Asians 03: Rich People Problems (Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy)

by Kevin Kwan

Paperback, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Collection

Publication

Anchor (2018), Edition: Reprint, 560 pages

Description

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 on their matriarch's massive fortune. With each family member vying to inherit Tyersall Park--a trophy estate on 64 prime acres in the heart of Singapore--Nicholas's childhood home turns into a hotbed of speculation and sabotage. As her 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, billionaire Jack Bing, still feels second best next to her new step-daughter, famous fashionista Colette Bing. A sweeping novel 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, caught on camera by the telephoto lenses of paparazzi, Kevin Kwan's hilarious, gloriously wicked new novel reveals the long-buried secrets of Asia's most privileged families and their rich people problems.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member teachlz
I would like to thank NetGalley, Doubleday Books, Doubleday, and Kevin Kwan for the ARC of "Rich People Problems" by Kevin Kwan for my honest review.
The Genre of this book is Women's Fiction. Please note that this is the third book in a series of books by the author. I have not read the other two
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books.
Kevin Kwan describes many of the locations in Asia, as well places in the rest of the world in a delightful, easy to visualize paradise. He describes the beautiful shades of water and landscape in such an alluring way. I appreciate the way the author describes Tyersall Park on 64 acres in Singapore, and the interior designs, as well as the architectural designs in other places.
The characters are described as complex, complicated, competitive, greedy, vain, manipulative, jealous,secretive and rich. There a few characters that have integrity and flaws. The author describes all the materialistic fashions, jewelry, cars and design houses with a "NAME" that costs a fortune. Many of the characters are portrayed as shallow, and visit plastic surgeons, and live to get more and better than the others. There is jealousy and revenge.
Kevin Kwan writes about Asia's most prestigious and wealthy families. Many have fortune and wealth and fancy titles.
Su-Yi, the powerful and wealthy Matriarch is on her deathbed, as close and distant relatives congregate waiting to see who will inherit Tyersall Park. At the same time, the author describes the toxic relationships of various relatives and characters. Traditions, religion and expectations are discussed.
This was an intriguing read, and I would recommend this to those of you that have read the other two books in the series. I would rate this book as 3.5 stars. Happy Reading!
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LibraryThing member eurohackie
It was hard to rate this book, because there were parts I loved (Nick's reunion with Su Yi, the end of Astrid's storyline) and parts I didn't (85% of Astrid's storyline in this book; and I could've especially done without the extended storyline of Kitty Pong being insecure and jealous of her
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stepdaughter). The epilogue was completely unnecessary and brought my score down from 4 stars.

This book wasn't quite as good as Book #2, which wasn't quite as good as Book #1, but that's how series generally go, no? All of the books had their strong points, and Kwan is a fantastic writer - at turns hilarious and poignant. The books are impulsively readable - once you start, it's hard to stop.

The entire series is worth reading, and the upcoming movie version will definitely be interesting.
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LibraryThing member Cats57
What can I say about this book...well first thing it would help a lot if you make sure you read the first two books in this series (?). It might help you keep the myriad of characters straight. You might also want to be happy with foot-notes, a LOT of them. And let me tell you it is no picnic
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reading a book with foot-notes on a Kindle.

You need to be happy with constant advertising of items that the hoi polloi (like me!)wont know about, but with a book such as this it is the norm or how else would we know that these people are filthy rich if it wasn't for all the advertising???

There are a about a skagillion character's (it seems) and it is sometimes very difficult to keep them all straight, but the main character's of Nick and his sister Atstrid will grab you and they are fairly well written- not too fleshed out but enough so you can empathize with them.

In the long run this was a bit more boring than I would have thought a book of this type would be. It is also somewhat long winded, but again for a book of this type it is understandable.

I did love learning about Ah Ma and her past. She should have a book all to herself -it wouldn't be a funny one, but it sure would capture me!

I think that this author has so much more inside and could branch out from these ironic books, to something just as entertaining but with a little bit more to say.
ARC from Author and/or Publishe
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LibraryThing member cburnett5
Rich People Problems is a fabulous read. Kevin Kwan’s witty writing and highly entertaining characters make Rich People Problems so much fun to read. There are A LOT of characters to keep up with, but once I had them all straight again I didn’t want the book to end. Kwan is a master at
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depicting familial relationships, and with everyone descending on Tyersall Park, there is much family drama to be had.

