Book Review: Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

Rating: 3.75 / 5

I enjoyed this book! I thought it was hilarious, over the top, and overall, despite the fact that pure romcom books usually bore me, I felt this was a really fun and engaging read. That being said, there were definitely some aspects that fell short for me like some of the character development and commentary on racism/materialism that could’ve been more fleshed out.

Vivid Descriptions and Witty Humor: My favorite things about this book were the very specific and vibrant descriptions of this seemingly alternate world. Kwan definitely has his own very distinctive charisma and style in writing and paints a world so rich that I felt like I could see, taste, and feel it. These details are complemented by his comedic timing, like the chaotic dinner party and the humorous footnotes sprinkled throughout that add another layer of character to the book.

Bland Main Characters, Interesting Side Cast: Some of the main characters particularly Eden and Rufus were underdeveloped and their chemistry unconvincing. Eden’s purpose in this book, although she is supposed to be the most relatable to the narrator, seems to be mostly to respond and react to everything that’s going on around her. Perhaps her relatability lies in how she navigates the chaos around her, but I felt like this led to her personality being flat and uninteresting compared to more multifaceted side characters like Arabella, Luis Felipe, and even Freddy.

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I also felt like Eden and Rufus’s relationship lacked depth especially since the book spends most of its time keeping them apart until their coupling feels rushed and unearned. Freddy’s character, by contrast, carried more personality, despite him having much less “screen time” and at times I found myself more interested in Freddy and Eden being together.

There are some pretty interesting, nuanced antagonists, particularly Arabella and Luis Felipe. Arabella fits the archetype of a helicopter Asian tiger parent but she evokes sympathy as her actions are rooted in a misguided desire to protect her children. Although Rufus is painted as the victim/good person in their dynamic, he is privileged, being white passing and able to take money for granted, that he will never truly understand Arabella and all she has done to shield her children from her own struggles and encounters with discrimination. Luis Felipe began as the token spoiled, rich kid but actually had a lot more depth and potential for deeper exploration. He as a character I felt just had so much potential to become better than what he was so his sudden death stripped that away and just felt like a convenient way to resolve plot points around Eden and Rufus.

Exploration of Racism and Materialism: The book attempts to comment on racism and materialism although I’m not sure if it was really executed as well as it could have been. Arabella’s internalized racism, while I could somewhat understand where it was coming from, ignored the actual perpetrators of prejudice. In the scene where she blames the Asian bystanders from the blatant racism she faces from the British people, I can understand how she feels abandoned by her own people but again why do the white people get a pass? Especially since she goes on to overtly marry a white guy, object against Eden partly because she is Chinese, and even in the ending when Gopal Das’s parents are blatantly racist against her, she still accepts them and doesn’t seem even bothered by it. At the same time, maybe this is just a realistic depiction of how other Asians/races develop this kind of internalized racism. Overall, I felt that it could’ve delved deeper into the systemic issues at play rather than skimming the surface.

Similarly, Eden, while  serving as a kind of voice of reason/relatability for the reader, her critique of materialism comes across as rushed and unconvincing, especially since we don’t understand or see her grow into the person who challenges these values. These themes could have contributed deeply to the story but ultimately missed the mark in creating a lasting impact.

Convenient Endings: The ending I felt was obvious and didn’t exactly resolve core issues. Arabella and Eden’s fraught relationship culminates in Eden suddenly coming into a fortune and forgiving Arabella for all her problematic actions/words towards Eden. I also remember something similar occurring in China Rich Girlfriend, so why does it feel like the answer to every problem is just to throw money at it?

Final Thoughts: Despite its shortcomings, Lies and Weddings was an undeniably entertaining and hilarious read. I recognize this book wasn’t written with the intent of delivering some brilliant commentary on racism or classism, but it’s more meant to be a feel-good, escapist read. In this case, it’s nice that it touched on these topics, offering moments that made me reflect and could start conversations without overshadowing the lighthearted tone.

Favorite Quotes: “You don’t appreciate your privilege because you’ve never had to struggle a single day in your life. You have no idea what I’ve been through, the things I had to do to survive… how much I had to fight as a Chinese woman to gain a single grain of respect in a world that you stride through so comfortably. You don’t see any of it precisely because I set it all up for you!” - Arabella to Rufus