“I have no idea who these people are. But I can tell you one thing - these people are richer than God.”
Crazy Rich Asians, indeed. I absolutely loved reading this book. It was funny, dramatic and emotional, all wrapped together with a touch of some vicious characters.
Nick invites Rachel to fly back home with him to Singapore, for his best friend’s wedding. Though a little nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel was looking forward to this vacation. Before they could even land, news of Nick Young’s new girlfriend was the talk of the town, thanks to Singapore’s well connected grapevine. While she gets used to the VIP treatment in the private suites on the airplane, Rachel is completely unaware that she is going to be arriving for one of the most awaited wedding of the year with Singapore’s most eligible bachelor.
What Rachel slowly starts to discover on this trip about Nick and his family was way beyond her expectations. The Youngs happen to be one of Singapore’s elite and wealthier families. His childhood home is a royal mansion to say the least. This whole other life Nick has here takes Rachel by surprise.
A world of private jets flying you to private islands for bachelorette parties. Where guests have their clothes flown out from Europe for the 40 million dollar wedding everyone can’t seem to stop talking about. Where trips to Paris’ couture boutiques and private viewings of expensive gems in a jewellery store is a regular affair. A world completely opposite from their life in New York that Nick had not shared with Rachel.
“It only takes a spark, to get the fire going. And soon all those around, can warm up in its glowing.”
Rachel, of course was not welcomed with open arms because she was a no-one. She didn’t come from a renowned family. She wasn’t rich. And people made sure of that, especially Nick’s mother. Amidst Nick’s jealous old girlfriends and Aunties, Rachel had a few friends on her side. Nick’s cousin Astrid, one of the very few characters with a heart and someone you could empathise with. Personally one of my favourites in the book. And Rachel’s college roommate, Piek Lin, another fun-loving character I enjoyed reading and watching in the movie.
But what happens when this bubble Rachel is stuck in gets overwhelming and doesn’t seem to burst, how much ever you poke at it. And when Nick’s mother is set against this relationship, enough to hire an investigator to dig in her past?
Kwan draws out the lives of these rich families so intricately. Everything about their world is written with enough detail to make you feel like you are there standing in these palaces with your eyes wide open, just trying to take it all in. The characters are sketched out with the same level of accuracy, their demeanour, their conversations, so well written that truly makes you despise some of these snooty personalities.
I watched the movie right after I finished the book and loved it almost as much! The movie is an almost perfect reflection of the book in many ways and was able to bring in some pivotal written moments onto the screen in its own way, through a character or storyline. Definitely looking forward to reading the follow up novels.
“Remember, every treasure comes with a price.”