Scan barcode
beata's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
jennym6's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Helen Hoang, if you ever happen to read this, thank you for sharing so much of you with us. Never feel like you have to reinvent you craft for anyone, unless you decide to so, Helen.
I will never fully comprenhend how Anna feels and I think that is why this book (and other works like this one) are so important. I find myself at a loss of words other than, once again, thank you!
I will never fully comprenhend how Anna feels and I think that is why this book (and other works like this one) are so important. I find myself at a loss of words other than, once again, thank you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
alexiab's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
W o w.
I went into this book knowing that it covered hard topics like burnout, depression, and anxiety, but I was not prepared for how raw and intense it would be. I can see the author’s personal pain poured into the writing, and while it isn’t aiming for the rom-com mark that the previous two books leaned toward, it is equally as filled with love, passion, and hope.
I love how human Hoang’s characters always are. I love that she can take the silliest plot idea and make it feel real and emotional every step of the way. I love how she touches on hard subjects without any hesitation and masters them. I love absolutely everything about her writing.
If I were to have any complaint - and I wouldn’t even call it an actual complaint - I would have loved a single scene with all 3 couples from all 3 books together. It’s cheesy and cliche, but these books have been cheese from minute one and I really would have liked to see Stella and Anna become friends.
I went into this book knowing that it covered hard topics like burnout, depression, and anxiety, but I was not prepared for how raw and intense it would be. I can see the author’s personal pain poured into the writing, and while it isn’t aiming for the rom-com mark that the previous two books leaned toward, it is equally as filled with love, passion, and hope.
I love how human Hoang’s characters always are. I love that she can take the silliest plot idea and make it feel real and emotional every step of the way. I love how she touches on hard subjects without any hesitation and masters them. I love absolutely everything about her writing.
If I were to have any complaint - and I wouldn’t even call it an actual complaint - I would have loved a single scene with all 3 couples from all 3 books together. It’s cheesy and cliche, but these books have been cheese from minute one and I really would have liked to see Stella and Anna become friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer and Suicidal thoughts
jenkneebee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
delz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
The Heart Principle, while being a beautiful love story is also a sensitive look at living with autism after being diagnosed as an adult. Anna is a concert violinist, unfortunately she’s been stuck and unable to play. On top of that, her family “approved” boyfriend of 5 years, just announced he wants an “open relationship.” Anna’s response is to reach out on a dating app to find a one-night stand. What Anna finds is Quan, who has faced his own challenges and who is also looking for a fling. They don’t exactly find what they’re looking for but instead they embark on something more. This story also deals with family illness and the struggles of being a caregiver with such realism it brought me back my own personal experiences. This is Helen Hoang’s best novel yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
coyascornerr's review against another edition
emotional
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
Anna describes her experiences in such an intense way that emotion literally pours out of the pages. You have no choice, you feel everything. All her pain, her sadness, all her struggling. And it all ties together after reading the author’s note, it finally makes sense why reading this felt so raw and so, so personal. Helen was writing about herself.
Wow. This book, this series, was just breathtakingly beautiful. I’d do ANYTHING for these characters and I feel so honoured that I was able to cry with them, to laugh with them, to share their stories, Helen’s story.
Wow. This book, this series, was just breathtakingly beautiful. I’d do ANYTHING for these characters and I feel so honoured that I was able to cry with them, to laugh with them, to share their stories, Helen’s story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
mintcheoco's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
it’s actually quite tricky to rate this book because it feels very personal to the author, almost like an autobiography since this is more on the struggle of Anna as a person on the autism spectrum and less on the romance between her and Quan. it’s a very good book, very raw and hard hitting, i just wish we see more of the romance developments instead of just Quan being the crutch for her and then just see time pass.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infertility
arbyreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.75
I loved this book. The characters are so phenomenal and the love between them is so so good
Just a heads up: I heard about this book thru Tik Tok, and in none of the reviews I saw did they mention that emergency hospital visits and long term caretaking were in this book so def check the content warnings if that is something that you are not looking to read about rn
Just a heads up: I heard about this book thru Tik Tok, and in none of the reviews I saw did they mention that emergency hospital visits and long term caretaking were in this book so def check the content warnings if that is something that you are not looking to read about rn
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical trauma
Minor: Cancer, Excrement, and Gaslighting
ontheoffbeat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
"The only good thing this broken heart of mine can feel is love for you."
