China Rich Girlfriend
Kevin Kwan
Book Review
Rachel Chu and Nicholas Young are finally getting married. Wedding plans are in full swing. Rachel should be the happiest she has ever been, but the identity of her biological father has always gnawed at her—until a shocking revelation is made. She is now suddenly thrown into the life of the richest in Shanghai, rubbing shoulders with the elite at exclusive parties.
The splendor lifestyle seems too lavish, even to Nicholas. How does Rachel’s identity become accepted among the upper class in Shanghai?
“The larger the diamonds, the older the wife, the more the mistress.”
Kevin Kwan, China Rich Girlfriend.
You can read the review of “The Family Upstairs” here: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell – A Gripping Novel
I think there is no one who is not aware of the storm that the movie “Crazy Rich Asians” created. Inspired by the book of the same name by Kevin Kwan, the satirical novel focuses on the luxurious lives of the elite.
The second book in the series, titled, “China Rich Girlfriend”, is no different from the first but dives deep into the scandals and gossip of the elite community.
If the book had focused on the main plot alone, it would have been around 250 pages, keeping in mind its tiny font size. But, no, we get many subplots that focus on many people. The family is huge, we get a side story for almost every character, and it is almost hard to keep up.
“I know the average outfit in your wardrobe costs more than a semester of tuition at Princeton, but it makes you look like a community college during summertime: NO CLASS.”
Kevin Kwan, China Rich Girlfriend.
I felt like this book was a gossip sesh, giving us the inside scoop on the richest and I gasped when a character was so out of touch with reality. It even makes us question if people like these really exist.
We also get a very detailed description of lavish penthouses and extravagant outfits that the riches wear. Even if it is required for the sake of the plot, having to read it too many times is a bit tiring.
There is drama, scandals, and secrets that get revealed, redemption, and of course wholesome ending. There is a bit of humor throughout the book with unexpected one-liners.
You can also read the review of “It starts with us” here: It Starts With Us – A heartwarming sequel
The characters in this book are something else. Each had their own personality, spending money lavishly on different things. They are so far from reality that the struggles of the middle class almost seem like a non-existent concept to them.
I really loved Astrid’s character. Her character is calm but exudes power. I also loved the ways Kitty Pong tried to fit into the upper-class image. The three-page list of how to be recognized by the elite, written by Corrina really shows how the rich perceive the newcomers into their social circle.
“If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.”
Kevin Kwan, China Rich Girlfriend.
This was a good read. I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
You can get your copy of the book here: https://www.amazon.in/China-Rich-Girlfriend-Kevin-Kwan/dp/038553910X
About the author:
Kevin Kwan is a Singapore-born American writer famous for his satirical novel series, “Crazy Rich Asians”, which has been translated into more than 30 languages. Its sequel, China Rich Girlfriend, was released in 2015, and Rich People Problems, the final book in the trilogy, was released in 2017. In 2018, Kevin made it to Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. He was inducted into The Asian Hall of Fame. His other works include – crazy rich Girlfriend, Rich People Problems, Sex and Vanity. Post the success of the film Crazy Rich Asians, the sequel is in the works of becoming a movie. The third book is set to be in the pre-production stage.
