What bothers me the most is Kwan's misrepresentation of academics in the books, including Crazy Rich Asians. The author romanticizes academic life too much. In the books, Rachel and Nick, tenure-track assistant professors, seem to have lots of leisure time in the summer and in the spring break. Normal academics, including tenured professor, often spend their summers and spring break to catch up with what they have not had time to finish in research or grading or to do what they want to initiate in research. Based on the behaviors of Rachel and Nick, they would lose their jobs by the end of the third year or the end of their sixth year. In the movie, Crazy Rich Asians, Rachel was wearing a tank-top to teach. She would have been warned if this scene happened at a real university.In China Rich Girlfriend, the background of Bao and his family history are questionable. It is impossible for Bao's dad to be a billionaire tycoon in China even in the 1990s because every business was state-owned. I suggest the author so some real research before putting this type of trash in the book.

China Rich Girlfriend is the worst.I read Crazy Rich Asians because I saw the poster for the movie , and yes, I'm one of those snobs who generally believe that the book is always better than the movie.This was one situation where, as I read, I could see that here was a good idea which could be made great with the right team of screen writers and casting directors.China Rich Girlfriend takes what was horrible about Crazy Rich Asians and amps it up, with the effect of drowning out what was good about the first book.The use of footnotes in the first book was convenient, more like subtitles which allowed the characters to break into their native tongues quite naturally. By the time we get to China Rich, Kevin Kwan uses them as running commentary on the characters and situations. Like watching a movie with that friend who has strong opinions on everything and keeps chattering away as you're trying to immerse yourself in the experience.Also, I'm sure by this time, we get it. The characters are rich. The book degenerates into pages and pages of describing bathrooms and jets and handbags and shoes and cars... I think there is only about 25% of story buried in 75% explanation about how Astrid's style is deceptively simple. How charming! Bracelets from 650 BC and a dress from Zara! How does she do it! But wait! Michael's Ferrari!I'm giving it 2 stars because despite the atrocious writing, one dimensional characters etc. I'm still going to buy the 3rd book.Sigh.

I rated this book based on how engaging and fun to read it was. It's not my usual deep philosophical tome but having grown up in the Philippines , I did have many Chinese friends and was raised by a beloved Chinese amah. I love their culture and respect for family. This book shows a very extreme culture within that people who embody the notion that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Author Kevin Kwan returns with characters from his earlier novel, Crazy Rich Asians: Nicholas Young and Rachel Chu who are about to get married, Nick’s cousin Astrid Leong, and Hong Kong soap opera star Kitty Pong who is now married to billionaire Bernard Tai. The plot has us bouncing around to various locations all over the world, a device which shows us how wealthy everyone is with their own jumbo jets, magnificent mansions, closets full of designer clothes, oodles of expensive jewels, and net worth in the billions of dollars. Kwan devotes plenty of ink to these trappings of wealth but unfortunately skimps on his characters and the story line. It gets rather tiresome after reading page after page of prose that resembles an inventory of valuables for an insurance policy. A big disappointment after enjoying Kwan’s earlier book.

I LOVE this series and cannot wait for the third book to come out. When I read the first book in the series it took me a little while to adjust to the writing style of the author before I started to really love the characters and the plot. The books don't necessarily have an ending, it's more of a continuation and makes you want more. Kwan thoroughly thought out the characters and you can't help but fall in love with Rachel, Nick, and of course, Astrid (!). The second book was laid out a little differently style-wise than the first but it's easy to adjust since most of the characters are the same but there are some plot twists and new characters. Overall an awesome read!