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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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
emotional
lighthearted
★☆ // i was initially into this thinking that it would be a quirky, new adult book and it did start as something pretty interesting. but then it got a bit muddled in the middle then ultimately sputtered out with typical romcom-y resolutions. there were so many things that could have been discussed regarding Stella—a woman with Asperger’s and how she navigates an emotion-filled and oftentimes irrational field of love when her brain and life follows rules and logic down to a tee. there was Michael who is an escort—a considered taboo profession that is frowned upon by the society, which could have been used to discuss filial piety in Asian households. somehow these huge chunks of what make them interesting characters and what should complete the story are relegated to the the background as some sort of minor obstacles in love that could apparently be solved by... courting? what. there’s just so much potential but obviously this writer was not interested in the economics of these circumstances. the end result is a letdown, and frankly i want my hours back.
”This crusade to fix herself was ending right now. She wasn't broken. She saw and interacted with the world in a different way, but that was her. She could change her actions, change her words, change her appearance, but she couldn't change the root of herself. At her core, she would always be autistic. People called it a disorder, but it didn't feel like one. To her, it was simply the way she was.”
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
I wanted to like this book. But something about gave me ick. I suppose it bothers me that there was an insta love situation which puts FMC's autism as the main source of conflict that I found distasteful. Moreover the portrayal of FMC's family felt unauthentic and plot induced. While sex is a large part of romance I didn't appreciate that the premise of the book and the presumably main conflict is that FMC must have sex to please her mother. Which is a problem because she's autistic. Like ... why is that the first conflict presented? Anyway I had too much ick so I DNF.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
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:
Yes
“I don't want just a night or a week or a month with you. I want you all the time. I like you better than calculus, and math is the only thing that unites the universe.” - Helen Hoang.
Complex algorithms and maths equations are no challenge to Stella Lane, the successful econometrician. Relentlessly working long hours at an economics firm, this has left her immensely wealthy but with less dating experience than your usual thirty-year-old. Diagnosed with autism, Stella struggles with socialising, and more significantly, sex. This leads her to hire Michael, a simply stunning escort, to teach her the ins and outs of sex. As their practice sessions quickly become part of Stella’s routine, they get to know each other more intimately in more ways than one would expect… A subversive homage to Pretty Woman, this is a heartwarming, empowering, and delightfully sexy romance between a pair of unsuspecting singles.
This was a great debut novel! The author accurately captured the autistic experience for women. Helen Hoang’s approach to Stella’s special interest was precise. It was wonderful how she weaved it in consistently throughout the novel. Stella was brimming with passion! Her reliance on routine was depicted realistically, whilst the portrayals of overstimulation were strikingly vivid. Hoang’s attention to detail was impressive! As an autistic Asian woman, I felt that Stella’s thought processes were similar to mine. This is unsurprising as the author herself is autistic. With a Vietnamese-Swedish love interest, the Asian representation was brilliant too. Hoang convincingly crafts Asian families, and the descriptions of Vietnamese food were so comforting to read.
The plot was okay, rather predictable, but Hoang curated a satisfying balance between profound struggle, sensuality, and cute romance. Additionally, the characterisation made up for the obvious plot. The main characters were an absolute delight and wonderfully human, which was largely due to Hoang’s effective dialogue. Michael’s backstory, flaws, and character development are convincing; I grew fond of him. As an Asian, his unfaltering dedication to his family was moving. However, I do wish he had mentioned his poor relationship with his father less. In many instances, Hoang fell into ‘telling rather than showing’ his father’s character, which was unnecessary as the emotional impacts of his absence are made obvious through his flawed actions and developing attitudes to love.
Likewise, the steamy scenes made up for the unexciting plot. Some autistic women merge emotional intimacy with sexual intimacy, which was sharply portrayed, and elevated the romance throughout. From their first sexual encounter, a great deal of tenderness permeated Michael and Stella’s relationship. There were more sex scenes than your usual romance novel, but many reviews exaggerate how much smut there is. My main issue was the idealised descriptions of their bodies. Michael’s perfect abs and Stella’s flat belly created distance between the characters and the readers. The adherence to Western beauty standards, paired with personal insecurity, is why I avoid the majority of modern romance novels.
I wasn’t thrilled to read the chapters from Michael’s perspective, as he was prone to commenting on Stella’s body when it was not needed. I generally dislike male perspectives in romance novels as I prefer to be solely immersed in one narrative. Michael often opens up enough to Stella from her viewpoint, rendering his chapters dispensable.
Though the literature student in me struggles to reconcile with certain aspects of this novel, I adored this book on a personal level. The thoughtful autistic and Asian representation resonated deeply with me. As I read, I giggled and blushed more than I’d like to admit. It was a lovely way to kickstart a sunny weekend. If you need a sultry but light-hearted romance for the summer, this is the book for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Addiction
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
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:
Complicated