A review by alindeman
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.25

I really like Helen hoang’s books, but I think this is my least favorite of the three. I really enjoyed the romance and I like that it started basically immediately. So much of the plot was about Anna’s personal growth/journey that it kind of overshadowed the romance plot. I also found the main conflict to be really hair-tearingly frustrating. I don’t like watching characters getting walked all over and treated like trash. I understand that it was very important to Anna’s journey tho, but it was still hard to read in terms of how outright depressing and sad it could be at times! Tho I appreciate the discussion of masking and burnout due to masking, which hasn’t really been addressed in her other books! I don’t think it’s a topic many ppl know about so is v important to be discussed.  I also liked that during her burnout, Quan played a supporting role, he didn’t “fix” or “cure” her, just provided support. I liked the sex scenes, especially bc they played an important role in the personal growth of both characters. I found the reconciliation with mom endearing and was REALLY happy that
Anna did not reconcile with Priscilla. She didn’t deserve it and them not reconciling makes an important point that family is NOT more important than your own self respect and mental health and you do NOT have to keep people in your life that treat you like trash, even family
as always I loved the mention of characters we’ve seen and loved before, aka Michael and Khai and a mini Stella shoutout. I love this little autism accepting and loving world Helen Hoang has created in the love quotient universe. I probably would have rated it higher if not for how frustrating and downright painful /enraging it was to get through the conflict to the end. 
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