Book Summary: Crazy Rich Asians Summary Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians Summary Crazy Rich Asians Summary Crazy Rich Asians Summary Crazy Rich Asians Summary

“There’s rich, there’s filthy rich, and then there’s crazy rich. . . . A Pride and Prejudice-like send-up.”
—People 

A hilarious and heartwarming New York Times bestselling novel—now a major motion picture!

 “This 48-karat beach read is crazy fun.” —Entertainment Weekly

Prologue: The Cousins

LONDON, 1986

Part One

1. Nicholas Young and Rachel Chu

“Rachel, I’d love it if you came,” Nick reassured her. “You weren’t

planning on teaching this summer, so what’s your worry? Think you

won’t be able to handle the heat and humidity?”

“No, that’s not it. I know you’re going to be so busy with all your best

man duties, and I wouldn’t want to distract you,” Rachel said.

“What distraction? Colin’s wedding is only going to take up the first

week in Singapore, and then we can spend the rest of the summer just

bumming around Asia. Come on, let me show you where I grew up. I

want to take you to all my favorite haunts.”

“Will you show me the sacred cave where you lost your virginity?”

Rachel teased, arching an eyebrow playfully.

“Definitely! We can even stage a reenactment!” Nick laughed,

slathering jam and clotted cream onto a scone still warm from the oven.

2. Eleanor Young

Everyone knew that Dato’* Tai Toh Lui made his first fortune the dirty

way by bringing down Loong Ha Bank in the early eighties, but in the

two decades since, the efforts of his wife, Datin Carol Tai, on behalf of

the right charities had burnished the Tai name into one of respectability.

Every Thursday, for instance, the datin held a Bible study luncheon for

her closest friends in her bedroom, and Eleanor Young was sure to attend

3. Rachel Chu

It would be just after dinnertime in Cupertino, and on the nights she

wasn’t at Nick’s, it became Rachel’s habit to call her mother right as she

was getting into bed.

“Guess who just closed the deal on the big house on Laurel Glen

Drive?” Kerry Chu boasted excitedly in Mandarin as soon as she picked

up the phone.

“Wow, Mom, congratulations! Isn’t that your third sale this month?”

Rachel asked.

“Yes! I broke last year’s office record! You see, I knew I made the right

decision to join Mimi Shen at the Los Altos office,” Kerry said with satisfaction.

4. Nicholas Young

Nick was slouched on his battered leather sofa grading term papers

when Rachel casually brought it up. “So … what’s the story when we’re

staying at your parents’ place? Are we sharing a bedroom, or would they

be scandalized?”

Nick cocked his head. “Hmm. I suppose we’ll be in the same room—”

“You suppose or you know?”

“Don’t worry, once we arrive everything will get sorted.”

Get sorted. Normally Rachel found Nick’s Britishy phrases so charming,

but in this instance it was a tad frustrating. Sensing her unease, Nick got

up, walked over to where she was sitting, and kissed the top of her head

tenderly. “Relax—my parents aren’t the kind of people who pay any attention to sleeping arrangements.”

5. Astrid Leong

Astrid barely had time to take in the delightful sight when the

Vicomtesse Nathalie de L’Herme-Pierre pounced on her. “I’m so glad you

could make it,” Nathalie effused, greeting Astrid with quadruple cheek

kisses. “My goodness, is that linen? Only you could get away with

wearing a simple linen dress to a ball, Astrid!” The hostess laughed,

admiring the delicate Grecian folds of Astrid’s buttercup-yellow gown.

“Wait a minute … is this an original Madame Grès?” Nathalie asked,

realizing that she had seen a similar dress at the Musée Galliera.

“From her early period,” Astrid replied, almost embarrassed to have been found out.

6. The Chengs

Every Sunday afternoon, the Cheng family would come together

without fail for lunch at the CAA. No matter how busy or hectic the

week had been, everyone knew that Sunday dim sum at the Clubhouse,

as they called it, was mandatory attendance by all family members who

were in town. Dr. Malcolm Cheng was Asia’s most esteemed heart

surgeon. So prized were his skilled hands that he was famous for always

wearing lambskin gloves—made specially for him by Dunhill

7. Eleanor

After a few days of strategically placed phone calls, Eleanor finally

nailed down the source of the disturbing rumor involving her son. Daisy

confessed hearing it from her daughter-in-law’s best friend Rebecca

Tang, who in turn revealed that she’d heard it from her brother Moses

Tang, who had been at Cambridge with Leonard Shang.

8. Rachel

Nick brought it up so nonchalantly, as he was sorting the laundry on the

Sunday afternoon before their big trip. Apparently Nick’s parents had

only just been informed that Rachel was coming with him to Singapore.

And oh, by the way, they had just been made aware of her existence too.

“I don’t quite understand … you mean your parents never knew about me

in all this time?” Rachel asked in astonishment.

“Yes. I mean, no, they didn’t. But you need to know this has absolutely

nothing to do with you—” Nick began.

