I posted my review for Crazy Rich Asians (and the movie) recently and had to keep reading ASAP to see what happened next! I binge-read (and listened) to both books in September, so here are my thoughts on the remainder of this trilogy!
China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan Series: Crazy Rich Asians #2
Genres: Adult, Contemporary
Published by Penguin Random House on June 16, 2015
Also by this author: Crazy Rich Asians
Format: Hardcover (378 pages) • Source: Library
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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 Girlfriendbrings 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.
This book took me forever but I have to blame my lack of reading motivation and not the book itself. It was definitely a fun sequel, but I preferred the first book probably? This series is ridiculous in many ways, but some of the plot points in this one were crazier than I could have imagined.
It was interesting following a mix of new character and old ones; I wish there was a bit more of Rachel, Nick, and Astrid (especially because I wanted to knock some sense into Astrid this whole book). Kitty Pong has turned into a really intriguing character because she was previously painted pretty terribly in the first book. You learn a bit more about her motivations here. I think one of the things I like the most in this series is that none of these rich people are strictly good or bad really – there are many shades of gray. They’re all motivated by money, greed, and power, but a lot of them kind of mean well? Some are terrible and some are nice, but everyone has a bit of darkness no matter what.
The new characters, like Carlton and Colette, were definitely an interesting addition. It was fun to see Rachel get to know her “new” family members and the intricacies of their lifestyle. They were more “new money” in China than the “old money” in Singapore, like Nick’s family. This book really showed that there is a major distinction between the two, which added another layer to the storytelling for me.
Overall, I left this book feeling extremely interested and ready for book three!
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan Series: Crazy Rich Asians #3
Genres: Adult, Contemporary
Published by Penguin Random House on May 23, 2017
Also by this author: Crazy Rich Asians
Format: Audio/Physical (398 pages) • Source: Scribd, Library
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When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside--but he's not alone. It seems the entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe, ostensibly to care for their matriarch but truly to stake claim on the massive fortune that Su Yi controls.
With each family member secretly fantasizing about getting the keys to Tyersall Park--a trophy estate on 64 prime acres in the heart of Singapore--the place becomes a hotbed of intrigue and Nicholas finds himself blocked from entering the premises.
As relatives claw over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu, but tormented by his ex-wife--a woman hell bent on destroying Astrid's reputation and relationship. Meanwhile Kitty Pong, married to billionaire Jack Bing, finds a formidable opponent in his fashionista daughter, Colette.
I’m so sad this trilogy is over! I’ve grown so attached to most of these characters and their world. I love that this one focused a bit more on Su Yi’s backstory and how the horrible family members came together in her final days. I loved her relationship with Astrid and Charlie before she passed away, doing everything she could to help and support them when they faced critics. It was even better to see her and Nick try to move on from their problems as well.
The second book focused a little on “redemption”-like stories Kitty and Eddie, in my opinion. They weren’t perfect (like I mentioned) but they were meant to be a LITTLE more sympathetic or likeable in some scenes. This book definitely ruined that for me though. Eddie was so terrible and Kitty was extremely irritating. There were some positive moments (no spoilers) but overall I was a little bitter about how frustrating they were.
There were so many twists and turns throughout the story that I didn’t expect! Lots of the characters, backstories, and general plot points were surprising to me. Like I said earlier, I loved learning more about Su Yi’s past and seeing how that tied in to the end of the novel.
Again, I don’t want to spoil anything about the ending, but I’ll say that I did like the epilogue. Some of the “endings” for the characters didn’t seem THAT great or logical based on their characterization, but I think it was good overall. This one was probably my second favorite, after the first book.
Yay for finishing this series! I have one book left in this series and I’m super excited. Especially about Kitty and Astrid, they quickly become one of my favorite characters in the series!
So I actually liked CHINA RICH GIRLFRIEND the BEST out of all of the books, but I agree I’m so sad the story is over! I feel like I became so invested and like I was with the characters for more than just three books. I really hope they make movies for the second and third book too!
[…] from Crazy Rich Asians | I loved how down to earth and normal Rachel was. She never overreacted or freaked out about […]