in the Astrid story arc the best, by far. There's a till plenty of lavishly outrageous
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descriptions, one of the trademarks of the series that I can't get enough of! Show Less
LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
Rachel & Nick are about to get married when Nick's unwanted & uninvited mother crashes the wedding in a helicopter..... Eleanor Young has news of Rachel's father.
Rachel & Nick go to Hong Kong to meet her new family, but at the last minute they push Rachel & Nick off into a swanky hotel. The
In Paris things spiral out of control: Collette publicly refuses her father's choice of suitor's very public marriage proposal & things become even crazier.
In China, former porn star Kitty Poon, now Katherine Tai is taken on by Corrinne Tung (see Fiona Tung in book 1) and is schooled into an acceptably social social position.
Astrid is still friends w/ Charlie as life w/ her husband Michael spiral out of control.
Rachel is poisoned, while in the hospital she is sent a note (intercepted by Nick) telling her to Get out of China & Never Return... ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
These people are no different that early 1900's New York Society, nor the Society of 1800's England, nor the rich fugly people of the 1% & High Society of the 21st century. ... FUGLY Emotionally & Ethically Bankrupt people all trying to do their best to upstage one another.... Just like a bucket of crabs; all trying to crawl out, but being grabbed & pulled back down by those below them.
With the exception of Nick, Rachel, Astrid, Charlie, Carlton & Rachel's friend Peik Lin, very few of the characters have redeeming qualities...
If I had written this book I'd have called it: "Rich Sociopathic Asians"
Rachel & Nick go to Hong Kong to meet her new family, but at the last minute they push Rachel & Nick off into a swanky hotel. The
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newlywed couple take up w/ Rachel's 1/2 brother Carlton, his girlfriend Collette & her entourage and they all whirl away to Paris.....In Paris things spiral out of control: Collette publicly refuses her father's choice of suitor's very public marriage proposal & things become even crazier.
In China, former porn star Kitty Poon, now Katherine Tai is taken on by Corrinne Tung (see Fiona Tung in book 1) and is schooled into an acceptably social social position.
Astrid is still friends w/ Charlie as life w/ her husband Michael spiral out of control.
Rachel is poisoned, while in the hospital she is sent a note (intercepted by Nick) telling her to Get out of China & Never Return... ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
These people are no different that early 1900's New York Society, nor the Society of 1800's England, nor the rich fugly people of the 1% & High Society of the 21st century. ... FUGLY Emotionally & Ethically Bankrupt people all trying to do their best to upstage one another.... Just like a bucket of crabs; all trying to crawl out, but being grabbed & pulled back down by those below them.
With the exception of Nick, Rachel, Astrid, Charlie, Carlton & Rachel's friend Peik Lin, very few of the characters have redeeming qualities...
If I had written this book I'd have called it: "Rich Sociopathic Asians"
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
All the footnote snark and fun of Crazy Rich Asians, but the story wasn't quite as engaging, and after being submerged in the China Rich in CRA, one grows a little weary of the billionaire lifestyle. The food descriptions made what asian food we have here in Charleston seem rather sad.
LibraryThing member Gingermama
While this is definitely a fun, breezy read about the super-rich in Shanghai, it also has a compelling story. The majority of the characters live very differently from most of us, but they still have problems you'll relate to (trouble with parents, kids, significant others, etc.). Book two in a
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trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the final installment to see how the author wraps up the multiple plot lines. Show Less
LibraryThing member jovemako
I read this out of curiosity. There is a plot in there, you just have to dig for it a little. Otherwise, on the surface it reads like E! segment/column.
LibraryThing member anissaannalise
I didn't enjoy this as much nor blaze through this one like I did Crazy Rich Asians. There wasn't a lot of momentum or plot but there were a ton more characters and name brands to add to the fizz. The Kitty thread was just okay but probably because I didn't think she was that important or
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compelling in the first book. Climbers gonna climb. *shrug* I think this had the all too common "middle book syndrome". All I really cared about were Astrid, Rachel & Nicholas and whether or not his grandmother had decided not to disinherit him for marrying low afterall. Perhaps that'll be covered in the next book because of course I plan on reading it. It's still frothy but I didn't think this one was as much fun as the first. Neutral on recommend unless you're a die-hard fan of the series but I quite feel I could have skipped this one, read the last & been perfectly satisfied. Show Less
LibraryThing member ASKelmore
Best for: People who enjoyed the first in this series (Crazy Rich Asians)
In a nutshell: We follow many of the original characters — and a few new ones — in this second book in the trilogy.
