Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

57 reviews

zeenatpatel01's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

chloeeereads's review

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I’m not even sure I can adequately express just how much I loved this book or how validated and seen it made me feel. 

It is definitely not a light and fluffy romance, but an incredibly powerful story covering themes of physical and mental illness, depression, anxiety, suicidality, family conflict, sacrifice, unconditional love, and learning to speak up for what you want and who you love. 

Anna is on the autism spectrum (which she learns during the course of the story) and is constantly analysing others and the situation in order to determine how to respond. She can’t say no, she doesn’t want to let people down, and she doesn’t know how to stick up for herself. While I’m not on the spectrum, I related to Anna’s experiences so much - her constant anxiety and need to be perfect, her unbearable need to please, and the constant worry about what others think. 

Then there’s Quan, still recovering from a physical surgery and dealing with feeling like he is less of a man, he is kind and understanding and wants what is best for others. The relationship between Anna and Quan was literally incredible. I loved how patient and tender they were with each other, and you could really tell how much they meant to the other. There are other characters that you HATE, but I also found them quite realistic. I also loved seeing more of Michael in this book, as well as some nods to Stella and Khai.

The thing that really got me about this story was the caring aspect, when Anna and her family are required to care for their ill father. If you have ever been a carer of someone with a mental or physical illness, you will relate to Anna’s experience - the burnout, the guilt, the lack of boundaries, and the mental and physical consequences for caring for someone else to your own detriment. The authors note also brought this home for me. 

I honestly could not recommend this book enough. You’ll laugh, blush, cheer and cry. It’s wonderful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

noooor_'s review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-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: Chronic illness and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness

jenniferlynn43's review

3.0

Something was just missing for me with this book. I'm not sure if the romance was the focal point and I felt that the ending was very rushed. I loved this series and I was so excited for Quan's book but I felt a little let down after reading it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Bullying

livslittlelibraryy's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

readingunderthecovers's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

I love Helen Hoang. She might be my favorite romance author. The Heart Principle had all the best parts of Hoang’s writing. It was emotional without being dramatic, lighthearted enough to make me laugh, and had the sweetest romance. The Heart Principle had slightly darker themes than either The Kiss Quotient or The Bride Test so check the content warnings if you are concerned.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Early in the book Anna has a panic attack. Her sister is emotionally abusive to her and gaslights her at least one time.

Midway through the book Anna's father suffers a huge stroke and is confined to bed/severally disabled for the rest of the book before passing away. Her father does not enjoy the process of being kept alive but her family cannot let you. The whole thing is very hard on Anna who has suicidal thoughts after her father passes.

mintcheoco's review

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infertility

hafsahrai's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Mental illness, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Cursing

arbyreads's review

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Death of parent

Moderate: Medical trauma and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Cancer, Excrement, and Gaslighting

jerusha's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-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: Bullying, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Infertility, Death of parent, and Body shaming