The rollicking Lies and Weddings begins in Hong Kong earlier than skipping to a tony property within the English countryside, then on to a Kona clifftop in Hawaii. And that’s simply within the first 22 pages.
Since Loopy Wealthy Asians, Kevin Kwan has been identified for globe-spanning, culture-melding tales. In his pleasant new novel, we meet Rufus Gresham, a good-looking viscount whose father is the Earl of Greshamsbury whose mom, Woman Augusta Gresham, is a former supermodel. Sounds spectacular, however the Greshams are in crushing debt due to the household’s costly tastes.
Enter Dr. Thomas Tong and his daughter, Dr. Eden Tong, each physicians who dwell in a cottage on the Greshamsbury property. Thomas and the earl are greatest buddies from their school days, and Thomas has helped join his pal with a rich but mysterious benefactor. Eden and Rufus have been greatest buddies since they had been youngsters, however once they meet up in Hawaii for the marriage of Rufus’ sister, sparks fly in additional methods than one.
Like each Kwan novel, Lies and Weddings is chock-full of scheming characters and breathtakingly lavish scenes. I’m not cultured sufficient to acknowledge all of the model names and jet-setting areas Kwan drops, however that doesn’t take away from absolutely the pleasure of studying about wealthy and delightful folks behaving—for essentially the most half—very badly. Kwan stays a cheekily hilarious author, with footnotes that give every chapter an additional kick: Eden and a pal eat lunch at a Los Angeles scorching spot, and see “a sure British pop star who desires to be an actor having lunch with a sure A-list producer, a sure billionaire movie investor child, and likewise a legendary supermodel and her influencer daughter, and the daughter’s boyfriend, who additionally desires to behave.” Because the footnote tells us, “Out of respect for his or her privateness, these high-profile people won’t be recognized by their names (or their faculties).”
I drank this ebook up just like the chilled bottles of Sancerre these characters are always being served. Pure pleasure.
