Why Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians is the Perfect Chick Lit

Review: 4 STARS

Would I recommend to a friend? Yes. For when you’re looking for a light and fun read.

There are many books out there that give the Chick Lit genre a bad name. Due to the stereotypes around it, I believe many authors shy away from categorizing their books into the Chick Lit family for fear of readers automatically dismissing it as a plotless waste of their time. So whether you’re willing to consider Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians chick lit or not, I’m here to tell you why it fits perfectly into the category in the best possible way.

There’s something extremely intriguing about getting immersed in the world of the ultra-rich. I’ll be the first to admit I am not familiar with many aspects of Singaporean or Chinese cultures, so I don’t have a baseline to compare to. However, I was fascinated by the elite lifestyle portrayed by Kwan and the dream-like picture he painted of a young couple on a summer trip to Asia.

Of course, where there is crazy rich there is also crazy drama, which sets the scene for the perfect chick lit novel! So, let’s explore why this book checks all the boxes for the elements you would expect to find in a chick lit:

Easy Read? Check. While this book is considerably long (500+ pages), it was a light and smooth read. You will not find many thought provoking passages or intense moments, but rather a book that tells a simple story and takes you along for the ride. It reads well and each chapter is devoted to a specific character. This made me want to keep going and pick up where I last left off in the next character’s story.

Romance? Check. The romantic elements are cheesy but will give you the feels nonetheless. Despite popular opinion, romance is actually not a requirement for chick lit and is more of a nice-to-have. Many books in this genre are also centered around relationships between families and friends. Not to worry. This book has plenty of that as well.

Female Protagonist? Check. Of course no chick lit novel is complete without an admirable, ambitious female protagonist who goes through some kind of trial for the sake of personal growth. Rachel Chu is one of the least glitzy characters in the book which makes her the perfect candidate for a relatable and lovable protagonist.

Drama? Check. Just enough drama to keep you going but not enough to get your heart racing. It’s that same kind of drama that made your high school days just a tad more entertaining or the kind that has you glued to your screen every time you watch Mean Girls.

So there you have it. Four elements of a perfect chick lit novel. That being said, I hope you don’t view this as a negative review. It just requires a certain kind of mood when reading it.

Here is what I thought about the book overall:

I wasn’t drawn to any specific character. Each one was unique and I enjoyed reading each of their stories. However, it’s clear that plot development was not one of Kwan’s focal points when writing the book. He focused more on character relationships (there are a lot of them) and portraying their luxurious lifestyles. I enjoyed this read, but it didn’t strike me enough or blow my mind to the point of giving it 5 Stars.

I have also watched the movie adaptation. I had to think really hard to remember if I had actually watched it, or if my brain was filling in the gaps between the book and the trailers. So needless to say, it was not a very memorable film. I did in fact watch it on a plane while jet lagged, so that may also have also had something to do with it. As of this posting, they are supposed to be coming out with the movie sequel based on the next book in the series, China Rich Girlfriend, sometime in the near future. I have not read it yet, but unfortunately, I have not seen many encouraging reviews about it.

Recommendations

If you enjoyed Crazy Rich Asians, try watching To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix, an adaptation of Jenny Han’s trilogy of the same name. Full disclosure, I have not read the series yet, only watched the movie, but I have heard great things about Han’s writing.

If you like your reads accompanied by music, here is a mini-playlist that I believe pairs well with Crazy Rich Asians: