Sex and Vanity : A Novel
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Description
The iconic author of the bestselling phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians returns with a glittering tale of love and longing as a young woman finds herself torn between two worlds--the WASP establishment of her father's family and George Zao, a man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with.
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 the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, she can't stand that he knows more about Curzio 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 and they are caught by her snobbish, disapproving cousin, Charlotte. "Your mother is Chinese so it's no surprise you'd be attracted to someone like him," Charlotte teases. Daughter of an American-born-Chinese mother and blue-blooded New York father, Lucie has always sublimated the Asian side of herself in favor of the white side, and she adamantly denies having feelings for George. But several years later, when George unexpectedly appears in East Hampton where Lucie is weekending with her new fiancé, Lucie finds herself drawn to George again. Soon, Lucy is spinning a web of deceit that involves her family, her fiancé, the co-op board of her Fifth Avenue apartment, and ultimately herself as she tries mightily to deny George entry into her world--and her heart. Moving between summer playgrounds of privilege, peppered with decadent food and extravagant fashion, Sex and Vanity is a truly modern love story, a daring homage to A Room with a View, and a brilliantly funny comedy of manners set between two cultures.
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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 the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, she can't stand that he knows more about Curzio 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 and they are caught by her snobbish, disapproving cousin, Charlotte. "Your mother is Chinese so it's no surprise you'd be attracted to someone like him," Charlotte teases. Daughter of an American-born-Chinese mother and blue-blooded New York father, Lucie has always sublimated the Asian side of herself in favor of the white side, and she adamantly denies having feelings for George. But several years later, when George unexpectedly appears in East Hampton where Lucie is weekending with her new fiancé, Lucie finds herself drawn to George again. Soon, Lucy is spinning a web of deceit that involves her family, her fiancé, the co-op board of her Fifth Avenue apartment, and ultimately herself as she tries mightily to deny George entry into her world--and her heart. Moving between summer playgrounds of privilege, peppered with decadent food and extravagant fashion, Sex and Vanity is a truly modern love story, a daring homage to A Room with a View, and a brilliantly funny comedy of manners set between two cultures.
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Product details
- Paperback | 336 pages
- 154 x 233 x 28mm | 516g
- 14 Jul 2020
- Random House USA Inc
- Doubleday & Co Inc.
- New York, United States
- English
- International edition
- 038554636X
- 9780385546362
- 65,737
Review Text
Good Morning America's July Book Club Pick
"A summer romp with a satirical sting"
NPR
"When the room with a view is Kevin Kwan's, things might get wild... There s no other way you re getting to Capri this summer. Here s a ticket."
Janet Maslin, New York Times Book Review
"Part of the novel s fun is that Kwan is in on the joke: He excels at satirizing the uber-rich. He s also an Olympic-level name-dropper. If I had a dollar for every reference to an A-list designer or brand mentioned here, I d be well, still not a fraction as wealthy as these characters... Kwan s trademark snark, which hooked Crazy Rich Asians fans, remains on display in this new offering... readers who follow suit can revel in the kind of extravagances that sound like a dream after months of isolation and anxiety during the coronarvirus pandemic."
Angela Haupt, Washington Post
"The Shakespeare of Status Anxiety... Dishy and delightful, filled with all sorts of bad behavior performed in couture. But as loose and fun and compulsively readable as they are, Kwan s novels are also very clearly the work of someone who spends much of his social time paying extremely close attention."
Ryan Bradley, The Atlantic
"Deliciously modern... drama, diamonds, and satire galore.
Vanity Fair
"A deliciously fun romp from Capri to Manhattan and East Hampton. Kwan is in fine form, gleefully name-dropping luxury brands and socialites as he spins a heartfelt, satirical tale that observes the price of fame, fortune and following your heart.
BookPage
"True love will find a way, even among the status-obsessed and filthy rich... [With] irresistibly knowing humor and delightful central characters... While he s engineering the timeless love story and continuing our postgraduate education in all the things money can buy, Kwan manages to take a few swipes against snobbery and racism. Nice. This is the only way you re getting to Capri this year. Why resist?"
Kirkus
Kwan follows up his Crazy Rich Asians trilogy with an intoxicating, breezy update of E.M. Forster s A Room with a View... Kwan exploits the Forster frame for clever references including Merchant and Ivory and provides amusing footnotes. Kwan also relishes describing lavish meals and haute couture clothing, as well as Isabel s decadent wedding and Cecil s imaginative, over-the-top proposal. There are moments both catty and witty... [A] delectable comedy of manners the literary equivalent of white truffle and caviar pizza.
Publishers Weekly
show more
"A summer romp with a satirical sting"
NPR
"When the room with a view is Kevin Kwan's, things might get wild... There s no other way you re getting to Capri this summer. Here s a ticket."
Janet Maslin, New York Times Book Review
"Part of the novel s fun is that Kwan is in on the joke: He excels at satirizing the uber-rich. He s also an Olympic-level name-dropper. If I had a dollar for every reference to an A-list designer or brand mentioned here, I d be well, still not a fraction as wealthy as these characters... Kwan s trademark snark, which hooked Crazy Rich Asians fans, remains on display in this new offering... readers who follow suit can revel in the kind of extravagances that sound like a dream after months of isolation and anxiety during the coronarvirus pandemic."
Angela Haupt, Washington Post
"The Shakespeare of Status Anxiety... Dishy and delightful, filled with all sorts of bad behavior performed in couture. But as loose and fun and compulsively readable as they are, Kwan s novels are also very clearly the work of someone who spends much of his social time paying extremely close attention."
Ryan Bradley, The Atlantic
"Deliciously modern... drama, diamonds, and satire galore.
