Absolutely sublime. This book reminds me of why I read romance. Beautifully written, funny and heartwarming.

Having heard great things but not yet read "The Kiss Quotient", I was eager to try this second book by Helen Hoang. Focusing on major themes like the immigrant experience and autism, this novel's characters, both primary and secondary, simply shine. Esme is brought from Vietnam to California to hopefully become autistic Khai's wife. Their journey is complicated and filled with surprises, but it is one well worth taking, and love most assuredly wins out in the end.

A unique love story that pairs a new immigrant struggling to understand her new country with a man with autism who is afraid to become attached to anyone after losing a best friend. Thrown together by a meddling mother that wants her son to be happy the 2 must learn to understand and trust each other to find love and happiness.

I love the way Helen Hoang writes. The Kiss Quotient was a breath of fresh romance when it came out and I'm thrilled that she's gifted readers another book in the same vein.

But don't mistake this as a repeat! The Bride Test is unique unto itself, and while it has a similar set-up, an autistic lead bumbling through love, the story is completely different and addicting. I love that Hoang features heros and heroines that don't often get the spotlight. I also love that the situations are repeatedly awkward in new, and surprising, but incredibly sweet ways.

In The Bride Test we get a deeper look into the American/Vietnamese culture clash. As well as a reminder that every person is different and processes situations and emotions in their own distinctive ways. Khai and Esme are so completely different but the ways in which they are thrown together and grow are both similar and yet different than other Romances I have read. We get a book that isn't pushed too far outside of the genre we expect but Hoang manages to craft and create a new experience and loveably awkward and relateable characters. It's unputdownable.

It's all rooted in communication and understanding, not only other people, but themselves, individually and together. It's a beautiful story, as well as sweet and funny. Overall, I loved it and definitely recommend it, especially if you're a fan of Hoang's first book! (It should be noted that this book definitely stands on it's own. While Michael, from The Kiss Quotient, makes a small appearance, the focus never shifts off of the story being told in this book)

Oh, and I'll wrap up with this, (small, but not really, spoiler alert), the Khai sex talk with his male relations was the highlight of this book. I died. You have to read it for that alone. The end.

* I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Helen Hoang delivers another great romance filled with enjoyable and unique characters. Esme and Khai grow through the book learning more about themselves and how to love.

I was captivated by Khai and Esme's story. I particularly enjoyed Esma's acceptance of Khai and his odd ways. She didn't understand what autism is, but liked Khai for himself. There were a lot of communication issues and they both needed to learn how to talk so the other understood. I was surprised at the epilogue and would have wanted something different, but the lessons here on acceptance and love, family and standing up for each other, along with some humor, are wonderful. Highly recommended.

Esme/My was a wonderful character (and how incredible that she was partly based on the author’s mom) but everything else about the story was just... not compelling to me. I didn’t believe in her eventual romance with Khai the way I believed in Stella and Michael’s in The Kiss Quotient, and I was frustrated with the rushed, too-neat ending. I’d still recommend this to most romance readers at my library but I personally didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as The Kiss Quotient.

This fantastic second novel explores so much more than romance, while also being a perfect romance. I have already recommended it to more than one person as a wonderful story about immigration. Full review to come.

I've never read anything by Helen Hoang, but have heard a lot of good things about The Kiss Quotient so I was really excited to receive an ARC of this one. It did not disappoint.

I loved the back story we got of Esme/My. We get to see a glimpse of her life in Vietnam prior to her going to America. I feel like getting that bit of back story really helped nail home just how strong of a woman she really is. I loved how compassionate and patient she was with Khai. I also loved how she adjusted to his needs fairly quickly, but was also willing to push his boundaries just a little bit farther. I loved how she stuck to her guns and wouldn't settle for less than what she deserved just because others would say she should. She was just a really strong character and a great role model.

Khai just broke my heart throughout the book. I hated that he felt like he had a "heart of stone" when you could see how big his heart was throughout the whole book. I loved how sweet he was to Esme when he didn't even realize what he was doing. I really enjoyed his relationship with his mom and brother, too. Quan was such a great older brother and definitely has helped shape Khai into the man he grew up to be.

The story line itself was excellent. I didn't really know what to expect because I've never read anything that dealt with this content in this way. Usually it's some sordid affair, but this wasn't at all. It was very sweet and romantic and definitely tugged on the heart strings quite a bit. My one and only complaint is that I felt like the ending was just a little bit rushed, but maybe that's because I just wanted more of the story. I definitely don't feel unsatisfied after finishing it.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. I can't think of another book to compare it to, but if the synopsis strikes your fancy, even a little bit, you should pick it up! You won't regret it.

