Scan barcode
laszlocravensworth's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CW: cancer, death, mental health, suicide ideation
I am in tears as I write this review. I just finished The Heart Principle and I can absolutely say it is a book that will stick with me for years and years. I really enjoy Helen’s writing and really liked the other two books in this series but this one hit really close to home and that’s why it’s a 5-star read for me. In February 2021 my grandmother came home on hospice and my family dropped everything to take care of her in her last months with us. We wanted to do it, but like shown throughout the book, caregiver burnout is REAL. I’ve carried this extreme guilt over how I felt during that time. I loved my grandmother so much and I would drop everything again to take care of her but the sadness you feel while taking care of someone who is declining is overwhelming. I was constantly exhausted, angry, frustrated and sad. It is HARD taking care of sick loved ones. After her passing, I fell into a deep depression, just like Anna did. Those really really bad thoughts pop up in your head, even if you don’t mean for them to. I didn’t really come out of that depression until a few weeks ago. I’m still extremely sad and angry and frustrated and I feel so alone. But to see this played out for me in a book really showed me that so many people who care for someone go through these same emotions and I was not a bad person for feeling overwhelmed while it was happening. It is really hard to pick yourself up when you are that low, and I love that Anna was able to reconnect with her mother after. I’m so glad she had Quan there for her. It really does help when you have someone by your side.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
jengeraae's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
mishi543's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Very much not what I expected, and a lot sadder than I expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Death of parent
kimveach's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Helen Hoang's books amaze me. Each one is better than the previous one. It is a romance, complete with very hot sex, but there is so much more. Her writing of someone on the Autism spectrum is empathetic and informative. And her description of the hard work and all the emotions of caregiving was some of the best I've seen on the subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent
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!
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!
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
annalisaely's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Own Voices Autistic Review:
I adored the representation and also as with the previous two books the relationships between the characters are so immersive and enjoyable.
I have dealt with autistic burnout myself, am still recovering after 4 years. I also deal with rejection sensitive dysphoria as the main character does, and seeing her go through these things and the affirming way the author handles it is so meaningful to me.
I adored the representation and also as with the previous two books the relationships between the characters are so immersive and enjoyable.
I have dealt with autistic burnout myself, am still recovering after 4 years. I also deal with rejection sensitive dysphoria as the main character does, and seeing her go through these things and the affirming way the author handles it is so meaningful to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
kateflood's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
readandfindout's review against another edition
emotional
4.0
Style/writing: 4 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Themes: 4 stars
Characters: 4.5 stars
Plot: 3 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Ableism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death, Medical trauma, and Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Sexism, and Excrement
Minor: Vomit
levesc17's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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? No
4.0
The first third of this book is the sweet rom com I was expecting— but then the book arcs into something more real, tender, sad, and emotional. I love a good romance novel; but this was more than that. It was an ode to self care versus caring for others, learning limits the hard way, the difficult of setting boundaries, and grief. It was a beautiful book and if you need an emotional release this will surely give it to you. More than any other romance this “happily ever after” is realistic and bitter sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying
kirkland433's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
I've got a lot to say about this book and it's about to be a hot mess as I try to convey my feelings so please excuse this review. (My reviews are mostly for me at the end of the day anyways so its fine.) Also Trigger warnings: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic Family Relationships, Death of Parent, Suicidal thoughts... (covers most but always ask if you have something specific)
This story was just so much and not enough. Not enough in the sense that I wanted more. I didn't want it to end, even as I was crying throughout the second half of this book. You can't not feel while reading this book, especially if you have encountered any of the situations that Anna and Quan were thrown into. Both our main characters are relatable on some level for everyone. They felt so real to me that sometimes I saw Anna as a reflection of myself. Just so many emotions for this book.
I'm starting with Quan because he's the easy one. He's perfect. That's it. He is the example of what good people are. He has recovered from cancer but he is also trying to find himself again. Those kind of life things change you as a person and we got to see him struggle with that. But we also saw how caring and considerate he is for others. He never pushes, even when he doesn't understand someone elses thought process. He is supportive when people need him. He is self sacrificing for the ones he loves. He walks away from things when he knows hes too emotional to handle it so he doesn't hurt another person. I could go on and on. I love him.
Anna. Our frustratingly, sweet but also complicated heroine. Her life has been a struggle. Finding out she is on the autism spectrum late in life throws her for a loop, but it also helps her in eventually finding what she needs to care for herself in the end. The biggest thing that hit me was her relationship with her sister. It's terrible and toxic. Priscilla treats Anna like trash and does it in the name of family. "Only family will tell it to you like it is because we love you." No thank you. Anna's dependency on needing her family's love only makes it worse. WORSE STILL is that Priscilla scoffs at the fact that Anna is now going to therapy AND that there is no way that she is autistic. She goes as far as saying that she is taking away from people who actually are autistic. Fuck you Priscilla. But the thing that made me cry in happiness, Anna at the end performing for people she loves and Priscilla isn't there. When people aren't good for you its ok to cut them out EVEN if its "family". And this all hits home for me. It's all real. Asian families are big on respect and that family is family. I know this. Mine isn't as aggressive as that since we were a split household of half filipino/half white but it still existed. I've been to therapy since I was a freshman in high school for struggling with depression and anxiety of not fitting in, of my sister being the bully, of needing to be good enough so that people will just like me. At some point you realize, those people don't deserve you and you cut them out. For you. To protect you. And I love Anna for that.
BUT I will say, when Anna just let her entire family continue to walk over her, to the point of accepting a proposal that wasn't to Quan IN FRONT of Quan.... boy did I want to slap her. I know that she struggled and has her flaws but that one HURT. My heart broke for both of them even as I was just mad at Anna for even allowing that to happen.
The best part? That Anna wasn't automatically fixed once she started protecting herself. She spiraled, she struggled. And after two years, she is somewhere on the path to being a person she likes. I loved it. And Quan was there for her every step of the way. They found each other and it was perfect. This book was about love but also about Anna's journey. Hoang says this is pretty much her life story and I feel it with her. All the thumbs up for this book.
This story was just so much and not enough. Not enough in the sense that I wanted more. I didn't want it to end, even as I was crying throughout the second half of this book. You can't not feel while reading this book, especially if you have encountered any of the situations that Anna and Quan were thrown into. Both our main characters are relatable on some level for everyone. They felt so real to me that sometimes I saw Anna as a reflection of myself. Just so many emotions for this book.
I'm starting with Quan because he's the easy one. He's perfect. That's it. He is the example of what good people are. He has recovered from cancer but he is also trying to find himself again. Those kind of life things change you as a person and we got to see him struggle with that. But we also saw how caring and considerate he is for others. He never pushes, even when he doesn't understand someone elses thought process. He is supportive when people need him. He is self sacrificing for the ones he loves. He walks away from things when he knows hes too emotional to handle it so he doesn't hurt another person. I could go on and on. I love him.
Anna. Our frustratingly, sweet but also complicated heroine. Her life has been a struggle. Finding out she is on the autism spectrum late in life throws her for a loop, but it also helps her in eventually finding what she needs to care for herself in the end. The biggest thing that hit me was her relationship with her sister. It's terrible and toxic. Priscilla treats Anna like trash and does it in the name of family. "Only family will tell it to you like it is because we love you." No thank you. Anna's dependency on needing her family's love only makes it worse. WORSE STILL is that Priscilla scoffs at the fact that Anna is now going to therapy AND that there is no way that she is autistic. She goes as far as saying that she is taking away from people who actually are autistic. Fuck you Priscilla. But the thing that made me cry in happiness, Anna at the end performing for people she loves and Priscilla isn't there. When people aren't good for you its ok to cut them out EVEN if its "family". And this all hits home for me. It's all real. Asian families are big on respect and that family is family. I know this. Mine isn't as aggressive as that since we were a split household of half filipino/half white but it still existed. I've been to therapy since I was a freshman in high school for struggling with depression and anxiety of not fitting in, of my sister being the bully, of needing to be good enough so that people will just like me. At some point you realize, those people don't deserve you and you cut them out. For you. To protect you. And I love Anna for that.
BUT I will say, when Anna just let her entire family continue to walk over her, to the point of accepting a proposal that wasn't to Quan IN FRONT of Quan.... boy did I want to slap her. I know that she struggled and has her flaws but that one HURT. My heart broke for both of them even as I was just mad at Anna for even allowing that to happen.
The best part? That Anna wasn't automatically fixed once she started protecting herself. She spiraled, she struggled. And after two years, she is somewhere on the path to being a person she likes. I loved it. And Quan was there for her every step of the way. They found each other and it was perfect. This book was about love but also about Anna's journey. Hoang says this is pretty much her life story and I feel it with her. All the thumbs up for this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness