“I like you better than calculus, and math is the only thing that unites the universe.”

Friends, The Kiss Quotient is so deserving of every ounce of hype it has received thus far. I am not sure I’ve ever been so happy, and had such a lame grin on my face, while reading any other book. This was heartwarming, beautiful, and a treat to read. Don’t sleep on this one. Also, Michael and Stella are both partner goals, I swear.

This is an ownvoices novel about a high-functioning autistic woman who has succeeded in every aspect of her life, except for love. Her mother is putting pressure on her to find someone and start thinking about family, now that she turned thirty. Plus, Stella is kind of lonely anyway, and as much as she loves throwing herself into her work, she wants to spend her life with someone who she can completely be herself with. The problem is, Stella thinks her autism makes her unable to successfully date, and maybe even unable to be good at/enjoy sex. So, she hires the dreamiest escort to help her!

“Girls like me intimidate boyfriends away. Girls like me have never been asked out by a single boy. Girls like me have to find their own way, make their own luck. I’ve had to fight for every success in my life, and I’m going to fight for this. I’m going to get good at sex, and then I’ll finally be able to entice the right person into being mine.”

The thing is, Michael is an escort that doesn’t do more than one session per client. Yet, after his and Stella’s first night, he might be willing to make an exception. Michael is biracial (Vietnamese and Swedish), fashion designer, and has always put his family first, especially after the way his father left them all. Michael’s mother is also battling cancer, and the medical bills are piling up.

Trigger and content warnings for unwanted touching and forced kissing, lowkey sexual harassment, anxiety attacks, abandonment, a loved one with a chronic illness, a fatphobic comment/insult, and someone telling someone else about a person’s diagnosis.

Also, this book has very explicit and graphic sex scenes. But, like, all of the sex scenes in this book are 11/10. So damn hot, I swear. I have a lot more experience with sex than Stella, but I would happily let Michael teach me a thing or two. *clutches pearls forever* But please use caution if that is something you do not enjoy in your books!

But besides the steamy sex, the beautiful romance, and the lovely messages that are inside this book, my favorite part is that this book never shames Michael for being an escort, and it sure in the hell doesn’t shame Stella for being on the autism spectrum. A lot of other conflicts happen throughout, but those two things are never put in a negative light and it was such a blessing.

And I never expect a fiction book to teach me anything, but this book gave me such a wonderful glimpse and perspective into some people’s autism. (Obviously, I know that no two people are the same!) From overstimulation with lights, sounds, and smells, to the preferred clothing, to focusing everything into one thing, to the importance of schedules, lists, and reminders! This book was really insightful, and I loved that about it.

The importance of consent is always at the forefront of this novel. I think that’s why most people who are reading this right now are so in love with Michael, and it’s because he always is thoughtful and so very patient with Stella. He truly puts her needs first, and makes sure he is never overstepping any line that she is not willing to cross.

And I just loved Stella Lane as a character. She is actually probably my favorite heroine of 2018. Not only does she know who she is, she refuses to change for anyone, even the guy she has fallen in love with. I had happy tears in my eyes so much while reading this, and it was mostly just because I was so proud of her. Michael might be most people’s wet dream, but Stella felt like the character I’ve been searching literature for forever.

“But I want you to know I can handle the truth. If I’m not enough for you, that’s fair and I accept it. I’ll get over you eventually. I don’t want to be coddled or lied to because of what I am. I don’t need your pity friendship”

Overall, this was such a perfect read! I loved this from first to last page, and I couldn’t put it down. Here, I’ll really sell you on how good this book is: Muse of Nightmares, my most anticipated release of 2018, came in the mail while I was reading this book. And you know what I did? I finished The Kiss Quotient before starting it. Seriously, this is a masterpiece. And I can’t wait to see what Helen Hoang does next.

Stella’s not really interested in relationships, but when a jerk recommends that she take lessons in intimacy an idea takes shape. Enter Michael Phan, a professional escort, who is more than willing to help Stella learn.

This one had a lot of hype built it and I was surprised at how much I liked it. Does it have romance tropes? Sure but it more than makes up for it with a well defined heroine who is neither "cured by love" of her ASD nor totally defined by it. Bonus points for a mixed-race Asian love interest who has a story of his own!

A totally precious book that gripped me from the first page. I loved both Stella and Michael. Their romance was both incredibly sexy and sweet. This was my first book where I have seen either a character on the autism spectrum written by an author with the disorder, which added a lot of depth to it, or a romance with a Vietnamese character. Both elements were wonderfully refreshing and made the characters feel more like real people. Such a great book I've been recommending to friends already.

The entire blog agrees, 5 stars for this one! I'm attaching the book chat review we shared on the blog but please know, this was a topic of great and happy discussion across all of our social media platforms!

Hype makes me nervous to read books, but this is one of those times where the hype absolutely failed to do this book justice. As with The Hating Game, there was basically no way for the hype to be too high to affect this book negatively for me. If I want anything from publishing (which lol I want a LOT of things from publishing), then what I currently want most is more romances like this that are sexy, smart, and incredibly well-written. Most contemporary romances aren't like The Kiss Quotient, but I am so fucking happy this book exists.

Stella Lane, the heroine, has Asberger's (Own Voices, fyiiiiii), and, though she's tried to figure out this sex and romance thing, she has not been successful. Sex disgusts her, and no one ever wants to be in a relationship with her. She's happy with her work and her routines, but her parents are pressuring her to date, to marry, to have babies. As much as Stella may come off to others as brash, because she's always honest, or rude, she really wants to make others happy, so she begins to consider dating.

When the douchebag at the office her parents recommended for her and who she thinks might be at a good match tells her she needs to practice sex before she'll land a boyfriend (he's such a prick—let me at 'im), she takes that advice to heart. And hires a male escort to teach her how to be good at sex. Stella has always felt unlovable, but now she's been given a concrete explanation why, so she sets out to fix this knowledge gap with the determination, focus and work ethic that makes her so brilliant at econometrics.

Now I'll admit that I wasn't sure about the whole Pretty Woman romance set-up, because there's such a power imbalance in a relationship where one person is being paid for sex. However, The Kiss Quotient is super aware of that, and both circumstances and character development unfold in a way as to make that really not feel like an issue. From the beginning, Stella doesn't treat Michael like an object or like he's beneath her, because that's not the way Stella sees the world; it would be a better world if we were more like Stella.

We have Michael's POV too, which normally doesn't work for me in romance, but which pays major dividends here. His POV really works for me, a bit of hard edge without being over-the-top. It's also important to have a view into where his mind is in this scenario, and we can see from the beginning how much he doesn't look down on her either. He's confused by some aspects of what she's doing, but he likes her and wants to help, even if that will hurt him.

The sex scenes in this book are phenomenal, both because their chemistry is off the charts, but because of all the early scenes where Stella is not ready. Something you basically never see in romance is sex that isn't good or where the couple doesn't have sex because one or the other partner is terrified, and, actually, when I have read the latter it's usually been the guy who puts the brakes on. I relate so incredibly hard to a lot of Stella's issues with sex, and it was so validating to not feel alone in that.

The fact that Michael seems to just have a natural ability to get through Stella's discomfort with touch might bother me except for two things. First, I have learned that our bodies do try to tell us who we're compatible with, and there are people you just naturally feel more comfortable around. Ignoring those signals leads to all the discomfort, self-loathing, and fears of being broken that Stella exhibits at the start of the book. Which leads to serious performance anxiety, something that, yes, women can have too. Second, Michael doesn't get through Stella's barriers all that quickly. The main thing Stella needs is time to adjust, for someone to move slowly and not judge her, and he gives her that.

