Stella, who has Asperger’s and an econometrician, prefers to work than to date anyone. She has difficulty in communication, no eye contact and has troubles in social gathering. Michael, an escort, has Vietnamese and Swedish heritage and “dark past”.

The Kiss Quotient is in two POVs. I like it that I get to read both Stella and Michael’s a perspective. I would like to commend Helen Hoang in writing Stella’s POV because it is on point, well-researched. Someone who has Asperger’s is not the same as someone who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A person with Asperger’s is highly functional, though there are symptoms that are similar to a person with ASD. On the other hand, it’s kind of weird to read Michael’s POV because my husband name is Michael. Anyway, the character development is all right. At some point, it is frustrating that every time Stella is having a great time with Michael she remembers that Michael is her practice boyfriend. But this one is intense. I have read some reviews before that this one is steamy. But NO ONE told me it was super intense steamy.

Also, this book shows Asian family ties. How Michael’s family show strength, love, support and value each other. Also, it’s kinda funny to read Stella’s parents push her to find a boyfriend and marry. They are being supportive and do not want Stella to age alone.

Overall, I enjoy reading this book. It is in good pace, page-turner, jaw-dropping hot guys and highly addictive great story.

THE KISS QUOTIENT is an impressive debut romance. The portrayals of both families felt real and nuanced and injected some much-needed humor into a book that would have otherwise been sex and misunderstandings. The hero is pretty much perfect, but thinks he's bound to be terrible because his dad is. The heroine is also pretty much perfect, but thinks she's terrible because of a society that tells her Asperger's is a bug not a feature.

Another reviewer for my blog read this and was upset by some of the Asperger's portrayal, which I think illustrates the issues OwnVoices authors face with trying to be The One True Voice. It's not like every person who's neuroatypical is the same, but we all expect, when we pick up that book that might actually feature someone like us, to make us feel seen and somehow fulfilled.

I have sensory issues as well, and I do think this book relied on the audience to believe that Michael was somehow able to bypass all her triggers. I also hate kissing with tongue, for example. It feels slimy. Yeah, it sometimes seems like a good idea, in the heat of the moment, but the idea that Stella now loves kissing didn't ring true. I would have liked to see more emphasis throughout on how Michael's ability to be patient and pay attention to cues, to ask her directly what she wanted, was what made things work. Stella's past experiences with men made me cringe, as I've also done that. You give consent, it's not assault, but you're giving someone permission to use your body while you sit there and hope they get it over quickly. I'm not sure what the term for that is, but it's awful and I both appreciate and hated reading the way Stella assumed that was her fault. Misogyny + ASD = a perfect storm.

In the end, I liked the book and I'll be reading the next from Helen Hoang. Do I think this book was perfect? No. Is any book? No. Do I think readers with ASD will be hurt by this book? I'm not sure. My other reviewer was, I wasn't. This was the first time I read a main character in a romance get overstimulated at a club and run out to the street to vomit. That and the fact that Stella isn't "fixed" made me happy.

My assumption is that this, like many portrayals of queerness in fiction, may be generational. My reviewer wanted Stella to embrace her Asperger's. She wanted Stella to have friends, to be proof that an ASD diagnosis isn't the end of the world. But for a lot of people who are now adults, an Asperger's diagnosis really would have been. How recently would a kid have been pulled from school after an autism or Asperger's diagnosis? Pretty recently. And even if not pulled from public school, autism has never been as accepted as it is now (in the United States dominant culture). Families tried to literally beat it out of their children. Is it such a surprise that Stella would have retreated to the safe environs of family and work? None of this makes my reviewer's thoughts less valid, however. She was upset because she's younger and has been working hard to navigate friendship and work and school. She wanted hope and this book didn't give her that.

Anyway, neurotypical people will probably universally love this book. Readers on the spectrum may want to check out some more reviews before cracking it open. As for the Asian American rep, it was lovely and one of the best parts of the book.

THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING HOT AND GOOD AND SWEET AND FLUFFY AND EVERYTHING EVERYONE EVER WANTED IN A ROMANCE NOVEL.