Vanity Fair
"A deliciously fun romp from Capri to Manhattan and East Hampton. Kwan is in fine form, gleefully name-dropping luxury brands and socialites as he spins a heartfelt, satirical tale that observes the price of fame, fortune and following your heart.
BookPage
"True love will find a way, even among the status-obsessed and filthy rich... [With] irresistibly knowing humor and delightful central characters... While he s engineering the timeless love story and continuing our postgraduate education in all the things money can buy, Kwan manages to take a few swipes against snobbery and racism. Nice. This is the only way you re getting to Capri this year. Why resist?"
Kirkus
Kwan follows up his Crazy Rich Asians trilogy with an intoxicating, breezy update of E.M. Forster s A Room with a View... Kwan exploits the Forster frame for clever references including Merchant and Ivory and provides amusing footnotes. Kwan also relishes describing lavish meals and haute couture clothing, as well as Isabel s decadent wedding and Cecil s imaginative, over-the-top proposal. There are moments both catty and witty... [A] delectable comedy of manners the literary equivalent of white truffle and caviar pizza.
Publishers Weekly
show more
Review quote
Good Morning America's July Book Club Pick
"A summer romp with a satirical sting"
— NPR
"When the room with a view is Kevin Kwan's, things might get wild... There’s no other way you’re getting to Capri this summer. Here’s a ticket."
— Janet Maslin, New York Times Book Review
"Part of the novel’s fun is that Kwan is in on the joke: He excels at satirizing the uber-rich. He’s also an Olympic-level name-dropper. If I had a dollar for every reference to an A-list designer or brand mentioned here, I’d be — well, still not a fraction as wealthy as these characters... Kwan’s trademark snark, which hooked “Crazy Rich Asians” fans, remains on display in this new offering... readers who follow suit can revel in the kind of extravagances that sound like a dream after months of isolation and anxiety during the coronarvirus pandemic."
— Angela Haupt, Washington Post
"The Shakespeare of Status Anxiety... Dishy and delightful, filled with all sorts of bad behavior performed in couture. But as loose and fun and compulsively readable as they are, Kwan’s novels are also very clearly the work of someone who spends much of his social time paying extremely close attention."
—Ryan Bradley, The Atlantic
"Deliciously modern... drama, diamonds, and satire galore.
—Vanity Fair
"A deliciously fun romp from Capri to Manhattan and East Hampton. Kwan is in fine form, gleefully name-dropping luxury brands and socialites as he spins a heartfelt, satirical tale that observes the price of fame, fortune and following your heart.”
—BookPage
"True love will find a way, even among the status-obsessed and filthy rich... [With] irresistibly knowing humor and delightful central characters... While he’s engineering the timeless love story and continuing our postgraduate education in all the things money can buy, Kwan manages to take a few swipes against snobbery and racism. Nice. This is the only way you’re getting to Capri this year. Why resist?"
—Kirkus
“Kwan follows up his Crazy Rich Asians trilogy with an intoxicating, breezy update of E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View... Kwan exploits the Forster frame for clever references—including Merchant and Ivory—and provides amusing footnotes. Kwan also relishes describing lavish meals and haute couture clothing, as well as Isabel’s decadent wedding and Cecil’s imaginative, over-the-top proposal. There are moments both catty and witty... [A] delectable comedy of manners—the literary equivalent of white truffle and caviar pizza.”
—Publishers Weekly
show more
"A summer romp with a satirical sting"
— NPR
"When the room with a view is Kevin Kwan's, things might get wild... There’s no other way you’re getting to Capri this summer. Here’s a ticket."
— Janet Maslin, New York Times Book Review
"Part of the novel’s fun is that Kwan is in on the joke: He excels at satirizing the uber-rich. He’s also an Olympic-level name-dropper. If I had a dollar for every reference to an A-list designer or brand mentioned here, I’d be — well, still not a fraction as wealthy as these characters... Kwan’s trademark snark, which hooked “Crazy Rich Asians” fans, remains on display in this new offering... readers who follow suit can revel in the kind of extravagances that sound like a dream after months of isolation and anxiety during the coronarvirus pandemic."
— Angela Haupt, Washington Post
"The Shakespeare of Status Anxiety... Dishy and delightful, filled with all sorts of bad behavior performed in couture. But as loose and fun and compulsively readable as they are, Kwan’s novels are also very clearly the work of someone who spends much of his social time paying extremely close attention."
—Ryan Bradley, The Atlantic
"Deliciously modern... drama, diamonds, and satire galore.
—Vanity Fair
"A deliciously fun romp from Capri to Manhattan and East Hampton. Kwan is in fine form, gleefully name-dropping luxury brands and socialites as he spins a heartfelt, satirical tale that observes the price of fame, fortune and following your heart.”
—BookPage
"True love will find a way, even among the status-obsessed and filthy rich... [With] irresistibly knowing humor and delightful central characters... While he’s engineering the timeless love story and continuing our postgraduate education in all the things money can buy, Kwan manages to take a few swipes against snobbery and racism. Nice. This is the only way you’re getting to Capri this year. Why resist?"
—Kirkus
“Kwan follows up his Crazy Rich Asians trilogy with an intoxicating, breezy update of E.M. Forster’s A Room with a View... Kwan exploits the Forster frame for clever references—including Merchant and Ivory—and provides amusing footnotes. Kwan also relishes describing lavish meals and haute couture clothing, as well as Isabel’s decadent wedding and Cecil’s imaginative, over-the-top proposal. There are moments both catty and witty... [A] delectable comedy of manners—the literary equivalent of white truffle and caviar pizza.”
—Publishers Weekly
show more
About Kevin Kwan
KEVIN KWAN is the author of the international bestsellers Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, and Rich People Problems. Crazy Rich Asians was a #1 New York Times bestseller, a major motion picture, and has been translated into more than thirty languages. He lives in Los Angeles and is trying to eat less pasta.
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