A review by kdawn999
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

2.0

2.5 stars. I like many elements of this novel—the lavish descriptions of wealth and the snobbery that comes with it, the inner turmoil of a biracial main character, the fun and ridiculous pop culture references (my favorite being a sex scene in which the main character role-plays as Mary from Downton Abbey). Unlike Crazy Rich Asians, though, this novel doesn’t reach for sharp irony, and beyond the glittering environs and dialogue, we never learn much of substance from the romantic pair. And most unforgivable of all—we have a completely unsatisfying ending, which trashes all the romantic tension built up to that point.