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chaleyah's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Infertility
binevolentbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Classism
wanderlust_romance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A strong finish to this series! The Heart Principle just barely edged out The Bride Test for that #1 spot when I look back at all three and consider which I enjoyed best. And you know who get's to wear the crown of Consent King? QUAN! Consent between the main characters in this book is consistent throughout the narrative. In comparison to the first two books in the series, The Heart Principle also had the best pacing after the dark/challenging moment between the MC's.
Much of the story here centered on acceptance (both internal and external) and communication. Ana is doing just about everything she can in pursuit of acceptance and validation from her family, her boyfriend, her therapist, etc all to the detriment of herself. This also plays into the way she masks her behaviors as a response to her Autism Spectrum diagnosis. She wants to please everyone and constantly holds herself back and remains silent when it comes to disagreements, which leads to the theme of communication. She's left wondering, "Why is it so hard to say what I really think? Or to just say no?" When it comes to communicating her physical needs to Quan, saying the words is even more challenging. Because if you've never explored what you desire physically, how can you even begin to communicate that to an intimate partner. Quan, like the consent king he is, exudes patience and builds trust with Ana so she is comfortable exploring that side of her sexuality. For his part, Quan also has a character arc centered around acceptance. After an illness changed his physicality, a physical part of himself that is typically associated with "manhood," he is coming to terms with what that means for him in intimate situations and the way it has impacted his future. Layered on top of this is the challenge he faces professionally when it comes to his apparel company's acquisition deal.
Other interesting themes/ideas addressed:
Much of the story here centered on acceptance (both internal and external) and communication. Ana is doing just about everything she can in pursuit of acceptance and validation from her family, her boyfriend, her therapist, etc all to the detriment of herself. This also plays into the way she masks her behaviors as a response to her Autism Spectrum diagnosis. She wants to please everyone and constantly holds herself back and remains silent when it comes to disagreements, which leads to the theme of communication. She's left wondering, "Why is it so hard to say what I really think? Or to just say no?" When it comes to communicating her physical needs to Quan, saying the words is even more challenging. Because if you've never explored what you desire physically, how can you even begin to communicate that to an intimate partner. Quan, like the consent king he is, exudes patience and builds trust with Ana so she is comfortable exploring that side of her sexuality. For his part, Quan also has a character arc centered around acceptance. After an illness changed his physicality, a physical part of himself that is typically associated with "manhood," he is coming to terms with what that means for him in intimate situations and the way it has impacted his future. Layered on top of this is the challenge he faces professionally when it comes to his apparel company's acquisition deal.
Other interesting themes/ideas addressed:
- Sibling relationships in Chinese culture
- Anxiety, grief, and suicidal thoughts
- End of life caretaking
- Assumptions made based on physical appearance
- Internalized ableism
Overall, really happy that I finally read this series. All the books can standalone but are best read in order.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Infertility, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
leximoonbeam'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? It's complicated
5.0
This book absolutely gutted me. I don't have autism but I felt Anna's exhaustion from masking and burnout in my chest, because that is how elegant a writer Helen is. The truth of this book is that there is a line where you have to recognize your own brain and body's limits, or else your brain and body will tell you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
annaonthepage's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Brief mentions of mental ill health and cancer as things the characters have survived so has a hopeful angle. Disablism in the form of scathing dismissal by a family member of a late diagnosis of autism in the protagonist. Slight infantilisation of protagonist throughout, through the voice acting and through the dialogue and action.dsforbus's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Moderate: Ableism, Death, and Death of parent
penn_and_paper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
0live_tr33's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
ghostsversion's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the fact that I wasn’t 100% emotionally invested in the previous one. I feel like Mrs heard me and was like “Oh really? Well here’s an entire book about two people pleasers falling in love and also about how tiring it is to try and be what others want you to be.” Like, ma’am, I’m already dead, stop stomping on me. And maybe I related a bit on the masking autism part but whatever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit
bettysbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
5.0
this was such a perfect ending to this wonderful series !! quan and anna's story is one that i will hold in my heart for a very long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Infertility, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Suicidal thoughts