Kevin Kwan has done it again! I loved the Crazy Rich Asian series and Lies and Weddings is even crazier and richer! This is the first “can’t put it down” book I’ve read in a long time. I highly recommend this smart, funny, enjoyable read!

I enjoyed everything about this book, from the sweeping lushness of the globetrotting settings to the lovably flawed characters (even though a few of them were a bit trope-heavy to the point of seeming cartoonish). I would not be surprised if this ends up becoming a film in the same vein as Crazy Rich Asians did, and I'd greatly look forward to seeing a film adaptation. One of my favorite aspects, however, that didn't feel written-for-film and added so much voice and character to the novel were the tongue-in-cheek narrator's interjections and footnotes. I laughed out loud, even going back to re-read parts of many chapters again after getting more context from the footnotes. The "shocking twist" is pretty heavily broadcasted ahead of time, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment and satisfaction when the book came to its HEA end.

Some of Kwan's characters from previous books appear in this one, but it isn't necessary to have read the others to enjoy this one as well.

Eden Tong, a physician, has grown up next door to the Dukedom of Greshambury and with the three children. Her father, also a physician, has assisted the current earl in hiding his financial disasters from his family but time, and money, are running out.

Rufus, the heir, is presented with the task of marrying money to rescue the family estates. The only problem is, he loves Eden, whose family isn't well off. Follow the over-the-top adventures of his family as his mother, Amanda Leung Gresham, plots to prop up the family and schemes to find her three children wealthy spouses. As the luxurious wedding of one daughter is interrupted by not only a volcanic explosion, but also an explosion of secrets, Amanda is afraid all is lost.

Don't worry, an age-old mystery presents some twists and turns so that all ends well. Presented with Kwan's humor and irony, this one is not to be missed.

𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌

𝙇𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
by Kevin Kwan
448 pages
@doubledaybooks
To be published May 21, 2024 in time for summer reading...

From the iconic internationally bestselling author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy: A forbidden affair erupts volcanically amid a decadent tropical wedding in this outrageous comedy of manners from the iconic author of Crazy Rich Asians.

Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshambury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel has a problem: the legendary Gresham Trust has been depleted by decades of profligate spending, and behind all the magazine covers and Instagram stories manors and yachts lies nothing more than a gargantuan mountain of debt. The only solution, put forth by Rufus’s scheming mother, is for Rufus to attend his sister’s wedding at a luxury eco-resort, a veritable who’s-who of sultans, barons, and oligarchs, and seduce a woman with money.

In a globetrotting tale that takes us from the black sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, from the glitzy bachelor pads of Los Angeles to the inner sanctums of England’s oldest family estates, Kevin Kwan unfurls a juicy, hilarious, sophisticated and thrillingly plotted story of love, money, murder, sex, and the lies we tell about them all.

I needed a little treat this holiday break, so I started this on my flight, and I did not stop reading it. Smart, sexy, satirically hilarious romp of a story - had many of the fun elements that made me fall in love with Crazy Rich Asians. It also had some deeper and more somber and reflective moments on what a life of wealth and privilege does to people.
This comes out in May 2024, and should be added to your beach read TBR!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 stars Kwan is an auto-buy author for me.

Another fun read from Kevin Kwan. As in the CRA trilogy and Sex and Vanity, Kwan does a great job in world building here. The (occasionally over the top - but that’s the point) cast of characters of Lies and Weddings bounces around numerous unique (and occasionally over the top - but that’s the point!) settings. Read the Netgalley copy on a late Fall plane ride & will certainly re-read when it comes out for some good Summer escapism.

Lies & Weddings has everything we love from Kevin Kwan and more!

If you were a fan of Crazy Rich Asians then you will not be disappointed by this book! It has all of the name dropping, drama and gossip of CRA. On top of giving us all the juicy details of the lifestyles of the rich and famous, there’s also a murder and a family secret that’s been buried for decades. I loved how this story took us all over the world. Rufus and Eden were so grounded and wonderfully written, I felt like they were a good balance to their family members. Arabella was complex and aggravating but also probably the character I empathized with the most. Overall, this was a fun read and I always enjoy diving into one of Kwan’s books!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kevin Kwan, and Double Day Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Doubleday Books. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Publishing: May 21, 2024
Pages: 448

I truly enjoy Kevin Kwan as an author and his Crazy Rich Asian series of books. His writing enables you to enjoy his stories. Lies and Weddings ushers you into the lifestyle of the Gresham family and all their quirks of being a wealthy family. There are some transitioning hiccups with keeping up with the characters and plot. On the flip side, there was banter, humor and all the drama that goes with the rich. I can’t say that this book is a favorite, however it was still an enjoyable read. A well-written book and do recommend the read.

