"China Rich Girlfriend" by Kevin Kwan

Our favourite socialites, billionaires, and eligible bachelors are back!  And this time, there’s even more shopping, secrets, and scandals.

American-born Rachel Chu is about to walk down the aisle and marry the heir to one of Asia’s greatest fortunes, Nicholas Young.  Nicholas, who is willing to sacrifice his inheritance to marry Rachel, hasn’t spoken to his mother in months and has been keeping his wedding a secret from his family.  But something like that isn’t going to stop his mother, especially when she has news that will turn everything upside down.

Rachel has never known who her birthfather is.  But when she discovers his true identity she is thrown into a world she could have never imagined.  The upper echelon of Singapore is about to gain a new member.

China Rich Girlfriend, by Kevin Kwan, is the follow-up novel to the wickedly fun Crazy Rich Asians and this sequel is just as fun and outrageous.  

When I reviewed Crazy Rich Asians, I pointed out how the book was like the television shows Dallas or Beverly Hills 90210 but on a much richer scale.  And if you read the book, you would know what I mean and believe me when I say that this new book is the previous one on a much richer scale (did that make sense?)

While the characters of Rachel and Nicholas are again to be the focus of the book, we are introduced to the lives of even more colourful characters. There is Carlton, a Ferrari-crashing bad boy whose mother will do anything to cover up his bad deeds and Colette, a beyond rich fashion blogger and celebrity girlfriend.  Our favourites from the previous book are back, including Astrid whose husband Michael has begun making his own billions and has the attitude to match. And Kitty Pong, the former soap opera actress, has married into a fortune and has no problem splashing the cash around for everyone to see.  

Have you ever what it would be like to just hop on a private jet and fly to Paris for a mini shopping spree - and by "mini" I mean only millions of dollars?  Wonder what it would be like to live in a condo that has its own private car elevator?  Think you could handle being on the floor of the auction of centuries old artifacts?  Then this is the book for you.  Because all of that, and more, is in it.  Think of the most ridiculous things a person could do with their wealth and this book will surpass that for you.

Now, all of that being said makes this sound like some sort of gossipy, shallow book.  And gossipy for sure, but shallow it could never be.  This book also takes you behind the wealth and introduces you to the people.  I find it very interesting to read about the people who have lived only ever knowing this wealth, and the people who started from nothing to amass it.  It’s a very interesting world.  

As with the previous book, I found that the story of Rachel and Nicholas became overshadowed by all of the other characters.  This doesn’t make it a lesser novel.  It’s just that rather than seeing the world through their eyes, I thought there could be more time spent on their story throughout the entire novel.

Crazy Rich Asians is being adapted into a movie which is exciting but I really wish it was going to be e television show.  I want to spend time in this world and with these characters every week.  Two hours just isn’t enough.  Just like two books isn’t enough.  I sincerely hope there is more to come because Kevin Kwan has a winning formula here.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher, Penguin Random House of Canada.  The opinions expressed above are my own.