Absolutely wonderful. Fresh and realistic. Compelling, sympathetic characters. Both h/h (Stella and Michael) are characters who struggle with inner demons and eventually face their fears together. Stella’s autism is presented as both a genuine challenge and a part of her that she knows how to use to her advantage.

I was a bit late to the party on this one since its an adult title, but as soon as the reviews started coming in about how amazing it was and how sweet, I KNEW I had to get my hands on it. And I'm so glad I did!

Stella is not one for romance. She thinks math is the only thing in the universe that makes things right. Her mom is pressuring her to get a boyfriend (or something) and she hates not giving her what she wants. But her Asperger's creates different problems (like French kissing). So she calls on a pro. Enter Michael. But before she knows it, Stella begins to find that Michael's lessons are too good and maybe she should try to convince him to stay around.

Starting with the characters, Michael was amazing. I loved how sweet he was to Stella and how understanding he was. And Stella was an amazing character as well. She was so intuitive and well written. And of course that means the two of them together were gold. And let's not forget the spice level of this off the charts! Those lessons were a lot more spicy than I was expecting and I hope there's more in the next book of the series.

And then there was the writing style. I found myself getting lost in Hoang's words. I found myself not wanting to stop listening to this. I listened to it everywhere, including at work..... In a crowded workroom. (I had to fan my face a few times and turn the volume down, but it was TOTES worth it!) Hoang has a way with words that will make you put everything else on hold. Or she definitely did for me. And I can't wait to see what else she comes up with.

As for the plot, it was a contemp romance so it was a bit predictable. It fit directly with the romance troupes, but still was unique enough to keep me entertained. And being able to see from both of their POV's was such a nice touch. It was great to be able to know what they both were thinking. It was a great, quick read.

I really love seeing this diverse romance getting so much warranted attention. A great writing style, a great plot, and great characters all make for a great contemporary romance. After getting so lost in this one, I can't wait to see what Hoang does with the rest of this series.

I will start by saying the cover is fantastic. I definitely would have picked it up if browsing in a bookstore. I'm not a huge reader of the romance genre but I'm not sure I've read a book that depicted an autistic woman and I loved it. I think both Stella and Michael were well rounded characters. Despite Stella's difficulties interacting, her desire to meet the right person was spot on. I will say I was honestly surprised by some of the content. The book was heavily publicized and I saw several reviews in magazines or on websites...but it was made to sound more like a light romance- which I don't think it is. It seemed like it was part literary fiction, part chick lit, part romance and part over-the-top Harlequin. Some of the love scenes were overdone but the relationship between Stella and Michael was sweet and the length of the book made the pacing just right. Anything else would have seemed fake (even though the story line is kind of unrealistic in terms of the turnaround a handsome escort makes in mere weeks!) I think the strongest part was the 3rd person POV. Most of what I read these days is 1st person and so this was a standout feature for me. Stella's character was really well done and I think it was a strong debut novel. I heard it is going to be a series so I look forward to the future of Stella and Michael.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved, loved, loved this book! I love that it featured a protagonist on a the spectrum and that both protagonists were POC but at the same time, it was a reasonably conventional romance novel with all the usual tropes. What a fun and refreshing read.

I absolutely loved this sparkling debut novel by Helen Hoang! I am not often surprised by a book but ‘The Kiss Quotient’ was a total delight. Sexy, warm-hearted and totally refreshing, this story has become one of my favorite reads this year!

Stella is brilliant but has Asperger’s Syndrome and so is unable to read and interpret common social cues. As a result, she is lonely and seeks an instructor to teach her how to act in social situations. In total control of her professional life, she has no clue how to act with members of the opposite sex or even how to act around friends.

”While she was ahead on all her deadlines, need was still the right word for it. Work fascinated her, channeled the furious craving in her brain. It was also therapeutic.


Inside her office, she initiated her most beloved routine. First, she powered on her computer and entered her password into the prompt screen. As all the software booted up, she plopped her purse in her desk drawer and went to fill her cup with water from the kitchen. Her shoes came off, and she placed them in their regular spot under her desk. She sat. Power, password, purse, water, shoes, sit. Always this order.”

