I loved The Kiss Quotient. It was my favorite book of 2018, and I read a fair number of books each year, the vast majority of them romance. But I'm also wary of sophomore efforts when the first is such a smash.

No need to worry here. The Bride Test is every bit as heartfelt and swoony and sexy as TKQ.

Khai is autistic, and convinced that he doesn't have the emotional capacity to love, or grieve, or feel anything deeply. He's not going to saddle someone else with that burden, so he is determined not to let any woman close enough to form feelings for him. It wouldn't be fair if he can't return them.

Esme doesn't seem to belong anywhere. Not in Vietnam, where she is set apart with her mixed-race heritage, unwed mother status, and poor economic standing. And not in California, where she goes--by invitation of Khai's mother--to live as Khai's fiancee as she tries to make him fall in love with her. She understands English but doesn't speak it well, and Khai is a tough nut to crack. But Esme needs the opportunity to make a better life for herself and her family, especially her daughter, and this is her shot.

I loved that Khai's family--his brother and his mother, particularly--understand him so well. Often, when you read about neurodiverse characters, the people closest to them don't seem to understand them. Here, his family seems to understand him (and what he's capable of) better than he knows himself.

Esme's determination to make a better life, to make the most of this opportunity she's been given, however things turn out, really made me cheer for her. She never gave up, no matter how heartbroken she might feel.

And the sexy bits? Very sexy, but also written so that they revealed so much about Khai and Esme. Every scene moved the story forward, uncovered another bit about the characters.

This book had me laughing, crying, and sighing with satisfaction. I'll be rereading this book many times, I'm sure

Helen Hoang has written another excellent book. She has managed to create two characters unlike traditional romance characters, one autistic, and the other a poor, ESL, immigrant. Kiep's journey in particular is an excellent arc as he goes from claiming to have no feelings to beginning to understand that he does and what they mean.

****SPOILER****
My only issue with the story was the handling of Esme's child at the end, as it felt like an afterthought for Kiep to find out.

The sophomore follow-up to the Kissing Quotient was everything I had hoped for and SO MUCH MORE! The characters were complex but thoroughly relateable. I cannot say enough good about The Bride Test. Officially on my Keeper Shelf for life!

Writing: 3/4 Plot: 4/5 Characters: 3/5

An erotically charged, utterly non-traditional, romance novel. Diệp Khăi is a successful, Vietnamese-American accountant, with his own business in Sunnyvale. He was also diagnosed with Autism and decided long ago that his “Stone Heart” and “inability to feel emotions” disqualified him from having romantic relationships. His grandchildren-desiring mother (Cô Nga), however, is not willing to give up. Unbeknownst to Khăi, she travels to Việtnam to find him a bride.

Esme Tran (Việtnamese name — Trán Ngọc Mỹ) cleans bathrooms in a nice hotel in Hơ Chi Minh city. While resting between disappointing bride interviews in the ladies’ lounge, Nga finds what she is looking for in the attractive, diligent, and polite Esme. Esme has a few secrets of her own — she has a five-year old fatherless daughter, and longs to find her own father — an American named “Phil” who went to UC Berkeley over 20 years ago. Esme accepts Nga’s offer — a job and a visa for the summer and a chance to convince the reluctant Khăi that he wants to marry her.

Well-written, with alternating chapters offering alternating character insights in addition to steamy prose. In an interview, the author revealed her own recent Autism diagnosis and the evolution of the Esme character based on her own mother’s immigration to U.S. As a side note, I enjoyed all the Vietnamese names written in the full alphabet and made the (somewhat difficult) effort to include them here. It’s a beautiful looking language which I admit to knowing nothing about. If you’re interested, scan the Wikipedia article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_alphabet.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on May 7th, 2019.

The Kiss Quotient was my favorite book of 2018. When I saw that Helen Hoang had unseated Colleen Hoover, queen goddess of romance, as the number one goodreads choice award for romance I was shocked. But it was deserved. The Kiss Quotient is the romance book we all deserve.
So I was very nervous for the sophomore book. Would it have the dreaded sophomore slump? Could it live up to the hype.
The answer is yes! Yes! Yes!
I think I might like The Bride Test even more than The Kiss Quotient. Is that blasphemous?
This book follows Khai and Esme. Khai is Michael's cousin from the first book.
Esme is from Vietnam and has been asked to come to America by Khai's mom. Khai's mom wants her to spend the summer with her son to see if the two of them match and get married.
The romance that follows is sweet and slow burn. I appreciated this so much because it gives time for character development and also for them to get to know each other.
Fans of Helen Hoang will not be disappointed. It may be the best romance novel of 2019.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful and romantic story of an immigrant coming to America for a better life. Hoang's author note actually brought me to tears and made me appreciate the story in a new way. I will always look forward to a story written by Helen Hoang.

Helen Hoang has done it again! The Kiss Quotient blew me away last year and was easily one of my favorite books of 2018. I’ve been anticipating her sophomore novel since it got announced last year. Now I’m happy to report that after flying through The Bride Test in just a few hours I loved it just as much as her debut💕 I wish her all the success because her books are PHENOMENAL!

This wasn't as good as The Kiss Quotient but it was still a decent book. Kind of sweet but lacking the heat of her first book.

This book was fantastic! The Characters (especially Esme and Khai) I felt like were more developed than Helen Hoang's debut novel. My only gripe, and it wasn't even gripey enough to knock it down a full star, was that we didn't have that much development of the sister. I loved Quan as a character too though and how he was always trying to help out Khai even when Khai didn't want it.

Also, I loved how Esme was not a perfect person, she had her own flaws too, but Khai loved her through them anyway. I don't think I would have been as okay with one specific scene as Khai was.

I could not put this book down! Just like her first book Helen Hoang manages to delight her readers with a mix of romance and comedy. Her work is so unique that she will always have me coming back for more.

I was hesitant at first, the idea of the heroine reducing herself to essentially a mail ordered bride. I really enjoy a strong heroine and it didn't seem like that would be possible in this setting, but boy was I wrong. Emse is fantastic, her growth over the course of this book is really something to look up to.

And Khai... oh my goodness Khai... He's POV had me in tears I couldn't stop laughing. Definitely one of the best romantic leads I have ever read.

This checked all my boxes plus more:
-Believable characters who grew over the course of the book
-Steamy romance scenes that weren't over the top or unrealistic
-A fantastic immigrant story at a time when we really need to hear positive stories like that
-A main character with autism who was much more than his condition

My super minor complaint would be that I wanted more of a detailed epilogue!

This review has been copied from my blog literarylovebooks.com

Last year when I picked up The Kiss Quotient I had no idea what kind of impact it would have on me. I’m a cover reader, (yes, I know, but I can’t help it) so when I saw the cover I thought: Oh, cute cover. I’ll read that. And that was that. From the moment I started reading I was hooked and read it in what felt like a minute. When I finished The Kiss Quotient and realized there would be a sequel I was ecstatic! Then I realized I would have to wait an entire year to read it and then I was very un-ecstatic… However, my Fairy Publishers granted my wish and gifted me a copy of The Bride Test- THE book I wanted to read this year. The one I talked about constantly. The book I would give up all other books to read.

I read it in 3 days. I know that doesn’t sound like much but I worked 40+ hours this week and have an hour and half commute one way. So, to say the least I’m tired but I wouldn’t trade being tried for anything. You know why…? Because THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!!! Good god!!!

I kid you not, even though I was dying to read this book I was a little nervous. As anyone would be. Sequels have a lot to live up to when you loved the first book, plus I didn’t think I could love this book as much as I loved The Kiss Quotient. I was wrong, if you’re wondering. I loved this book EVEN MORE than The Kiss Quotient. Which, honestly, I didn’t think that would be possible. But it is and I did!

I don’t even know how to go into this book without making this review AT LEAST 10 pages long and you all hating me for going on and on and on… like I have been….

Anyway…

The Bride Test had everything I absolutely loved in The Kiss Quotient only amplified. Khai is the character you just can’t help but love. He takes the whole “strong, silent type’ trope to entirely different and amazing level. I couldn’t help but ache for him and his confusion and frustration. It was so palatable!

And My! She is just everything. I loved and admired how she did not just sit back and let her fate be dictated for her. She took charge of her own life. She did not want to be the woman the people around her were trying to shape her to be and she fought back. She took the hard road and was happy to do it.

My and Khai together burned the pages. Their love was so real and intense and hard won. I truly don’t know which character I liked more. I usually have a clear winner but in this, I can’t decide. They both bring such different views to the table, with such different out looks on life, it feels impossible to choose.

