I’ve been looking forward to this book since the minute I finished The Kiss Quotient. Helen Hoang’s debut novel blew me away and I knew right away that she was something special. That book continues to top the charts as one of my favorites. I eagerly awaited the release of The Bride Test; I couldn’t wait to read it. And then life got in the way, and here we are exactly a month after it’s release and I’ve finally finished it.

But you know what they say – good things come to those who wait. The Bride Test was just as lovely as I expected it to be. It had all of the charm, charisma, sweetness and steam that I loved about the first book and infused it all in a totally new way.

I really enjoyed Esme’s character. She was very flawed and didn’t always make the best choices, but she was also trying to navigate her way through a completely foreign country entirely alone. I admired her courage and work ethic, and really enjoyed getting to experience her journey with her. I cannot imagine what the experience of immigrating must be like.

And then there’s Khai. Also a very complex character, though I hesitate to use the word flawed with him. Khai is on the autism spectrum and learning about the way his brain works and processes things differently made it difficult to know what was “normal” for him, and what was something tied solely to his past traumas. I loved him so much though, and regardless of the root of any of his roadblocks, I really enjoyed watching him overcome them.

Both The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test are just beautiful books. And while I think it will be very hard to ever top the first book for me, I cannot recommend either of these books highly enough. Do yourself a favor, and read these books if you have not. You will fall head over heels in love.

I read it almost as soon as I got the arc, which is pretty rare for me. 🤣 But I couldn’t wait! I had been eagerly anticipating the book since it was announced and, once again, Helen Hoang did not disappoint.

The Bride Test is an emotional journey with real, flawed characters. The romance is unconventional and slow-building, which allows readers to get to know every aspect of Khai and Esme’s characters, that are unlike anyone you’ll meet in mainstream romances.
This book is unique. It’s thought-provoking. It’s complicated. It’s about romance but it’s also a journey of self-discovery for both characters.
If you’re in the mood for a book that’ll tug on your heartstrings that will ultimately leave you perfectly satisfied, I highly recommend adding The Bride Test to your TBR list!

Summary: GO BUY THIS BOOK NOW. Now, now, now. Why are you still here? This is the most readable, funny, heartfelt, amazing romance you’re going to read this summer. And if you haven’t read the other book, THE KISS QUOTIENT yet, buy it too. Immediately. You may recall my feelings for THE KISS QUOTIENT (read Hellie's review)--basically the book was a unicorn, a beautiful magical unicorn. This book is the unicorn’s magical beautiful baby.

This is the book blurb, which I’m going to quote entirely: “Khai Diep has no feelings. Well,not big, important feelings like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better--that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

“As a mixed-girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Her lessons in love work...but only on herself.

“With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.”

I cannot decide which character I love more. I really cannot. Khai, who is a little damaged but a lot whole, who loves his family--though he’d never call it that--and who performs acts of service for those he cares for. He’s a little rough around the edges; he likes what he likes as he likes them (who doesn’t?). Esme is the ultimate heroine to root for: she’s brave, she’s smart, she’s willing to do what it takes to succeed and have the best life for herself and her family. All through this story I was rooting for Khai to figure out he loved Esme so he could save her, keep her in America, and have a happily ever after--but the author did so much better than that. I would say more--I would say everything--but I want you to read it and love it yourself. This book is everything that is right about romance novels and how they empower women and how they show the different ways we love--and how all those ways are valid and perfect.

Already--this book is barely out--I am looking forward to Helen Hoang’s next book. I hope it’s Khai’s brother, Quan. He’s a riot and he’s smart. But I will read whatever Helen puts out next: her writing bursts off the page and keeps you engaged until the end. I received this book in February--and I had other books that needed to be reviewed first--and I read this one first, in one day, and wanted to read it again. I think you’re going to do the same.

Hellie for The Romance Dish
5 Stars / Top Dish Review

Khai and Esme stole my heart. Helen Hoang excels at writing romances that are heartfelt, poignant, and so real. The situations and circumstances her characters find themselves in are like a study of the human condition. I must admit, I love that a lot.

