Sex and Vanity

A Novel

By: Kevin Kwan

Narrated by: Lydia Look

New York Times Best Seller • A Good Morning America Book Club Pick

"Kevin Kwan's new book is his most decadent yet." (Entertainment Weekly)

The iconic author of the best-selling phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians returns with the glittering tale of a young woman who finds herself torn between two men: the WASPY fiancé of her family's dreams and George Zao, the 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 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 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.

The daughter of an American-born Chinese mother and a 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, Lucie is spinning a web of deceit that involves her family, her fiancé, the co-op board of her Fifth Avenue apartment building, 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.

©2020 Kevin Kwan (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Lydia Look enchants in this contemporary adaptation of A Room with a View.... Look delivers a dramatic performance that keeps the energy high and the dialogue extravagant. Against the backdrop of outrageous characters, Look’s skilled interpretation of Lucie’s sweet nature and George’s reserve makes them the charming center of nonstop parties and fashion moments. Listeners fond of Kwan’s previous series will not be disappointed." (AudioFile magazine)

"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)

Wonderful

This was as funny and entertaining as the Crazy ones. I would love if you developed some of the other people and told their stories.

Fun Sumer love and intrigue

Kevin Kwan has a light flowing plume, interesting characters. Very enjoyable!
PS. I’m missing already my travels to Capri

Fantastic fantasy

Narrators make listening into cinema. This was a blissful escape from headlines and boredom. Hopefully there will be more Lucy to love in the near future!

Ok

The story was just ok. A little too fluffy fancy for my taste, and the narrator used way too many accents (not well, might I add).

Pretty good story

BUT the last hour of the story was so frustrating, the lead female character to be exact. I had to stop and start out of frustration but since I was under an hour I forced myself to finish. The very ending was nice but not truly enjoyable due to the previous 58:00-6min remaining of story.

Worthy of a fun listen

The reading/performance of Lydia Look as she read this book was magnificent. I don't know of I would have enjoyed it as much if I had read it myself. Though, I was still caught in fascination as the storyline followed the main character through her high class life and humble attitude.

Worth the wait!

Part I was initially hard to follow but after that a great read. Kevin Kwan always makes the reader want to be there to see the amazing views and to taste the incredible cuisines.
.

Just OK

OK so the plot of Crazy Rich Asians is they are the hottest people on earth and one of them is a billionaire and the other secretly a billionaire. Sex and Vanity’s plot is they are the hottest people on earth and both billionaires already. And the main character is half white which introduces an interesting racial identity storyline. There are a couple mentions of crazy rich asian characters. Those were fun easter eggs but it also made me wish I was just following those characters instead of these new ones. Not a waste of time but not nearly as interesting as the Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy

Kevin Kwan does it again!

Loved it. It was humorous, full of love and a real page turner. I’m glad I bought it sight unseen because I loved the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy.

pretty good book

I loved the book it has its funny moments the ending was great but the performance was just ok