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.
China Rich Girlfriend: A Novel by Kevin Kwan Series: Crazy Rich Asians #2
Also in this series: Crazy Rich Asians: A Novel, Rich People's Problems: A Novel
Published by Penguin Random House, Doubleday on June 16, 2015
Genres: Fiction / Asian American & Pacific Islander
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Source: From the Publisher
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Kevin Kwan, bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians, is back with a wickedly funny new novel of social climbing, secret e-mails, art-world scandal, lovesick billionaires, and the outrageous story of what happens when Rachel Chu, engaged to marry Asia's most eligible bachelor, discovers her birthfather.
On the eve of her wedding to Nicholas Young, heir to one of the greatest fortunes in Asia, Rachel should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond from JAR, a wedding dress she loves more than anything found in the salons of Paris, and a fiancé willing to sacrifice his entire inheritance in order to marry her. But Rachel still mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won't be able to walk her down the aisle. Until: a shocking revelation draws Rachel into a world of Shanghai splendor beyond anything she has ever imagined. Here we meet Carlton, a Ferrari-crashing bad boy known for Prince Harry-like antics; Colette, a celebrity girlfriend chased by fevered paparazzi; and the man Rachel has spent her entire life waiting to meet: her father. Meanwhile, Singapore's It Girl, Astrid Leong, is shocked to discover that there is a downside to having a newly minted tech billionaire husband. A romp through Asia's most exclusive clubs, auction houses, and estates, China Rich Girlfriend brings us into the elite circles of Mainland China, introducing a captivating cast of characters, and offering an inside glimpse at what it's like to be gloriously, crazily, China-rich.
Review
Money changes everything—especially when you suddenly discover your biological father is a Chinese billionaire. That’s what Rachel Chu learns in Kevin Kwan’s China Rich Girlfriend, where a simple wedding plan transforms into a dizzying descent into mainland China’s ultra-wealthy elite.
Fresh off the heels of Crazy Rich Asians, Kwan trades Singapore’s old-money snobs for mainland China’s nouveau riche—think penthouse churches, street-racing Ferraris, and people who buy million-dollar handbags like they’re picking up groceries. It’s ridiculous, it’s absurd, and it’s apparently not that far from reality.
The story kicks off with Rachel and Nick planning their wedding, but there’s an empty spot where her birth father should be. That is, until fate (and a convenient car accident) reveals daddy dearest is actually one of China’s wealthiest men. Suddenly, Rachel’s thrown headfirst into Shanghai’s high society, where lunch meetings turn into power plays and every Instagram post could start a family war.
Kwan’s genius lies in making all this excess feel weirdly relatable. Sure, none of us are dropping millions on a wedding, but who hasn’t dealt with family drama or felt like an outsider? Through Rachel’s eyes, we get to experience the culture shock, the family tensions, and the identity crisis that comes with suddenly being thrust into the 0.0001%.
The book isn’t perfect—sometimes it feels like Kwan’s showing off his designer label knowledge like a freshman with a new fake ID. But his sharp wit and insider’s perspective on Chinese high society make up for it. He doesn’t just show us wealth; he shows us how money, face, and family create a perfect storm in modern China.
New characters like Carlton Bao and Colette Bing (yes, that’s really her name) embody the next generation of China’s elite—privileged, complicated, and caught between tradition and excess. Their world is one where a casual lunch might cost more than a car, but respect and family reputation still can’t be bought.
Bottom line? China Rich Girlfriend is a wild ride through the world of Asian ultra-wealth that manages to be both a guilty pleasure and a clever commentary on new money, family obligations, and finding yourself—even when your closet’s bigger than most apartments. It’s faster, funnier, and more outrageous than its predecessor, proving that sometimes the sequel actually does beat the original.
4/5 stars – Because who doesn’t love watching the super-rich make spectacular fools of themselves?
