Helen Hoang hits deep with this romance novel that also requires tissues for reading. True to form, this one has neurodiversity, steaminess, and this time with heartfelt family drama that honestly portrays the very hard journey of a caregiver.

This really packed an emotional punch. I love how intimate it felt and I’m looking forward to her next book.

Violinist Anna Sun becomes famous after a video of one of her solos goes viral. Unfortunately, since then, she’s also unable to play through a single piece of music, her expectations for herself are so high. To make matters worse, Julian, her boyfriend of five years, proposes an open relationship so they can explore dating other people before making a more serious commitment.

Although Anna knows Julian expects that he will be the only one playing the field, she resolves she will embrace an open relationship as she downloads dating apps and prepares herself for a string of meaningless one-night flings.

Quan Diep, who has his own reasons for avoiding commitment, responds to one of Anna’s posts. The heavily-tattooed, motorcycle-driving man, though handsome, is not like anyone she’s met before—and is not someone of whom her family would approve, not that it matters. But a one night stand isn’t as easy as it seems, and the first, second, and third tries end without sex. Yet, Quan treats her with respect, kindness, and compassion as he sees her true self.

Anna starts to feel happy—but after a lifetime of conforming to her family’s expectations and demands, she struggles to find her own voice.

Although I found 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 difficult to read on an emotional level and cried through most of it, I loved the book. I strongly related to Anna and her struggles, and enjoyed many of the secondary characters while being infuriated with others. Though I thought Quan possibly more angelic and forgiving than an average person, that doesn’t mean he’s not my favorite #bookboyfriend of the year so far.

I have not read the other books in The Kiss Quotient series but didn’t feel disadvantaged. It might have even been to my benefit since I didn’t have any expectations going in (though I plan to read Books 1 and 2 now).

If you enjoyed Me Before You, One Day, or The Girl I Used to Know, I think you will love The Heart Principle. Just have some tissues nearby!

"The Heart Principle": 5⭐

(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @helenhoang and @penguinrandomhouse for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)

My new favorite romance read! Absolutely incredible, loved every bit of it! Loved the main characters, loved how real their relationship felt and loved to see new concepts flourishing in this story! Loved Quan and Anna together, their beautiful and honest relationship, how they contrast and yet, how they fit perfectly together.

Loved the author's writing style, loved how I could feel everything she was feeling while writing this book! I felt so compelled and so seen, I couldn't believe what I was reading. By 30% in, I knew this was my new favorite. Also, really important tws: loss and family relationships. Really frustrating ones, for that matter. Also, autism representation! We love to see it!

There's no better word for my feelings for this book other than love. I loved every second!

I cannot emphasize enough how I love this book. I thought helen’s last work - the bride test, was her last book that would make me cry, but this one pulled the strings too, a little harder this time (though tbt is still my favorite in the series).

the steamy romance was still there, the realistic characters, mental health topics, heartfelt scenes, and stories of hope.

I can fully relate to anna’s story – the toxic past, almost 5 years of only dating one guy, and being left that way. I saw myself in the pages with each remark and reflection. I realized it wasn’t a shame. at all. I am enough, and my feelings are valid. thank you for seeing me, helen.

meeting quan was a blessing, made me wonder for (my) quan kind of guy. also made me believe that it’s still possible. that not because someone mistreated you in the past doesn’t mean everyone else would too. in my opinion, it was risky to enter another relationship after just days, for broken parts must be healed first. however, quan really helped a lot with the healing, and I thank him for that. anna deserves all the love she’s been receiving after she learned to let new people in. their weirdness, dorkiness, and honesty to each other – I love, I crave that. there was truth, hence there was also peace. I hope we all receive our truths one day. and maybe when the time comes, share them with pride.

I cried as the story concluded because I felt everything: quan’s, anna’s, their families, struggles. anna’s character development is a triumph after she learned to stand up for herself, say “no” over and over, and not regret any it. I love everything put together, and it couldn’t have ended better.

another book worth reading from one of my favorite authors. we absolutely need more of her enlightening stories with thrills.

characters in the series who also appeared in this book are michael and stella.

This book was absolutely beautiful and so much more than just a “romance” novel. I read the Kiss Quotient back when it first came out but have not read the Bride Test, so I appreciated that this sequel could also be read as a standalone. The Kiss Quotient was a fun and enjoyable romance, but I did not find it that memorable. However, this book is so moving. You could really tell that Hoang poured a bit of herself into the pages, as evidenced by her author’s note.

I went into this book expecting it to be a steamy romcom; what I got was so much more.

I really appreciated the author’s real talk about real-life characters. It was at times emotional, steamy, romantic, and had all the elements of a five star book for me.

The author’s notes in the end of the book really drive home how personal this story was to the author. I admire her for her honesty and sharing just parts of her personal story with us.

This is the third book in The Kiss Quotient series. I’ve read the first book in this series, but haven’t read the second book yet.This book can definitely be read as a standalone...so dive right in!

