Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I burned through this book in two days and once again this author does not disappoint. I love that Helen Hoang writes neurodivergent characters and allows for love to unfold, even with neurotypical partners. She doesn't shy away from the challenges, but she also accentuates the beauty. In this novel, quirks are celebrated, and this is something that everyone benefits from. Full disclosure, these romances DO include bedroom scenes, so depending on your comfort level, a few pages might make you blush. This novel goes deeper than her first two, and it is wonderful to see how adept the author is at mixing romance with important family issues (siblings, dealing with expectations, caring for someone at their end of life).

First, thanks to Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars. I wanted to love this book. Overall I liked the series but “The Bride Test” was by far my favorite. In “The Heart Principle” there just wasn’t much conflict between the couple! Anna and Quan were too understanding and mature! Which sounds dumb but they both were dealing with some hard circumstances that definitely could’ve created conflict between them but when they each found out about each others’ issue they were so great about it! I know that’s the mature way but it’s boring! I want some angst! And I understand the author wrote this in first person because the subject matter was so personal to her but I struggled with it. Because we got Quan and Anna’s point of view there was never any question of their feelings for each other. I like a little mystery.

Overall I think the series is great because it’s important to see stories about all different people. And don’t forget it’s a romance and there are graphic sex scenes.

In this quieter and more melancholy but still compelling novel, a woman with autism and anxiety struggles to find her way between the demand of her disapproving family and the first real experience with love. Lovely but a bit more challenging and less joyful than Hoang's previous work.

Every once in a long while a book comes along that is so good that it ruins you for all other books. Helen Hoang's THE HEART PRINCIPLE is one of those profoundly magnificent books. Superbly written, it's both heartwarming and heart wrenching - often at the same time.

Anna has spent her life being someone she's not. The perfect daughter. The perfect sister. The perfect girlfriend. The perfect musician. But none of it is reciprocated, until a one-night-stand, an unexpected diagnosis, and a family crisis changes everything.

THE HEART PRINCIPLE has several funny moments, but don't expect a rom-com or a light contemporary romance. It will make you angry. It will make you sad. It will make you proud. This novel is an immersive experience. An emotionally raw journey. A staggering triumph. And, yes, a satisfying conclusion.

Oh gosh I am so torn between 4 and 5 stars on this one. I'm sure on my re-read it will go to 5 but right now I'm feeling 4.

The good
- Quan and Anna were just amazing. I loved them together but I equally loved them as individuals.
- The autism rep I thought was really well done. This series has been able to represent the diversity within the spectrum with Stella, Khai, and now Anna. A+
- I've already said it but Q U A N is the new superstar of my heart.
- I really loved this story and romance.

The less good
- The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that the last 20-ish% felt more fiction than romance. Not in a bad way - just not what I was expecting.
- After TKQ and TBT I was not expecting this book to be 1st person! That kind of threw me.

Final thoughts
I have been SOOOOOOOOO excited for this book and it did NOT disappoint!

I am a huge fan of the first two books in this series and was anxiously awaiting the release of this book. It did NOT disappoint. The Heart Principal deals with tough topics (burnout, anxiety, autism), but we finally get to see Quan’s love story. An excellent read!

https://k8noonie.wixsite.com/morningnoonannight/post/the-heart-principle

Here is a link to my full review.

This book is perfection. It flows smoothly with the 2 previous installments. Helen Hoang is a refreshing voice in romance fiction. Request it. Read it. Buy it for your patrons. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for your friends. I read in one sitting, thanks to Hoang's storytelling and a rainy Memorial Day weekend.

Thank you to Berkley, NetGalley and Helen Hoang for the advance review copy—all opinions are my own!

It’s been a long time since I read something so raw, vulnerable, and searingly emotional. THE HEART PRINCIPLE touched me deeply as an autistic person and creator, as a lover of hard won happy endings, and honest portrayals of the work of love—love for ourselves and the ones we give our hearts to.

“Before, I played just because I loved it,” I say finally. “No one cared about me. No one even knew I existed. Other than my family and boyfriend and coworkers and such. And I was fine with that. I liked that. Now…people have expectations, and I can’t stand knowing that I might disappoint them.”

I’m terrified that if I slip, if I fail, everyone will stop loving me, and where will I be then?

“I think you’ve forgotten why you play,” she says gently. “Or more precisely, who you play for.”

This story is, by Helen’s own words in her author note, part memoir, and very bravely excavates the deep vulnerability, fear, and pain we can experience as creators. Anna is hurting when we meet her and struggling to function. She’s got a steady boyfriend who suddenly wants an open relationship, a strained family relationship, and compulsions threatening her ability to keep her career afloat. Joy is hard for her to find, and she seems deeply lonely.

