Crazy Rich Asians
When Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American economics professor, is invited by her boyfriend Nick Young to visit Singapore and meet his family, she hesitantly accepts. Her first clues that all is not what seems about her mild-mannered beau: their flight's swanky first-class cabin and the fact that his grandmother's home is a sprawling, glittering palace. As Rachel tries to adjust to living among Singapore's richest families, she faces gossip, drama, and threats from all sides — including from Nick's own mother, who is determined to prevent him from marrying Rachel.
Crazy Rich Asians is a fast-paced, endlessly entertaining debut novel that both illuminates and skewers Singapore's wealthiest.
Quote:
"Astrid wasn’t attractive in the typical almond-eyed Hong Kong starlet sort of way, nor was she the flawless celestial-maiden type. One could say that Astrid’s eyes were set too far apart, and her jawline — so similar to the men on her mother’s side — was too prominent for a girl. Yet somehow with her delicate nose, bee-stung lips, and long naturally wavy hair, it all came together to form an inexplicably alluring vision. She was always that girl stopped on the street by modeling scouts, though her mother fended them off brusquely. Astrid was not going to be modeling for anyone, and certainly not for money. Such things were far beneath her."
Author:
Kevin Kwan is the author of Crazy Rich Asians and its sequel, China Rich Girlfriend. He was born in Singapore, moved to the United States at the age of 11, and currently lives in New York City.
Published: 2013
Length: 416 pages
Main Setting: Singapore
Secondary Setting: New York City, New York, U.S.