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levesc17's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
Helen Hoang is a wonderful writer; the character development is lovely and satisfying. She always leaves me wanting more! This grumpy sunshine romance with a neurodiverse love interest is a quick read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
mypatronusisajedi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, and Car accident
lennie_reads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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
The second book in the trilogy focuses on Michael's cousin Khai, who is autistic, and Esme/Mỹ who comes from Vietnam on request of Khai's mum to try and become Khai's wife. Esme has a daughter who she has to leave with her mum and grandma for the trip, her family are very poor so Esme feels that she can't say no to the offer. Luckily Esme does speak some English but isn't fluent. When in the US, Esme lives in Khai's spare room & works in his mum's restaurant. She does multiple things to try and seduce Khai but then gives up and starts just being herself and the two grow closer.
Ok so I ADORE Esme / Mỹ. She is a fantastic character who has to deal with a LOT. She's a single parent, she's away from her daughter & family, she's in a foreign country, she's mocked for not understanding English and all the while she never gives up hope. I loved Khai but I really feel like this story was about Esme and how she comes to realise her value & worth and what she actually wants to do with her life. Esme is actually inspired by Hoang's mother and you can feel the love and care that has gone into this character.
For Khai there is also a very important storyline of him dealing (or rather not dealing) with a death of someone close to him 10 years earlier, and because of his reaction to that, he feels that he doesn't have the ability to love. I feel like maybe Khai is on the asexual spectrum as well as trying to understand that he may process his feelings differently because he's autistic.
Obviously there is romance and steaminess (after Khai is clued in a bit by his brother Quan and Michael) but this story is about so much more.
I was routing for them both as a couple and as people so hard, and the ending made me so happy.
CW: death, grief, racism, ableism, sexual content
Ok so I ADORE Esme / Mỹ. She is a fantastic character who has to deal with a LOT. She's a single parent, she's away from her daughter & family, she's in a foreign country, she's mocked for not understanding English and all the while she never gives up hope. I loved Khai but I really feel like this story was about Esme and how she comes to realise her value & worth and what she actually wants to do with her life. Esme is actually inspired by Hoang's mother and you can feel the love and care that has gone into this character.
For Khai there is also a very important storyline of him dealing (or rather not dealing) with a death of someone close to him 10 years earlier, and because of his reaction to that, he feels that he doesn't have the ability to love. I feel like maybe Khai is on the asexual spectrum as well as trying to understand that he may process his feelings differently because he's autistic.
Obviously there is romance and steaminess (after Khai is clued in a bit by his brother Quan and Michael) but this story is about so much more.
I was routing for them both as a couple and as people so hard, and the ending made me so happy.
CW: death, grief, racism, ableism, sexual content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Grief, and Car accident
Child death (16 year old) and car accident are in the past and not graphically detailed but still mentioned a few times.roseamillerg's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I loved this book! I read The Kiss Quotient about a month ago, and I wasn’t a big fan but I am SO happy that I gave this book a chance.
I also preferred Esme and Khai’s relationship over Stella and Micheal:)
Less smutty than the first book though😕💀
P. S. Quan is the best. And Jade makes my heart melt🥺
However I did think the thing with Esme’s dad was rushed and not fully executed, (particularly at the end) so not a 5 star read for me
I also preferred Esme and Khai’s relationship over Stella and Micheal:)
Less smutty than the first book though😕💀
P. S. Quan is the best. And Jade makes my heart melt🥺
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Car accident
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Medical content, and Pregnancy