| Title | : | Rich People Problems (Crazy Rich Asians, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0385542232 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780385542234 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 398 |
| Publication | : | First published May 23, 2017 |
| Awards | : | Goodreads Choice Award Fiction (2017), Lovelybooks Leserpreis Romane (2020) |
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. The entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe to stake claim to their matriarch's massive fortune. With each family member vying to inherit Tyersall Park—a trophy estate on sixty-four prime acres in the heart of Singapore—Nicholas' childhood home turns into a hotbed of backbiting and intrigue. As Su Yi's relatives fight over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu but tormented by her ex-husband—a man hell-bent on destroying Astrid's reputation and relationship. Meanwhile, Kitty Pong, married to China's second richest man, Jack Bing, still feels upstaged by her new stepdaughter, famous fashionista Colette Bing.
In this sweeping tale that takes us from the elegantly appointed mansions of Manila to the secluded private islands in the Sulu Sea, from a kidnapping at Hong Kong's most elite private school to a surprise marriage proposal at an Indian palace that is caught on camera by the telephoto lenses of paparazzi, Kevin Kwan hilariously reveals the long-buried secrets of Asia's most privileged families and their rich people problems.
Rich People Problems (Crazy Rich Asians, #3) Reviews
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Sometimes the best antidote for the craziness of the world is reading a wacky book. (It leaves my head clearer than drinking would, anyway.) Kevin Kwan's Rich People Problems, the third in his Crazy Rich Asians series, was just the ticket. Campy, a bit melodramatic, and utterly outrageous, Kwan's tales of three generations of Chinese families, set mostly in Singapore, provides a hysterical glimpse into how the ultra-rich live.
"Peel away the veneer of wealth and sophistication and you'll find extremely provincial, narrow-minded people. The problem is that they all have too much money, and it's come so easily to them that they think they're bloody geniuses and so they are always right."
Su Yi, the matriarch of the Young Family, is on her deathbed. She has a massive fortune, capped by Tyersall Park, a 64-acre estate on prime land in Singapore. While Asian tradition would usually expect Su Yi to leave the estate to her eldest son, Philip, many believed she'd bequeath it to his son, her favorite grandson, Nicholas. But Nicholas has been estranged from his grandmother after she voiced her disapproval of his marrying Rachel, whom she viewed as a common Chinese girl, so he hasn't been home to visit her in several years.
With disposition of Su Yi's estate in question, her entire family heads to Tyersall Park to hopefully get into her good graces (and perhaps move up a bit in her will) before she passes. Her eldest daughter, Felicity, knows that she'll probably get the short end of the stick because of her gender, but she has bigger fish to fry—her daughter Astrid is scandalizing the family with her relationship with her college boyfriend Charlie Wu. The family never thought that he was good enough for her, even though he is a self-made technology tycoon now, they don't want the two to get together now, even though both are on the verge of divorcing.
Another grandson, Edson (Eddie) Chang, has also come to be with Su Yi, with his family in tow. Eddie is the most status-conscious of any of the family members—he always has to be sure people know he's wearing top-of-the-line designers, the most expensive and unique shoes (one pair needed to be dyed multiple times, so they took weeks to be ready for him), and the most luxurious of luxury timepieces. He is bound and determined to finally get the respect he believes he deserves, and if that means keeping others away from his grandmother until he wins her over to his side, so be it.
While Nicholas says he doesn't care about the estate and doesn't want to revisit the hurt his grandmother caused, he realizes he needs to say goodbye to her. (Plus, his high-strung mother insists about five times a day, when she's not interrogating him and Rachel about when they'll give her a grandchild.) His return home dredges up some resentment (especially with his cousin Eddie), but spending time with Su Yi and other family members reminds him of the importance of family, but reinforces how smart he and Rachel are to live in New York!
Meanwhile, former, umm, actress Kitty Pong has finally gained some status with her marriage to China's second-richest man, Jack Bing. But her quest for respectability keeps falling short, as she can't seem to reconcile her schizophrenic tastes in fashion and decor with what is expected of someone in her position. Even worse is the fact that she is convinced her stepdaughter, fashionista-turned-attorney's wife Colette, is trying to upstage her at every turn. No matter how hard she tries to stand out, Colette seems to be in her way, despite her sudden passion for the environment and no-frills fashion.
"Scientists talk about how we inherit health issues from our parents through our genes, but we also inherit this entire lineage of fear and pain—generations of it."
Rich People Problems is quite funny as it chronicles the over-the-top behavior of these people as they battle for an inheritance, social acceptance, love, and most of all, more money. Kwan imbues his book with painstaking details (even his footnotes are hysterical while also being informative) and a litany of designers, couture, and descriptions of food sure to make your stomach growl quite loudly.
Even the characters' names are amazing—my favorite is probably Scheherazade Shang, or Harvard Bing, the infant son of Kitty and Jack. The visuals Kwan's imagery conveys are eye-popping, and some of the dialogue is campier than any soap opera diva or villain's.
Like many, I've occasionally thought about what life might be like if I didn't have to worry about money—what I would do, where I would go, what I would spend it on. But the amount of money the characters in this book throw around (one character gets an eye lift for a rare fish to make it look younger) is unfathomable, which makes the book so much fun to read.
A true guilty pleasure.
See all of my reviews at
http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo.... -
Nicholas Young narrowly escaped his family last round - and now he's happily married and settled - but all that's about to change.
Dear Lord, thank you for getting me the fuck out of here. Amen
His grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed and he has no choice but rush to her side...along with entirety of his relatives.
While he is kind and loving, the rest of his family? Not so much.Tourists should have to take a style exam before being allowed to set foot on the island!
They're more concerned with what will be made available after the great Su Yi passes than missing her once she's gone.
Nick's mom though? She has an entirely different agenda.
This is her last chance to ensure that Su Yi makes up with Nicholas - and if there's one thing that's for certain, Nick's mom does not go down quietly.You’re my son—I’ve watched your nannies change your diapers...
I swear. These books are crack.
I didn't even get into the Kitty Pong storyline or the Astrid one (though, I adored both, with a heavy emphasis on Astrid. So happy with the way hers turned out!).
Astrid, in particular, really shone in this book. She became such a front-runner and I adored every scene she was in.
Kitty was surprisingly well-done as well! She was such a character in the last few books - it was fun to see the direction her character took this round!
I love that Kwan sets up so many things with his books. I almost have to read everything twice because there's so much happening but I'm having enough fun that I don't mind.
All in all, I adored these books and cannot wait to read what Kwan writes next!!
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Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan is a 2017 Doubleday publication.
Hilarity and intrigue merge to create yet another wildly entertaining installment in this fabulous series!
As with the previous installments, a little time has elapsed, meaning there have been a few changes since we last touched base with all these zany characters.
Rachel and Nicholas receive word that his grandmother is suffering from congestive heart failure. As the family begins to gather around her, Nicholas feels pressured from all sides to return home.
He finally agrees, but in the meantime Eddie is working hard hoping he will be the one to inherit from his grandmother’s will, and Astrid is going through a contentious divorce as is her lover, Charlie Wu.
Kitty is still playing all angles, working to get all she deserves, (or thinks she does), while engaging in a battle of wills with her step-daughter.
