Do rich people really have problems? Of course they do, and Kevin Kwan illustrates them all in his new novel Rich People Problems. The third in his trilogy of bestselling books--Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend, and now Rich People Problems--this outrageous novel of the ultra-mega-rich men and women of Asia blends social satire with family drama in the most clever way possible. 

While this novel is about a grandmother's illness and how her control of her family has cost her relationships, the melodrama is raised to almost Kardashian levels because of the wild spending habits, insider knowledge, and name-dropping of the family members and other friends and family around them. Add to that Kwan's sly footnotes and clever commentary on modern life (modern rich life, that is), and you have the delicious novel that is Rich People Problems. 

While some of the rich people problems are the same as us middle-class types, some are distinctly unique to those whose net worth ends in slightly fewer fingers than I have on both hands (which is a truly unfathomable amount of money to me). I have never had my one-of-a-kind multi-million dollar designer dress destroyed by jealousy. I have never had my social status put in jeopardy by spilled soup. I've never had a near-psychotic ex make international headlines outing my new lover. Which is probably why no one has written a bestselling novel about my life. Rich people and their problems are just so much more interesting. 

Do you have to read the first two novels first? Not really. There is a large cast of characters to keep track of, so reading the novels in order helps make that easier. But you can read this as a stand-alone, if you want the latest for your summer reading. However, what you will find so much harder to do is to read this novel first and not go back and start Crazy Rich Asians from the beginning. Kevin Kwan is just too masterful for that. 

Galleys for Rich People Problems were provided by Doubleday through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.