Admittedly, I was almost afraid to pick up this book. Hoang's The Kiss Quotient was my favorite read of 2018 and I was afraid I had hyped the sequel up in my head so much there was no way live up. I'm so grateful I was wrong! This book gives us a whole new couple, new challenges, but the same writing style and authenticity that made me love her debut novel. Definitely pick up the Bride Test. It won't disappoint. Looking forward to what this author brings us next!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

An absolutely delightful book that is even better than The Kiss Quotient (if that's possible!). Drawing on experience from her own mother (don't forget to read the Author's Note). Hoang introduces us to Esme, a single mother from Viet Nam struggling to make ends meet. Invited to California by a slightly meddling mother, she moves in with Khai who sits somewhere on the spectrum. As we see their relationship develop we get to learn a lot about the immigrant experience in the US as well as exploring the Khai's different ways of interacting with people and the world. Khai's family adds a lot to the book, although I do wish we had learned a bit more about Esme's family. But - it is a charming and well-written read that anyone will enjoy.

This book! THIS BOOK!!!! It hits me all in the good places! It is touching and funny and sweet and so much more!
My/Esmeralda is such a strong woman ! She was given a hard life and she still finds way to see the beauty in it. Being the daughter of immigrant Asian parents, I recognize and understand so many parts of this book and lemme just tell you all : the fish sauce really smells but is oh so delicious!
And Khai, sweet and closed Khai, who breaks my heart, makes me angry and fills me with so many emotions at once.
Helen Hoang’s the Kiss Quotient was great but this one is even better in my opinion! So don't hesitate, do yourself a favor and go enjoy The Bride Test !

I really want to like Helen Hoang's writing--I like her characters! Esme is so compelling!--but this story just didn't click for me. There was an element of physicality in this book that made me feel really uncomfortable.

That being said, I absolutely love how much time is spent inside Esme's head. Her journey towards valuing herself was very rewarding, and I really wanted her to find happiness. Also, the family support network is heartwarming and obnoxious, as many families are. Hoang's endnotes are more than worth the price of admission.

Helen Hoang's sophomore novel is sure to keep fans of The Kiss Quotient satisfied. This awkward and endearing story of Esme and Khai's budding (and bumbling) relationship is fun, sexy, and facepalm-inducing.

Helen Hoang has done it again! Khai and Esme were both wonderfully drawn characters, and their romance was beautiful. I cannot wait to see what Hoang comes out with next (please give Quan a book!)

Wow! What a great follow up to Helen Hoang's last smashing success, The Kiss Quotient. I enjoyed The Bride Test from page 1. I enjoyed that it was a different perspective, both culturally and neuro-typically than other romance books. The "romance" parts of the book were steamy and great.

Highly recommend!

The Bride Test was a fun read filled with a diverse cast. I loved that the book brought awareness to those on the autism spectrum. This would be a great read and author for those who liked the Crazy Rich Asians series.

This was a beautiful novel about belonging and inner strength that was inspired by the author's own mother, who came to the U.S. from Vietnam as a refugee and grew to own four restaurants. The love and respect for this character was actually visible to me while I was reading.
Esme, the heroine, was originally intended to be the awkward third wheel in this story. She doesn’t have the “glamour” that a typical romance heroine possesses. In fact, the story opens with her cleaning a toilet at her job as a janitor/maid. She’s used to poverty, and her naivety when she arrives in the U.S. makes for some awkward moments. But her honesty, boldness and belief in her own self-worth make her an incredibly resilient and memorable character.
She originally moves to the U.S. to “marry” Khai Diep, an autistic accountant who believes he is incapable of love. Esme helps Khai come to the realization that he is worthy and capable of deep emotion and reunites him emotionally with his friends and family. She also takes her future into her own hands, learning English, finishing her GED, and ultimately going on to college to pursue her PhD—accomplishing everything she wanted to and then some.
I found myself caring so much about these characters and their love for one another that I was almost in tears by the end of their story. I’m so proud of both of them and all that they’ve done, and I can’t wait to read about their futures in coming books.
I am also so, so ready to read Quan’s HEA! He deserves some love!

This book was adorable! I love Khai!! He was such a likable character with so much dept. I really enjoyed how he got to know Esme before he informed her about his Autism. He is so matter of fact that it is too cute when he opens up to her! I loved Khai's family, especially his Mom and the respect he has for them. I like how they are all so supportive of him and his life. He's just the right amount of nerdy and hot! Lol Khai learns so much about himself in this book and so does Esme. They find their own kind of affection and love. Heartwarming story!!

For Netgalley and Edelweiss:

I like this book and the first one in the series, ‘Kiss Quotient’, for different reasons even though they are broaching similar topics. In the first book I felt that there was a more of a plight for the main character that had autism. As a reader I really felt for that character and the struggle she went though. However, in the Bride test even though the main character had autism as well, it felt a little stagnant and was just there in the background. What I really loved about ‘The Bride Test’ is the role of family and the Vietnamese culture. The line drawn by family support vs family evasiveness into the main character’s life is absolutely wonderful. The Mother was just a gem and so realistic. The characters are all so warm hearted and kind. Some of them I would even call a bit naive, but that only adds his and her charm.