What I enjoyed most about this installment was the background information provided about Su Yi, and the surprising turn of events that gives Nicholas the chance to finally understand his grandmother. It's poignant, insightful, and very interesting- but the irony! OMG! Hilarious.
But, never fear, all the fabulous clothes, food, and destination spots are described in vivid details, and there is certainly no shortage of drama!!
The way everything came together in the end suggests this is the last installment in the series. Boo!
I have really had a lot of fun reading about these insanely rich Asians and all their conniving, manipulative shallowness, as well as learning about their language, slang, and traditions. But, the epic and wonderful love stories were at the heart of everything. The characters evolved and changed beautifully, most of them finding contentment in one way or the other, which is very satisfying.
I have heard there was a movie in works based on this series, so at least I have that to look forward to!
Overall, this third, and last, book in the series is every bit as entertaining as the first two, but with a slight bittersweet tone at times. But, the divine ending was all I could have asked for!!
4.5 stars -
These are so consistently fun
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Look, I know what I said. I know that I wrote in my review of China Rich Girlfriend that I wasn’t going to continue with the series. All the fun and novelty of the first book had worn off, and I realized that I was just reading a story about people who had so much money it had turned them into sociopaths. I said I was done, but I don’t like to leave things unfinished. So here we are.
As one can tell from the rating, Kevin Kwan was not able to turn things around for the last book. In fact, this series has taken such a hard nosedive since Book One that I have a hard time believing that I ever enjoyed reading about these people, and don’t think I’ve ever experienced such an extreme change in my feelings towards a series. (well, except maybe Harlots - we’re all pretending that season 3 never happened, right?)
The problem is that, frankly, the current state of the world means that I cannot enjoy a story about the problems of spoiled billionaires anymore. The entire drama of this book centers around the impending death of Nick’s grandmother, and which of her heirs will receive Tyersall Park in her will. Will she and Nick be able to mend their relationship in time so our golden boy can claim his birthright as Lord of the Manor? What on earth will happen! I certainly couldn’t guess!
We’re supposed to be invested in this, because Nick is the only relative who DESERVES to inherit the estate the size of a fucking national park. But when this novel takes place, Nick hasn’t even spoken to his grandmother in five years, so no matter how many times he insists that Tyersall Park is his beloved childhood home and he has a strong emotional stake in the property, it mostly comes across as Kwan covering his own ass and trying to convince us that he’s done the work to justify these feelings in his characters.
(There’s also a lot of flashbacks to Su Yi’s adolescence, and it’s basically Kwan retconning her into a nice person and glossing over the fact that she kicked Nick out of the family for marrying Rachel, because if there’s one thing this series has taught me, it’s that none of the characters in this book have ever met an emotion more complicated than “angry, but also sad.”)
There was a tiny hint of the book that this could have been, and it was enough to keep me going until the end. At about the halfway point, Kwan establishes that the bulk of Astrid’s inheritance comes from palm oil. A short time later, we have a character who runs a charity to save orangutans. Okay, now things are getting interesting, I remember thinking. Was Kwan going to have his characters connect the dots, and make sure his readers understand that orangutans are going extinct because their habitats are being destroyed to farm…palm oil? Was Perfect Astrid going to have to confront the fact that her lavish lifestyle is entirely funded by blood money? Would these people, who wouldn’t know a Consequence if it kicked them in their couture-clad ass, have to finally examine how their obscene wealth directly impacts the planet?
LOL nope. The connection between the Leongs' money and the gradual destruction of the planet remains tenuous at best, and the only character who points it out is Charlie Wu’s crazy ex-wife (oh, also Charlie has turned into Mr. Rochester for the purposes of the narrative). Speaking of Charlie Wu, what’s the environmental impact of his massive tech company? How much does he pay the factory workers who assemble the microchips or whatever?
Speaking of consequences, remember Rachel’s half-brother Carlton, and how in the beginning of the last book he caused a car crash that killed one woman and paralyzed another? He still hasn’t done any atonement whatsoever for that act, and even though he still feels so super bad about what happened, that’s pretty much the end of the discussion. (ugh, and it’s a one sentence fix too! “We’re so impressed with Carlton, he started going to AA and donated a gazillion dollars to some anti-drunk-driving charity” or whatever) And worse, we have Colette Bing, who I guess is just a full-fledged villain now. Okay, yes, she poisoned Rachel in the last book, but Rachel is fine. Again – Carlton killed a girl and paralyzed another, yet when Collette reveals this information to Carlton’s new girlfriend, it’s treated as an act of vindictive, jealous backstabbing.
(Kwan is so far up his characters’ asses that the only people in the book who bring up the past sins of his protagonists are the women labeled “crazy.” What a weird coincidence that is!!!)
Rachel’s barely in this book, by the way. We’re not quite in “sexy lamp” territory, but her main job in the few scenes where she appears is to make comforting noises while Nick complains about his family drama. There’s a little seed of a plot where Eleanor is obsessed with getting a grandchild, but that goes basically nowhere. It’s clear that Kwan has grown bored of Rachel, and he seems to think that what the people want is more Astrid instead. Kwan is wrong – I’m sorry, but Astrid is fucking insufferable. She has no flaws whatsoever, and what flaws do attempt to poke their heads out are ignored by the text. (True, there’s nothing technically wrong with getting engaged before the ink on your divorce papers is dry, but is it a dick move? Kind of! Does Kwan want to admit this? Nope! Perfect Astrid, who poops rose petals and doesn’t know what a pimple is, will not be questioned!)
God, I got so sick of her. There’s this wonderfully tone-deaf line where she reflects that she can’t remember the last time she really took a vacation just for herself, because every time she travels it’s for family stuff or business, and I’m staring at the pages saying, “You. Go. To. Paris. Once. A. Year. To. Buy. A. New. Couture. Wardrobe.” Oh, and also after she reads a line in a gossip magazine claiming she’s always sitting front row at fashion shows, protests that she never does that because “I’m always backstage, helping out.” UUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.
It’s unfair to harp on stuff like this, I know. This is supposed to be a fluffy, fun beach read that keeps you entertained for a few hours with its descriptions of unimaginable wealth and luxury. But it’s not fun for me, anymore, and I can’t just sit back and enjoy a story about a bunch of people who have the power to enact so much change, but instead just dither around buying art and having divorce drama and fighting over a fucking house. Long ago, I wrote a very snotty review of Gossip Girl and how it wasn’t even a real book, and now I find myself taking that all back. Kevin Kwan wishes he were on the same level as Gossip Girl, because say what you will about that series, at least Cecily von Ziegesar had enough interesting characters to maintain her series for a dozen or so installments. We’re only three books into this series, and Kwan’s boredom with his own characters is obvious. Hopefully this is the end of it.
(Fuck, am I gonna have to re-read the entire Gossip Girl series? Yeah. Yeah, I think I will. I owe von Ziegesar an apology) -
Bespoke.
Everything is bespoke in this book.
And to think, I had no idea how boujee I was when I took my kids to Build A Bear at the mall. Apparently, they own several bespoke stuffed animals, and I should have been bragging about that shit on the playground.
Ok, there is still a stupid amount of words about what everyone is wearing in Rich People Problems. At one point I wondered if Mr. Kwan was selling advertising space in his book. Kind of like how tv shows and movies have someone casually drinking a Coke, driving a Mustang, or eating Count Chocula in a breakfast scene. Only you can't casually advertise something in a book because it isn't visual.