Worth quoting: N/A
Why I chose it:
I bought this at the same time as I bought China Rich Girlfriend because I
Review: (Spoilers below)
I feel like I’m reading an amazing soap-opera, and I continue to thoroughly enjoy it. Yes, it’s all over-the-top and ridiculous. Yes, some of the characters are horrible and unlikeable, but I appreciate how many of them are changing over the course of the two novels.
Before I get too far into this review, I want to say how much I appreciated that Mr. Kwan played around a little with the formatting of the chapters this go round. We still get different point of view chapters, but we also have some chapters that consists solely of emails, or diary entries, or text messages. One is even the instructions offered by a super-fancy life coach (I’m sure she’d cringe at that description of her role, but eh, that’s what she is in my view) to someone who is desperate to be accepted.
Okay, so the content of the book. As I said above, I like the evolution of the different characters. We see some parents taking dramatic steps related to their children. We see some formerly humble folks turn into nightmares, and some nightmares humble themselves. Estrangements still exist in some areas, but in others they get resolved.
From a storytelling perspective, I appreciate that the will they / won’t they of Nick and Rachel is handled quickly, and their wedding happens in the first third of the book. I also enjoyed most of the handling of Rachel’s relationship with her father and brother. I do think Rachel could bee built out more, but at the same time, it’s nice to have a character who isn’t completely beyond reasonableness. She is an economics professor; she’s a smart woman who doesn’t seem interested in drama. While I LOVE reading about drama, I wouldn’t enjoy it happening to me, so I like that she mostly rolls with things, and then occasionally, when appropriate, says exactly what needs to be said, regardless of the ‘appropriateness’ of it from the perspective of many of these extremely rich families.
Like I said, I’m still enjoying these books. I read the last few pages of this one while on the bus to pick up the final one, and I started it as soon as I walked out of the book shop. I’ll go back to my dense non-fiction books next week, but for now I’m loving spending some time in this world.
In a nutshell: We follow many of the original characters — and a few new ones — in this second book in the trilogy.
Worth quoting: N/A
Why I chose it:
I bought this at the same time as I bought China Rich Girlfriend because I
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figured I was going to like that and would want to start the sequel immediately.Review: (Spoilers below)
I feel like I’m reading an amazing soap-opera, and I continue to thoroughly enjoy it. Yes, it’s all over-the-top and ridiculous. Yes, some of the characters are horrible and unlikeable, but I appreciate how many of them are changing over the course of the two novels.
Before I get too far into this review, I want to say how much I appreciated that Mr. Kwan played around a little with the formatting of the chapters this go round. We still get different point of view chapters, but we also have some chapters that consists solely of emails, or diary entries, or text messages. One is even the instructions offered by a super-fancy life coach (I’m sure she’d cringe at that description of her role, but eh, that’s what she is in my view) to someone who is desperate to be accepted.
Okay, so the content of the book. As I said above, I like the evolution of the different characters. We see some parents taking dramatic steps related to their children. We see some formerly humble folks turn into nightmares, and some nightmares humble themselves. Estrangements still exist in some areas, but in others they get resolved.
From a storytelling perspective, I appreciate that the will they / won’t they of Nick and Rachel is handled quickly, and their wedding happens in the first third of the book. I also enjoyed most of the handling of Rachel’s relationship with her father and brother. I do think Rachel could bee built out more, but at the same time, it’s nice to have a character who isn’t completely beyond reasonableness. She is an economics professor; she’s a smart woman who doesn’t seem interested in drama. While I LOVE reading about drama, I wouldn’t enjoy it happening to me, so I like that she mostly rolls with things, and then occasionally, when appropriate, says exactly what needs to be said, regardless of the ‘appropriateness’ of it from the perspective of many of these extremely rich families.
Like I said, I’m still enjoying these books. I read the last few pages of this one while on the bus to pick up the final one, and I started it as soon as I walked out of the book shop. I’ll go back to my dense non-fiction books next week, but for now I’m loving spending some time in this world.
