Actual rating: 2.5 stars

I had huge expectations for this one after falling head over heels in love with the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. It was the perfect combo of over the top rich person lifestyle and love story plot. I expected the same out of this story, but I felt like there was way more rich person lifestyle than plot. I would say the first half plus some was just name dropping - whether it be rich person, designer label, etc. It became hard for me to concentrate and get through it. I did enjoy the last 30% or so of the book and flew through it in an hour and a half (the rest of the book I've been trying to read for almost a month). But the last bit of good story didn't make up for the rest of the book and it wasn't strong enough to make the story amazing. The only character I really enjoyed in this novel was Rosemary Zao. Overall, really bummed out that this didn't live up to the magic that was CRA.

Loved this setting! Loved these characters! While not as uproariously funny as CRA there were some parts I laughed at. So
Excited ethics is a trilogy!!

Thanks to the publisher for an advance reader's copy.

If you've spent five minutes with me talking about books, you've heard me rattle on about how much I want tons of frothy diverse fiction in publishing. Kevin Kwan is the basically epitome of that. His ultra-light writing style isn't always my favorite, but I read an interview with him about all of the brand dropping he uses as filler and it explained a lot of his choices and made appreciate what he's doing. I really enjoyed the book's commentary on subconscious racism outside the expected class dynamics, and it's an E.M. Forster retelling! I don't know that the ending really sticks for modern characters, but I didn't care. This was perfect reading for summer 2020.

I have not read any other books by this author, but did see the movie Crazy Rich Asians, not sure if this was supposed to tie-in or not.
Fun read with a twist and lots of "Man, I wish I could go there!" and "I wish I had friends like that!" You really feel for the main character.

Kwan returns after his smash-hit Crazy Rich Asians series with a modern homage to E.M. Forster’s classic A Room With A View, and especially The Merchant Ivory film adaptation starring Maggie Smith and Helena Bonham Carter. This satirical romp revolves around Lucie Tang Churchill, 19 years old, half-Chinese, half-WASP. She goes to Capri to attend her rich friend Isabel’s wedding, where she meets a guy named George, a rich, handsome Chinese-Australian surfer. They hook up and don’t see each other again until four years later when their paths cross again in New York City— only now Lucie is engaged to the horrible Cecil. If you’ve read A Room With A View, you might guess what happens next, but you can enjoy this sparkling comedy of errors without any knowledge of Forster’s classic.

While I have purchased Kwan’s work for the library and I am familiar with the storylines, this was the first time I have read one of his books cover to cover. I have some regrets about reading this title now bc I feel current events have shaped my opinion about wealth and excess so much that even parodies feel inappropriate. And therein lies the second concern: is this a parody?

Kwan’s book reads like a social register of upper class NY’s who’s who, and flows like the society column of the New Yorker. It is tongue in cheek and packed with obscure references to places and things only the extremely wealthy would understand - well, them and the insufferable art school graduates of notable ivy secondaries that only attain higher education for the purpose of snooty inside knowledge of modern art and architecture and bagging a ring from the son of a wealthy diplomat. It’s hard reading bc the plot, if there is one (and it’s thin), seems to exist solely for the purpose of name dropping and the celebration of ostentatious luxury. I’ll be blunt - it’s a waste of a novel, more a long running joke that gets old beyond the first chapter and left me wondering if Kwan was poking fun at these ridiculous people, or if he was this knowledgeable about them out of bid to be a part of their orbit.

As mentioned the plot was thin, and for a romance I didn’t have much of an connection or care for the protagonists. And they never got to get together in the way I expect from a romance. There was no fiery collision or reckoning. Like the violence of a thriller it was only eluded to and felt disingenuous.

I’ll have to buy it for the library - I don’t have a choice here, but I’ll be open with patrons about my disappointment in its plot and it’s weak attempt to examine the very real issue of self loathing and identity crises that stem from racism. A missed opportunity for sure.

In today’s horrible social climate I embrace the hard and fast fall of insta-influencers and reality show megastars. This book celebrates the very culture that needs a serious reckoning and feels so out of place. Perhaps publishers should do a hard edit and turn it into a dramatic social allegory, but then again, that might not be a welcome book either in a depression.

This book was amazing- it was filled with lush descriptions that had me imagining I was in Italy or NYC. I loved the way Kwan interspersed racial and social commentary in these every day conversations and really showed how internalized bias/racism and self hatred can shape a person.

