A delightful contemporary romance with non-typical characters. Lots of chemistry between the protagonists, and steamy romantic scenes. Highly recommended!

As an avid romance reader, I am always looking for love stories I haven't read before. Helen's book is a story about love told from the perspective of someone on the autism spectrum, and I was grateful and blown away by her ability to portray this romance with such detailed nuance and love for her characters.

There isn't much better as a reader than finding a debut novel that you have zero expectations for, and it blowing you away. The Kiss Quotient did just that. Helen Hoang wrote a book that is smart, sexy, made me laugh, and gave me just the right amount of feels. There wasn't one thing I would change about this story or the characters. I loved everything about it!

Stella Lane is a thirty year old econometrician who is smart and successful, but lacking in one area of her life. Relationships. After her mother pressuring her to settle down and meet someone, Stella decides it's time she gives it a try. Stella has Aspergers, a high-functioning form of Autism that makes her a little awkward when it comes to relationships, sex, and certain social situations. Due to this, she decides to hire an escort to 'teach' her how to navigate this.

This is where Michael enters. Michael is an escort, but he's so much more than that. He is a stand-up guy who only escorts on Friday nights as a way to help his family financially. Honestly, he feels that he has no choice. When he meets Stella, he is stunned someone like her would hire an escort. She fascinates him. Michael is kind to Stella, he's patient and understanding to her situation. So much so, that being with him one night won't do.

Michael and Stella develop a friendship and relationship of sorts. One of my favorite things about this book was seeing how Michael grew to care for Stella, embraced her quirks and handled everything that made her different. Both of these characters made my heart so happy. I adored them both and wanted nothing more than their relationship/friendship to go to the next level.

One thing I found so refreshing about this book is Stella's character. I could tell Hoang knew what she was talking about when she wrote Stella. Even though Stella is much different than me, she was very relateable. Michael and Stella brought out the best in one another and their connection and chemistry were off the charts.

The Kiss Quotient is quite honestly one of the best books I've read this year. It was perfection. The story is refreshing and unique, and the writing is intelligent and fresh. I can't wait to see what else Helen Hoang has in store. I'll definitely be reading every and anything else she puts out!

Considering I plowed through this in 5 hours, rather a delightful romance! Quirky characters with unique professions.

The Kiss Quotient is a seriously sexy, fun book that has rekindled my interest in the romance genre. When it hits the spot, I LOVE a good romance, but I rarely find one that goes beyond cliches and instalove so I usually end up bored. Not with this one. Not one bit.

It's the perfect blend of sweet and steamy. And let me be clear: this is not YA. There's a lot of graphic sex scenes, though I should also say that the author builds up to it really well; she knows how to tease us. It was just so nice to read a book where sex is actually sexy and not political, cold, a form of manipulation, or not sex at all because consent went out the window.

This is an ownvoices book about Stella, who has Asperger's syndrome. Convinced she needs lessons on how to be good at sex and relationships, she hires Michael, an escort, to teach her. Michael is mixed race - Vietnamese and Swedish - and described as a hotter version of k-drama star Daniel Henney. In a gender-reversed Pretty Woman scenario, the two inevitably end up developing feelings for one another.

Stella's autism makes it difficult for her to know how to behave around other people, and she also struggles with being touched. Through this, the author explores the importance of consent - Michael is deeply respectful of her boundaries and always waits for her to be 100% ready. Perhaps it sounds less sexy than the spontaneous grab-and-go on the office desk sex but it actually isn't. It's kinda wonderful.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang is the 1st book in her new Kiss Quotient series. I did not know what to expect when I decided to read this debut novel by Hoang, as sex was a major background of this story. I was totally surprised when I found myself unable to put the book and down enjoying it very much.

The whole concept of The Kiss Quotient is based on a girl who has Asperger's (autism spectrum). Stella Lane is close to 30, smart, very successful in her job as an econometrics, and she loves her job, being a workaholic, working 7 days a week. Stella is also wealthy, both from her job and her family. Stella does not deal with socializing, and especially dating; which her parents pressure her to find a man, get married, and have kids. But Stella does not enjoy dating, and hates kissing or sex. She decides that since she has no social skills, she needs someone to train her how to act on dates, and to practice sex. Stella feels this will help her find someone to be in a relationship with.

