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shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death, Vomit, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Self harm, Medical content, Car accident, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
hayleyvem's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Car accident, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
sameeha_r05's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Racism and Vomit
ceedy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Vomit
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
However, it seems like my dislikes outweigh my likes about this book. Okay, this book is supposed to be a romance between the two characters but in my opinion, there wasn't much chemistry between them. The connection was more sexual than anything else. It would be nice if they had endearing conversations where they got to know each other.
Also, I know Khai's autistic (which is fine; it's actually the main reason I read Helen Hoang's books cuz of the representation), but I feel like the autism wasn't expanded on as much as I would've liked it to. From the minimal knowledge that I have, I know that autism is spectrum so not everyone is the same and there are also people called "high functioning" and "low functioning". We know, he has sensory issues and feels that due to his autism, he's not able to convey his feelings and feel "the right things", in turn, he feels like he's unable to love anyone, especially in a romantic way. Which I get, but I wish we got more insight into which part of the spectrum he's on because I feel like the author was using his autism as a reason, but also an excuse for being continuously rude behavior toward Esme.
I understand Khai's insecurities about his ability (or inability according to him) to love. Still, I don't think his insecurities should excuse his inefficient communication skills and subtle emotional immaturity. Like I understand that he's autistic and that he isn't the best at social cues, but my gosh it really got on my nerves how rude he was towards Esme when she was just trying. I feel like if he really liked her he'd be more considerate of her feelings and express why he is the way he is to her so she can understand instead of continuously breaking her heart because he's too insecure to admit that he cares for someone.
Also, I know if it's just me but in terms of the romance, it felt like the side characters were the ones leading it on. Like there would be instances where Khai and Esme aren't speaking for whatever reason and it's up to the side characters to bring them back together. Khai seems to be an actions rather words type of guy which is fine, but it would be nice if he went out of his way to fight for his feelings for Esme more instead of just accepting the fact that he just "can't love". Without these nuances, he just seemed like such a flat character. I wasn't really rooting for them. At times, I wish Esme would just stop fighting for him cuz in my opinion he wasn't worth it. He needed to deal with himself and his insecurities before he started dating. And I wish his family recognized that especially his mother because she's the one that goaded him into his false marriage to begin with (which was lowkey manipulative might I add).
Overall this book was just okay. Like it wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Death
Minor: Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Abandonment
zoiejanelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
i do not read romance books often (i am trying to read more this year!) so the writing style and the ridiculous premise was off-putting at first… but once i accepted the plot and each character at face-value, i was hooked.
i have never read a contemporary/non-fantasy with Vietnamese characters and the subtle inclusion of authentic Vietnamese traditions and family dynamics was very interesting. it was so lovely to see a cast of characters that weren’t cookie cutter white bread with values that reflect those of Vietnamese people in current day. i feel like i truly learned something about the immigrant experience and about Vietnamese culture!
this story had the perfect amount of will-they-won’t-they moments, didn’t make me wait a painstakingly long time for romantic/sexual payoff, and had a happy ending. the pacing in the first 3/4 was perfect, but the timeline of events for the last ~3 weeks of the novel felt slightly rushed. the exposition introduced very intriguing sub-plots so, understandably, each one needed to be addressed and closed before the book ended. overall i liked how each sub-plot was handled and the epilogue was adorable icing on the cake.
i was generally pleased with the neurodivergent/autistic representation, though at times i felt like Khai was infantilized by other characters (could have been intentional by the author?). occasionally it felt like his absurd choices and opinions were attributed to his autism rather than him simply being an adult human man. all this to say, it was cool to see an nd person as a lead love interest and read how trauma informed his decisions and feelings differently than Esme’s. and his idiocy about love would have been believable had he not been autistic because… he is an adult
human man.
EDITED TO ADD: i just read that Helen Hoang & her daughter are both autistic! which makes me appreciate the representation much more and i now understand that she was drawing on personal experience for Khai’s characterization.
though Esme is coded as neurotypical, in my head Khai and Esme are the perfect autistic/ADHD couple. she totally brings that high energy, anxious, leave-half-empty-cups-around-the-house, and start-a-new-house-project-every-day energy that was very relatable to me.
wrt tge sex scenes: like i said, i don’t read romance much. i was not into the manly/carnal/feral descriptions from Khai’s POV, but maybe i’m not the right audience for it. 🤪 i did love that he was an… ahem… enthusiastic learner and that consent was very important to him. Esme’s POV the entire book was equally as entertaining, though i’m also not a fan of the “i’m so tiny and he’s so big!” internal voice. part of me wishes she had been described as thicker, softer, wider, or rounder seeing as she is a mother (MILF), but i understand why she wasn’t. kind of.
DESPITE my criticism, this was a thrill and a half. i really enjoyed the feel-good energy and the epic highs and lows. it was so fun to read (listen to) and i definitely want to check out Helen Hoang’s other books!
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Deportation
micaelamariem's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
mehezz's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Vomit
embla_v's review against another edition
4.5
Khai har autism och är övertygad om att han inte har några känslor, inga viktiga känslor iallafall. Hans mamma blir ytterst frustrerad av detta och tar saken i egna händer. Hon ska välja en brud till sin son.
Esmeralda får ett förvånande erbjudande från en mystisk kvinna som är för bra för att säga nej till. Esme får spendera en hel sommar i USA och kanske kan hon förföra en Khai till att gifta sig med henne.
Inget går dock som någon av de tänkt sig och deras relation åker bergochdalbana, men kommer åkturen stanna på marken eller fortsätta upp mot himlen?
Oerhört rolig, underhållande och intressant bok med mycket åsikter, känslor, förvirring och förälskelse. Boken har spice, 18+. Rekommenderar starkt till den som vill ha en underhållande bok med en romans som tar många svängar.
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism, and Deportation
lucielockettreads's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Vomit and Car accident