Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - The Heart Principle

Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

158 reviews

dua_liepard's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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

3.5

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gabbatron_'s review against another edition

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I DNF’d this at 72%, I just really think it should’ve have come with some trigger warnings. I thought this was gonna be a fun cute romance and it was in fact the opposite

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maika's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful sad

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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meeklovestoread's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I read this book about two months ago so I quite frankly don't remember much. I do recall liking this slightly better than "The Bride Test" so I rated it a 3.75 (but part of me wanted to rate it a 3.5/5). I honestly wasn't going to pick this up, but I really enjoyed Quan in the last book so I was excited to read his love story. Now, I just want to warn people that if you're going into this thinking that it will be a rom-com, DON'T! I feel like this should've been marketed as "women's fiction" with a romance subplot rather than a romance. If it was, I probably would've rated it higher. The romance was going for the first part of the book, but after the second part, the romance takes a major backseat. This would've been a nice women's fiction book that tackles depression, people pleasing, cultural expectations, autism, and sibling relations

Her mom and sister were awful!

, coming into your sexual desires, and the struggles of being of a caregiver (especially for family). I really enjoyed Anna as a character, but I think she kinda sucked when it came to being a love interest.

I applaud Quan's patience because it couldn't be me. I forgot the scene specifically but there was a time in the book when her people-pleasing went too far. I think her ex announces to their entire family that they're engaged and she just goes along with it. And doesn't correct them. Then Quan finds out and honestly, if I were him, I wouldn't get back with her. Honestly, there were times when Anna frustrated me so much! Her inability to have any agency just annoyed me so much. Like I know that was the point, but still. It was too much!

Anna was in no place to give him the love that he needed and I ended up feeling so bad for Quan and wasn't really rooting for them to get together. Quan was a sweetheart and although I liked Anna. I definitely feel like he deserved much better!

Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️.5/5

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hayleyvem's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

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iridian_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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

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ndmngz's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad 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

5.0

I absolutely adored this book.

Quan and Anna were an amazing match of characters as love interests. The love that grew between them was a bit fast, but it didn't feel like unrealistic insta-love, it more so felt like two people who understood each other and fit right together finding each other at the right time. I wish I got more development of Quan's backstory, but it was certainly a plot focused on Anna's struggles. Quan wasn't a flat character by any means though (I just loved him and wanted more), he stood firm and fought for his relationship with Anna and understood his place as a new partner in her family struggles, but still advocated for himself when things were pushed too far.

I will say, this is not the rom-com it appears to be. Though the other books in the series tackle serious and emotional topics in parallel with the romance, this book is even more of a heavy hitter. Huang tackles a lot of topics that are reflective of her own experiences, more so than any other of the books she's written (according to her Author's Note), and because of this the writing is even more poignant, intentional, and impactful. It was more of a contemporary fiction with a subplot of romance, and though it wasn't what I expected, I truly loved it and was moved to tears at the end. Huang beautifully articulates the painful struggle of being poorly treated and regarded by family, while still loving them and feeling the need to adhere to family obligations. As well as a very rough and real portrayal of mental health, grappling with diagnoses and adjusting your world view as an adult, and how family fits into that picture.

Please note some trigger warnings include emotional abuse from family members, familial illness and death, caregiver burnout, and suicidal ideation.

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