Enter Michael Phan, who is an escort who reserves only Fridays to offer his services. Michael needs money to help his family (mother has cancer and big bills), and the escorting pays well. He also helps his mother, as a tailor in their store, and on the side, Michael is a designer, which he has not had much time to concentrate on developing more. When he meets Stella, she gives him a list that she wants to learn, which at first he finds amusing. But he senses her fears, tension and awkwardness, and decides to take it slow; just getting her used to being kissed and stopping there. Michael never escorts the same woman again, but he decides to give her three more lessons, which will include going out on date, attending a club, and slowly having her get used to taking her clothes off.

Michael was a great hero, as he was so sweet, patient and understanding of Stella’s issues. In a short time, their chemistry together was sizzling, especially as Stella began to learn to enjoy her training, as she began to feel things she never knew existed. When Michael learns later about her autism, and he work towards helping her overcome her fears. He was the perfect man for Stella, though they both felt nothing would come from their “training”. Michael had his father issues (he left them years ago), his mother’s illness, as well as his siblings to help take care of. Even as he was falling hard for the sweet Stella, Michael felt she deserved more.

The Kiss Quotient was a sensual, emotional, heartwarming and sexy story. It was amazing to see Michael help Stella through her social anxiety, and the loud noises that made her tense and awkward. I loved Stella and Michael together. This was so well written by Hoang, as she manages to keep us glued to our seats with this wonderful story, with a fantastic couple.

❝Michael was mint chocolate chip for her. She could try other flavors, but he'd always be her favorite.❞


What an original, inspiring, transparent and enlightening read! The fact that this is a debut by Helen Hoang blows my mind! It is seriously good! The writing, plot line, and character development were superb. I loved every word.

'The Kiss Quotient' is about a wealthy woman, named Stella Lane, who works as an econometrician. Her mother is pressuring her to find a man, marry and have children. But she struggles in social situations, thus making relationships difficult. Further, sex isn't something she enjoys nor believes she's good at. Determined to succeed, she decides to hire an escort to teach her how to have sex.

❝Girls like me have never been asked out by a single boy. Girls like me have to find their own way, make their own luck. I've had to fight for every success in my life, and I'm going to fight for this. I'm going to get good at sex, and then I'll finally be able to entice the right person into being mine.❞


Michael Phan's father left the family with financial difficulties and his mother's illness has continued to drive the family deeper into debt. Doing everything he can to help out, he works as a tailor at his mother's dry cleaning store during the day and as an escort on Friday nights. As he struggles to make ends meet, he worries he may one day be like his father. Between his Friday night activities and his father's legacy, he doesn't believe he is worthy of anyone.

As her escort, Michael doesn't rush Stella or push her into sex. Instead, he finds ways to make her relax and learns what she needs. It's Michael's kindness, generosity, and understanding that makes Stella yearn for a relationship with him. Michael loves how he feels with Stella. She genuinely likes him for who he is. Both fear how the other will react once their truths are told and both know they will never be the same when it ends.

The raw and transparent way in which Hoang wrote our heroine, Stella, not only brought the character to life but may have dispelled some beliefs about women with autism. At the very least it helped enlighten readers about "high functioning" autism. For Stella, we read about her struggles to be like "everyone else". From her conversations with others to her obsessions, it was exhausting for her to try and remember what was and what was not socially acceptable to do and say, while also keeping in mind how her words and actions affected others. These are things many of us take for granted.

The honest way in which she wrote Michael's character reminds us that we all struggle with issues, we all have something we wish was different or that we were better at. These two characters made me think about how easy it is to judge others because they are different or their choices might differ from what we would choose to do. But those differences deserve understanding, not judgment.

A spectacular debut, 'The Kiss Quotient' will make you laugh and cry. It will beg you to love your perceived flaws and be understanding of the flaws you perceive in others. Make sure to pack this in your beach bag, it is perfect vacation read!

The Kiss Quotient is a sweet gender-swapped take on the movie Pretty Women. Our heroine, an autistic econometrician named Stella, hires a sexy escort named Michael to help her practice getting comfortable with sex so that she might eventually find a romantic partner.

Stella’s autism has been a large part of why she avoids sex. She doesn't really like being touched, and her misunderstanding of social cues has led to her accepting a lot of crappy interactions that she felt she needed to be in to seem...normal, I suppose. Part of the chemistry of Stella and Michael’s “relationship” has a lot to do with the fact that, even though Stella doesn’t disclose the truth about herself, Michael is all about asking her what she wants and catering to her needs. Of course, she also sought him out, so she is genuinely attracted to him. It's mutual

I would categorize this as erotic romance, as the sex is descriptive and uses some “dirty” language. Definitely a sexy book!

