nataliebootlah's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I know, I know. I’m late to the party.
I’ve learned a lot about the wealth gap, classism, and money in general as I’ve grown up (and wiser, as they say 😉). But Crazy Rich Asians was something else entirely. While I know this is fictional, I wouldn’t be surprised at the amount of money people surely drop on crazy things simply because they can.
Crazy Rich Asians follows Singapore’s richest families as they work very hard… at upstaging their fellow rich frenemies. While the characters flaunt their money in abhorrently lavish ways, the author really draws attention to class discrimination, how many ways someone can turn up their nose at someone or something, and just how incredibly unlikable these characters were. But I guess that’s the point.
This one is for you if you love gossip, extravagance, scheming, and drama. Now I’m off to finally watch the movie!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Bullying
atamano's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Racism, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
wiltseyke's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
An airplane book. Something you buy at the airport bookshop if you have nothing to read, read it on the plane, then leave it behind when you deplane. Maybe you finish it, maybe you don’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
emilywemily6's review against another edition
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This book was a mixed bag, but overall I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the rest of the series. First of all, this book is really vulgar- not just in language and the use of racial slurs, but also in descriptions of debauchery. I feel like few of these things added to the story, and the author could have gotten the same points across by writing in a different way. This book touched on so many characters and I feel like I missed out on getting to know the characters more deeply since the story was spread between so many perspectives and storylines. This book read like a soap opera which I think was intentional but also very different than what I am used to reading. The culture of the crazy rich Asians portrayed in the book was so fascinating and I just couldn’t stop reading (like a soap opera lol). It makes me wonder how much of those types of people actually exist and want to do some research. The ending was so unexpected and I enjoyed it, but this book felt like it ended really abruptly. I also felt like a ton of names were dropped that I had no concept of, which makes me wonder if those people are real or not and whether the name dropping was just a literary device the author used to paint a picture of this culture of Asian oligarchy. This is so different than what I usually read, which was refreshing and intriguing and captivating, but definitely a superficial book with some flaws or creative choices that may or may not contribute to the book as a whole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Cursing, Bullying, Classism, Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Car accident
ashtreene's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
sapphicsoilscientist's review against another edition
I miss books with characters I wouldn’t want to kick in the shins every three pages. This book is full of people that cannot or will not behave themselves. I understand some of them are meant to be poorly behaved because they have so much money, but even the love interest is not a likable person.
Also the homophobia and rape jokes are more than I have time for. I don’t know how this could be a ‘fun and light’ read for people. I don’t think we read the same book.
Also the homophobia and rape jokes are more than I have time for. I don’t know how this could be a ‘fun and light’ read for people. I don’t think we read the same book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, and Racial slurs
The further into the book you get, the worse it gets. Nothing about any of these characters made me want to read past all the terrible things happening on the bachelor/bachelorette party.joemkl's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Classism
danuu's review against another edition
i got to the chapter about the bachelor party and just hated all the stuff with the dogfighting and the slurs the guys were saying. i guess it’s accurate but i just wasnt expecting it in a rom com vibe type book and it just turned me off from the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Animal cruelty
jilianh's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
The first half of this book I was super engaged, but the second half I was starting to get bored of all the opulence, clothing, etc.
Some of it was a little bit of a stretch to me (not necessarily the extravagance as I have no idea what it's like to be rich or in Asia) but more things like how Rachel adjusted a little too easily right away to finding out Nick's family is mega rich? She just kind of rolls with it no questions asked about it (at least until later in the book). Not even a debrief after the first event?
I loved the soap opera, the multiple storylines/perspectives intertwining, and the tone being lighthearted compared to my usual books.
Overall I still enjoyed and look forward to finishing the series. I listened to the audiobook and by the end the narrators "Nick" accent was getting a bit hard to listen to, so fair warning! Most of the other characters were ok.
Some of it was a little bit of a stretch to me (not necessarily the extravagance as I have no idea what it's like to be rich or in Asia) but more things like how Rachel adjusted a little too easily right away to finding out Nick's family is mega rich? She just kind of rolls with it no questions asked about it (at least until later in the book). Not even a debrief after the first event?
I loved the soap opera, the multiple storylines/perspectives intertwining, and the tone being lighthearted compared to my usual books.
Overall I still enjoyed and look forward to finishing the series. I listened to the audiobook and by the end the narrators "Nick" accent was getting a bit hard to listen to, so fair warning! Most of the other characters were ok.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
pastellymoon's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Hehe. I enjoyed it. Though, the flow of the book was a little odd to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, and Bullying
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Racism
Minor: Racial slurs and Homophobia