Rachel Chu and Nicholas Young had been dating for two years in New York City, when Nicholas invited her to come with him to Singapore to attend the summer wedding of his best friend, meet his family and spend some time in Asia traveling. Excited and nervous about meeting Nicholas’ family and friends, Rachel agrees. What she doesn’t know and what Nicholas has failed to mention is that although wealthy in his own right, he is also the heir to one of the largest fortunes in all of Singapore (as in billions!) and that his family and friends are some of the wealthiest, most powerful and influential people in all of Asia!

Before Nicholas and Rachel even arrive in Singapore the rumor mill has been churning out the news that Nicholas is bringing a girl back to Singapore and all the young women who had their sights on Nicholas and their mother’s are ready to begin directing all their animosity towards Rachel, including his mother Eleanor who is dead set against having some young women without the right credentials, i.e. money wealth and power, marry her son.

Soon Rachel finds that she is negotiating a complicated obstacle course where the rules keep changing and where old money, and tight social snobbery keep her at arms length, while new money and social climbers try to use her for their own purposes. Rachel and Nicholas manage to hold their own against the onslaught until a devastating revelation threatens to destroy all Rachel thought she knew about herself and bares the ugly side of wealth and power that Nicholas had been oblivious to.

Kwan writes with such incorrigible tongue-in-cheek verve that you can hardly put this book down. Kwan avoids falling into the trap of caricaturization, but rather fully develops all of his characters, giving them a humanity that is almost palpable. Although this feels like a light read with frothy commentary about couture brands and non stop descriptions of mouth watering things to eat, Kwan manages to engage us more deeply as well, as he lays bare the hollowness of money and power. I am downloading the next two books right away, and plan to see the movie as soon as possible! You should too!

Brenda’s Rating: ****(4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Marian and Lauren

Book Study Worthy? Yes, and include food mentioned in the book!

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