Book Review- Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians

PLOT- NYU economics professor Rachel Chu is elated when her boyfriend, Nick Young, invites her to join him on his summer trip home to his family in Singapore. Rachel doesn't know that Nick is from one of the wealthiest Chinese families in Singapore. Rachel's world is turned upside down when she is scrutinized by Nick's friends and family, many of whom don't think that a Chinese-American woman from a poor background is the appropriate choice for one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors. They underestimate Rachel’s resilience and her bond with Nick, as they use every trick to break-up the couple.

LIKE- Crazy Rich Asians in the first in a trilogy by Singapore-American novelist Kevin Kwan. For years, I have heard so much about Kwan and his series, yet it took seeing a preview for the film adaptation for me to take the plunge and buy Crazy Rich Asians. I had to read the book first!

OMG! I absolutely could not put Crazy Rich Asians down. I read it over my birthday weekend: a birthday is a great excuse to demand that your family respect your desire to spend an entire day reading. It was such a page-turner that I stayed up until four am to finish it. 

Where to start... I guess the biggest reason that I fell in love with Crazy Rich Asians is Rachel. She's a great protagonist: strong willed, funny, charming...She is someone that you'd want to have as your best friend. She's such a likable character that it's heartbreaking to watch as she encounters so many issues on her trip to meet Nick’s family. Some of the problems are cultural, Rachel being an American, does not understand many of the Chinese traditions. Her mother tried to prep her for the trip, but neither Rachel nor her mother could have anticipated the other issue: The unimaginable wealth.

Not many people on earth have been raised with the type of money that Nick’s family possesses. This aspect of the story makes it instantly unrelatable for pretty much any reader. A reader may not have been raised in the Chinese culture, but even a reader who can relate to that aspect of the story is unlikely to be able to relate to the money aspect. I was raised in an American single-mother household with a working mother and I found Rachel’s background to be very relatable. I may not be Chinese-American, but I still very much felt that Rachel represented me and I was instantly locked into her story.

The incredible wealth is a very appealing aspect of Kwan’s novel. He has so richly painted his fabulous story-world, allowing the reader to drool over the amazing designer clothing and lush houses. Food plays a huge part in Kwan’s story. I was equally salivating over his descriptions of Singapore street food and the fancy wedding banquet dishes. Crazy Rich Asians is practically a tourism endorsement for Singapore. You will want to book a flight as soon as you finish the book. As far as the film adaptation, I relished in the visuals, especially of fairy tale wedding scene. It’s all gorgeous.

In comparing the novel to the film adaptation, I found the movie to hit me emotionally. I cried and I don’t often cry in romantic comedies. Quite honestly, the film left me feeling overwhelmed and emotional all afternoon. I loved the bonds Rachel has with both Nick and her mother. The book didn’t pack the same emotional punch. As with all film adaptations, there were cuts and changes. The cuts were primarily related to Nick’s extended family and his relationship to them. The changes mostly strengthened the story, making it a tighter script and focusing on Rachel’s experience. There is a lot more comedy in the film too. It’s hilarious. Of course, as any book lover will tell you, you must read the book first- Yes, please do! However, make sure to see the film too. It’s great!

DISLIKE- Nothing. Crazy Rich Asians is impossible to put down and full of heart.

RECOMMEND- Enthusiastically- YES!!! I’ve already purchased Crazy Rich Asians for a few friends and have been talking it up. I can’t wait to dive into Kwan’s sequel, China Rich Girlfriend. The best part about being late to the party, is that the entire trilogy has been written and I don’t have to anxiously await the next installment!

Book Review- Lauren Weisberger's When Life Gives You Lululemons

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of Lauren Weisberger's novel, When Life Gives You Lululemons, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Emily Charlton has left her job as Miranda Priestly's assistant and is making a name for herself in Hollywood, working as an image consultant. When she loses a few high-profile clients  to a much younger ( and trendier) competitor, Emily heads to the suburbs of Connecticut to take refuge in the home of her dearest friend, Miriam. Miriam's life as a suburban mom is completely different from Emily's fast-paced lifestyle. While in Connecticut, Emily gets a career lead, when Miriam's friend Karolina, a former super-model and wife to a Senator, becomes involved in a front-page scandal. Emily soon realizes that Karolina's situation may have a sinister side. Can Emily survive living in the suburbs, while she works to repair Karolina's tarnished reputation? 