Although their uncharacteristic meeting was a bit OTT, I loved how these two related to one another. Khai’s mom cracked me up. Her meddling was priceless.

Here’s what I loved:
The real and honest representation of autism in romance was a great experience. I enjoyed seeing the world through Khai’s eyes. His longing for Esme, but restrictions in how he related to others was very interesting and entertaining.

Esme is sweet, tenacious, and caring.
The social norms and expectations that were presented kept me engaged
The writing is clear, crisp, and conscise.

While I enjoyed this story IMMENSELY, I must admit that Esme constant needs to be something she wasn’t rub me the wrong way. I totally get it. I do! But my personal preference to read heroines who are strong, self assured, and know their self worth are my faves.

Overall, this was a spectacular read!

Helen Hoang is a show-off and a romance genius and we are so lucky she keeps giving us stories. THE KISS QUOTIENT was a big act to follow, and THE BRIDE TEST does not disappoint. Her characters are both a quirky, sexy mess, and I spent the whole book wanting to give them both a cookie and some advice.

ARC courtesy of Netgalley

Khai Diep, the cousin of Michael Phan, the male protagonist of Hoang's debut THE KISS QUOTIENT is the male lead in this strong, if not quite as laugh-out-loud funny, follow-up. Khai, like KISS's Stella, is on the autism spectrum, something he's known since elementary school. But after he fails to cry at his beloved cousin's funeral, Khai is convinced that his "difference" means that he can't feel, either. Especially not love. "That was exactly why he steered clear of romantic relationships. If someone liked him that way, he'd only end up disappointing them when he couldn"t reciprocate. It wouldn't be right" (Kindle Loc 529).

Twenty-six-year-old Khai's lack of interest in dating is worrying to his mother, so much so that she goes back to her home country of Vietnam to find him a potential wife. Her choice is rather surprising: a 24-year-old woman working as a maid in the hotel in which she is staying, a woman who at first doesn't seem at all interested in Mrs. Diep ("call me Cô Nga")'s proposal. But after M˜y's mother reminds her that going to California would give her the chance to try and find her biological father, an American student who visited Vietnam from Cal Berkeley, M˜y decides to give it a go, even though she has to leave her five year old daughter behind.

For his part, Khai is less than pleased to discover that his mother's procured him a "mail-order bride," especially when he hears that the woman, who has adopted the English-sounding name Esmeralda (or Esme), will be living with him. Khai is a man of routine, and Esme, working hard to make Khai's dilapidated house more inviting, puts his things in the wrong places, makes him late for his daily chores, and distracts him with her beauty and kindness. ("He was closed, and she had to open him. In her experience, when you wanted to open something, you cleaned it up first so you could see what you were dealing with, and then you worked on it really hard. Esme wasn't great at a lot of things, but she was good at cleaning and working hard. She could do this. Maybe she'd been made for this" [985]).

Hoang's note explains that originally, Esme's character was to have been the "unwanted third leg of a love triangle," but that as she wrote, Esme kept taking center stage. And Hoang realized that her own internalized beliefs about what would be "socially acceptable" in a heroine had made her assume that her female protagonist should be Westernized, rather than a first-generation immigrant. And so Esme became her unexpected lead. Esme is far from a perfectly unobjectionable Mary Sue of an immigrant, constructed to appease Western readers' prejudices; she's an interesting, nuanced character, one who broke rules and suffered some negative consequences in her younger years but who is not burdened by guilt or the need to appease Khai, his mother, or any other American. The story of how Khai and Esme learn how to understand one another as well as understand themselves may not be as laugh-out-loud hilarious as Hoang's first book, but it's still one with a lot of charm, heart, and insight into the multiplicity of immigrant experiences.