So WORDS must be used.
So. Many. Unnecessary. Words.
Everyone who comes on to the page is still introduced with a rundown from head to toe of what they are wearing.
Here's what it felt like:
Astrid entered the room, her glossy dark hair in a loose chignon held in place with a vintage pin that once belonged to Katharine Hepburn. She was wearing a {insert designer I've never heard of here} blouse paired with a simple pair of black pants by {insert designer I've never heard of here}. Her {insert brand I've never heard of here} shoes had a thread of gold artfully woven into the heel to give off just the right amount of understated elegance. The entire outfit was finished off by a pair of pearl earrings that looked inexpensive to the untrained eye, but in all actuality were worth 10 million dollars because they were shit out together as twins by the rarest oyster in the existence of the world. This oyster was then eaten in 635 AD by Tang Taizong the then Emperor of China -who was known not only for creating a golden age in China, but also for his extravagant and luxurious fashions!
Astrid looked up and saw Charlie who was wearing a bespoke suit from {insert designer I've never heard of here} and...
To me? All of that nonsense could have been whittled down to this:
Astrid walked in and saw Charlie.
Then again, I'm not a bestselling author, so what do I know?
Alright. Rich People Problems did seem (to me) a lot more toned down when it came to all the stupid descriptions of who was wearing what and who designed it than
China Rich Girlfriend, so that's a plus. And the story moved at a decent pace this time around. More like the 1st book did. You can kind of forgive the silliness if there's some actual plot happening, you know?
And as much as I appreciated that, I was sort of confused when this thing kind of turned into some kind of half-baked Spy Kids mystery.
Suddenly, in this 3rd book, the asshole grandma turns out to have had a past, and Nick has to follow these Di Vinci Code clues all over the world to track down this secret that will save Tyersall Park from being sold off and chopped into a luxury community for rich Christians.
WHAT?!
It was weird.
And it seemed to be trying very hard to make grandma suddenly seem sympathetic. <--I genuinely like it when books do that. But the sort of past that Su Yi had?
That entire storyline jumped the shark to me.
The whole book was pretty much like that, though.
Astrid and Charlie's story went off the proverbial rails, with each of their respective exes turning into somewhat cliche versions of a villainous mustache-twirling ex-husband and a (legit) crazy ex-wife.
And, naturally, everything culminates in a very soap opera-ish ending.
Which, now that I think about it, was the theme for this entire series. It was a Singapore soap opera. Wealthy characters do wealthy people things with other wealthy people.
But wait, there's more...
Because they aren't smelly peasants like the rest of us, who have to get up and go to work tomorrow so they don't starve, these guys have the time and money on their hands to go to crazy lengths to get whatever it is they want and keep their status.
They poison each other - and get some minion to take the blame! They wreck their cars and kill people - then have it swept under the rug! They post damning sex videos online - then drop into a coma! They sue each other for billions of dollars - and FULL CUSTODY of the child!
They even eat like evil soap opera stars.
If that's your jam, you are going to love this book. And I know that chick-lit is always a bit over the top, but this was OVER THE TOP, if you know what I mean?
I was (originally) in this for Nick and Rachael, but they are actually the two dullest characters in the whole thing. Astrid & Charlie have a better love story, and Kitty is just more interesting in general than any of the others. In other words, there's someone for every reader to identify with and root for in the books. This means there are a lot of characters and a lot of individual storylines, and I truly believe Kwan tried his best to wrap them all up in a satisfactory way for his fans.
And yeah, they're wacky and probably not for everyone, but I don't really regret listening to the audiobooks. Just go into it knowing what you're getting yourself into and you should be fine.
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Edition: Unabridged
Lydia Look - Narrator -
Su Yi, who owns a massive fortune in Singapore, is lying on her deathbed. The entire Shang-Young clan from all the corners of the world are at Tyersall Park mainly to see what portion of the fortune they will get if Su Yi dies. Nicholas Young, who is the most probable person, who is supposed to get the significant part of the fortune, is not allowed to see his grandmother by his relatives even after returning from New York. The third part of this series revolves around Su Yi, Nicholas, Rachel, Astrid, Charlie, Jack, and Kitty.
The first book,
Crazy Rich Asians, from this series, was an interesting one and was entertaining enough for me to buy the 2nd and 3rd books just after finishing it. Sadly, the second book,
China Rich Girlfriend, was a disappointing one for me. So it took almost one year for me to pick up the third book for the sake of completing this series. I found it surprisingly better than what I expected from it.
The story revolves around the designer labels, fashion shows, Celebrities, and all the luxury you can think of in New York, London, Paris, Singapore, China, and India like the early two books. The grandiosity of the characters and extravagant display of their possessions, hierarchy, and protocols might irritate some readers. The plot can't boast about anything new, and there is no literary stuff in it that might make you think deeply. Still, this book will be a good pick if you are looking for a book to read just for entertainment, especially if you are having a difficult time and if you happened to have already read the first two books from this series. -
Overall, the morbidish topic of inheritance gave me the creeps. All the vulturing relatives, blechworthy!
I couldn't help laughing at the scene with Eddie and his toilet cubicle shoe adoration thingy! Signing Eddie, crying Eddie, prostrating Eddie… he overdid himself!
The death scene - too sad, even for all the pathetic relatives and antics of most of them …
Astrid and Charlie - finally! - so sweet! Even for all the drama.
The ob-gyn performance left me in hiccups!!!
Q:
Eddie fondled the slick plastic badge as if it were a jewel-encrusted amulet, personally bestowed on him by the God of Davos. This badge distinguished him from all the pee-ons at the conference. He wasn’t some PR hack, journalist, or one of the common attendees. This white plastic badge with the blue line at the bottom meant that he was an official delegate. (c)
Q:
Taking the seat next to Piya on a velvet Ruhlmann settee, he whispered, “So, I take it you had an IGWEL badge?”
Piya was momentarily confused. “I’m sorry, are your referring to Davos?”
“Yes. When you were at Davos two years ago, what kind of badge did they give you? The white one with the blue line at the bottom, or the plain white one with the hologram sticker?”
“I’m afraid I can’t remember what it looked like.”
“What did you do with it?”
“I wore it,” Piya replied patiently, wondering why on earth her husband’s cousin was so weirdly fixated on this badge.
“I mean, what did you do with your badge after the conference?”
“Er…I must have either thrown it away or left it in the hotel room.”
Eddie stared at her in disbelief. His Davos badge was folded and placed in a special pouch along with his prized Roger W. Smith*6 watch and his precious sapphire-and-platinum cuff links. He couldn’t wait to get it framed the minute he returned to Hong Kong. (c)
Q:
“if you aren’t a Christian, what do you consider yourself to be?”
“I respect every god,” she replied softly. (c)
Q:
“My grandfather Shang Loong Ma’s people were Buddhists, Taoists, Quan Yin worshippers, all that mishmash of religions…you know, in that old-fashioned Chinese sort of way.” (c)
Q:
“What a waste of time…” Jack muttered under his breath.
“Waste of time? Do you even know who my friend is?”
“Some silly model.”
“She’s not just a model—she’s the wife of Colin Khoo.”
