This is my first Helen Hoang and I loved it! Definitely a VERY steamy romance, but also so much more than that. Burnout, grief, and complicated family relationships are big themes. I loved watching Anna and Quan grow and will definitely recommend this!

This book was so cute! I love Anna and Quan! This is Helen Hoang's best book to date. The characters were so real and relatable. You couldn't help but fall in love with them. There is so much going on in this book, but its never too much. As usual Hoang brings us to the emotional edge of falling in love. Can't wait to read what's next!

I wrote an article for literary Hub titled "Romance Novels for Hot-Everybody Summer" and listed The Heart Principle as one to read.
https://lithub.com/romance-novels-for-hot-everybody-summer/

I must confess that I haven't heard good things about this book. I've heard people say that they hated it, when compared to the other two. It took me awhile before I actually opened it up to read and I was really glad I did.
This book is definitely not like the first two. It is not a light, breezy beach read. This book has serious emotions and left me in tears during certain sections. I enjoyed this book because I am recently a caregiver myself. It is an extremely difficult thing to do. I've felt so many of the emotions that Anna was going through as well. I actually wouldn't of minded reading more about the hardships of caring for her dad and the mental drain it had on her. I am taking care of my mom while working full time and I spend everyday on the verge of tears. I really, really appreciate the spotlight Helen Hoang has put on autism, but also about caring for ailing parents and the toll that takes not only on the patient, but also on the caregivers themselves. This is the book I needed to let me know that I'm not the only one out there having these emotions alone.

So incredibly fun and loving, this is the first Helen Hoang book I have read but it will not be the last. I loved how each of the charecters were a little imperfect but fit well together. They worked to overcome physical and mental barriers and it had a strong ring of truth throughout. An utterly lovely story, dealing with serious issues, but with a little laughter and fun intertwined.

This highly anticipated 3rd book in the Kiss Quotient series blew me out of the water. Violinist Anna is facing burnout after years of unsuccessfully trying to recreate viral fame she once experienced. When her boyfriend decides he wants to date other people before he settles down with Anna, Anna decides to also try casually dating through apps. She matches with Quan (business partner to Michael from The Kiss Quotient), and their one night stand turns into something more, as Quan seems to understand and accept Anna better than anyone else in her life - including herself. In the midst of her blossoming romance, family tragedy strikes and Anna finds herself forced into the role of caregiver, sending her into a downward spiral.

You can tell how deeply personal this story was to the author; the focus of this is more about grief, autistic burnout, and learning to set boundaries with toxic family members. I cried multiple times while reading this; Anna’s journey is much more about her relationship with herself and her family than it is about her love interest Quan (though the romance is sweet). While the book strays from the typical romance formula, the story is stronger for it. This is a book I know I'll be returning to over and over again; following Anna as she comes to understand her needs, her wants, and herself is an absolutely beautiful journey.

I did not finish reading this book. This is very unusual for me, but this book just didn't click with me at all. I didn't like the tone or the characters. Just was not my bag.

I have been anticipating this book since it was announced, and I absolutely love this series.

Unlike the other books in the KQ series, this book is written in first person, which surprised me a little but Hoang's note at the end pointed out how personal to her this particular book in the series was. In this book we are finally graced with Quan's much-deserved love story! Aiming to get back into the dating game after health issues rudely took him out of it two years ago, Quan decides a one-night stand is just the thing to start again. Lucky him, violinist Anna is looking for her own one-night stand since her douche-nozzle of a boyfriend decided they should see (have sex with) other people to make sure they wanted to be together without consulting her to see if she was cool with it. Romance, misunderstanding, and tragedies ensue. One word of warning, there is some suicidal ideation implied at one point, although it is not

Overall, another great addition to The Kiss Quotient series that provides a cute romance while also addressing issues of self-worth discrimination against those with ASD.

This book hits right in the heart! I’ve been not-so-patiently awaiting The Heart Principle for literally years…and finally got my hands on it. It was well done and written with love.

Anna is a violinist stuck in a loop. After a viral video made her music famous, she can’t seem to make it through a full song without thoughts of what others think just crowding in. After her boyfriend asks for an open relationship, she decides it’s time to make some changes, and seeks a new relationship and some revelations of her own.

Quan survived a diagnosis that left him feeling less than whole, and it’s ruined his carefree lifestyle and relationship style – until now. Looking for one night to get him back on the horse, he finds Anna, and falls head over heels for this woman.

When tragedy strikes Anna’s family, and she comes face to face with a diagnosis of her own, things become too much, and it threatens the one good thing Anna and Quan always have: each other.

