Kevin Kwan's latest is such a satisfying read for fans of his work. This saga centers around Rufus Leung Gresham's mother's goals to marry him off to a rich woman. Rufus's family riches are dwindling down to almost nothing and though he doesn't care, his mother certainly does. She will stop at nothing to make the perfect match, and she uses his sister's dramatic destination wedding as the perfect opportunity to set the wheels in motion. This is a really delightful and adventurous romance filled with travel and opulence. Come for the story, stay for the descriptions of a life you can only imagine in your wildest lottery-winning fantasies.

Many thanks to Doubleday Books | Doubleday for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to DoubleDay Books and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

It is always a good time when reading Kevin Kwan’s books, and while the Crazy Rich Asian series will always be my favorite, I thoroughly enjoyed Lies and Weddings so very much. I just enjoy his writing style, including the footnotes and side comments to the reader that he sprinkles in throughout. In Lies and Weddings, there is a lot of drama going on, which is on brand with Kwan’s writing, and this time we have a wedding that needs to happen in order to help save a family fortune that has been depleted. Things do not go according to plan, and it was a lot of fun reading this and seeing how it would all play out. I will say that I listened to this via audio and it was just ok, I might have been fine reading the physical copy on this one, but I still loved it overall. I am now anxiously awaiting Kwan’s next book!

I loved the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. But I don't know if I'm over reading about rich people and how they navigate life, but it didn't hit like I would have liked. The characters all sounded whiney and I didn't find the relationships between Eden and the Leung Gresham siblings to be believable. How can someone from the middle class not find them annoyingly dense and shallow? I get it, they grew up together, but from how different they all were, Rufus and Eden's chemistry was just bleh.

Really enjoyed this one! I am a fan of all of Kevin Kwan’s books and this one did not disappoint. Great characters and juicy drama.

TLDR: the author of CRAZY RICH ASIANS is back with another opulent escapist love story, this time set against the backdrop of a lush tropical wedding. The book is the equivalent of a 7-course-meal of just dessert, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s not going to reinvent the wheel (leave that to Stuart Turton!), but if you’re a fan of Kwan or CRA, you’re going to have a great time with this book. Soap, sex, drama, wealthy people doing terrible things. It’s modern day Merchant Ivory, and I highly recommend it.

With a new novel that's full of heart, humor, and wacky family shenanigans, Kevin Kwan proves that he's one of the absolute best in the game. Every single one of these characters is utterly delightful (even the ones I kind of wanted to smack upside the head more than once), the plot is so well-crafted, and even the over-the-top behavior and realities of these ridiculously wealthy folks (even if there might not be quite as much in the coffers as our friends the Greshams may think...) are just...so much fun. I loved every second of getting to hang out with these characters, watching their relationships and dynamics unfold, and peeking in at the lives of a subset of humans that I, personally, don't generally otherwise encounter. (Unfortunately, no astronomically rich/titled people are in my social circle.)

I have enjoyed Kevin Kwan's other books including Crazy Rich Asians.
This book was next level!
It had the feel of a Regency romance - who should I choose to marry to pay off my debts - while set in the rich, exciting world of today.
This was a fun summer read - a perfect escape !

How many of you also love the outrageous but heartwarming Crazy Rich Asians series? They are so fun and naturally, upon hearing that Kwan was releasing a new book this summer (I still haven’t read Sex and Vanity yet!) I was excited. Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the advanced reader copy - I still opted for the audiobook on Libby but followed occasionally in the e-copy, though listening was my best option due to current circumstances. It’s got the typical Kwan recipe going for it: love, friendship, mayhem, scheming, wealth, secrets, cross-cultural venues, humor, pop-culture references, outrageous scenes, and all the pomp of a fun romcom.

Honestly, though the narrator was great, I should have read a physical or e-copy as there’s a LOT of characters (another usual element for Kwan’s stories) and even several timelines to keep straight. But it is looong, even too long, and some things felt dragged out while others were surprisingly rushed. Wasn’t until about halfway that I felt it started to gain steam and piqued my interest. I had thought that the wedding would’ve been closer to the end or the climax, not within the first third of the book, which is probably why it felt long as I was confused as to where all the story was going to go (based on the synopsis). But notice it says “weddings” plural in the title.