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LibraryThing member briandrewz
Another good weekend read. This installment in the Crazy Rich Asians series had some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments. The jaw drops repeatedly as you read the lengths these characters will go to achieve their own ends with absolutely no regard for anyone else. All our favorites are back: Nick,
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Rachel, Astrid, etc. Along with some ones that both repulse and endear. This is a fun series to read between more serious books. Sort of a palate cleanser, if you will. Show Less
LibraryThing member BraveNewBks
Just as fun and enjoyable as the first, but didn't quite have the same ring of authenticity and quasi-anthropological investigation that made the first one feel like something more serious than a Sophie Kinsella or Jacqueline Susann novel.
I also noticed that when Kevin Kwan has a male character
I also noticed that when Kevin Kwan has a male character
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muse on his falling in love with a female character, those musings are pretty limited to her physical attributes. It happened in the first one, too, but now it feels like a pattern--an annoying and vaguely insulting pattern. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan is a 2015 Doubleday publication.
Another outstanding installment in this wildly entertaining series!
As the story opens, a couple of years have passed since our initial introduction to these “Crazy Rich Asians”.
Nick and Rachel are on the cusp of getting
Astrid’s husband's company has seen unprecedented success, putting him on equal footing with his wife, but the success, power, and money have brought out an unpleasant side of his personality.
The story also prominently features Rachel’s father, his wife, and their son, Carlton, who is recovering from a near fatal car accident.
I was totally, and quite pleasantly, surprised by how much I enjoyed ‘Crazy Rich Asians”. I couldn’t wait to dive in to this second installment, but my excitement was slightly muted when I noticed several readers saying this one wasn’t as good as the first book. I had a slightly ‘let down’ feeling, but was determined to keep an open mind.
Curiously, I found this book to be every bit as enjoyable as the first- maybe even more so. There was one part, in particular, where I literally guffawed. In fact, every time I think about it, I get cracked up all over again.
This series is a guilty pleasure, a Fashionista’s dream, full of snippy dialogue, backstabbing, manipulations and snobbery. But, it’s also a family drama/saga, packed with cultural duties and expectations, generational conflicts, alliances, love stories, and friendships.
Again, there is much to learn culturally, which was as fascinating as it was informative… and often very funny.
I’m super excited about reading ‘Rich People Problems’, which I already have queued up and ready to go. Stay tuned!
4 stars
Another outstanding installment in this wildly entertaining series!
As the story opens, a couple of years have passed since our initial introduction to these “Crazy Rich Asians”.
Nick and Rachel are on the cusp of getting
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married, but Eleanor is still meddling and Rachel is still hoping to locate her long, lost father. Astrid’s husband's company has seen unprecedented success, putting him on equal footing with his wife, but the success, power, and money have brought out an unpleasant side of his personality.
The story also prominently features Rachel’s father, his wife, and their son, Carlton, who is recovering from a near fatal car accident.
I was totally, and quite pleasantly, surprised by how much I enjoyed ‘Crazy Rich Asians”. I couldn’t wait to dive in to this second installment, but my excitement was slightly muted when I noticed several readers saying this one wasn’t as good as the first book. I had a slightly ‘let down’ feeling, but was determined to keep an open mind.
Curiously, I found this book to be every bit as enjoyable as the first- maybe even more so. There was one part, in particular, where I literally guffawed. In fact, every time I think about it, I get cracked up all over again.
This series is a guilty pleasure, a Fashionista’s dream, full of snippy dialogue, backstabbing, manipulations and snobbery. But, it’s also a family drama/saga, packed with cultural duties and expectations, generational conflicts, alliances, love stories, and friendships.
Again, there is much to learn culturally, which was as fascinating as it was informative… and often very funny.
I’m super excited about reading ‘Rich People Problems’, which I already have queued up and ready to go. Stay tuned!
4 stars
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LibraryThing member secondhandrose
I really enjoy this series and can't wait to get my hands on the third and final instalment.
LibraryThing member bblum
2nd snarky book in a trilogy, lots of fun to read on a hot smokey day. Same Singapore group with new twists. Rachel and Nick's relationship is strong and the Singapore group is beginning to recognize that she is more than an ABC (Chinese born American) she has a well placed father in Beijing. The
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money just keeps rolling around. Oh to be rich but not like these people. New plot twist is Collette, an Internet fashionista and trend setter. She has to take a picture every hour of her doings to satisfy her 5 million Chinese followers. Crazy Rich Chinese! Show Less