I really enjoyed learning more about Su Yi’s background and Tyersall Park itself. Kwan’s descriptions of the ultra-rich lifestyles of certain characters and the outlandish behavior of others, including poor Eddie and Kitty. A fish gets plastic surgery, a socialite has a “personal documentarian”, and a decorator creates a look he called “Ming emperor meets Louis-Napoleon at Studio 54” which includes Tibetan yak hair dyed simmering shades of persimmon. Kwan is truly a master at depicting the absurdity of various characters’ lifestyles in the most hilarious manner. Be prepared to laugh out loud repeatedly.

I was excited to see artist James Turrell receive a shout-out from Kwan. Turrell designed an illuminated tunnel at the art museum near my home, and it remains one of our favorite things to see whenever we visit the museum.

I highly recommend this book and hope there will be another one. I am looking forward to the Crazy Rich Asians movie in the meantime. Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
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LibraryThing member mcelhra
Rich People Problems is the final book in Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. This review will contain spoilers for the first two books, Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend. I highly recommend reading the first two books before reading Rich People Problems. I don’t think it will
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make much sense if you aren’t already familiar with the characters.
Rich People Problems takes place about two years after China Rich Girlfriend left off. Nick’s grandmother is sick and probably close to dying. Nick was the heir apparent to Tyersall Park but he has been estranged from his grandmother since he married Rachel against her wishes. If Su Yi dies who will inherit Tyersall Park now? Nick’s conniving cousin Eddie thinks it should be him. He hasn’t changed a bit over the past two years – he’s still a pretentious snob. Some of what he does and how he acts is funny but sometimes I just wanted to punch him in the face.
Meanwhile, Nick’s mother is after Nick and Rachel to give her a grandchild. If you thought the lengths she went to try and keep them from getting married were over the top, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
We also check in with the Michael/Astrid/Charlie situation. Since getting rich, Michael has continued to become more and more of an asshole. He and Astrid are in the middle of an acrimonious divorce. We learn more about Charlie’s wife Isabelle, who has major problems of her own.
And then there’s Kitty, who has either forgotten or rejected everything her consultant Corrina taught her about fitting in with the old money Asians. Now that she’s married to Jack Bing, one of the richest men in Asia, she can and will behave however she wants.
The life-styles of most everyone in this book are even more outrageously lavish than in the two previous books. But Kwan, who grew up in Singapore has said that the way his characters live is totally based in reality. Regardless, it’s fun living vicariously through these people. I was mostly satisfied with the way Kwan wrapped up this series. My only problems were that Astrid’s ending seemed a little of character for her and Peik Lin’s ending felt rushed.
The book starts off a bit slow but soon returns to the level of humor that China Rich Girlfriend had. (I don’t think Kwan will be able to top Crazy Rich Asians.), including his droll and informative foot-notes. If you’re looking for a light, funny summer read, this is it.
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LibraryThing member shazjhb
Excellent conclusion to a great book. However, it needs to go back and give the grandmother's story
LibraryThing member quondame
A few new wishful tourist destinations, but a bit too much time spent with people who have nothing to do but spend money - and even those who do aren't spending anytime doing it.
LibraryThing member foggidawn
Nick Young hasn’t spoken to his grandmother in nearly five years, and now she is dying. At his wife Rachel’s urging, Nick travels back to Singapore to make peace with his Ah Ma. There, he discovers a tangle of relatives, all planning and scheming and wondering: who will inherit Tyersall Park,
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his grandmother’s sprawling estate?

Though it has its moments of hilarity, this book is a little deeper than the two before it, dealing as it does with themes of death and legacy. I found it a satisfying conclusion to the story arc for these characters.
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LibraryThing member flourgirl49
This book chronicles the further fantastical adventures of the Crazy Rich Asians gang. Hugely entertaining. Loved it.
LibraryThing member bblum
Kwan's Rich People Problems is as fun as the first book. I have finished the trilogy and enjoyed both the fashion description and the back biting equally in all the books, and ah, the description of the food makes me want to go to Singapore. This book reveals more about the Young and Shang
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families. Nick makes up with his grandmother, finally, on her death bed. Does this mean he will inherit Tyarsall Park? Eddie is convinced he will inherit Tyarsall Park, the stately old mansion in the heart of
Singapore but the reading of the will throws everything in the air. Plus the divorce of Charlie Wu and the difficulty Astrid is having divorcing her husband Michael gets ugly. Great fun read.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
When Nicholas Young's grandmother, Su Yi, takes ill, the entire clan descends on Tyersall Park. However, concern for their matriarch is at the bottom of most of her relatives' priority lists. Instead all of them are fixated on getting into her good graces in the hopes of inspiring a last minute
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will change and inheriting the estate of Tyersall Park.

