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scarlettrogue's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
sheffies's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
tisawizard's review against another edition
4.5
This was a tough read, but in a really good way. I'm really blown away by Hoang's ability to create characters and situations that are so true to life and obviously vulnerable in their relation to her real experiences. I like that she doesn't take the easy way out. She's become an insta-buy author for me.
reading_about_tigerlilies's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
courtney_saba's review against another edition
2.0
Overall: 2.5 stars. I really wanted to like this, but in the end, I guess it's a me thing.
The first book in the series was spectacular in my opinion, and that's why I kept giving this author so many chances. I wasn't the biggest fan of her second book, and I'm even less a fan of this one. And that's really disappointing because so many readers loved this book. It definitely could be a personal thing on my behalf. It could also be because I went into this thinking it was going to be another wonderful slow burn romance between our characters, not a book filled with bullying, gaslighting, and very little romance while also being a book with really strong fear/mental health themes and family issues.
Quan was such a fun character in the first two books and I've been very seriously looking forward to his love story. And then we learn all of these new serious things about him that weren't mentioned in the first two books and it took away from his character. I wasn't sure why the author decided to go that route with him, maybe it was because of the serious nature of Anna and her problems, so to level it out, she gave Quan a difficult situation to get through, but I didn't really appreciate that choice. Again, personal issue, but it wasn't expected and I wasn't happy with it. He was also so good to Anna that it came across as unrealistic, until he stood up for himself.
And then Anna and her family problems were very severe. Honestly, that was the main theme in this book: how she and her family interacted with each other and how she was basically gaslighted and bullied her whole entire life by people that were supposed to love her and accept her for who she is. And then what happened with her father was heartbreaking, but it really did turn into something really hard to keep reading because it's not what I signed up for. This may make some readers mad, but with that kind of cover, I expected something like her first two books, not something completely different. Why would they have a cover like this one with a woman who is nothing like Anna, and then have a story like this one in between that didn't coincide at all? It just didn't make sense.
In the end, sure, I enjoyed this a little bit, but Anna's fear, cowardice, and refusal to stand up for herself or her father or for Quan, 90% through the book, I was done with her and the book and the route of the story. I really couldn't give her any accolades or anything, despite the somewhat happy ending and her realizing she needed to speak up for herself and for her loved ones at the end of the book. To me, it was too little too late. I had some sympathy, but so many opportunities had presented themselves to her and she had to wait until everything was taken from her for her to realize, "wow, I need to change."
The ending was also really quick and seemed to treat her changes somewhat lightly, quickly, and without much emphasis. Especially because the book was really centered on her being unable to speak for herself, so I felt the ending didn't give her and even Quan any justice.
I do love that this was an Own Voices book, and the author does a really good job at writing these types of characters and their issues. I just couldn't get along with the book and the direction of the story. I read that this was sort of a half Autobiography on the author, and in that case, I wish she had just written a memoir or something along those lines and kept with the script and direction of her first two books. I think that would have given her, her characters, and her series a lot more dignity and justice.
Would I recommend this book? No. I love the first book in the series and I think that anyone who is introduced to this author should just stick with the first book and then maybe they won't be disappointed consecutively and progressively with the second and third book.
Would I reread this book? No. To the point where I'd rather give this book away, especially to someone that might get more from it than I sure did. Because I was sick of it very early on and I finished it because I thought it might change direction and go back to the original storyline, but it didn't. It was a huge disappointment.
Was I entertained? Sure, but only in the little romance parts when Quan and Anna were together. That was where the story excelled, in my opinion. It was where I wanted the story to continue. And although I'm not from any type of Asian community, and I can't understand the pressures and family dynamics that go along with those cultures, I'm trying to come from an objective standpoint as a book reader and as someone who enjoys certain things that just weren't checkmarked in this book. In the end, it just wasn't for me. So many people loved it and I was unfortunately not one of them.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
The first book in the series was spectacular in my opinion, and that's why I kept giving this author so many chances. I wasn't the biggest fan of her second book, and I'm even less a fan of this one. And that's really disappointing because so many readers loved this book. It definitely could be a personal thing on my behalf. It could also be because I went into this thinking it was going to be another wonderful slow burn romance between our characters, not a book filled with bullying, gaslighting, and very little romance while also being a book with really strong fear/mental health themes and family issues.