Part of how I can tell this book is amazing is that I shipped the hell out of this couple in spite of so many tropes I usually don't like, and they're not even particularly bantery. In that way, this book reminds me heavily of The Hating Game, though narratively they're not similar at all. It's just that Stella and Michael really do feel like a perfect match for one another. Also, because of the unique scenario they're in, certain things, like the confusion caused by not communicating their feelings, make more sense than they usually do.

I love this book so goddamn much, and I'm going to be ordering a copy ASAP. I cannot wait for The Bride Test. From his first introduction, I was hoping Khai would get a romance too, along with basically everyone else in Michael's family because they're massively wonderful.

An utterly delightful book. The author makes the characters come alive, and although not an 'everyday' situation one might get into, the story all feels so real. Hoang has obviously done a lot of research to make the story feel authentic (the main character is female and is on the autism spectrum). i loved the focus on family, friends, and doing work that you love.

Totally lived up to the hype! Such accessible and colorful characters with real life struggles. I loved the way the author grew her characters.

I really enjoyed this title! While most of my collection work is for tweens and teens, I do have "younger" adults (18-25) that seek book recommendations, and I think this will satisfy many of their interests. They want deeper romances with people with real careers -- not just kids in high school or college! I liked the representation in the book, in terms of neurodiversity and racial diversity; I also enjoyed that it featured an interracial relationship. It was a fun romance with relatable, enjoyable characters. I intend to recommend it to readers seeking titles similar to The Hating Game and The Wedding Proposal.

Four and half stars: A delightful romance with excellent diverse characters.

Stella loves her job, in fact her whole world revolves around her career. She is thirty years old, and she has never been in love, much to the dismay of her mother who wants grandchildren. Stella struggles with sex and romance because she has Asperger’s. Touching and kissing makes her shudder. In an effort to get better at sex and romance, Stella hires an escort, Michael, not realizing that she is soon going to get more than she bargained for. Michael on the other hand, is trying to pay his mother’s bills so he is an escort on the side. He never sees a client more than once, that is until Stella comes along. What happens when two opposites are thrown together?
What I Liked:
*The Kiss Quotient is the buzz book of the summer, and the praise being heaped upon this one is well deserved. I enjoyed the romance, loved the characters, and I appreciated that the author brought well rounded, diverse characters! Hooray for something different.
*Stella and Michael are stand out characters. Stella is smart, well educated, sophisticated and a bit uptight. She suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. I loved that the author brought us a character with this affliction because I don’t know much about Asperger’s. It was interesting and exciting to explore the way Stella encountered the world. Michael is Vietnamese and Swedish, and he is so much more than a pretty face. I enjoyed getting to know him, especially when it came to his devotion to his mother and his family. He too has his own demons, and it was fun watching Stella and Michael work together to overcome their problems.
*The romance is sizzling hot once it ignites. I appreciated that it took its time to establish roots. It isn’t all about sex. Friendship and trust are deeply established before it explodes.
*I loved the focus on family. Michael’s family was a joy to discover. I adored his mother and grandmother, and his sisters were downright funny.
*This one ends on a high note after a bit of conflict. No unanswered questions or open story lines. It was just right.
And The Not So Much:
*I felt like the sex scenes got to be a little much after awhile. There is a lot of time spent on the sex with lots of details, if you aren’t a fan of lots of sex scenes, you may want to skip this one.
*Even though I liked the romance, it almost felt like insta love.
*I didn’t like the big blow up and the stumble toward the end, it was all totally predictable.

The Kiss Quotient is the buzz book of the summer and well worth the read. If you want character diversity, a delightful romance and a better understanding of Asperger’s Syndrome this is a must read, or just read it for the romance. Either way, you don’t want to miss this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

The Kiss Quotient is a book I was suspicious of at first - sex work is valid and important work, but I was wary of the narrative of a sex worker falling for their client. Luckily, it handled those tropes and turned them on their heads. I also enjoyed the main character's true and honest depiction of what it is like to be on the spectrum. Would recommend to adult readers.

This book. Was. So. Cute. (It reminded me a lot of The Rosie Project --for obvious reasons--only it didn't have the weirdness in the last third or so that the other book did, thank goodness.) Stella was fun and unique, and though I don't share her love of math at all, I did love her line to Michael--"I like you better than calculus, and math is the only thing that unites the universe." I mean really. Does it get any cuter (or geekier) than that?

Michael was absolutely wonderful--other than his secret keeping and refusal to ask for help, of course. But the way he looks past Stella's unusual traits and always puts her first (and yeah, we're going to gloss over the fact he's initially getting paid to do so--so sue me. I loved Pretty Woman once up on a time too, and still can't bring myself to dislike it, despite its problems)--not to mention his relationships with his mother, grandmother, and sisters--I. Loved. Him.

Things are resolved pretty quickly and painlessly at the end, but honestly, I found it hard to have a problem with that because they're just such a cute couple. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Hoang has in store for us next!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

I first received this book via Netgalley as an ARC, then I bought a signed copy because I *had* to have it. I've read it twice in about a month.

What can I say about this book? I want to climb the highest building and shout from the top of it that everyone needs to read it. I want to buy a million copies and shove it into readers hands. It's so good and real.

It's so important to me. Why? Because I *finally* got to see the part of myself I've spent 41 years learning to hide on the pages of a mainstream novel. In one of my two favorite genres (romance, in this case).

This story is own voices for autism and oh, my, gods... seeing that on the page made me laugh. It made me tear up, it made me gasp and then shout with glee when I recognized portions of myself on the page. It healed me in ways I can't even come close to expressing.

THIS is why own voices (a book written by someone who shares the marginalization) is SO very important. It lets some of us see ourselves on the page with all the glorious nuances that are our beautiful experiences of life.

It helps that this is a rollicking good read, that the author grabbed me by the throat, shook me up and dragged me (willingly!) into her world and into her characters' experiences.

The book is exceedingly well written, it's funny, it's sexy as smoking hot hell, it made my heart hurt for Michael, the guy main character because he was so convinced he was broken... and for Stella, who, like many autistics, likes her brain and doesn't feel it's disordered, just different.

It had a mixed-race main character too, so I got to see that part of myself too. I honestly hugged this book after finishing it. It's as good, if not better than the buzz says about it, and I have become the pickiest reader on the planet since becoming a halfway decent writer. So if I say something is good, it's in all fairness absolutely phenomenal.

Everything in this book is so well crafted and thought out. From the Vietnamese family, to the sewing, to the fabrics and especially the autistic main character, it's all so perfect. I want to read it again already!

TEN STARS for this incredible debut novel! Helen Hoang seemingly effortlessly weaves together an amazing narrative about perfectly imperfect characters. I adored the detail, the drama, and everything else about this book. I have already enthusiastically purchased it for my library and will be recommending it to everyone who enjoys love stories.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO THE KISS QUOTIENT BY HELEN HOANG?
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang basically has all of my twitter trusteds singing PRAISES. That means I had to listen to it sooner rather than later. Granted, I would have been happy also reading the print version. ALSO the cover reminded me a little bit of The Hating Game which I loved. Reader friends, I am so glad that I actually listened to The Kiss Quotient. It was exactly as good as everyone has been saying.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
So, Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient is a contemporary romance about two main characters – Stella and Michael. Stella is an econometrician with Asperger’s. Michael is an escort. Stella hires Michael to teach her how to do the sex and be good at it, ha ha. Anyways, Stella gets a little more than she bargained for and catches feelings for Michael. He realizes that Stella is one hundred percent not like his other clients. The two have a LOT in common. Regardless, Michael also begins to catch feelings for her as well. There’s some drama built in too, otherwise this book would be so boring. ALSO Michael is Vietnamese – so there’s even more diversity. And I WAS HERE FOR IT.