There are two love stories occurring in The Heart Principle. The first is that of Anna and Quan. The second is Anna's path towards self love. In fact, the journey Anna goes through to love herself is just as, if not more, powerful than her love story with Quan.
Helen Hoang's books always feel like a safe space for her fictional characters as well as her reader. Her characters’ struggles are often real struggles that people can relate to and they are written in such an honest and tender way. Quan, who we have seen as a source of confidence and charisma in past novels, grapples with body image issues after recovering from cancer. The depiction of body issues in men remains to be lackluster in stories so it's a very big step seeing a romantic hero express his personal struggles with his own body image. We also see genuine support and love shared between Quan, his cousin Michael and his brother Khai, both of whom can be considered his closest confidants. When thinking about how masculinity is presented in past fictions (i.e. toxic as all hell) it is uplifting to read about this new form of masculinity where men are emotionally secure and free to express love for himself and his friends/family.
"No one should need a diagnosis in order to be compassionate to themself."
As for Anna, we observe her during a very difficult period. From receiving a late-in-life diagnosis of ASD to becoming a caregiver for her father after a stroke, Anna is going through a tumultuous time in her still young adult life. Building a relationship with Quan becomes the only secure thing she has going for her but maintaining it while also coping with the variety of events in her personal life pushes her towards a difficult metamorphosis. It is painful to read at times but I couldn't be more grateful that this plot exists in a romance novel. It only makes perfect sense that there would be a display of emotional resilience and total support between a couple along with the usual banter, romantic gestures and intimacy scenes.
Speaking of gestures, Quan planting milkweeds on Anna's patio so she can watch the monarch butterflies outside her window is the most romantic thing I have read in a very long time.
The Heart Principle is not your typical romance. In fact, for a genre that relies on formula, this goes completely against that and becomes its own unique story. Some may not like it but I for one am grateful that this book exists.
There are two love stories occurring in The Heart Principle. The first is that of Anna and Quan. The second is Anna's path towards self love. In fact, the journey Anna goes through to love herself is just as, if not more, powerful than her love story with Quan.
Helen Hoang's books always feel like a safe space for her fictional characters as well as her reader. Her characters’ struggles are often real struggles that people can relate to and they are written in such an honest and tender way. Quan, who we have seen as a source of confidence and charisma in past novels, grapples with body image issues after recovering from cancer. The depiction of body issues in men remains to be lackluster in stories so it's a very big step seeing a romantic hero express his personal struggles with his own body image. We also see genuine support and love shared between Quan, his cousin Michael and his brother Khai, both of whom can be considered his closest confidants. When thinking about how masculinity is presented in past fictions (i.e. toxic as all hell) it is uplifting to read about this new form of masculinity where men are emotionally secure and free to express love for himself and his friends/family.
"No one should need a diagnosis in order to be compassionate to themself."
As for Anna, we observe her during a very difficult period. From receiving a late-in-life diagnosis of ASD to becoming a caregiver for her father after a stroke, Anna is going through a tumultuous time in her still young adult life. Building a relationship with Quan becomes the only secure thing she has going for her but maintaining it while also coping with the variety of events in her personal life pushes her towards a difficult metamorphosis. It is painful to read at times but I couldn't be more grateful that this plot exists in a romance novel. It only makes perfect sense that there would be a display of emotional resilience and total support between a couple along with the usual banter, romantic gestures and intimacy scenes.
Speaking of gestures, Quan planting milkweeds on Anna's patio so she can watch the monarch butterflies outside her window is the most romantic thing I have read in a very long time.
The Heart Principle is not your typical romance. In fact, for a genre that relies on formula, this goes completely against that and becomes its own unique story. Some may not like it but I for one am grateful that this book exists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gaslighting
readingforromance's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer
This story center around the stress and trauma from caregiving.