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A review by knockoutbooks
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
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.