Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

273 reviews

penn_and_paper's review against another edition

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

5.0


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0live_tr33's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring 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

5.0


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annabananadel's review against another edition

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emotional 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? It's complicated

2.75

“Just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean we need to throw it away.”

Okay this book I definitely forgot was a part of an interconnected stand-alone series. I did read The Kiss Quotient, which I looooove so much and would definitely need a reread. So it was a shock for me and immediately thought - "Hmmmm. This guys sounds familiar."

This book is a quick read but definitely not for me. I don't really love insta-love and this book screams that. I would have loved to see a bit more falling in love or simply just liking one another. Especially for Quan, it was like he just fell so deeply without looking back. One moment they were textmates - then met up - then immediately can't stop thinking about her and would do everything for her. 

I did love the story of Anna (lowkey I forgot we have the same name lol) and her family. It shows how people doubts your condition. It was so hard for her to tell them about her diagnosis so when she actually did tell them, they simply chose not to believe her. I can't relate to her but Helen Hoang wrote it in a way that I felt it with Anna. You really can't blame her for being her because nobody diagnosed you at a young age so you thought what you were doing was the right thing - but the right thing was for you to just be yourself. Helen really wrote this book just to show that and if you want to understand more, this would be a good read. I would read it for the additional knowledge but not for the romance.

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nutmegandselkie's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring 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? It's complicated

3.75


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sas_lk's review against another edition

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

4.25

This was definitely my favourite of the entire series. Anna and Quan felt so real to me, and their problems felt like they were my own, even though I can't really relate much to either.

In this novel, Hoang discusses something that I very rarely see discussed in books and that is being diagnosed and coming to terms with it. Most books I read, the characters usually already have the diagnosis and most people around them know about it already. But in this novel, Anna has no idea in the beginning, and you follow her coming to terms with it and having to "come out" to her family and friends. Big trigger warning for the discreditation of one's own experience and diagnosis.

Hoang also touches on sexual insecurities and coming to terms with your own body and loving it as it is after sickness, as Quan is. 

Helen Hoang is a very good writer and she's been a big part of my understanding of the autism spectrum - specifically autism with low support needs. Although I know that everyone on the autism spectrum is different, Hoang truly makes you feel like you are in their heads, and feeling their emotions.

These topics were so important and I highly recommend this series if you're looking for a romance with heavier topics.

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skbat's review against another edition

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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

5.0


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tibbarasden's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Anna is very different from me, but I connected  so strongly to her struggles. I loved how the author highlighted autism along with family expectations and the struggles of being a caregiver. I really thought all these things combined in a really impactful way. I loved Anna and Quan together. Quan's openness and patience are something I really gravitated to. I also liked how he struggled and had insecurities of his own after his illness and surgery. Even though the romance was not as much on the forefront, I thought the author did a great job incorporating it with the heaviness of the rest of the plot. Definitely check the trigger warnings, but it's a great one to pick up.

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rlpdean's review against another edition

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5.0


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dua_liepard's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

3.5


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kitsuneheart's review against another edition

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emotional 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

5.0


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