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A review by emiliereads2000
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Bride Test was an interesting read for me, especially since I’m not usually into romance novels. The sexy descriptions felt a bit heavy-handed, particularly when characters are portrayed as overly beautiful or sexy from the start. While I understand this was done to show how Khai could still love and be attracted to others despite his autism, it just didn’t sit well with me.
On the other hand, I really liked Esme/My as a character. She’s strong, resilient, loving, and funny, showing that education isn’t the only thing that makes someone worthy of opportunities. I have mixed feelings about non-Western characters adopting Western names in books; I get it’s about assimilation, but keeping their original names could add so much to their heritage pride, especially in a fictional context.
The setup of the story is classic romance genre—comical and a bit outlandish, like a mother choosing a bathroom cleaner from Vietnam for her son to marry, and the almost-wedding to Quan at the end, which prompts Khai to realize he is jealous and loves Esme. Add in the grief aspect with Andy’s death, and it’s an emotional rollercoaster.
As for the dual perspective in romance, it’s not something I usually read. While it’s nice to see both sides and watch a man yearn, it also removes some of the mystery and tension for me. That said, I think it’s great that the author aimed to write a romance featuring an autistic character. It’s important to see such representation in popular fiction, especially to counter negative stereotypes.
Overall, I liked the book enough (it was a gift), but it didn’t change my mind about reading more romance in the future.