This book was worlds better than [book:The Kiss Quotient|36199084], with a better/more believable story and characters. Also sexier (slash not creepy). It was also interesting to read it directly after [book:The Rosie Result|41018628], another lighthearted but serious tale of neuroatypical characters. Sure, like many romances it is a bit conveniently-ever-after, but it's impossible not to root for Khai (who thinks he has no feelings and is broken) and Esme (a poor mixed-race Vietnamese immigrant who is trying to make a life for her daughter). Hoang clearly has an intimate knowledge of parts of these experiences, and her author's note about her mother's immigrant experience made the book even better. I definitely recommend this book for contemporary romance readers.

This. Book.

This. Writer.

So few books out there have cut to my very core quite like a Helen Hoang book. It's incredible how she does it. I absolutely adored The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test is just as great, showcasing that Hoang has so much more for us readers in store for the future. Khai and Esme will make your heart SOAR. Through so many ups and downs, this is a couple that you will root for through and through.

Khai Diep is autistic and doesn't feel things the way others do. In his mind, he cannot love someone else. It's just what he's accepted, even though his family feels very differently. Khai's mother decides to push her son to his full potential and find a bride for him, and after meeting many wannabe brides, she determinedly sets her mind on kind, respectable Esme Tran, a maid in the hotel she's staying at. Khai's mother offers her a deal to pay her while she tries to woo Khai into marriage throughout the summer. As a single mother in Vietnam, she feels that she cannot decline the opportunity and flies to America, thinking that she may also find her lost-lost father in the process as well. And so Khai and Esme are pushed together as strangers to get to know each other. Not everything goes as planned as Esme falls for Khai, and he thinks that he cannot reciprocate those feelings.But as they get to know each other more and more, Khai begins to rethink his attitude toward love and romance and is constantly challenged by Esme. As Esme's time in America begins to draw to a close, Khai is forced to come to terms with the fact that maybe love exists and that it comes in many forms.

It's truly a BEAUTIFUL story about how you can be different and yet valid and accepted and *seen* by others. This is a story about pushing yourself to do better and be better to and for the ones you hold dear to you. There are so many stunning life lessons packed into this book. I truly believe that we can all take several things to heart after turning the final page. I know I did.

I will read Helen Hoang's stories forever. She has solidified herself as a top-notch, heart-healing author that I will revisit time and time again. Stories like these are why I read in the first place.

This did not work for me at all, I felt zero chemistry between the 2 main characters and unfortunately I couldn't muster up any enthusiasm to continue past the 34% mark.

I'm so disappointed because Hoang's first book was a massive winner for me last year but look forward to seeing where her next book takes me.

I adored The Kiss Quotient, and I re-read it in January because it was that good! You can read my review HERE! The Bride Test is just as great, but it’s also completely different from the first novel in the series. Michael and Stella swept you off your feet in The Kiss Quotient. Khai and Esme will make you see that a HEA has many different layers in The Bride Test.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection. Review: I really admire Helen Hoang for not only bringing diversity into contemporary romance but for also creating characters with disabilities like autism and Aspergers. In this book Khai has a form of autism and she does a great job of forming his personality and describing the things that are hard for him – like love, affection, and having empathy for others. The storyline is cute and it’s a quick read, while still addressing immigration, diversity, and love. I’m not sure if I liked this one as much as The Kiss Quotient (it’s definitely not as steamy!), but I really, really enjoyed it!This book is listed under The Kiss Quotient #2, but these can easily be read as stand alone books. rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️

First The Kiss Quotient and now The Bride Test? Helen is definitely making her mark!

I adore Khai, Esme and the rest of the characters. Khai is on the spectrum and the author did an outstanding job with him. I'm so glad we got his perspective so that the reader could understand the thoughts and reasons for the way he behaved. Esme was a sweetheart.

I love the scenario of them being "forced" together. It was frustrating for both of them, but they were still so darn cute! There were times it felt a little uncomfortable because of the power imbalance and how she was doing everything to make him happy so he'd marry her. However, I feel this turned out to be an important aspect of the story regarding Esme's life and her growth.

I'm looking forward to Hoang's next book.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Khai Diep is a successful accountant, but avoids relationships. He is a loved family member of Vietnamese-American and is on the autism spectrum. He feels he cannot be loved nor can he love.

