SEX AND VANITY is Kevin Kwan’s homage to A ROOM WITH A VIEW and is set in an upper-crust, uber-wealthy world similar to his Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. The book opens on the island of Capri in 2013 as Lucie Tang Churchill attends the wedding of her friend, Isabel Chiu. The couple has flown 400-plus guests there to celebrate their nuptials with a five-day itinerary full of over-the-top events.

Lucie hails from a prominent east coast family on her father’s side and a third-generation Asian American family on her mother’s side. Having lost her father when she was young, Lucie has always struggled with her sense of identity, feeling that she is not completely accepted by his relatives. As a result, she tries to downplay her Asian heritage.

"SEX AND VANITY will appeal to those who enjoyed the Crazy Rich Asians novels and is the perfect entertainment for these uncertain times."

In Capri, Lucie meets George Zao and develops feelings for him, but denies them because she worries that he will not be acceptable to her father’s family. Fast-forward five years, and Lucie is vacationing in East Hampton with her new fiancé, Cecil Pike, when George unexpectedly appears. Sparks fly again.

The highlight of the book is Kwan’s signature tongue-in-cheek humor and snark. He provides the education background for every person he introduces --- “Lucie (92nd Street Y Nursery School/Brearley/Brown, Class of ’16),” “Cecil (Kiddie Kollege Preschool/South Elementary/Kinkaid/Aiglon/Oriel College/Oxford)” ---- and incorporates a wide range of high-end brands, designers and other similar items. At the end of each chapter are often hilarious, lengthy footnotes that qualify various statements, translate phrases, or explain some of the brands and famous people mentioned. The characters are reasonably developed enough that this does not hinder the storyline. Lucie starts out immature and somewhat unlikable, but eventually develops a backbone and sense of identity. She is young when the story begins, so her immaturity can be forgiven.

While much of the book focuses on the lives of those in the top 1% and their escapades, Kwan does address Lucie’s struggle to find her place in both her family and society at large. He highlights the pressure she feels, the comments she receives (such as being mistaken for a takeout delivery person in her posh New York City building) and inappropriate racial nicknames. When asked where she hails from, she says, “New York City.” That answer is frequently followed by “Where are you really from?” She points out that her mother’s family has lived in the United States for three generations.

This timely issue is relevant for the world in which we live. In addition, Houstonians will enjoy the references to two private high schools in the area and a prominent River Oaks street (as this reviewer did).

Overall, SEX AND VANITY will appeal to those who enjoyed the Crazy Rich Asians novels and is the perfect entertainment for these uncertain times.