The Bride Test is a beautiful love story, but it's also a really powerful immigration narrative. Esme's experience is relatable even for those of who haven't experienced anything like it, and Hoang's ability to bring out a full spectrum of emotions in her readers is what will make her books live on for years to come.

This book proves that the success of The Kiss Quotient was not a fluke. Helen Hoang is the real deal. The Bride Test is different than The Kiss Quotient and similar in others. It took me awhile to really get into it but once the main couple started interacting with each other, I was hooked. Now, all I need is for Helen to hurry and finish Quan's book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this novel. Regardless of the way I acquired the novel, the thoughts, opinions, and views stated in this review are completely unbiased and one hundred percent my own.

I definitely missed the boat when it came to The Kiss Quotient. After reading The Bride Test, I think it’s safe to say I’ll be backtracking and adding that book to my TBR. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like the books are connected in the traditional way that a series would be. I was able to pick right up with these characters, and this plot, and away we went!

I’m not sure how to approach this novel’s review, other than to say first and foremost that I think the fact that this novel exists and is part of the discussion is extremely important. The different cultures highlighted here were amazing, and the representation of someone on the autism spectrum was truly eye opening.

I struggled with my own ignorance when it came to specific cultural norms, or references throughout this novel. That didn’t stop me from enjoying the story or our characters, but showed me personally where I could benefit from learning more about people who differ from me. There was a point while reading where I thought I was going to call it a loss, because the novel touches on the idea of an arranged marriage. However, I thought the author ultimately handled these situations with integrity, intelligence, and grace.

I’m honestly admonishing myself for not reaching for a book like this time and time again. The last book I can recall that dealt with these themes was Flowers for Algernon: a book I was required to read in middle school. I genuinely loved having a look inside the relationship of a person who considers themselves to be autistic. It felt less like voyeurism and more like education. The questions I’d never feel comfortable asking were dealt with so efficiently, and it never felt like I was reading a novel solely about a guy with autism. I was reading a novel about a guy and a girl who were getting to know each other, and learning more about themselves. The guy just so happens to have autism, and the girl just so happens to be a poor immigrant who might not be able to stay in America.

The story itself felt powerful, charming, and even playful at times. I admired Esme’s story, her determination, and the fact that her story is the story of so many immigrants around the world. I hope people pick up this novel, and get a chance to see themselves in these characters. For once, I didn’t see myself in a novel, but as a white woman that’s okay! I’m ready to read about people who are not like me, I’m ready for Asian women to feel seen, and for autistic people to feel understood. I’m glad this book exists, and I hope authors like Helen keep writing for more than people like me.

Innocent yet completely mature, The Bride Test by Helen Hoang is a decadent feast of flavour that you would not expect.

All of the characters are fun to interact with. Anyone can easily find someone who they will identify with which makes the book such a delightful read.

The story altogether is nothing extravagant, but the simplicity of it all is what made it highly entertaining. A perfect combination of lightheartedness and deep connotations. It is a heartfelt story that anyone can relate to.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed The Bride Test. I look forward to reading more of Helen Hoang and I will, most definitely, suggest this book to my friends and colleagues.

This author is so so talented! I I enjoyed this one. Plot had a few holes but nevertheless a win. A favorite author of mine indeed!

This novel is almost as adorable as The Kiss Quotient. It really turned out to be a novel about struggles not just for a character with autism but also for a new immigrant to the united states. It helped highlight that struggle and how it mirrors the struggles for someone with autism. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more written by Helen Hoang.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book even more the than the kiss quotient. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book amazed me! So sexy and sweet, I was absorbed from page 1. Absolutely love recommending to my patrons.

I received a free ebook copy of The Bride Test from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Khai is autistic, and he believes that he is incapable of love. When his mother introduces him to Esme, a potential bride from Vietnam, he is assuaged by her promise that this will be her last attempt to meddle in his relationships.

Having really enjoyed The Kiss Quotient I looked forward to reading The Bride Test. This was a really cute romance, but it fell flat in comparison. It was also--I don't know--kind of stressful! Khai and Esmerelda live together for a few months with the intention of deciding whether to get married. Esmerelda is hiding the fact that she has an *entire* child (back in Vietnam) the whole time because she thinks that Khai won't approve. It's... fine, in the end, but perhaps not my idea of the best foundation for a relationship.

The Bride Test: cute, but stressful.

The Bride Test is a companion novel to The Kiss Quotient. We do see our lead characters from TKQ for a brief moment. Khai is a Vietnamese American living in California. Khai has autism and doesn't know how to navigate women. His mother decides to go to Vietnam to bring a woman back for him. She finds Esme cleaning bathrooms and it strikes her that this hardworking woman would be the right fit for Khai. Esme sees a chance to go to America and her family pushes her to do so, even though she's hesitant.
This was definitely better than the first novel, but I still would not recommend. There seems to be little understanding of how visas work. There also was a severe lack of relationship development and communication.