“Even now, he could hear his cousin scoffing at him. The specific circumstances eluded him, but the words remain the same. ‘Nothing gets to you. It’s like your heart is made of stone’.”

Esme (Mỹ) is a single mother wanting a better life for herself and her daughter. When an opportunity comes along to leave Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) and go the US to meet an eligible young man, Esme takes the opportunity presented by Cô Nga (she offers to pay for Esme’s visa and trip to California in exchange for Esme trying to seduce Khai) even though it means being away from her daughter (and mother and grandmother) for a few months – anything for a better life. Esme is also hoping that maybe she can track down her biological father (definitely a long shot in my view).

What ensues is a multi-faceted story. Not only are we privy to a love story – strange as it may start out. But also a story about two people learning to accept themselves for who they are as individuals – idiosyncrasies and all.

The love story between the main characters has ups and downs. Given both of their unique ways of interacting with people it truly is heartwarming, funny, exasperating… (so many adjectives could be placed here) to see these two people who care for each other finally “talk” to each other.

I found the scene where Esme cooks in Khai’s home for the first time quite giggle worthy. The smells that Esme finds soothing and reminds her of home in essence is pungent to Khai. This brought out the feeling in me that not all compatible matches are from those with similar upbringings.

When Khai made it his mission to help Esme find her father, I found that a very empathetic gesture but also allowing the reader to see that Khai did love Esme and he had his own unique way of showing it.

The relationship between Khai and his brother Quan is like any other brother relationship. What I find refreshing is the way that Quan calls out Khai when Khai does not allow himself to acknowledge his true feelings, whether it be towards his deceased friend Andy or Esme.

“Quan aimed a pointed stare at him. “Sometimes the things people do and believe don’t make sense. I feel most alive when I might die. And you, you’re convinced you don’t feel, and the responsible thing is to avoid people.”
“That’s the way things are,” Khai said.
“No, it’s bullshit. Where was Andy heading when he got hit by that semi?”
Khai looked down at the deep scratches on the motorcycle. Those had happened the night of the accident. “He was coming to see me.” “Why?”
Khai titled his head as his chest hollowed out and caved inward. “Because I asked him to. I wanted to hang out.”
…
Quan arched an eyebrow. “So are you gonna tell her now?”
“Tell her what?”
“That you’re embarrassingly in love with her, that’s what,” Quan said in an exasperated tone.

I think this discussion truly shows that Khai demonstrates feelings, just uniquely – as does everyone. He just needed to have this pointed out to him. Now the question is, will he allow his feelings to come to light so that he and Esme can be together before her visa runs out?

If I had one criticism, it would be the length of time it took Esme to tell Khai about her young daughter back in Vietnam. As a parent, I would never hide the fact that I have a child. But I suppose with so much at stake, Esme felt it was the right decision for her.

Many bumps occur on the road to happiness, similar to real life. I found the writing engaging, the characters entertaining. Some heartwarming moments along with some chuckle worthy moments.

As this was my first book by author Helen Hoan, I am suitably impressed by her writing style and ability to keep me engaged throughout the book. I look forward to reading more titles by Ms. Hoan.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Love love love this book! Helen Hoang is an amazing author and I will continue to read all her books. I love how she pulls from her own life to write her stories. The characters in this book were so wonderful and there was so much depth and complexity to them. Beautifully written! This is a follow up to Kiss Quotient but can totally be read on its own. Not near as much sex as her first book which is good for readers that can’t handle that. Loved this story and will definitely be recommending it to others!

This romance novel was good timing for May during Asian and Pacific Islanders Month - the author note at the end explains that part of her inspiration for Esme comes from her mother's story as a Vietnamese refugee, and not knowing much about it because she worked all the time. The author also shares her own impulse to feature a white character but Esme demanded to be more central.