Michael works as an escort but his passion is in clothing design. He is handsome and smart but his family has fallen on hard times and he has taken it upon himself to make everything right again.


”As Michael padded through his cheap apartment toward the bathroom and shed his clothes, he tried to revive his old enthusiasm for this job. The taboo nature of it had been enough in the beginning, but after three years of escorting, that was pretty much old hat. The revenge aspect still satisfied him, though. ‘Look at your only son now, Dad.’”


Michael cannot believe a woman like Stella needs the services of a professional escort. He sees a beautiful, sexy and smart young woman who is very different from his usual clients.

”He stared at her open expression and proffered hand for a stunned fraction of a second. This wasn’t how clients greeted him. They usually waved him into a seat with a sly curl of their lips and a sparkle in their eyes—that sparkle that said they thought they were better than him but were looking forward to what he could offer anyway. She greeted him like he was … an equal.”

I was enthralled by this book from beginning to end. The story touches on family, unconditional love, individuality and acceptance and I could not put it down! The writing was sparkling and entertaining and intelligent. Stella and Michael came alive on the pages!

Once Stella hires Michael to teach her the ways of the world, so to speak, he begins to realize that she is a bit different from most people. But as they get to know each other, Stella literally blossoms and she also encourages Michael to follow his true path in life.

A grin tugged at his lips again. “Are you a scientist, Stella?” “Oh, no. I’m an economist. More precisely, I’m an econometrician.” In Michael’s book, that put her solidly in the brainiac category, and an odd feeling ghosted up the back of his neck. Damned if he didn’t have a thing for smart girls. There was a reason why his favorite fantasy was Hot for Teacher.


This book is funny and poignant and romantic and filled with life. I absolutely adored the unique storyline and the quirky supporting characters. The author is a talent to watch, that’s for sure. I cannot wait for more!

”Saying nothing, she let the moment wash over her, the uncertainty, the breathless hope, the anxiousness, and the shimmering contentment. The sight of their intertwined hands pleased her.


So different, but still five fingers and five knuckles, the same general blueprint. She tightened her grip, and he squeezed her back. Palm to palm, two lonely halves found comfort in together.” (less)

The story is a bit different than I had originally thought it was going to be. It was such a sweet romance. I was expecting more humor but I really dig that the author revved up on the romance.

Stella is a super sweet character who is just struggling to work on her social skills. She needed someone with patience to deal with her. I liked that Michael was that guy every step of the way.

There is a lot of sex going down in this book. I got startled by it. Stella didn't have no problem hanging tough with Michael. At one point, I wanted the author to get back on track with the emotional connection of the story which she slowly did.

Overall, this is just a fantastic read. I look forward to reading more by this author.

ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Everywhere I go, I see raves for this book, and whenever I see too many raves, I worry that the book won't live up to all the hype, but you know what, The Kiss Quotient more than delivered.

Who?
• Stella, a brilliant woman with ASD, who works in econometrics, and thinks if she was better at the physical aspects, she would be able to have a successful relationship.

• Michael, a devastatingly attractive male escort by circumstance, who puts his family needs before his own, but worries that he may become like his father.

What?
Stella hires Michael to "help" her learn to tolerate kissing and other physically intimacies, to make her better at relationships, but this arrangement may become more than either of them had anticipated.

Why?
Oh. My. God! This book so funny, so sexy, so sweet, so heartfelt, and just all around amazing. I was drawn into this story from the very beginning, and once I started, I found it really hard to stop.

I absolutely adored Stella. She was intelligent and driven, but the confidence she had in her professional life did NOT carry over to her personal life. It was such to joy to watch her flourish with Michael, because he was able to see how wonderful she was.

And let me tell you, Michael was a fantastic hero. I understand, that he was an escort, and they are supposed to cater to their client's needs, but he went beyond that. He had this gentleness with Stella, which made her more open and receptive to things, and once he realized she had ASD, he was even more aware of how to approach things with her. Aside from that, there were a ton of other things to love about Micheal. He was so dedicated to his family. He didn't want to be an escort, but due to his family's financial situation, he needed to earn copious amounts of money quickly. He abandoned his dream in order to help with the family business. Michael was very self sacrificing, and that made me root for him to get something that he really wanted, because he deserved good things to happen to him.

The romance between Michael and Stella was everything! It was hot, steamy, sweet, adorable, swoony. I just couldn't get enough of these two. But there was more than just romance in this story, and I loved the way Hoang wove those other plot lines into the story. It was as seamless and organic as how she educated me on things associated with ASD.

This was a really beautiful story too. Both Michael and Stella felt that they were not good enough. Michael was stuck in this prison due to family debts. He felt defined by his circumstances, but Stella saw him as smart and talented. She saw more than the nice car, great body, and pretty face. I loved seeing Michael's confidence in himself grow as he spent more time with Stella. Stella felt as though there was nothing more to her than her ASD. Michael seeing beyond her disability was such a huge step in her journey towards self acceptance, and it was really heartwarming to watch these two grow together.

Overall
One of the best and most delightful adult contemporary romances I have read this year! I shall await Hoang's next book with bated breath.

I FINALLY got around to reading this. I went in with high expectations and they were not met. I think I was expecting a more emotional story and this missed the mark for me. I don't think I ever truly connected with either MC.
They did a horrible job of communicating with each other and it seemed like the relationship was built on sex. There may have even been a little bit of "magic penis" happening. It took two encounters with Michael and then all of a sudden Stella is an orgasming machine.
I was very irritated by Michael's issues with his dad. He was acting like his dad had done something that no one ever in the history of the world has done. When in reality, parents leave their families all the time. It is hurtful and sad, but in the year 2018, not something that carries as much of a stigma as he was making it out to be.
I did really enjoy the scenes with Michael's family and reading bits and pieces about Vietnamese culture.
Overall this was an okay read for me.

I finished reading The Kiss Quotient a couple of hours ago, and I’m still not over it. What an incredible book! From the start, I found myself rooting for Stella and Michael, and it’s not often that I find multiple characters wholly likeable. However, the author personified Stella in a way that many can relate to, even as she struggles with the aspects of her diagnosis. And talk about a strong female lead! It was refreshing to experience a female main character advocate for herself and her needs, and to have Michael’s character know, understand, and accept those needs. The author is an amazing storyteller, and I just wish the ending had dragged out in a little more detail, because I did not want the story to end! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

*4.5 stars. Truly one of the best romances I've read in years. Quirky characters, off the wall chemistry, and extremely hot love scenes. What really sets this romance above others, though, is Hoang's ability to portray the vulnerabilities of her characters. I couldn't stop thinking about this book after I finished it. Truly phenomenal.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great look at love from the point of view of two very different characters. So well developed. I love the focus on the autistic characteristics.

***Review written by Marie for Ever After Book Reviews!***

When I began this book, I wasn’t impressed. The idea of a woman feeling like she must use an escort service to experience intimacy really rubbed me the wrong way. I know she is in a unique situation, having Asperger’s, but I’ve known plenty of people who share the same situation and have found intimacy and love on their own. I was so irritated by this, that I almost put the book down.

I am SO glad that I didn’t.

This book simply blew me away. The way that the author portrays Stella, with all of her complexities, is beautiful. And as Stella embarks on this journey, it touches home to so many of us who deal with social anxieties and self-doubt. She becomes a beacon of understanding, I would imagine, for people with Asperger’s and Autism, and undoubtedly gives them courage to be who you are and what you want in life no matter the obstacle. It’s just absolutely inspiring.

The man at the heart of this story is no doubt portrayed just as wonderfully. Michael is the escort that Stella hires to help her tackle sexual experiences, and whew! That man is sexy as hell. He is patient. He is kind. He works hard to understand Stella and what makes her comfortable, what makes her open personally and sexually. Not only are all of these moments sweet and incredibly erotic, they are real. And as their sexual relationship matures, their romantic relationship blooms. It isn’t without bumps along the way, but it is the kind of relationship that sticks with you long after you turn that last page.

