Crazy Rich Asians is the first book of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and written by Kevin Kwan. It was adapted into a film Crazy Rich Asians.
Synopsis[]
When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should—and should not—marry. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazily rich.[1]
Plot[]
- for detailed plot, see Plot
Characters[]
- Rachel Chu: A Chinese-American economics professor at NYU and girlfriend of Nick Young. Rachel accepts her boyfriend's invitation to meet his family in Singapore, but is unprepared when she is thrust into the world of the enormously wealthy Singapore elite.
- Nick Young: Rachel's boyfriend and heir to the massive Shang family fortune, making him one of the most eligible bachelors in Asia.
- Goh Peik Lin: Rachel's rich Singaporean best friend from college whose family owns a property development and construction company.
- Colin Khoo: Nick's childhood best friend, and member of the wealthy Khoo family, whose "wedding of the century" with hotel heiress Araminta Lee is the major plot point of the novel.
- Araminta Lee: Hotel heiress and supermodel whose "wedding of the century" with Colin Khoo is the major plot point of the novel.
- Astrid Teo (née Leong): Nick's socialite cousin who is referred to as "the goddess" due to her beauty and impeccable fashion sense. She is the only member of Nick's family that Rachel had met before her trip, and one of the few that openly welcomes her.
- Michael Teo: Astrid's long-suffering entrepreneur husband who struggles to keep his business afloat while also trying to fit in with his wife's wealthy family. He purposefully fakes an affair in an attempt to get out of his marriage with Astrid.
- Eddie Cheng: Nick's self-absorbed cousin who works in private banking and is obsessed with maintaining his own image.
- Eleanor Young (née Sung): Nick's domineering mother and a major antagonist who spends most of the book scheming to derail her son's relationship with Rachel Chu.
- Shang Su Yi: Nick's all-powerful and respected grandmother who is the matriarch of the entire Shang clan.
- Kerry Chu: Rachel's single mother and a real estate agent who immigrated to America from mainland China.
- Charlie Wu: Astrid's billionaire former fiancé who helps her investigate her husband's supposed infidelity.
- Bernard Tai: The spoiled playboy son of Dato' Tai Toh Lui and Carol Tai. His wild and partying lifestyle brings him into conflict with Nick and Colin at Colin's bachelor party.
- Alistair Cheng: Eddie's younger brother and adoring boyfriend of former soap opera star Kitty Pong who is dumped by her for the wealthier Bernard Tai.
- Kitty Pong: Former soap-star turned social climber. She is Alistair Cheng's girlfriend before dumping him for Bernard Tai.