So this is a good example of what is happening in contemporary romance - one character with Autism (who has to teach his love interest how to touch him because he's very sensitive to light touches,) one character who is an immigrant (although the whole fairy godmother element is a bit far fetched to say the least), men teaching each other how to please a woman, etc.

This is in the same universe as The Kiss Quotient (those characters even show up at one point) but you don't need to have read it to understand this one.

I had read Helen's first book and loved it, so I really looked forward to reading this. However, I am afraid to say that I was left a little disappointed. It simply wasn't as good as I thought it would be and the love story was fairly flimsy. I didn't believe in the characters quite as much and therefore didn't get the same engagement. It was an easy ready though and Helen's light tone made it enjoyable.

3.5 stars

Similar to the Kiss Quotient, here we find Khai, an autistic character, learning to fall in love. Khai’s mom wants him to get married so she takes matters into her own hands by bringing Esme back with her from Vietnam. There’s just one problem: Khai doesn’t have any interest in getting married or falling in love.

Like it’s predecessor, The Bride Test is a mix of cute, sexy, and quirky. However, we also have some deeper issues this time. With a baby back at home, Esme has more at stakes than just finding someone to marry.

Although I loved Esme’s character and her ability to see past Khai’s autism, this brought up some issues for me. She was never informed about what it meant to be autistic and it seemed like she moved way too fast in their relationship. But really, a lot of things moved too quickly in this book. The ending was very abrupt to me and a lot was resolved without much explanation.

Despite my complaints, I did enjoy this book. As many others have said, the author’s note at the end made me appreciate it a lot more. So don’t skip that part!

Rating 4.5 out of 5

"Em yêu anh yêu em."

Just like THE KISS QUOTIENT, I adored THE BRIDE TEST. I liked how this couple was brought together by a loving, but meddling mother who was trying to find a companion for her son. I loved Khai and Esme's interactions and how two seemingly different people fit together so perfectly. I liked that neither of them tried to be who they thought the other person needed or who they wanted, but I'd felt bad for Esme for the things she thought she had to keep a secret for Khai.

One of my favorite scenes includes Khai, Quan, and Michael (yes, TKQ Michael!). It make me laugh so much as they tried to give Khai some guidance with Esme. And Quan gave Khai some of the best book recommendations!

THE BRIDE TEST is full of compassion and humor and made me laugh and smile and sometimes get a bit teary-eyed. I loved it!

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (Holly’s Review, Rowena’s Review) was one of our favorite reads of 2018, and Rowena and I were so excited when we got The Bride Test, the second book in the series. The Bride Test follows Khai Diep. Khai is mentioned in TKQ, though I don’t think we ever met him on page. Michael, the hero from TKQ, and Khai are cousins.

Khai Diep is autistic, and as such doesn’t feel things the same way others do. To him, this means he can’t love, but his family knows better. After waiting years for him to find someone, his mother finally gives up on him doing it himself and goes to Vietnam to find a bride for him.

Esme Tran is cleaning the bathroom in the hotel where his mom is conducting wife interviews when they meet. His mom decides she’s the perfect person for Khai and offers her a deal – spend the summer in America trying to get Khai to marry her, and she can work in her restaurant and make some extra money. Esme doesn’t really know what to expect from Khai, but he’s so much more than she bargained for.

Holly: I have to be honest. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about a “mail-order bride” story. But it was so much more than that. I loved Esme’s personal journey almost more than the romance, I think.

Rowena: Yeah, I didn’t expect to like this one nearly as much as I did. I wasn’t excited to read a mail-order bride romance either but Helen Hoang did her thing. I really enjoyed Khai’s romance though I did have issues with certain things where Esme was concerned. I thought it took her wayyyyy too long to tell Khai the truth about EVERYTHING. I mean, she had so many opportunities to come clean with Khai and she didn’t. But other than that, this one was a solid read.

Holly: I don’t know why she didn’t come clean, either. That was the only part that really bothered me. She had things to tell him and she shouldn’t have waited as long as she did.