Very different from the usual romantic read. This book was both "steamier" than I expected, and also more thoughtful and thought-provoking than the usual. Stella and Michael have great chemistry. I love the exploration of neurodiversity, and it was also welcome to me as a reader that the novel sort of transcends race. We never find out what "different" race Stella is, and I think that is a refreshing change. As a librarian, I recommend this to readers who like romance, but are open minded and enjoy something a little more thoughtful and not so cookie cutter.

What an amazing read! I heard a good bit of hype about this book, so I went into it with an open mind. It was such a heartwarming and fun read and I'm so glad I picked it up. Stella's character is so refreshing and honest and I loved that she wasn't just another typical character. Her internal dialogue was probably my favorite part of the whole novel! She is such an intriguing character and I loved how Hoang really made Stella and Michael's story come to life on the pages.

The Kiss Quotient was an unexpectedly refreshing read and cannot recommend it enough. The characters were fun, the plot was unique, and the writing style was light and easy to read. I would highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy Christina Lauren novels! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. Unfortunately, I could not forge a connection to the characters or storyline, and could not complete the book. As a result, I am unable to feature a review on my blog or a tiger outlets at this time. Again, I appreciate the opportunity to meet this author’s work.

i'm definitely in the minority on this but this book just didn't do it for me! The conversations felt forced and the characters weren't as developed as I love in romances

Although it took awhile for me to fully immerse myself in this book, by half way through I really became hooked. This is was an interesting take on romance. I liked how Hoang creates a world centered around a character who has Asperger's. The story was real, honest, and downright precious!

The Kiss Quotient is a breath of fresh air. After reading hundreds and hundreds of romances, I’ll admit I search out those stories that will still make my toes curl and get me giddy for the process of two people falling in love. In The Kiss Quotient, some of the best tropes are here: lessons in seduction, diverse characters and cultures, escort. But the shining star here is the very real portrayal of a heroine on the Austism Spectrum. You see, Stella has Asperger’s, a social disorder that finds her in her element at work as a numbers wizard but completely out of her element with anything that comes close to dating or sex. And that right there is the magic: a heroine whose differences allow her to shine and in the process teach us all something about the search for love.

Stella is nothing if not goal-oriented. With the pressures of an overbearing mother, Stella decides to take the bull by the horns and seeks the help of Michael Phan, a Swedish Vietnamese male escort, for the source of all her knowledge on how to become good at the finer points of male/female interaction, namely how to behave properly and seductively so she can land a guy. It’s the main area of her life that is lacking, according to her parents, society, and, if she’s honest, herself.

But from the beginning, there’s something special between Stella and Michael, who are really more than business from the start. He’s not merely a male escort—in fact, he’s put his life on hold for those who depend on him, and he’s become disillusioned with the whole thing, until Stella. He’s patient and doesn’t put on a front with her. And in return, Stella’s blunt honesty becomes an openness with Michael. What follows is a lovely, refreshing contemporary romance that’s sexy and heartfelt. Best of all, Stella’s disorder doesn’t make her hard to relate to—if anything, it shows women everywhere what it’s like when women of any size, shape, struggle, or in between finds love. Stella’s Asperger’s has her feeling many of the same out of control feelings that we all feel when it comes to attraction, only heightened, and Michael is her perfect match. I love Helen Hoang’s unique perspective, and The Kiss Quotient is one of the best romances of 2018.

It was definitely cute, and I get the appeal. I think it might be a bit too much for me on the romance side, I usually don’t go for things this hardcore. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

A fun, sweet, sexy and sassy book. Perfect for our summer bookclub. Warning: It gets a little HOT!!!

The authors notes made it a 5 for me.

Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC for this review.

I LOVE this book! I want MORE like it! As someone on the spectrum there is very little positive representation out there. Most books focus around a family member who is Autistic and the devastation is wreaks on the main character. This is a CELEBRATION of neurodiversity and manages to normalize the condition and make it part of the character's unique personality, not use it as an obstacle she has to overcome.

It is a true romance story about a neurodivergent woman and a neuronormal guy, it's an interracial romance (though you never find out what her ethnicity is, which is so COOL), and it's a realistic depiction of two people falling in love. I can't wait for book two! Horray Helen, please INSPIRE others to include autism in more fantastic fiction and not as the ugly elephant in the room.

THIS WAS SUCH AN ENJOYABLE BOOK TO READ! The disability representation, the (steamy) romance, the character development, the unique writing style, and the impeccably fast pacing. I really enjoyed diving into this one, and I absolutely cannot wait to read more from Helen Hoang!

This is a quirky love story brought to you from a completely different view. Snuggle in and enjoy this title that will make you think about your own experiences navigating love, life, and parents.

DNF at 25%.

I am sorry but I won't be reviewing this book because I did not finish it. I only got to 25% when I decided it was just not for me. It was too steamy, and I feel that everything I read until that point was about sex. We didn't get any other informations about characters, especially when it comes to male character.
However, since so many people seem to love this book I do believe there is more to the story then just sex and probably love that will develop, I just don't have motivation to continue reading.

Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read The Kiss Quotient and I am sorry for not liking it more.

This was a Fun, light read for the summer. I enjoyed it and would recommend it for an easy read to friends and family.

This steamy romance is exactly what the summer of 2018 needed. I am looking forward to discussing this book with my discussion group at the library. Everyone is going to love it!

LOVE LOVE LOVE! Looking for a book you can't put down? This is it! So, I love opening a book knowing nothing about it, having no expectations. I'd seen this recommended by author friends and bookstagrammers. If you'd asked me if I read romance, I would've said no. But apparently I do - and I LIKE it!
What a sweet, sensual, tender book. The characters are dear - I want to know them in real life. It's such a fun, sexy read - my husband liked it too. ;-) I can't wait for THE BRIDE TEST!

***This review originally appeared for RT BOOK REVIEWS***

Wealthy main character with intimacy issues? Check. Hooker with a heart of gold to turn them around? Check. Awkwardness and hot-for-teacher fantasy? Check and check. But this is where things you’ve seen before start to look very different. Hoang’s take on the Pretty Woman trope makes her heroine wealthy, emotionally awkward, sexually inexperienced, and – oh yeah—autistic. Her hero is half Swedish, half Vietnamese and one-hundred percent to die for. One of the reasons these two work so well together is that Michael is experienced in dealing with loved ones on the spectrum. He recognizes some of Stella’s coping mechanisms, respects them, and thinks about how he can be with her in ways that make her comfortable and happy. Surely this is a worthy goal for any romance hero! At first this is all part of a job, but soon, reaching and pleasing Stella becomes important to Michael in the way that pleasing the person you’re in love with becomes important to anyone. Stella and Michael together are simply delightful. The Kiss Quotient rings with authenticity and will be on every romance recommended reading list this summer.

SUMMARY: Stella is used to solving difficult problems, usually with math and computers. She knows that due to her autism she doesn’t do relationships the same way other people do, but she has solved this kind of problem before, and she’s a great student. All she needs is the right teacher. Michael has his own reasons for making money the old-fashioned way. Both Michael and Stella defy assumptions, family expectations, and their own insecurities to find their way to each other.

2.5 stars. There has been so much buzz surrounding The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang that I was really looking forward to reading it. Shortly after its publication, the movie rights were snapped up for this book, which has been described as heartwarming and charming. The main character, Stella Lane, is a single, quirky econometrician with Aspergers. I love reading books featuring quirky personalities such as The Rosie Project, Fangirl, and A Man Called Ove because they are just so inherently endearing. Unfortunately, The Kiss Quotient felt more like Elinor Oliphant meets Christian Grey. Not intending to sound prudish, but the copious Netflix & chill scenes were unnecessary, over the top, and honestly just muddled the charm of the book. Hoang, herself diagnosed with Aspergers, writes with a truly authentic voice, so I would definitely give her next book a read. Her characters are genuine: Stella is honest and unfiltered and looking for love. Michael Larsen, her “practice boyfriend“ is handsome and caring but toting a lot of baggage. Their romance is a light and fun summer read that could have easily been elevated to another level if only the author could have ratcheted down on the steam a shade or two...or maybe 50. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.