Kwan crafts yet another sprawling tale with the characters readers of this trilogy have come to know (and love or hate). While the central plot is well done and Kwan writes evocatively of the details of the lives of the insanely rich, I felt like character development was lacking a bit in this one. I also was dismayed that Rachel, who has always been the sort of sane, everyday access point to this world gets so very little page time. While she and Nick aren't the dramatic centre of these novels, they are its most sane heart (followed by Astrid). Highly enjoyable and definitely recommended for fans of the previous books but I felt it didn't quite match the standards of its predecessors.
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LibraryThing member norabelle414
Shang Su Yi, also known as Ah Ma, the matriarch of the Young family, is on her deathbed. Out of the woodwork come all of her relatives – royal grandchildren from Thailand, British cousins from Surrey, and of course the greedy Eddie Cheng. The grand Singaporean mansion Tyersall Park is chock full
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of people hoping for a piece of Ah Ma’s gigantic inheritance. Even Nicholas Young, formerly Ah Ma’s golden child but currently in self-imposed exile in NYC, returns to Singapore to say his goodbyes. Eddie, determined to keep Nick out of their grandmother’s good graces, is constantly scheming. Will Ah Ma survive her illness? Who will inherit Tyersall Park (and how will they afford the upkeep)? Can Ah Ma and Nicholas make up?

Once again, we return to the epic struggle between those who have a reputation but (relatively) little money and those who have no reputation and oodles of cash. Nothing like some inheritance drama to stir the pot! I really loved all of the parts of the plot that were about the family drama and the inheritance. Although in the last book I really liked Kitty Pong, in this book she was unnecessarily cruel (though her nemesis is worse) and I didn’t like her sections much. A few flashbacks and lots of other peeks into Ah Ma’s life during World War II give extra depth to a story that might otherwise be stale. I don’t know if there are going to be more in this series, but I’m not ready for it to be over!
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LibraryThing member haymaai
After previously enjoying Kevin Kwan’s ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ I was excited to read ‘Rich People’s Problems’ when it emerged on the to-read list at our local library. Not realizing that this novel was the final story in a trilogy, I may have missed some schema when I neglected to read the
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second novel, ‘China Rich Girlfriend.’ For me, much of this tale seemed immersed in over-the-top branding of the most exclusive wares, from watches to exclusive designer clothing and more, and I felt that it detracted from the character development and plot. The story is basically about a the female matriarch, SuYi Young, who is on her death-bed with all the family congregating to say their goodbyes and pay their respects, with some family members hoping to become beneficiaries to SuYi’s will and to acquire the majestic family estate Tyersall Park in Singapore. The author attempts to portray a satirical picture of an ultra-wealthy Asian family and all the trappings of their lifestyle. There is Eddie Chang, who weeps profusely and protectively over SuYi, while attempting to get into her good graces hoping to inherit Tyerall Park. Meanwhile, Nick, Su-Yi’s favored grandson, tries to return to Tyersall Park for a last visit with his beloved grandmother, to make amends with her before her imminent death. Nick is blocked by the security guards from seeing her, and only through complicit plotting, is given an audience with his grandmother. SuYi’s other granddaughter, Astrid, who is in the midst of a divorce settlement, flies to India to meet with her lover, Charlie Wu. While they are having sex, Charlie’s soon-to-be ex-wife captures the couple on tape, and the video is released, going viral. The story is hilarious at times, but for me, in order to portray the extraordinary wealth of these people, the author seemed to name-drop so frequently that it detracted from the overall satire. However, being a coffee aficionado, I was pleased to read of Verve Coffee Roasters, a pricey LA coffee chain named in the book, so that I might possibly find that elusive cup of perfect coffee.
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LibraryThing member LittleBookishInkblot
Shang Su Yi is on her deathbed, and Tyersall Park is on lockdown.

Having read and enjoyed the first two books I could not WAIT to sink my teeth into the exploits of my favorite family. The first two books had such spot-on characters that I still remember fondly. By the third book, Nick, Rachel,
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Astrid, Charlie, Kitty, and Ollie had started to feel like old friends (and frenemies). By the third chapter, I am hoping for Astrid's happy ending and wondering if Nick and Rachel will ever reconcile with Nick's grandmother.

Diving into the book, you immediately get that feeling of being swept up in the story as we learn that Shang Su Yi is dying. The entire family flies in (on their private jets, of course) to say their goodbyes, make their peace and cement their claims on the family fortune. Nick, the beloved grandson who was once thought to inherit it all is banned from the house. Astrid, the favorite granddaughter who is facing the social media scandal of the century is also discouraged from visiting her grandmother. As the drama continues to unfold inside the walls of beautiful Tyersall Park, Kitty Pong (now Mrs. Jack Bing) lives in luxurious splendor but faces steep competition from her stepdaughter, Colette.

