Mini Reviews| The Kiss Quotient & The Bride Test – Helen Hoang

After seeing The Kiss Quotient & The Bride Test everywhere, I’ve been wanting to read them. After hearing Isabelle and other friends being really positive about these books, I knew I neeed to give them a go. I finally got a chance to read them and want to share my reviews with you today!

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases — a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice — with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan — from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…

Review

“All the things that make you different make you perfect.”

The Kiss Quotient sucked me right in and didn’t let me go. I’ve read a lot of romances, but never one where a main character was on the spectrum. This fact caused so many moments that were so heartwarming.

Stella hires a professional to help her learn how to date and just how things work. She’s very ambitious and work is her thing. Stella has her routine and doesn’t expect the emotions that start developing with her time with Michael. And Michael, there’s just so much more about him than his job. He’s so caring and just really genuine. It’s hard for him to go after his own dreams when his family is struggling. I loved that he slowly started realizing he could do his own thing and take care of his loved ones.

Stella en Michael really just fit. Their feelings are genuine and it was so heartwarming seeing them slowly fall for each other. Stella really wants Michael to follow his dreams and Michael takes his time with Stella. Never makes her feel like there’s anything wrong and he’s just there for her. The author makes you love both of these characters and makes you want the happily ever after.

Besides the heartwarming moments, The Kiss Quotient has amazing characters, humor, steamy moments and just amazing writing. It’s hard to even write this review, because it’s just so hard to put what I want to in words! Definitely pick this book up if you’re looking for a feel good romance that feels really genuine!

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

Review

“Everyone deserved to love and be loved back. Everyone. Even her.”

After reading The Kiss Quotient, I couldn’t help but dive right into The Bride Test. This book can be read as a standalone, but Stella and Michael do make an appearance (seeing how Michael is Khai’s cousin). Once again, this author gave us an amazing and heartwarming romance.

Esme is doing her best, but it doesn’t feel like enough. Having a chance to go to America and maybe end up living there doesn’t sounds like something she could do. Especially seeing how the reason she can go there is because a woman wants Esme to seduce her son.

Khai is such a fun character. He’s autistic and has his own set ways, so it’s hard for him to have Esme come into his life. I loved their meeting and how they slowly get close. Their moments together often left a smile on my face and when he would open up to her a bit my heart would melt. I also loved that Esme started trying to take control of her own life. Going to school and taking classes. She let herself dream and that was amazing to see.

While I did enjoy the ending of this story, I didn’t like it as much as The Kiss Quotient. I felt like Esme didn’t really get what it meant that Khai is autistic. I wish this would’ve been explained more. I’m not sure if it just never came up, but it’s like the family should’ve talked to Esme or Esme even should’ve asked more questions when Khai told her. I did love this story, but this just didn’t feel right.

These two romances were fast and fun reads and just really made my heart happy. The author recently did the cover reveal for the third book, The Heart Principle. We have to wait until May, but I know it’ll be worth the wait. Have you read either of these? If so, let me know what you thought about them in the comments!

5 thoughts on “Mini Reviews| The Kiss Quotient & The Bride Test – Helen Hoang

    1. They’re definitely fun to read! Hope you love them if you read them as well.

  1. Definitely need to read The Kiss Quuotient. I first heard of this after I wrote a short story with a similar premise 😐

  2. I came across your blog through the book review linky, and am so glad I did!

    I pretty much share your feelings about these 2 books. I adored The Kiss Quotient. But with The Bride Test.. something felt off. In theory it was close to perfect, but it just did not invoke all the feels that TKQ did.

    And I agree, I felt the same way, that Esme just did not understand Khai’s condition. And that she should have asked more, or Khai or the family should have explained more. But I guess the message that the author was trying to give was that this is normal, and should be treated as such? I dunno. I guess I am just conflicted.

    Either way, glad to have found your blog!
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