a like, not a love. there were so many characters and the story got off to such a fast start that it was too much to keep track of in any serious way.

I haven’t read a Kevin Kwan book since Crazy Rich Asians and I wasn’t sure what to expect. It supposed my expectations, the novel was funny, outrageous, full of connections. I had a great time reading it!

The title says it all in Kevin Kwan’s latest offering of uber-rich and beautiful people enjoying untold luxury around the world, while their parents plot and scheme ways to forge financial and familial alliances through marriage.

The Earl (Francis Gresham) and Countess (Arabella Leung Gresham) of Greshambury have three grown up children: Augusta, about to get married to a prince, Beatrice, middle child, and Rufus, the baby and artist of the family. Their mother Arabella is a former model, a tiger mum X 10, and drama creator extraordinaire. She has also created a series of boutique hotels around the world.

The Tongs, Thomas and Eden, have lived on the estate for many years. Thomas is an oncologist, and has treated Arabella also for years, most often functioning as voice of reason when Arabella is freaking out about her children's behaviour, or the family's reputation. Eden, his daughter and a doctor, has grown up with the Gresham children, and is best friend to Rufus. She is also aware that Arabella sees Thomas and her as nothing more than the help.

At Auggie's reception, Arabella schemes to get Rufus to seduce a French hotel heiress, Solène de Courcy, but Rufus ends up confessing his love for Eden, who was invited to the wedding by Beatrice, much to her mother's disgust.

Eden's life is turned upside down consequently by Arabella harming her professional position and destroying her reputation in the village neighbouring the estate. To recover her equanimity, she travels to L.A. to spend time with a fun-loving young man she met at Auggie's party. Eden has a great time, but also meets an incredibly rude,wealthy and alcoholic son of a ultra-rich man dying of cancer, who is coincidentally being secretly treated by Thomas.

Francis finds out that the family is broke (truly broke, instead of rich broke) and enlists Thomas' help in sorting things out for the family, while Arabella doubles down on getting Rufus married well.

Rufus, meanwhile, meets Martha Dung, an incredibly wealthy venture capitalist, whom Arabella sees as the family's ticket to safety, and continues to scheme and plot to keep Rufus separate from Eden, so he can give Arabella a wealthy daughter-in-law.

Kevin Kwan again takes us on a wild ride around the world to the most amazing locations, to meet the richest people. There are incredibly elaborate parties, amazing outfits, sumptuous food, and people so out of touch with the reality most people live with. Status, title, and pedigree, not to mention great gobs of cash are all that matter, and Arabella does her best to keep the family together, in good reputation, and rich, despite the efforts of her children to chart their own futures, and choose their own partners.

There's drama, melodrama, sarcasm, humour, a central mystery, and nastiness, but at the same time, all I wanted was for Eden and Rufus to find their way back to each other, no matter the many shenanigans around them.

Some of the humour is doled out by the author providing comments about people and locations through arch phrasing in footnotes, which I loved.

I enjoyed this book more than “Sex and Vanity”, partly because irritating and meddlesome as Arabella is, I still found her such a hoot. The couple at the centre of the story are both likeable, and I wanted them to have their happy ending. The other characters are also fun, and Kwan again creates a compelling narrative with sharply written portrayals, a good balance of humour, mystery, travelogue, drama and froth.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Kevin Kwan is back in top form with the second installment of his Cities Trilogy, Lies and Weddings. This time the story is based in London and is a 21st-century retelling of Anthony Trollope’s Doctor Thorne. Unlike Sex and Vanity, where I was familiar with the source of inspiration, I went into Lies and Weddings more blindly. And perhaps this worked in its favour because, even though the plot twists were quite predictable, I was able to enjoy Lies and Weddings as its own book. Fans of Kwan’s books will once again welcome the saucy footnotes and the exotic locations, along with the mouth-watering descriptions of various culinary dishes, because if there’s one thing the crazy rich can be counted on, it’s that they don’t hold back when it comes to their experiences, whether it’s extravagant wedding locations or lavish meals! Lies and Weddings is not only Kwan’s most dramatic novel to date, but it’s also his most romantic one because, unlike his other books, readers get to witness the moment childhood friends Rufus and Eden fall for each other. I also adored Eden’s relationship with her father, as it’s one of the strongest bonds in the book. If you loved Crazy Rich Asians, then you’ll enjoy Lies and Weddings, as out of all of Kwan’s books, it shares the most similarities with Crazy Rich Asians. In fact, Lady Arabella could give Eleanor a run for her money when it comes to insanely overbearing and meddling Chinese mothers. However, if you’re not familiar with Kwan’s other books but love Victorian comedies of manners but want something more current and maybe less “white,” then you should pick up Lies and Weddings. By modernizing the classic country-house novel and updating the characters to be more diverse with the inclusion of several monied Asian characters, Lies and Weddings offers a much-welcome intersectional perspective to the book’s sociopolitical commentary on wealth and class. What classic novel will be the source of inspiration for Kwan as he sets the third book of the Cities Trilogy in Paris? This is something I’m eagerly anticipating.

Rounding up to four stars. This book was like a soap opera (compliment). The sense of place (and drama) were excellent. The book was most fun when it felt like true satire of the lives of the ultra-rich and when it was leaning into the twists and intrigue. While there was certainly plenty of critique of the excess and entitlement, it ultimately felt superficial. And while I appreciated the schtick, sometimes the pacing suffered from all the excessive details about people's backgrounds and details about clothing and properties and art etc. The connection between the characters were solid, even if the characters often lacked real depth and despite the large cast of characters, they were still each totally distinct and memorable. My biggest issue was the low-key misogyny - the way most of the women were portrayed often made me cringe (also Eden felt very much "not like the other girls").

I do recommend this for exactly what it is because this book was undeniably entertaining and escapist. I laughed out loud many times, audibly gasped more than once and even teared up one time. I ended up listening to the audiobook and while sometimes the delivery was a bit stilted, the sheer quantity and consistency of the different voices and accents the single narrator pulled off was impressive.

This is the perfect summer read. It is so funny, like laugh out loud several times funny. It is frothy and gossipy and quick and fun. The jet setting, multiple luxurious locations, and opulence really are such a treat. It is also more than that. Kwan really uses Eden as the reader's surrogate to question the excess, examine the issues of race and class adding just enough realism to make you really care about the characters. Kwan never lectures, that's not why you come to his world. This is about fun, even if you have to ask yourself why Eden would keep being mistaken for the help. It's romantic and exciting with just enough family intrigue. I had the best time.

The second entry in Kwan's Cities trilogy is leaps and bounds improved over Sex and Vanity - a welcome return to form. The scandals and misadventures of the upper crust are evergreen fodder. However, the characters are weak. I found Eden to be a bit naive/saintly for my tastes as a heroine, Arabella not as complex as Eleanor (from Crazy Rich Asians), and Rufus to have as much presence as a faint gust of air. That said, I enjoyed the story regardless.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for a review copy.

I am a big fan of Kevin Kwan, so I was excited to receive an early copy of this novel. Descriptive yet hilariously written, Lies and Weddings was an extremely enjoyable read I didn’t want to end. I truly look forward to Kwan’s next book.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC!

Mr. Kevin Kwan is back. He is absolutely back – because Lies and Weddings is reminiscent of what readers such as myself loved about the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. Lies and Weddings is addictive, fun, messy and overall a joyful ride with important commentary on privilege of race & status.

Lies and Weddings follows the Greshams as the matriarch of the family tries to find her son, Rufus, the future Duke of Greshambury a suitable wife. And well, in signature Kwan fashion, things do not go as planned.

But the luxurious villas, the dramatic aunties and charming characters make for a fun story!

I loved Lies and Weddings and you will too, especially if you’re read and enjoyed Kwan’s previous work.

Kevin Kwan does it again! This satire on the lives of the rich and famous will give you throw back feels to Crazy Rich Asians. Eden Tong is the beautiful girl next door to the Duke of Greshambury. She has grown up as best friends with the Gresham’s but will never be considered suitable by the reigning matriarch Duchess. That is, until everything gets turned on its head. There’s hidden secret identities, a pregnancy scandal, and a murder. But don’t be fooled by Kwan’s glittering story, do look deeper for the hidden messages of internalized racism and the feelings of self- loathing it unknowingly creates in those trying so desperately to fit in. Enjoy the excess and over the top antics but take some time afterward to digest the novel’s major themes.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

Lies and Weddings is a multi-cultural romantic comedy-drama.

It focuses a lot on the Gresham family. Rufus, Augie and Bea are siblings who grew up very wealthy. Their father is Lord Gresham (he is English) and their mother is Lady Arabella (she is from Hong Kong).

The title of the book works as there are numerous weddings/engagements and lots of secrets and lies. Characters have major money problems, yet buy the most lavish things. There are so many super rich characters in this book, which leads to a fun story.

The book starts with Augie's lavish wedding in Hawaii. Another main character is Eden who is a doctor (like her father). She is best friends with Rufus and Bea. And grew up in a cottage on the Gresham property.

There were definitely things that I liked about this book. The exotic settings were incredible. The characters and family drama were so fun. And the luxury was so over the top and crazy.

There are a lot of characters. Although I did really like them all. However the way that the book goes in and out of POVSs makes it at times a bit hard to follow. This also makes it harder to really connect with most of the characters.

The book was a bit too long. But I did enjoy how the author brought everything to a satisfying conclusion. Overall this was like reading a soap opera with the wealthiest characters.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader E-Copy of Kevin Kwan’s Lies and Weddings.

In 2018, I breezed through all 3 books of the Crazy Rich Asians series. This book is very much reminiscent of that series and I had a blast reading it! This is totally an escapist read: mostly set in Hawaii, Italy, England and LA, consists of 3 weddings, over-the-top visual imageries of luxury and a volcanic eruption. Like what can possibly go wrong right?!

This also follows the “down-to-earth rich guy falls for the beautiful commoner girl, warranting disapproval from rich guy’s snobby family” trope. I loved the drama, the ridiculous schemes, the plot twist that I saw coming in the first 3 chapters, and all the extravagance and opulence mentioned. What I also really like about Kevin Kwan’s books is his ability to equip Asian characters with a spectrum of personalities, breaking the Asian stereotype of being straight laced, meek or submissive.

I did expect more character development especially for one of the main characters, which really did not happen. I also understand that some of the references of ostentatiousness and profligacy were used to accurately paint the lives of the rich and the famous, but many of the references were lost on me as I didn’t really care for them and found them redundantly unnecessary. I didn’t even bother googling any of them. There is romance in this book and it’s cute but I don’t think it’s the focus, which I was okay with because there are other interesting plots involved that didn’t take away from the storyline.

Overall, I enjoyed this light, fast-paced and easy read. If you’re a Crazy Rich Asians fan then you’ll also like this book!

Rufus Gresham is a future viscount, whose family is broke. His father has let his mother over spend and deplete the family trust. His mother has a plan to have all of her children marry into money to help the family to recover. At his sister's wedding his mother has conspired for him to find a rich bride, but nothing goes to plan and he finally admits his feeling for his childhood friend Eden. We follow the entire family as schemes, events, outrageous antics, and flaunting of wealth around the world brings out secrets, true characters, and surprises.

My problem with this book was so many characters were so obnoxious, entitled, and out of touch. I could not relate to almost anyone in this novel. It was all too outrageous but it was entertaining and did keep my attention.

Lies and Weddings is a whirlwind of secrets, elitism, hilarity and hijinks. If you enjoyed Kwan's previous work, this is a must read!

Kevin Kwan really has found his niche. Another fun book about the lives of Asian socialites and upper class, centred around a wedding. It's always a fun ride to meet the characters he develops and see where their journey takes them.

I will say it's a bit difficult to read the endnotes in an ebook (or at least in the uncorrected proof copy I was reading), which made the story a bit broken up. And there isn't much that differentiates this book from Kwan's other titles, but if you're a fan of his writing, you'll absolutely enjoy this book, too!