HOW DID I LIKE THE KISS QUOTIENT?
I didn’t like The Kiss Quotient, I LOVED THE KISS QUOTIENT. Ok, ok, I am second hand embarrassed for myself right now too. But friends, this book is so adorable. The characterization is flawless. I loved both Stella and Michael and feel like they are now dear to me. Michael’s family is special and wonderful, minus his dad. The pacing moved along perfectly. I never thought – wow this is dragging. I think that if you want to try contemporary romance (which yes you should because it is SUPERB) give Helen Hoang a shot.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook is narrated by Carly Robins who is GREAT. I always get a little tiny bit nervous listening to a hype book on audio. Why? Because what if it is terribly narrated? Then I miss out on liking a book that everyone else likes simply because I don’t care for the narration. Thankfully this book rocked via audio. I was able to follow along perfectly. I thought the narration matched what I expected of the characters. Also? This made driving and folding laundry go by so much faster. I would totally recommend this to you if you’re in the market for a new good listen (ALSO IT IS ON HOOPLA!).

This book absolutely lives up to all the hype you've seen and I don't say that lightly. As a matter of fact, when I picked up this novel, I was doubtful because I'm cynical and thought it might just be BS but it wasn't, at all. It was the perfect poolside read for me. The romance was sweet and steamy and really just lovely--I loved every single on page moment with Michael and Stella--and every time I think about the way their story developed I just have to smile. I also loved the outside of their romance story of them. I was completely invested in who they were outside of their coupledom and enjoyed reading about their individual stories as much as reading about them together. And I superloved that this novel is an #ownvoices novel and that the author shared a little of her own experiences with autism in the author's note.


You guys, splurge and buy this if you're looking for a novel that's full of all the good feels--you're going to find yourself smiling and laughing and swooning at this couple's romance...and if you're like me, you'll be on the look out for the next thing Helen Hoang writes.

This story was definitely what I would classify as an entertaining, quick, and easy read. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light, steamy and fun read. The plot follows a woman who has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and her attempt to over come her personal issues with intimacy.

I did enjoy reading this story despite the cliche plot at times. The parts which discussed autism I found to be well done and over all it was just simply a nice read. Of course it was a bit unrealistic but as are many other novels in the romance genre. Fair warning there were some hot and heavy moments in the book.

Sadly I did not enjoy this book. Michael complained internally way too much. There wasn't enough storyline to hold my interest. I did not feel connected to the characters and the story lacked believability.

Gah! Such a great book. I loved that it was outside the norm of this genre.


It's a bit Pretty woman meets Asperger's.


Such a great story and I loved all the characters.



Stella is a woman who has Asperger's. She tries to hide her quirks but its not always easy, especially where it comes to the opposite sex.



Stella is a woman who wants to learn and be an expert at all things, even sex and relationships. Which makes her sought out an escort service where she meets Michael.



Michael hides his escort life and he never does repeats, but there is something about Stella that makes him want to help her and be near her.



When Stella starts to get overstimulated you feel her pain with her and feel like you are also experiencing what she's experiencing. That part was so well written.



I absolutely adored Stella and Michael together and I LOVED Michael's family.



In the romance genre one of my biggest pet peeves is assumptions and miscommunications. And sadly this book had a bit of it.



~ I was certain you didn't love me back~



Don't get me wrong I totally understand why it was there, as they both had their own issues which led to the assumptions but I still wish the assumption part wasn't there. Because its a personal pet peeve it got in the way a bit for me, otherwise I would have completely been head over heels for this book. And it's only my pet peeve so anyone who doesn't have that issue will love this book from start to finish.


As I was looking up Goodreads for this book, I just found out that this book is now part of a series and book 2 will be coming out next year!!! OMG!! OMG!! I can't wait for Khai's story.

This was such a fun read! I loved Stella and Michael's story. Highly recommended and very enjoyable.