I’m afraid I can’t finish this book. Not because I don’t like it, but I’m currently reading on my kindle at the formatting is terrible. It’s spoiling the whole experience for me. However, the ten percent I struggled through I actually really enjoyed! If there is a chance for a physical Arc I would love to be considered, but for now I think I will need to wait until full release to buy the physical copy.

I loved this book! It’s very similar to Crazy Rich Asians, but then again I loved that book too. The characters in Kevin Kwan’s books are always complex. You might on the face of it feel one way about someone who behaves a certain way , but as you keep reading , more and more is revealed to show you why someone might have ended up the way they have. I love that the story builds and builds, making you get really involved with each character’s story. It’s a light read, and one that should appeal to a large proportion of people. Thank you for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

From The Cover📖

From the THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshamsbury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel, is drowning in debt. The only solution, according to his mother, is for him to attend his sister’s wedding and seduce a woman with money.

Will it be the French hotel heiress with a royal bloodline? The venture capital genius who passes out billions like lollipops? Or will Rufus betray his family and confess his love for his best friend and ‘girl next door’ Eden? But when a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials and a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, the Gresham family plans – and their reputation – go up in flames, making Rufus’ choice all the more impossible.

Taking us from the sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, from the glitzy bachelor pads of Beverly Hills to the inner sanctums of England’s oldest family estates, Kevin Kwan has written a juicy, hilarious and sophisticated tale of love, money, murder, sex, and the lies we tell about them all.



Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full disclosure Crazy Rich Asians is one of my all time favourite books so I can't say that I have given this fair unbiased review, as Kwan can do no wrong in my eyes.

All of Kwans books at a first glance they can be dismissed as trashy fluff but you would be very wrong in thinking that. His work is a masterful layered work of satire in its most vulgar and indulgent full of glorious characters, wit and smarts with a underlaying heart and deep meaning on the matters that affect the world.

Lies and Weddings opens with a tragedy that will cast echos for many years to come. Told in the third person POV we hear from a cast of brilliantly written characters as they navigate though what can one be described as a world of pure indulgence and what is for most people pure fantasy. In keeping with all his previous books we are taken to the places and told of luxury that I don't think we mere non billionaires could even dream off. I adore his detailed writing, particularly the inclusion of explanatory footnotes that make you feel as if you are having a playful conversation with the narrator. What this man doesn't know about fashion and luxury brands is not worth knowing, I love all the titbits on the fashion , the places to be seen and eat.

The plot centres around the Gresham family, who are facing financial ruin. Mum, Arabella’s solution to this financial crisis is to marry Rufus off to a rich woman. Woven within is sub plots that involve a lot of private jets and weddings. Kwan stays in his safe comfortable lane with this, story itself follows the same pattern, the characters are the same types from the previous novels albeit both still feel fresh, it was a little predictable butI found it comforting to jump back into his writing which is smart and witty. His characterisation is immaculate and as always his droll commentary on contemporary high society sparkles with wit, I love how he can entertain with such a moreish, gossipy, outrageous style but still make real strong points about racism, the disruption of wealth and resources, climate change and just the general state of the world we live in.

I have given this four instead of five stars as while I found the book a pleasure to read and found it entertaining, there was nothing shocking or surprising in terms of the plot or characters from the previous novels. I found Lady Arabella a bit one dimensional and very extreme to the point she became like a joke character, she was for sure a Asian tiger mum but she could have done with being toned down a little she needed a little touch of Elenor Young. I also didn't really get much romantic chemistry between Eden and Rufus. So, I wasn't necessarily rooting for them to eventually get together like I should have been. In fact I think a great twist would have been Eden not loving him back or something like that, it would have made the book something different from the usual format that would have given it a new edge.

That being said this didn't disappoint it was fun romp of a read perfect to escape with. Nothing will ever line to standard of Crazy Rich Asians*, but this is good effort you will be glad you read it.

*loved the little titbit on Kitty Pong. I would love love even a short story on where all the characters from the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy are now

2.5
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
I think Kwan stays in his safe comfortable lane with this, which is essentially a combination of all his previous books. Was it entertaining? Yes, but there was nothing shocking or surprising. I liked Eden as a character, but Arabella NEEDED to get her shit rocked. Also Augie and Bea were just not good friends to Eden ..

Lies and Weddings is a really entertaining read, full of glamour, scandal, humour, drama, and lies. The story follows the Gresham family, who are facing financial ruin. Mum, Arabella’s solution to this financial crisis is to marry Rufus off to a rich woman.
A great holiday read - pure escapism!!!

Surprisingly, I have never watched or read Crazy Rich Asians but I heard amazing things about it and all of Kevin Kwan's novels.

I loved Lies and Weddings so much, at first I found it a bit difficult to follow all the different characters at the beginning of the book at Augy's wedding as there just seemed to be so many people. I also think this could be a personal preference and possibly is Kevin Kwan's style but I don't like it when books have footnotes because by the time I reach the end of the chapter and see them I have forgotten what they are in reference to. I feel some of the information could be worked into the narrative, especially the phrases in Cantonese. I either would have understood the phrases in the context or looked it up if I really wanted to know. I also didn't understand why we were told where every character when to school but once again it might just be Kwan's writing style.

Apart from that I was in love with the story! The characters were so well developed and I felt like I was sucked into the world of the Tong's and The Gresham's. It's one of those novels where when you put it down you feel like you're being sucked out of their world and dropped back into your own. When I saw there was only a few pages left I was so sad even though the story had been tied up nicely. It was a great way to shine a light on topics like racism and excessive wealth without taking away from the fun of the story.

If I could give any testament to how much I enjoyed this book, when I finished reading it I immediately went and ordered the entire Crazy Rich Asians trilogy.

If you liked crazy rich Asians you will like this story too. It’s a third person account of rich people connected by a wedding. I think it would be a good summer read.

This is a wonderfully vicarious read with beautiful settings and outrageously lavish weddings, property and lifestyles. The main characters are the Greshams with their inherited titles and the responsibilities of the family estate. The three younger Greshams need to marry well to keep the family estate (and their mother in the life she has become accustomed to). During the course of the story the Greshams interact with other wealthy characters who exhibit various degrees of greed or philanthropy. The weddings feature lava, ice castles, hot air balloons and stunning fashions (often borrowed rather than bought). There is a juxtaposition between the younger generation, that have benefitted from the wealth rather than earned it, and the older generation who have struggled to gain wealth and lied and schemed to keep it, or at least to keep up the appearance of it. Then there are the Tongs, who are on the periphery of this world but not a part of it - which makes them all the more attractive. There are lovable and loathsome characters throughout and I found I couldn't put this book down. This will be a great holiday read and the characters will stay with you long after you've finished the book.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Random House, Cornerstone via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. #liesandweddings #netgalley #kevinkwan

4.25 stars
As a huge fan of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, I was really excited to see which glamorous and opulent world Kevin Kwan would invite us into next.
And I have to say, I really enjoyed being transported across the world and getting another peek into the lives of the ultra-rich.
This does follow a somewhat similar formula to Crazy Rich Asians, so it was a little predictable. But I found it comforting to jump back into his writing.
I enjoyed the footnotes, as always, even if reading it on my Kindle meant that I had to wait pages or until the end of the chapter to read them. But maybe this is just a formatting issue at the moment, which will be resolved.
The brief Kitty cameo was a nice touch too.
Now, I do understand why Lady Arabella is the way that she is. But at times she felt a bit one dimensional. I would have loved to see even a slight thawing of her towards the end.
I also didn't really get much romantic chemistry between Eden and Rufus. So, I wasn't necessarily rooting for them to eventually get together like I should have been.
But this was a fun and captivating romp that I devoured within 48 hours.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lies and Weddings is an absolute screamer of a novel! I am not usually one for novels regarding the rich and shameless, decadence and affluence but every now and then, we all need to imbibe a little bit of drama and this novel has it in spades

This is not a fluffy romance, it is the anti-hero, the people we envy but without basis, the kind we love to hate, pretend we secretly wish we had what they have, then read on and realise we are actually happy just the way we are

Kwan is an incredible writer, creating books to gorge on, to devour and feel satisfied upon completion. The pace is indulgent, the settings pure opulence and the storylines gripping

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone, Hutchinson Heinemann and the author Kevin Kwan for this fabulous ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

New author for me. But now looking for his other books. Stunning high flying writing.

I just loved the book, fast moving plots, greed ambition or lack of in some cases. Some of the characters portrayed would be the worlds worst nightmare to do business with. You had to feel sorry for Rufus and Eden, but strength of character shone through.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this.