If Kevin Kwan writes a book, I will read it. If Kevin Kwan has one fan, it's me. I couldn't put this book down. I really liked the flash backs and how they connected with the current story. This book had me legit laughing out loud, just like his other books have. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review :)

Forget the other beach reads you have on your TBR shelf: Weddings and Lies is what you need to prioritize for your fun books this summer. I just finished a fairly dense novel for school and this was the perfect way to decompress. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

If you are a fan of Crazy Rich Asians, then this will definitely scratch that same gossipy, scandalous itch. I absolutely adore the genre of Rich People Behaving Badly. It’s fun to sometimes escape into the world of high status and money (and subsequent money troubles). There is so much name brand dropping in this book but it works because it allows the reader to truly envision the characters. In that way, Kwan’s writing reminds me of much-beloved author, Sophie Kinsella.

The story begins with a spectacular death, takes the reader to myriad vacation destinations, and explores family (another scheming mother!), love, marriage, and purpose. There’s also a tonne of consumerism but again: this is what a beach read is for! Put your feet up, grab a glass of rosé and enjoy!

As soon as I saw "Lies and Weddings: A Novel" by Kevin Kwan on social media, I added it to my to-read list. It's the second book in his Cities Trilogy, but don't worry if you haven't read the first one, "Sex and Vanity: A Novel". The books aren't linked by plot or characters but by their varied city settings. Each book presents different cities and characters, depicting lives filled with immense wealth, privilege, drama, and secrets.

Although I enjoyed the first book, I loved "Lies and Weddings: A Novel" even more. It reminded me of the thrill and drama of "Crazy Rich Asians". The romance between Rufus and Eden felt more believable than that of Lucy and George from the first book. Despite the absence of a comic relief character, I enjoyed the diverse characters and their portrayals. Each character added something to the story and advanced the plot, and while I didn't connect with all of them, I came to understand their complexities.

The story and plot, while extravagant, are believable. They encompass landed gentry, extreme wealth, extravagance, immense pressure, and more. Race and class are prevalent in "Lies and Weddings: A Novel", subtly woven into the story. It doesn't excuse some characters' poor decisions, but it does help explain their actions.

"Lies and Weddings: A Novel" by Kevin Kwan is a highly entertaining read. I finished it in one sitting, eager to see how it ended. I also tried the audiobook version, which was good, but some character voices were stilted and choppy. Despite that, it didn't detract from the overall story.

Kevin Kwan can be hit or miss for me and so far nothing of his has ever lived up to how much I loved Crazy rich Asians. This destination wedding story had a LOT of characters to keep track of and also alternated timelines making it confusing and difficult to follow at times. That said it did have great exotic settings and LOTS of family drama. Long time fans are sure to enjoy this latest but for me it was just an okay read (and a little long for my tastes). Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

“I 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝖻𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗂𝗓𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗈𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗐𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗍𝗈 𝗂𝗇𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗍 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗍𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝖾𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗀𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗎𝗋𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗈𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗂𝗍.”

A grandiose wedding on the Big Island of Hawaii, an erupting volcano and an unfolding of drama, secrets and lies. Rufus Gresham is the current obsession of his mother’s schemes. She is desperate to marry him off to someone with title and wealth while he questions whether he should choose duty over desire when it comes to his future and his family’s future generations. Eden Tong is definitely not a contender in this scheme of his mothers, but will that be enough to keep them apart?

I was slightly overwhelmed with the many characters and sub-plot introductions but it definitely got easier to follow as the story developed. The importance of social standings was made clear from the start with how each character was introduced with their titles and education. I couldn’t help but enjoy the TV drama style this novel had with the indulgence, lavish locations and its glamorous and mostly very wealthy cast. I also loved Kwan’s footnotes, I thought they were really fun additions.

If you enjoyed Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians, you’ll definitely enjoy Lies and Weddings with the drama!

✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖯𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗎𝗂𝗇 𝖱𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗈𝗆 𝖧𝗈𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝖢𝖺𝗇𝖺𝖽𝖺, 𝖣𝗈𝗎𝖻𝗅𝖾𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝖢𝖺𝗇𝖺𝖽𝖺 ＆ 𝖭𝖾𝗍𝖦𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐.✵