Rating: 5/5
At the end of my study abroad, I found a copy on Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan on sale at the Urban Outfitters in Exeter for only three pounds (that's $3.80 as of today). I had already seen the movie production about three times (the actress who plays the female lead, Constance Wu, actually went to my high school!), and I loved the story-line. Plus, it was on sale, so of course I had to buy it. Fast forward nearly half a year, and I have finally finished the book. To be fair, whenever I have time to read during the school semester, I'm reading the books and articles that have been assigned for my classes.
Anyway, the book is great. I highly recommend it to any reader, especially those who enjoy the romantic comedy genre. The book is full of allusions to subjects and activities that I love, including Colin Firth (the one and only acceptable Mr. Darcy), yoga, Harry Potter, and Downton Abbey. Kevin Kwan's writing is wonderful. His writing is succinct, but he also includes lots of details that paint pictures, showing the reader how insanely rich the characters are. The footnotes he includes are both informative and hilarious, and the relatively short chapters, often ending on cliff hangers, make you want to keep reading. It's a hard book to put down!
There are a few differences between the book and the adapted film, specifically the situation between Nick's cousin, Astrid, and her husband, as well as the ending of the story. In the film version, Nick's mom Eleanor accepts Rachel (to an extent), and it ends with Nick and Rachel getting engaged. However, spoiler alert, the book does not end this way at all! Eleanor assumes that Rachel is out of the picture, but Nick is still fighting for her. The book's final scene involves Nick and Rachel, who are just now reconciling, along with Rachel's mom and Rachel's friend, Piek Lin, having drinks and planning to get street food, which is not at all like the movie, ending with a engagement party for Rachel and Nick surrounded by friends and family.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It was super entertaining, but I do wish that the ending wasn't as ambiguous. However, I know that books shouldn't always end nicely wrapped up with a ribbon and a bow tied on top because, let's face it, real life doesn't always work out perfectly.
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