The Kiss Quotient made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me think about my own intimacy and how to better the connection between myself and my partner. But above all else, it made me infinitely happy. This journey is one that I am so blessed to have experienced as a reader and will encourage everyone I know to do the same.

***I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by Berkley Romance in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***

I finished The Kiss Quotient a couple days ago and I'm still swooning over it. I absolutely LOVED it--it's a new all-time favorite and my first five star read this year.

If that doesn't tell you how much I enjoyed this book, I don't know what will.

The writing. If I didn't already know The Kiss Quotient was Helen Hoang's debut novel, I wouldn't have guessed. Her writing style was just so readable and binge-able. I'm so happy that we get both Stella and Michael's perspective, and I thought it was perfect that the book was written in third person. I actually prefer reading books in third person, but here it made sense in terms of the main characters and their story. The pacing was also very well-done--like I said, Ms. Hoang writing style is binge-read-able, but I made myself slow down because I really wanted to savor the story over several days because I wanted to spend more time with Stella and Michael.

The characters. I love Stella and Michael to pieces. They are my precious babies, especially Stella who worked herself into my heart from page one. While I'm not autistic like her character I get her--I get the social awkwardness and the shame of thinking you're less (in this instance because she's autistic) and wanting to hide it. And then there's Michael, the escort with the heart of gold who I fell for along with Stella, who liked Stella as she was, who was so patient with her. Then, we come to learn that Michael might have even more deep-seated issues than Stella.

The secondary characters were fantastic and fully fleshed out as well. I especially enjoyed meeting Michael's large Vietnamese family, especially his mom who was just a hoot. The family dinners were some of my favorite scenes in the book and when they talked about Vietnamese food my foodie heart soared.

The plot and worldbuilding. I know falling for an escort romance trope is really popular right now, and I've read a few that follows this trope, but none captured me like The Kiss Quotient did. I love how the author took the trope and put her unique spin to it. I absolutely adored the ownvoices Vietnamese-American rep as well as the autism rep.

The Kiss Quotient was set in the San Francisco Bay Area, mostly in Palo Alto. I've only visited San Francisco a couple of years ago, so I can't comment on if the setting truly captures the actual place. But, in general, I've no complaints about the setting.

Final Thoughts. I love EVERYTHING about this book. I can't wait to read more by Ms. Hoang--definitely a welcome new talent in the world of romance. The ending was a satisfying conclusion to Stella and Michael's story, but I wasn't read to say goodbye to them. I already miss my babies, BUT we might see them in Ms. Hoang's next book called The Bride Test because it's a connected standalone to The Kiss Quotient. **Cross fingers** we'll see a glimpse of Stella and Michael in it.

Recommendation. If you're a fan of romance, The Kiss Quotient is a must-read. Everyone in the romance community needs to pick this book up--if you don't you're going to miss out on one of the best books this year.

For fans of THE HATING GAME. This book had everything I love. A romance so deliciously sweet I swooned from the very beginning. Two protagonists who each had their own insecurities of feeling like they will never be enough. This was funny, heartwarming and sexy!

Just wow. The Kiss Quotient is definitely one of my favorite books this year. I'm pretty sure I am not over it and I probably won't ever be over it. I'm currently on a book slump because of this book and that is both good and bad but I adored this book so much.

Michael and Stella were amazing main characters, each of their own personal arcs are amazing to follow and read. It's so good to watch them grow and watch them falling in love. Their whole relationship development definitely made me cry at some points but it was so worth it.

I can't believe I have to wait until January 2019 for Helen Hoang's second book! She has become one of my favorite authors to follow and I will read anything by her for sure. Give me everything!