“No idea who that is.”
…
And now the First Lady is about to arrive—”
“And it looks like Mozart came with her.”
“Oh my God, that’s not Mozart, that’s Karl Lagerfeld. He’s a very, very, very important man! He’s the Kaiser of fashion.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?”
“He is so powerful, he could simply flare one of his nostrils and have me banned from Chanel forever and I might as well be dead. Please, please be polite.”
Jack snorted. “I’ll try not to fart in his general direction.” (c)
Q:
“Why the hell did you have to marry Dad, a complete nobody from Hong Kong? Why couldn’t you marry someone else, like an Aakara or a Leong? Someone with a respectable surname? Didn’t you think of how it would affect your children? Didn’t you realize how it has fucked up my whole life?... YOU’VE NEVER EVEN GIVEN ME A BUTT MASSAGE!” (c)
Q:
“Oh my God, Rachel, the president of China has come to pay his respects!”
Much to their surprise, the next person to emerge was a tall, lanky college-age kid with long, messy shoulder-length brown hair, dressed in tight black jeans, steel-tipped black boots, and a black tuxedo jacket. A Chinese man in a pinstripe suit and a blond middle-aged lady in a black dress with a pale green shawl draped around her shoulders emerged next, followed by a cute fair-haired girl of about twelve.
“Stranger and stranger,” (с)
Q:
The Bride of Frankenstein just walked in! (c)
Q:
Good grief, they look like they are in some suicide cult! (c)
Q:
It was grand, and it was strange. The Sultan of Borneo talked about the war and how my great-grandfather helped to save his family. He spoke in Malay, so everything had to be translated by this very perky woman. Then my brother spoke, and he was so weird and stilted he sounded like the Manchurian Candidate. (c)
Q:
“...You know how invisible I try to be…. Well, I’m wandering the streets of Singapore in nothing but a little linen shift and bedroom sandals, and no one’s even noticing me.”
“I bet you’re wrong. I bet every guy on the street is thinking, who is that half-naked babe?” (c)
Q:
She looked in and saw Eddie lying on the floor in a fetal position, his head in Fiona’s lap. Fiona sat on the floor, calm as a pietà, stroking his hair as he sobbed uncontrollably like a little boy. She looked up at Jiayi, and the maid quickly closed the door. (c)
Q:
If it made for a slightly schizophrenic menu, no one noticed except the in-laws. (c)
Q:
“Well, my mum just screamed at me in a way I’ve never heard before and ordered me to leave the country. Otherwise, life is peachy. How has your day been so far?” (c)
Q:
This morning I walked outside into the garden and saw that all the rhododendron trees have bloomed overnight. Suddenly they are bursting with flowers, in shades of pink I never knew could exist. Blooms so thick, they brushed against my face as I walked through the garden weeping uncontrollably. Ah Jit knew how much I loved these flowers. He did this for me. I know he did. (c)
Q:
... the first thing she saw was a medical examination table in the middle of the room, the kind with raised footrests found in gynecological clinics.
“You know, Rachel, I’m an ob-gyn in Brisbane, and if you have any medical concerns at all about your reproductive system, we can address them right now,” …
“Here, why don’t you put this on and get on the table, and I’ll perform a quick pelvic exam?”
“Um, I’m quite all right, thanks.” Rachel began backing away from her.
Reaching into her pocket, Jackie pulled out a pair of surgical gloves and began to put them on. “This will just take a few minutes. Auntie Elle just wants to know how those ovaries of yours are doing.” (c)
Q:
“You want a prayer? I’ll give you a prayer. Dear Lord, thank you for getting me the fuck out of here. Amen!” (c)
Q:
“You know, it might sound cliché, but getting away from it all has been a transformative experience for me. I’ve realized that so many of my fears aren’t really my own. They’re the fears of my mother, my father, my grandparents. I’ve just unconsciously internalized them, and I’ve let these fears affect every decision I make. So a few people see me naked on a secluded beach in one of the remotest places on earth. Who cares? I’m proud of my body, I have nothing to hide. But of course, some voice in my head would automatically say, ‘Astrid, put some clothes on. It’s not proper. You’re a Leong, and you’re going to disgrace the family.’ And I realize that most of the time it’s my mother’s disapproving voice I hear.”
“Your mother has always driven you half crazy,” (c)
Q:
I can acknowledge whenever my mother is reacting out of this fear, but the most powerful thing I’ve realized is that I’m not responsible for her pain. (c) -
Estranged Nick, and wife Rachel (the reasons why he's estranged) has to go back home when news of the the matriarch of their super rich dynasty might be on her death bed! What follows is a pseudo-dark comedy (was that the intention) contemporary read, as some of the extended family, and some don't, try manoeuvres for the ridiculous riches available on her passing. Kwan takes the story to another level as he also explores the attempts of the now thoroughly nouveau rich Kitty Pong to ascend; an truly acrimonious super rich marriage breakdown; and most surprisingly the super rich family's Second World War legacy.
For a series that began as a 'fun read' look a the excesses of, and ludicrous lives of the East Asian super rich, by this third volume is looking at the emotional and psychological lives of the cast, all with tongue still firmly in cheek. I've gone from definitely casting this trilogy out to adding it to my permanent shelves. Is this not we want from all series... progression? A 8 out of 12, Four Star Read that I never expected!
2023 read -
This was really the perfect ending to this series. After
China Rich Girlfriend I didn't think it could get any better. Boy was I mistaken. Intriguing, mysterious, hilarious, and addictive. I am sad to let go of these beloved characters and their crazy family drama.
When Nick's grandmother, Su Yi, falls ill and it is apparent that she has not much time left, all her children and their children and their children descend on Singapore.
It's been five years since Nick or Rachel have been in Singapore (since the events in
Crazy Rich Asians).
Nick hasn't spoken to Su Yi in all that time. But Rachel convinces Nick to visit her and to make things right with his grandmother before she dies.
In this book we learn about Su Yi's younger days... Wow it was so interesting to learn about her and Singapore during WWII.
I listened to the audiobook of Rich People Problems and it was so well read. The narrator did every single accent perfectly, read Chinese well and even did the footnotes without confusing me. I 100% recommend the audio.
SPOILERS BELOW!! I WARNED YOU!
During this whole book I felt so sorry for Astrid and Charlie. Obstacle after obstacle was thrown their way and a lot of the times I didn't know how they would make their way out.
What a shocker it was for me (and all of Astrid's fam) to find out that Su Yi helped Charlie plan their engagement. The best part in this book was when Astrid shoved it in Eddie's face during breakfast. But even after all the trials with their families and ex's, I am so glad for where they are now.
Kitty's drama was just as entertaining as everyone else's. At first I really thought she was blowing things out of proportion with Collette (that snake). But after she tried to sabotage that dinner for Carlton (who is bae) I knew she is most definitely aware of what she is doing. Which is scheming of course. I was as happy as Kitty when Collette didn't get Tyersall Park. Mwahahahahaahaa.
Eddison Cheng stole the show for being the craziest rich asian. I have never read about a more greedy and delusional character like him before. The lengths he went to secure his inheritance of Tyersall Park was just ridiculous.