Ultimately, it fits Kwan’s usual style with flair but it’s not my personal favorite. If you want an entertaining beach read, look no further. I suggest reading vs listening, at least the first go around. Warnings include profanity, a character falls to their death, a character has terminal cancer, and some light sexual content.

A fun and drama filled peek into the lives of the very, very wealthy. Manipulation, scandal, romance, travel, Lies and Weddings has it all!

**I appreciated the opportunity to read and review the electronic ARC. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher.

I love all of Kevin Kwan's books and this one is no different! This was probably my favorite after the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and as always has a great mix of glamorous locations.

Looking for a guilty pleasure read? When you pick up a Kevin Kwan book you know what you are going to get: a wild ride of drama, wealth, privilege, extravagance, betrayal, and secrets. Not to mention vivid descriptions of fashion and food, exotic settings, hilarious footnotes, and horrid mother-in-laws…

Much like his Crazy Rich Asians series, I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the ridiculous antics of Kwan’s characters. Does it always feel realistic? Of course not, but that’s what makes his novels so much fun to read! If you are looking for a more light-hearted read with a touch of romance, Lies and Weddings fits the bill.

While I enjoyed my time with Lies and Weddings, I would like to see Kwan try and step out of his comfort zone a bit in the future. Kwan has proven he is an excellent writer that can craft novels of pure drama, however I feel as if we’ve only scratched the surface of what he can do.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing a eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Kevin Kwan’s work - his writing is clever, distinctive, and has a personality. He leans hard into the rich, Asian family stories and this one has such fun scene stealing moments! I love his use of footnotes and this comes through really well on audio.

In true Kevin fashion, the story has such a charismatic, wide ranging cast. There were meddling family members, billionaire bad boys, and some great twists to connect these characters together. The story also brings you around the globe to so many top cities via private jets and yachts.

What kept me from loving this is that the story is just under 450 pages and I just found the middle slowed down for me. I think this would have been a bigger win for me if it were slightly trimmed down. But, I do think this still worked well and loved seeing all the secrets, lies, betrayals, and intricacies of each character tie together.

Recommend if you enjoy:
▫️Crazy Rich Asians
▫️Stories of love and money
▫️Complicated families
▫️Secrets and lies
▫️Extravagant, bougie lifestyle

My only regret with this one is that I wish I had read it sooner! Kwan has a way of bringing you deep into the culture and inside jokes of his characters and gives so much richness to his cast. And not just in a crazy rich Asian way either! This was truly an adventure around the world - from London to Hawaii to Morocco to Paris to LA and many places in between. Crazy mothers and aunties and scheming playboys run amuck - and there are more wedding than one can count in this one. Truly a fun ride that I would choose again!

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan is an entertaining novel about complicated families, wealth and love.

I’m such a big fan of Kevin Kwan’s books! I loved all the books in the Crazy Rich Asians series and also enjoyed his follow-up Sex and Vanity too. And Lies and Weddings is right up there with Crazy Rich Asians—it’s so good! An engaging tale about the uber wealthy, but told in such a comedic and fun way. And there’s plenty of depth too.

Lies and Weddings is the perfect summer/vacation read. It truly transports you to another world and you’ll have a big smile on your face after you finish it.

You’ll be swept away by stunning locations such as Hawaii, the scenic idyllic countryside of England and more. The story is both funny and heartfelt, which is an absolutely winning combo.

There’s also quite of a bit of substance for a story that revolves around wealth—it does take a look at socioeconomic issues, internalized racism, problematic parenting style and more.

Kevin Kwan does it again!!

I love the way this author always includes a regular person in his wild stories about rich people drama. I feel like it really gives more perspective on how lavish and hilariously ridiculous the happenings truly are. I think that the addition of the seemingly random 'past' storyline and was pleased with how it got wrapped up.

There were many romances and many friendships that we got to watch develop fully. The cast of characters was large, but I do think that each character added to the story and don't feel like it's too much.

