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A review by realadhdoug
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
4.5
This was definitely one of the most unique Romance stories I’ve ever read, and I also enjoyed the well-crafted characters as well as the little mysteries that are revealed as the plot unfolds. As someone whose partner is autistic, this novel holds personal significance to me so I definitely have a bit of bias. But it really is a cute story with likable characters and a natural flow that makes you want to keep reading.
What I loved most about this story is how honest and explicit the author is about the interpersonal struggles faced by the main character. Of course, the female protagonist is autistic and she seems to wrestle with her sense of self-worth as she interacts with others and contends with the assumptions they have about her. But I also appreciate the issues highlighted in the male protagonist and how they affect his ability to form relationships. The author did a spectacular job at flushing these characters out, and I love how they—in coming to love each other—are able to figure out how to love themselves.
The one thing I found frustrating is the insecurities of the two main characters and their inability to communicate them to each other. The novel would have very little conflict if the characters were just honest about how they felt about each other. Instead, they push each other away because of unnecessary misunderstandings. But I guess that’s fairly standard in a romance novel, and it’s arguably standard in real life relationships, LOL.
One other thing worth mentioning—and it’s personally something I’m indifferent about—is that there are a lot of explicitly detailed sex scenes. So, if you’re into that, you’ll enjoy the juicy details this book has to offer. And even if you’re not—as long as you’re not sex-repulsed—there’s still something intimate and sweet about the more erotic sections that demonstrate a spiritual connection between the characters as they explore each other physically.
All in all, this is not only a great romance but also a heartwarming story. I don’t know how but it somehow makes sense to describe this story as both erotic and wholesome. I highly recommend if you like having your heart stirred, but there’s also a lot of stuff in here if you like to have—um, *other things* stirred.
What I loved most about this story is how honest and explicit the author is about the interpersonal struggles faced by the main character. Of course, the female protagonist is autistic and she seems to wrestle with her sense of self-worth as she interacts with others and contends with the assumptions they have about her. But I also appreciate the issues highlighted in the male protagonist and how they affect his ability to form relationships. The author did a spectacular job at flushing these characters out, and I love how they—in coming to love each other—are able to figure out how to love themselves.
The one thing I found frustrating is the insecurities of the two main characters and their inability to communicate them to each other. The novel would have very little conflict if the characters were just honest about how they felt about each other. Instead, they push each other away because of unnecessary misunderstandings. But I guess that’s fairly standard in a romance novel, and it’s arguably standard in real life relationships, LOL.
One other thing worth mentioning—and it’s personally something I’m indifferent about—is that there are a lot of explicitly detailed sex scenes. So, if you’re into that, you’ll enjoy the juicy details this book has to offer. And even if you’re not—as long as you’re not sex-repulsed—there’s still something intimate and sweet about the more erotic sections that demonstrate a spiritual connection between the characters as they explore each other physically.
All in all, this is not only a great romance but also a heartwarming story. I don’t know how but it somehow makes sense to describe this story as both erotic and wholesome. I highly recommend if you like having your heart stirred, but there’s also a lot of stuff in here if you like to have—um, *other things* stirred.