Lying to his family, being extra nice to Su Yi on her death bed was appalling. The crying and screaming at her funeral was so over the top I could not stop laughing. And let's not forget about bribing his kids to join in on his moronic behaviour. This guy deserves an award.
The mystery of who would inherit what was so nerve wracking. I kept second guessing. And damn I did not expect it to go like it did.
Best was that she only left Eddie a pair of cuff links. I laughed my ass off during his tantrum. In the end I was so sure Nick would end up with the house. But I guess it all worked out 😆.
I was so sure the wedding at the end was Astrid and Charlie's. Who would have guessed that Alistair and Peik Lin would get together? I'm so happy for them though and for preggo Rachel.
Is it strange to hope that Kevin Kwan decides to write another book in this series? Pretty please? 😁
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Pre-Read
What makes you feel better about your own family drama? Reading about someone else's.
I've got my popcorn ready 😼 💅
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My reviews for:
Crazy Rich Asians
China Rich Girlfriend -
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Gather 'round, friends. Come sit at my table because I've just put the tea on and I'm about to spill it all over the damn place. It took me two months to finish this series, and I have some major thoughts on how it ended and what Kwan did with some of the characters. Each book in the series is a very different sort of story.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS, the best one by far, is more like an underdog love story of the kind that was so popular in the mid-2000s, in which the "plain" (read: beautiful) ordinary girl hooks up with the major hottie because he sees through her plainness to all the beauty that lies within (read: hot sex). It ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger so reading
CHINA RICH GIRLFRIEND is necessary for closure, even though it isn't really a romance anymore at this point but one of those gossipy potboilers of the type that were popular in the 1980s, where rich people behave badly just because they can, and to hell with the consequences as long as you look good doing it.
With the two previous books neatly adding closure to Rachel and Nicky's love story, I wasn't really sure what more there could be left to address for them in RICH PEOPLE PROBLEMS. The quick answer is: not much. Apart from what I believe was a brief appearance in the beginning, Rachel basically disappears until around p.250 or so. In RICH PEOPLE PROBLEMS, the family matriarch who disapproved of Nicky's marriage to Rachel, Grandma Su Yi, has a heart-attack and the entire family turns Tyersall Place into a circus ostensibly to care for her but with her last will and testament very much on their minds.
Eddie, in particular, reminded me very quickly of how much I hated him with his maneuvering to keep Nicky barred from entering the house. Eddie is basically human-shaped garbage on legs. Everything he said and did made me want to punch him. The other relatives, too, sink back into their odious ways as soon as the question of money comes up. Kitty, who had a Pretty Woman redemption arc in the previous book, starts up a rivalry with Colette Bing. Colette is also human garbage on legs. I almost warmed to Eleanor in the previous book because she did reunite Rachel with her father, but in this book her sleazy machinations to pressure Rachel into having kids were super creepy, especially when she invites her to a bible study group - only to try to have one of her friends give her an ob-gyn examination in a room they have set up just next door? -cue horror movie music-
Astrid and Charlie are given more air time in this book than Rachel or Nicky since their romance is the one filled with uncertainty now with both of their ex-spouses making as much trouble for them as possible. I did not like the Isabel subplot and Michael proved that he was even more of a creep than I'd imagined in this book. I also didn't like what happened to Colette at the end of the book. Isabel and Colette were both terrible characters, but I don't really like it when physical or psychological trauma is treated like "justice." There are better ways for characters to get their comeuppance.
I did actually warm to Su Yi a bit in this book and the scenes with her were surprisingly touching. I also liked Carlton's romance with Scheherazade (although "Scheherazade"? Really?). Oliver came off looking like much more of a worm in this book, and I kept wondering what had happened to Connie. Some people didn't like the fighting about what to do with Tyersall Place but I felt like that was pretty realistic and handled well, especially since it is true that because of property values something like that never would be or could be built again in Singapore. Not everything needs to be bulldozed.
RICH PEOPLE PROBLEMS was a definite downgrade in terms of quality and felt more like straight-up trash than the smart, snappy CRAZY RICH ASIANS. I feel like the author probably could have stopped at two book, or even the first book (if he had written in that happy ending) instead of padding Rachel and Nick's future out across two books and then throwing in a whole bunch of other random stuff about the family in for the lols as Rachel gets to know her dad. This book felt entirely unnecessary but trilogies are in and I'm guessing the author wanted to cash in on that as much as anyone. It was the perfect thing to read while sick because it didn't require a whole lot of thought but I can definitely see why so many people who read this felt cheated or disappointed.
3 to 3.5 stars -
I received an ARC of Kevin Kwan's Rich People Problems from Netgalley and Doubleday in exchange for an honest review.
In this third installation, Kevin Kwan brings back the magic I felt China Rich Girlfriend was missing. Although to be honest, I could still do without Kitty. I did not like her in the second book, and still felt like she was mostly unneeded - mainly because there are so many great characters in the book who could have used the time given to her.
Back to the great parts of this book - I continue to love the relationships between Rachel and Nick and Astrid and Charlie, and I loved that Kevin brought back Rachel's best friend too! I also thoroughly loved getting the glimpses into Su Yi's history.
There is a whole lot of great drama, and definitely some laugh out loud moments - mostly around Eddie and his ridiculousness. And of course, there is the luxury these characters are afforded. The beautiful vacation spots, the descriptions some times made me feel like I could be right there.
Well done Kevin Kwan! I cannot wait to see Crazy Rich Asians when it hits the big screen - and who knows....maybe we will get a fourth book in the future! -
Rich People Problems is the third installment in
Kevin Kwan's humorous series titled Crazy Rich Asians. This one was less funny and more emotional but it was still an amazing read just in a different way. Lots of resolution, some things coming full-circle, plenty of surprises for both the reader and certainly for the characters. It was an excellent addition (and ending, I think) to the series. Note: This series must absolutely be read in order. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
“Scientists talk about how we inherit health issues from our parents through our genes, but we also inherit this entire lineage of fear and pain—generations of it.” -
i thiiiiink this is my FAVORITE of the series???? and that's saying something since this series itself is already one of my favorites
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For some reason, my review of this book has disappeared from goodreads. Well...
It’s Over!
Unlike his first two novels, which l plowed through (Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend), Kevin Kwan’s Rich People Problems, was not as fun to read. In fact, there were times it was a struggle.
Kwan follows the same formula as his first two books, with the same friends and family. Nicholas and Rachel Young goes to Singapore when Nicholas’s grandmother becomes ill. There is a battle over Tyersall Park, the ancestral home.
In-between, there’s the usual love affairs, family feuds, name dropping, designer clothes, tons of food and hysterical craziness!
Despite the book being a tad sluggish at times and slightly melodramatic, there were some enjoyable moments and so, I give this book 3.5 ⭐️ -
An amazing end to a really wonderfully charming and hilarious trilogy.
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While I breezed through the first two novels in
Kevin Kwan’s trilogy (can I call it that?), this one was harder to sink my teeth into. There are still many positives: I really enjoyed the added focus on the history of the Shang and Young families, which did a lot to redeem some of the less agreeable characters throughout the series (namely, the matriarch of the Youngs, Shang Su Yi.)
In general, Rich People Problems reversed my opinions of several main characters, as well as a few supporting ones. Kwan continues the redemptive arc of Kitty Pong, which was continuously delightful, though Oliver T’sien makes a less intriguing counselor than Corinna Ko-Tung. He was one of my favorite smaller characters from Crazy Rich Asians, and I wished his extra page time allowed him to do what he does best—stir up gossip alongside the other disentranced members of Singapore’s high society. Eddie Cheng’s newfound career as a “professional mourner,” in hopes of receiving his grandmother’s fortune, made him one of my favorite characters of this final novel—I really hope his five-star performance at the wake on pages 226-227 makes it into the movies!
This final book falls apart in a way that was perhaps inevitable: Nick Young and Rachel Chu get lost in the (frankly, more interesting) drama of the other characters. Not only do they fail to earn their roles as memorable protagonists in this novel, but Nicholas manages to become more irritating than his cousin Eddie! In the latter part of Rich People Problems, Nick’s righteous indignation about the sale of his family’s estate becomes incredibly hypocritical. While I guess it’s admirable that he decides to “save Tyersall Park” from being “turned into some grotesque gated community that only allows in millionaire Christians,” it’s pretty exasperating that he doesn’t address the fact that it’s been a century-old gated community for his family and friends. There’s an attempt at redemption, but the whole “Tyersall was once the Underground Railroad Of Asia so now we’ll open it to the plebeians and tourists” subplot is given drastically too little time to become coherent.
In Rich People Problems, Kwan overestimates the morality (and relevance) of Nick and Rachel—just because they aren’t actively participating in Singapore’s high society, doesn’t mean they can’t be oblivious to their own immense privilege. In fact, while everyone else in their world seems to be at least settled with their socioeconomic status in the world, Nick and Rachel’s ineffective, navel-gazing class guilt starts to seem like something they’re too old to still be grappling with.
I’m still super excited for the movie, but I’m also glad to be done with the Chu-Youngs for a minute. Every time they appeared, I found myself rushing through the chapter, searching for the characters I could stand, instead of (like before) finding them on every page. -
This was my favorite of the 3 books because by this point I was invested in the characters due to sheer exposure from binge reading.
The first 2/3 or so would have easily been 4 stars if that was the end of the book, but then it continued to drag on and I started to feel myself not caring about the outcomes anymore. The drama was the same ol same ol, especially between Kitty and Colette and omg I was sick of it.
Although a fun peek into the world of the obscenely rich, I just don't think Kwan is a great writer. The characters are underdeveloped and their personalities are changed on a whim to create drama. New characters are introduced left and right that play little to no role in the story, and truly absurd circumstances happen to them to write them out again. The plot is messy and poorly paced. He repeatedly uses slurs throughout the series (which I don't know if this is a cultural difference but Kwan has said the book was written for an American audience, and I think that living in the US, he and some of the characters from the US would know how these things come across.) The one thing he does well is the atmosphere/setting.
Content warnings: The R slur. A tasteless Helen Keller joke. Suicide attempt. Revenge porn. Death/grief. -
I really enjoyed this final installment in the trilogy. It's interesting how the genre/tone of the books sort of evolve over the course of the series. While this still maintains a lot of the ridiculous, satirical elements of the first two books, it's also a lot more serious and sentimental at times. I appreciated how Kwan gave space for the characters to be challenged and grow, not just be fun to watch get involved in petty fights and spend loads of cash (though there are definitely still elements of that in this book). Would highly recommend this entire series for fans of the 1st film and/or anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced summer read!
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You thought the first two books were ostentatious, you haven't read the third - my word! Now that I got Madonna's Material Girl into your head (you're welcome) lets start with the review.
If you haven't read Crazy Rich Asians or China Rich Girlfriend stop right here. Read the books and then you can continue on. (I don't recommend as a standalone)
What we get in Rich People Problems:
- Who is Su Yi aka Ah Ma?
- You thought Eddie was terrible, he is even more extra this go around
- Kitty Pong: the hilarity continues from China Rich Girlfriend and it's more glorious than the last storyline
- Will Astrid's perfect, private persona come crashing down?
- Our favorite crazy characters - and a WHOLE SLEW of new ones (yes that is capitalized: its a character list on steroids and hard to wrap your head around so my advice is just go with the flow and don't focus too much on figuring out the family trees) - and the drama continues
I read this a bit slower than usual as I didn't want the series to end. I hate bidding farewell, but know if it kept going it may jump the shark. I will say: I was very happy with the ending.
To read my full reviews visit:
www.saturdaynitereader.com
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Wonderful ending to a great series! I loved getting to know all these characters over the 3 books. Definitely a lot less annotations in this one, which I whole-hardheartedly appreciated. I'm really sad it's over.
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Review for book 2:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating: 'I agree that this series needs a K-drama adaptation 4 comedy stars' (and I'm not even a K-pop fan...)
My GR friend Dyanna actually includes photos of her dream cast for the characters in her review for Crazy Rich Asians:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Favorite quote:"By sheer dumb luck, my father was born in the right place at the right moment in time--when the whole region was going through enormous, unprecedented growth. And oh yeah, he also inherited an empire that had already been set up four generations before him. I think he looks down on people like your father--people who are self-made--because at the heart of it he is a deeply insecure individual. He knows he did absolutely nothing to deserve his fortune, and so the only thing he can do is disparage others who have the audacity to make their own money."
So this is the end of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy.
(LINK:
https://media.giphy.com/media/h0MTqLy...)
Okay, the dramas are still good (e.g. Cindy Bing's many battles with her estranged step daughter), and there are a handful of characters whose stories I still wish to see more development from. As a whole it is still an enjoyable read--plus if you are a foodie you would absolutely love all the mentions of Asian dishes in the book.
Overall this is an enjoyable melodrama, even though I really don't enjoy a few of the storylines in this volume.
If the main theme of the first book is about Rachel Chu meeting the super rich Young clan and the dramas surrounding the issue of 'marrying up to a super rich family', then the most intriguing part of this third book is the fight over who will get the inheritance and the charmed mansion Tyersall Park from Su Yi--the dying Ah Ma (Translation: grandmother).
Surely we can't have a novel series about rich people without having some fights over inheritance, and Rich People Problems is no exclusions.
(LINK:
https://giphy.com/gifs/crazyrichasian...)
The protagonist Nick Young is still a reliable character and I still like to see how he (and his parents) goes through the whole in-fight for the inheritance. I also found that I can understand these characters to an extent even I am by no mean rich, and the author Kevin Kwan had managed to include so many details to make me understand how the mind of these characters and the cultures and customs they live in.
Yet on the other hand, I don't care much about the divorce dramas about Astrid the heiress, her ex-husband Michael and new love interest Charlie. I just don't care about it.
When reading the book, I found myself disliking many of the characters because (1) they are self-important to the boots and won't lift a finger to help the poor people, (2) most of these people are too busy living in their glamours super rich world to notice what's going on for the rest of the population, (3) expects a few characters who actually have a job, many of these rich people had done nothing to gain their fortune.
*sighs* I got seriously pissed that many of these rich people in the story are getting rich just because they are land owners or making money out of real estate business. All these people are simply feeding on the middle class and working class people. +___+
PS: I actually like how Nick's cousin Eddie Chen and the plot twist about Eddie's long suffering wife Fiona.
PSS: Just for the record, we HongKongers never use 'Fucky fuck' as a curse word, we simply say 'Fuck your mom' (like most Han Chinese do) or just 'Fuck you' (like most people do).
PSSS: Just for the record, local HongKongers (mostly people who came to HK after WWII or later) used 'Chan' as the translation of the Chinese family name '陳', not 'Chen'. 'Chen' is used mostly among people from mainland China. So.........I found it odd that when Eddie Chen and his family is supposed to be living in HK for at least three generations but they still have a mainland-version translation as their family name...why?
PSSSS: Well, through the series, Kevin Kwan did address how people from mainland China and/or their new money class are discriminated by the other Chinese speaking communities and/or the oversea Chinese communities. But to be honest, it isn't like I can muster up much sympathy for this group of people. *shrugs*
Other novels about rich people and their soap dramas:
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Ashleys by Melissa de la Cruz:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Blue Bloods, by Melissa de la Cruz::
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8... -
I loved Rich People Problems, it was hilarious, outlandish and filled with entertainment. It reminded me a lot of what I loved out of Crazy Rich Asians, the bizarre antics of the Shang-Young family, the name and label dropping and all of the deliciously decadent food.
Full review to come.
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Actual Rating: 4.5
This review was originally posted on
Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
What do you do when you’re outrageously rich and you’re part of the most powerful, influential families in Asia? You spend it of course, in the wildest and craziest ways.
From plastering oneself with the next season’s designer labels, to being named a Countess and having everyone bow to them, to getting plastic surgery for a prized pet fish, there is no going too far for these people. Only not going far enough which is ridiculously entertaining.
With the revered grandmother Su Yi’s health on the line and her inheritance as the talk of the town, the Shang-Young clan make preparations for her legacy.
Nicholas Young, the prodigal grandson living in New York, debates whether to return and make peace with his grandmother. Astrid, the good daughter who has never disappointed her parents, is in the midst of divorce and reuniting with an old flame. The outlandish Edison is set out to mourn by his grandmother’s bedside in the showiest of manners, and it’s also not the last we’ve seen of the tacky Kitty Pong in her rise to fame.
I loved all the vivid descriptions of the French inspired grandeur of the Tyersall Park home, and the stunning locations from the designer boutiques in France, to the sandy beaches of Asia, the buzzing food stalls of Singapore and everything in between. With the name dropping of expensive watches, designer labels and even pop culture references, Rich People Problems shows us a world unattainable to most. I particularly loved the minute descriptions of the delicious Asian delicacies, from dim sum, to fried noodles with gravy, and of course, multiple course degustations.
My favourite part of Rich People Problems is that it felt very much like a direct sequel of the first book, as we see what becomes of each and every character. I loved Nick Young and the loyalty he feels towards his family and preserving Tyersall Park, even though his grandma banished him several years ago. I loved Rachel and how she tries to do what’s best for Nick and his family, despite their ill treatment to her. I also loved seeing all the family members reunite under one roof over their grandmother’s health and also a breathtaking and oestentatious proposal that could only be orchestrated by the filthy rich.
While I loved the conclusion of the book and seeing what becomes of our favourite characters, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. The epilogue references some scenes that I wish we got to experience firsthand. Aside from this, everything was wrapped up beautifully and you couldn’t ask for a better ending to this wild and crazy whirlwind of a book.
As the last book in the trilogy, Rich People Problems reminded me of everything I loved about the first book – fame, fortune and the wacky antics of Asia’s finest. This excessive, over the top world was entertaining, fast paced, hilarious and ridiculously addictive. I can’t wait for the Crazy Rich Asians movie to come out, especially with it’s all Asian cast. If you’re looking for a hilariously entertaining insight to the filthy rich from a different perspective, you can’t go wrong with this series.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
Mini review:
Spoilers ahead!
Trigger warning: Invasion off privacy via technology, blackmail, suicide attempt, death, mention of war, mention of gun violence, mention of critical injuries, mention of car accident, mention of miscarriage, kidnapping, and heart stroke.
After the cliffhanger ending in China Rich Girlfriend I was so anxious to read this! I am happy to say that I enjoyed it! Nick gets a surprising call from his mother claiming that his Grandmother is going to pass away soon. Reluctant to go back home he declines to visit her. Rachel convinces him to go and make amends with his grandmother.
Astrid and Charlie are trying to make their relationship official. Although Michael and Isabel are making that very tough. And of course Astrid's parents don't approve. And with her grandmother's health in question Charlie and Astrid have a long way to go.
Kitty has officially gotten the life she's wanted. As Jack Bing's wife she can do anything she pleases. It especially helps that Kitty gave birth to their son. Things start to change when Colette enters the picture. Kitty now has to compete with Colette in her marriage as well as her social life. But maybe with Oliver's help Kitty can figure something out.
It was so good to be back in this world! I really enjoyed Nick's journey and him making amends to his grandmother. He has really grown and it was good to read about his roots in more detail. Also his and Rachel's relationship is still going strong which was great.
The flashbacks were also so insightful. I got a better feeling of Su Yi's character! I also liked how we got to read in the point of views off her servants. Really brought out a different side of Su Yi while also providing vital information. I loved it when Su Yi and Nick forgave each other. Their relationship was so strong and beautiful.
All the family drama was surprising and realistic. I actually did believe that this happens in real life. It really was something to see all these people competing for Tyersall Park. Eddie's antics were the worst in this installment. His behaviour did shock me here and there.
I actually liked reading about some of the family members. Particularly Catherine and her family. They were like the only sane people. The twist with Tyersall Park did shock me. But I still loved it. And also the epilogue was great and really brought everything together.
While I enjoyed this book it is the weakest in the series. The situation between Kitty and Colette got way too ridiculous. I do think it dragged on for too long. Also I can't say that I fully enjoyed the resolution. I did warm up to Astrid and Charlie's relationship. Although I would've preferred her character arc to be done a bit differently.
Overall I enjoyed this installment! I highly recommend this series. -
Oh what a super satori! A family drama about money, inheritance, egos and lots of bling.
I had a little bit of trouble remembering all the characters when I left the novel to attend to real life in between.
However, it wasn't difficult to catch up on the two million dollar dresses being ripped in a jealous rage by the spoilt fashionistas, and family members being excluded from visiting grandma Su Yi's death bed at Tyersall Park, a trophy property and one of the most exclusive in Singapore.
The powerful family spend billions like other people would dish out hundreds, yet battle it out over one or two billion in divorce cases. Dollars, yes. American dollars.
This time around they're having it out over the ownership of Tyersall Park - when grandma passes. It leads to some serious intrigue, trust me!
Around the dinner tables where the best of the best in Asian food is served (don't forget the bottled water from Switzerland, for crying out loud!), the drama starts to unfold.
Family is flying in from all over the world and arrive in their cavalcades of heavily-secured vehicles with more security detail added for good measure. Eight to ten bodyguard per VVIP is not an uncommon sight on the big lawns and famous gardens surrounding the gravel road. You do know why it is a gravel path, right? Oh dear, where have you been? It's for security reasons. Tt tt. To alert the residence of any arrivals. Good or bad. Oy!
Nicholas Young had a fall out with his grandmother over his wife Rachel, and did not even want to see her. And when he arrived, her favorite grandson, was told to turn around, he is not welcome. Time is ticking...
