I requested this thinking I was a total longshot at getting approved. I mean this Kevin guy might have a career in writing, know what I’m saying? If you know me you know I’m not super big on books in a series so I’ve been awaiting the day Kwan would break out of the Crazy Rich Asian world and introduce us to some new characters. I about pooped myself when I received the approval and couldn’t wait to start. Especially after coming off a book high with The Heart’s Invisible Furies I was 100% interested in something light and fun in order to cure my book hangover.

This may not have been a Rachel and Nick story, but from the cover alone I knew I was going to get to experience the opulence my real life contains zero of. You know what I’m talking about . . . .

TREAT YO SELF!

What I did not know I was getting? A modernization of my favorite book of all time. That was like “pass the smelling salts please ‘cause momma ‘bout to fall out from excite.” You might want to take my rating with a grain of salt, because I am absolutely biased here. That being said, I read a lot of modernizations (usually P&P, but I do mix it up with Shakespeare retellings and others occasionally) and thought this one was well done and oh-so-much fun. It doesn’t come out until July (sorry), but that’s the perfect time to soak up some sun and read about rich people vacationing in Capri and the Hamptons anyway so add it to the TBR if you need to treat yo self.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

If you love Crazy Rich Asians (and OF COURSE you do, who doesn't?), then you'll love this book. When I first started reading it, I thought it was just another CRA but set in Italy and The United States. It's more than that though: it's complexity grows on you the more you read. It really is a commentary on Asian American life. What does it mean to be some part Asian? Are you ever Asian enough? Too Asian? What does it mean to be fetishized by white gaze? And perhaps even more powerful, what does it mean when you discover the internalized oppression you've been operating under for so long?
The main character, Lucie, is flawed and beautiful and likable, and sometimes incredibly dense and annoying. Basically, she's like all of us except she isn't because this is Kevin Kwan, and everyone in his novels are beyond rich. The materialism can wear on you at times, but then there's Kwan's over-the-top humor to make up for it. He knows it's all ridiculous, and his footnotes prove that. Plus, there's George, and he's a semi-regular guy apart from his absurd wealth. He's smart, kind, and most importantly, a HOT Asian dude. This is why I love Kevin Kwan. I think George is his most realistic and relatable male character yet, and in the vein of all contemporary novels of this ilk, he is gorgeous. Kwan knows that George can't just be the nice guy--he's the most Asian (Chinese) male in the novel, and the only Asian love interest, so he better be easy on the eyes. George is what wins me over. Thanks for respecting and portraying masculine Asian men.
I hope this novel makes it big time. I hope everyone gets to escape to Capri with these characters. I hope they fall in love with George and laugh at all the absurdity. I hope they also learn about the Asian American identity along the way.

I read 20% of this and then set it aside. It just seemed silly; I couldn't really tell where it was going.

I was beyond excited for a chance to read Kevin Kwan's new book, as I loved the entire Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and recommended it to numerous friends and family members. This book reminded me of all my favorite things about Kevin Kwan's writing, the amazing descriptions of food, locations and clothes. He also does an amazing job describing each character, using the description of what they wear and how they act toward other people paint such a good picture of each person I could see them in my mind and anticipate how they would react to each new situation. All that said, I was expecting a little more plot, Lucie's life experiences were fun and interesting, but I couldn't help but feel like the entire book I was waiting for a little something more to happen than Lucie just realizing that she wanted to change her life. While I may have been expecting too much, overall I enjoyed to book and would recommend it to friends for a fun summer read.

Even more fabulous than Crazy Rich Asians. I couldn't put down this love story. Loved that it was a who will she choose and set in NYC. There is still outrageous wealth and characters, but I found this charming and ver much enjoyed the ride.

Author Kevin Kwan has given us a modern ROOM WITH A VIEW but with, sort of The Official Preppy Handbook footnotes, if that makes sense. And I realize that The Official Preppy Handbook is an incredibly dated-reference. I was hoping for more of an Edith Wharton approach, just to really add in a dated-reference. It’s not at all easy to make very arch society comments about “comedies of manners” with plots that are written over a century ago. SEX AND VANITY is essentially the E.M. Forster tale with Asian American characters and mostly-New York aspirations (hence my wish for Wharton’s acerbic touch.) This book just didn’t quite work for me although the effort seemed impressive. I just didn’t think it translated that well to this time and place. But other readers may feel differently and Kwan is a good writer. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I loved the beginning of the book, in Capri, up until the time of the "incident." At that point, everything started going off the rails for me. The cousin's response to the "incident" seemed medieval.

Then we pivot back to New York, and Cecil seems like a cartoon villain. I hope this isn't too much of a spoiler, but why would anyone put a canal, with a gondola, in their home in Manhattan? Granted, it was 5 townhomes put together, but is that feasible? Cecil's mom wasn't very fleshed out either and I kept waiting for her to become the supervillain.

I found myself unable to root for Lucie for many reasons. She was boring, one-dimensional, and frustrating. I just didn't care about her.

To be honest, my favorite parts of the book were the shootouts to characters from the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. I caught references to Astrid and Kitty Pong.

I think Mr. Kwan's next book should be about Mrs. Zao and Marian's adventures together, as they were the most interesting characters in the book.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the free preview copy.**

The things that worked in his earlier novels, just don’t work here and now. Though some people might find this perfect escapist fare, dealing with the lives of the ultra, ultra wealthy and pretentious. I’m sure he did extensive research on these lifestyles but I just couldn’t hook onto any of it.

Kwan created a delightful heroine, Lucie Churchill, which is the only reason I stuck with the book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This book would not disappoint! From page turning storyline to wealth, thrill and romance in every chapter. At first the story got me intrigued. Next I am addicted to its plot and how it continues. I can't wait for the next book!

Retellings of any sort are difficult. I should know; I'm the bitch who read four different Pride & Prejudice retellings in the past two months. One thing I've learned from seeing how a variety of authors reinterpret past literature is that the best adaptations are those that don't just shuffle a few things around and give the source material a fresh coat of paint; they really seek to rebuild that work from scratch and keep its essential lessons while providing a new landscape.

When I was reading Sex and Vanity, I intentionally tried not to compared it to Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians series. However, that's impossible to do here: This novel is written with the identical dishy tone and footnotes as Kwan's first three novels, and while the characters are different, a lot of the overarching messages and world-building were very similar.

But when I thought about it, what was much more difficult to overlook was that Sex and Vanity's arc was much like Crazy Rich Asians' narrative in many ways, except I think Rachel Chu made for a much more captivating heroine than Lucie. Some of the themes that Kwan touched on were good, but again, we've seen many of them before in other iterations of his previous work. If I was going to write a dissertation on this (Lord help us), it'd be that Crazy Rich Asians could possibly be seen as the more elevated and enlightened retelling of A Room With a View in some aspects than the novel that's supposed to be an adaptation.

That said, I definitely think this book will be a great summer beach read for many people; it's light, the characters are airily unlikable at worst, and you can hit a fun fashion designer name on every page. Perhaps some people will find its similarities to the Crazy Rich Asians series to be its greatest strength. I just think it lacked that extra little something to take it to the next level, and I'm sad I didn't like it more. (less)

Kwan amazes me again! His books are honestly like popcorn. They are meant to be devoured completely and wholly. I read this in one setting!

After reading Kwan's series Crazy Rich Asians, I had been anticipating his next big move. And this is it! Sex and Vanity is Kwan in his truest form. Juicy and dramatic. You won't be able to help yourself. Kwan had me in his grips and wouldn't let go. I absolutely loved this book!

Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians trilogy is one of my security blanket book series. I pick it up (or watch the film) when I need something comforting and to escape my own life. Sex & Vanity is a new addition to that collection. This book introduces a whole new set of characters (with some cameos made by old favorites), and makes you want to escape to Capri this very instant. I loved how Lucie - a girl so paralyzed by being perfect and being ENOUGH for her father’s patrician white family, her half-Chinese identity and the global social circles she travels in - as she discovers who she really is, who she really loves, and that the things people say and the things people feel can be wholly separate. Unlike his previous trilogy which focused on an ensemble of characters, Kwan’s latest focuses solely on Lucie and follows her through some truly mortifying, self-affirming, and completely fantastical moments that sweep you away but keep you grounded at the same time. I thoroughly loved this book, and I’m already mentally casting the film version myself.

Nineteen-year-old Lucie is on her way to Capri for her friend/childhood babysitters wedding. The wedding itself is a week-long affair. Of course, Lucie cannot go halfway across the world without supervision, so her mom send her 40 some year old cousin Charlotte with her. When their rooms turn out to be an alley view vs. an ocean view Charlotte pitches a fit and suddenly Rosemary Zao insists they trade rooms with her and her son George because one the room has an ocean view and two its the best rooms in the entire hotel. Throughout the week Lucie finds George terrible even though she doesn't even know him. After an instant in town George takes Lucie along a little path and Lucie finds herself kissing Goerge. One thing leads to another and the night of the wedding and they are in a quiet area and can't keep their hands off of each other until someone informs them of a drone catching their every move! Charlotte takes Lucie out of Capri and George is out of the picture.

Five years later in South Hampton, Lucie's fiance thinks he's upped one on someone he doesn't like and convinces the Zao's to rent the Hampton house next door to Lucie's family, not knowing Lucie knows the Zao's and they are extremely wealthy. Finally, Lucie and George reunite.

I loved the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy and was hoping this author would bring us a new book. Sex and Vanity is terrific! Many familiar elements here -- Asian characters, and a gossipy fun glimpse into the lives of the fabulously wealthy. The characters are sympathetic and relatable, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. I look forward to recommending this book to readers who loved Crazy Rich Asians, and to readers who are looking for the ultimate fun rom-com.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available on July 14 2020

Sex and Vanity is Kevin Kwan's uproarious new comedy of manners set between the luscious, luxurious island of Capri and the hushed old boardrooms of New York City. Set in the same high collar, satirical world of Crazy Rich Asians, Sex and Vanity follows the story of the bubbly Lucie Churchill, a nineteen year old struggling to find her place as an Asian American descendant of the established Churchill clan and the mysterious George Zao, Chinese royalty. As Lucie and George find themselves growing closer and closer together, they are also sharply reminded of the racial and class differences between them. With triple infinity pools, secret grottos and exquisite apartments, Kwan once again challenges us to think about home, family, belonging and love. A highly entertaining read!