LIKE- Emily Charlton is one of the most entertaining characters in Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada, and I was thrilled to see her as a main character in When Life Gives You Lululemons. This isn't a sequel, but a stand-alone book that you can definitely read without having read Prada, but fans will be excited for the return of both Charlton and the devil herself, Miranda Priestly. 

When Life Gives You Lululemons has a solid cast of three strong female leads. I felt the most sympathy for Karolina, who faces severe judgement in the public eye for a crime that she didn't commit. The fact that she is both rich and beautiful, seems to give others the freedom to be hyper-critical and over look other aspects of her personality, like her intelligence and warm heart. Weisberger's novels often deal with themes of celebrity, serving to push-back against the way society both obsesses and criticizes those in the public eye. Karolina's situation is a sad one, made more so by the fact that her step-son, whom she adores and has raised for many years, is taken from her during the scandal. 

Weisberger has a knack for clever titles. I enjoyed the fish-out-of-water scenario with Emily having to spend time in Greenwich, CT.. She may know how to handle Miranda Priestly, but suburban housewives are a new breed of high-maintenance women for her to master.

DISLIKE-  When Life Gives You Lululemons was an enjoyable read, it is not one that is very memorable. I finished it a few weeks ago and even as I am writing this review, I'm struggling to recall key plot points or even how it ended. 

RECOMMEND- Yes. I recommend When Life Gives You Lululemons to fans of The Devil Wears Prada. It's also a solid pick for a beach read. 

Book Review- Rory Feek's Once Upon a Farm

Thank you to Thomas Nelson- W Publishing for providing me with a copy of Rory Feek's memoir, Once Upon a Farm, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Rory Feek reflects on his life after losing his wife and singing partner, Joey.

LIKE- Nearly a decade ago, I had the most amazing concert experience and actually met Rory and Joey Feek. They opened for the Zak Brown Band during a sold-out concert at the Universal Amphitheatre in California. The show was amazing and at the end of the concert, with a crowd of over six thousand, it was announced that the performers would head to the lobby to sign autographs for anyone who wanted to stick around. I've never seen something like that happen at a concert, especially one with so many people. Prior to that night, I had not heard of Rory and Joey, but I did recognize their songs. I waited about an hour in line to meet the performers and when I got to Rory and Joey, I was given the warmest handshake and smiles. They both were kind and humble, just happy to meet with fans. I was immediately smitten.

A few years ago, just weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Indiana, Joey was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer. Rory shared their journey through her illness and eventually death, on social media. I followed Rory's posts and was heartbroken. Truly, I was surprised by how the life of these strangers impacted me. I feel that it is a testament to the way that they opened up their lives through their art.

I was thrilled to come across Once Upon a Farm on Netgalley. Feek's memoir is a constant affirmation of his love towards Joey and his three daughters. He does not shy away from discussing his grief or speaking about difficult times that he has had in his past. 

A chapter that hit home was one in which Feek discusses love languages. Joey experienced difficulties as a stepmom and when they gave it more thought, they realized that it certainly wasn't for lack of love, but that Joey and Feek's daughters spoke different love languages. They had a communication problem. I read this book as we were in the middle of our summer visit with my step-kids, a visit where I was feeling very overwhelmed. Reading Feek's words made me consider that perhaps I needed to figure out a better way to communicate. It gave me perspective.

Once Upon a Farm is a Christian memoir. I did not know this prior to reading it and although many of my family members are Christian, I am not religious. Although I did not always agree with Feek's perspective, I did appreciate hearing a different view point. He is certainly a man with strong convictions and even had a local church move into the barn on his property. Feek's entire lifestyle is polar opposite to mine, which is part of the charm of his memoir. I love hearing about different lifestyles and views. The Feek farm does sound like an idyllic slice of heaven. 

DISLIKE- A majority of the book is a polished memoir, but a few chapters rambled and were repetitive with regard to content already mentioned in previous chapters. 

RECOMMEND- Yes! If you're a fan of Rory and Joey this is a must-read. I can imagine that some readers may find the Christian aspect to be off-putting ( and some will find it right up their alley!), either way, I encourage you to give Once Upon a Farm a read.