Enter Quan, who she connects with when she decides that if her boyfriend’s going to do this open relationship she’s going to, too. They match on a dating app and what follows is sweetly realistic, adorkable chemistry that’s equal parts awkward, tender, vulnerable, and sexy. I loved these two—Anna’s earnest desire to connect with Quan and find a way to share intimacy, Quan’s patience with the time Anna needs to do that, his willingness to share his own vulnerability while making space for hers, and his desire to support Anna as she goes through a painful season when her father becomes seriously ill and dependent on home care.

This is story portrays a hard road to happily ever after that moved me and spoke to the parts of me that often want to hide from the world of romance, because it feels too bleak. But Helen has given us a gift, a story that gives us permission to have dark days, weeks, months, years, and still believe in sharing love with someone. THE HEART PRINCIPLE ends rooted in hope that even when we struggle and hurt and grieve, love is ours to know; love is patient with us, love knows us. Love loves us, exactly where we are.

Content Warnings: anxiety, depression, panic attacks, masking autism, ableism, cancer (past, not on page), suicidal ideation, toxic family, parental illness that renders them dependent on home care, death of parent, caretaking, burnout.

What a moving, loving, visceral book. This shows the potential of the genre! I was so impressed, even more so after I read the Author’s Note. I have had a hard time with attention lately, and I read this book in one sitting.

The arcs of both Quan and Anna are so real and thoughtful and emotional. This is not to be missed.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the chance to read this wonderful book.

Wow, I devoured this book in one sitting. It was extremely emotional and the author's note at the end was almost as powerful as the story. I remember reading the description of this third installment years ago and it definitely was changed, but I'm glad. There were a lot of elements I wasn't expecting, but Helen Hoang crafts characters in such a beautiful way that transformed my reading into a poignant journey (does that even make sense?! I'm very emotional right now). Easily one of my favorite books. Quan deserves the world and so does Anna. Simply...WOW.

I obviously was ecstatic when I received the email letting me know that I had been approved for The Heart Principle on NetGalley. Although I haven't screamed about it in a while, The Kiss Quotient still holds its spot as one of my favorite romances of all time. I also adored Quan in the first two companion books, so I was extremely excited to get his story!

What I knew about the book going into it was not much. I was aware that Quan and Anna met for a one night stand, which didn't go as planned, so they tried again.... and again..... and again. I thought it was going to be a cute romance, where there are several disaster dates that bond them and it would be all smiles and sunshine. I was warned that some big conflict was going to come up and complicate things, but since that tends to happen in every romance, I didn't really focus on that aspect. But I should have. Because this book ended up taking a very different turn than I expected.

I'm going to be completely honest right now, there were times when I was reading this book that I genuinely wanted to give it two stars. But not because it was bad! I want to make that very clear. There was never a time where I thought the book was bad, or that it didn't capture my interest completely! Rather, this book dealt with some really difficult topics, and I wanted to cry from the pain and frustration that Anna was dealing with at times. And since I was expecting a cute romance, I got mad at the book for making me feel so many intense and heartbreaking emotions. Eventually I was able to readjust my expectation and just marvel that a book could make me feel so fiercely, and I ultimately rated this book on what it was, rather than what I expected.

I think what ultimately made this book work for me, is that everything I was feeling throughout the book was purposeful and deliberate. This book was expertly written, and there was never a time where I felt like something was thrown in just for drama. In her author's note, Helen Hoang mentions that this book is part memoir, and you could tell. I definitely felt like I was living through a real life experience, which in a way, I was. A semi-fictionalized version, but a true story nonetheless.

This book deals with illness of various forms, toxic family, unhealthy patterns of behavior, and so much more. Anna's family made me want to scream with frustration. I hated who she became around her family, a feeling which only became stronger as the book progressed. Part of what hit me so hard was that this behavior felt so realistic, and it hurt me to think about anyone having to box up 95% of themselves just to be the person their family wants them to be.

Another character that I may have hated even more than Anna's family is Julian, Anna's boyfriend at the start of the story. I despise him with every fiber of my being. While other characters treat Anna terribly, they do so with the best of intentions for the most part. Julien on the other hand was thinking only of himself, and quite honestly made me uncomfortable with how little he cared about Anna's comfort or emotional well-being. What makes Julien's mistreatment so strikingly obvious is how fantastically Quan cares for Anna.

Quan is caring and thoughtful and wonderful, which I already knew from his cameos in The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test, but those characteristics are even more on display in this book. Even though Quan's storyline takes a bit of a back seat to Anna's, it was lovely to see him grow and overcome some challenges. Plus, his relationship with Michael is absolutely the best thing ever, and I loved every moment they spent together in this book!

Lastly I want to mention how I very much appreciated how therapy was portrayed in this book. Anna has a therapist that she goes to, but she's not taking full advantage of therapy at first, which I think is very realistic. I also found it realistic how at some points she was too overwhelmed with the things going on to even talk things through with her therapist. But besides for being extremely realistic, there was always this thread of the therapist being there and caring for Anna, regardless of whether she took advantage of it. For a book that's so heavy, I appreciated the fact that we always knew there was someone there for Anna if she needed it.

I gave this book 4 stars in the end! I really enjoyed it, but would recommend checking out trigger warnings before reading this one. It was a very powerful, slightly dark, and wonderfully crafted book though, and I can't wait to see what Helen Hoang writes next!

I was not expecting this. I didn't think The Heart Principle would hit so hard, but it really did. I wasn't ready for this book. I felt so overwhelmed while reading it, but my goodness... I loved it so much. I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up being my top read of 2021.

Anna Sun is a violinist who is struggling. After going viral in a YouTube video she's felt the pressure and it's building and building each and every day. In all aspects of her life she feels this way, but especially when it comes to the violin. Quan is struggling as well, but in a different way. After a health scare/medical procedure, he's not felt 100% like himself. They're both coping in different ways.

When Anna and Quan meet, neither are in the best place, Anna specifically. Quan never judges Anna for this. He never expects anything or asks for more than she can give and he was the most patient man. So genuine, real, and exceptional. Quan is an incredible guy. The romance of this book wasn't always the primary focus, but it was a big part of the story and such a gorgeous part.
Anna's story is so multifaceted and there were parts that were so relatable to me, and other parts that weren't at all. My heart broke for her. A big part of this book shows Anna struggling with caregiver burn out and essentially feeling forced to do this caregiving when it doesn't feel natural to her. I personally am a natural caregiver. It was easy for me to decide to be a nurse. It's not always an easy job and it can be even harder taking care of your own loved ones. There were times in this book I cried for Anna. Caregiving is such a hard job and making decisions for your loved ones when they can't is one of the hardest things ever.

Reading the authors note at the end and hearing from Helen and how much she could relate to Anna, especially the mental health aspect of her story just made me respect Hoang more. How brave is it to put that part of your life, the hardest part, out there and share it with us. It's important to talk about and I'm so glad that Helen did. Anna's story wasn't always easy to read, but her growth was inspirational and I loved watching her soar.

With every Helen Hoang book I read, I'm blown away more and more. She is such a talented writer and the stories she brings to life are all unique, real, and stunning. The Heart Principle is her best work to date. It's raw, heart wrenching, healing, beautiful, and powerful. This book was everything and is a must read for all readers. Trust me, it's worth the tears!

This book was SO TENDER. My heart was singing and breaking all at the same time and Quan and Anna were there to put it back together. I think this is my favorite Helen Hoang book so far. It's not as steamy as the other ones, but I think that makes it better. Just so wonderfully tender and sweet.

I love everything Helen Hoang writes and this is no exception! This one is perhaps a bit darker than the other two in this series, but the characters are well-rounded and the emotion is palpable.

I enjoyed many aspects of Helen Hoang's latest novel, particularly how she writes herself into the main character. The ending seemed elongated, but I still give 4 stars because her humor and connection with her characters are stellar.

Charming, sweetly funny and sad. Warm, witty, engaging. All my favorite books end too soon and this was no exception. Anna and Quan are delightful, fully realized and just jump off the page. Annas' family is also fully developed but that is to their shame. There is too much in this book to sum it up in a review so I will just tell you
to read it. The surrounding characters are wonderful, the dialogue is realistic but also new to me. I lost track of everything once I started to read their story and that is my biggest joy in reading.

I'm not sure I was ready for The Heart Principle. My heart is still aching after reading this - in a good way, but readers should know this isn't your average, fluffy romance. That should be expected coming from Helen Hoang, but this book is full of heavy emotion. It might take some recovery.

Anna Sun is a violinist who became popular after a video of her playing went viral. Her career takes off, but the pressure to be perfect becomes overwhelming. Now, any time she picks up her violin, she gets stuck on a loop at every mistake and can't even finish a song. Nothing is good enough. She goes to therapy to help fix her career but ends up with more items on her perceived list of problems. Anna only wants to fit in, but never really knows how. She observes people and copies their mannerisms, masking her every thought and feeling. But it's not working. She has been struggling for years and she can't seem to make her family or her boyfriend happy.

