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rachaeloneill's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
annchau1's review against another edition
3.0
Decent for a sequel but it just doesn’t hit the same as The Kiss Quotient
crystaljacksonwriter's review
5.0
I borrowed this book from the local library, but I wanted to thank the author for this lovely read with a review. This is a beautiful love story, and I appreciate the sensitivity around ASD. This is my second read by the author, and I look forward to the next. Definitely a steamy yet sensitive love story!
islandali75's review
4.0
Audio version. Didn't like the voice given to Quan. Made him sound more like a bro and it was offputting.
I like the different autistic perspective. I was very happy to see Khai so different from Stella in The Kiss Quotient, yet in so many aspects, of course, the same.
I like the different autistic perspective. I was very happy to see Khai so different from Stella in The Kiss Quotient, yet in so many aspects, of course, the same.
lizzie_b99's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Classism
lorela's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Helen Hoang for writing the book that engaged me like no book has for quite a while. After a long period of just not enjoying reading or listening to books, forcing myself to finish, often listening at an increased speed just to get through them I have finally listened to a book I truly loved. I laughed and cried and really felt for the characters.
Though anyone looking for a romance would love this book, being or knowing someone neurodivergent will really connect the main male character and if you don't it might help you understand someone who is.
As someone who lives in an area of the country with a large Southeast Asian population and has listened to and learned many of their stories on how they came to America Esme's story really touched me.
I so look forward to reading the other books by this author.
Though anyone looking for a romance would love this book, being or knowing someone neurodivergent will really connect the main male character and if you don't it might help you understand someone who is.
As someone who lives in an area of the country with a large Southeast Asian population and has listened to and learned many of their stories on how they came to America Esme's story really touched me.
I so look forward to reading the other books by this author.
whitcam430's review against another edition
4.0
This was a Book Riot Reader Harder Challenge book and it is way outside my genre. I am not a romance novel fan at all so it is hard trying to out how many stars and how to review. This expanded my reading for just a second. I have not been converted to a romance fan. I liked the story and I appreciated a love sorry perspective of someone on the autism spectrum. I did find most of this to be cringeworthy but I think that is just the genre. I could do without all the quivering, just give me a good story.
suzanne_m's review
3.0
3.5 I guess.
The first 50% I had such a hard time connecting to the characters and making sense of their actions in relation to their stated goals. Also, there were several sections where Esme is doing odd stuff like landscaping with kitchen knives and without a bra. Kai finds it really hot but it's so odd and I don't know what those scenes are supposed to do? Is Esme trying to seduce him? She definitely tries more standard seduction techniques with the stated intent to attract him.
But the weird scenes are only from Kai's POV and are so different how Esme acts in her POV scenes and I just don't understand why? Or what they're supposed to do plot-wise?
It picked up significantly after about 50% and I enjoyed the second half of thr bool much more. Until the ending, which I found too pat. Her dad shows up, Kai confesses his feelings, and meets the daughter Esme has been hiding from him all book in a single page and everyone is cool with everything because, love.
The first 50% I had such a hard time connecting to the characters and making sense of their actions in relation to their stated goals. Also, there were several sections where Esme is doing odd stuff like landscaping with kitchen knives and without a bra. Kai finds it really hot but it's so odd and I don't know what those scenes are supposed to do? Is Esme trying to seduce him? She definitely tries more standard seduction techniques with the stated intent to attract him.
But the weird scenes are only from Kai's POV and are so different how Esme acts in her POV scenes and I just don't understand why? Or what they're supposed to do plot-wise?
It picked up significantly after about 50% and I enjoyed the second half of thr bool much more. Until the ending, which I found too pat. Her dad shows up, Kai confesses his feelings, and meets the daughter Esme has been hiding from him all book in a single page and everyone is cool with everything because, love.
klenarto's review against another edition
4.0
Quick, cute read. I really loved the fact that Esme wasn’t idle and went and took classes to get her GED. It’s refreshing to read about a woman who’s in love AND cares about her education and future in that regard.
juwench's review against another edition
5.0
There is something heartbreaking about this book - my chest was aching half the time I was reading. Perhaps as an immigrant myself, though with a very different story, the theme of being far from family was with me. Perhaps I have just seen Miss Saigon too many times. But this is a delicious treat, but bittersweet to start, and the ride is SO worth it!
This is wonderfully written, plotted, character driven (which I love) but without assumptions about how people think and feel being made - it tells the whole story of the internal lives of the characters in clear detail, and is the better for it. Throughout this series, Helen Hoang has given portraits of three individuals who have neurodivergence in common, but are also entirely unique. This ability, to see the many differences between people, as well as their similarities, is something that feels like a gift to me, both as a mental health advocate, but also as a person who continues to explore and understand my own neurodivergence. The permission to be whole while not being the same implicit in all of these books, and the beautiful message of the romance genre (the reminder that there are people in the world who will love us for our unique selves) - these are sparks of hope and joy that are so needed.
This is wonderfully written, plotted, character driven (which I love) but without assumptions about how people think and feel being made - it tells the whole story of the internal lives of the characters in clear detail, and is the better for it. Throughout this series, Helen Hoang has given portraits of three individuals who have neurodivergence in common, but are also entirely unique. This ability, to see the many differences between people, as well as their similarities, is something that feels like a gift to me, both as a mental health advocate, but also as a person who continues to explore and understand my own neurodivergence. The permission to be whole while not being the same implicit in all of these books, and the beautiful message of the romance genre (the reminder that there are people in the world who will love us for our unique selves) - these are sparks of hope and joy that are so needed.