Kevin Kwan is back with another outrageously enjoyable glimpse into the romance and opulence of the rich and (kind of) famous. Billed as ‘the social event of the year’, Sex and Vanity marks Kwan’s triumphant return after wrapping up his bestselling Crazy Rich Asians trilogy.
Kevin Kwan (Photo by Giancarlo Ciampini).
At the lavish, multi-million dollar wedding of her childhood friend in Capri, Italy, Lucie Churchill meets George Zao and she can’t stand him. He’s brooding, self-righteous and weird, but she is inexplicably drawn to him. Years later in New York, Lucie is newly engaged when George unexpectedly appears back in her life. Lucie’s suppressed feelings for George begin to resurface as she desperately tries to hold on to her life in New York while denying George access to her life – and her heart.
Sex and Vanity pays perfect homage to the 1985 film A Room with a View, with this modern adaptation full of couture designer gowns and social dalliances set to the luxuriously evocative backdrops of Capri, New York and the Hamptons. Kwan paints a perfect picture of Capri, the true star (in my opinion) of the week-long wedding celebration. From panoramic views of the Gulf of Salerno to turquoise waters and cliffside look-outs, Capri is magic.
With Sex and Vanity, Kwan cements himself as the pivotal voice of hyperbolic extravagance. This is a dazzlingly funny novel that takes the outlandish and amps it up to grandiose extremes. We are treated to a wealth of unique characters who are completely charming and ludicrous in their own way. These characters play well against the central romance, which in comparison is grounded with heart and intensity. Kwan also manages to capture the contrast of cultures and old vs new money, particularly when it comes to how these play into Lucie’s deep-seated worries over her family’s acceptance and the type of man that should be in her life. These are sobering themes in an otherwise light story, creating a sense of perfect balance that makes this novel a grand, yet tender escape.
This book is brilliantly satirical and was one of the most fun reading experiences I’ve had. With a sweeping romance and plenty of character, this is a must read for fans of Crazy Rich Asians.
—Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan (Penguin Books Australia) is out now.
Sex and Vanity
On her very first morning on the jewel-like island of Capri, Lucie Churchill sets eyes on George Zao and she instantly can’t stand him. She can’t stand it when he gallantly offers to trade hotel rooms with her so that she can have a view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, she can’t stand that he knows more about Casa Malaparte than she does, and she really can’t stand it when he kisses her in the darkness of the ancient ruins of a Roman villa.
The daughter of an American-born Chinese mother and a blue-blooded New York father, Lucie has always...
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