I couldn't wait to read this book after reading The Kiss Quotient! This isn't a sequel, it's a new story with some of the same characters from the first book. Just as endearing as the first, it's a great story about love and finding self-worth. It's fast paced & definitely worth a read!

I must admit that I requested this to see if the author's writing had improved since her first book. And I don't mean she's a bad writer. I just mean that the way she told the first romance was...not how I usually enjoy. And to be fair, I thought a lot of it was a bit ridiculous at times.

It's odd not being able to connect or identify with characters. And then I realize this is how some groups have felt for hundreds of years. So I can completely understand not being 100% invested for that reason. Stepping back, I was able to realize just how strong these two were. And how much they had grown from beginning to end.

One of the best things about Helen is that she incorporates many diverse aspects into her books. So for people who are unfamiliar with different cultures (like myself) can get a glimpse into those lives.

This was a great follow-up to The Kiss Quotient. And I definitely liked it a whole lot more!

Readers of The Kiss Quotient and fans of Michael and Stella’s romance will love this story, and those new to Helen Hoang are in for a treat. In The Bride Test, we meet Michael’s cousin, Kai. Kai is handsome and smart, quirky and set in his ways. Considering himself to be emotionally broken as a result of his failure to connect with emotions because of his autism, Kai has never dated. This does not sit well with mom! Taking matters into her own hands, Kai’s mother seeks to find her son a wife, and returns to Vietnam with all intentions of bringing him home a bride.

Esme Tran is given the opportunity of a lifetime to provide for her family. Her small daughter, her mother, grandmother and herself live simply in Vietnam and she longs for a better life for her family. An opportunity to go to the US and possibly marry someone there provides her with a chance she can’t pass up. We watch the almost heartbreaking journey, away from her daughter, to a country where Esme knows almost no one. Thrust into a situation where she is living with a man that is truly a stranger, functioning in a culture she doesn’t fully understand, Esme is socially awkward, but sweet and kind, hardworking and the perfect woman to help Kai see what he has been missing by shunning relationships.

The interactions between the two of them are so true and sweet that at times it is actually amusing. Esme and Kai are naïve and so utterly guileless that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at times. The first time they had sex was actually funny to me, as well as the conversations that occurred with Kai’s brother, Quan, and Michael after the fact. The emotions in this story were out front for all to see, and the characters were so infinitely likeable in their glorious awkwardness.

Helen Hoang proves that The Kiss Quotient was not a one-time event, and showcases what a fantastic and engaging writer she is.

This was another cute read, but definitely lacked some depth. The characters didn't seem to grow much during the story. I definitely liked The Kiss Quotient better. I found myself getting frustrated more while reading this one, which I know is part of the experience dealing with these characters.

I wanted so much to love this, but sadly I didn't. My main problem was with the main character, Esme, I didn't like at all how she's showed in the book. This book had a lot of potential, but sadly I don't think it managed to fulfill it.

Another wonderful book by Helen Hoang! I love her stories. They are sweet and filled with Romance. I really enjoyed this book for two main reasons - the characters nationality and an autistic main character. I really think Helen Hoang does topics like this so well. She educates you, but it's done in a very good way. I loved this so much!

The following review appeared on our blog on May 7th:

https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/overall-b-reviews/b-plus-reviews/review-the-bride-test-by-helen-hoang/

Having read and absolutely loved The Kiss Quotient, I was very excited for this book. While the description and plot didn't appeal to me as much as The Kiss Quotient, I still enjoyed the book and found myself not wanting to put it down. I quickly fell in love with the characters My/Esme and Khai. My comes from Vietnam hoping to win the affections of Khai and to also track down her American father, who she never knew and knows almost nothing about. I enjoyed this extra little sub-plot of Khai and Esme trying to track down her father, and also Esme struggling with telling Khai about her daughter back in Vietnam.

For those of you who want to read the book thinking they're get a lot more Michael and Stella from The Kiss Quotient you will be sorely disappointed! Michael is in there briefly and there is another part of the book their in but I won't spoil it by telling you what it is. If I could change anything about this book it would be to definitely add more in about them!

I enjoy reading about adults with autism or ADHD and how they navigate life and relationships. The Bride Test was an adorable look into this.

I was so excited to be getting another book by this author. After reading The Kiss Quotient I was hoping for another book just as good. Helen Hoang did not disappoint.

The Bride Test was a sweet unique story that pulls you in. Esme and Khai were so different but so right for each other. Esme comes to America to date a strangers son she doesn’t know he is autistic. The dynamic between these two was frustrating and sweet at times.

This was a sweet story full of emotions that you won’t be able to put down. I am looking forward to more work by this author.

The Bride Test is a fast-paced, engaging romance. Helen Hoang writes such vibrant, emotionally honest characters that I can’t help but be sucked into her stories.

Esme broke my heart and put it back together more than once. Normally I have issues with characters who keep secrets, but I understood Esme’s actions and because Ms. Hoang writes her struggles so well, her keeping secrets didn’t frustrate me like it normally would. Esme is a hardworking, kind soul who has been repeatedly made to feel like she’s not good enough, not “classy” enough, not deserving, and so forth. Her mix of strength and vulnerability grabbed my heart and I loved watching her come into her own, to learn that she is worthy in every way. Her personal journey was one of my favorite parts of The Bride Test and I was rooting for her success every step of the way. Watching her find love was really a bonus and when the hero in question is Khai, it’s a big bonus. Khai is brilliant and kind, but he has ghosts in his past which make him feel like he has a heart of stone. Khai is autistic and – as with her last book, The Kiss Quotient – Ms. Hoang does an incredible job of writing a protagonist with autism. The fact that he’s autistic doesn’t define Khai, but it is a part of him and Ms. Hoang shows how this affects his internal and external reactions in a realistic way. I adored both Khai and Esme, so of course I wanted to see them get their happily ever after. The two of them fit well together, but there was an ineffable spark that just seemed to be missing from their romance. As invested as I was in the characters, their love story was a bit of a letdown because there was nothing pulling me in, no electric chemistry to make their falling in love a compelling journey.

The Bride Test is the second book in the Kiss Quotient series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. I did like the few appearances Michael (of The Kiss Quotient) made, though they did have the unfortunate side effect of reminding me how much more exciting his and Stella’s chemistry was. It would also be remiss of me to write about The Bride Test and not mention Quan. I desperately hope Quan gets a book soon because Khai’s sexy, loving, compassionate brother just about stole every scene he’s in. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Bride Test. While I had some issues with the romance, the characters were so interesting and richly drawn that I finished the story a satisfied reader, one who hopes for more Kiss Quotient books.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Romantic Comedy. Standalone in a related series. Stands well alone.
*If you like shorter reviews, skip down to The Down & Dirty*

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang was one of my favorite books of 2018 and I couldn’t wait to read The Bride Test, featuring Khai, the young autistic accountant.

“Nothing gets to you. It’s like your heart is made of stone.”

Khai’s emotions are expressed differently than the average person and when he didn’t cry at something everyone else did, he assumed he was completely incapable of love and pushed everyone away.

“Lonely was for people who had feelings, which he didn’t. It wasn’t loneliness if it could be eradicated with work or a Netflix marathon or a good book. Real loneliness would stick with you all the time. Real loneliness would hurt you nonstop. Khai didn’t hurt. He felt nothing most of the time.”

Khai had resigned himself to being alone, and he was fine about it until his mother traveled to Vietnam to find him a wife. Esme lived in a tiny one-room shack in Vietnam, sleeping on the floor with her child and her parents and cleaning hotel bathrooms to support them. When Khai’s mom happened upon her, she knew she found the perfect girl for him. Desperately wanting a better life for her family, Esme left her child with her parents and went to California for the summer.

(Bookstagram)

Khai can’t say no to his mother, so when she tells him he will have a roommate for the summer, the young man who doesn’t even date can’t refuse her. Esme’s energy and desire to please Khai was refreshingly adorable. Khai fighting his feelings for her was such a cool thing to read about because he truly believed he has no feelings. But what bothered me is that nobody explained to Esme that Khai was different and may not treat her as she thinks he should. I mean, his mom brought her over from Vietnam and wants them to work out, why wouldn’t she explain?

“I’m autistic, and I have sensory issues. There’s a certain way to touch me, especially my face and hair.” He switched his attention to her face. “It’s probably best if I show you. Can you give me one of your hands?”

This was one of the rare times autism was even mentioned in the book. But with a language barrier and being caught in the moment, it went in in one ear and out the other for Esme. Had he, or anyone in his family explained it better, so much angst could have been spared (but then I guess we wouldn’t have a great book, right?)

Khai never thought he’d be with a woman, so his discovery of his needs was charmingly funny.

“Fuck, he was sporting an erection in his damned car. If he hit a speed bump, he’d probably break his dick in half. He needed to think about the desert, the arctic, Statement Number 157 from the Financial Accounting Standards Board, anything else.”

And when things progress, he really doesn’t know what to do.

“They don’t talk about the ‘clitoris’ in health class at school.” It didn’t even sound real. For all he knew, it was an urban myth, like the Chupacabra.”

Reading the book, you know Khai is in love, but he thinks he isn’t capable.

“Love and addiction were different things.”

But he was more than capable of love, and I loved everything about Khai. I never doubted his love, but Esme had so many other reasons for wanting to stay in America that I never felt like she was 100% in it for Khai rather than the opportunities in America.

(Quote graphic)

I still loved every second of reading this sweet and unique novel, I just wish I felt more of her love for him.

Likes:
•How different Khai was from Stella in the first book. It shows how unique Autism is to each person that has it.
•It was funny! Khai’s inner voice and his innocence were sweet and funny at the same time.
•How important family was.
•The true Vietnamese culture.
•Esme’s strength and desire to better herself both for herself and her family.
•More of Quan! We need his book, please!
•Seeing her impact on his orderly life made me laugh. I loved watching his obsession and addiction to her grow.
•The author’s note at the end was so important to the story.
Dislikes:
•I would have liked to have felt her connection to him and love for him a little stronger.
•The one thing that bothered me is that he only mentioned he was autistic and had sensory issues once (until towards the end) and then brushed it aside. Had he encouraged her to look it up, or if any of his family explained it to her, she would have understood him so much more. I feel like the author missed a fantastic opportunity to educate, but instead glossed over it.
•She kept her secret for way too long.
•The end felt rushed.

The Down & Dirty:
Getting to know Khai and seeing him gain a better understanding of himself was my favorite part of The Bride Test. As a reader, we were able to see that Khai was in love, and it was heartbreaking to read that he thinks he is incapable of the emotions he so clearly has. I also loved the drive Esme had to better herself as an immigrant woman. The Bride Test was a charming story that I gobbled up in one day and loved every second of, but there were a few things that held me back from the 5-star rating. I felt that his autism should have been explained to her early on (and to the reader as well), and I didn’t feel that she had the same desperate love for Khai as he did for her since she had her own reasons for staying. Still, I would 100% recommend this unique and diverse book to anyone looking for a romantic comedy with a little something extra, and I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Rating: 4.5 Stars, 3.5 Heat

I found this book slow for about the first 80 pages or so. After that I was hooked. This one is still steamy, but not quite as much so as The Kiss Quotient. In a lot of ways I liked this one better. The romance was great, and I loved the characters. My only issue was how fast one major conflict wrapped up in the end. I think that the central issue really took time to resolve, and I like that, but the smaller issue was just there one sentence, and resolved the next. Nevertheless, I can't wait to read the next one from Helen Hoang!

I am one of those people that hasn’t read The Kiss Quotient yet, so I went into this book with a pretty blank slate. I’ve been putting off this review because even a few weeks later, I’m not completely sure how I feel about this book. The main disconnect, I think, was that I disliked some things academically… while still finishing this book in about a day after not finishing anything for about a month.

The things I disliked were not things I was passionate enough about to stop reading the book. Mostly it was just mild frustration about things like Khai’s family interfering so much in his life, and the plot consisting of so many problems that could be solved by having conversations (Khai believing he has no feelings, Esme’s daughter/job being kept a secret). The most frustrating of these was probably Khai’s wealth. Even at the end of the book, in the HEA, it seems like Esme is still really in the dark about his finances. I get that this is more or less playing into the “prince swoops in” trope, but it still bugged me.

That being said… I still finished this book in a bout a day and stayed up WAY too late reading it. The characters were incredibly charming, and I liked that both main characters had arcs besides just falling for each other. Esme’s journey largely circles around bettering her life, and Khai is, as mentioned in the summary, working through this idea that he has no feelings. I also really enjoyed seeing how Khai interacts with the world, especially since I knew the author also has Autism Spectrum Disorder.

“She was already a song that played on endless repeat in his head.”

There is something extraordinary about Helen Hoang’s storytelling. The way she tells a story, she leaves me mesmerized and captivated. I fell in love with her craft when I read her debut, The Kiss Quotient, read my review here —> http://www.schmexygirlbookblog.com/review-excerpt-the-kiss-quotient-by-helen-hoang/

Once again she took me on a journey that was a mixture of cultural delight and a one-of-a-kind love story filled warmth and sensuality.
The Bride Test is a story about a girl who had no future or hope, but had incredible strength and poise that rivaled most heroines I’ve read about, and a boy who didn’t love or feel, but only existed in his own little world. They are perfectly awkward together—it’s like watching baby deers taking their first steps as they explore love and a relationship for themselves.

“Closer, she needed closer. She tried to melt into him, rubbed her body against his, but it wasn’t enough. Her palms ached to touch and explore, to know him. She resisted the urge and gripped his lapels tighter as he kissed her jaw, nipped her earlobe, and sucked on her neck. Goose bumps rippled over her skin.”

This book was filled with so many real and unforgettable moments. It was funny, endearing, and warm. But also it had sad and heartbreaking moments as Khai and Esme fall in love. I laughed and wiped away tears, my heart squeezed painfully and soared high as I was reading The Bride Test.

“I don’t love you.” His entire being hurt like it was imploding. “I never will.”
“This isn’t funny,” she said.
“I’m not joking. I’m completely serious.”

Like I said this book is not only a unique and original love story. It’s a kaleidoscope of Vietnamese culture, family and friendships weaved together masterfully by Helen Hoang. It was exceptional and this author is in a league of her own honestly. Just phenomenal and so incredibly talented.
I loved seeing characters from her previous book, The Kiss Quotient. Michael, still soooo swoony and Qian 😍 <— I desperately need his book!!!
I adored everything about this story!

While Khai and Esme are an unlikely pair, together they lit this book on fire.

I can’t wait for more from Helen Hoang.

Even with only two books under her belt, Helen Hoang has cemented herself as a go-to author for me. If she writes it, I will read it. Her stories manage to be enchanting while packing a punch of realism and her characters feel so genuine. Her words touch me deeply and yet she manages to entertain me greatly…overall, her books are a perfect union of fiction and real-life. And, this story is no different.

For those of you who read The Kiss Quotient, you’ll recognize Khai as Michael’s cousin. Because of his autism, Khai thinks he’s broken…that he’s not capable of feeling. Of course, in reality, that’s not true. He just feels differently. Enter Esme. When given the opportunity to better her life and that of her daughter by coming to America to marry Khai, she takes it. Little does she know what she’s in for…and little does she know that Khai’s differences are what make him perfect for her. I was captivated by the way she learned how to love him on his terms, something that seemed foreign to her at first. Their interactions and their banter was fantastic and I absolutely enjoyed being inside both of their thoughts. These two couldn’t be more different but the heart wants what it wants and this story proves that sometimes the rocky road to love is oh so worth it.

This book could have been very serious and angsty but the author found creative ways to balance those situations with humor and heart. The family dynamics were such fun and Khai’s nosy mother had me smiling every time she entered a scene. This book is sweet and sexy and fun…and important. Under the guise of a fictional romance, the author teaches us what it’s like to think differently, to be different, and highlights the value of open-mindedness and support. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next!!

I have been looking forward to Hoang's next book since the second I finished reading The Kiss Quotient and she did not disappoint me with The Bride Test! The characters were a lot of fun and I loved learning about the differences in Vietnam and America. This novel was fast paced and constantly left me hanging at the end of each chapter. The characters were loveable and I kept finding myself thinking of them as friends instead of characters on a page.

The Bride Test was un-put-downable and I ate up every last word. It was entertaining, thought provoking, and even had me feeling pretty emotional a time or two! I would highly recommend this novel to readers who loved The Kiss Quotient and readers who enjoy a good romantic comedy/contemporary read. It was so much fun! Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

This book was AMAZING! Helen Hoang is really becoming a force to be reckoned with in the romance industry. She's making topics seen and heard, and I am here for it!

Helen Hoang has written another excellent novel as a follow up to The Kiss Quotient. In The Bride Test, we are introduced to Khai Diep, a young Vietnamese-American man who, like Stella from The Kiss Quotient, is on the autistic spectrum. Khai has a lot going for him: he's a successful, good-looking accountant who owns his own house and is surrounded by a loving, extended family. The only thing missing from his life is a woman to love--something Khai doesn't believe he is capable of doing. Khai's mother, deciding to nudge him toward finding a wife, travels to Vietnam, bringing home with her the young, beautiful Esme Tran. Esme is a young, hard-working, mixed-race woman who meets Khai's mother while working as a maid to support her young daughter as well as her mother and grandmother. The plan is for Esme to live with Khai for the summer, at the end of which they will either fall in love and marry or Esme will return to Vietnam. As with Hoang's first novel, The Bride Test is full of the ups and downs of family and tradition as they intersect with and sometimes conflict with modern American life. Once again, Hoang does a wonderful job of combining the Vietnamese-American experience with the perspective of an individual with autism to create a warm, funny and sometimes heart-wrenching story.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review..

“He was ignoring everyone, including her, at this expensive wedding. So he could read a novel about alien demon things. “

Book : The bride test

Author : Helen Hoang

Genre : Fiction , Romance , Contemporary.

Rate : 4.5/5

Review in one word : Heart-Warming

************

When I read romance novels , I always have the same question , Why all the main characters should be perfect !! , I don’t know if this just me but from all the romance books that I have read in my life ” and I’ve read A LOT ” I came out with one realization ….> there are specific standers that authors use when creating the main couple ….

But Lately I’ve sensed some changes , Authors are starting to write more realistic Romance with issues that we need to know about , With characters that deserve to have love and Happy ending , because everyone in this world should find love , no matter how rich , educated , beautiful , smart , complicated they are.

When I first read the Kiss Quotient , I was in Awe, I mean I’m usually reading romance just for entertainment , but while reading the book , I was gaining perspective about people who have Autism , I was starting to understand them , and I loved it so much , because we need more Romance with unique main characters , we need to get hope from them , and give hope that Love doesn’t require you to be perfect .

The Bride Test , I was waiting eagerly for this book since I finished The Kiss Quotient , finished it in one siting , a really good book with awesome characters and great plot , I really liked how the writer go deep with the characters emotions especially Khai , his character was really interesting , I loved reading about his life so much , about his feelings for Esme And how he was dealing with them .

Esme was a good heroine , she had her own issues that she was dealing with through the book , in addition to her relation with Khai .

What I loved about the book , it wasn’t centered about the love story between the main characters , nah , I lived with them through the pages , all the aspects of their life , work , family , thoughts , relations and love .

It was really amazing to read such a great book , if you want a good romance with interesting story , this is for you .

“It felt too big. At the same time, it didn’t feel like enough.”
https://bibliomedico.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/the-bride-test-review/