Although this book stands alone, it is related to author Helen Hoang's first book "The Kiss Quotient". Both books feature love stories with autistic characters and explore how that condition affects their ability to find love. I appreciate the freshness of having characters with autism and that aspect of the story is well-executed. This book tells the story of My, an impoverished Vietnamese girl who cleans bathrooms to support her family comprised of her mother, grandmother and young daughter. She's offered the opportunity to come to America as a "mail-order bride" to Kai. Kai believes that because of his autism that he has a heart-of-stone and is incapable of love therefore he has resolved to never marry but his mother has other plans for him, thus her recruitment of a would-be bride for him.
This book was okay. I did not love it and I think that has to do with the moral ambiguity that this author seems to like to include in her plots. Luring a desperate, impoverished immigrant to America to marry a seemingly unmarriageable son seemed sketchy. Likewise, in the "Kiss Quotient", which preceeded this book, hiring a male prostitute to teach you how to have sex seemed somewhat wrong. I did enjoy that the characters were unique and Helen Hoang writes great love scenes sure to titillate her readers. But readers should be aware of the themes in the plot line so that they can steer clear if that sort of thing is not for them.

The Kissing Quotient was one of my top 10 favorite books from last year and the follow-up The Bride Test is does not disappoint. I read The Bride Test in one day which is not something I do normally. The Bride Test is what I call an elevated romance in which is has depth and real characters with real issues that I care about. I absolutely loved Khai and Esme as individuals and as a couple. Khai is much more than his autism. He has a solid heart of gold and what's the best for others. His autism prevents him from processing his feelings, but he does have them. I really appreciated how Ms. Hoang makes this point very clear. I adored Esme, in particular her strength and determination to make her life and the life of her daughter's better. The potential plot line of Esme seducing Khai in order to get a green card lingered in the air, but I was so glad that it did not come to that in the novel. Esme wanted to be self driven and that possible plot line would have destroyed all that she set out to do. I also appreciated the slow burn romance between Khai and Esme, which remained true to both of the characters.

My main complaint of The Bride Test is that its ending was too rushed. I would have loved to see more page time with Khai and Esme as a couple. I wanted to see how Khai tracked down Esme's real father. I wanted to expand on the discovery of Esme's daughter, Jade, which was a really important aspect of Esme's hidden life. I also really wanted to see Esme's journey to and at Standford University. Regardless of these issues, I adored this book and its characters. It is the perfect way to kick off the summer and I can not wait to read what's next by Ms. Hoang.

It took me forever to sit down and read this, but once I did, I couldn't put it down! It was a very quick read, which I appreciated. It wasn't quite as steamy as Hoang's first novel, <I>The Kiss Quotient</I>, but I didn't mind that. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was that I felt that there was too much going on: the loss of Khai's cousin weighing on him, Esme's search for her father, the secret of her daughter, the continual lack of communication (particularly about the class division between them). That being said, it was still a worthwhile read and I will definitely recommend it to my book club. I already bought it for my library.

Originally posted on Forever Young Adult on 2019 May 27

LET'S GET IT ON with The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

First Impressions



I love that cheery yellow! Making Mỹ/Esme the sole focus of the cover makes perfect sense because while this is clearly a romance, a large portion of of the book is also about Mỹ realizing her own self-worth and gaining independence. It also goes excellently well with the first book's cover. Don't you dare change a thing, cover artists!

What’s Your Type?

Learning to love, forced intimacy, misunderstandings/miscommunication, family secrets, playing "house"

Dating Profile

Mỹ is a young single mother living in Vietnam, cleaning toilets to barely get by. She knows that with a little bit of schooling she could create an infinitely better life for her daughter and her mom, but a lack of resources and time make that dream feel impossible. When a happenstance opportunity to visit America presents itself in the form of a Vietnamese-American mother—who is searching for a good, traditional wife for her youngest son—Mỹ jumps at the chance to create that better life for her family, and, if she has time, possibly track down the American father she’s never met. And while all of this may sound crazy, it doesn’t hurt that the photo of Cô Nga’s son is impossibly handsome (even if he does have sad eyes).

