Kevin Kwan is a Singaporean American who also has deep roots in Singaporean culture. Crazy Rich Asians examines the differences between Asian American culture and Singaporean culture, especially in terms of the opulent lives of Singapore’s mega-rich. While much of the book is exaggerated for the sake of the narrative, Kwan based the characters and their beliefs and attitudes on the real-life upper class in Asia, many of whom are private about how much money they have. Rachel is also a stand-in for the Asian American experience. She is well-educated and successful and was born to a hard-working, immigrant mother. This is a familiar experience for many Asian Americans who are first- or second-generation Americans. Although the US does have its own class stratification, there is less emphasis on pedigree and family name, and how well the individual has done for themselves is considered more important.

As an Asian American immigrant himself, Kwan has a unique view of both Singaporean culture and American culture. He is able to introduce Western readers to Singapore in an authentic voice that portrays the country as complex and lived-in, not just a caricature of the East seen through an American lens.