Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

211 reviews

jessgreads's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.0

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⬜

Title: The Heart Principle

Author: Helen Hoang

Genre: Romance / Contemporary

Setting: California, USA

Month Read: February 2022

Book Type: Hardcover

Publication: 2021

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 339

*February 2022 Book of the Month Pick

TRIGGER WARNING- 

Sex / Death / Burnout / Cancer 

"No one should need a diagnosis in order to be compassionate to themself."

No Spoiler Summary:

The Heart Principle is the third book in The Kiss Quotient series, and we finally get a book about Quan! The story centers on Anna, a violinist, who has semi-recently reached viral fame with a video of her playing violin, and seems to be buckling under the pressure and high standards she sets for herself. As this is happening, her boyfriend announces he'd like to have an open relationship before they settle down, and Anna decides that she's going to use this time to have a one night stand for revenge.

Enter Quan, who is not looking for anything serious, and decides to have some fun with Anna. Except, the one night stand plan keeps failing, and he finds himself enjoying spending time with Anna even with no sex involved. Anna and Quan have a hard time figuring out what they are with each other, but hopefully they can let down their walls and let love find them.

Review (partial spoilers):

I'm such a fan of this book, and I would definitely go so far as to say it was my favorite in the entire series. I empathized with Anna SO much, and being a musician in my own right, I wanted her to beat her burnout, or artistic block so badly and it pained me every time she couldn't get through the piece. I think she was such a lovely character, and found myself rooting for her to find herself, her courage, her artistry, and love the entire novel right from the first page. 

Can I also mention how much I adore Quan? I was in love with him with the snippets we got in the other books, but to finally get a first person POV from this man just gave me everything I could have ever wanted. I loved seeing how absolutely soft he was under his bad boy persona, and I loved how good he was in every way for Anna. I have been honestly getting a bit tired of the third act breakup, but Helen Hoang makes them so perfectly set, that they haven't really bothered me, and they feel so absolutely natural.

If you like romance novels, and want to dive into some that feature neuro-divergent or autistic characters, run to these books. They are so beautiful, and so different, and the characters are so incredibly lovable that I can't say enough good things about them. I'm so happy a discounted E-Book + Book of the Month led me to these novels because I've so enjoyed them the past few months, and cannot wait to see what Helen Hoang writes next! 

"Tough love is brutally honest and hurts you to help you. Tough love cuts you when you're already bruised and berates you when you don't heal faster."

See more reviews at:  https://jessgreads.wixsite.com

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, and Alcohol

uwidinh's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

annakelcey's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting

blackveilbeccy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I liked this book but it was a much heavier read than the other two. I felt the female lead had way more screen time than the male lead and would have liked this a bit better balanced. The family dynamics of the female lead were challenging for me as they were so toxic. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Gaslighting

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Classism

melitta's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

kellyofcali's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

This book was a delight of a romance - the romance itself was wonderful, yes, but so was the wraparound plot and characters, including their fears and anxieties, their neurodiversity, their joy and warmth. A really wonderful and well-written romance novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Death of parent

Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting

Minor: Emotional abuse

tvollman's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense 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

4.0

Great book but devastating to read at times. Loved the main characters, although I wish there was more of Quans perspective and his family. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism

midge_x's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

Helen Hoang writes in a way that is both informative and captivating. I originally picked up the The Love Quotient as someone who loves romcoms and maths and thought “aw this looks cute” but came away wanting more. The Bride Test is no different. Exploring the autism spectrum in such a way that you learn whilst falling in love with the characters. As someone who has close friends on the spectrum, I can wholeheartedly say that this has helped me to understand them even more. Anna and Quan are truly characters to fall in love with and I’ve come away from this booking excited to read more. Maybe sister Vy can be next?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Emotional abuse

internationalreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

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