Astrid Leong, grandma's favorite granddaughter is blemishing the family name with drama of her own, providing more venom and spit to her opponents in the battle for the priceless heirlooms waiting to be collected from grandma's will. After the scandal broke in the media, Astrid becomes personna non grata as well on the estate. Yep, access denied.
And dear Eddie Cheng, another grandson, and one of Kong Kong's best dressed men according to the Tattle magazine, felt a little intimidated by the family's wealth. Not that he is a pauper himself exactly. It just that he misses a few zeros here and there behind his own billions. Ah wait, pardon me, he actually made it into the Best Dressed Hall of Fame the previous year. Detail matters. Satorial splendor is an absolute must. Image matters. For instance, the badge he wears at an international conference. He knows it was bestowed on him by the God of Davos himself. It clearly distinguishes him as a delegate, and grants him access to dictators, despots as well as directors of the big financial world. He will ensure that grandma will have a proper send-off. Something out of the ordinary, yes. Something big to remember his dedication and love for the matriarch of the family. The gods are on his side, he can just feel it. He will be the next key-bearer of Tyersall Park. ...Finally, it will be his time to shine. He will pay his kids to cry at her funeral.
Fucky fuck! He encounters Charlie Wu on the conference floor, wearing a badge indicating his status as a , wait for it, world leader - equal to Bill Clinton. Charlie runs Asia's biggest tech company (watch this space, he becomes part of the intrigue, but I'm not talking). What a blow to poor Eddie. But he's not a man lying down easily.
Ahhh ... and then there's the sweet, sweet, sweet revenge when Jack Bing, the second riches man in the country, chooses his daughter Colette, from a first marriage, over his little spoilt trophy wife, Kitty.
There's a lot of huffs and puffs in the air when the family members fly off on their private planes and must be revived from their tantrums with the on-board massage parlors. Oh life's a bitch when you only have 2 or three billion to your name. You'r so cancelled in the upper echelons! Life is even more heavenly if you are a billionairess who marries into British nobility. You absolutely cannot get better than that. Even the leader of China will then be interested in attending your wedding, or funeral, for that matter.
But all is well in love and war in the end. It just depends on who's side you're on.
This book is a perfect, satirical family drama. I don't know why I felt so good about life after closing it. My grandmother always said, "don't laugh, you could have been the same". In this instance it is weirdly true! Okay, I will admit, I AM a little envious too, hence the nails and a sharp tongue popping out. And I did laugh. Quite a few times. Grrr.
Absolutely LOVED it! Chicken-soup-for-the-soul read indeed!
RECOMMENDED. -
This review contains spoilers for Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend.
I loved Crazy Rich Asians, and I enjoyed China Rich Girlfriend, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed this book too. It had all the drama, the excitement, light tone, and the pure entertainment value I was craving. Whereas China Rich Girlfriend focused more on Rachel’s family, in Rich People Problems we’re back with the Shang-Young-T’sien clan. One of my favorite features of this series is its large cast of characters, something Kevin Kwan takes full advantage of here. Beneath the epic family feuds, soap opera twists, and vivid descriptions of fashion and interior design, what most appeals to me about these books are the glimpses I get into lifestyles so utterly unlike my own.
That said, there were a few glaring flaws that had me wavering between a three and four star rating. The first flaw that I noticed about both this book and the previous one in the series was that, toward the end, so many things happened in such a short span of time, which really threw off the pacing. I also don’t think Kwan is a very strong romance author. The two main couples – Rachel and Nick, Astrid and Charlie – come across at times as flat and unrealistic. Either their relationships were perfectly harmonious or they were in the middle of a total crisis… which was quickly resolved so perfect harmony could resume. Finally, as I mentioned in my review of Crazy Rich Asians, some of his dialogue could use work.
Overall, I thought this book was extremely entertaining, just like the rest of the series. My enjoyment of the book ultimately outweighed its flaws, and I certainly had a fun time. The whole trilogy was well worth the read. -
I’m so so so so so sad to leave my friends in this series. I didn’t want this book to end so I could spend more time with them. Overall, more emotional, with more backstory than the first two and we really sunk into the spirit of the characters and the elements that make up the glue that holds the family together. Ugh, I’m obsessed. If I had to rank the three, the first one is my favorite, followed by this one, and the second is my least favorite. But they’re all wonderful.
Something to make note of was that there was a small subplot that involved questionable villification of mental illness and use of the “hysterical woman” trope which I didn’t enjoy. Like don’t let Freud into this book please. I deducted 1 star here, or it would have been the full 5. -
Ah Ma had a heart attack but she survived; everyone flew in because they thought that the end was near. Astrid and Charlie got engaged in India where they were spending their holidays together. Nick was not allowed to meet his grandmother but Astrid somehow sneaked him in before Ah Ma passed away.
Ah Ma divided her house among all her children (3 daughters and 1 son), Nick and Alistair. Nick buys his Aunt’s share and turns the house into a Museum and Resort, with the help of his friends, now his business partners. Astrid moved out of Singapore after her divorce with Micheal and lives in Philippines; Charlie finds her there and decides to live with her.
The last of the series is more about the house than the characters hence got less stars than the other two. The characters didn’t develop much as they were limited and focused towards Ah Ma’s death and her will. Only Kitty Pong and somewhat Astrid had a bit of an arch due to their frequent unpredictable and staying relevant stances.
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"It always reminded me of how life can surprise you. Sometimes, the thing that at first appears flawed can end up being the most perfect thing in the world for you."
°•*⁀➷
This book gets five stars simply for Charlie Wu making sure he had Astrid's Grandmother's blessing before asking her to marry him. He knew how much that would mean to her, and the fact that she gave him the family ring as well? So incredibly special to me. I swear I've been reading this series for their love story above all else, and it didn't let me down even a little bit. I already cannot wait to read this book in particular again.
There were so many moving parts in the Crazy Rich Asians books. I liked every single one of them. I feel like the plot of this book really outweighed how much the writing bothered me at some times. I've said it in the other reviews and I'll say it again, I enjoyed this book so much that nothing else about it really mattered. I'm going to read these forever.
The things in this book that made it so much better than the others (for me) is the love between the family. It's under everything written in all of the books, but it was very clear in this one. Things like Grandmother accepting Charlie's request to propose to Astrid knowing that would be what made her Grandmother happiest. When she said "he's a good boy that one" I teared up a bit. I loved that she also finally accepted Rachael as a part of her family, and hearing her story on why she was so against it in the first place melted my heart. I loved the few chapters about her, Astrid and Nick's reconciliation. It was so beautiful, so magical. I felt it in my soul.
My favorite thing in the book, by far, was when I read: "And so I thought: If I'm about to die, this is what I want to play. Debussy's Clair de Lune." That's my favorite musical piece of all time and I couldn't believe I read it in here. With all of the mentions of current culture when these books were written, maybe I should have expected something I love to be mentioned. And there were many things I love. But this one meant the most.
And in the end, Charlie falling in love with teaching and Astrid being truly happy and doing something for herself? Loved it. I love that she gave up on her family pressures and truly began living her own life. All of the people I loved got such a happy ending and I couldn't be happier with this series. What a happy little journey these books have taken me on.
- Paige -
Wowwwww. I still hate Eleanor.
