Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan

I am a little sad the series is over and while I feel that Kevin Kwan could open it back up, I do not think he will, nor would it be necessary. But me, a person staunchly against chick lit has fallen in love with series and its crazy cast of characters. Rich People Problems continues the drama of the previous books, but also really comes full circle and the characters (or most of them) have had immense growth over the last three novels.

(Source: Kelsey Darling)

Another two years have passed and while Nick has made amends with his mother, he has not spoken to his grandmother since she forbid him to marry Rachel. But now, Su Yi is on her deathbed. Nick returns to Singapore to be by her in her final moments, but nothing is that easy when the Shang and Young families are involved; it does not help that they are all also vying to inherit Tyersall Park. While Su Yi is struggling through her final days, Astrid is struggling through not only her terrible divorce to Michael, but Charlie's divorce to his estranged wife, Isabel. You also have Kitty Bing (yes, she is married to Jack Bing now) competing with her stepdaughter, Colette, who has recently married the Earl of Palliser, Lucien Plantagent Montagu-Scott, making Colette and countess and Kitty extremely jealous. Will life ever settle down for the one percent of the one percent?

The life and death of Shang Su Yi is a huge part of the plot. While there are many things going on in the novel, everything comes back to her in one way or another. While Su Yi is still living, she has very vivid dreams of her youth, her loves, her brother, and her resistance against the Japanese during World War II. You learn more about these events and people through the book by people who knew Su Yi and when Nick discovers her diaries. While Su Yi definitely had some bitchy moments in the first book, you learn the motivations behind her actions and how her life has severely shaped her. The chapters just before and just after her death are really hard to read. I found myself sobbing and needing to step away from the book, only to come back to it and cry more and finally just deciding I would have to read this while ugly crying.

(Source: Giphy)

While all this is going on, the family is speculating on who gets what in Su Yi's will, but none more so than cousin Eddie. No, not the cousin Eddie from Christmas vacation, although I would love to see how he would fit in with the family. No, the pretentious asshole whose only good deed was an accident. Eddie spends his time pretending to be the doting grandson, constantly staying by Su Yi's bedside, but really, this is just to keep Nick, and later Astrid, from getting to her to make amends. His plans fall through when different members of Su Yi's staff step in. Eddie is further enraged by the fact that all he gets in the will are some sapphire cuff links. He throws the biggest hissy fit ever, but Fiona, his wife, finally puts her foot down the next time we see Eddie, he is a completely different person.

"Fiona smiled. 'He's fine. After Ah Ma died, I forced him to go see a therapist. I gave him an ultimatum-either he went, or I would leave him. At first he was very resistant, but now it's completely changed his life. And ours too. He's given up all his mistresses, he's become totally devoted to me and the kids, and he's really learning to process his feelings in a healthier way.'" (p. 536)

(Source: Giphy)

This time I found the drama of Astrid and Charlie to be too much. In the beginning of the book, Charlie's two daughters are kidnapped from their private school by Isabel, dragged to a convention that Astrid is at, and Isabel has a very public melt down-her first of many. Throughout the course of the book, the two scorned lovers bug a children's toy and capture an illicit video of Astrid and Charlie, attempt suicide, harass, bombard, and many other horrible events. All of this leads to Astrid literally running away and going off the grid, leaving Charlie fiance-less and worried. He is finally lead to her through very 007-y events where he finds her on some remote beach. Not that Astrid's reactions are wrong in any way, but all of the events leading up to this have pushed the belief too far and I just cannot see any of this happening. I know there are jilted lovers, but two in one relationship is just a bit too extreme.

While Kitty was one of my favorite characters and plots in China Rich Girlfriend, this time, I found myself easily annoyed with her. I really hated the plot of her being jealous of Colette, her stepdaughter. For one, it is not like Colette would ever see Kitty as a mother or stepmother; I assume they are relatively close in age. For another, Colette has very little to do with Jack anymore. Jack has pretty much disowned her. She does get money from him in her inheritance, but Kitty is Jack's wife and has provided him a son. If you feel like you are having to compete with your husbands daughter, something is wrong in at least one of those relationships. But her struggles to outshine Colette do provide an insight into Oliver T'sien, Nick's cousin who has fallen on extremely hard times and is working very hard to provide for his parents.While I understand how it could been seen as shameful to discuss this with the family, especially with as money driven as they all are, they are your family and if they won't help you, that only reflects negatively on them.

(Source: Giphy)

The series as a whole is light (compared to what I usually read) and funny. I think this would be a good beach read, although I never go to the beach, so that may be wrong. Don't quote me on that. It is definitely worth the read and I am glad I put my dislike of chick lit aside to read them. Just don't expect that to happen too often.

Rating: 8/10
Author: Kevin Kwan
Series: Crazy Rich Asians (Book 3 of 3)
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit
Dates Read: September 18-22, 2019