Ciao! I'm Laura.
  • Journal
  • About
  • Writing
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Journal
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Writing
  • Contact

Ciao Amalfi

BOOKS · January 17, 2021

Book Review | Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

I love a good romance story as much as the next hopeless romantic. Add in a setting on Capri and I’ll be first in line to buy the book. That is exactly what happened with Sex and Vanity, the latest novel by the worldwide bestselling author Kevin Kwan. Of course, Kwan hardly needs an introduction. You’ll know him as the author of Crazy Rich Asians, a number one New York Times bestselling book and fabulous film, as well as two more bestselling books in the series China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Despite the massive success, I’m new to the club and Sex and Vanity was the first book I’ve read by Kwan. It did not disappoint!

Sex and Vanity introduces a whole new cast of characters in a modern day retelling of E.M. Forster’s classic A Room with a View. Forster’s book (and the 1985 movie with Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands) is one of my favorites, and Kwan has an easy and lighthearted way to bring the story to life again with a setting split between Capri and New York City. The book opens with Lucie Churchill arriving on Capri with her cousin Charlotte. But this isn’t your average wedding – not even by Capri standards. This is a lavish affair set in the island’s most captivating and historic spots, all beautifully described in luscious detail by Kwan. A young Lucie, caught in the romance of Capri and the fabulous wedding, meets George Zhao and is equal parts repulsed and allured by this strange man. Things get a little, well, steamy like a summer night on Capri can be. Despite their undeniable connection, Lucie and George part ways after a shocking experience leaving that time on Capri firmed fixed in the past in Lucie’s mind.

–Summer bougainvillea blooms at the Certosa di San Giacomo

The second part of the book picks up 5 years later in New York City where Lucie is a successful art advisor and is engaged to the popular yet this time undeniably obnoxious Cecil Pike. Believing she has life figured out without realizing she herself is missing from it, Lucie’s carefully composed plans are thrown out of whack again when she runs into George while spending a weekend at her family’s home in East Hampton with her fiancé. As George re-enters her life and those steamy memories from Capri come back to haunt both of them, Lucie wonders if the life she had planned might be completely wrong. Can she let her carefully constructed life fall apart in order to embrace something better? Can Lucie follower her heart?

If you’re familiar with A Room with a View, you’ll know how things end up. But Sex and Vanity is a fun romp through luxury living on Capri and New York City with endearing characters and good laughs. There’s still the prudish and meddling Charlotte and the Reverend Mr. Beebe (my favorite character from the book and movie) turned into “celebrated yoga master, life coach, motivational speaker, and self-help author” Auden Beebe. That gave me a good laugh!

For all you Capri enthusiasts, you’ll enjoy this book. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s the escape to a warm summer day on Capri that we all need right now. I truly hope Sex and Vanity will be made into a major film so we can all see the glittering rehearsal dinner at the Certosa di San Giacomo and especially the enchanting wedding at the Villa Lysis and Villa Jovis.

–Casa Malaparte where a pivotal scene in Sex & Vanity takes place

I first heard about Sex and Vanity from my friend Holly Star on Capri. Along with her husband, Gianluca, they owned the popular Ristorante Michel’angelo and now the stunning Giardino di Capri near the Blue Grotto. It’s fun when you open a book and on the first page–in those glorious moments of getting lost in a new story–suddenly find a mention of someone you know. It’s a tantalizing blend of fact and fiction, of life and romance, of real and imagined. That’s exactly what happened as I read the opening page of Sex and Vanity, with a mention of Ristorante Michel’angelo’s delicious spaghetti with fresh tomatoes and burrata cheese. How fun is that? You can watch Holly and Gianluca prepare that very dish on Facebook live with Kevin Kwan here.

Kwan’s love of Capri really shines through and for me it was the highlight of Sex and Vanity. You can feel that he’s spent a lot of time on Capri absorbing its magic since the island and its historic sights are just as much a character in the story. Along with the vibrant descriptions, there are tidbits of history shared between characters and sights featured that many day trippers miss, such as the Casa Malaparte, Villa Lysis, and the ruins of Villa Jovis.

After the book was published, I enjoyed reading Kevin Kwan’s posts on Instagram about his favorite places on the island and where he found inspiration. One visit to his swoon worthy website www.kevinkwanbooks.com and you’ll see how much he adores Capri. That to me is a sign of good people. I fell in love on Capri and I’m here in Italy still largely because of that first day on Capri. So how could I be anything but in love with this book? I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did!

–Capri’s famous Blue Grotto

Just one thing: Sex and Vanity has a very sweet scene with two characters swimming into the Blue Grotto. But please remember that this is a work of fiction. Don’t swim in the Blue Grotto on Capri! It’s not allowed and it’s not a great idea. The currents can be strong there on the northwestern side of Capri with waves making it dangerous to swim in and out. Swimming in the Blue Grotto is forbidden and there were even fines during the summer of 2020 over €1,000 per person. I know the idea sounds romantic, but it’s risky. As someone who lives here, I couldn’t in good faith not mention the reality of the situation should you be planning a trip to the island inspired by Sex and Vanity.

Note: This post contains Amazon Associates affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you purchase after clicking on the links. There’s no additional cost to you, but the commission helps support Ciao Amalfi. Grazie!

Posted In: BOOKS · Tagged: Amalfi Coast Books, Book Review, Book Reviews, Books, Books About Italy, Ciao Amalfi Book Reviews

You’ll Also Love

Moon Amalfi CoastMoon Amalfi Coast with Capri, Naples & Pompeii, 2nd Edition
Book Review | The Chocolatier by Jan Moran
Interview with Author Lucy Knott

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

What’s Cooking? New Thermopolium Uncovered in Pompeii

Trending Now

  • ciao-amalfi-winter-things-to-do Visiting the Amalfi Coast in the Winter – 5 Things You Need to Know
  • Amalfi Coast Travel Positano Beach Spiagga Grande A Guide to the Beaches of Positano
  • Amalfi Coast Webcams New Live Streaming Webcams of Amalfi!
  • Amalfi Coast Beaches Colourful Sun Umbrellas at the Marina Grande Beach in Amalfi - Horizontal A Guide to the Beaches of Amalfi

Ciao!

My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

Ciao Amalfi

  • Journal
  • Moon Amalfi Coast
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

Amalfi Coast

  • Amalfi
  • Positano
  • Ravello
  • Amalfi Coast

Explore

  • Travel
  • History & Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Shopping

Laura Thayer

  • About
  • Writing
  • Book Reviews
  • Work with Me

Latest on Instagram

What 31 days of January morning walks looks like. What 31 days of January morning walks looks like. It’s been gorgeous and windy and stormy and wild - and everything in between. Should I pick a different spot to take a photo a day next month?
Non Amalfi Coast question. Do you wake up in the m Non Amalfi Coast question. Do you wake up in the morning with music or a song in your head? I do nearly every morning and it’s curious to me what shows up. Usually it’s something I’ve been listening to, but sometimes it’s really random, like someone’s left the music room door slightly ajar in the brain. This morning it was a jaunty version of “Loch Lomond” from the 1940s sung by Maxine Sullivan. (You’d think that would be from the random category but I actually listened to it yesterday.) So that’s what was swinging about in my head as I took a walk early this morning. 🎶
Happy Burns Night! I love a country that has a hol Happy Burns Night! I love a country that has a holiday for their national poet. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Here’s one of my favorite poems he wrote.

Musing On The Roaring Ocean
by Robert Burns

Musing on the roaring ocean, 
Which divides my love and me; 
Wearying heav’n in warm devotion, 
For his weal where’er he be. 

Hope and Fear’s alternate billow 
Yielding late to Nature’s law, 
Whispering spirits round my pillow, 
Talk of him that’s far awa. 

Ye whom sorrow never wounded, 
Ye who never shed a tear, 
Care-untroubled, joy-surrounded, 
Gaudy day to you is dear. 

Gentle night, do thou befriend me, 
Downy sleep, the curtain draw; 
Spirits kind, again attend me, 
Talk of him that’s far awa!
After a wild and windy night, there’s a dusting After a wild and windy night, there’s a dusting of snow atop the mountains of the Amalfi Coast. ❄️
On January 1st, I started going out for an early m On January 1st, I started going out for an early morning walk, and it has quickly become my favorite part of the day. This morning—after four days of rainy and cloudy mornings—I watched sunrise over the Cilento coastline across the Gulf of Salerno. Late morning it started raining again and it hasn’t stopped. This little pocket of beauty was exhilarating!
After the storm as the sky clears. #Amalfi #CiaoAm After the storm as the sky clears. #Amalfi #CiaoAmalfi
Winter weather has arrived on the Amalfi Coast! Ou Winter weather has arrived on the Amalfi Coast! Outside there’s the roar of the rough sea and strong winds in the mountain valley. This photo was a moment of relative calm yesterday morning as the storm came in.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 Ciao Amalfi · Theme by 17th Avenue