Sex and Vanity

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan, 315 pages

In 2013, Lucie Churchill attended the swanky wedding of her friend Isabel on the island of Capri, with her older cousin Charlotte in tow as a chaperone. Unfortunately, Charlotte's presence didn't prevent Lucie from falling for, and being caught in a compromising situation with, the enigmatic and ridiculously handsome George Zao. Five years later, Lucie has moved on with a different uber-rich young man when George comes back into her life.

OK, that sounds like an incredibly blah plot, but that's why Kevin Kwan's the writer here and I'm not. Much like his blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians books, Kwan and his snarky asides open up the world of the billionaire set and the social expectations of them, with layered characters and very real frustrations. Lucie's half-Chinese heritage is examined through the eyes of her family and friends, and through the prejudices she feels on a regular basis, while Kwan does an excellent job of presenting it without detracting from the story as a whole. I loved this book, and my only complaint is that it wrapped up too quickly. I need more Kevin Kwan!!