As a long time Kevin Kwan fan I was highly anticipating this latest release, and it did not disappoint. As ever I adored his detailed writing, particularly the inclusion of explanatory footnotes that make you feel as if you are having a playful conversation with the narrator – any fans of the Crazy Rich Asian trilogy will be familiar with these. Characterisation is immaculate and as always his droll commentary on contemporary high society sparkles with wit. This is the perfect escapist summer read, add to the top of your list of beach reads.

FAO publisher – point of inaccuracy. Eden completes her two year foundation programme in London (pg. 23), later Bea refers to her as a first year doctor (pg. 30). As she is now doing her ‘core medical training at a hospital in Plymouth’ (pg. 23) she is at minimum in her third year of practicing as a doctor.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I always devour books by Kevin Kwan- the Asian version of Jilly Cooper (Moorfield/Godolphin!) and both authors weaving stories of unashamedly raunchy and outrageous excess. His characters in Lies and Weddings are as horrifically unbearable or adorably sweet as ever and the global locations and trivia about naked greed as titillating as in his previous outings. Fun and witty and silly and colourful - this didn’t disappoint and I’m only waiting for the movie now.

Taking us from the sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, from the glitzy bachelor pads of Beverly Hills to the inner sanctums of England’s oldest family estates, Kevin Kwan has written a juicy, hilarious and sophisticated tale of love, money, murder, sex, and the lies we tell about them all.
This author’s books have the ability to simultaneously make you unable to stop reading while wishing you could bury the book somewhere deep underground where it can't be found. Compelling and didn’t want it to end!

Lies and Weddings is another sure fire hit for Kevin Kwan. What this man doesn't know about fashion and luxury brands is not worth knowing.
Set in England and foreign climes such as Hawaii, Marrakech and Beverley Hills the novel centres around the Gresham family and their next door neighbours the Tongs (both Drs). The Gresham's are up to their eyes in debt and even a huge loan which is soon called in hasn't helped their financial situation. How to make themselves appear solvent?- Marry off the 3 Gresham siblings to wealthy partners,
Except Rufus Gresham is in love with Eden and the other two daughters - well, their love lives aren't smooth sailing much to the dismay of the matriarch of the family.

Lots of fantastic twists and turns and a lovely ending. An excellent escapist read.

‘Lies and Weddings’ by Kevin Kwan is a glamorous and outlandish tale of money, matrimony and the lengths people will go to in order to be accepted. The novel, by the author of the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ trilogy, is written in a moreish, gossipy style complete with the writer’s signature footnotes. I enjoyed the book - perhaps not quite as much as CRA, but certainly enough to recommend it.

The story follows the Gresham family, including Francis Earl of Greshambury, his Asian wife Lady Arabella, and their three children Augie, Bea and Rufus. Arabella is an interesting character - she is the villain of the tale with her outrageous matchmaking attempts and explosive grudges, but flashbacks and article extracts throughout the book humanise her and explain why she is so determined to secure her position. Other main characters include Dr. Thomas Tang, Francis’s best friend and physician, his smart and beautiful daughter Eden, Persian hottie Freddie, and billionaire investor Martha.

The titular weddings are all luxurious and fun to read about, and there are numerous hilarious side characters who are perfect satires of the old- and new-money crowds. The forbidden (at least by his mother) romance in the novel between Rufus and Eden is exciting and they are both immensely likeable. There is a mysterious but ultimately predictable side plot about a tragic death many years ago and a volcanic eruption to pique the reader’s interest.

All in all, this is a riotously fun read which is perfect for fans of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ who are keen to read an updated, British version (though rest assured, we are taken again across the globe in private jets!) I am giving this four stars only because some scenes were too long for me and the ending was very predictable from about 30% of the way through… it was still a joy to get there though.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Random House, Cornerstone via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Rich people, exotic locations, irritating mothers and plenty of lies, makes this a blockbuster for the summer! I could not put it down. It’s sexy, fun, full of karma and plenty of drama. Definitely a book to throw in your shopping basket. Loved it.

I loved this book. Why this author can write such a beautiful tales of rich people. No idea but was easy to read, fun, the characters are fun, the drama, the scandal, all the lies and the plot. I loved the villains in this book. This is the kinda book that gonna bring cheeky smiles in your day.

Kevin Kwan can write no wrong, in my book! Yet another glamorous tale of the rich and famous, now trying to set up a wedding when the odds seem stacked against the couple!