Helen Hoang's charming debut, THE KISS QUOTIENT, killed my hopes of a productive Saturday. I had such a blast reading Michael and Stella's steamy and heartfelt love story. The hero is so swoony and I couldn't help but love watching Stella stumble unexpectedly in love. Such a great sexy read with substance! Highly recommended!

"But why should she settle for Phillip when maybe she could have Michael? Could she use what he taught her...on him? Could she seduce her escort?"

I had grand weekend plans to finally get ready to move into my new house. Thursday and Friday, I listened to the first 20% of this book to and from work. On Saturday, I thought, "I'll just sit down with a cup of coffee and read an eensy weensy bit of this and get to work." No productivity was achieved while this book was in my hands.

Stella is a wealthy and successful econometrician. She knows numbers. She loves numbers. Numbers she can do. People she cannot do. The combined anxieties of her autism spectrum disorder and her parents' not-so-gentle hints that they want grandchildren propel her to go to an expert—or shall I say sexpert?—to show her how to seduce a man. Michael Larsen moonlights as an escort and Stella is unlike any client he has ever encountered. He realizes that he has to be slow and gentle with this very different and intriguing woman. But from night one, he can't control how his heart feels. What starts as a 3-lesson arrangement turns to something more. Soon she's meeting his family and stealing his heart.

This book was utterly charming and it hit my need for a romance with the perfect balance of sexy and sweet. This book pulled me in instantly. This is one of those books that take no time to become fully invested, as you're dropped right in the middle of the action.

Stella is a character who's immediately endearing and likable. I wanted the best for her. As someone who isn't on the autism spectrum, it was sometimes sad to see her so uncomfortable in certain situations. But that's where Michael came in. He is like her knight in shining armor! I loved him so much. He recognized that there was something unique about her but was careful not to make her feel embarrassed, ashamed or as like she's an "other." He was so gentle with her and took time to get to know her.

This book was so enjoyable for me. The cover may lead you to believe that this read is going to sweet and "fade-to-black." Let me tell you that is not the case. This book was extremely sexy without feeling overly raunchy.

"Emotion clogged her throat, anyway. If this was just practice, she never wanted the real thing. How long could she live in a fantasy?"

I wanted a little more build up in terms of Michael's attraction to Stella. It felt a little too instant and intense, which took away some of the romantic tension that I love so much. Part of the fun in reading romance is watching that deep attraction develop and I felt like the author showed her cards a little too early in this one.

The author's note at the end discussed how writing this book led to her own diagnosis. The author did her research here and I felt like Stella's responses to certain sexual situations and social interactions mostly rang true. There was one scene in particular when she met Michael's family that didn't quite make sense. I found her behavior with his family felt true to someone with the disorder, but not necessarily for Stella and what the reader had learned about her up to that point. Both of these things that bothered me were very minor things that didn't take anything away from the massive amount of fun I had devouring this book!

If you're looking for a "teach me how to sex" romance in the vein of Samantha Young's Before Jamaica Lane or Christina Lauren's Beautiful Player, then check out this addictive and heartfelt romance! This one left me smiling from ear to ear! Definitely a great feel-good romance!

* Thanks to Berkeley for providing me with an early review copy. Receiving this book for free did not affect my opinion.

The Kiss Quotient is the very best thing I can think of… a debut novel that kept me up late into the night telling myself “just one more chapter” until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.

Stella Lane is an intriguing heroine, and one that I believe readers will fall in love with. An economist who studies patterns in consumer’s shopping habits, Stella loves her job and takes pride in her accomplishments within her field. What she doesn’t understand is relationships and intimacy. Her mother and father have let her know that they are more than ready for her to settle down and make babies, but Stella has no idea where to even start with finding a man who she likes enough to date on a regular basis. She has a form of Autism called Asperger’s and struggles in social situations and has a sensitivity to touch and sound. Although she isn’t a virgin, Stella hasn’t enjoyed any of her sexual encounters and places all the blame for that on herself. She wants to learn to be better at sex and intimacy and the only way she knows how to do that is to hire a professional.