9. Astrid

To the majority of Singaporeans, it would seem that Astrid was in store

for a lovely evening at home. But to her friends and family, Astrid’s

current domestic situation was a perplexing one. Why was she popping

into kitchens talking to cooks, unpacking luggage by herself, or worrying about her husband’s workload?

10. Edison Cheng

Eddie stared at the mirror in amazement. “Oh, I’ve seen that before,”

he said rather unconvincingly as the envy began to coarse through his

veins. He felt the sudden urge to shove his friend’s bloated face into the

pristine mirrored wall. Once again, Leo was showing off another shiny

new toy he did fuck-all to deserve. It had been like this since they were

little. When Leo turned seven, his father gave him a titanium bicycle

11. Rachel

“You’re kidding, right?” Rachel said, thinking Nick was pulling a prank

when he steered her onto the plush red carpet of the Singapore Airlines

first-class counter at JFK.

Nick flashed a conspiratorial grin, relishing her reaction. “I figured if

you were going to go halfway around the world with me, I should at

least try to make it as comfy as possible.”

“But this must have cost a fortune! You didn’t have to sell a kidney, did

you?”

“No worries, I had about a million frequent-flier miles saved up.”

12. The Leongs

“Aiyah, Astrid, why so late?” Felicity Leong scolded her daughter as

she arrived at the long banquet table by the trophy wall where members

of the extended Leong family and their honored guests from Kuala

Lumpur—Tan Sri* Gordon Oon and Puan Sri Mavis Oon—were already seated.

“So sorry. Michael’s flight back from China was delayed,” Astrid

apologized. “I hope you didn’t wait for us to order? The food

always takes ages here.”

13. Philip and Eleanor Young

Now, why do you want to jump off a building?”

Philip asked in his usual laconic manner.

“I just got the dossier on Rachel Chu from that private investigator in

Beverly Hills who Mabel Kwok recommended. Do you want to know

what it says.” It wasn’t a question; it sounded like more of a threat.

“Er … who is Rachel Chu?” Philip asked.

“Don’t be so senile, lah! Don’t you remember what I told you last

week? Your son has been dating some girl in secret for more than a year,

and he had the cheek to tell us about it just days before he brings her to Singapore!”

“You hired a private investigator to check up on this girl?”

“Of course I did. We know nothing about this girl, and everyone is

already talking about her and Nicky—”

14. Rachel and Nicholas

. Now, why do you want to jump off a building?”

Philip asked in his usual laconic manner.

“I just got the dossier on Rachel Chu from that private investigator in

Beverly Hills who Mabel Kwok recommended. Do you want to know

what it says.” It wasn’t a question; it sounded like more of a threat.

“Er … who is Rachel Chu?” Philip asked.

“Don’t be so senile, lah! Don’t you remember what I told you last

week? Your son has been dating some girl in secret for more than a year,

and he had the cheek to tell us about it just days before he brings her to

Singapore!”

“You hired a private investigator to check up on this girl?”

“Of course I did. We know nothing about this girl, and everyone is

already talking about her and Nicky—”

15. Astrid

Whenever Astrid felt in need of a pick-me-up, she would pay a visit to

her friend Stephen. Stephen had a small jewelry shop on one of the

upper levels of the Paragon shopping center, tucked away from all the

other high-end boutiques in a back hallway. While it lacked the visibility

of high-profile local jewelers like L’Orient or Larry Jewelry, with their

gleaming flagship stores, Stephen Chia Jewels was highly regarded by

the island’s most discerning collectors

16. The Gohs

GohPL: You’re awake! Are you really here?

me: Sure am!

GohPL: Yippeeee!!!!

me: It’s not even 7 and already SO HOT!

GohPL: This is nothing! Are you staying @Nick’s parents?

me: No. We’re @Kingsford Hotel.

GohPL: Nice. Very central. But why are you at a hotel?

me: Nick’s parents are out of town, and he wanted to be at a hotel

during wedding week.

GohPL: …

me: But secretly, I think he didn’t want to show up at parents’ house

with me on the very first night. LOL!

17. Nicholas and Colin

Perhaps out of nostalgia, Nick and Colin liked to meet up at the coffee

shop of their old alma mater on Barker Road.

18. Rachel and Peik Lin

“But I’m still full from lunch,” Rachel protested.

“Well, you’ll just have to get used to the Singaporean eating schedule.

We eat five times a day here—breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, and late

night supper.”

“God, I’m going to put on so much weight while I’m here.”

“No you won’t. That’s the one good thing about this heat—you’ll sweat

it all out!”

Part Two

1. Astrid

Cassian was just being buttoned into his smart new Prussian-blue sailor

suit when Astrid got a call from her husband.

“I have to work late and won’t make it in time for dinner at Ah Ma’s.”

“Really? Michael, you’ve worked late every single night this week,”

Astrid said, trying to maintain a neutral tone.

