A review by fairytales
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Mixed feelings on this one. I appreciated the Asian and autistic representation. I loved that those were a major focus of the book and the writing was solid. However, I felt the author could have done more to make it clear that seeing autism as a failing is incorrect and have more characters who truly supported, understood and embraced Stella’s identity would have helped. I think maybe the book adding a friend or family member outside of Stella’s parents might have helped.

While at times Michael supported Stella and what she needed, there were also times when he ignored her preferences or told her she would like something and magically it was fine because he was him. 

I also really detested that the author did not address the clear workplace sexual harassment that Stella experienced with Philip or at any point mention that she could complain about him given that she said no and he violated that multiple times including in the workplace. Rather than having Stella or Michael address that, they went the violence/fight route which was inappropriate. It infuriated me that Philip moved on to continue his workplace harassment and that was somehow viewed as okay and not even ever acknowledged as harassment. I’m coming to learn that sexual misconduct or harassment in the workplace without consequences, while I know it happens quite often, is something that truly upsets me in books particularly in romance books where part of the genre is a happy ending.
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