The characters continue to be just as over the top as in the previous books, with the story picking up a few years after the end of the last book, China Rich Girlfriend. In typical Kevin Kwan fashion, we are immersed in the colorful descriptions of lavish luxurious lifestyles and over the top opulence with brand names scattered all throughout the pages. There are noticeably more food references in this book as compared to the others, in fact the meals were described so deliciously it made me want to eat dinner thrice in one day! Expect a lot of great family drama, laugh out loud moments and even some eye-rolling ridiculousness - mostly centered around Eddie.

I'm not going to do anything ridiculous like mention who gets Tyersall Park in the end but I will say that this book gave me a lot to think about. My favorite parts of the book were about Su Yi's past and I was also pleasantly surprised to see glimpses of humanity in a few of the characters. The only downside is that I missed seeing Rachel in the book, she did not have as strong a presence now as she did in the past. Her character had so much to offer in the first two books and I feel that she is just Nick's main for of support in this one, which is a pity since there were some scenes with Kitty that I feel was not needed to move the story along. I am holding out for a fourth book because Rachel's character was just so -blah- that I feel she needs redemption, maybe as a young mother with overbearing in-laws? Who knows, perhaps Eleanor will visit New York and babysit! Won't that be fun?

Rich People Problems is by far one of the best reads I've had this year, it's outrageous, but also very unexpected. I am not ready to let these characters go, so I will be joining the horde of fans waiting with bated breaths for the movie, and a fourth book!
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LibraryThing member ASKelmore
Best for: People who want some resolution of the dangling storylines from China Rich Girlfriend.

In a nutshell: The family matriarch is dying and is still estranged from one of her grandkids. Most potential heirs start acting even more entitled.

Worth quoting: N/A

Why I chose it: I read the first two
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books over the course of three days. I needed to know what happened next.

Review: (Spoilers below)
I didn’t fully enjoy how every storyline was tied up, but for the most part I found this to be and extremely satisfying end to the trilogy. The absurdity is ramped up a bit, and there’s a bit of a deus ex machina at the end, but whatever. The entire series is a messy soap opera and I loved it.

The character of Rachel continues to be a mostly non-entity, despite having been the instigator for the first book and our access point into this incomprehensible world. But that’s okay - there are other interesting women to follow, like Astrid, who has one of the more interesting arcs of the story. Some of the men are interesting and complicated as well.

There are also some REAL simple dudes. Oh Eddie. Eddie, you are the worst, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment when things didn’t go your way. I also found the evolution of Michael’s character to be intriguing - when he had (relatively) little money, he was a good father and partner who just wanted a way out of the life he knew didn’t fit him; as soon as he starts to get money he become overbearing and controlling and an ass.

My favorite part of the book came halfway through, when the matriarch’s will was read. Sometimes my eyes will dart over the full page and certain names will stand out, so I covered the pages with my hand so I couldn’t skim ahead. And it was worth it. So glorious.

I read these three books over the course of four days. I haven’t inhaled a series like this since … probably The Hunger Games. I enjoyed the frivolity and decadence, sure, but I also enjoyed the characters. I can’t wait to read what Mr. Kwan comes up with next.
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LibraryThing member BraveNewBks
Kept me engaged on a long plane ride on a holiday weekend. Second best of the trilogy, maybe because much of the focus was back in Singapore instead of China and Hong Kong, which I think Kwan just doesn't know as intimately.
LibraryThing member briandrewz
This is the final installment in the Crazy Rich Asian series by Kevin Kwan. While not quite as good as the previous two books, this is, nonetheless, a very fun read. While the first two books focused more on Nick and Rachel, this book focuses more on the extended family of Nick, especially his
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grandmother, Su Yi, who has more to the story than meets the eye. Another major theme in this book is porn-star-turned-socialite Kitty Pong and her ongoing feud with her stepdaughter, Colette. The ending is immensely satisfying and a perfect way to end the series.
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LibraryThing member SBoren
I purchased this book from Amazon to read with @k.e.radke. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan. After spending the last few weeks getting to know Astrid, Charlie, Michael, Rachel, Alistair, and their families and friends I am happy to say I have completed
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the trilogy. A perfect ending to a perfect trilogy. That is all. Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Library Thing, Go Read, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Twitter @jason_stacie and my blog at readsbystacie.com
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LibraryThing member jovemako
took a while for this soap opera to come to an end. This last volume of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy was a mix of Dynasty and listening to the celebrity gossip columns (like E!) on the surface. Kitty was nuttier than ever, Nick's mom (Elenor) while not a huge player this time around was still
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being, well, her. In the end it all tied up all the loose ends in a neat bow. Overall, not a bad read. Sometimes I just kind of slugged through pages because there was way too much description about the decor or shopping habits. This goes in the "poolside read" category.
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LibraryThing member arlenadean
Title: Rich People Problems
Author: Kevin Kwan
Publisher: Doubleday
Series: Crazy Rich Asians # 3
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Rich People Problems" by Kevin Kwan

My Thoughts...