Yes, Khải is as gorgeous as a male model, but he's never been in a relationship, and that is just the way he likes it. His best friend/cousin died when he was a teenager and he didn’t even cry at the funeral, so coupling that with the fact that he’s on the autism spectrum, he will be the first to tell you that he is completely incapable of love. Sure, he cares for his family and he enjoys his job, but he’d never want to force anyone to be with him romantically if he couldn’t reciprocate.

Meet Cute

When Khải learns of the proposition Cô Nga made to a random stranger he is horrified, but he’s nothing if not a dutiful son, so he picks Mỹ up at the airport and holy crap. Esme (Mỹ’s American name for herself) is a bombshell sex-on-a-stick, and while he doesn’t believe in love, he’s not immune to his hormones. Esme knew it was going to be hard to make someone fall in love with her over a single summer, but her own mother reminded her in that a proper seduction can do wonders. If she’s going to stay under Khải’s roof, then she’s going to prove her worth in the kitchen, in the garden…and in the bedroom.

The Lean

Esme and Khải are so great together. He’s a virgin with little experience with the female species, and she’s a mixture of artful temptation and girlish innocence (it feels really wrong writing that out, because it makes her sound like a stereotypical male-fantasy sex-kitten, but please rest assured that she has excellent depth and an inner voice that make her more than a one-note character). There's the natural awkwardness of their situation—two strangers having to cohabitate—coupled with Khải’s mom trying to push them together at every opportunity, AND heightened romantic situations (like all those family weddings they must attend)…whew. There’s plenty of sexual tension, despite the fact that they are clearly warm for each other’s forms, because the reasons for them to stay apart or be together are all valid, nuanced, and realistic. I also love a sexy romance that also thinks things like communication and conveying your desires are just as important as all the hot bits.

Dirty Talk





Khải has had blinders on when it comes to women for a long time, so when he’s forced into close proximity to Esme, a lady who hates bras and apparently modeled her American wardrobe on pre-shopping spree Vivian from Pretty Woman, you know you’re going to be hearing a lot of inappropriate, repressed-virgin inner dialogue. We are definitely out of YA territory, so you will be seeing lots of detail—I’d recommend a DNRIP tag for this book, albeit for very different reasons than we normally use it for. *eyebrow waggles*

One of the best/worst moments for Khải and Esme is their first time. I don’t want to spoil too much, but OH, THE CRINGE. It’s no one’s fault, really, but you’ll be dying inside for a few pages.

We Need To Talk

I have been awaiting this book since I closed the back cover of The Kiss Quotient. (I may have cheered out loud when I was granted a Netgalley copy.) I’m happy to say it lived up to my sky-high expectations! Hoang has crafted another thoughtful, smart romance between two characters you don't often see in the romance genre. She’s taken common tropes and made them fresh, especially when you focus on Esme's immigrant take on America and her dreams for a better future for her and her family. It brings a sense of weightiness to the romance, knowing that her daughter and her mother are home waiting for her to be successful in some shape or form (Esme has other ideas about how to stay in the U.S. outside of just marrying Khải. Always good to have a back-up plan.) Even with all that riding on her, Esme is a ray of sunshine, charming everyone she meets and offering up a wickedly great voice, like here when she first sees a picture of Khải and feels jealous of the girl who would end up with him:

“He’d make a lucky girl even luckier someday, and they’d live a long, lucky life together. She hoped they experienced food poisoning at least once. Nothing life-threatening, course. Just inconvenient—make that very inconvenient. And mildly painful. Embarrassing, too.”