And again, I have to point out how much I enjoyed, loved, relished reading a completely different cultural setting than what I’m used to. I was a Art History minor in college so everything I know about cultures steams from that starting point- which doesn’t always give you the best understanding of a culture and their way of life. Hoang has managed to capture Vietnam in a way I would have not known without reading The Bride Test (I’m not one for historical books that aren’t on cool women or mythology…) I’m not familiar with the Vietnamese culture- especially modern day Vietnam- so, reading a book that so heavily emphasis the culture was completely amazing to me. Reading this all encompassing romance does more than just give you a lovely romance to read. Hoang focuses on the hardships of people from all walks of life. How everyone has their misery, sorrow, adversity, dreams, hopes, and ambition that they bring to the table.

If you can only read one book this year, make it this one! It was funny, sweet, endearing, and so sexy! I have no power over if you do or not read this book but as you see The Bride Test pop up around you in May just think of me scowling at you if you don’t impulse buy it or jumping with glee as you buy it and start reading! Please, let imaginary me jump with glee in your mind!



-Happy Reading!

Oh my heart, it is so full! The Kiss Quotient was one of my absolute favorite reads of 2018, making The Bride Test my most anticipated adult fiction novel of 2019 and boy oh boy did it deliver.

I loved every single moment of this perfect, perfect book.

The Bride Test tells the story of Khai, Michael’s Vietnamese-American, autistic cousin, and Esme, a mixed race woman living in Ho Chi Minh City, trying to provide for her mother, grandmother, and very young daughter. The diversity is real, and it is everything great about this novel.

Khai believes he is incapable of expressing bigger emotions like grief or love after being told once when he was a teen that his heart was made of stone. But with a little help from his loveable helicopter mom, Esme enters Khai’s life and everything begins to change. Together they learn the ins and outs of what it means to love and grow and be together.

Seriously, this book just has my whole heart. I loved Khai and Esme together so much. They are wonderfully formed, fully fleshed out characters that are real. Neither is perfect, but they learn to communicate with each other and help each other and figure out how to work together to create something lasting between them.

In the beginning, Esme doesn’t understand what it means to be autistic, but she knows Khai is sweet and special and she takes the time to ask him what is and isn’t okay. When a monumental thing happens between them that Khai kind of messes up, he figures out what went wrong and (with a little help from his brother Quân) he learns how to fix it. Another aspect I loved was how independent Esme is. Here is a woman, brought to a foreign country where she knows hardly anyone, who tries day in and day out to learn and to better herself and get around with as little help as possible. She was very independent when she was in Vietnam, and now in America, with the opportunity to marry and obtain a better life, she still strives to do things for herself and provide for her family.

The romance and the chemistry are off the charts and just everything about this novel is swoony. I love Helen Hoang’s writing to death. She is fantastic at everything, it’s ridiculous, and I will read any and everything she ever writes.

I hope we get Quân’s story next, or really, again, just anything from Helen will be a blessing and a gift.

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

➳A romance with characters that express so much more than just physical attraction, but also grasps the heart of the reader with the tender emotions that are portrayed...

➳Once this beauty landed in my hands, I knew that there was no backing down of putting everything to the side and start it. That's what Helen Hoang does to you once you get a small glimpse of her writing. I remember last year how hesitant I was about reading The Kiss Quotient because of all the hype and love it kept getting. When it comes down to novels that are hyped too much, I like to back away from them and maybe read them in a month or so once the hype calms down. Thank the heavens I didn't, because I would have never encountered upon Helen's marvelous and unique way of putting so many in depth emotions to the page. I would have never gotten to understand, that even individuals whom may be different in some way, socially, physically, emotionally... anyway. There is still a fighting chance of finding love, cherishing that love, and grasping it for dear life. That's what Khai has demonstrated in this compelling romance novel that will have you running for more tissues.

