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 !

By the author of Crazy Rich Asians, this title entertains. I see it as a movie, which will probably be popular.

I love the descriptions in Kevin Kwan's books. The places, the people and the sheer opulence of every scene. The footnotes always manage to entertain me and the characters are always so intriguing. Sex, Lies and Weddings continues the excellence!

DNF @ 20% - this story is all over the place, jumping from timeline to timeline, without really connecting the dots from one to the next… I would have liked to see a more cohesive balance between the multiple timelines and POVs since it’s not explained how they connect at all (right now, it seems like completely different stories just in the same book) 😩😩 and I love his writing so this is just a disappointing mess for me… I got roped in by the prologue and intrigue of the characters, but lost me when we decided to take a deep dive back in time without any true correlation. a big thank you to netgalley and doubleday for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you #Netgalley

So many story lines to keep you interested! I loved the layout of this read, different character point of views all surrounded by the concept of weddings and lies both big and little and in some eyes it is all about appearances. I loved how the characters are all intertwined and how the historical story lines slowly play out and you realize who is connected and related to who.

4.5 stars

Kevin Kwan, known for his sparkling wit and keen observations of high society, once again delivers a captivating read with "Lies and Weddings." This novel combines the opulence and drama Kwan's fans have come to expect with a fresh exploration of personal identity and the complexities of relationships.

Kwan excels at creating multidimensional characters, and "Lies and Weddings" is no exception. Allegra Wang, the protagonist, is a compelling figure torn between her public persona and her private doubts. Her journey of self-discovery is both poignant and relatable, making her a character readers will root for. The supporting cast, including her enigmatic fiancé Charles, her fiercely loyal best friend Lian, and her complicated family, add depth and texture to the narrative.

The novel deftly explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the pressures of societal expectations. Kwan's portrayal of the art world offers a fascinating backdrop, shedding light on the intersection of culture and commerce. The book also delves into the intricacies of familial relationships, particularly the dynamics between parents and children, which will resonate with many readers.

Kwan's signature humor and sharp commentary are ever-present, making "Lies and Weddings" an entertaining read. His ability to blend satire with genuine emotional moments creates a well-rounded narrative that is both thought-provoking and enjoyable. The dialogue is crisp, and the pacing keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

"Lies and Weddings" is a delightful addition to Kevin Kwan's oeuvre, offering a perfect blend of glamour, intrigue, and heartfelt moments. Fans of Kwan's previous works, as well as new readers, will find much to enjoy in this novel. It’s a sparkling tale that reminds us that beneath the surface of even the most dazzling lives, everyone has their own set of truths and lies.

More of the same from Kevin Kwan- but that's not a bad thing! It's always fun to read about the lifestyles of the tick and famous. There just wasn't the same level of character development here as there was in his other books.