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Crazy Rich Asians (Crazy Rich Asians, #1)

Kevin Kwan

Start date: April 5, 2022

Finish date: April 28, 2022

Discussion: Monthly Group Reads

Why we're reading this: Classism - Group Read
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Monthly Group Reads

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What Members Thought

Oct 12, 2018 Stacey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Lifestyles of the rich and famous...Asian style! This story is way over the top, but so fun to read. I'm looking forward to the movie with the all Asian cast. ...more

26 likes · Like · see review

Mar 23, 2018 Ammar rated it it was ok

And there are 2 more books in this series and it’s going to be made into a mini-series

It’s so not worth the paper it’s printed on. It’s so cheesy and campy and reads like a list of brand names and designers.

It had a promising beginning but it flatlined.

I’d call this book Crazy, Rich Asians. A crazy the bold and the beautiful sort of novel. Soap Opera galore.

22 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2018 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 5000-books, aug-18

What a fun read! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to seeing the movie.

7 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2020 Cam rated it it was ok

I’m at a 2.5 with this book... it felt like half of it could have been thrown out because it became repetitive.
Rachael and Nick are in love. Nick is the best man at his friend wedding back home in China. This as an opportunity to introduce Rachael to his parents and also ask for her hand in marriage. Racheal learns a different side to Nick. Nick is not only a professor but is to inherit millions of the family money. The lifestyle of the rich and famous that she is thrown into is a lot for Rache ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2017 ColumbusReads rated it liked it

I picked this book up to read between two more challenging books. A book that wouldn't require the grey cells to work in overtime (as Hercule Poirot might say). This was the perfect choice.

Although a lite summer read, it was actually very well written -for the most part - and rather enjoyable. I would call it a Jackie Collins or Sidney Sheldon for the Asian set. The stereotypes run rampant here so it's important to recognize it as such, Along with over-the-top luxury run amok. I mean damn rich ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 13, 2015 Melissa Rochelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2015, library, ebook

Do people really live like this? Are people seriously THIS rich?!

I first was interested in this book because of the title. It's just so...wrong. Then once I saw the family tree and footnotes, I was sold. Each chapter drops us into the life of one of the colorful characters -- the smart, unprepared Rachel; the clueless about his wealth Nick; the stylish, wealthy Astrid; and a variety of other characters from old money and new. I'm surprised to say I even learned a bit a long the way. I had no id ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2019 Katrisa rated it liked it

I liked the story fine, but personally I have a hard time with descriptions of super rich lifestyles. In a world where people starve I think the excess of money is gross. But that's not the book's fault. This wouldn't have been a book I would have chosen on my own, it was part of a book club challenge. I'm still deciding if I want to keep going with the series. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 17, 2018 Summer rated it did not like it

Shelves: kindle, book-club, 2018, series-dnf

Oh my god, this fucking book. This is definitely the worst book I’ve read this year. In fact, I hated pretty much every moment and every page and if I had a paper copy, I’d Angela-Bassett-in-Waiting-to-Exhale the shit out of this thing.

So there are a few things to object to here. (view spoiler) Oh my god, this fucking book. This is definitely the worst book I’ve read this year. In fact, I hated pretty much every moment and every page and if I had a paper copy, I’d Angela-Bassett-in-Waiting-to-Exhale the shit out of this thing.

So there are a few things to object to here. (view spoiler)[First, whatever the author’s goal was, he failed to achieve it. If he was trying to write a satire, he spent too much time trying to make his characters likeable and give us a happy ending, which really took all the bite out of what could have been a very sharp novel. If he wasn’t trying to write a satire, then he severely miscalculated and assumed that reading a book about horrible people would somehow magically transform into a pleasant experience. That’s not how it works. For three, the plot was paper thin, there were far more characters than there needed to be, and the POV and time jumping was difficult to follow.

But the bit that bothers me most is treatment of women. Let me shout this out for the folks in the back like Kevin Kwan, who apparently haven’t heard this enough yet: NO MEANS NO. If someone says, “I’m breaking up with you,” take them at their word. If someone says, “I don’t want to see you again,” take them at their word. If someone says, “Leave me alone,” take them at their word. “No” is not an invitation to a negotiation, it’s not romantic to follow someone around and harass them under the guise of winning them back, and it’s infuriatingly disrespectful to assume you know more about what someone wants than the person themselves.

And! If you’re going to ignore all of that and try to sell the toxic idea that someone will love you if you just wear them down enough, then for the love of all that’s holy don’t undercut your own point. If you write about Couple A, wherein John listens when Jane tells him to leave her alone, and play that up as the right thing to do and true love’s noble sacrifice (when really, I’d just say John is being a minimally decent person), then you can’t turn around and play up Couple B, wherein Max hounds Sasha until she gives in and then tell us that’s the way it should be done. That just highlights how much of an asshole Max is, how incredibly immature he is, and how much better off Sasha was without him. And if the best note your grand love story can end on is one of resigned acceptance because one partner was badgered until she gave in, well...take another run at that draft, homie, because that does not a good story make. (hide spoiler)] ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2018 Amy rated it liked it

The intention was to read this before the movie, but the movie showed up first (and now I want to watch it again to really compare but the waitlist is even longer!). The movie was better in a few ways; primarily, the women in the movie are much stronger. The movie also does a decent job of summarizing events to fit into a movie length, without losing too much of the story.

Astrid's story is what was cut a bit short, but I like how much stronger she is in the movie. Even Rachel I feel is portrayed ...more

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