➳In my reviews, I really don't like to talk about the story plot of the characters. I like to focus on the way the story plot comes to be and how it changes my mind and mood. Helen does so by implying this new character, in which we came across in The Kiss Quotient during Stella's and Michael's story. Khai. That intriguing and mysterious autistic young man, that had picked my interest from that small glimpse we got of him. His way of living is structured, has a routine that he follows every single day and should not be tempered with. From the point of view of his family such as his mother, brother Quan (whom shall be brought up in a moment), and his sister Vy (whom shall also be brought up in a moment...) he is a simple man who enjoys his lifestyle as an accountant, takes his shoes off once he arrives to his two bedroom home and enjoys the feeling of his old carpet against his feet. It's the little things that one would not be able to understand why they are so important in which in that unique side of him, his extended family never understands. Emotions is something that Helen touches a lot when it comes to Khai. He does not come to a realization that, even though he states he cannot comprehend emotions in general; anger, happiness, sadness, disappointment, and love—he truly is a strong human being whom expresses all those feelings.

➳That's when Mỹ, aka Esmeralda, aka Esme comes along. A twenty-three year old young lady from Việt Nam whose dreams had to take a pause because life came in the way. Supporting her mother, grandmother, a special someone who shall not be named for the sake of spoilers, is what Mỹ had been doing before she encountered upon Khai's mother whom was looking for a bride for him. She is instantly drawn to Mỹ and offers for her to come to the states for the summer and try to seduce her son, Khai. Mỹ of course has to think about it because she has to support her family. But after a very thorough decision, she decides to accept the offer and goes to the states to try and make Khai fall in love with her.

➳At first, meeting Esme with the circumstances he was put in by his mother, is not something Khai is pleased with. She moves in with her, but he is also instantly drawn to her natural beauty. Her eyes captivate him in the best of ways, making his body react in ways that have never acted before. The attraction is there and it's beautiful to read that a gentleman such as Khai, whom does not believe he can ever love anyone, expresses these feelings towards Esme;
"Strange, incomprehensible, beautiful woman. She said the funniest things and smiled all the time. His fingers itched to touch that smile, and he sipped away out of self-preservation..."

➳Weeks pass and Esme and Khai learn how to adequately be with each other. That does not stop Khai's body from acting in a non-gentleman way of course. Which I find so endearing to read from the third point of view. He knows he cannot deny that attraction, but he also knows that he shouldn't act upon it;
"She was already a song that payed on endless repeat in his head. If he started having sex with her, this thing would escalate into pure addiction, and what the fuck would happen when she left at the end of the summer?"

➳Once feelings expand, that's when the struggles begin to form for Khai. Things take a turn when Esme comes across wanting to have a life in America, a life in which she can set as an example for her next in kin. Her dreams come back to life and want to expand and explore everything that is out there for the world to offer to her, but she knows that if she doesn't fight she will not get far. That includes Khai's love towards her as well.

➳Overall, as previously mentioned... Helen has created a story that has truly gasped my heart and pierced it with her words. It made me cry, made me giggle, and made me swoon over the love and admiration Khai has towards Mỹ. Stories such as this one are not found very often and that's why they need to be cherished in the best of ways. Thank you so much to Berkley for being so generous with this advance copy. And as previously mentioned, Quan and Vy better come next. Vy's story should be mysterious to read because we really don't know much about her. But Quan however... **sighs** he is the rugged brother, with sexy tattoos that will have me drooling over him once Helen writes his story... that's IF she does it... **wink wink Helen Hoang**

I expected to fall over heels into this story and that's exactly what happened. I just need ya'll to know the Helen Hoang is my new romance queen. She mixes romance, easy to love characters, and real life altogether.

Khai stole my heart just like I knew he would. His autism wasn’t the same as Stella’s just as like no two are alike. He didn’t understand his feelings and considered himself to be broken. Reading about Khai coming to terms about finding love and registering that he is capable of love was the best part of 2019 so far me. He’s one of those characters that you want to root for and jump through the pages and comfort.

Esme was relatable from the get go. How many of us thought life would take us one way and ended up somewhere completely different? She ended up being a single mother young in life and was doing what she could for her daughter. She thought that going to America would give them the life she wanted for them. She just didn’t expect to fall in love.

These two weren’t perfect people, but they were perfect for each other. I loved how she wanted Khai’s consent before she did things that would trigger him. How she asked him to show her how he liked things and how he wanted to be touched.

I couldn't give this one 5 stars because I did have some minor issues with it, but it doesn't take from my love of this book. Also, I really need a book on Quan next. He really stood out in this novel and I would love to read about him finding love!

All in all, this book was great and I encourage everyone to read it when it comes out! I preordered as soon as I book the book down!

