Realism & World Building

This story transports you into a flashy, almost mesmerising world of the Singaporean elites. Suggested to me by randos on reddit (thank you by the way), I thought to give the story a try, and I'm glad I did. The exotic, and extravagant realm is flashy, breath taking and almost alien in its intoxicating wonder. Yet, the best part is knowing that it's all true… kinda.

Obviously its a fictional world based on reality, so none of this actually happened but the world is quite breath taking and makes me want to book a trip to Sing-a-poor, wait shouldn't it be Sing-a-Rich?

According to our AI overlords, the author Kevin Kwan based the story on his experiences in the lavish upper class world of Singaporean elites. So according to the thinking machines the story is quite accurate to the way they live. Hence the "trueness" I mentioned earlier.

Compared to the Movie?

So I play the movie, crazy rich asians. We get 20 minutes in and my wife says to "what the heck are we watching"… We never did finish that movie.

I found the film actually quite boring. The book on the other hand was interesting. I was surprised because by the I reached the point I gave up on the movie, I was invested in the book.

Characters and Motivations – Also Jumping to Conclusions

Based on my own experiences, I can attest that these people are like this. I've known people who want to know your family background. As if its important. Additionally, the way people jump to conclusions is accurate from my euro-indian perspective. Old women gathered around tables trying to "figure out" someone's motives, whilst jumping to wild conclusions then believing those conclusions based on a handful of facts and nothing more than "it was suggested that…" such and such.

Also, when Astred and Her husband… ah… well lets just say I knew something wasn't right.

Vague Spoiler Time

The story orbits the wedding of Araminta and Colin. The primary plot thread follows the relationship of Rachel and Nick as they head to the wedding. Rachel gets blindsided by Nick's wealth for ah… reasons (Nick is an idiot).

The groups split, the girls head to an island where Rachel is blindsided again by Nick's ex's trying to put a wedge in their relationship. Meanwhile Nick's mum goes on a magic quest to dig up dirt on Rachel's past (they went to a secret shopping mall to buy real/knock offs).

Nick en dah boyz! Head out to the bachelor party, but ultimate Nick and Colin escape to Australia for some special food. (Globe trotting).

The wedding is on, and various plot threads revolving around it. Side character's like Kitty-(Cat) get redirected in order to "save" her fiancé from marrying her. Along with a number of other threads. Meanwhile Astrid goes on a quest to save her marriage, and finds out her husband who she thought was cheating, really just ran away because he couldn't take any more the rich people's life nonsense (I'm summarizing).

Post wedding party and various events unfold (I won't give the list or I'll be here all day). Also… someone in a coma… sigh (I feel like rolling my eyes when there's a coma, amnesia and secret identical twins in these things, so cliche).

After the party, Nick takes Rachel to a special place to propose and get's blind sided again my Nick's mum and finds out she has a father. (Another cliche). The couple break up, and Rachel goes to see her father whilst Nick goes into depression and jumps from a… nah just kidding. What really happens is a big reveal about the true daddy when Nick brings mum to the prison before Rachel can go see her fake dad. After, they all go out together, and the main couple look at each other, then the story ends.

That being said, there's a plot that I saw coming from a mile away, that will lead directly to Rachel being worthy. I won't give any spoilers, I haven't looked up the second book but the moment this character was added about 60% of way through the book I knew exactly what the writer's planning. That combined with the name of the second book gives a big clue where the story is headed. I won't spoil it for you, there's also the chance I'm wrong but let's see… ha ha ha

Rating 3.7 out of 5

I went back and forth between 3 and 4 out of 5. This is a good book, with fantastic world building, made even better based on the fact that its based on the real world thing. That being said the story's a little cliche at times, and there are boring stretches. Dispite that, it is an entertaining story for sure. I'm invested in the story but is my cup of tea? Surprisingly yes. That being said I've been reading banger books like wheel of time, end and death and many others lately so I couldn't rate it higher (technicly I can because I can do anything I want in this PVP we call life).

I hope the other's keep up the goodness, and the world building. I can really tell this is a multi-part book, and I look forwards to what comes up next.