Lies and Weddings

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A TIME MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK • From the iconic internationally bestselling author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy: A forbidden affair erupts volcanically amid a decadent tropical wedding in this outrageous comedy of manners from the iconic author of Crazy Rich Asians.
 
Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshambury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel has a problem: the legendary Gresham Trust has been depleted by decades of profligate spending, and behind all the magazine covers and Instagram stories manors and yachts lies nothing more than a gargantuan mountain of debt. The only solution, put forth by Rufus’s scheming mother, is for Rufus to attend his sister’s wedding at a luxury eco-resort, a veritable who’s-who of sultans, barons, and oligarchs, and seduce a woman with money.

Should he marry Solène de Courcy, a French hotel heiress with honey blond tresses and a royal bloodline? Should he pursue Martha Dung, the tattooed venture capital genius who passes out billions like lollipops? Or should he follow his heart, betray his family, squander his legacy, and finally confess his love to the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong? When a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials and a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, the Gresham family plans—and their reputation—go up in flames.

Can the once-great dukedom rise from the ashes? Or will a secret tragedy, hidden for two decades, reveal a shocking twist?

In a globetrotting tale that takes us from the black sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, from the glitzy bachelor pads of Los Angeles to the inner sanctums of England’s oldest family estates, Kevin Kwan unfurls a juicy, hilarious, sophisticated and thrillingly plotted story of love, money, murder, sex, and the lies we tell about them all.”A hilarious, richly detailed family affair that takes place around the world, from Hawaii to Venice to Los Angeles to the English countryside.” 
—Megan McCluskey and Olivia B. Waxman, TIME

“More globe-trotting high jinks among the wealthy from the author of Crazy Rich Asians.“ 
—Washington Post

“This novel is vintage Kwan and this time we take a hilarious dive into the Anglo-Asian billionaire scene which is populated with fierce Chinese moms, power-mad aunties, penniless English Lords, fabulous weddings, stately homes and too many secrets to mention. Imagine Crazy Rich Asians mated with Saltburn and you’ve got Lies and Weddings—a heavenly summertime read!”
—Plum Sykes, New York Times best-selling author of Bergdorf Blondes

“The author of international sensation Crazy Rich Asians has returned with a new story you won’t be able to put down….A sprawling, globe-trotting adventure, filled with deceit, murder, love and humor.”
—SheReads

“In [Lies and Weddings], Kwan continues to wrap fairy-tale love stories in glitz, glamour, couture, fine art, and delicious wit….Still more brilliant escapism among Kwan’s 1 percenters. Too much is never enough.”
—Kirkus (starred)

“Kwan returns with another irresistible comedy of manners….[Lies and Weddings] allow[s] Kwan to indulge in his flair for vivid party scenes [and he] delivers on his reputation for breezy prose, encyclopedic references to art and haute couture, and quick-witted dialogue laced with Cantonese. The author’s fans will devour this.”
—Publishers WeeklyKEVIN KWAN is the author of Crazy Rich Asians, the international bestselling novel that has been translated into 40 languages. Its sequel, China Rich Girlfriend, was released in 2015, and Rich People Problems, the final book in the trilogy, followed in 2017. For several weeks in 2018, the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy commanded the top three positions of the New York Times bestseller list – an almost unprecedented single-author trifecta, and the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asiansbecame Hollywood’s highest-grossing romantic comedy in over a decade. Sex and Vanity, his most recent novel, hit the New York Times bestseller list in its first week of release and is being adapted into a feature film by Sony Pictures. Kevin has been named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.Sizzling with scandals to discuss and hot topics to debate, Lies and Weddings is the ultimate selection if your book club settles for nothing less than five-star intrigue. In this globe-trotting comedy of manners, Kevin Kwan—the iconic bestselling author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy—sends us an engraved invitation to the world’s most exclusive gatherings as we accompany Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshamsbury and son of a former Hong Kong supermodel, on his quest for a suitable wife.

Of course, his mother’s definition of “suitable” is an heiress with a royal bloodline who can rescue the Gresham Trust from financial ruin after decades of overspending. After that plan is dashed by a hot mic, a megawealthy matchmaker recommends a different direction: Martha Dung, a tattooed venture capitalist. Or should Rufus follow his heart and finally confess his love to a humble beauty named Eden Tong, who lacks a fortune but has been his lifelong refuge through thick and thin?

From the black-sand beaches of Hawaii to the skies of Marrakech, with sojourns in England’s most exclusive family estates, Lies and Weddings dishes up decadence on a grand scale against a backdrop of murder, money, and deeply rooted deception. We hope this guide will help you savor every juicy twist.
 

1. As you read the dramatic opening scene, what were your theories about the backstory behind the fatal showdown between Henry Tong and Roger Gao? How did the opulence and the outrageousness set the tone for the rest of the novel?
 
2. Do men have more power than women within the families and societies of Lies and Weddings? Or is gender irrelevant, with power being derived through other factors?
 
3. When a vile fashion editor assumes that Eden is a hotel staffer, Eden is reminded that the English village where she grew up was a haven from the realities of racism. How does she navigate the world of prejudice and elitism? In what circumstances do Augie, Bea, and Rufus suffer less because they are biracial?
 
4. Despite the appearance of wealth, Lord Greshamsbury (Francis) and Prince Julius zu Liechtenburg are both facing financial ruin. What protections do their respective nobility and royalty bestow? In some ways, do their titles become more of a burden than a benefit?
 
5. Rufus is caught between his mother’s expectations and his true self. How does he balance being dutiful with finding fulfillment? Ultimately, what is the basis for his authentic identity: Ancestry? Affluence? Ability? How does Rufus compare to Gopal Das (a.k.a. Whitney Payne Cabot V) in creating an identity? Is being American an advantage for Gopal Das?
 
6. Despite the great expense and opulence of their wedding, Maxxie and Augie could not prevent the volcanic eruption. But could they have prevented the circumstances that immediately put their marriage on the rocks?
 
7. Eden shares common ground with Freddy, whose Iranian mother died when he was younger. How are Eden and Freddy shaped by the loss of a parent and by their global upbringing? What similar disappointments do they experience in the quest for true love?
 
8. Everything Lady Arabella does is a calculated move. Is she motivated by an understandable quest to survive and look out for her children, or are her motivations evil? Why is she unable to have a truly loving parent-child relationship like the one Thomas created with Eden? By the same turn, what is at the root of Luis Felipe’s destructive bent—including the destruction of any emotional connection to his father? What does the novel say about creating loving bonds within a family?
 
9. If you were Eden, would you have accepted Luis Felipe’s invitation if it meant a mega payoff for you, your loved ones, or a charity?
 
10. Like a trusted guide and true friend, Kevin Kwan uses chatty footnotes to provide us with insider details. What were the most fascinating tidbits you discovered? How would you answer the question he asks at the bottom of page 70: “Where do you rank and what sort of feelings does this bring up?”
 
11. Echoing the many real-world, tragic natural disasters experienced in recent years, the destruction at Bellaloha demonstrates natural forces that overrule the most carefully laid human plans. In a similar thread, Rene receives excellent medical treatment but is ultimately at the mercy of his illness. In the novel, what other examples did you see of problems that money can’t solve?
 
12. Discuss the biggest lies lurking in the novel’s storylines. Which revelations surprised you the most? What is at the heart of these lies? Who or what is being served by such carefully guarded falsehoods? Would it have been less painful to learn to live with the truth?
 
13. How are Eden and Rufus transformed by their southwestern road trip? Does it measure up to the glamorous jet-setting they did previously?
 
14. As you experienced the various wedding locales and venues (including nuptials in a hot-air balloon), which one appealed to you the most? If you could have an unlimited budget for your wedding ceremony, what features would you choose? As a guest, what was the best wedding you ever attended, and what made it so enjoyable?
 
15. The novel’s Hong Kong flashbacks precede the 1997 return of authority over Hong Kong to China after more than 150 years as a British colony. What do you predict for the future of British prestige? Is Martha Dung the new face of status and power in our real world? How will the next generation of global wealth evolve?
 
16. How does Lies and Weddings amplify the decadence of other novels by Kevin Kwan that you have enjoyed? In what ways does this storyline take the ride to a whole new level?

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