Rowena: Yeah, my issue with that is because sure, she knew that he didn’t want kids (at least according to his Mom) but after she knew that she wasn’t going to accept his marriage proposal, that should have been the time that she came clean about everything. About why she was sent there, about who was waiting for her back home, all of that. She was quick to come clean about that stuff with Quan but not Khai? I wasn’t a fan of that.

Holly: Yes, exactly. She should have told him. I do think she was more comfortable telling Quan because she didn’t really care what he thought of her, whereas she was afraid of what Khai would say. But still, she should have fessed up. I’d have liked to see more with Khai and Jade, too.

Holly: Speaking of things that needed to be said ….he never told her about his money? WTF?

Rowena: With Khai not telling her about his money, I chalked that up to his autism. He didn’t think the same way that everyone else did and he really didn’t think about his money at all. That was evident with the way that he chose to live his life. It wasn’t something that he was intentionally keeping from her so it didn’t bother me that it was never addressed.

Holly: No, you aren’t wrong about that part. I honestly wasn’t bothered about it for all the reasons you stated, until the very end when he thinks that thing about how he still hasn’t told her. Like, before that it wasn’t deliberate. After that, it was.

From the epilogue:

He’d already put Esme and Jade in his will, though they didn’t know—about the will itself or all the money they’d be inheriting from him because he had no idea what to do with it. That stuff wasn’t important.

So, maybe it was just that he never thought about it. But I’m surprised no one else mentioned it to her.

Still, I really liked how Esme was with Khai. She just let him be who he was, but found ways to keep him thinking about her. I also liked her personal growth and how she was determined to find a way to do it on her own. Her inner strength and determination really stood out, and I loved how she grew into her own powers as the novel went on.

Rowena: I liked how Khai adapted to being with her. He showed a lot of growth himself and I enjoyed seeing him come into his feelings for Esme. The way that she ended up in his bed, the way that did things that bothered him but he just kept right on taking it because in small ways, he enjoyed them.

Holly: Khai did show a lot of growth. Man, my heart hurt for him. But girl, when he basically wham, bam thank you-ma’am’d her? I wanted to beat him over the head with something. I know he didn’t realize what he was doing, but I was still low key pissed at him. I loved that the first time wasn’t all perfect for them both, though.

Rowena: The only thing that made me want to smack him upside his head was how he kept insisting that he didn’t have it in him to love anyone, let alone Esme. Even after Quan explains what he was feeling and how he was acting after their break up, Khai kept insisting that Quan was wrong. I was like, boy…if you don’t knock that shit off.

Holly: Honestly, I blame his aunts for all that nonsense. Because they’re the ones who were like “What’s wrong with you”. But I kind of blame Quan, Michael and his mom, too. Once they realized how he thought he couldn’t love, they should have explained it better. View Spoiler » But still, I wanted to smack him. When he told her “I don’t love you. I never will” my heart broke for her.

Rowena: View Spoiler »I liked that they finally found her father after all of their hard work and I was only a little annoyed that Esme’s Mom got her man after the guilt trip she gave Esme in the beginning of the book. Still, there was a lot to love in this one. I loved Khai’s family, I loved little Jade and the way that she loved her Mom big time. I liked that Esme made moves for herself and I really liked the epilogue.

Holly: I was kind of bothered about how she made him wait to get married. I’m not sure why, though. I think it’s because it didn’t feel authentic to her character, or his. The whole book they were sort of working toward that, and they loved each other. So making him wait seemed…strange to me. I don’t know. I have to think about it a little more.

Rowena: I will say that as much as I enjoyed both Khai and the romance, I’m super excited about Quan…I need more Quan!

Holly: I love Quan, too. I hope we get his book next.

Rowena: This book gets a 4.25 out of 5 from me. What about you?

Holly: For all my complaints, I really did love the book. I was fully invested in them both from page one, and I read it in a single sitting. I got teary eyed a couple times and laughed out loud several others. Hoang did it again.

I’m giving it 4.25 as well.

I was provided this book through NetGalley. The opinions listed here are my own. This was an enjoyable and fun book to read. Just right for summer!