I will always recommend this authors works to all types of readers, avid, occasional, rare, everyone can enjoy in my opinion!

3.5, rounded up. Kevin Kwan is doing what he does best: vividly describing the wealth of the most ostentatiously rich folks in the [fictional] world and contrasting them with a level-headed romantic pairing. After a while I skimmed over some of the descriptions of cars, properties, etc., but I had a great time!

How to even summarize this wild ride of a book!? Lots of rich people with outrageous rich people problems. I devoured every second of it, laughing all the way.

This was my first kevin kwan (I know, I’m sorry) but I knew he was from Houston and he sprinkled in so many delicious little H-town details, it made my heart so happy. I cannot wait to read his backlog of books (some of which I already own!) 🤗

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan
Stars: 4.5
52 Book Club Summer Prompt #9 - Fencing: Dialogue with Witty Banter

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was looking through the 52 Book Club Summer prompts and I saw the one about witty banter and my mind immediately went to Kevin Kwan’s latest book which was sitting in my NetGalley queue. Is there anyone better at combining banter and snarky asides while giving us an inside view of the most rarefied levels of society? The answer is no, it was a rhetorical question really.

In his newest book, Kwan introduces us to the Gresham family, the current Earl, Francis, and his Hong Kong born wife, Arabella. They are getting ready to jet to Hawaii to celebrate the nuptials of their eldest daughter, Augusta, to a European prince (not that one) but things are starting to unravel for the family. Francis needs more money to keep the family afloat and he turns to his best friend and neighbor, Dr. Thomas Tong, to see about securing a loan from Thomas’s friend and super secretive business tycoon, Rene Tan. While the volcanoes are erupting and Arabella is trying to pull off the wedding of the century, Rufus Greshman, the future earl, is trying to find the courage to tell Eden Tong, his best friend and Thomas’s daughter, that he loves her.

Kwan’s books are delicious, twenty-first century versions of the great eighteen- and nineteenth-century novels of manners. These are homages to Austin, Bronte, Wharton, and James. They are stories that show us how the other half lives while exposing all the archaic traditions that they use to keep themselves at the top of the food chain. It’s like a print version of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. And it is all so deliciously readable; Kwan is an excellent writer and he plots and paces a novel with ultimate precision. You can see where he is taking you and what the twist is going to be, but the joy is in the journey and you will love every minute of it.


This is the perfect beach (pool/lake/yacht) read.

If you enjoyed "Crazy Rich Asians," you will definitely enjoy this book. More about the lives of the maybe rich and almost famous. The opulence of the lifestyles in this book is incredible. It is hard to believe that people actually live like this and spend this kind of money. Everyone is on a private jet flitting here and there. While most of the story moves forward logically (from country to country and wedding to wedding), there are a few flashbacks to a storyline that ultimately has a huge impact on how this story turns out. The Chinese "tiger mother" exists in all her glory in this book and while it is so frustrating to see how she behaves, you do get glimpses of the why. There are a group of Asians who have amassed large fortunes and influence, but they are never truly accepted outside of Asia. While this is a light beach read, you do see this discriminatory behavior as it is important to see the driving motivations of some of the characters. This was a fun read, just like "Crazy Rich Asians," and I mean just like "Crazy Rich Asians." I thoroughly enjoyed that story, so it is no surprise I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy. My opinion is my own.

Looking for the perfect beach or poolside read ? This may be it ! It is perfect escapism, in Kevin Kwan's signature style the super rich and status obsessed are again at the center of this newest novel. The book takes the reader from an English castle to beautiful Hawaii, Beverly Hills, Marga, Marrakech and Venice. Moving between summer playgrounds of privilege, peppered with decadent food and extravagant fashion, name dropping and everyone being introduced by naming every school they have attended, Lies And Weddings is another fun comedy with Eden Tong, a doctor's daughter and the three children of the Earl of Gresham at the middle.
Old money, new money and the things that subtly or not never let people forget where they do or don't fit. But in classic Kevin Kwan style it all seems so out of touch and over the top that it is very enjoyable without too much depth but I was still caught up with the drama rooting for Rufus and Eden throughout the book !