Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

57 reviews

maja_mecia's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It does not have as much spice as The Kiss Quotient but deals with more than just romance. You can really tell that the author grew in her storytelling. It's also great how the books shows that sex which can be put of pause in a relationship

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, and Infertility

lillianreadsalot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

booking_along's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a great addition and ending to this trilogy. 

i loved getting Quan as a main character since he was such an interesting one in the other two books.  
i love how hoang wrote him as this very accepting self assured man that had no problem taking about feelings and being who he was, helping other find themselves as well. sad to say that that is not seen to often not only in the romance genre but in fiction and real life as well, that a man is simple comfortable with himself and maybe cause of that just accepts people as they are.

i enjoyed experiencing anna’s journey to finding out that she is autistic.
especially the section where her first reaction is to deny it because “… i hate mate. i don’t have a photographic memory. i fit in. i have freunde, a boyfriend, even my moms friends like me. i’m nothing like sheldon from the big bang theory or - or-  or the bro thy er in rain man.” and being told that that’s just stereotypical misperceptions and not typical autistic marks. 

i really enjoyed the dynamic between anna and quan and how he helped her become her own person by accepting who she was, simply because he wanted to know her and liked her. 

“he trusts me to know myself. i didn’t know how important that was to me until now.”


i struggled with the other parts of the book, though. 

i think mostly because the relationship between anna and her sister where too similar to my own issues with my sister and how she sees me. too similarity to anna and her sister, my own seems to believe that pushing and listing all my faults is the best way to get me where she wants me to be and is incapable of seeing her own wrongs in doing so. 
i think that was what made it hard for me to enjoy especially those sections of the book. it was just too close to what i experienced too often myself.

i wasn’t a fan of the moments with anna’s father either. but than i am a big believer of ”if you can be a version of who you where before something happened but are just a shell, that’s no life at all” 
so reading about her dad being forced to go on… not fun for me.


all in all?
this was a good book and i really enjoyed the entire trilogy.
also i am sure i will be rereading this sometime, if for nothing else but to see a great representation and all the different versions autism can take and i haven’t seen in any other fiction books before!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

booksofautumn's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Mental illness

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cursing

emily_holden's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

1) I LOVE duel pov especially with Quan and anna who make my heart melt
2) this book is adorable and everything. It makes me feel all gushy and hopeful for love and that people can love and accept others even if they are different 
3) Priscilla is a self centered bitch 
4) This book was adorable and I am obsessed with anna and quan and would do anything for them

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer

travelthrupages's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

rrubin97's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book took a lot out of me to read. It was a struggle to read the rawness of the words and reading the authors afterwards put a lot into perspective about her experiences feeding into the story of the woman on the autistic spectrum learning to stop masking and accept herself

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

library_of_alexandra_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Helen Hoang just keeps topping herself! This book is fantastic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

theunabridgedlifeofsalamacita's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is my first Helen Hoang book and it certainly will not be my last. I have not read a book like this that just sticks with you in a very long time. On the surface it seems like a romance novel, but it is so much more. Helen addresses issues like self-identity, autism, caregiver burnout, societal labels i.e. people with tattoos, etc, family expectations, self-love, self-care, therapy, medications and their positive influence, suicidal ideation, depression, sexual harassment in the workplace, sexual fears and expectations, and the significance of fully trusting someone you want to have meaningful intercourse with. 

This isn't just a laundry list of things that were mentioned in the story, it's merely a highlight of the profundity that dominates this book. It's such a beautiful story of love that brings two seemingly very dissimilar people together, and that love is not perfect, and (spoiler) there are second chances that are given, but it is soooo beautiful. It literally ripped my heart into pieces and put it back together. HIGHLY recommend! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Outing, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love Helen Hoang’s romances!!! Anna and Quan are such interesting characters. This whole series is so heartfelt and loving. Your heart breaks for her characters, but there’s always a glimmer of hope in their darkest moments. Love love love this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts