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A review by alainajreads
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
I enjoyed the previous two books in Helen Hoang’s Kiss Quotient series, but this one was easily my favorite. Unlike the previous books, it was written in the first person and is the most personal and autobiographical of the three as per the author’s note.
When violinist Anna Sun’s long-term boyfriend tells her he wants an open relationship, she meets Quan Diep through a dating app, and a string of failed one-night stands bring them closer as they build their trust in each other. Newly diagnosed with autism, Anna struggles with burnout that manifests more deeply when tragedy strikes her family and she takes on the role of caretaker for her terminally ill father. As more than just a romance, The Heart Principle is a story about the struggles of caretaking, mental health, and dealing with autistic burnout and pressure from one’s family.
I love Hoang’s writing style and felt drawn to Anna and Quan’s individual stories as they learned to accept themselves and supported each other. As an autistic woman I saw a lot of myself in Anna. Quan and Anna’s romantic and sexual chemistry, communication, and honesty was lovely, and they’re probably my favorite of the 3 couples in the trilogy. I enjoyed seeing Michael and Stella as recurring characters (but wished Khai and Esme had made appearances as well). This was a beautiful, touching, and hopeful end to a heartfelt, romantic series.
When violinist Anna Sun’s long-term boyfriend tells her he wants an open relationship, she meets Quan Diep through a dating app, and a string of failed one-night stands bring them closer as they build their trust in each other. Newly diagnosed with autism, Anna struggles with burnout that manifests more deeply when tragedy strikes her family and she takes on the role of caretaker for her terminally ill father. As more than just a romance, The Heart Principle is a story about the struggles of caretaking, mental health, and dealing with autistic burnout and pressure from one’s family.
I love Hoang’s writing style and felt drawn to Anna and Quan’s individual stories as they learned to accept themselves and supported each other. As an autistic woman I saw a lot of myself in Anna. Quan and Anna’s romantic and sexual chemistry, communication, and honesty was lovely, and they’re probably my favorite of the 3 couples in the trilogy. I enjoyed seeing Michael and Stella as recurring characters (but wished Khai and Esme had made appearances as well). This was a beautiful, touching, and hopeful end to a heartfelt, romantic series.