This is very much Esme’s story, but Khải is still a well-formed character in his own right. Much of their romantic issues stem from his autism and the fact that he’s never had to navigate it within a romantic relationship. How does he vocalize what he’s thinking, how can they relate physically within what makes him comfortable, etc.? His personal hang-ups about if he can love were probably my least favorite part of the book, if only because it felt like it took way too long to resolve them.

As with her first book, please do not skip Hoang’s Author’s Note at the end. Learning that writing Esme’s story helped Hoang relate better to her own immigrant mother was super touching. I kind of love that Helen Hoang seems to be gaining more insight into her own life through the process of writing both of her books than we are gaining joy out of simply reading them (and, trust, I get a LOT of joy from reading them).

Was It Good For You?



Was there every any doubt? The Bride Test is supremely satisfying. Hoang has confirmed that the third book in this “series” is going to finally get Quan (Khải’s older brother and Michael’s (from the first book) best friend) the attention he deserves. If I didn’t need a job I would be camped out on Helen’s lawn hoping for an early copy. If you liked The Kiss Quotient in any amount whatsoever, you will love this companion novel and relish the opportunity to fall in love with Esme. Happy reading!

Esme is basically a mail order bride. While cleaning the restrooms at a hotel in Vietnam she meets a woman who claims she is perfect for her son and says she will pay her to marry her son. Esme of course says no thinking of her mom, grandma, and her young daughter who share a small apartment. When Esme gets home her mom tells her she is crazy to miss the opportunity to move to America. She phones the woman and says she will do it for three months and if they are not in love after the summer then she will go back to Vietnam and not hear a word from the woman. Esme does have other motives a chance to find her father an American. Khai will give it three months but really doesn't want someone else in his space. He is doing it to get his mom off of his back. However when Esme and Khai first meet there is instant attraction but will either of them act on it?

I’ve read this 2 months ago and still have no idea how to voice my disappointment.
This book was such a let down I can’t quite believe I’m about to hit the one star rating after writing this review.

I’m fully aware that one’s expectations are subjective and self-inflicted but there was no avoiding them after reading the light, funny and emotional romance that was The Kiss Quotient. I wanted more from these characters Helen Hoang penned in her debut novel with such a refreshing take that I pushed all my expectations and need for more toward Kai’s story.

I think my failure to connect with The Bride Test stemmed from the the heroine’s characterization—or lack thereof, the messy execution of the premise, the absence of communication or attempt at communication between the main characters and the rushed ending. There is no mentioning chemistry in this romance, there wasn’t any.

I felt incapable of suspend disbelief for even a moment. I didn’t feel any romance, I couldn’t feel any sympathy for neither the hero or heroine. More than just unrealistic, the main plot development was just silly, poor (and the sub-plot regarding Esme trying to find her dad was so far-fetched and unnecessary).
Offensive even when you stop one second and think this grown-ass woman (Esme) didn’t think for one second she should research and talk with the hero (Kai) about his autism and in what ways it dictates his perspective. Literally she just tried to manipulate him with sex, lies and never tried to engage in conversations—never.

I also wasn’t a fan of how the author portrayed Esme. Was she just naive or simple-minded? My perception inclined toward the later.
I understand she comes from a different country, with a different culture, but the way she acted toward the hero felt reharsed and forced, of course her intentions were to please him enough he would marry her, but her behavior reminded me more of a cat pushing boundaries by pissing all over a territory than a grown-up woman set on seducing a man and make herself wanted, needed, desired.
I’ve rarely felt so removed and dispassionate about a sex scene in a romance book to be honest.

Another thing about Esme I couldn’t quite understand is her role as a mother. Don’t get me wrong I think being able to leave your kid behind in the grand picture of having a chance at securing a better future for them both is admirable, I just didn’t like the poor job Hoang’s made about illustrating Esme’s role as a mother. Her feelings for her daughter. The offhanded way her motherhood status was addressed in this book like her daughter was an afterthought—up until the very end of this book— didn’t help with my dislike of the heroine.