Friendly reminder that if you haven’t already read The Kiss Quotient, you should. And by friendly, I mean me-violently-shoving-the-book-in-your-face, because what the fuck have you been doing. I reread The Kiss Quotient before reading The Bride Test, and I’d worried a little bit it wouldn’t be as amazing as I remembered, but it was actually better if anything? Which…how? Helen Hoang’s a stellar new voice in contemporary romance, and she’s back with another book full of excellent representation and hot kissing.

To start, I will say that I didn’t love The Bride Test as much as The Kiss Quotient, but let’s be clear that that would be a huge ask, because I LOVE The Kiss Quotient. Like, it would be on my top ten favorite romances list, somewhere near the top. The Bride Test is a great book, but it didn’t send me to that obsessive shippy place where I want to do nothing but read and feel ruined by the amount I want the couple to work things out. Also, super subjectively, these aren’t my favorite tropes at work here, though I guess TKQ wasn’t really either but ya know.

The Bride Test is Khai’s book, cousin to Michael from TKQ. He was not a major character in the first book, but I was ready to love him. Khai’s autistic, like Stella. However, he truly believes he’s broken and incapable of loving, because he thinks his feelings do not work. As a result, his emotional arc is all about accepting that he does have feelings, which actually is a pretty standard male romance arc, only it’s a million times more sympathetic when the guy is autistic.

Khai’s love interest is My, who goes by Esme once she gets to America. Esme’s a hard-working single mom who helps support her mom and grandma by working as a maid in a hotel. When a wealthy Vietnamese woman offers to fly her to America for several months as a bride prospect for his son, she decides to do so, despite being deeply unsure about the ethics of such a thing.

I struggled with the romance largely because of this set up, because I didn’t love the way Khai’s mom was forcing him, like to the degree that she just drops Esme off in his house basically (he picks her up at the airport on her orders actually, but still SO AWFUL) and expects him to deal with it, even though routine is massively important to him. Also, Esme’s pretending not to have a child most of the time, and there’s an added lie that she’s an accountant, just so she can feel smarter. All of that was just so much that put me on edge for much of the book. I will say that I liked the resolution of everything, so I may be more into the ship on a future reread.

Khai and Esme don’t hit it off right away. Mostly she frustrates him, moving his stuff and interrupting his routines and giving him awkward boners while also making it difficult for him to masturbate. Esme’s tense, because she’s not good at English, misses her family, and doesn’t know how she feels about the bride test. Their bond grows slowly and starts out more physical than emotional, though it’s all tied up for Khai, really. For him, being comfortable around someone, willing to let them into his routine, basically is love. It’s not a particularly bantery romance, which again makes it less of a Christina romance, but they’re definitively sweet once they start learning how to communicate with one another. But omg one of my favorite scenes was View Spoiler ».

What gave me the most feels actually was Esme’s journey into confidence through education. If I summed her up in a sentence, it would be “immigrants, we get the job done.” Because she’s never had opportunity, she always assumed she wasn’t that smart, but she realizes that she does have the aptitude, and she makes use of her new freedom and money to attend night school. Her quiet strength is deeply admirable and is a reminder of what people can do with even an ounce of the privilege so many take as a given.

The real scene stealer of the book is Quan, who I already liked from The Kiss Quotient. Basically any scene with him was amazing, particularly because he was such a shipper, which is a trope I DO love. And omg I love that he had how-to guides about sex that he could pass on to Khai. I cannot WAIT for Quan’s book. I NEED IT.

Though The Bride Test wasn’t a favorite on this first read, it very much cemented Helen Hoang in my mind as a fantastic author. The story’s excellent, the character’s nuanced, and the writing fantastic. Maybe I’ll ship it more next time.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book but disappointed. I think it was a good start but it could have been so much more.

Bride Test was an incredible 2nd book from Helen Hoang. We follow the journey of a girl coming to America to be set up with boy who does not want to be set up. I loved their dynamic. I loved how his mom was so involved but ultimately they both fall in love and it’s so sweet.

Delightful! I love Helen Hoang's voice and characters--characters from different cultures, neuro-atypical characters, etc. Will definitely read her future works.

I seem to have a new favourite author when it comes to contemporary romance because I just can't get enough of Helen Hoang's writing. I was a little worried that The Bride Test wouldn't live up to my extremely high expectations because I adored The Kiss Quotient but I shouldn't have been because it was just as fun to read and I fell head over heels for Khai right alongside Esme.