2. Rachel and Nick

As Peik Lin’s car approached the porte cochere of Tyersall Park, Nick

bounded down the front steps toward them. “I was worried you’d gotten

lost,” he said, opening the car door.

“We did get a bit lost, actually,” Rachel replied, getting out of the car

and staring up at the majestic façade before her. Her stomach felt like it

had been twisted in a vise, and she smoothed out the creases on her

dress nervously. “Am I really late?”

3. Peik Lin

Wye Mun and Neena Goh were stretched out on teal-colored leather

recliners in their screening room at Villa d’Oro, munching on salted

watermelon seeds and watching a Korean soap opera, when Peik Lin

burst into the room.

“Mute the TV! Mute the TV!” she demanded.

“What’s wrong, what’s wrong?” Neena asked in alarm.

“You’re not going to believe where I just came from!”

“Where?” Wye Mun asked, a little annoyed that his daughter had

interrupted during a pivotal moment of his favorite show.

“I just came from Nicholas Young’s grandma’s house.”

4. Rachel and Nick

Rachel followed him through a side door, and they wandered

down a long hallway, past many darkened rooms that she longed to peek

into. When Nick led her through an arch at the end of the passage,

Rachel’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

5. Astrid and Michael

“Many happy returns!” she exclaimed, handing over a small present

exquisitely wrapped in purple silk fabric.

“Aiyah, Astrid, um sai lah!”* Andy said.

“It’s just a little something I thought you’d like from Paris, that’s all.”

“So did you get that city totally out of your system? Back for good

now?”

6. Nick and Rachel

Last night had been magical, and yet she couldn’t help but feel a

burgeoning sense of unease. It was as if she had stumbled into a secret

chamber and discovered that her boyfriend had been living a double life.

7. Eleanor

Lorena finished her call, flipped off her phone, and said, “Aiyah,

Eleanor, you’re in China. At least try some of this delicious porridge.”

“Sorry, I can’t eat fish first thing in the morning—I’m used to my

morning toast,” Eleanor insisted.

“Look at you! You complain your son is too Westernized, and yet you

can’t even enjoy a typical Chinese breakfast.”

8. Rachel

“Nonsense, lah! No Signboard Seafood still has the best chili crab … ”

“This isn’t cashmere, you know. It’s baby vicuña … ”

“Did you hear Swee Lin sold her Four Seasons flat for seven-point-five mil?

A young Mainland Chinese couple, paid in cash … ”

9. Nick

“B. Tai! I can’t believe you made us fly in this old sardine can! Your G5

had a time-to-climb I could grow a beard in! We should have taken my

family’s Falcon 7X,” Evan Fung (of the Fung Electronics Fungs)

complained

“Can you ah guahs* stop comparing the size of your planes and let’s hit

the casinos, please?” Johnny Pang (his mother is an Aw, of those Aws)

cut in.

10. Eddie, Fiona, and the Children

“Are the children ready for inspection?” Eddie asked.

“I’m trying to get them dressed right now.”

“Tell them they have five more minutes. Russell Wing is coming over

at three to take some family pictures of us in the wedding clothes.

Orange Daily might do a feature on our family attending the wedding.”

“You didn’t tell me Russell is coming over today!”

Crazy Rich Asians Summary Crazy Rich Asians Summary
Crazy Rich Asians Summary

11. Rachel

12. Eleanor

13. Rachel

14. Astrid and Michael

15. Nick

16. Dr. Gu

17. Rachel

18. The Youngs

Part Three

1. Tyersall Park

2. Nassim Road

3. Patric’s

4. First Methodist Church

5. Fort Canning Park

6. Tyersall Park

7. Pasir Panjang Road

8. Pulau Samsara

9. 99 Conduit Road

10. Tyersall Park

11. Residences at One Cairnhill

12. Wuthering Towers

13. Cameron Highlands

14. 64 Pak Tin Street

15. Villa d’Oro

16. Sentosa Cove

17. Repulse Bay

18. Villa d’Oro

19. The Star Trek House

Crazy Rich Asians Summary Crazy Rich Asians Summary
Crazy Rich Asians Summary

20. Villa d’Ora

“Rubbish! Satay is the same wherever you go. I think Rachel’s mum

would find Smith Street to be more colorful and authentic,” Nick argued.

“Authentic my foot, lah! If you really want authentic …” Peik Lin

began.

Rachel glanced at her mother. “They can do all the arguing, we’ll just

sit back and eat.”

“But why are they arguing so much over this?” Kerry asked, amazed.

Rachel rolled her eyes and smiled. “Let them be, Mom. Let them be.

This is just how they all are.”

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About the Author

Kevin Kwan is the author of the international bestsellers Crazy Rich Asians, soon to be a major motion picture, and China Rich Girlfriend. Born in Singapore, he has called New York’s West Village home since 1995. For the latest news and information, please visit: www.kevinkwanbooks.com

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