Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

141 reviews

lost_windsock's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book. This book had me so full of feels. I was absolutely furious for Anna. The way her family treated her, and the way she felt trapped in her own mind, unable to say no, was devastating to sit through. I wanted to jump into the pages and shout NO for her! It was truly heartbreaking to see that no one would listen to her. Except Quan. Sweet, loving, caring Quan. What a journey he'd been through between the second book and this one. Quan was always one of my favorite characters, and while his story had a painful tinge in this book, it was still just perfectly him to be there for Anna and learn to trust himself again. This book made me feel so many things, and I just could not have loved it more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

mswarning's review against another edition

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

4.0

This book was pretty different from the two in the series. It's definitely more serious and less.. contemporary romance? Anna's family and her father's in-home hospice care completely take over the book. My heart broke for her, and I can only imagine how difficult it would be stand up for yourself with the pressure/family dynamics like hers.

I really expected Priscilla to have a hand in the deal going sour between MLA and LVMH. I was relieved that Hoang did not take that route with the family backstabbing. In the second book, Quan traveled to New York for work. And then Priscilla works there and has a LV purse. My mind definitely tried to make connections that weren't there.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

cnricochet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Infertility

Minor: Classism, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

kirareadssometimes's review

challenging emotional inspiring reflective 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

4.5

While I really enjoyed this book I feel a bit disappointed that sweet, happy, kind Quan got such a sad book. I know the book was more focused on Anna but I just want the best for that perfect man. As someone who struggles with their mental health I hope that one day I can find someone who is as gentle and steadfast a partner as Quan. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, and Sexual content

Moderate: Classism, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Infertility

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

hunkydory's review

emotional inspiring sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Ableism

hanreads__'s review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Cursing, and Mental illness

slavic_bookworm's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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

Once again Hoang doesn’t disappoint! And there she goes, onto my too favorite authors list. I am just sad that there is no more books of hers I can read. She is a brilliant romance author.

Now onto this book. There were moments where Anna made me a little frustrated, but I do not struggle with the same mental issues as she did and I think that frustration that I felt made me a little closer to the main character since clearly that is what she felt a lot of the time. This book deals with a lot of triggers so be sure to be in a good mind set when reading this book. Now onto Quan. Quan,Quan,Quan. Life would be so much better if everyone had a Quan in their life. Hell, I wish my husband could take a couple lessons from him in dealing with people with compassion and understanding like he does. Wow! This is definitely a make me feel good book, especially for someone that does deal with mental health issues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders

bdean1721's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

doubletherazzle's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

Initial review immediately after finishing: 

I’m not quite sure what to say beyond I found this book beautiful. The raw depiction of the characters’ struggles resonates with me. There are heavy themes, but they are treated both with honesty and with hope. Enjoyable, sweet, romantic. 

Additional review thoughts:

The last couple of chapters did feel rushed and was lacking Quan’s perspective, which I would’ve appreciated. I’m also realizing, after coming out my emotions for Anna’s arch, that I don’t feel like Quan really got the resolution to his insecurities and challenges in the way his character really deserves. Maybe I just needed the book to be a bit longer so it could bring both of them to a healthy resolution of their character development and get the “happily ever after” vibe. That being said, I still stand by my initial feels. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Ableism

Moderate: Infertility, Grief, Cancer, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

amissabellator's review

challenging emotional funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Grief, Ableism, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol, Body shaming, and Medical content

The text follows Anna Sun - a woman who is diagnosed with autism with low-support needs - (and, to a lesser extent, Quan Diep - a man who has recently overcome personal illness (

testicular cancer

)) as they fall in love. This includes graphic depictions of sex and sex acts, in line with the previous installments in the series. However, this story also includes a family medical emergency storyline (

father is rendered immobile and requires full-care after a stroke

) and goes into detail about burnout, toxic families, and mental health struggles. It also talks about expectations, both physically (

Quan suffers anxiety about his genitals following his cancer surgeries

) and emotionally (

Anna is repeatedly misled/gaslighted about her life and her autism symptoms

).