This is another fantastic novel by Hoang and one that will absolutely tug at your heartstrings. It’s simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful. It’s about the main characters learning to take charge but also learning to let go. The book reflects the contradictions that make up life and shows us how to embrace them.

And while all of Hoang's novels deal with mental health issues, feature neurodivergent characters, and challenge stigmas in multiple cultures, The Heart Principle takes it to the next level. After reading the Author’s Note at the end, you’ll understand why. This book became very personal for author Hoang and that’s reflected in the entire book.

Quan was a fantastic main character, but Anna was the star of this novel in my opinion. My heart broke for her often, and there were times I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room in frustration. Watching her character grow was almost painful at times, but so worth it in the end.

This is the third in the series, but can be read as a standalone since each book features different main characters. Although I enjoyed the appearances of Michael, Stella, and Khai! (Was Esme mentioned at all?! I might have missed it.)

This is a wonderful conclusion to this series and a must-read!!

THIS WAS BEAUTIFUL AND HEARTWRENCHING AND WONDERFUL AT THE EXACT SAME TIME!! I cant even see through my tears as I type this. This touched me in all the perfect places. It was SO different from Helens other books and I was expecting it to be, but I didn’t realize how impactful this story would be. So beautiful!!!! Amazingly done! Another beautiful hit!

I love the way Hoang always incorporates disabilities into her writing. It's not forced, like she's trying to check a box, but always organic to the story. Anna and Quan were the very definition of chemistry. I loved the way their love poured off the page. Another hit from Hoang. I can't wait to see what she does next.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. This was a tough book to read. It was compelling, and well written, but it was tough to read. If you have ever struggled with burnout, dealing relatives with long term diseases, caregiving, or trying to live up to your family's expectations of you, this book might be difficult for you.
Anna is a musician who is hardcore struggling with her sudden rise to fame. As soon as she went viral, she got caught in a loop of trying to live up to the professional expectations of everyone around her. After her jerk of a boyfriend decided to open up their relationship, she met Quan, and their multiple failed attempts at a one night stand provided most of the humor for this book. Quan is a fundamentally good man who is the heart of his family, and he is absolutely the kind of man we all deserve.
I will warn that after this, there is a lot more heavy subject matter than the blurb hints at, and much of this book is full of grief and pain. This is an intensely personal and emotional story, but it is also a brutally realistic depiction of the truth of long term hospice care. My heart ached for Anna and Quan, I appreciated that the end was more nuanced than love curing everything. Quan and Anna are a pair of good people who learn to be their most authentic selves for themselves and each other through some truly awful times, and their story is definitely worth the read. Just maybe grab some tissues before you start to read.

AHH this book is just SO SO good. I loved it and just want to throw this one at people. There are so many nuances to this story involving body image, autism, responsibilities, familial obligations, how to care for someone in the way they need, and more. It's a heartrenching story that will leave you feeling for both Anna and Quan and also taking a look at how you're treating others in your life.

Anna is struggling. She is in a rut professionally and she is just going through the motions in her relationship. She is a professional violinist but can't finish a piece after a bout of fame left her to over analyze every note she plays. Her boyfriend is a piece of garbage who just uses her for sexual release and when he says he wants to see other people before settling down (this whole conversation will leave you fuming fyi), Anna decides she has the right to see other people too and maybe during her one night stand she can learn to set boundaries for her self and demand what she needs.

Quan is the life of the party that we all know and love from the previous books. He and Michael are thriving at their clothing company and he is living his best lift, except he is recovering from cancer and is left with a big secret that he can't even bear to say to himself. (This part tugs at your heartstrings like no other). Quan stepped back from the party life while he was sick and Michael convinces him to try out a one night stand to get his confidence back up.

Anna and Quan were made for each other in their own unique ways. They are extremely different yet their personalities and behaviors are tailored to each other. Quan's caring nature leaves his feeling emotionally connected to Anna after she has a panic attack at their first attempt at a one night stand. They bond over dorky things and watch nature documentaries together. Quan brings Anna out of her shell and protects her at the same time. Anna supports and provides the open acceptance and comfort Quan so desperately needs.

They hit a snag with Anna's dad gets really sick and requires round the clock at home care. Anna is subjected to the hostile attitude of her older sister who expects Anna to just suck it up and do it and is constantly demeaning Anna. This part of the book hits hard because it showcases the fact that not everyone is made to be a caregiver and THAT'S OKAY. Not everyone is able to take joy in caring for others and it can be extremely detrimental to their mental health. This perspective is really important because we always get the narrative that everyone loves to take care of others and that everyone would thrive in that environment and get satisfaction out of caring for those they love, but that's just not the case and its okay to say.

Anyway, this story is about learning to stand up for yourself and those you love. It's about setting aside your assumptions about what you think people need and actively working to love people the way they need to be loved. It's about providing support where you can for others but also supporting yourself emotionally and mentally. It's about recognizing that differences are beautiful and not a flaw and that they allow us all to live as our most authentic selves.

Can't recommend this series enough. You don't need to read The Kiss Quotient or The Bride Test in order to read this one, but I recommend them anyway because they're wonderful.

