Kevin Kwan, bestselling author of the sensational Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, has delivered yet another enthralling and witty novel with “Lies and Weddings.” Set in luxurious Italian palaces, tropical Hawaiian resorts, exclusive Beverly Hill bars and other corners of the world where A-list crowds may be hiding, the second novel to be published in the Cities trilogy gives us a full summer adventure from the comfort of our own home. It contains the lovable opulence of Kwan’s books — fashion and jewelry designer names so high-class they can’t even be pronounced, art collections so absurd only the rich would invest in them and interior design so decadent that it puts even Architectural Digest to shame — all while imbuing even the wealthiest characters with a palpable authenticity. Kwan stated in an interview with the New York Times that he wanted to show that even the most high-class people suffer from the same losses everyone else does — namely, heartache and grief — because money (despite its powerful grip on society) doesn’t stop you from being human. It makes you an imprisoned victim of your own wealth.
In many ways, this theme is seen in all of his books, and his latest one is no exception. “Lies and Weddings” follows the Greshams, a once noble English family with a grand estate in Greshambury trying desperately to restore their former fortune and honorable standing by finding a suitable match for their sole male heir, Rufus Leung Gresham — worldwide heartthrob, playboy in his youth and now eligible bachelor. Through several over-the-top matchmaking schemes at several equally over-the-top summer weddings, Rufus’s mother, Lady Arabella, does everything she can to secure a sound future for their family, strategically setting him up with French royalty Solène de Courcy and billionaire venture capitalist Martha Dung. Think “The Bachelor,” but classier, of course. If money was the main reason the Greshams were falling apart in the first place, then surely it’ll be a viable solution to mend them together again, right? Not the case. Instead, an unhappy Rufus is now put in a bind he never asked to be in.
Truthfully, Rufus Leung Gresham is off the market. He is in love with his childhood best friend who lives in the modest cottage next door: Doctor Eden Tong, daughter of his family’s practicing physician. Unfortunately, because she isn’t mother-approved, Rufus is conflicted between fulfilling his duty to his family and following his heart. A trite and predictable forbidden love story across socioeconomic status perhaps, but “Lies and Weddings” is written to be much more than just a teasing summer romance.
In addition to the main plot, each section of the book — divided by destination — starts with an excerpt that unlocks pieces of a puzzle that initially seem irrelevant but become increasingly more pertinent with each turn of a page, revealing itself to be a scandalous plot twist that ultimately changes everything.
“Lies and Weddings” is not only more extravagant and interesting than any reality TV show you’ll ever watch, but it also provokes dialogue that a superficial reality show would never dare to touch on, making it the perfect entertainment for this summer. Wouldn’t these dramas be better if the characters, however pretentious, weren’t so out of touch?
Unlike the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, which focuses on the lifestyle of Asians in Asia, the Cities trilogy explores the nuances between being Asian and half-Asian in Europe and the United States. “Lies and Weddings” skillfully leverages its perspective changes every few chapters, allowing readers to learn a little about each character. Lady Arabella and Eden Tong are Chinese, making their treatment look different from Rufus’s and his siblings, who are half Chinese and half English (in the book, they are sometimes referred to as hapa). Race plays a major part in the book, whether reflected in the generational trauma Arabella carries down to her children or the ill-treatment Eden receives while attending various ostentatious weddings with the Greshams.
Lady Arabella, the imperious mother of the Gresham children (one akin to the mamas of “Bridgerton,” might I add), is seemingly the most self-serving and self-absorbed character in the entire book. She calculates the future marriages of her children against their best wishes and critically judges everyone but herself. She cares more about what financial and social achievements she can squeeze out of her children by berating and belittling them, only getting away with her questionable parenting by making the excuse, “I am a Chinese mother.” “Being tough is how we show love,” they always say. However petty, Arabella’s actions came from a place of damage — one where glimpses of Arabella’s past show that she was once shamed for her heritage. As a result, she made a promise to never allow her biracial children, who had privileges she never grew up having, to suffer the same pain she had.
Similarly, Eden is mistaken for a servant or hotel maid several times, disrespected in public spaces and seen as a second-rate low-life next to the Greshams (or any white, Anglo-appearing family for that matter). Arabella in particular seems to express significant distaste against a marriage between Eden and Rufus. After all her sacrifices and hard work, the last thing she wants is to see her son marry someone who receives the same racist remarks and criticisms she once did.
As much as I loved the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, the direction Kwan heads with his new series contains conversations about race and material consumption that add depth and complexity to a story whose characters have a theatrical life of their own. The first book of his Cities trilogy, “Sex and Vanity,” will be adapted into a film by Sony Pictures soon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this riveting novel were to follow suit. In the meantime, I can only recommend anyone craving a good summer read to put on the “Lies and Weddings” playlist, make a tropical drink and prepare to get whisked away to a faraway island wedding with Kevin Kwan’s newest novel.
Daily Arts Writer Michelle Wu can be reached at michewu@umich.edu.
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