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meeklovestoread's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really liked "The Kiss Quotient" by this author and it's been a long while since I've read it so I decided to give her other books in the series a shot. Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me. It wasn't terrible persay, I'd still recommend it to people but it wasn't my favorite. There are almost equal amounts of things that I liked and disliked in this book. I liked the Vietnamese culture being integrated into this book as well as the realities of moving to a new country, being an immigrant, not understanding this current new place that you occupy, the struggles of accumulating into an unfamiliar place, and the autism rep of course. Also, I love Quan! He was the highlight of this book. And the conversation Quan, Khai, and Michael (from the Kiss Quotient) had about safe sex, orgasms, first times, etc. It was very informative. I feel like it was a very important chapter considering most romance books just dive into the sex and don't discuss the mechanics. I wish more books would do that.
However, it seems like my dislikes outweigh my likes about this book. Okay, this book is supposed to be a romance between the two characters but in my opinion, there wasn't much chemistry between them. The connection was more sexual than anything else. It would be nice if they had endearing conversations where they got to know each other. For the later half of the book, we see that both Khai and Esme miss each other and long for one another, but we really don't see why. From Esme's perspective, she's not really aware of what autism is so if we're just thinking from her perspective for the most part Khai has treated her horribly. Yes, he can be nice at times and he has shown that he cares for her, but he never takes time to get to KNOW her. I know his intention isn't to hurt her, however, that's what he does constantly in this book. He doesn't fight for her unless he's being told to and that isn't romantic to me. And when we are in Khai's perspective, besides their sexual attraction, we as the reader, don't really understand why he misses her.
Also, I know Khai's autistic (which is fine; it's actually the main reason I read Helen Hoang's books cuz of the representation), but I feel like the autism wasn't expanded on as much as I would've liked it to. From the minimal knowledge that I have, I know that autism is spectrum so not everyone is the same and there are also people called "high functioning" and "low functioning". We know, he has sensory issues and feels that due to his autism, he's not able to convey his feelings and feel "the right things", in turn, he feels like he's unable to love anyone, especially in a romantic way. Which I get, but I wish we got more insight into which part of the spectrum he's on because I feel like the author was using his autism as a reason, but also an excuse for being continuously rude behavior toward Esme.
I understand Khai's insecurities about his ability (or inability according to him) to love. Still, I don't think his insecurities should excuse his inefficient communication skills and subtle emotional immaturity. Like I understand that he's autistic and that he isn't the best at social cues, but my gosh it really got on my nerves how rude he was towards Esme when she was just trying. I feel like if he really liked her he'd be more considerate of her feelings and express why he is the way he is to her so she can understand instead of continuously breaking her heart because he's too insecure to admit that he cares for someone.
Also, I know if it's just me but in terms of the romance, it felt like the side characters were the ones leading it on. Like there would be instances where Khai and Esme aren't speaking for whatever reason and it's up to the side characters to bring them back together. Khai seems to be an actions rather words type of guy which is fine, but it would be nice if he went out of his way to fight for his feelings for Esme more instead of just accepting the fact that he just "can't love". Without these nuances, he just seemed like such a flat character. I wasn't really rooting for them. At times, I wish Esme would just stop fighting for him cuz in my opinion he wasn't worth it. He needed to deal with himself and his insecurities before he started dating. And I wish his family recognized that especially his mother because she's the one that goaded him into his false marriage to begin with (which was lowkey manipulative might I add).
Overall this book was just okay. Like it wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible.
However, it seems like my dislikes outweigh my likes about this book. Okay, this book is supposed to be a romance between the two characters but in my opinion, there wasn't much chemistry between them. The connection was more sexual than anything else. It would be nice if they had endearing conversations where they got to know each other.
Also, I know Khai's autistic (which is fine; it's actually the main reason I read Helen Hoang's books cuz of the representation), but I feel like the autism wasn't expanded on as much as I would've liked it to. From the minimal knowledge that I have, I know that autism is spectrum so not everyone is the same and there are also people called "high functioning" and "low functioning". We know, he has sensory issues and feels that due to his autism, he's not able to convey his feelings and feel "the right things", in turn, he feels like he's unable to love anyone, especially in a romantic way. Which I get, but I wish we got more insight into which part of the spectrum he's on because I feel like the author was using his autism as a reason, but also an excuse for being continuously rude behavior toward Esme.
I understand Khai's insecurities about his ability (or inability according to him) to love. Still, I don't think his insecurities should excuse his inefficient communication skills and subtle emotional immaturity. Like I understand that he's autistic and that he isn't the best at social cues, but my gosh it really got on my nerves how rude he was towards Esme when she was just trying. I feel like if he really liked her he'd be more considerate of her feelings and express why he is the way he is to her so she can understand instead of continuously breaking her heart because he's too insecure to admit that he cares for someone.
Also, I know if it's just me but in terms of the romance, it felt like the side characters were the ones leading it on. Like there would be instances where Khai and Esme aren't speaking for whatever reason and it's up to the side characters to bring them back together. Khai seems to be an actions rather words type of guy which is fine, but it would be nice if he went out of his way to fight for his feelings for Esme more instead of just accepting the fact that he just "can't love". Without these nuances, he just seemed like such a flat character. I wasn't really rooting for them. At times, I wish Esme would just stop fighting for him cuz in my opinion he wasn't worth it. He needed to deal with himself and his insecurities before he started dating. And I wish his family recognized that especially his mother because she's the one that goaded him into his false marriage to begin with (which was lowkey manipulative might I add).
Overall this book was just okay. Like it wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Cursing
Minor: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
saraavowlerr's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Just read The Kiss Quotient and call it a day. Trust me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Sexual content, Car accident, and Cursing
micaelamariem's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
After a month and a half of feeling like everything I read was just okay, I am so happy to have picked up this cute romance. It was what I needed. The Bride Test is technically the second in a romance series by Helen Hoang, but each book can be read as a standalone and isn’t connected to each other.
Helen Hoang lives in California with her family and has always loved romance novels. Her books investigate what it’s like to find love as someone on the autism spectrum, and thus also explore the intersectionality of being Asian-American and autistic.
In The Bride Test, the mom of an autisitc man worries her son will never get married if she doesn’t take matters into her own hands. So, she picks out a girl from Vietnam to come to America and woo Kai. Esme agrees to do this wooing so she can provide a better life for her daughter. But Kai is convinced he doesn’t have feelings and nothing goes to plan.
I absolutley adored this book. There was cute, swoon-worthy fluff, but there were also spicy scenes that made me scared to take the book in public. It was the perfect balance. On top of that, there were also a lot of scenes that made me laugh out loud.
I also loved the agency that Esme had as an immigrant to the United States. Yes she was there to fall in love, but that didn’t stop her from working hard, pursuing her own dreams, and having other plans that didn’t revolve around a man. In a romance, this is rare to see even if it shouldn’t be!
The exploration of Kai’s grief and emotions with him was also a journey I enjoyed, even though it was frusturating at times. I think it also gave me a bit more insight into what someone’s lived experience may be if they are on the spectrum (bearing in mind that it is a spectrum and people’s experiences differ). I knew a bit about Autism but I never really knew the depth it could take to recognize and regulate emotions when living with it.
There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this book–even the epilogue, which is where I find a lot of romances fall short for me, was satisfying. Everything seemed to find a resolution without doing so cheaply or rubbing me the wrong way.
This was a five star read for me, the first in a while! If you’re a romance reader, then I can’t reccomend this enough!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Sexual content, Cursing, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Alcohol and Vomit
hannibanani29's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Classism, Ableism, Medical content, and Cursing
Minor: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, and Alcohol
0701mango's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
Moderate: Sexism, Classism, and Racism
Minor: Ableism
kdailyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Sexual content, Classism, Cursing, and Grief
Minor: Ableism, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
bedtimesandbooks's review
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Abandonment, Classism, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Grief, Sexual content, Xenophobia, and Racism
mypatronusisajedi's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, and Cursing
fromjuliereads's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a cute read! It dealt with some difficult topics and had some really great characters.
I think my main issues were where we didn't get the full extent of the backstory for Khai until the very end - I would have liked that far sooner as the reader. And I tend to not like when there is miscommunication used to drive the plot. I understand how it was integral because they were coming from different situations and there was a complete misunderstanding between them. But my true frustration was in how it was never discussed or dealt with? It felt almost like it just disappeared and didn't have to be discussed at any point which I think is an issue for how Esme thought she was being treated and why...
I think my main issues were where we didn't get the full extent of the backstory for Khai until the very end - I would have liked that far sooner as the reader. And I tend to not like when there is miscommunication used to drive the plot. I understand how it was integral because they were coming from different situations and there was a complete misunderstanding between them. But my true frustration was in how it was never discussed or dealt with? It felt almost like it just disappeared and didn't have to be discussed at any point which I think is an issue for how Esme thought she was being treated and why...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content and Car accident
It's not a car accident, but there is mention of someone dying in a motorcycle accidentalicelalicon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Grief, and Sexual content