We had already met Khai in the first book as he's Michael's cousin but don't worry if you're jumping into the series here because they're more companion novels than a direct series (I would HIGHLY recommend both books though so you're missing out if you've not read either of them!). Khai is autistic so he doesn't always react in the same way other people do, he didn't even cry when his best friend died and because of that he thinks he is incapable of love or any other strong emotion. His family know better though, they see that he is still grieving for his friend even if he doesn't show it in the same way other people do and his family want to see him happy. His mother in particular has decided that it's time for Khai to get married and start a family so she decided to travel to Vietnam and find him a bride.

This is where we meet Esme, she's a single mother who works hard every day to support her young daughter. She desperately wants to build a better life for her family but it's hard when you're living in the slums of Ho Chi Min City. When Khai's mother offers her the opportunity to travel to America for the summer and meet a potential husband it's an offer Esme can't refuse, especially when it might give her a chance to find her own American father too. Arriving in a country where everything is different and she barely speaks the language makes things really difficult for Esme but she is determined to make the best of things. As she sets about trying to seduce Khai it doesn't take long before she starts to fall in love herself but it looks as if she's the only one developing feelings and perhaps this adventure in America is going to end in disaster after all.

I can't even tell you how much I loved both of these characters, Khai thinks he doesn't know how to love but he's actually a really attentive and caring boyfriend, even when he's only doing it to keep his mother off his back. He's the type of guy who gives things his all so when he commits to a relationship he's all in. He makes a lot of mistakes along the way because he doesn't understand how Esme thinks but this leads to some hilarious misunderstandings and some brilliant conversations with his brother Quan and cousin Michael as they try to help him figure out sex and women. Esme works so hard to build a better life for herself, she gives her all to both her new job and her relationship but at the same time she also goes to college and takes classes to better herself. She wants to prove that she's worthy of Khai but along the way she starts to realise that she doesn't need a man to give her daughter a good life, she's actually strong and capable enough of doing it on her own and I really respected her for that.

On paper it doesn't look like these two fit but in reality they mesh really well. Esme doesn't understand Khai at first but she's willing to make allowances for him when she starts to realise how his autism affects him and they're both able to talk about things like adults when there is something bothering them. Khai is initially horrified at having his routine disrupted when Esme moves in but he quickly adapts as they start figuring out new routines together. I thought they made an adorable couple and I loved how innocent and awkward some of their interactions were, don't get me wrong they had great chemistry but it took time for them to figure out that side of things and get on the same page emotionally too. Quan has been a stand out side character since the beginning of the series so I'm ridiculously excited that he's going to be the hero of the next book and I definitely can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

The Bride Test had me waiting in anticipation. I know that this author has a deal to write a book about each of Michael’s sisters from The Kiss Quotient, so this, about his cousin was a welcome surprise. Even from the little we know of Khai from The Kiss Quotient, I found him likable and another great character on the spectrum.

This was a quick and enjoyable read, with charming characters and a foreseeable romantic plot. Sometimes predictability in a book works just fine if I’m entertained and it moves fast. I loved that the plot had a woman doing the seducing and the man overwhelmed with love. It made for a unique dynamic.

As in her first book, food is described with tantalizing accuracy. Each item eaten or prepared made my mouth water. I liked this book a lot but it is still her first book that swept me away.

Once again, Hoang knocks it out of the park. It’s an arranged marriage sitch, but not quite, with an autistic hero and a fish-out-of-water element with the heroine, but their relationship felt very believable to me and the last line of the book (no spoilers!) left me beaming so happily. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

A fairy tale story with an entirely unique take—Helen Hoang’s The Bride Test is fresh, charming, and steamy!!! Truly, no one brings a new voice to romance quite the way Helen Hoang does. She has the “it” factor with her books—that combination of modern and socially conscious, while still having that Cinderella fairy tale feel that HEA fans love! A fantastic summer-read for anyone who wants to escape into a love story with an edge and a whole lotta heat!

Well let me start off by saying that though this is marketed as the sequel to last year’s hit The Kiss Quotient, this book can absolutely be read as a standalone. It does feature a relative of the main character in the first book, but this is very much a unique story and new readers won’t feel lost at all. Plus it is romance so we all know there is no such thing as spoilers because we all crave those HEA, and the fun is in getting there!

Esme Tran is a cleaning lady in Viet Nam and a single mother. Despite Esme’s beauty, kindness, and spirit, the father of her child wanted someone with more social status. Esme herself has never met her father, so she is used to this dynamic. I loved reading Esme’s story. From the first chapter she was in, Esme was a true stand out character. She doesn’t begrudge her place in the world. She doesn’t look down on those with more. But perhaps Esme is someone who isn’t sure she is good enough to have more, and that made her incredibly humble, endearing, and a character I wanted everything for.

When Khai’s mother realizes that Khai’s unique way of experiencing emotions and socializing with others, she goes out to find Khai a match. And she finds Esme. I won’t spoil this scene, but I think you will absolutely love it—it was one of my favorite scenes of the book! When they return to California, all Khai’s mother asks is that they try dating eachother for the summer and see if it is a match. But Khai is not making it so easy on Esme!

I really enjoyed seeing their dynamic unfold across the pages of this book. Khai is so confused about what he feels and doesn’t feel, so he assumes he feels nothing. He is a data person and he sees how others express emotions. Since he doesn’t express them the same way, he assumes that he must not feel them at all. But of course, the fun of this book is seeing Khai learn how he feels emotions, and learn to identify them correctly. Stomach pain can sometimes be sadness. Wanting to be around someone can be love.

I don’t want to go too much into the plot because there are so many charming chapters and stories in this book! The afterward from Helen Hoang is a must-read. I felt so much about her experience writing this book from reading her note at the end. It still makes me feel teary thinking about it! I won’t say her motivation for this book—that is something that should be read in her own words.

Thank you to Berkley for my copy! Opinions are my own.

Helen Hoang does it again! Loved the characters, the families, the food! But, more than that, the care that the characters had for each others strengths and flaws. I look forward to all of Helen's books, they never disappoint.

I’m not really a reader of the romance genre, but THE KISS QUOTIENT and now THE BRIDE TEST has redefined the genre for me. Especially since it covers #ownvoices Vietnamese and autism rep.

What I appreciated about THE BRIDE TEST, is the rags to riches story of Esme, the poor Vietnamese-American immigrant who travels to the United States. When given the chance to woo Khai, an accountant who is autistic, she takes the gamble of chance for a better life for herself and her daughter.

Esme is such a soft character, although she’s not confident speaking English and doesn’t know American customs, her empathy and sensitive, caring nature comes through. As a new mum, I recognised the guilt she felt being away from her child and could emphasise with how heavily her temporary visit to the USA weighed on her. Not only does she have to learn how to live in the US, being so far away from her family, but she also has to seduce Khai in a matter of months. There’s also her wanting to reconnect with her long lost American father which kind of felt like an unecessary addition to the plot.

“Warm. Content. Safe in his arms. Him safe in hers. She hugged him tighter. He was bigger and stronger, but she would protect him with everything she had.”

Then there’s Khai – handsome, successful, intelligent – who believes he can’t love and can’t feel human emotion. Being on the ASD spectrum, I appreciated how the author explores different types of autism through THE KISS QUOTIENT as well as THE BRIDE TEST. The author’s note at the end describes how many of Khai’s thought pattern and mannerisms reflect her own – such as believing he has a stone heart. The thing about Khai, is even though he has these own beliefs about himself, Esme can see through his barriers into the kind and thoughtful person that he is.

Despite everything that they have between them – Esme not knowing what ASD is, Khai dealing with his own insecurities – the couple still manage to overcome their barriers and to explore their feelings of mutual attraction. Their relationship feels like it’s hard won, which offers the reader a lot of pay off at the end. Not to mention the sexual chemistry and saucy sex scenes between the two as Esme lives at Khai’s house and they inevitably act on their feelings.

“Everyone deserved to love and be loved back. Everyone. Even her.”

One thing that I felt was explored well in the novel as well, is how ASD isn’t a thing in Vietnam. Esme doesn’t know what it is, and therefore doesn’t judge Khai based on the stigma associated with it. Instead, there are a lot of misunderstandings as the two learn to communicate with each other. Khai’s confidante is his brother Quan, who offers him frank advice on dealing with Esme. I think Quan will become a fan favourite and I’m really looking forward to his book!

While there are many aspects of THE BRIDE TEST which I enjoyed, I felt like much of the drama was manufactured especially towards the end. Emotional manipulation through sex was used to get each party to act in a certain way, which I couldn’t help but feel squeamish about. Then there’s also a deal that Esme and Quan make which kind of forced Khai to deal with his feelings for her, and I felt like it was a bit over the top. However despite these minor qualms, I still enjoyed the sweet, soft developing relationship between Esme and Khai.

Featuring insight into an autistic accountant and a poverty-stricken mother from Vietnam, THE BRIDE TEST was a thoroughly enjoyable romance even for those who are new to the genre. It’s heartfelt and filled with emotion, and also explored some more serious topics when it comes to anxiety, moving to a new country and the sacrifices that one has to make in order to do so. Both Esme and Khai go through a learning experience in the book, and there are a lot of obstacles for them to overcome in order to be together. This is an adorable, romantic book with a lot of heart that will leave a lasting impression.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the review copy!