Sex and Vanity
A Novel
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Sex and Vanity
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Narrated by:
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Lydia Look
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Written by:
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Kevin Kwan
About this listen
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 AudioWhat the critics say
"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)
What listeners say about Sex and Vanity
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Lacey Stairs
- 2020-08-08
Fun summer time listening!
I loved jumping into the world of the fabulous & ritch once again. Much the same vein as the CRA trilogy, the vibrant characters were entertaining and upbeat. A great summer listen which left me longing for travel to Capri & Italy!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Scott Henderson
- 2020-08-30
Enjoyable, but predictable
Enjoyed the book. But would have liked for it to be less predictable. Expected a little bit more
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Christina
- 2023-05-23
Storyline not very strong
I have lived Kevin Kwans other books, but this one falls short. Story didn’t keep me engaged.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Margaret
- 2020-07-16
Fantastic and Magnificent all together
Kevin is truly a gifted writer. I loved every minute.
I highly recommend this book.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Valérie Béland
- 2020-08-24
The details are everything
Not enough details about de relationship of Lucie and George. I couldnt really understand why they loved each other. A couple more chapter and the book would have been perfect.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Connie
- 2022-03-14
if you ever wanted a rich person to spill the tea
such a fun story, and the over the top accents when the voice actor was talking about Capri and the Australian accent made me cringe delightfully. If you're looking for a decadent gossip laden story, look no further.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Joyce Meneses
- 2020-07-06
worst narrator
I liked the story but it was hard to listen to. the narrator did not keep up with accents, they changed all the time. I didn't know who was talking to it was hard to follow.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Barbara M.
- 2023-06-04
Love his writing !
His writing works for me. Short clipped sentences full of enticing details about places and things…fashion, jewelry, art, ceramics. I enjoyed the story and love how he unexpectedly places interesting tid bits hither and yon. His writing is crisp, simple yet full of detail…love it !
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2020-07-03
From another hapo
Thank you Mr. Kwan! Can not wait for the next chapter ! Decadently delicious Waspy Witt
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Corinna Nairn
- 2020-07-18
The perfect light beach read
Loved this story. Great performance. It was a little predictable and overplayed, but in a way that was nice.
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