In 2013, Lucie Churchill attended the swanky wedding of her friend Isabel on the island of Capri, with her older cousin Charlotte in tow as a chaperone. Unfortunately, Charlotte's presence didn't prevent Lucie from falling for, and being caught in a compromising situation with, the enigmatic and ridiculously handsome George Zao. Five years later, Lucie has moved on with a different uber-rich young man when George comes back into her life.

OK, that sounds like an incredibly blah plot, but that's why Kevin Kwan's the writer here and I'm not. Much like his blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians books, Kwan and his snarky asides open up the world of the billionaire set and the social expectations of them, with layered characters and very real frustrations. Lucie's half-Chinese heritage is examined through the eyes of her family and friends, and through the prejudices she feels on a regular basis, while Kwan does an excellent job of presenting it without detracting from the story as a whole. I loved this book, and my only complaint is that it wrapped up too quickly. I need more Kevin Kwan!!

sex and vanity (gen fic/romance): ★★½

I’ve been looking forward to this one so much, but it ultimately fell short for me.

I read Crazy Rich Asians for class believe it or not, but didn’t follow up with the other two. This was written in the same style (with footnotes where the author inserts his own opinions/knowledge into the story).

The first half of the book takes place in Capri, where Lucie and her cousin Charlotte have travelled for the extravagant wedding of her childhood babysitter (who happens to be a Taiwanese heiress marrying an Italian count). She meets George Zao at the wedding at age 19, they have, um, a moment, and then the story fast forwards 5 years into the future with Lucie getting engaged to someone else. George reappears back into her life; of course, and Lucie must sort out her feelings for him and what matters most to her.

Maybe part of the reason I’m not crazy about Kwan’s books is because I just don’t enjoy all the name dropping of designers and well-known names in the world of the super rich. The details are just boring to me.

This book was also kinda hard to get into. There’s a shocking moment that gets you invested almost halfway in- my jaw hit the floor! I was super invested, and then it kinda fizzled out again.

Lucie’s mom and brother are the only super-likeable characters in my opinion. Cecil is insufferable, and George could’ve been developed a lot better. It’s like we hardly know anything about him and then he just drops this super passionate speech out of the blue toward the end that caught me off guard.

The romantic scenes between Lucie and George just felt very... abrupt? I would read something and then go “wait, what just happened?” As a romance reader, these scenes just felt incomplete and detached.

I did love the Capri setting during the first half, and Kwan’s lessons about subtle and not-so-subtle-racism! But overall, this book was let down. Definitely reads better as a social commentary than any type of romance.

Thank you to @doubledaybooks for the e-galley in exchange for an honest review!

I got lost trying to keep up with the characters and the timing. Hard to finish. Not as good as crazy rich Asians. Disappointing

So, I must confess, I haven't read the Crazy Rich Asians series, other than peeking at a neighbor's copy on a plane. The first time I picked this book up, with the depressing state of the world, I really couldn't stomach the extensive descriptions of the one-percenters' opulence at a weeklong wedding party in Capri. But, on a different day, I came to appreciate that Kevin Kwan is sort of your own personal Robin Leach, footnoting dishy comments and interesting facts for you. I found myself Googling places and objects as I went along, and learned some new things. Also, I was not a huge fan of the novel A Room with a View, so I didn't mind seeing it adapted to modern times. Both Lucy Honeychurch and Lucie Churchill have a same passive, reactive personality (yet all the other characters instantly love them fiercely), so perhaps Kwan succeeded in capturing the essence.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC for the purpose of an unbiased review.

Summary: While on the island of Capri for a childhood friend’s wedding, it is hatred-at-first-sight when Lucie Churchill meets George Zao. On the night of the wedding, the tension between Lucie and George culminates in a hook-up. They’re caught by Lucie’s cousin, Charlotte, who came as her chaperone. Lucie has always overrided the Asian side of herself in favor of her white side. When Charlotte grills her about George, she denies having any feelings for him. Years later, a newly engaged Lucie unexpectedly runs into George in East Hampton. Seeing him reignites all of the feelings she denied. Lucie does everything in her power to prevent George from entering her world and revealing her feelings.

Thoughts: Yay for a new book from Kevin Kwan, the author of the Crazy Rich Asians series! I loved the wit and imagery Kwan has become known for, including his footnotes that further expanded the world he created. I found myself laughing out loud at several points (Romanov role play, if you know you know 😂😂). Deeper than that are the microaggressions and internalized racism that Lucie faced. Lucie tried to cram herself into the mold made by the white members of her family while also facing intense criticism from them. George Zao gave her a glimpse of what carving her own path could look like. Kwan also wrote a wonderful cast of secondary characters, especially Mrs. Zao and Marian Tang. Kwan is amazing, I’ll read anything he writes!

