Breakaway Books

Authored by Kevin Kwan; Published May 2024; Romance

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🏖️🏖️🏖️🏖️🏖️

As far as I’m concerned, there’s really only one reason to read Kevin Kwan’s books: to step into the lives of the uber-rich and enjoy a few days in their shoes. Like many of his other novels, Lies and Weddings allows you to imagine what it would be like to have private jets and first-class hotels are at your disposal, through the eyes of a somewhat more relatable heroine. An expert at creating affable characters in spite of their gawk-worthy wealth, Kwan has created another fun and easy read.

The novel follows a wealthy and titled English-Asian family as they desperately seek to hide their impending bankruptcy and control the love lives of their offspring. It is not the book to read for intense and passionate romance or pondering the human condition. But, it was full of drama: The ever-escalating pettiness of the family’s escapades certainly drew me in, even as it left little to surprise. I was certain that in the end, the relatively poor family doctor’s daughter, Eden, would end up with the rich heir, Rufus. But in between, it was a delight to experience Hawaii, Morocco, Venice and every other luxury destination you can imagine.

In some ways, this is the definition of an escapist book. I could have spent hours just imagining myself at the elaborate parties and weddings Kwan describes in the novel. I found myself browsing Hawaiian resorts after finishing. That being said, this isn’t what I would call a page-turner, even if I did feel invested in a happy ending for the young couple. Even the “mystery” surrounding Eden’s birth was light on the mystery aspect, although, of course, it did make for a fun bit of comeuppance at the end.

This is the perfect book to read when you want to immerse yourself in a family more ridiculous than yours or go to a tropical locale that you can’t quite afford. Savor every page.