During the day Michael works in his mother’s dry clean store as a tailor, but for the last several years he has also been working as an escort. He doesn’t know any other way to cover his mother’s mounting medical bills and keep his family in their home. Michael doesn’t enjoy that part of his life, but he does it because he feels like he has to. Which is why he has several rules he follows, including only working on Friday nights and never seeing a date more than once. That is until Stella Lane asks him to teach her how to be good at sex and now he can’t think of anyone else touching her but him.

Stella and Michael are so great together. He’s patient and understanding and she’s awkward and smart. He made me want to swoon from almost the moment he walked onto the page and into a hotel suite with Stella, I felt an instant connection with this woman who was so intelligent but had trouble understanding simple conversations and interactions, but was determined to figure it all out. Each of them feel like they aren’t good enough for the other, and I absolutely loved watching them fall for each other and realize that they were exactly what the other needed and deserved.

This romance swept me away and I absolutely can not wait to see what this author has coming out next. Final Grade- A

Favorite Quote:
“The sight of their hands side by side on the keys mesmerized Stella. The contrast was stark and beautiful: large to small, tan to pale, masculine to feminine. So different, but in perfect rhythm. They were making music. Together.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

How do you write a coherent review for a book that was endlessly more delightful than you could ever have hoped? The Kiss Quotient is an example of a book that perfectly delivers on an excellent premise (and an amazing cover, let’s be honest).

The characters are what make this romance stand out. Stella, our heroine, is an econometrician who hires a male escort, Michael, to teach her the ins and outs of dating. I always love romances with STEM heroines! Stella unashamedly loves math, mathematical puzzles, and her job– I love that she’s unapologetic in the things she’s passionate about. Plus, Stella is autistic, and this representation is #ownvoices. I loved reading from the perspective of a neurodivergent main character. Our hero, Michael, is mixed-race: half Vietnamese and half Swedish. I think what makes him so swoony is that, underneath it all, he has such a heart of gold. Everything he does, he does to help out his family, and he doesn’t expect anything in return.

It’s told through dual POVs, and both Michael and Stella’s voices shone through beautifully. I never once questioned which character’s perspective I was reading– the author did a great job of differentiating between them. I think dual POV worked well for The Kiss Quotient because we got clear insight into the characters’ feelings and what was going on inside their heads.

I mean, obviously, we have to discuss the romance itself. It was PERFECT. The tension, the swooniness, the steamy scenes (of which there are many, please be advised), the vulnerability… Helen Hoang described it all in such delicious detail. I genuinely had butterflies while reading this book. The characters make mistakes, but they own up to them, and they are patient with one another. Idk, it was refreshing to read such a healthy relationship, honestly. Plus, like, it was really, really hot.

Overall, The Kiss Quotient ticked all the boxes for me. Standout main characters, excellent representation, and a perfectly-written romantic relationship. If you’re looking for your next romance read, look no further!

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book so much that I couldn't put it down. The writing is tight, pithy and funny. The characters were real and more diverse than the typical romance couples. In particular, I really connected with Stella and her struggles with finding someone to love. It's not that I resemble Stella, who has Aperger's, but more that I see in Stella aspects of people I've known during my life: the smart, gifted person who is a little different, a little socially awkward yet kind and caring and wonderful to know and have as a friend. Her forthright way of looking at the world and stating her thoughts without embellishment was a refreshing change for the female lead in a romance.

I also appreciated that the male lead, Michael, was also different than the "typical" male character. I enjoyed, in particular, the scenes in which Michael (and, often, Stella) interact with Michael's family. The way in which Hoang described the tensions between traditional Vietnamese values and culture, represented by Michael's grandmother and mother, and those of Michael and his five sisters, who, along with their mother, have been abandoned by their Caucasian father brought to mind similar interactions I have witnessed in the homes of friends and neighbors.

I know I'm not really doing justice in this review to how much I enjoyed this book, so I'll wind up by saying that I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a smart, modern romance with well-developed, real, likable characters.

I loved this book! Such a great romance story that also provided lessons in autism and consent. Highly recommend for romance readers who like to have a little more substance.