This author gives the reader in this third book in the Crazy Rich Asians series a read of great drama, some
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hilarious laughs with some characters, wonderful vacations spots, entertainment and scenic descriptions[clothing and jewelry] that will really have you thinking you are looking at a movie right in front of you. What wacky antics that this large family seems to have that will keep you turning the pages to its conclusion to a hilarious series. Be prepared to read of a 'dysfunctional, paranoid, social climbing crazies with some ridiculous fun.' This will be one intriguing, incredible and entertaining read that I would recommend to the readers.
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
They're Back: Rich Ugly, and Obnoxious As Ever...

Nick & Rachel are happily married & living in New York, far away from his mother, when they get a call (or several) telling Nick to go back to Singapore as his Ah Mah (grandmother) is dying and they need to reconcile.

Eddie (Nick's a.h. cousin) is
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lording over everyone as he believes that he is the heir & favorite grandson of the hour.

Charlie proposes to Astrid in a remote Scottish castle w/ the secret help of Ah Ma, all hell breaks loose as Charlie's ex-wife leaks a video of Astrid & Charlie to the Singapore news & Astrid's soon-to-be ex decides to hold the divorce proceedings for ransom.

Colette has married an English Peer, but she hasn't changed & her step-mother, Kitty Poon (former porn-star) decides to get revenge by coming to Nick's rescue in a most unusual manner, thereby evening out the field

Life as usual....

I liked this more than the previous book, but not as much as the first one... a satisfying & neat conclusion.
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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan is the third book in his satiric romantic comedy series about the ultra rich and powerful Asian families from Singapore. All of these books are full of designer fashion, gourmet food, expensive art and tongue-in-cheek fun. There is also family greed, speculation
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and social pressure as the extremely wealthy Su Yi, mother and grandmother to many of these influential people is dying, and this brings out members from every extended branch of the family, all seeking their share of her huge estate.

Nicky Young and Astrid Leong have been her favorite grandchildren but in recent years Nicky and his grandmother fell out over his marriage, and Astrid is in trouble with her family because of her too public romance with Charlie Wu, even though they are both married to other people. Some members of the family, most notably Eddy Chang, are trying to keep the favorites away from their grandmother in the hope that he will benefit by their absence. Of course the author updates his readers on all of his characters, the many multi-billionaires of southeast Asia that have appeared in the other books.

These over-the-top books have been a fun escape from reality. The action has played out all over the globe as the ultra-rich go about their soap opera lives full of petty intrigues and lavish spending. If you are in the mood for some crazy family drama set in some of the world’s most expensive locations, these books should fill that craving nicely.
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LibraryThing member DKnight0918
Really enjoyed this third book in the series. It is still a little hard to keep up with all of the characters but i love reading about them. Rachel is still my favorite. Looking forward to reading more of Kwan’s books.

Watched the Crazy Rich Asians movie today and I think they did a good job of
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staying true to the first book in this series.
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LibraryThing member tshrope
While still a fun beach read, it was too long, way too many characters to keep track., and the plot lines keep getting more and more unbelievable.

I also do not appreciate when an author inserts plugs for his other books into the narrative, it is a distraction and jolts the reader back into the
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reality of the bookselling business.

Again, it is a fun beach read, but I think this is the last one of this series I will read, if indeed he decides to keep this lucrative series going, which I imagine he will.
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LibraryThing member Amellia_Fiske
It was a perfect ending...which is exactly why I'm giving it 3-stars. I'd like to have learned more about Su Yi's role in WWII-era Singapore. I'd like to have felt like there were deeper consequences for some of the darker things that happened in this book. Charlie and Astrid not getting married?
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That's it? Yeah, that's too bad but I wanted to feel repercussions for that whole situation. I wanted the Kitty/Colette drama to come to a head. Also, where did Peik Lin and Alistair come from? That's very forced, in my opinion. I mean I'm complaining because it was a happy ending, but I think there was so much potential for something deeper to happen. At least there were less chapter-long entries about clothing/shoes/jewelry!
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Awards

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2017-05-23

Physical description

560 p.; 5.17 inches

ISBN

052543237X / 9780525432371

Local notes

READ

series: #03 asians
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