I had a couple of issues, but they are common for me when it comes to romance novels and it’s mostly nitpicky stuff, like the language used by the man during sex, which I sometimes feel is more of a turnoff (that's just me!) depending on what is said. The other issue was that Michael was alpha-male-esque, which isn’t really my thing. He wasn’t a stalker or anything, but he spoke a lot about wanting to protect her, wanting to harm people who have upset or used her and referred to her as “My Stella” (possessive). Again, this is something I don’t enjoy but that I know is a big part of the romance genre, so I am aware that I might be in the minority here.

It was also bit repetitive and the drama sometimes felt unnecessary, but again, those are large parts of romance novels, so I respect the construction of the story.

Overall, this is a sexy book that shows the real feelings of an autistic woman (Hoang herself is on the spectrum) and smashes a lot of stereotypes. Unlike many TV shows or movies that seem to play off high-functioning autism as quirky or use it for laughs, Stella is simply human. I also adored the way that Michael respected her, which was an awesome show of what consensual sex looks like.

People are going to love this book...they already do! I’m looking forward to what else Hoang has in store for the romance world.

This one has quite the buzz! I've heard/read/seen several friends talk about it, so of course I was thrilled I got approved (Thanks, Berkeley Romance!). I adore books that are out of the norm. Autistic heroine? Non traditional hero? I'm all in, baby. But maybe, and don't shoot me for saying it, but I think my expectations were too high with <i>The Kiss Quotient</i>, because I feel like I'm the only person in the world who isn't going to give it five stars right now.

Normally, I know when a book is going to own me. It usually happens by around page five (if not before). And I kept waiting for it to happen here, but it never did. I had a lot of trouble connecting with Stella's character from the very first page. I mean, don't get me wrong--the book isn't bad. The idea of it is great. I want to high five the hell out of Helen Hoang for writing this story. Her characters were lovely. But Stella and Michael together? I didn't get it. I'm still lost on whether or not I actually believe they should have fallen in love. The whole thing felt very insta-lovey to me, which in certain situations, I don't mind at all, but in this case it felt like there should have been more angst. More struggle, for <i>both</i> of them. With Stella's diagnosis and Michael's hangups about his dad and the whole thing, well, it just felt <i>too</i> easy, too sweet. So sweet it wasn't believable for me. Clearly, I'm broken because I can't enjoy a sweet book for what it is anymore, but that's where I'm at with this one.

The last time I enjoyed a romance novel this much was... hm, I think the word I am reaching for is NEVER. I am always looking for good love stories but rarely find them. This book scratched my romance itch just right. I pretty much loved it.

So the setup goes like this. An autistic econometrist unable to form relationships and under pressure from her mom to start a family hires a male escort to teach how to “be good at sex” so she knows how to attract and keep a man. She doesn’t really like to be touched, so this challenge is no joke. If you’ve read romances or at least watched Pretty Woman, you can see what happens next. The escort Stella hires is hot and fun, and most importantly, kind.

You know how you read something soul-crushing like Cat Person or that notorious recap of a date with Aziz Ansari and get nauseous and depressed? Well “The Kissing Quotient” is the opposite of that. It is a celebration of human connection, consent, pleasure and, as clinical as it sounds, enthusiastically reading the other person’s nonverbal cues.

As it always happens with romance novels, I did lose a little interest once the hottest part was over and the inevitable dramatic breakup started unfolding before the final sprint to HEA (I am not really keen on wedding, engagements, babies, etc.) To the author’s credit, the novel mostly stayed away from tedious misunderstandings I loathe.

But all in all this was a fantastic experience. A romance equally hot and sweet.

You can request it on Netgalley.

This is definitely worthy of all the praise it has been getting. A standout book in it's genre.

Debut novel about a high functioning autistic woman who tries to navigate the world of dating. At points both touching and laugh out loud funny. Highly enjoyable quick read.

I couldn't believe The Kiss Quotient was a debut novel. It's so exquisitely written with an added unique twist to a fairly familiar romance trope. The plot made for a satisfying and easy read with excellent characters and fluid storytelling. Helen Hoang showed a real gift for and great care in creating characters for whom you may not be able to exactly relate to but ones you can understand and feel their emotions emphatically.

Stella and Michael are two opposite sides of the coin searching for companionship and rightfulness in their lives. They're searching to stay afloat and find meaning. How they find each other lends to a interesting dynamic between right off the bat and that connection simmers throughout their journey together. I did find some of the beginning 30% or a little too clinical and while I know there was good reason for this it became a little distracting. However, the story engaged me enough and after that point Hoang hit a true romance stride.

