Why You Should Read "Crazy Rich Asians" Now

Why You Should Read Crazy Rich Asians Now

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Crazy Rich Asians is a hilarious, quirky read about social class, love, and family loyalty. It is definitely a novel that stands out as "one-of-a-kind" because of the premise as well as the writing style.

The book follows Rachel Chu from New York to Singapore as she goes home with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, for the summer. However, once there, Rachel realizes there is so much she doesn't know about the man she's shared her heart with--especially when it comes to his family. She is swept up in a world of extravagance, wealth, and culture as she navigates the fact that her boyfriend is from an excessively wealthy family with high social standing.

The book was difficult to get into at first just because there are so many characters, family histories, and cultural aspects to get used to. I had a hard time navigating the family trees as well as understanding some of the references, but I think that was sort of the point. The author, Kevin Kwan, sort of overwhelms the reader just as Rachel is overwhelmed at the beginning of the trip. It made me realize how social classes really do have their own culture, and the crazy rich certainly have their own rules that outsiders do not understand.

The book definitely had a "Prince and Me" vibe but with a modern twist. I loved Rachel and Nick as a couple and enjoyed watching Rachel navigate the difficult situations. I felt like she was easy to relate to and also a strong character. I also loved seeing all of the lavish events she went to. The writer made me feel like I was actually there.

The side stories with the other characters were also very engaging. Overall, I really liked this read because it was part romance, part family saga. I thought the ending was perfect and made me want to read the next book in the series.

This book is definitely one I will remember for its ability to stand out in a crowd of love stories and for bringing light to social class differences in a unique way.

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