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shelbyaye's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
crimsoncor's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read CRA (seen the movie), so it didn't feel as duplicative of that plot as other reviewers claim. It takes a lot of skill to write a novel where every character is fundamentally dislikeable (even the ostensible "hero") and yet still have the novel be greatly enjoyable to read. See Sam Sykes for when this goes terrible wrong. But it all works here, even though you really spend most of the books rooting for something terrible to happen to everyone.
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Digital audiobook read by Lydia Look
From the book jacket: A glittering tale of love and longing as a young woman finds herself torn between two worlds–the WASP establishment of her father’s family and George Zao, a man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with.
My reactions
Boring. Vain, shallow characters more concerned with who is wearing what, or how to upstage someone else with their over-the-top events. Whether it’s their residence, car, jewels, vacations or clothing, they are obsessed with appearances.
There were a few over-the-top scenes that tickled my funny bone, and I gave it two stars for those. I realize that Kwan means these works to be satires of “crazy rich Asians” but I just find them tedious.
Lydia Look does a good job of narrating the audiobook. Too bad she didn’t have better material to work with.
From the book jacket: A glittering tale of love and longing as a young woman finds herself torn between two worlds–the WASP establishment of her father’s family and George Zao, a man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with.
My reactions
Boring. Vain, shallow characters more concerned with who is wearing what, or how to upstage someone else with their over-the-top events. Whether it’s their residence, car, jewels, vacations or clothing, they are obsessed with appearances.
There were a few over-the-top scenes that tickled my funny bone, and I gave it two stars for those. I realize that Kwan means these works to be satires of “crazy rich Asians” but I just find them tedious.
Lydia Look does a good job of narrating the audiobook. Too bad she didn’t have better material to work with.
elliesbookshelf's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hhh_111's review against another edition
3.0
The first half was amazing (4-5stars), but the second half was grotesque (1-2stars). Cecil seems unrealistic as does the fact Lucie would fall for him with the way he acts. Then there's Lucie's in cohesive behaviour in the second half where Kwan can't seem to fully grasp her as a person yet. George, the main love interest barely appears in the book. Towards the end the plot feels rushed as if Kwan was needing to meet a deadline. Not appreciated. Finally settled a 3 stars.
_jessrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
knockoutbooks's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I think this is my favorite Kevin Kwan book! I loved the Crazy Rich Asians series, but this as a standalone is excellent! As a Chinese adoptee who grew up mostly surrounded by white people, I really connected to Lucie's situation and feelings.
Born into a WASPy old money New York City family, being "hapa" or half-Chinese has always been an identity Lucie has tried to ignore. But when she meets and falls for Chinese born and raised George Zhao at a wedding in Italy, she comes face to face with that identity and thoroughly tries to reject it. Fast forward over a year later, and she is getting engaged to a very rich- and very white- guy just like all the others she has grown up with.
Lucie is young and she makes a lot of mistakes, often trying to reject her Chinese heritage because she doesn't believe it belongs in the world she lives in. Kwan does a great job at showing the reader's what it's like wearing many masks and faces. This was a quick, fun read that still has Kwan's signature humor, while also tackling tougher issues underneath.
Born into a WASPy old money New York City family, being "hapa" or half-Chinese has always been an identity Lucie has tried to ignore. But when she meets and falls for Chinese born and raised George Zhao at a wedding in Italy, she comes face to face with that identity and thoroughly tries to reject it. Fast forward over a year later, and she is getting engaged to a very rich- and very white- guy just like all the others she has grown up with.
Lucie is young and she makes a lot of mistakes, often trying to reject her Chinese heritage because she doesn't believe it belongs in the world she lives in. Kwan does a great job at showing the reader's what it's like wearing many masks and faces. This was a quick, fun read that still has Kwan's signature humor, while also tackling tougher issues underneath.
drgnhrt968's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
christinereads1823's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kwan's writing is, as always, a delight. While it is a fun read, the book feels a bit disjointed at times, and George and Charlotte are significantly less fleshed out than I would have liked. Lucie's turmoil near the end also feels rushed, but I appreciated their happy ending (as well as the couple of callbacks to CRA).
shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
This is a modern-day A Room With a View, this time set at a super-luxury wedding in Capri. To me the constant mention of designers, artists, schools and such was a little tedious but I love ARWAV enough to have found this fun too.