**Review will posted on blog closer to release date!**

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in return for my honest review.

Wow! Just Wow! The Kiss Quotient was a total surprise for me - it's not the type of book I'd normally pick up as it's contemporary romance with some erotica, but it kept me up through the night reading because I felt so much care for the characters, thinking about them for weeks afterward and feeling I could refer to them as "some friends I know back in CA." I didn't think Hoang could repeat such a raw and beautiful piece of prose, but she did!

The Bride Test follow's Michael's younger cousin Khai - an autistic 26 year old accountant who has come to the black and white belief that he is incapable of feeling strong emotions and developing relationships with others. The book opens with him attending his cousin Andy's funeral when he is 16. Andy died in a motorcycle accident, and Khai is unable to openly grieve for his best friend. He turns inward and feels embarrassment that he cannot cry like his family, and they in turn prove the point in asking him point blank why he is not more upset.

Go forward ten years, and his mother has taken it upon herself to find him a wife to break him out of his odd behavior. She goes back to her native Vietnam to find a woman who will not give up or be easily upset by his behavior, and happens upon a hotel maid named My. What ensues is a comedy of errors where My, in a desperate bid to obtain a better life for her family, does everything in her power to knock down Khai's stone façade and let her in to his heart.

So why 4 stars? Two reasons - the first is the premise. It was uncomfortable reading the first quarter of the book. Right away I fell in love with My - her grit, her kindness, and her determination to be positive and smile, I didn't want her to "prostitute" herself for a green card in a foreign country - anything could have gone wrong, and it so often does for countless victims of sexual slavery. That's a heavy injection here, but it's true, and I wasn't comfortable having it be a part of my "romantic" reading experience. Helen Hoang brings it around though and saves the story before it becomes too heartbreaking. The second reason for the missing star was the last chapter. I was looking for an HBO ending with fireworks and excitement, but what I got was a Hallmark ending that felt saccharine and out of sync with the rest of the novel. While I'm happy for the characters, I was left feeling disappointed, like it was a chapter ripped out of another book by another author completely and held on with duct tape at the end of an otherwise amazing book.

So in summary: beautiful writing - Hoang writes in a way that has me nodding and saying out loud, "yes, totally!"; characters that are well developed who I wish I knew in real life; an immigrant experience story and an autism story that is respectful to its characters and their abilities; a slow-burn (but very very hot) romance.

Downside? I need to wait for another book! I hope it's about Quan this time - he sounds pretty dreamy.

Helen Hoang's sophomore publication is a strong followup to 2018's The Kiss Quotient. Hoang excels in developing her characters to be fully fleshed, its hard not to fall in love with Khai and Esme within the first chapters.

I genuinely didn't think I could love any book as much as The Kiss Quotient, but The Bride Test was so wonderful. Emotional and sweet, I read it in one sitting.

Full review to come closer to release date.

4.5 stars! I loved this book! I liked Helen Hoang's first book The Kiss Quotient, but this one was even better in my opinion. Khai is autistic and thinks he can never love so his mother arranges for a woman, Esme, to come over from Vietnam to try to win him over. I loved Esme and wanted her to be able to go to school and have a better life and her and Khai were so cute together. These aren't you're typical romance characters which I really enjoyed. They're real and flawed and messy and I loved it. I hope Quan get a book if his own next!

!!!!!!!! I was so afraid that this wouldn't live up to The Kiss Quotient but holy cow I think it might be even better. Esme and Khai are both such incredible protagonists and they're trying so hard and I love them. Khai's POV scenes were absolutely fascinating and even as he's steadfastly denying that he loves Esme his acts of service for her are some of the most romantic things I've ever read. Khai's family is just. Amazing. His mom absolutely came alive on the page -- I could understand how she was very frustrating for Khai to deal with sometimes but she was a force of nature and so supportive of Esme. Quan (who had better get his own book!) was phenomenal. I don't want to give big spoilers but there's a sex education scene in which Quan and Michael are trying to explain some things to Khai and I almost cried laughing. But most of all: Esme is wonderful and I loved everything about her and getting to see her work for her happiness and succeed was so satisfying. Highly, HIGHLY recommend to anyone who likes contemporary romance, as well as any readers looking for an uplifting immigration story (these days I think a lot of us could use one) or an autistic hero written by an autistic author.