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xxrosedarlingxx's review
challenging
emotional
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
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
abby_shupe's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I now worship Helen Hoang. I basically could end this review here, because everything about this book was perfect - no complaints.
I did find the two main characters unlikable at first, I was asking myself if I could even imagine them together but boy was I wrong.
Everything from the relationship, to the twists in the plot, to every character, was so well done, and I even see improvements in Hoang’s writing since The Kiss Quotient; Which got five stars from me.
I LOVED that we got to see Stella and Micheal’s wedding, I really enjoyed getting another snippet of their relationship. And by far my favorite character in both books has been Quân, so I’m incredibly happy I get to read his book after I finish this review!
Relating to why I liked this so much was the uniqueness of the relationship origins. I’m used to reading a lot of enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, rivals to lovers, et cetera, romance; But this was different and I loved it. I don’t really know how to categorize the start of Khai and Esme’s relationship but I guess arranged marriage? Anyways it was a trope I haven’t really come across before and I gobbled it up.
The only possible critique I have is that the ending was severely rushed, I think 3 plot twists for the MCs were introduced in one page. I personally liked that but because this book was short and sweet, I also wouldn’t have minded if it was slowed a bit.
The epilogue was written beautifully as always, and I highly recommend this book!
I did find the two main characters unlikable at first, I was asking myself if I could even imagine them together but boy was I wrong.
Everything from the relationship, to the twists in the plot, to every character, was so well done, and I even see improvements in Hoang’s writing since The Kiss Quotient; Which got five stars from me.
I LOVED that we got to see Stella and Micheal’s wedding, I really enjoyed getting another snippet of their relationship. And by far my favorite character in both books has been Quân, so I’m incredibly happy I get to read his book after I finish this review!
Relating to why I liked this so much was the uniqueness of the relationship origins. I’m used to reading a lot of enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, rivals to lovers, et cetera, romance; But this was different and I loved it. I don’t really know how to categorize the start of Khai and Esme’s relationship but I guess arranged marriage? Anyways it was a trope I haven’t really come across before and I gobbled it up.
The only possible critique I have is that the ending was severely rushed, I think 3 plot twists for the MCs were introduced in one page. I personally liked that but because this book was short and sweet, I also wouldn’t have minded if it was slowed a bit.
The epilogue was written beautifully as always, and I highly recommend this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
jkiranjot's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Car accident and Racism
reasalic's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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: Sexual content
Minor: Racism
kenziewol's review
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Racism, and Death
Minor: Car accident and Abandonment
k_tiches's review
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Vomit, Xenophobia, and Racism
rachelreadthese's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am such a fan of Helen Hoang. It's rare to find a well-written romance that features a main character with a disability, but she's done it twice now! The Kiss Quotients centers around Stella, a woman with autism, and her love interest, Michael. The Bride Test follows Michael's cousin Khai, who is also autistic.
Both books are full of humor, romance, and STEAM. 🔥🔥🔥 They're fun, and I love that the subplots add layers to the story, rather than feeling like an afterthought. This one had a fantastic ending, too. ❤️
Both books are full of humor, romance, and STEAM. 🔥🔥🔥 They're fun, and I love that the subplots add layers to the story, rather than feeling like an afterthought. This one had a fantastic ending, too. ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Racism and Death
annalisaely's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn't enjoy it quite as much as The Kiss Quotient, but that's a hard book to live up to. I loved getting to know the characters and seeing them work through their issues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Sexism, and Racism
The way Kai's mother treats him is very aphobic (hurtful to aromantic or asexual people) and isn't really addressed because Kai happens not to be aspec, but it would have been really nice if the author had at least briefly brought up that some people don't want those types of relationships for reasons other than trauma and that those people are valid.annalisaely's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn't love it as much as The Kiss Quotient, but that was one of my favorite books ever, so it's a lot to live up to. I loved getting to know Kai better and seeing what's going on with him, even though the whole aphobic mother pushing a relationship on her son thing irritated me a lot, I think it's supposed to, so it didn't stop me shipping the couple. I loved reading the author's note and learning how much her mother helped shape Esme's character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Racism
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