Official Synopsis from Goodreads: Kevin Kwan, bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend, is back with an uproarious new novel of a family riven by fortune, an ex-wife driven psychotic with jealousy, a battle royal fought through couture gown sabotage, and the heir to one of Asia’s greatest fortunes locked out of his inheritance.
When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside–but he’s not alone. It seems the entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe, ostensibly to care for their matriarch but truly to stake claim on the massive fortune that Su Yi controls. With each family member secretly fantasizing about getting the keys to Tyersall Park–a trophy estate on 64 prime acres in the heart of Singapore–the place becomes a hotbed of intrigue and Nicholas finds himself blocked from entering the premises. As relatives claw over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu, but tormented by his ex-wife–a woman hell bent on destroying Astrid’s reputation and relationship. Meanwhile Kitty Pong, married to billionaire Jack Bing, finds a formidable opponent in his fashionista daughter, Colette. A sweeping novel that takes us from the elegantly appointed mansions of Manila to the secluded private islands in the Sulu Sea, from a schoolyard kidnapping to a gold-leaf dancefloor spattered with blood, Kevin Kwan’s gloriously wicked new novel reveals the long-buried secrets and rich people problems of Asia’s most privileged families.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Setting: 2015. Mainly set in Singapore, but the book takes the reader from NYC to Paris, from India to Shanghai, Thailand to Hong Kong, and many other places that sound delightful and beautiful.
***I received an eARC of Rich People Problems from Doubleday Books via NetGalley***
Review: What a fun book! Hilarious and full of over-the-top, memorable characters.
Rich People Problems is the third book in the Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan that follows the ultra-rich (think billionaires and multi-multi-millionaires) that live in Asia. The plot of the third book here involves the decline of the matriarch of the Young family, and the battle for her estate. Many of the characters we’ve grown to love from the previous books are back for more adventure here. Rich People Problems made me laugh out loud in many places, and when I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about it and wondering what crazy antics the characters would get into next. The comedic standouts here are Edison “Eddie” Chang, one of Su Yi’s grandson’s who is obsessed with appearance and money, and Kitty Pong Tai Bing, a social climber who has netted her second billionaire, but still isn’t satisfied. Both of these characters sound despicable, and they can be, but Kevin Kwan has written them in a hilarious, loving, way and it really shows that he cares about his characters: the good, the bad, and the in-between. After three books, Kitty has become my favorite character in this series. She steals every scene she is in and I’ve always got a smile on my face when she appears on page. She may not be as kind as Astrid, or as down to earth as Nicholas, but I enjoy reading her ups and downs.
The one downside is that there are so many characters, that it is hard to keep track of everyone. It took me at least a quarter of the book to remember who everyone was, and how everyone was connected. I would’ve really appreciated a character index, or family tree at the beginning of the book to show how everyone is connected. Kevin Kwan writes hilarious footnotes throughout the book (don’t skip them! They have wonderful historical and cultural references, as well as being funny), and he could really make a family tree worth reading as well as being a great resource for the characters in the series.
I don’t know if this is the last in the series, but I really hope there is another book coming. This book, and the series as a whole, is perfect for summer, and I really enjoyed this entry in the series.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot here, as it might spoil the earlier books in the series, but if you enjoy quirky characters, pop culture references, over-the-top scenery, reading about people with a lot of money, and don’t mind a bit of swearing then you will really enjoy this series!
Bottom Line: Fun and hilarious. A perfect summer read!
Links to Rich People Problems on Amazon | Goodreads
The first two books in the series are:
- Crazy Rich Asians
- China Rich Girlfriend (read my review here!)
Have you read any of the books in this series? There’s a movie being made about the first book, Crazy Rich Asians. Are you looking forward to seeing the movie?
luvtoread 
The Paperback Princess reviewed this book just recently, too, and she loved it like crazy. She, too, mentioned Kitty as a particular favorite. I had not heard of the series before, which makes me sad! I love riotous lighter books, especially if they are set in places other than New York City or London. I think my only question is what kind of billionaire doesn’t have a will?
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Oh The Paperback Princess! I’ll have to check her blog out. I checked your twitter and saw you post her review so I followed her. Thanks for the recommendation! 🙂 This series is absolutely hilarious. And there is a movie being made based on the first book, so that should be a lot of fun!
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Oh, how fun! We definitely don’t have enough movies in the States starring Asian actors. Will the movie be the same title as the book?
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Yes, I believe it is called Crazy Rich Asians. I hope they do the book justice! There are so many characters that I fear they can’t get to all the good stuff.
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