This book was supposed to be Kai’s story and I felt he was relinquished to footnotes in his own book. Kai didn’t do much in this book except for eating Esme’s breakfasts and enduring her presence. His outburst/wakeup call at the end of the book made it all the more unrealistic. It’s like the author finally reminded herself this was Kai’s book and he should have a role to play in this afterall.

The nonsensical take on the mail-order bride trope failed to please this romance reader, especially the many ways several characters had a hand into tricking the hero in marrying Esme.
I missed dialogues, I missed electricity, I missed feelings, I missed chemistry, I missed romance.
In the end, I feel like any woman could have been Kai’s bride, it was just a matter of being resilient and cunning enough to stay on his radar but nothing to do with love and feelings. Rather sad and anticlimactic for a romance don’t you think?

The only thing positive I can think of is the representation of diverse characters and asian/vietnamese culture. I found the author’s note about her mom and the part she played in building Esme character very touching. I’m just really sad it didn’t translate on paper for me.

Just like everyone else, I wasn't sure how this one would go. It would either be just as good as the first, or it would fall victim to the sophomore slump. Lucky for me, it was just as good as the first one for me. The characters, the romance, everything made it a story that I loved!

Khai thinks he's defective because he has no emotions, but in reality its his autism that makes him feel the way he does. And because of that, he has strayed from relationships as long as he could. But then his mom takes it into her own hands and takes it upon herself to choose a bride for him. In comes Esme. She takes the opportunity to come to America to see what other opportunities there are. But trying to make him fall in love with her is harder than she thinks. But falling for him is surprisingly easy....

The main thing I liked about this was the characters. I loved the growing that all of them did and it was so great to see all the things they learned along the way. But the best thing was they did it all by themselves. They both had very different lessons to learn and it made them even stronger, individual characters. And when they finally did get together, it was a wonderful romance and they were both able to bring something to the relationship.

Another thing I liked about this was the representation. Although everyone's experience with autism isn't the same, this one is #ownvoices. I liked the way it was shown that Khai had to work to feel comfortable with Esme and he wasn't automatically ready to be with her. And I liked that Hoang chose to focus on a different part of the autism spectrum for Khai's character. I thought that was important to show that not everyone's the same.

I found the audio of this was just ok for me. All the characters (except for Quan and Mike randomly) sounded the same and that bothered me. (Esme had a bit of a sharper accent, but that was all the difference.) I wish there was more than one person on the production. Just to make them a bit different. Other than that, Emily Woo Zeller did a really spectacular performance.

Even though this one was not about Quan like I wanted it to be, it was still an amazing read. (Also because I get Quan's book next lmao) I have grown to really love Hoang's writing style and now I'm excited for what else she will do next.

This second novel from Helen is quite endearing. I enjoyed it very much although not as much as her debut novel TKQ. I enjoyed going back to this world and seeing some of my old characters while getting immersed with a new couple that had my complete attention. I cannot wait for more from the author.

I was so enthralled with both Esme and Khai's characters that I could hardly put this book down.  The push and pull between these two was thrilling, emotional, exhilarating.  Esme really challenged Khai's boundaries, but she also learned to read him.  She found ways to work around his triggers, growing closer to him both physically and emotionally.  Khai opened himself up and was willing to break some of his long-standing routines to make Esme happy.

Esme is one of the strongest characters I've read.  She's not afraid of hard work, does what she needs to, to make sure her family is taken care of. Case in point her trip to America to woo Khai, and is kind to everyone even when it's not deserved.  Watching her character evolve throughout this book was phenomenal.  She started out doubting not only herself but her self worth.  As her confidence grew it was like watching a flower bloom into something magnificent.

Khai was complicated, set in his ways, and emotionally damaged.  A loss early in life altered how he felt about everything, but especially love.  His journey throughout this book as he learned not only about Esme, but also the power of love was empowering.  I found myself cheering for him as he broke through his preconceived notions, and the limitations he had put on himself.

I was extremely impressed with the way these two different, but equally broken characters came together and healed not only themselves but each other.  I was even more impressed with this story after reading the acknowledgments.  Do yourself a favor and read them too, it'll give this book so much more meaning.

If anyone had any doubts that Helen Hoang is here to stay, this book will put all that to rest. I really enjoyed THE KISS QUOTIENT when it debuted last year. The story and characters were a breath of fresh air. So I was extremely excited to read THE BRIDE TEST and let me be completely honest. I had high expectations. I knew that was wrong of me because I can’t imagine the pressure the author must’ve felt writing this book after the massive success of her debut. But there I was.

Khai captured my heart from the very first page. As a teenager going through the loss of his cousin and best friend, struggling with his emotions, I couldn’t help but want to understand him. As this book progressed, I think it did that beautifully. I was on this emotional rollercoaster with him, trying to navigate his feelings and understand his reasons. Getting to know him was especially beautiful and I think the great thing about Ms. Hoang’s writing is that it draws you in along with the characters. I was as captivated by him as Esme was.

But I also found Esme incredibly interesting and complex. I couldn’t see this book with a different heroine. She’s strong and determined in so many ways. It was that strength that kept me rooting for her. From the moment we met her scrubbing toilets in Vietnam all the way through seeing her stand up for herself in America. And the next time I think of something bad, I’ll definitely strive to be like her and remember that in my next life I’ll come back as a catfish.

THE BRIDE TEST is simply magical. It was funny and endearing, thought-provoking in dealing with serious issues but also sweet and romantic in a very different way than the first book. Plain and simple, this book was so addictive I didn’t want to put it down. Yes, I will go as far as saying I loved this one more than the first. Ms. Hoang did this story justice. The right pacing, the perfect chemistry, multi-dimensional characters. I was hooked, line and sinker. I can’t wait for more.

DNF-with so many books to read and so little time I've made a new rule. If I walk away from the book, read other books in between the next time I pick it back up, and don't come back to it for weeks then I'm calling it quits and moving on. Unfortunately, The Bride Test is one of those books for me.

This is my first book by Hoang and she's not for me. I'm bored.

Thank you for the opportunity, sorry I couldn't give you better feedback.

Star rating does not reflect my opinion.

I thought it was a cute story. The father subplot seemed a little forced and his name caused me serious pause. I did enjoy Esme's character greatly. I loved her self reliance and independence.

I liked The Bride Test even more than The Kiss Quotient, which I didn't even think was possible. Such a big-hearted, empathetic, emotional book.

This is a follow up yet a standalone to The Kiss Quotient, and it was fantastic. I LOVED Khai and Esme. They were perfect for one another.

If you've read The Kiss Quotient than you've already briefly met Khai before. However, if this is your first time in this world than you're in for a treat, because Khai is so beautiful. Khai is autistic and has learned to survive and live a certain way and for him he's happy, or he thinks he is. He loves routine and structure.

His mom wants more for Khai so, she searches for the perfect bride for her Khai. When she goes to Vietenam, she was expecting a certain person but that wasn't panning out, until she meets the cleaner at the hotel, and knows she's found Khai's match.

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

As Khai's mom convinces Esme to come to America to convince Khai to marry her. It starts a journey for Esme whom has been fighting for everything since she was born. With this potential opportunity she leaps at the chance even though she left her heart at home.

"You're not heavy. You're a tiny human."

With language and culture being an issue she doesn't realize that Khai is different like everyone else. She just likes Khai, which is what they both need. Khai is stunted to matters of the heart, but this is such a beautiful journey to find his way to happiness.

"It's not your fault when I hurt people," Khai said. "It's not yours, either."

I Loved The Kiss Quotient but I think I like the Bride Test even more. There was something so beautiful about Khai and Esme and the evolution of both of them.

" . . . My heart works in a different way, but it's yours. You're my one."

