Nicholas is mad about American Chinese academic Rachel. But when word gets back to his family that he has a new girlfriend his scheming mother, Eleanor, swings into action, digging into Rachel's history to find out if she's a gold-digger. Because if you're a crazy rich Asian you have to go to the right schools, wear the right designers, live in the right real estate, have the right career and, most importantly, marry the right person.
If not, then like Nicholas' devastatingly beautiful cousin, Astrid, you will end up having marital problems. Astrid has been faking poor - living in a relatively modest apartment - for the sake of her husband Michael's pride since he's worth billions less than her. She has to secret-shop Parisian couture and precious jewellery to make up for her luxury deficit. So when she starts uncovering clues that her husband is having an affair, Astrid is heartbroken.
No need to worry too much about the plot because that's not what this book is really about. Who cares whether they all live happily ever after? No, its big appeal is voyeurism. This is a window on the world of the Asian upper crust, an exposé of their snobberies and excesses, their feuds, gossip and jealousies. It drips with designer labels, is lavished with extravagant parties, is gilded with sumptuous homes.
It's witty and lots of fun but in the end I did weary of the endless wealth porn. It all starts to feel a little bit one-joke at times, which is a pity as Kwan could have got his point across with fewer designer names and less high spending.
He has said the book was inspired by his childhood growing up in Singapore. He hints at an insider view of the decadent world he portrays.
And while it is hardly a subtle piece of writing it does show the clash between old and new money, different cultures and generations in a way that seems credible.