I love Kwan's writing. This wasn't as fun as the Crazy Rich Asians series (which I absolutely adored). Lies and Weddings isn't that funny. It's opulent and exasperating and has so much addictive drama. I didn't love any of the characters though. The yelling match between Rufus and Arabella was fantastic--brought the best and worst of each character to light. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I love Kevin Kwan! I loved every book in the Crazy Rich Asians series, I loved Sex and Vanity, and I loved this one! Go and read everything Kevin Kwan has written...everything!

I was a huge fan of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. So I was excited to get to read this. I was not disappointed!! Oh my Arabella!!!! What a Chinese mother!!! Rufus was adorable and I loved Eden. She was nice with plenty of spunk!! I am hoping we get to visit them in future stories.

Lies and Weddings is by the author of Crazy Rich Asians, and if you enjoyed that novel, you will like this one as well. The over-the-top lifestyle of the rich and infamous is again given the skewering treatment by Kwan. In this version, we have the Gresham family, famously titled, wealthy and beautiful, who to their dismay have discovered that their wealth is gone. Patriarch Francis Gresham has been keeping the creditors at bay, but disaster after disaster have left them vulnerable to losing everything. Lady Arabella Leung Gresham, his former model duchess has the perfect solution: her three beautiful adult children, particularly son Viscount St. Ives (Rufus Leung Gresham) should marry money! But what if one’s true love is the poor but lovely and brilliant girl next door? . There is so much humor, chaos, and soap opera twists, in this book, it’s like watching a reality tv show – and I mean that in the most entertaining way. I particularly like Kwan’s use of footnotes (as the narrator) to mock, correct, or simply inform the reader of the facts are hilarious- pointing out that a particular pronunciation was used not for accuracy but because the speaker was pretentious, for example. It’s a fun read, as the ignorance and wanton waste of these super rich isn’t celebrated as much as mocked. I was given an advanced reader of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not my favorite by Kevin Kwan. It was basically a rework of Crazy Rich Asians but set in Hawaii & England instead of Singapore. I kept wondering if some of the characters from past books were making appearances? Fast easy read but not very memorable.

I loved this book??? The writing style is more similar to Crazy Rich Asians, which I enjoyed far more than Sex and Vanity. I'm def recommending for book club.

Kevin Kwan does the ultra rich (and those keeping up the appearance of being so!) better than anyone else, and I thoroughly enjoyed this new book. There are a lot of characters and it takes some time to get to know them, but their stories keep your attention and the settings are amazing as usual. Everything comes together at the end, and Eden and Rufus are extremely likeable throughout the narrative. Plus the footnotes are hilarious. Highly recommended.

I had a really hard time keeping track of the plot and the characters in this book. I felt that there was too much filler information that took me out of the story and after they returned from Hawaii I really lost interest. This is the first Kevin Kwan book I've read and it definitely has an original writing style that I could see a lot of people enjoying. This just wasn't one for me.

Freakin loved this book! Oh, my goodness, I had been waiting to read Lies and Weddings- I am a huge fan of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and this one did NOT disappoint. This series always takes me away into another land of wealthy, weddings and lots and lots of drama. There was such fun banter and humor mixed in, and I'm hoping that we get to see a movie adaptation soon. 4 stars!

3.75 out of 5. I still read all the new Kevin Kwan books hoping to find the same magic I found reading crazy Rich Asians. Although this is not Crazy Rich Asians, it is a highly entertaining read, with the same level of absurdly wealthy and absurdly hilarious in their adventures characters like Crazy rich Asians. I so enjoy his descriptions of settings and fashions, you feel like you are looking at the pictures in a Vogue spread. Although it ties up a bit too nicely and predictable, the way there is fun, and the characters are quite engaging.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I think of Kevin Kwan’s writing, I think of footnotes, extravagance, and spectacle. All of those are present in Lies and Weddings.

Oh Kevin Kwan! Heart eyes your way.
This is a fun look at the lives of wealthy elite, their weddings and the drama that comes with falling for someone who isn’t in the right tax bracket! Loads of characters and instant drama!
Ate it up!

Thanks NetGalley!

If you enjoyed Crazy Rich Asians, you will love this book. It has the same type of feisty characters, insane wealth, and complex relationships.

I was a little lost in the beginning of this book, but once I figured out who everyone was, I was sucked right in.

I loved our main characters, but I wish Eden would have felt more worth. She seemed to accept less than she should have, and I was rooting for her to demand more respect. 🤷

Overall, a good read for vacation or summer lounging.

Thank you to netgalley for an eARC to review.