I don't know that I'm yet ready to write a review for this one, mostly because I just have lots of feelings. But I'm going to mark it as read for the moment so that my order/count doesn't get all messed up. Because that would ironically cause me anxiety. And if you've read the book, you know why that's ironic 😂

Rep: Chinese American autistic woman with anxiety, Vietnamese American man,

CW: ableism, racism, cancer (post experience), side effects of cancer and surgery, anxiety, misogyny, a stupid ass selfish straight man (yes that needs to be a CW because Julian is an asshole and people should be warned (Julian is a secondary character)).

Raw emotions that were inspired by the author’s own experiences. Highlights the burden of expectations. Hoang always delivers and continues to create beautiful story.

I am having a hard time writing a review of this book because I loved it so much. How do I put into words what kind of emotions it brought forth?
Helen Hoang is so vulnerable and caring in the way she shares Anna's story, which is clearly inspired by something that she has personally experienced. You can see it in the way she creates this world for Anna and Quan. Having read her previous two books, I expected more about Quan, but I was satisfied in the way she tucked him into this story that is primarily about Anna's journey from an adult diagnosis with autism (Aspberger's) and her families expectations and hospice care.
This book is rich in emotion, heritage, and heart. Don't let the cover fool you. It is a story of a woman learning to be seen, of healing, and growing into what she is meant to be. There is definitely romance and some steamy scenes that are perfectly fitted in, too.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

YES YES YES AND OHH YEAH YESSSS!

Helen Hoang has NEVER let me down and she certainly didn't this time around. I have been a massive fan of Helen and her books for a long time and I will remain that way for even longer.

This book is gold and EVERYONE should try it. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, emotions, and just beautiful storytelling. I HIGHLY recommend it to you and anyone who reads this!

READ ALL THE HELEN BOOKS!

I waited a bit longer for this book, but it was absolutely worth it. Less a book about romantic love, this semi-autobiographical novel focuses more on self love and self care. Hoang has a wonderful writing style, and transitioned seamlessly into first person narrative- a very difficult thing to pull off. Another great work by Hoang and she’ll be on my go to list for years to come.

I knocked off one star for the following reasons: the final part was rushed and wrapped up too quickly, the description says romance but that is not the foundation for the story, and readers should have more warning about a bulk of the work being a caregiver story - not everyone will want to show up for that and that’s ok bc they’ll be rewarded if they do. Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my review.

This third installment in The Kiss Quotient series, Hoang crafts a deeply personal story focusing on a violinist's career and life struggles, with a bit of romance thrown in. The love interest, Quan Diep, appeared in the first two novels in the series, so I was looking forward to reading his story. While the novel leaned more toward women's fiction than romance, it was a truly wonderful book.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I found myself laughing and then a few pages later had tears running down my face. The representation in Helen Hoang's books always make me happy and seen. Her books have made it easier for me to, just like Anna says in the story, "Stop masking."

This review is from the digital audiobook from NetGalley. The narrator for the Anna character was not my favorite, although she may have been just trying to stay true to the volatile, moody nature of Anna with frequent times of whining or pleading in her head while being vocally false and amiable. I felt that the author missed an opportunity to go a little bit more into the ways that women on the autism spectrum can present differently than men or women with higher support needs. She commented often that she or others recognized certain things about her that could indicate ASL, but she didn't go into much of what those signs were that others may have been able to notice and support. Using Anna's relationships with her sister, parents, and boyfriend (Julian) we can see how much Anna is focused on pleasing others, and how important it is for Quan to help her not only become but also accept her authentic self, and then leave room for others in her life to meet and then move into accepting her as well.

TOP PICK!

Anna is a very talented violinist who is struggling to keep her self sane after she went viral. The pressure is mounting on her and she has a lot to contend with in her personal life as well. Her family dynamic is interesting to say the least. Her boyfriend leaves her and she needs to regain her footing in life. Her friends convince her to take a leap of faith with an online dating service where she meets Quan.

You ever get nervous that an author will ruin a character’s story that you have anticipated reading about since the first book? Well, that was me with this book. I kept stalking the internet to see when this book would be released. I wanted Quan’s story so bad. He is so rugged and different than his family. He stood out immediately from book one. I’m so happy that the author didn’t disappoint me. In fact, this may be the best book in the series to date. I’m a little biased. I loved Quan from hello but hey who wouldn’t?

Quan is this tattooed softie that just warmed my heart. He has been tackled some hard health issues and he is wants to feel some sense of normalcy but it is very hard. Yes, his family is very supportive but this is something that he has to do by himself. When he meets Anna, the attraction to her gives him something to look forward to.

This book tackles real life issues and if you had read anything by the author you would know that she handles the difficult subject matters very well. All of the characters have something they have to deal with. The author lines up their mates so well. I like that the situation is never pushed aside and magically made better. They still have their trauma and issues. They just learn how to live with it and build a great support system.

Overall, I loved this emotional packed story and I’m glad that Quan got the story he deserved.

~ Samantha