"A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her." If you have not yet ventured into the world created by Helen Hoang--don't wait any longer!! The third book in The Kiss Quotient series is just as wonderful as the first two.

this was my least favorite book out of the series. tbh im really disappointed ....

let's start with the positives:
- this book is very well written and thoughtful and shines light on things that i had never heard of, such as autistic burnout and caregiver burnout
- i liked the chapter breaks to switch POVs and first person (the other books were the opposite)
- i appreciated the portrayal of depression, was very realistic and impactful

my qualms:
- this did not feel like a romance book to me
- i felt like quan was a side character in his own story
- NO ESME AND KHAI CONTENT. fuming.
- anna's family was so despicable they made me crunch on my teeth
- pacing was super weird and didn't make sense, and i feel like the ending did not leave me satisfied at all

overall, this book is very impactful and touches on things that i was not familiar with. however, it lacked the chemistry and tension that the other books had. i also was most excited for quans book because he was my favorite character, yet i feel like i did not get to know him better at all. i know he had the big life changing event prior to the beginning of the book that impacted him and his personality, but i felt like we didnt really get to see the depth of it. for lack of better words, it felt fake deep?? that might sound insensitive and that is not how i intend it, but i cant think of any other way to say it. i liked anna, but i did not understand how quan fell so in love so quick because i feel like for most of the book they were not even together. and i dont mean in a relationship, i mean at all. we didnt see many phone calls or texts between them in the "during" section, which is supposedly when they fell in love? were we jsut supposed to fill in the blanks?

i am definitely going to reread this series, but i think i had too high of hopes for this book because the first two were amazing. dont get me wrong, i still bought and read this in one day, but it is leaving a bad and unsatisfied taste in my mouth.

Helen Hoang writes beautiful, funny, bingeable romance stories that you leave you feeling a little better about humanity. her characters are truly good people- and you can't help but to immediately become investing in their stories about love, family, and identity.

a complex, heart-warming story of family dynamics, life on the autism spectrum and powerful moments. The 3rd in the series, this book is a must read! I devoured it and really loved the author’s note at the end - so powerful!

I found this book to move so quickly. It was enjoyable, but man this girl has some serious luck with dating but not wanting to date seriously. This girl has no problems finding a guy almost immediately, while I’m out here struggling on the daily. Lol anyway. I enjoyed this book overall, especially highlighting those on the spectrum and limits we push with people we love. Only one issue for me: there was one sex scene that really bugged me. It felt manipulative without necessarily being manipulative. I don’t know. It felt a little far-fetched in the moment.

Another great addition to Helen Hoang's romance series! I purchased a copy for the library and will recommend to my romance loving patrons and readers looking for disability representation!

What an absolutely stunning installment.

I will say this to temper expectations - The Heart Principle is a heart-breaking contemporary that deals with really hard subject matter - from suicidal ideation, to palative home care, to diagnosis denial from loved ones, to autistic burnout. It's a rough ride. That's not to say it doesn't still have the romance we expect from Helen Hoang's books, but the focus is more on Anna's journey in accepting the she is on the autistic spectrum rather than the romance or even Quan.

I won't deny it - I wish there was a bit more to Quan's character - he was set up so well through the series and I was genuinely excited about his book. While he does play a big role in Anna's support system and he is exactly the man we know and love who respects women and loves his family and friends, there wasn't that spark of connection with him that I felt with Khai and Michael. He very much felt secondary to Anna and I'm a little sad about that.

I loved Anna and she deserves all the warm solid hugs she wants and to never have anyone touch her hair. Her journey hurt a lot because it wasn't just her diagnosis that she had to process, but she had to be a caregiver for a family member in palative care, she had to deal with her family denying her feelings and her diagnosis, and she had to deal with so much masking to please other people because that's what she was taught. Her journey is portrayed amazingly and in such a way you really understand her pain.

In terms of family, there really are pressures like that within Chinese and East Asian (and I'd argue most Asian) families - we don't make waves, we fit into the space we're giving and work with it. There's a reason we're often called out as a "model minority" and this is also the reason it can be a problematic. I felt so bad for Anna and her family - trapped in such a toxic cycle.

I saw a lot of my own family and my own habits reflected in this story - the requirement that I not speak up, to contain myself, to show filial piety at the expense of my mental health. It was sadly relatable to me, and probably would be to so many people out there. I love that Helen Hoang put this in her book and worked through it.

I also appreciated the caregiver burnout rep - the fact is, with the aging population, there are a lot of people who are struggling with caring for a loved one with health problems. It's troubling and there really isn't a good support system for it.

As a whole, while I was disappointed with Quan's side of the story (I wanted more of him and his life and family and struggles - like I was surprised that Khai was barely in this book), I still give this five glowing stars because, expectations aside, it was phenomenally developed and spoke so much to me and my own experiences.

TW: death of a family member, long-term palliative care of a family member, diagnosis denial/rejection from family members, suicidal ideation, mentions of cancer and infertility, autistic burnout
Rep: Autistic own voice, Chinese and Vietnamese coded MCs

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Hoang's latest novel is a fantastic read, which may veer more towards contemporary fiction than straight romance. It is a heartfelt exploration of mental illness, familial dynamics and self-care.

This was a good romance. I had some difficulty relating to the character since I would never act the way she does, going along with whatever everyone wants. But otherwise I really liked their relationship and how their romance was on an even playing field from the start. The situation with her dad was highly depressing, so trigger warnings for dying parents and talks of assisted suicide sort of.

Happy publication day to @hhoangwrites and her poignant and powerful third novel, The Heart Principle!

I finished this book nearly three weeks ago, but I've still been thinking about it (go back a few weeks in my feed if you're interested in my initial thoughts!). Part fiction and part memoir, this book was a definite departure from the nature of Hoang's The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test, but I think that's what makes it so rich, vulnerable, and touching.

While there is some romance in The Heart Principle, it acts as a secondary plotline, allowing the powerful themes of mental illness, anxiety, autism, difficult family dynamics, caregiver burnout, Alzheimer's and dementia, autistic burnout, and self-acceptance to shine through.

This story has so much heart, and though it reveals and chronicles Anna and Quan's challenges and struggles, it also allows readers to see and better understand Hoang's challenges as both a writer and someone with autism spectrum disorder. I've loved Helen and her writing since The Kiss Quotient, but I truly believe this is her greatest and most touching book yet. Helen, thank you for being so brave, so graceful, so vulnerable, and so incredibly real. You and your characters continue to be such inspirations, and I'm so grateful for your work and all it's doing to prioritize and de-stigmatize mental illness.

If you haven't already, absolutely pick up a copy of this one today, and don't forget to read the dedication, the powerful author's note, and the acknowledgments. They make this book even more beautiful and impactful, and understanding the struggles Hoang faced while writing this one will make you love and appreciate her even more.

I would also be remiss if I didn't state that, unlike The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test, this book is much heavier and packs an emotional punch. Parts of this one were heartbreaking to read and increased my own anxiety at times, so if any of the aforementioned topics are triggering for you, be gentle with yourself and take your time reading this one (or read it at a later time).

Thank you again to @hhoangwrites @berkleyromance and @netgalley for my gifted e-copy of this beautiful novel and the chance to read and review it early. My hard copy is on its way, and I can't wait to read it all over again. Take whatever time you need with your next books, Helen; we'll be here patiently waiting and ready to support you.

It goes without saying, but this one receives all the stars from me

This was perfect. The perfect way to end this series. I cried and laughed and at the end wished there was more. If you loved her other books you’re in for a treat.

Kinda forgot to review this on here- SORRY!
But of course, this book rocked! Helen Hoang came out swinging with The Kiss Quotient and she just kept hitting home runs! This was the book I was most looking forward to and it did not disappoint! This is a great series for anyone that needs a fluffy romance with extreme depth!

A delightful book full of adventure, action, and thrills. Fun to read, engrossing world building, and very descriptive imagery made it feel like it was cinematic. It's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. Would recommend.

This was a beautiful book. I feel lucky as a reader to be able to follow along in both Anna and Quan’s individual journey and emotional growth. Wow!

Anna’s personal growth throughout the book was heartbreaking, frustrating, and beautiful. There is a scene where Anna is looking at her butterflies and I just felt, by how intimately it was written, that this was a special moment from the author’s life. This is confirmed later in her acknowledgments. Anna really went through a tough transformation in this book. From finding out she’s autistic, being a caretaker, to standing up to her family for those she loves (including herself), she went on an emotional roller coaster and I was right there with her. There were times I was genuinely infuriated by her family, especially her sister for constantly dismissing and gaslighting Anna. There were many scenes that were difficult to read. But it ends well and in a place of healing. I love the ending and the reconciliations she makes with people in her life.

Quan is the ultimate hero! Im swooning hard for him. He is the kindest, most patient, and lovable partner. Sometimes in romance books, I feel like the author gives the love interest certain issues or hurdles to make the character seem more complex. But it often feels shallow and the character ends up flat. This was not the case with Quan. As a recent cancer survivor, he is grappling with a lot of changes both physically and emotionally. The author gives him enough time in the story to make Quan come to life. There is a moment of great internal struggle where he learns how to accept his new normal. And it was one of my favorite chapters in the book.

While I loved the cute romance between Stella and Michael in The Kiss Quotient, I think Anna and Quan will stick with me longer. This book is a romance but the characters’ personal journeys are explored at length and play an equal role in the story as the romance. If you’re into a lighthearted romance, this is not it. It’s heavy, emotional, cathartic, but it still ends with your romantic HEA.

As you can tell, I loved this one a whole lot and I highly recommend.

Spice level: R - detailed descriptions

This book was deceiving imo and was too emotional for me to even finish. It felt like the last third was an entirely different book and genre, one that I did not sign up for.

This book is EXCEPTIONAL!

Anna is a violinist who decides to find a one night stand on a dating app after her boyfriend tells her he wants an open relationship. She meets Quan, and he’s nothing like the guys she usually dates. But despite their differences they find that they are just what the other needed.

I believe this is Hoang’s best work yet. It was relatable and emotional on several layers. Hoang is an extremely talented writer and she’s was able to capture the nuance of burnout in your 20s, navigating family (especially during a hardship), and falling in love in a way that I have not seen before. If I worked in a public or university library I would absolutely purchase this book.

I loved this book so much! Thank you so much for the early read, it was everything I had hoped it would be,

The Heart Principle is the third interrelated romance novel from Helen Hoang which began with The Kiss Quotient and followed with The Bride Test. Hoang has carved out a cottage industry of romance novels examining relationships between a protagonist that is somewhere on the autistic/ocd spectrum with someone who is not. Naturally misunderstandings and difficulties ensue from this mix. The Heart Principle continues in this trend. The protagonist, Anna Sun, finds herself paralyzed by her success, endlessly repeating violin passages fruitlessly seeking perfection. Her family doesn’t understand her problems nor is it particularly sympathetic or helpful as a result. Enter Quan Diep, a failed one-night stand, who seeks to understand and help, and falls in love. Although Hoang provides a sensitive and compelling romance, those who have followed her earlier work are likely to be somewhat disappointed. The Heart Principle is a solid entry into the series, but it is neither as novel nor as sizzling hot as her previous work. She risks settling into a formula. My advice: Although she has a formula that has worked thus far, Hoang needs to venture out into new fields before she ends up boring herself as well as her fans.

I loved the focus on burnout as an adult in this book. It felt very realistic and I'm a sucker for a good romance so all of it together was phenomenal!

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang ⁣
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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💗 Raw. Beautiful. Emotional. 💗⁣
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I can’t say enough how beautiful this book is. I was a little nervous I would be a little lost because I didn’t read the bride test, but I was able to read it just fine. Anna became a YouTube star by accident when she played the violin at a concert, and since that performance she struggled with playing as well as she did that night. But that’s not the only area in her life she’s been having problems. She has a habit of always doing what others want, instead of what she actually wants. So when her perfect boyfriend tells her he wants to be in an open relationship, she doesn’t know what to do with herself. So she joins a dating app, where she meets a sexy guy with tattoos and rides a motorcycle. Quan hasn’t been with anyone for a while, because of some health complications he had. So he joined a dating app to put himself out there again, and it’s when he meets Anna :) ⁣
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Quan is probably one of the most gentle and sweet men I’ve read about in a while. The way he helps Anna through her struggles is so sweet, and endearing. When they were together it was like fireworks. Even though this story was so beautiful, I wish they had more time together. When you read it you’ll see why they are apart for certain periods of time, but I wouldn’t have minded more time with them as a couple :) ⁣
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Thank you @berkleyromance for an e-arc this book was amazing! Also the audio book is amazing, I couldn’t stop listening to it!