Quan was such a fun character in the first two books and I've been very seriously looking forward to his love story. And then we learn all of these new serious things about him that weren't mentioned in the first two books and it took away from his character. I wasn't sure why the author decided to go that route with him, maybe it was because of the serious nature of Anna and her problems, so to level it out, she gave Quan a difficult situation to get through, but I didn't really appreciate that choice. Again, personal issue, but it wasn't expected and I wasn't happy with it. He was also so good to Anna that it came across as unrealistic, until he stood up for himself.
And then Anna and her family problems were very severe. Honestly, that was the main theme in this book: how she and her family interacted with each other and how she was basically gaslighted and bullied her whole entire life by people that were supposed to love her and accept her for who she is. And then what happened with her father was heartbreaking, but it really did turn into something really hard to keep reading because it's not what I signed up for. This may make some readers mad, but with that kind of cover, I expected something like her first two books, not something completely different. Why would they have a cover like this one with a woman who is nothing like Anna, and then have a story like this one in between that didn't coincide at all? It just didn't make sense.
In the end, sure, I enjoyed this a little bit, but Anna's fear, cowardice, and refusal to stand up for herself or her father or for Quan, 90% through the book, I was done with her and the book and the route of the story. I really couldn't give her any accolades or anything, despite the somewhat happy ending and her realizing she needed to speak up for herself and for her loved ones at the end of the book. To me, it was too little too late. I had some sympathy, but so many opportunities had presented themselves to her and she had to wait until everything was taken from her for her to realize, "wow, I need to change."
The ending was also really quick and seemed to treat her changes somewhat lightly, quickly, and without much emphasis. Especially because the book was really centered on her being unable to speak for herself, so I felt the ending didn't give her and even Quan any justice.
I do love that this was an Own Voices book, and the author does a really good job at writing these types of characters and their issues. I just couldn't get along with the book and the direction of the story. I read that this was sort of a half Autobiography on the author, and in that case, I wish she had just written a memoir or something along those lines and kept with the script and direction of her first two books. I think that would have given her, her characters, and her series a lot more dignity and justice.
Would I recommend this book? No. I love the first book in the series and I think that anyone who is introduced to this author should just stick with the first book and then maybe they won't be disappointed consecutively and progressively with the second and third book.
Would I reread this book? No. To the point where I'd rather give this book away, especially to someone that might get more from it than I sure did. Because I was sick of it very early on and I finished it because I thought it might change direction and go back to the original storyline, but it didn't. It was a huge disappointment.
Was I entertained? Sure, but only in the little romance parts when Quan and Anna were together. That was where the story excelled, in my opinion. It was where I wanted the story to continue. And although I'm not from any type of Asian community, and I can't understand the pressures and family dynamics that go along with those cultures, I'm trying to come from an objective standpoint as a book reader and as someone who enjoys certain things that just weren't checkmarked in this book. In the end, it just wasn't for me. So many people loved it and I was unfortunately not one of them.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
lilacseesaw's review against another edition
5.0
After having “The Heart Principle” on my shelf for a couple of years, waiting for the right moment to get to it, I finally got around to read it. I loved the first and second book in the series, so it should’ve come as no surprise that I ended up loving this one as well, though I didn’t expect that I would to this extent. It was a relatable, comforting, hot and sweet.
torinori's review against another edition
5.0
I never have the right words to describe how much I love Helen Hoang’s writing. She has a way of gripping you so deeply and pulling you in to her world. This book hit me so much harder than the others. I love this series more than anything, but this book truly made a mark.
I have not cried at a book so intensely like I did with this book. Anna and Quan’s struggles with their family and careers could be felt so intensely throughout the book that at some points I honestly forgot it was a romance. That’s not to be taken in a bad way, because it made it more relatable. Helen did not skirt around these real issues that needed to be addressed with full seriousness. I could not recommend Helen as a writer more, but especially this book.
I have not cried at a book so intensely like I did with this book. Anna and Quan’s struggles with their family and careers could be felt so intensely throughout the book that at some points I honestly forgot it was a romance. That’s not to be taken in a bad way, because it made it more relatable. Helen did not skirt around these real issues that needed to be addressed with full seriousness. I could not recommend Helen as a writer more, but especially this book.
figallium's review against another edition
4.0
holy mother of god part 3 of this book destroyed me lol