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amris's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
jessthanthree's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Grief, Abandonment, and Classism
wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Book 2 in the Kiss Quotient series. Could this one standalone? YES. If you are reading this as a series, there is a more developed arc for character growth. In comparison to book 1, The Kiss Quotient, I liked The Bride Test more.
Kai and Esme both hold on to deep seeded insecurities and doubts. Kai in relation to his autism and emotive capacity; Esme in relation to her lack of financial security, education, and ability to provide for her daughter. Both main characters struggle with these internal conflicts while also grappling with the courage to admit these doubts to one another (ie. miscommunication is at play here). But it makes sense within the context of the plot and how the characters interact and understand one another - especially when you consider some of the cultural and language challenges at play. This was a truly charming romance centered around interesting and nuanced main characters with a believable HEA.
Similar to book 1, I found the end resolution slightly rushed in terms of pace even if it did tie up all the open plot lines.
Tropes/Themes/Elements I Enjoyed:
Kai and Esme both hold on to deep seeded insecurities and doubts. Kai in relation to his autism and emotive capacity; Esme in relation to her lack of financial security, education, and ability to provide for her daughter. Both main characters struggle with these internal conflicts while also grappling with the courage to admit these doubts to one another (ie. miscommunication is at play here). But it makes sense within the context of the plot and how the characters interact and understand one another - especially when you consider some of the cultural and language challenges at play. This was a truly charming romance centered around interesting and nuanced main characters with a believable HEA.
Similar to book 1, I found the end resolution slightly rushed in terms of pace even if it did tie up all the open plot lines.
Tropes/Themes/Elements I Enjoyed:
- Vietnamese MCs
- Set in northern California (Bay Area-ish)
- Close proximity (roommates)
- Single mom
- Neurodiverse MMC (autism)
- He's a virgin ;)
- Arranged marriage / mail order bride plot line
- Immigration and economic differences
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident
m_a_j's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Pregnancy
ghostsversion's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Yay my first book of the month! Honestly I thought this was really cute. I mean, sure, it was a bit too horny at first, but who wouldn’t be after abstaining from sex your whole life and then BAM ya got somebody who is full on seducing you. Bro didn’t stand a chance. However, I just feel like I didn’t fully connect with it or like it was just lacking something. Like, I don’t know, for all that Esme was like “Oh no how am I going to tell him about my daughter what will he think of me?”, I felt like it was maybe a bit too quickly resolved? I mean, obviously there were other issues at hand but still.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Grief
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Vomit, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Self harm, Medical content, Car accident, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
sabrinaleaf's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Kai talked way too much about his hard dick 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
felishacb's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Deportation
overthinkereading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“Everyone deserved to love and be loved back. Everyone.”
I adored this romance highlighting Khai, who we briefly met in The Kiss Quotient (where we learned he is autistic), and My/Esme, who travels from Vietnam to the U.S. to become his spouse.
While the story has some of my favorite tropes (fake relationship, forced proximity, one bed), it simply became a favorite as we witness deep, accepting love blossom between these two people who are each struggling in their own way. The representation of Khai’s challenges with identifying emotion and Esme’s struggles as an immigrant woman from difficult circumstances were especially moving.
Recommend to readers looking for: open door romance, Own Voices representation (neurodivergence and AAPI), and HEA
I adored this romance highlighting Khai, who we briefly met in The Kiss Quotient (where we learned he is autistic), and My/Esme, who travels from Vietnam to the U.S. to become his spouse.
While the story has some of my favorite tropes (fake relationship, forced proximity, one bed), it simply became a favorite as we witness deep, accepting love blossom between these two people who are each struggling in their own way. The representation of Khai’s challenges with identifying emotion and Esme’s struggles as an immigrant woman from difficult circumstances were especially moving.
Recommend to readers looking for: open door romance, Own Voices representation (neurodivergence and AAPI), and HEA
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief and Car accident
janaya's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content