I found this book to be pretty disappointing, unfortunately. I loved the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, and I was looking forward to Kwan's follow-up. I also like reinterpretations of classic literature, and I think it was clever to take A Room with a View and set in the Crazy Rich Asians world (and I loved when characters from CRA made cameo appearances). Unfortunately, the story fell flat. It felt like Kwan was just trying to hit beats of a plot without any emotional resonance, and the asides about wealth and class that worked so well for CRA did not really work here.

I have not read Crazy Rich Asians so I was not familiar with Kevin Kwan's writing going into this book but I loved it! I definitely will pick up his next book and maybe even go back and read his others!

As entertaining as the Crazy Rich Asian trilogy but not nearly as satisfying. The characters aren't as well developed. I found that I wasn't that invested in Lucie's story even as I enjoyed all the over the top details. It should make a great movie though.

Sex and Vanity is about Lucie who attends her friend's extravagant wedding on the Island of Capri in Italy. There she meets George Zao. Lucie is not initially drawn to him; however, the two share one memorable night together. Several years later, George suddenly appears back in Lucie's life and she must decide if there is still a spark between them.
The storyline of this book sounded intriguing and like a lovely and simple romance story. Unfortunately, the characters are dull and unlikeable. Kwan spent too much time describing Capri and included unnecessary footnotes about various aspects of the story. If I am reading fiction, I don't want footnotes included. I found this story boring and was extremely disappointed.

I think this book suffers from being a retelling - the parts I found most awkward were where it felt like the author was trying too hard to force his square peg story into the round hole of A Room with a View. It never quite felt like it worked.

It also suffers in comparison to Crazy Rich Asians. It's almost identical in tone and style, the characters SOUND like characters from CRA, but it lacks the heart and flair that made that series special. Somehow in CRA I didn't mind that the dialog is often stilted; here it feels unnatural.

Am I glad I read it? Sure! It was a fun summer read, and if you liked CRA it's still worth your time. Just moderate your expectations.

If you loved Crazy Rich Asians you'll love this too OR if you obsessed over E.M. Forster novels in your teens, this is a modern retelling of A Room with a View. Kwan starts in the days heading up to a wedding on Capri, and he knows his details are for such a small part of the population so he provides footnotes (don't skip them, they can be pretty funny.) It's the richest of the rich and their romantic dramas within the fanciest spaces in the fanciest clothes, a fluffy perfect summer read.

I haven't read all of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy but just the same, there are a few characters at least from that first novel that show up in the background here. It isn't necessary to have read those first, but it's a treat for those who have.

The story opens as 19 year old Lucie and her much older cousin Charlotte jet sets to a destination wedding in Capri, as her friend, a Taiwanese heiress weds a polo playing Italian count. While in Capri, she meets the handsome and mesmerizing George Zao and experiences a summer fling.

Lucie Churchill is a ‘hapa’ a term used for mixed ethnic ancestry, whose mother is Chinese from Seattle and father is white with a pedigree history that could be traced back to the Mayflower. Lucie unlike her brother looks more Chinese and has battled trying to fit in all her life. Her father has passed away and she is raised by her mother, who still tries to encourage Lucie to spend time with her father’s family.

Fast forward five years, and Charlotte has now graduated and is set to marry the most eligible bachelor in the country and a billionaire. Will a chance run-in with George Zao all these years reignite the feelings left in Capri?

Within the story, there were so many examples of micro aggression towards Lucie by both Asians non-Asians alike. For example, in her hometown of NYC you hear people commenting “F’in Asian Tourists” to Lucie as she walks down the street, or people assuming she was a delivery person, or being asked where she is from (really from), or spoken to in some ‘Asian’ language, or from her white grandmother trying to ‘fix’ her, and even from her own mother and fiancée.

Kevin Kwan’s SEX AND VANITY was such an amazing read for me that was fun, lavish, and also thought provoking that addressed issues of racism through the eyes of Lucie as she finds her footing in matters of the heart in an over the top story that was satirical, wildly romantic and gloriously decadent peek into the lives of the uber rich!

I really loved this book. Super fun gossipy - semi love story. I always love Kevin Kwan's books since I first saw the glittery gold cover of CRA. This book had me cracking up, I especially love the footnotes. If your looking for a fun summer read look no further!