I received a copy of Lies and Weddings in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan is an entertaining novel about complicated families, wealth and love.
I’m such a big fan of Kevin Kwan’s books! I loved all the books in the Crazy Rich Asians series and also enjoyed his follow-up Sex and Vanity too. And Lies and Weddings is right up there with Crazy Rich Asians—it’s so good! An engaging tale about the uber wealthy, but told in such a comedic and fun way. And there’s plenty of depth too.
Lies and Weddings is the perfect summer/vacation read. It truly transports you to another world and you’ll have a big smile on your face after you finish it.
What’s the Story About
Like all of Kevin Kwan’s stories, this features a dynamic cast of characters. The main focus is on Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshambury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel and his hidden love for his best friend, the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong.
Should be easy for Rufus to finally confess his love, right? Well, it turns out his mega rich family is actually broke and his mother is determined for Rufus to marry someone rich to save the family out of debt.
Cast of Characters
There’s a huge carousal of characters from Rufus to Eden to his sisters, Bea and Augusta, to his mother Arabella. There’s also a prologue that is absolutely essential to the story as well. So it’s a lot to keep track of but Kevin Kwan is a master at these multi-character perspectives and it never feels too much or rushed.
If you were frustrated with the mother in Crazy Rich Asians, prepare for a new level of annoyance when it comes to Rufus’ mother, Arabella. Whew, she is something else. Very obsessed with wealth and status, and she’s quite cruel to others. Kevin always gives motivation and we learn more behind Arabella’s actions, which doesn’t excuse it, but does give clarification.
Rufus and Eden
I loved the story between Rufus and Eden. They’re childhood friends, but Rufus has been in love with her for years. He’s a very handsome guy but isn’t quite comfortable with his looks and prefers living a quiet life on the islands of Hawaii working on his next art project. While he does enjoy his family’s wealth, he isn’t obsessed with that or status.
Eden is a great character that you will truly root for. She was raised by her dad next door to Rufus’ family. She’s very levelheaded, pragmatic doctor who is not at all swayed by money or status. Truly a good person all around and you can see why Rufus is so smitten with her. But problem is, she has no idea about his feelings.
Verdict
Lies and Weddings is such an enjoyable novel! You’ll be swept away by stunning locations such as Hawaii, the scenic idyllic countryside of England and more. The story is both funny and heartfelt, which is an absolutely winning combo.
There’s also quite of a bit of substance for a story that revolves around wealth—it does take a look at socioeconomic issues, internalized racism, problematic parenting style and more.
For book clubs, check out my discussion questions here.