I hope we get Quan's story. I don't know if its a possibility but he's such a huge part of both books and so compassionate and kind, that I would love to see his HEA.


I highly recommend this author and this book.

4.5 Stars!

Khai is handsome, sexy, and a genius. The owner of a hugely successful business, he has more money than he could possibly know what to do with. (And he most definitely will not be landscaping his yard, especially after his annoying neighbor has complained about it multiple times.) But Khai has a secret, and it has to do with his cousin, his best friend who died when they were teenagers. His secret keeps him from getting close to people, but his mom thinks it's because he's autistic. She wants Khai to have a date to all their family weddings this summer, so she flies to the motherland, Vietnam, to bring him home a wife. 

Esme lives with her daughter, mother, and grandmother in poverty in Vietnam. She learned from a young age to be scrappy, hard working, and to care for her family with lots of love. When Khai's mom sees her in the hotel's bathroom cleaning toilets, she sees Esme's beauty and chooses her as the bride-to-be. Esme is not so sure about marriage, but she and her family decide it is best for her to go to the United States. Think of the opportunities, they tell her. She secretly also wants to find her father, who went to Berkley, but who she has never met. 

What happens next is funny, sexy, romantic and enthralling. Hoang has written a hilarious romance novel with deep substance and successfully creates a connection between the reader and the characters that I will remember long after the book has shut. I hope there will be a third book in her Kiss Quotient series, because I cannot wait to see what happens next! The Bride Test is a great summer read!

Just finishing this book up, and I'm not exactly sure what I think about it. The writing style was such that it never felt slow, but towards the end it started feeling dark and melancholy. I thought it was well written, and I kind of felt like I could relate to June, the main character, in regards to the big struggle of trying to make it in a career. How all the steps you take to move up still somehow make you feel like you're going nowhere. How an entire weekend in the big scheme of life is just summed up into a 3 minute story to tell your friends and then gone.

I received this Advanced Reader's Copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My (in America she goes by Esme) and Khai. Oh my goodness, I loved them! Helen Hoang once again delights readers with authentic and diverse characters. My is in Vietnam supporting her family by cleaning hotel bathrooms when a woman offers her the chance of a lifetime: come to America and marry her son, and she and her family will be taken care of. She will also have the chance to look for the father she has never met. Little does she know that the woman's son, Khai, would turn out to be such an unwilling participant in this plan.

This feel good romance is told through My and Khai's perspectives, which gives depth to each point of view. Both characters are complex and well developed, as can be expected by Hoang. I loved this book and will be recommending it to readers who want joy in their reading habits.

I received this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. Within the first couple of pages, I was hooked on this book. I enjoyed it so much that I wasn't sure if I wanted to hurry up and read all night long or if I wanted to savor it and make it last. I loved the characters and as much as I loved the first book, I liked this one even more. I could see this one being turned into a movie for sure.

I really liked this romance. It is really hard to avoid comparing this book to the author's debut novel, The Kiss Quotient. We do see some familiar characters in this book and I am actually glad that there is a connection. Don't let that fool you though. This is a very different story and I thought it was pretty original. I have a great time with this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend!

I was really excited for this book after reading the Kiss Quotient, and Hoang did not let me down. First off I loved the Esme, she really held her own and had a complete growth arc separate from her story with Khai, and she was determined to make something out of the summer no matter what. She also had a strong moral compass that never did not compromise even when her self esteem wavered. I also really liked Khai and especially how his heart worked differently but he still showed he cared! Khai also wasn't a male carbon copy of Stella, he was definitely a character. This book was a roller coaster, I laughed out loud (the manual scene was too much for me!!!) , and cried a little too, I cannot wait to read more of her stuff! This book put Helen Hoang on my automatic purchase list for work and my own personal library. Already dying to read Quan book, I loved him in the KQ but Khai's book sealed the deal and I really need to see this guy finally fall in love!