This story widely encompasses the power of love and really emphasizes that we are all different as human beings and we all deserve to feel that love from someone who will respect and cherish us and our being. It's a charming, feel good romance that will leave you feeling whole and happy that you've read it.

This is a PERFECT romance novel. Misunderstandings! Fake dating! Fascinating, complex characters! Deep romantic connections! Growing as individuals to support the other as a team! This book made me so happy. All romance fans need to pre-order it right now.

This is a fabulous debut romance novel with quirky but engaging characters. A bit of a 180 for a typical genre romance.

What an incredibly delightful book. If you're a romance reader then you needn't look any further because THE KISS QUOTIENT is IT! Helen Hoang has crafted a romance that is hilarious, ultra swoony and delicately evocative. It will make your heart swell with all the feels while making your toes curl with all the other feels. I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long time.

Helen Hoang is an author to watch out for and I can only happily anticipate what she has in store for us next.

I loved The Kiss Quotient!!! It’s an amazing debut novel.

The description of the book said “heartwarming”, and typically, heartwarming is not my thing. But The Kiss Quotient was so sweet, so sexy, so unique, that I may need to re-evaluate what I truly like to read. Because I may be into “heartwarming” after all!

I could not put this book down for so many reasons. The writing was engaging, the characters oddly relatable. I picked this book up for the sole reason that Stella was autistic and I was curious to see how an author tackled a romance heroine who was on the spectrum. Helen Hoang did it with such class and humor that I fell in love. While Stella had Asperger’s and her social interactions were at times awkward, her genuine desire to make people comfortable and work past what she perceived as her failings were so endearing that I couldn’t help but adore her.

Michael was also just the sweetest thing. His desire to put Stella at ease, first as a client when she hires him as an escort to tutor her in sex and relationships, and then as a man who falls in love with her, was just beyond endearing. His inability to see any of Stella’s social actions as a problem, but rather to understand them and work with her to integrate into her world, was just flawless. I enjoyed Michael’s backstory, and the exposure to his Vietnamese extended family, and how the author was able to take the sometimes over-used trope of the “fake relationship”, and make it entirely fresh and new.

As a debut novel, this story was amazing. Even if she had written a dozen stories, this book was pretty fabulous. It was the perfect mix of sizzle, affection and humor. It was just (dare I say it?) heartwarming.

***ARC received for an honest review***

Two real characters in a somewhat unrealistic story. Michael, an escort, is hired by Stella, an econometrician with high functioning autism. I. Loved. Them. Stella had so many layers and about 100000 idiosyncrasies with which I could sympathize. She made for an inserting, compelling and compassionate heroine without a simper or a snipe. I cannot stress to you how real Stella feels to me. Michael made for a good hero - worried, thoughtful, kind, steamy and struggling. He was perfect for Stella.

One of the draws, I think, of paranormals or historicals is how they let the reader completely separate from reality. I don't know how a werewolf or a duke dates. I'm not bound by the rules when I read something from 1890 or something that involves a character that feeds on blood. Even a lot of contemporaries are so action-heavy as to be comfortably ridiculous. That buys the author a lot of freedom. However, modern dating is something I know. (Despite being out of the game for 10 years.) I think it's challenging to craft a story that feels realistic yet keeps the reader's attention. So I'm not holding that much against this book.

<b>"'Girls like me intimidate boyfriends away. Girls like me have never been asked out by a single boy. Girls like me have to find their own way, make their own luck. I've had to fight for every success in my life, and I'm going to fight for this.'"</b>

If you're looking for a contemporary that's smart, different and thoughtful this is your book.

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Perfection! I absolutely adored every single thing about this story, It's been a while since I sat down and devoured a book with such excitement, and I had a smile on my face throughout the whole book.

Stella is a statistician, she loves numbers and order, but due to the fact that she has high functioning autism, she really has no idea how to navigate the tricky subject of sex and boyfriends.

Enter Michael, an escort who Stella hires to help her learn how to deal with men with more ease.

I just loved the way Michael dealt with Stella's eccentricities, he understood her so well and it was plain to see from the start that he was going to be the perfect man for her! And perfect he was, I especially loved seeing him with his family, he had the biggest heart <3

What starts as a fake relationship, turns into friends to lovers - lots of butterflies whilst reading this one, and when the sexy times appeared, then WOAH! It was pure chemistry.

Such a refreshing read, I cannot wait to see more from Helen Hoang, this debut makes me so excited for what's to come.