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A review by skupdawg426
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The book and story were just ok. It made a lot more sense once I read the author's note what she was going for, but I don't think it was successful.
The gender-swapped "Pretty Woman" plot was totally lost here, because the book didn't focus enough on him, and crucially, he didn't need to go through any social refinement to "fit in" to upperclass society. While you claim that's the punchline, he spends a lot of the book feeling sorry for himself and doesn't really have the necessary character arc of personal betterment to achieve the plot (even if he doesn't have to change, Stella should be showing him how he's good enough...this does not happen to a significant enough degree).
I am all for representation and own-voice stories, but the author seemed to use Stella's autism as a plot device - not a genuine dimension of her character. There was also a heavy does of "tell" instead of "show".
I really liked how Michael insisted on consent...until he didn't (most upsettingly, the bathroom scene after the incident with Philip).
The dirty talk also was weird to me and the writing of the sex scenes was not particularly good or satisfying, though that's more a matter of personal taste than literary criticism.
In all, I don't feel like we earned our HEA. It was just handed to us because that's the romance novel formula. There wasn't enough conflict (especially external conflict) to keep it interesting or make you root for them.
P.S. I hope Michael gets some therapy.
The gender-swapped "Pretty Woman" plot was totally lost here, because the book didn't focus enough on him, and crucially, he didn't need to go through any social refinement to "fit in" to upperclass society. While you claim that's the punchline, he spends a lot of the book feeling sorry for himself and doesn't really have the necessary character arc of personal betterment to achieve the plot (even if he doesn't have to change, Stella should be showing him how he's good enough...this does not happen to a significant enough degree).
I am all for representation and own-voice stories, but the author seemed to use Stella's autism as a plot device - not a genuine dimension of her character. There was also a heavy does of "tell" instead of "show".
I really liked how Michael insisted on consent...until he didn't (most upsettingly, the bathroom scene after the incident with Philip).
The dirty talk also was weird to me and the writing of the sex scenes was not particularly good or satisfying, though that's more a matter of personal taste than literary criticism.
In all, I don't feel like we earned our HEA. It was just handed to us because that's the romance novel formula. There wasn't enough conflict (especially external conflict) to keep it interesting or make you root for them.
P.S. I hope Michael gets some therapy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault