Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I felt this way about a book. The Kiss Quotient has affected me probably more than any other book I’ve read recently. Easily my top favorite this year. I have a feeling it will be a 2018 favorite for many people.  The writing is superb and the characters are absolutely perfect.  Add to that a sweet, swoon worthy romance and voila you have this amazing story!

I didn’t know anything about the author before reading this book. I had heard a lot of buzz on social media about the book. I was intrigued by the storyline, a woman with Aspergers who hires a male escort to teach her about sex. This isn't a fluffy romance, it deals with a serious subject matter.  But it's presented in a totally romantic, sweet, loving way.  It's immediately obvious that the author has first hand experience with Aspergers. I just knew with really knowing that Helen Hoang was deeply affected and connected to this disorder. Her writing is rich and deep, yet it it sensually coats you in this happy giddiness that only a really good romance can do.

My heart was immediately and completely engaged with the beauty of Michael and Stella’s relationship. Her insecurities, her awkwardness, her compartmentalizing, compared to Michael’s patience, compassion, and good heart, made for an epic love story. I couldn’t get enough of Michael. The way he thought about Stella. The way he understood her needs on a subconscious level really sold their relationship for me.

There were many times when I had to pause to reflect on the many emotions I felt while reading The Kiss Quotient. Helen Hoang’s brilliant writing shines light on a subject we don’t often read about.  I feel so much more empowered after this story.

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book *

I have been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it last year. If you’ve been following my blog for any amount of time you’ll know I love romance. It is definitely my favorite genre. I love love stories. I love reading about characters who learn from their mistakes, and grow in order to open themselves up to love.

THE KISS QUOTIENT is a perfect example of everything I love about romance. The story centers around Stella and Michael (it’s dual POV!). Stella is an econometrician who happens to have autism. She is being evermore persistently pressured by her mother to get married and give her grandchildren. One of the things Stella deals with because of her autism is an aversion to touch. She doesn’t love it. She tolerates it when necessary; like when her mother hugs her with her overwhelming Chanel perfume, or holds her hand for too long. Stella doesn’t know how she’ll give her mother grandkids when she can hardly stand being touched by another person.

A passing comment from a jerk of a coworker leads her to hire an escort to teach her how to be good at sex and relationships.

Enter Michael. A Swedish-Vietnamese escort who has issues of his own. Although we don’t know exactly what those issues are until later. Right away the reader knows Michael doesn’t love being an escort. He does it because he needs the money due to the fact that he has a never-ending pile of bills coming every week.

Something about Stella strikes Michael right away. She’s different. She’s interesting and sweet, and he’s drawn to her immediately.

Their arrangement slowly morphs from Michael teaching Stella how to be good at sex to Michael being Stella’s practice boyfriend… and I think I’ll leave it there so you can find out the rest of it for yourself. :)

I loved these characters. Although I don’t have autism, I feel like I could relate to Stella and some of her insecurities. Stella’s such a caring and sweet soul, and you want her to have everything she’s ever wanted. Which soon becomes Michael.

I don’t think there are enough good words to use to describe Michael. Caring, thoughtful, attentive, gorgeous, loving, funny, tender, creative, smart… you get the idea. He definitely has things he has to work through though. He has issues with his father and has to learn that just because his father is a terrible human, doesn’t automatically make Michael one as well. He is his own person and won’t become his father —> but Michael has to learn that on his own.

Both Stella’s and Michael’s individual character growth was lovely to read. Seeing how these characters navigated new situations, unexpected feelings, and stepping out of their comfort zone, was one of the reasons why this was just an enjoyable and unputdownable story.

I loved how Stella and Michael were as a couple, even if it was just ‘practice.’ They were so sweet together and you could tell as a reader that this wasn’t as much as a practice relationship as it was a real one.

A big part of the story is consent, but it's done in a way that shows that it doesn't hinder the romantic aspect of consensual sex. It actually makes the scenes that much hotter in my opinion. Michael uses consent as a way to figure out what Stella is comfortable with and to get her comfortable with being intimate. He never does anything she isn't okay with and instead of trying to convince her, he consistently tells her to let him know if she's uncomfortable and that they can move onto something else. He listens and pays attention to her verbal and nonverbal cues in a way that shows he truly cares about her. It is a great example that shows that consent doesn't ruin the mood, it only adds to the intimacy.

All of this is a testament to Hoang’s writing and storytelling ability. She brings you into the story right away by exposing Stella’s vulnerabilities. You can’t help but feel compelled to read to find out what happens. I did my best to drag out my reading time on this. Even going so far as to leave the epilogue to the next morning so it wouldn’t be over.

I cannot recommend this book enough. If you love romance, if you love a great story and even better characters, read this book!

Small little disclaimer for those of you who don't normally read romance. You should know this one is quite steamy. In my opinion, it added to the story and was necessary for the characters’ journeys. Personally, I don’t like sex scenes for the sake of having a sex scene. They have to have a greater purpose, and I think these did. Just wanted to give y’all new to the genre a heads up!

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Two Minute Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Monday, June 4, 2018
Title: The Kiss Quotient
Author: Helen Hoang
Genre: romance
Series: N/A
Pages: 336
Published: June 5 2018
Source: publishers via NetGalley
Rating: 5/5

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...


Wow -- a strong debut and a thoroughly wonderful surprise. This was just absolutely fun and one I didn't want to end though I gobbled it up in two great marathons of utter concentration. Nothing could divert me from Stella and Michael's slow-but-also-not courtship. From the start, it's authentic and engaging and focused on several often ignored perspectives with both sensitivity and care.

The Kiss Quotient is romance done really well -- it's warm, funny, and the plot is driven by more than just superficial conflict. It's an impressive effort for a debut because the story hardly misses a step. The author may be new but she knows her way around a trope; how to use them, invert them (reverse Pretty Woman!) and how to create sexual tension.

The Kiss Quotient makes for a memorable and heartwarming read; one full of well-drawn characters in an engaging love story that brings the feels and the shipping. A promising debut and easily a full five-star read. It's just plain fun to read. This is one that will be visited again in the near future when I need a guaranteed winner.

Every now and then I feel like I hit the lottery when I get to read a book that blows me away for so many different reasons. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang is one of those books. It’s UNIQUE and HEART-WRENCHINGLY BEAUTIFUL. It toyed with my emotions, going back and forth being elated and hurting as Stella and Michael navigated a complicated relationship. I don’t think I ever fell this quickly and hard for characters in a book. These two just had me from the start. They are raw and real. Both struggling with a complexity of issues. They are vulnerable, but somehow as they cross paths, we see hope and this undeniable connection that takes over the pages.

Their first kiss was one of THE MOST innocent yet sexy and HOTTEST kiss I ever read. The Faith Hill song popped into my head as I read it —>
“It’s the way you love me
It’s a feelin’ like this
It’s centrifugal motion
It’s perpetual bliss
It’s that pivotal moment
It’s, ah, unthinkable
This kiss, this kiss
Unsinkable
This kiss, this kiss” <— that KISS was the best first kiss of all the first kisses!!!

What if you are different, you don’t fit the mold of the society. What if you try desperately to fit in, to find love but failed time and time again. Stella IS different, she is struggling with social interactions. So she hires Michael, an escort to teach her how to be more comfortable around males. Her previous experiences broke my heart. This woman is amazing, sweet and my hero.
Michael is not your typical escort, from the start there is something about him. It’s like he is in tune with her. He is just so perfect!!! One “date” turns into 4… and the rest is history.

But Michael has a past that makes him question his worth when it comes to Stella.

“You did. You said you were done helping me but I still wasn’t enough. You said it, and you meant it. You can’t take it back now.”

I almost felt like an intruder as I watched their intimacy unfold on the pages. It’s DIVINE!!

I was stealing glimpses of their private moments because they became real. It’s sensual and erotic filled with seduction and yearning. Yet innocent and beautiful at the same time. I was mesmerized and swept up into the story with these two. I didn’t want it to end. To witness these two brilliant characters fall in love is a privilege that I will cherish in my heart.

“The world stopped. All was silence but for their hearts trying to synchronize their crashing.”

This story broke me and put me back together. It’s sad and happy. It’s inspiring and heartwarming. Innocently sexy, swoony and brilliant. It’s just simply UNIQUELY and UNDENIABLY BEAUTIFUL. A complete stand out in the sea of books. Helen Hoang’s debut is fantastically written and so important!! It’s a smart romance with all the elements that will make you swoon but also think. It’s a different kind of love story. It’s almost a “first kind of love” because it felt like that before these two met, there was no one, no one significant, no one worthy enough. It’s INSPIRING, it’s BOLD, it’s RAW, it’s REAL and it’s MAGNIFICENT!!

*Complementary provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

The Kiss Quotient is a book that has been on my radar ever since I saw the cute cover circulating on Twitter few months ago. As most of you know I am such a cover lover and this one was no different for me. What attracted me the most were the the bright beautiful covers, and the cute couple in embrace, after diving into the book I was so happy to discover that the cuteness on the outside was in abundance on the inside!! I was hooked from the very beginning by the story line, and by the characters, and by the writing. There wasn't a time where I felt bored and I did not want to put my kindle down for one second.

In The Kiss Quotient we follow our main characters Stella, and Michael. Stella has Asperger's and feels that she's come to a point in her life where she needs help in the relationship department, namely with help in the bedroom. She wants to be able to feel comfortable with a man touching her and not be limited to her disability. She decides to hire Michael a male escort to help her with her dilemma. Micheal is a biracial escort mixed with Vietnamese and Swedish, and he takes the offer because he really needs the money. He thinks that this will just be the typical job for him, then move on to the next. But from the moment he meets Stella, and the more time he spends with her over the course of their lessons, the more he becomes intrigued by her. And for Stella, the more time she spends with Michael the more she feels like she's more than her Asperger's. He opens up new feelings within her that make her feel like someone is finally seeing her for her.

First things first, one of the best things about The Kiss Quotient is the rep. We have a main heroine with Asperger's, and a biracial male mc. 2018 has continued to become a great year of diversity in publishing with the big house publishers and I think it's a big step in the right direction. From the moment I read the first chapter I was hooked on the dynamics of the story line, and by the relationship that developed over the course of the book. Stella quickly became a favorite heroine of mine, and I loved that despite the challenges stacked against her, she was still a headstrong independent woman that knew what she wanted out of life. And although her fight was different than mine, I still related so hard to her struggles in social settings. It's always comforting to read about a character having the same struggles you face daily and have never been understood for. She wasn't painted as a person that was only defined by their disability, and more importantly she wasn't a character that was made out to be someone that had to be saved by love in order to be accepted or normalized.

And Michael was such a gentleman. He was seriously the sweetest person for Stella and I loved how patient he always was with her. The way her treated and respected her filled my heart with all the feels and I loved them both together. The love and care he showed to her from the very beginning was so swoon worthy and I loved reading and seeing their relationship progress over the course of the book. And I really loved how Michael's Vietnamese heritage was shown in the book and I loved his family!! I feel like sometimes in books we don't always get a lot of a character's family being involved but his was. I loved seeing glimpses of his family members and seeing all of their personalities and how close they all were. You could tell that they all genuinely loved one another and the sacrifices they all made for one another showed that love even more.

Another thing I loved about reading this was the steaminess!! Y'all know I'm a proud smut lover and I was lowkey shook by how sexy this book was. Don't let the cute cover fool you, there's some steam within these pages lmao. But also don't let that deter you from reading this one. There was a great balance of sexiness and actual plot to keep the story moving along. I do wish that part of the conflict between them as far as Michael's life wasn't such a conflict because I feel like it was a bit cliched. I think it's a thing we see quite a bit in romance novels, but it wasn't such a huge issue in my overall reading experience because I was still very much invested in the book.

Helen Hoang has blown me away with this debut, and I am now eagerly awaiting any future releases!! If y'all are looking for a cute romance book with some feels, but also want a but of a sexy fix and some diversity then do not hesitate to pick this one up!!

It's my first time to meet an econometrician and I am in awe of what Stella can do. She's fascinating, especially when she talks about her profession.

Michael is equally fascinating. You'll understand when you find out more about his craft. HE'S SO DREAMY. ♥

Why I love this book:
-It's reaching for your dream. Michael's real profession surprised me. I fell in love with him more when I found out what he really wanted to do, and it broke my heart that he wasn't entirely supported to do it.
-It's fighting for love. Both Stella and Michael had to compromise. They come from different socio-economic backgrounds and they have very different families. Making their relationship work was not an easy task, but love won.
-It's born from the author's self-discovery. I absolutely loved reading the author's note because it's where Helen shared her "journey of self-realization" and it made the book extra precious. I want to send endless hugs of gratitude to Helen for writing The Kiss Quotient. ♥

Other things I love:
-Representation. 'Nuff said.
-Michael's tattoo. And his abs. #sorrynotsorry
-MICHAEL DOES KENDO!
-THAT ICE CREAM SCENE. Truly iconic. I need that scene in a movie. I need this book to be a movie.
-The appearance of the character I hate the most. I never saw the plot twist coming and I just have to give Helen a slow clap for that.
-Stella's theory!
-Calla Lilies. I'm about to get emotional.

The Kiss Quotient is a remarkable debut that will steal hearts with its charm. Amazing in so many ways. Five stars all the way. ♥

The following review is gushy and wordy. I am not paid by the author, she wouldn’t know me from the next romance fangirl. There may be a wee bit of word vomit and squeeing sounds, because when I love, I love hard. Here we go.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between

The Good
I always bring it back to food and music. So much of what brings me joy in life is tied to good music and good food. If you equate a romance to a recipe, tropes are the ingredients that make it all taste good, when handled well and seasoned with just the right emotional touches. If handled poorly, heated to the wrong temperature, you get a hot mess. This book, is a tasty treat that I’ll be savoring for a long while.

The recipe for today’s romance is a dash of hooker with a heart of gold with a twist (it’s the hero, not the heroine who’s an escort), a dash of socially awkward heroine trying to learn to be “normal,” a and have a relationship, a splash of diversity represented in the hero’s ethnic background and in the ‘verse itself, blended with a real life issues in a sensitive and responsible manner that give dimension and depth to this flavorful stew.

The character arcs for Michael and Stella are well developed and strong. Both Michael and Stella have spent a lifetime being define by what people see on the surface. As they both grow and learn from each other, I was enchanted.

The romantic Firsts (meet, kiss, sex scene) are a great blend of sweet and heat. I loved that I went from awwing at a tender moment, to slightly sweaty because for some reason (I know, foolish), I didn’t expect the heat that was here, but it was definitely there. In spades.

The protectiveness and sensitivity that Michael displays in his interactions with Stella, even before he realizes she is autistic, is just swoonworthy. This is a man who respects her and values her, every bit about her and it melted my butter. Several times.

Stella was a fantastic character, well thought out, and easy for me to connect with. In my work as a criminal defense paralegal, my firm handles many cases involving clients on the spectrum. Like reading lawyer romance novels, it’s hard for me to give up and dive into the fantasy, because there’s that voice in my head that turns into that GEICO commercial saying "That's not how this works!"

But I didn’t have those moments with Stella. My heart broke for her, several times, because I understood why she had such a hard time, why she couldn’t always articulate what was wrong, and above all, why she did not want anyone’s pity. By the end of this tale, I loved that it wasn’t about her “curing” herself, it was about accepting herself. Truly well done.

The supporting characters are well drawn too. None are cookie cutter, none just act in a certain way to prop the plot. Well, maybe one but I’m not mad at it. Also, can I tell you how refreshing it was to read about a hero/heroine’s mother who isn’t stereotypically horrible for plot convenience? I finished this story yesterday and I’m still thinking about the little moments that made this ‘verse shine. It was stellar.

The Bad
Nope.

Sigh. Ok, if I take a moment and try to be objective, was the reason for Michael’s escort work conveniently noble? Perhaps. Were there other moments that could have been handled in a much more serious manner? Probably. Is that what I want in my romance? Not necessarily. The story’s narrative could have easily been overpowered by the subject of autism and the issues that autistic people face every day. It could have spent way too much time focusing on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. I loved that her autism is part of her but it not all that Stella is. Michael is an escort, but that’s not all he is. I never thought that I was being preached to.

My primary objective is to immerse myself in the romance and to enjoy it as much as I can. There was nothing that took me out of the moment so badly that I consider it a flaw. I never forgot that I was reading a romance. So, nope, nothing bad to see here.

Everything in Between
I had a hard time, putting this down just to do every day stuff. Thank goodness I read it over a weekend, and that my husband understands this reading obsession of mine. This is a ‘verse that I wouldn’t mind visiting again, if say a story happens to develop around Michael’s cousins or his family. I’m just saying, if you write it Ms. Hoang, I’d probably read it.


The Bottom Line
I adored it. It was the story of two people falling in love, each with their own challenges, learning to accept themselves and each other, just as they are. That’s all I ever ask of any romance. I don’t hesitate to recommend it.

I am honestly shocked that The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang is a debut novel. The story was intriguing, sexy and brilliantly written and I can say that I feel smarter after reading The Kiss Quotient!

I adored Stella, she is a brilliant and strong woman, even though she struggled with social cues, among other things due to Asperger's, that is really what made her more endearing to me. The Kiss Quotient is very much a Pretty Woman role reversal, and I loved the way that Stella's analytical mind made her more ballsy than most other women. She didn't just use her escort, but she was actually considerate of his feelings.

Michael was supposed to be the utter professional when it came to escorting, and he had rules to keep him on track. That is until he met Stella and broke every single one of them. Watching Michael fall in love slowly with Stella was so heartwarming. Actually watching both of them, they were so freaking cute.

The Kiss Quotient is brimming with some of the hottest kissing scenes. In fact, I would probably go as far to say that the kissing in the Kiss Quotient is hotter than sex scene's in other books that I have read.

If you are looking for a smartly written love story with diverse characters that is witty and empowering then you must read The Kiss Quotient!

The Kiss Quotient is quite the unexpected romance novel. Our main character, Stella, is somewhere on the autism spectrum and desires to become better at sex and relationships. To do so, she hires Michael, an escort. to teach her how to “be good at sex” so she knows how to flirt, attract and maintain a sexual relationship. As Stella doesn't naturally enjoy begin touched, this is quite the challenge. Of course, because this is a romance novel, Michael is able to break through her barriers and be the person Stella needs. This is a fun, original, sexy and real read. Highly recommend.

5+++ STARS!

The Kiss Quotient, a debut novel by Helen Hoang swept me away from the very first page! It was such an unexpected surprise and a sweet, memorable romance.

Understanding these complex characters and really seeing them made this book extremely special. They didn't allow their struggles to define them, especially Stella who has Asperger's. She's independent and strong and I felt a connection to her instantly.

Stella and Michael couldn't be more opposite, yet one in the same. Their chemistry was undeniable and I loved the in's and out's of their relationship. What started out as a business arrangement soon became so much more. They were two broken pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly.

This book was everything you love in a romance story. Angsty at times, sweet, and steamy with relatable characters. Helen Hoang put pieces of herself into this story and every single piece shone brightly! She's truly a phenomenal writer. I cannot wait to read more of her books down the road!

Every once in a while, a book comes along and blows you away. The Kiss Quotient is that book for me. By day, I am a special education teacher and I have had the joy of working with many students on the Autism spectrum. These kids are awesome! So, to read a book about a woman with Asperger's trying to figure out relationships and love is amazing. Hoang does a marvelous job of really making the reader understand the quirks of someone with Aspergers. Seriously, some of the things Stella says or does I have heard or seen my students do! And so many of the things the adults do (her parents, coworkers, exes, etc) I have seen as well.

Stella doesn't like sex. She decides that a tutor would be helpful! This leads her to Michael, an escort! The set up between these two was great! I loved how Stella approached sex and I loved that Michael was not judgmental about it at all. These two are so different but it works perfectly.

If you love unconventional characters (a woman with Aspergers and a male escort-seriously! Thats pretty unconventional!), The Kiss Quotient delivers. Helen Hoang has become my hero author and I will forever buy every one of her books. This is a story I know I will reread. I will probably grab the audiobook so I can listen whenever I want!

I loved this book! I think it's so important to give voice to characters like Stella, and Helen Hoang does so brilliantly. Equal parts funny and sexy, this is a romance that crosses genre lines and will appeal to a wide audience.

I'm so thankful to this book for getting me out of my slump. I don't think I've actually finished a book this quickly (or at all) in a while.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but what sold me was how many people were comparing it to The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. I adored that book, and I've wanted a good romance that wasn't a huuuuuge cliche at this point.
This one did it for me. I probably should stop telling my friends to read it, because I'm annoying them all, but it was just so good!

It was well written, diverse, sexy, and sweet.

The character development was so well done, in my opinion, and I felt every single emotion that the characters did.

I can't say how much I loved this, aside from EVERYONE. PLEASE READ IT.

Ohhh yes! Read that “oh yes” in your most steamy and sexy bedroom voice because I think that embodies how I feel about “The Kiss Quotient”. It’s a book that I never knew I wanted. I get tired of formulaic romance plots sometimes but this one is just something I really enjoyed. If you must know, I am squealing and squiggling with swoon writing this review over here.

The book is pretty much a gender-swapped “Pretty Woman”. Stella’s job as an econometrician pays well but she needs help in dating. So she seeks help from Michael, an escort, who is swamped with piled up bills to pay. The book is in alternating third person limited PoV between the two of them. So we both know that they are perfect for each other since the beginning but they both insist on keeping the facade of their relationship all business-like. At one point, Stella finds kissing Michael too addicting and she thinks it will endanger their “strictly” professional relationship, so she imposed a wink-to-Pretty-Woman-no-kissing-on-the-mouth rule. But don’t let the thirsty romance reader in you worry because that rule gets easily broken eventually, and there were lots of “practice” kissing and more than “practice” kissing involved.

Stella and Michael are both lovable characters. I like them as a couple and I like them as individuals. As individuals, they both have their struggles to overcome. Stella is having a hard time in embracing that being autistic is part of who she is a person. Aside from financial troubles, Michael is struggling being his shady father’s son. Each of them were given ample pages to accept themselves and discover themselves on their own but in the end, they also get to rescue each other. As a couple, not only is their chemistry off the charts but more importantly, they make mutual consent sexy. The highlight of mutual consent in sex is what made it an appealing and refreshing romance book for me.

Goodreads says that this is the first book of a series but it can be read as it is. The book’s ending is tied up in a beautiful HEA bow. I think the sequel/s will deal with the romance of the side characters introduced in this book. I already have another favorite character in mind that I want to read about. Hello Hellen Hoang, can you please make the next book about Michael’s cousin, Quan? Just a request, thank you.

(review link will go live on June 3, 2018)

Five...No Six, Nope...So Many More Stars
* * * * * * * * * * * ** ** * ** * * *
Spoiler Free
I am not one to say, this is going on my 2018 favorite book list... Mostly because I never do a list. But this time, before I tell you anything about this book, I will say I think this book will go down as one of my favorites of all time....Not one year or another... But of my personal reading experience.

I can comfortably say this because I could not stop reading it. No, really... I had important, time sensitive things which needed to be accomplished and had to force myself to Step Away From The Book. I was so captured by every single element, there was Nothing that turned me off or distracted me. Every single element worked.

Oh, and the kicker, Helen Hoang is a first time author!

There are many reviews already singing their delight with the book which will be more detailed then this. Please enjoy them... or you can do what I did... which was to go into this mostly with the blurb only.

What I will share is this gem is one of the most insightful books... Insightful about human interaction and how stressful it can be... Because all of us have over thought situations, second guessing what to say or how to receive what was just said.

In this book, both Stella and Michael have reasons for their preoccupation and analyzing of the communications between them. Both are under misconceptions of what the other is feeling and thinking. But both are feeling and wanting each other passionately.

And oh, the passion... the sensuality... the magnificent kissing and more...Just a single graze of a lip was enough to swoon for...I Loved This Couple.

I also loved every detail about his sibling and parental relationships Michael had with his family. From the first glimpse of grandma with the description so visual...I saw her and understood her. The same was felt for the rest of the family. Stella's family was not as pronounced but were there and present when on the page.

These two characters were so strong, they occupied my mind when I did have to step away from them. I was astounded by Stella's emotional strength, her challenging herself and how she maneuvered the endless minefield of social interaction we all take for granted. Michael was a man who one could not love. He sacrificed much to make sure his family was safe. He fought his own inner demons to not hurt others as he had been hurt. Even with the side job he was doing out of necessity, he had ethics and limits he would not cross.

So basically, that is all I have to say about his amazing book.. well sort of...
If you haven't figured it out by now, my main desire is for you to read this book. I promise you will not be disappointed...Really, pinky swear...

The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1) by Helen Hoang The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~

When you are methodical, focused and centered on things which can confuse others...
It can be a challenge for most of us...

With Stella Lane, it is her talent but also a barrier...
And when you have a mother asking for grandbabies, what can you do...

Well, you approach a puzzle in the same way you have always done...
You get education...

Michael Phan has the weight of the world on his shoulders...
His father left his mother as cheating was his passion,
The family needs taking care of...
And Michael is the only one who will step up to the plate...

They have no idea of how he is doing it, though...
And when Stella needs Sex/Kissing/Life Lessons...
He is the one She picks...

Only problem, He may be the teacher for her...
But she is teaching him more than he ever imagined...

The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1)-June 5th 2018

A gifted copy was provided by Berkley | Penguin Random House via NetGalley for an honest review.

Once I started this book, I stayed up until 5am to finish it! It was THAT good. Hoang does an amazing job in creating such complex, nuanced, interesting characters that you can't help but feel connected with them. You become so emotionally invested in each character and their respective arcs from the get-go that you simply cannot put this book down. The Kiss Quotient is a romance novel that goes beyond the typical cliches by instead having a refreshing and modern twist along with engaging, relatable characters. Hoang's debut novel had me laughing, crying, yearning, and everything in between. Sleeping can wait, reading The Kiss Quotient cannot.

If you’ve ever wanted to read a gender-bent take on Pretty Woman with an Own Voices autistic protagonist and a hunky Vietnamese-American male escort, then this is definitely the book for you! And if that description doesn’t make you want to immediately make you want to pick up this book then honestly we have very different ideas about what makes an awesome book.

Stella is an extremely successful—and admittedly work-obsessed—econometrician. But when it comes to her love life? Well… it’s kind of lacking. Enter Michael, young, attractive, and working part time as a male escort to cover his mother’s medical bills. Stella hires Michael to give her lessons on how to be in a relationship. Except things get complicated fast when feelings start to get in the way. And to make matters even worse, Stella and Michael are both keeping big secrets from each other—secrets that they both fear could cost them any chance at love or each other.

I don’t read a lot of romance, so you know if I’m recommending a romance book, it’s got to be good. And my oh my is this book good! The relationship between Stella and Michael is so sweet and the Autism rep is amazing. I can’t speak directly to that, but I can say that the anxiety and sensory overload scenes are spot on. It’s pretty racy, so if that’s not your thing you’ll probably want to steer clear. But if you don’t mind a few sex scenes, then this book is just so perfectly cute and fun and perfect for summer.

Stella Lane is used to being able to use math, and her job as an econometrician, as a way to predict what consumers will buy, and she's very good at her job, plus, she loves it. What she has so far been unable to use math for is her dating life. To help with that, Stella hires professional escort Michael Phan to teach her about intimacy. When it becomes clear that it's more than intimacy Stella needs help with, she wants Michael to stick around and be her fake boyfriend and help her with her socialization skills.

Michael, who started escorting to help pay for his mother's medical bills, typically doesn't book a client twice. He's had some bad experiences in the past where one client became a bit too obsessed with him. He's ready to turn Stella down, but there's something intriguing about her that Michael wants more of, plus he most certainly could use the money.

As Michael and Stella embark on this charade, they find out they enjoy being with each other, but their own insecurities could keep them from finally saying those three little words.

I thought that The Kiss Quotient was a wonderfully unique romance. For me, Stella was the standout character. I loved the way Helen Hoang tackled Stella's autism, the way it is portrayed. Acknowledged, but still not defining who Stella is as a person. Her anxiety in certain situations just jumped off the page. I could feel it while I was reading the words. But I could also feel the moments when Stella would start to feel comfortable and I loved how we see Michael accepting the things that make her anxious and helping get her to the point of calm. Where a touch, or too much noise doesn't upset her.

I've read other books where one, or more, of the main characters are dealing with some kind of mental, emotional, physical, etc. barrier, but I felt like Helen Hoang has done the best job of making it more understandably accessible, at least in Stella's case. I understand everyone's situation is different and unique.

Because I felt Stella was such a force to be reckoned with, I felt like Michael was a bit overshadowed. As mentioned, he began escorting in order to help pay his mother's medical bills. Not only that, but he's had to put his hopes and dreams on hold, not necessarily forced to, but he felt compelled to do so, in large part to show that he is the furthest thing from his father who cheated on and left Michael's mother high and dry. He hasn't complained, and he's not angry, but at the start of The Kiss Quotient you can see he's beginning to get tired. Tired of having to take different women out every week, and tired of being made to "perform", to deliver a wonderful evening for paying customer(s).

When I say Michael feels overshadowed, I don't want to convey that his conflicts aren't valid or aren't apparent, because they are. But I felt like his insecurities with being lumped in with his father and his father's actions was kind of tacked on. I wanted Michael's situation to feel as unique as Stella's, but feeling like you don't fit in with someone because of where you, or they, come from, is a common issue in many romance I've read.

I did appreciate the fact that both Michael's family background, and Stella's autism are things that people have judged them on in the past, and therefore they are issues that they don't want to be defined by. In that regard, working through how others perceive you, are things that both Michael and Stella are unknowingly dealing with together.

If you're looking for a fresh, unique, sweet romance you can look no further than The Kiss Quotient. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book by debut author Helen Hoang, and I can't wait to read the next book. I hope she continues to write these lovely characters that stand out from the crowd.

Authentically true characters elevate a good book to great, and Michael and Stella are as real as you can get. That's only a fraction of what makes The Kiss Quotient one of the most exciting and memorable books I will read this year. It's only May, and I know this to be a fact. I'm sitting here trying to come up with a way to explain just how much I enjoyed this book without sounding trite. These two characters have completely stolen my heart and they deserve so much more than that.

This is one of those stories that I entered into with zero expectations. (Helen Hoang is a debut author!) After only a few pages, I found myself so completely immersed and invested that there was no real life until I turned the last page. I was utterly ADDICTED, and unable to put it down. Word of advice: do not start this book late at night, people, because you can kiss a good night's sleep goodbye. The humor was effervescent, the narrative crisp and clear, and the love story was an unconventional match made in heaven.

On the outside, Stella Lane seems to have it all. She excels in her chosen career as an Econometrician. After all, facts, figures, algorithms, and statistics are like child's play for her. She's creatively gifted, comes from a family that loves and only wants the best for her. But there are many things that Stella struggles with every single day, simple things that most people take for granted. Stella has Asperger's. Interacting with people always seems to end badly for her, so going to work becomes her solace, and her personal life becomes non-existent. She has no close friends and no past romantic relationships to speak of. After constant pressure from her mother to find a man, she decides to take charge of her life and hire a professional to help ease her into physical intimacy and dating.

I adored everything about Stella, even the things that she perceived as faults. There was absolutely zero artifice to her. Her thoughts filtered through her brain, and directly out of her mouth with complete innocence. The unpredictability of what she would say would have me laughing out loud on many occasions. Her brain is hardwired to examine things analytically as opposed to emotionally. She would use data she discovered from work to solve her problems in her personal life. Getting inside her head was fascinating and endearing all at the same time.

Escort Michael Phan only works on Friday nights, and there are no repeat performances. It wasn't something he enjoyed, but a sacrifice he was willing to make. Like a mask he would take on and off, he became another person, and then slipped back into his everyday life. A desperate financial situation has him backed into a corner, forcing him to live a double life, hiding his activities from his family. When he arrives to see his client, Stella is the last thing he was expecting. You could see right away that he thought she was adorably funny and cute, and her intelligence was a turn on. His protective side immediately came out as he noticed her vulnerability, and my heart swelled seeing how sweet he was with her.

I could feel how perfectly they matched during their first interaction. He intrinsically knew she needed patience, and he soothed her anxiety without judgement. That was something that was imperative for her to have. But despite his best efforts with Stella, she was going to need more time...something he didn't have to give. What he didn't know? She was about to make him break all of his rules and shatter every last one of his expectations.

I loved the way their relationship evolved. There was never a moment where I felt that what they had was cheap or meaningless. They both treated each other with respect from day one. He didn't see her as just a paycheck, and she didn't treat him as her personal property. And there was a total comfort between them that eased them into their attraction. Before they knew it, they were moving from a physical tutoring arrangement, to a fake dating relationship, to true intimacy and hopes for more.

Both were clinging to secrets that they felt would alter how the other felt about them. Big secrets. Insecurities would get in the way, and fears would have to be faced. Michael had to let go of his fear of turning into his father, and allowing himself to pursue his own path. Stella needed to love herself exactly as she was, challenges and all, and have the confidence that others could as well.

I can't finish the review without talking about Michael's relationship with his family. The ribbing between the siblings, and the honor and loyalty that centered around them all was beautiful. They were the absolute sweetest. I couldn't get enough of those scenes, especially the ones where they brought Stella into their fold and accepted her as one of their own. Michael's friend Kai will be getting his own story next in The Bride Test , coming January 2019! My anticipation is through the roof for more!

To sum up: It was delicious. I happily devoured the charm Hoang served up with a spoon, and left the table fully sated in romantic bliss. It was sexy, sassy, and everything I could hope for in a contemporary romance. Don't walk...RUN to pre-order this gem of a book.

I loved how we got a chance to delve into the minds of Stella and her view of the world. Michael was a conflicted man who truly loved his family. Stella hires him to teacher her better social and intimacy skills in order to find a man. As Stella gets more comfortable with Michael we see their relationship develop into more than just a business relationship. As we see their worlds collide several times they have to learn to trust each other and their love.


I enjoyed the look into the Vietnamese family life, I just wished for a glossary or something.