Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

229 reviews

takarakei's review against another edition

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

(Reread on audio) MY GOD THIS BOOK!!!! Helen Hoang I am in your walls. 
This is not a lighthearted romance (jail to anyone using that tag here???). Anna deals with a LOT of really hard things throughout the book. But everything that happens, while difficult to read, is handled with such raw realness. Quan is everything and I will protect him bodily forever.

4/5🌶️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Ableism, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Racism

I really don't know why 'cancer' has been tagged because Anna's father is unwell due to

a stroke... There is a lot of caretaker exhaustion. Anna is diagnosed as autistic which especially her sister responds poorly to (telling her she's not). She struggles with masking and the diagnosis due to that response. Anna eventually spirals into a severe depression.

lost_windsock's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book. This book had me so full of feels. I was absolutely furious for Anna. The way her family treated her, and the way she felt trapped in her own mind, unable to say no, was devastating to sit through. I wanted to jump into the pages and shout NO for her! It was truly heartbreaking to see that no one would listen to her. Except Quan. Sweet, loving, caring Quan. What a journey he'd been through between the second book and this one. Quan was always one of my favorite characters, and while his story had a painful tinge in this book, it was still just perfectly him to be there for Anna and learn to trust himself again. This book made me feel so many things, and I just could not have loved it more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

mswarning's review against another edition

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

4.0

This book was pretty different from the two in the series. It's definitely more serious and less.. contemporary romance? Anna's family and her father's in-home hospice care completely take over the book. My heart broke for her, and I can only imagine how difficult it would be stand up for yourself with the pressure/family dynamics like hers.

I really expected Priscilla to have a hand in the deal going sour between MLA and LVMH. I was relieved that Hoang did not take that route with the family backstabbing. In the second book, Quan traveled to New York for work. And then Priscilla works there and has a LV purse. My mind definitely tried to make connections that weren't there.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

jazzclick's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I suppose it was a fine enough romance novel - I was looking for something wholesome but I didn’t see in any descriptions anywhere that it was also full of very explicit frankly pornographic sex scenes. I know that’s what some people are looking for in a romance novel but I really don’t need all that, personally lol. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

cnricochet's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Infertility

Minor: Classism, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

kcrutch's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Cancer

abitbetterbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

I loved this book. It was heart wrenching and painful but also sweet and romantic. The development of Anna and Quan’s relationship over time was well-crafted and felt unbelievably real. My heart broke for the both of them as they struggled to reckon with their own baggage and tried and failed to open up to each other, until they finally did. 

While technically a romance, I think this book is so much more. It dealt with ableism and the crushing weight of expectation to conform to neurotypical standards and familial obligation; the depth of sorrow and grief of caregiving for an ailing family member; the isolation of one’s own mind the barriers to communication; healing from past trauma and trying to see yourself as whole again, trying to be the person you once were again; the constant uphill battle of inadequacy, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and shame; being able to love yourself as much as you love another person; choosing to love a person who allows you to show up as your full, true self. 

I loved this book and tore through it in a matter of days. Definitely my favourite of the trilogy; I hope for more like this from Helen Hoang!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Medical content, Ableism, Cancer, Death of parent, and Mental illness

Minor: Classism and Suicidal thoughts

fromjuliereads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

3.5

This was what I needed in my current reading mood, with the book being fast paced! I had read other reviews that it was a bit different than the first 2 books and it is definitely more serious. For the second half of the book, the romance takes a major back seat. But I did still enjoy it! Mostly because I love Quan's character.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit

Toxic family relationships

loquitacass's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, Medical content, Ableism, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Excrement

Minor: Vomit

annie_tonk's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Grief, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness