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A review by libvin96
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
2.0
The writing style of Bride Test is a vast improvement from that of Kiss Quotient. There was a much fairer equilibrium between steam and story here, not to mention the cameos from some of the Kiss Quotient characters were Laugh-Out-Loud-And-Concern-The-Neighbors hilarious. Because of this, I was really hoping to give this one a higher rating, however, along with the improvements came new elements that I did not like as much.
Firstly, the premise is just a little too strange to me, even for a fun romance novel. I think if Hoang took more time to flush some things out, it would have worked. For example, if Hoang had spent more time in the exposition describing Esme's sheer desperation to start a better life for her and her daughter, her willingness to do something completely drastic like moving to America to meet a random woman's son and marry him at the drop of a hat, it wouldn't have felt like Esme was just flippantly making this crazed life changing decision she hadn't ever thought of before.
Secondly, are we not going to address how invasive Khai's mother is? It was hard to believe how she orchestrated this blind arrangement for her son living in America in the 2010s, in which a stranger would be residing in his home, without there being some tension about this later on in the novel.
Thirdly, nearly every character in both of these novels has the similar past of a father abandoning them and / or being a criminal. This constant trope repetition really stuck out and started feeling like a force feeding of stale cardboard. The only character it really seemed necessary for was Esme, since in the end finding her father was what allowed her to make her decisions independently at the end of the novel.
Fourthly, the arc of the "secret daughter" felt very, very hastily resolved. Khai finds out about her and immediately accepts it without so much as a blink. No questions asked, nothing about the secrecy, nothing about the baby's father, really? Hoang peppers the novel with constant reminders that Esme's child is a Secret From Khai and it (rightfully) Will Be A Big Deal When He Inevitably Finds Out. But the end of this arc does not get a bow, does not get wrapping paper, it's just carelessly chucked at the Christmas tree on the last few pages. What?!?!
This feels like the meanest review I have ever written on here, so I just want to add that I love the inclusion of Authors Notes in this novel and its predecessor. After a fun rom com ride, Hoang is incredibly vulnerable with us, explaining the important and extremely personal influences that go into her character building. I really love the representation of autistic characters in contemporary romance, and the exploration of how their autism affects their romantic and sexual experiences. Although the sequence of events has a few plot holes, Hoang has a brave and critical voice to offer, and yes, I probably will be picking up The Heart Principle upon release.
Firstly, the premise is just a little too strange to me, even for a fun romance novel. I think if Hoang took more time to flush some things out, it would have worked. For example, if Hoang had spent more time in the exposition describing Esme's sheer desperation to start a better life for her and her daughter, her willingness to do something completely drastic like moving to America to meet a random woman's son and marry him at the drop of a hat, it wouldn't have felt like Esme was just flippantly making this crazed life changing decision she hadn't ever thought of before.
Secondly, are we not going to address how invasive Khai's mother is? It was hard to believe how she orchestrated this blind arrangement for her son living in America in the 2010s, in which a stranger would be residing in his home, without there being some tension about this later on in the novel.
Thirdly, nearly every character in both of these novels has the similar past of a father abandoning them and / or being a criminal. This constant trope repetition really stuck out and started feeling like a force feeding of stale cardboard. The only character it really seemed necessary for was Esme, since in the end finding her father was what allowed her to make her decisions independently at the end of the novel.
Fourthly, the arc of the "secret daughter" felt very, very hastily resolved. Khai finds out about her and immediately accepts it without so much as a blink. No questions asked, nothing about the secrecy, nothing about the baby's father, really? Hoang peppers the novel with constant reminders that Esme's child is a Secret From Khai and it (rightfully) Will Be A Big Deal When He Inevitably Finds Out. But the end of this arc does not get a bow, does not get wrapping paper, it's just carelessly chucked at the Christmas tree on the last few pages. What?!?!
This feels like the meanest review I have ever written on here, so I just want to add that I love the inclusion of Authors Notes in this novel and its predecessor. After a fun rom com ride, Hoang is incredibly vulnerable with us, explaining the important and extremely personal influences that go into her character building. I really love the representation of autistic characters in contemporary romance, and the exploration of how their autism affects their romantic and sexual experiences. Although the sequence of events has a few plot holes, Hoang has a brave and critical voice to offer, and yes, I probably will be picking up The Heart Principle upon release.