Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Heart Principle – L'ipotenusa dell'amore by Helen Hoang

167 reviews

rrubin97's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

This book took a lot out of me to read. It was a struggle to read the rawness of the words and reading the authors afterwards put a lot into perspective about her experiences feeding into the story of the woman on the autistic spectrum learning to stop masking and accept herself

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

quasinaut's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.25

This book captures the toll of caregiving, the pressure of living up to others' expectations, and the value of finding people you can be your authentic self around. That said, there were a few things that didn't work for me. For example, how was Anna able to get by without working for so long? Just... financially, her situation doesn't make sense to me. I've read other books, particularly romances, that skim over these practicalities too, but it felt odd when other harsh realities of life were given such thorough attention in this book. 

A lovely book, though not for those seeking a relaxing, lighthearted romp of a romance.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Medical content

Minor: Vomit and Alcohol

mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

citymouse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense

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

2.0

 

This is nothing I expected it to be. If you want a book about extreme mental roadblocks to standing up for yourself and emotional fatigue, this is the book for you. If you want a romance anything like Hoang's previous books, maybe look for something different or reread the first two in the trilogy because this book is the farthest thing from being romantic, even though there is technically a relationship starting within these pages. It fell flat for me and I needed to skip through entire sections because I was simply bogged down with annoyance and frustration for the situation and choices the main character made. The Heart Principle is an extremely dense book that has you wading through medical trauma, abusive relationships, and a majorly emotionally taxing undertaking.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Racism

jackie_recommends's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

Ok so, first and foremost, this was well worth the wait. 

Secondly, Helen, thank you so much for this book. To me, it was amazing. It deals with some pretty heavy things, and it does it well, and it does it in a way that feels authentic. 

The Kiss Quotient was the first book I had ever read that featured a main character, let alone a heroine, with ASD, and I stayed up past midnight to finish that one. The Bride Test was more difficult for me to love, but upon rereading it I appreciated the culture and the storyline so much more. And now we have Heart Principle, a book that truly feels like it’s Helen’s baby; for those who don’t read author’s notes or acknowledgments, I encourage you to do so for this book, and for Helen’s other two books- they enrich the story and really put everything into perspective. 

This is not a romcom. Not in the slightest. 

But it does feel real.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

sqacedvst's review against another edition

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

akjdkfkf this book is soo good. cute romance + WELL WRITTEN diversity *chefs kiss*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship

kingrosereads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.25

I waited for Quan’s story and this exceeded my expectations. At first, the switch to first person threw me, but after reading the author’s note about the book, it all made sense and gave the book even more meaning. This book was incredible and was more than just love and sex. Way more. It talked about a lot of intense things and what it’s like to get a diagnosis later in life that changes so much for someone as well as dealing with being a caregiver to a loved one and the challenges that come with it (something that isn’t often talked about). I related so much with Anna in more ways than one and really appreciate this book for existing. I love Quan and Anna’s relationship so much, I’m so glad there was a conversation about the aftermath of cancer had on a man, especially one as sexually positive as Quan.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship

bookforestsprite's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent

ghulsona's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted 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

I adored the first 2 books of this series when I read them last year, so I was really excited about picking this one up. Needless to say, Helen Hoang did not disappoint. The change from third-person narration from the previous installments to first-person in this book startled me a bit, but reading the author's note really made me appreciate the decision. The vulnerability in this book made me tear up so many times. This really was a wonderful exploration of mental health and caregiver burnout. My only gripe about this book is that I felt that the romance was a bit rushed, but the main relationship was still very sweet and satisfying to read about. And I understand that Anna's struggles were at the forefront of the book, so I didn't mind it that much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent

kayladaila's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Gaslighting

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Vomit, and Gaslighting