When her longtime boyfriend decides they should see other people before settling down, it triggers something within her. Maybe this is her chance to do something for herself for once.

Enter Quan, tattooed and riding on a motorcycle, he seems like the ultimate bad boy, but that's just not the case. A more thoughtful man basically doesn't exist. Quan is recovering from a traumatic illness that took over his life for the last few years. He’s still struggling emotionally but knows he needs to get himself back out there - a one-night stand to take the pressure off. He re-downloads the dating apps and his path crosses with quirky, smart, intriguing Anna.

However, their attempts at a casual hookup don't work. Both of them have their own issues when it comes to sex. They try once, twice, three times. Sure, there's kissing, touching, and all-around good feelings, but there are complications. Despite that, neither are ready to let the other go. The spark between them is built for so much more than a one-night stand. In fact, it might be the only thing that can keep Anna's head above water as tragedy strikes her world. But can that spark survive when there are so many gusts and waves threatening to blow it out?

This story is about so much more than just romance. It goes full force into trauma, family dynamics, caregiving, and all the hurt and pain that surround them. At the core of this story is Anna learning to advocate for her own needs and realizing that what she needs is just as important as what other need from her. I'll say it was very hard to read parts of this book. Anna is so battered down she can't speak up for herself, and I think every reader will be screaming for her to just say something - anything - but of course, it's not that easy. This is not an easy book. But it's so full of heart. Helen Hoang is an immense talent.

When I received the ARC, the note from the publicist warned that this was not The Kiss Quotient; this was not The Bride Test; that this book would be different and gut-wrenching. I went into reading this with as few expectations as I possibly could because, honestly, I'd read a phone book if Helen wrote one.

Helen’s my favorite romance writer, and her past two books are extremely important to me personally and professionally. I know the date of this release has been pushed back for personal reasons. I would’ve waited another five years if it meant being able to read another book from Helen. This book did not disappoint. Yes, it was different, but I think this book needed to exist somewhere in the world. From the very first page, I could tell that this page is immensely personal to Helen. I related to so much of what she wrote about: as both a creative and someone enmeshed in sometimes difficult family dynamics. There is the characteristic quirky humor many readers are familiar with. There were some lines that genuinely made me giggle, and it reminded me why I love her writing (Am I going to go watch nature documentaries now? Yes.); the climax of Anna’s character arc made me gasp, and I felt so deeply for her. But I think what has always shone through the most, especially in this book, is Hoang’s ability to create a truly, deeply emotional, very human experience. Her writing is accessible, immersive, and unique as ever. In this case, she writes about her character’s difficulties with family members coming to terms with her autism diagnosis; burnout as a creator; burnout as a caretaker; struggling with sexuality; and nearly imploding underneath the expectation from our family members, the same people who we expect to love us but can sometimes also crush us. I went into this hoping for a powerful love story, but I think I came away from it with so much more. Ultimately, the book is about fighting for yourself and loving yourself. Not everyone will love how this story turned out, but I think the people who need it will keep this book in their hearts for a very, very long time.

Yes, Quan is everything I’d hoped he be. <3 We also see cameos from other beloved characters for past books! I’m so thankful this book exists, and that I got to read an ARC of it. Thank you, NetGalley.

This may be a very odd comparison, considering this is a contemporary romance novel, but I think if readers liked “Crying in H Mart,” “The Heart Principle” will also resonate with you.

Anna's life feels out of control, she is struggling to play her next piece and her boyfriend has declared he wants an open relationship. Her friends convince her to try one-night stands to learn more about herself and exact some turn about on her boyfriend, But on her very first attempt she meets Quan who is struggling with his own things. They connect in an unexpected way. When Anna's family 'needs' her she finds herself falling back into family expectations and Quan does not fit their expectations. Will Anna have to lose herself and Quan for her family? A story of family expectations, unexpected connections, and finding a way to be yourself even when it is not what your family wants.

I am writing this in tears, and I believe this might be one of the best books I have ever read. I had no idea how hard this book would be to read for me personally and how much I would love it when I started it last week. This book is an amazing addition to Hoang’s work, and so touching and thoughtful. I personally have been a caregiver to an elderly, dying father and my husband went through testicular cancer, so I believe that this book touches upon love, grief, heartache, depression, anxiety, and hope in a beautiful and poignant way. I will recommend this book for everyone, but particularly for anyone experiencing the singular pain and loneliness of caregiving for a loved one while sick. Quan and Anna’s love story was hard to read at times, but so real, lovely, and sexy that I will never forget them. Thank you for giving me this book, and I will recommend it for all time.