I received this book for free from From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Rich People's Problems: A Novel by Kevin Kwan Series: Crazy Rich Asians #3
Also in this series: Crazy Rich Asians: A Novel, China Rich Girlfriend: A Novel
Published by Penguin Random House, Doubleday on May 23, 2017
Genres: Fiction / Asian American & Pacific Islander
Pages: 414
Format: Hardcover
Source: From the Publisher
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Kevin Kwan, bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians (soon to be a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Gemma Chan) and China Rich Girlfriend, is back with an uproarious new novel of a family riven by fortune, an ex-wife driven psychotic with jealousy, a battle royal fought through couture gown sabotage, and the heir to one of Asia's greatest fortunes locked out of his inheritance.
When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside—but he's not alone. The entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe to stake claim on their matriarch’s massive fortune. With each family member vying to inherit Tyersall Park—a trophy estate on 64 prime acres in the heart of Singapore—Nicholas’s childhood home turns into a hotbed of speculation and sabotage. As her relatives fight over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu, but tormented by her ex-husband—a man hell bent on destroying Astrid’s reputation and relationship. Meanwhile Kitty Pong, married to China’s second richest man, billionaire Jack Bing, still feels second best next to her new step-daughter, famous fashionista Colette Bing. A sweeping novel that takes us from the elegantly appointed mansions of Manila to the secluded private islands in the Sulu Sea, from a kidnapping at Hong Kong’s most elite private school to a surprise marriage proposal at an Indian palace, caught on camera by the telephoto lenses of paparazzi, Kevin Kwan's hilarious, gloriously wicked new novel reveals the long-buried secrets of Asia's most privileged families and their rich people problems.
Review
Su Yi, the iron-fisted matriarch of Singapore’s elite Shang-Young family, is dying. As she slips into a coma, her relatives swarm Tyersall Park like designer-clad vultures, each eyeing their slice of her massive fortune. Welcome to Kevin Kwan’s final act.
This last book in the Crazy Rich trilogy isn’t just about private islands and $500,000 handbags (though there are plenty of those). Kwan pulls back the silk curtains on Singapore’s dark World War II history, giving weight to all that glitters. Through flashbacks, we learn how the family’s wealth was built—and what it cost them.
The cast reads like a soap opera on steroids. There’s Nicholas Young, our moral compass in this storm of greed. Eddie, who’d sell his firstborn for a better social ranking. And Kitty Pong, whose shopping addiction could single-handedly keep Hermès in business. Each character feels real, even when their actions are deliciously outrageous.
Sure, keeping track of who’s who can feel like solving a puzzle while blindfolded. And yes, some storylines get more love than others. But that’s part of the charm. Kwan’s signature footnotes return, too, spilling tea about Asian culture while making you laugh out loud.
Rich People Problems pulls off something rare: it’s both a critique of wealth and a celebration of it. It’s a story about family, greed, and heritage, wrapped in a package so shiny you can see your reflection in it. If you’re diving into this one first, you might need a map to navigate the family drama. But stick with it—the ride is worth it.
Think Succession meets Downton Abbey in Singapore, with better clothes and spicier food. It’s a fitting end to a trilogy that turned crazy rich Asians into a global phenomenon.
4.5/5 stars. Best served with champagne and a family tree nearby.
*note* originally reviewed back in 2017, but revised in 2025.