I’ve got to say right off, I didn’t love this book as much as I’ve loved Hoang’s other novels, and I actually feel bad about it. The Heart Principle feels kind of like a cross between a romance and a contemporary/literary fiction novel. There’s a lot of focus on the story, the character development, and relationships outside of the romantic relationship, that are more present in literary fiction. However, this book also follows the arc of a romance novel. I’m not dissatisfied, certainly, but if you’re reading this review and seeing four stars like it’s a four star romance, I don’t mean it in that way. It’s a four star book overall.

This book focuses heavily on mental health and caregiving. I don’t want to spoil any big details, but it’s split up into three parts revolving around a major health event, and then the caregiving that comes after. These parts felt the most meaningful to me: as much as I love any Hoang romance, the author’s interaction with the story during these parts definitely had a deeper quality to it, and for good reason. After reading the book, I was met with the author’s note, which explains that Hoang wrote the story over the three years she was acting as a caregiver for her mother. These parts of the story are raw and real because they’re based in reality for her, and I definitely felt that as the reader.

The romance portion is where my star is lost. I think it’s really nicely done, and I think Anna and Quan’s support for one another even in the hardest of times is emotionally heartwarming and sweet. However, it doesn’t live up to the standards of her previous books in this sense. Don’t read it expecting it to be the main event…but certainly read it. I still very much recommend this book, but be aware that it is far heavier than any of her others, and take care of yourself while reading.

A copy of The Heart Principle was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It will be available August 31, 2021.

Helen Hoang's new novel, "The Heart Principle" is very different from her previous two books. Though still a romance, there was a much greater focus on the main character, Anna's, struggles with her mental health and her family. This novel was so much more emotional and based on the author's note it was deeply personal for her. My heart broke for Anna, and some of the chapters were difficult to read. It takes on a lot of serious topics and it doesn't make light of any of them. A lot of people like to write off romances as being too light, saying that they have no substance, and this would be the perfect novel to change their minds.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: these are Nick's from her review anxiety, panic attack, depression, autism, masking, ableism, cancer, sterility, suicidal ideation, severe (non-cancer) illness of a family member; caretaking; burnout; death of a family member; toxic family relationship; classism; unnecessarily putting oneself in danger; overexertion as coping mechanism, gaslighting

Warning of kind of SPOILERY

This is a very difficult review to write, I'm honestly not sure how to rate this book. I definitely agree with the other reviewers who have found this to be more of a heavy fiction book with a romance subplot. This book covers a lot of heavy topics, well, but it was a heavy read that was difficult at times for me to read for a lot of reasons.

This was Anna's story of masking and pleasing everyone, and finally, finally seeing herself. Asserting herself and no longer just agreeing with what everyone wants. Her relationship with her family and her relationship with dating and sex was hard to read but also true for so many people who are just trying to get by.

Quan, sweet Quan. He was just as sweet of a cinnamon roll as I knew he would be. Dealing with his own stressors after cancer, returning to his life. But this isn't Quan's story as much as Anna's and he is very much there for her. There was one chapter that really bugged me that did not serve the story at all and honestly didn't seem reflective of Quan. This isn't the love story I was expecting for Quan.

The author's note was very beautiful and you can tell how heartfelt and meaningful this story is. It's beautifully written and gut-wrenching. I may be able to put my thoughts better later. It was a thought-provoking and enjoyable read and I'm very glad good friends gave me a heads up of what to expect that this is not a lighthearted romance.

Rating: 4 (I keep drifting between 3.5/4)
Steam: 3

With so many works coming out of the "pandemic", this is one you MUST read. A love letter to herself, Ms. Hoang deserved all the time she needed to write this one. No spoilers, just read this!

I'm a big fan of Helen Hoang's books, having previously read The Kiss Quotient and read and reviewed The Bride Test, enjoying them for their slower pace, their character development, and their diversity in terms of both mental health and abilities. I loved the first two books in this series and was exceptionally excited for Quan's book, but I never imagined I'd get this story. It was heart-wrenching, intensely emotional, and brilliantly written.


I expected emotion, given Hoang's track record, but I also expected a book focused more on the relationship between the heroine and hero. I was surprised by how much of this book focused on Anna's relationship with her family and her own internal struggles. The relationship between Anna and Quan got plenty of attention, don't get me wrong, but I found myself deeply entrenched in the connections between Anna and her sister, Anna and her mother, and Anna and her father. Watching her learn to believe in herself, learn to speak up for herself, learn to accept herself... that's what made her the star of her own story, rather than a co-star of the hero's story (which I feel happens a lot sometimes in romance novels, the heroine is just there to complement the hero's journey to self-discovery).


Still, it was incredibly delightful to break up the tense moments between Anna and her family with the heart-warming moments between Anna and Quan. Quan was so accepting of her "quirks" and struggles and willing to take it oh-so-slow. Meanwhile, Anna was equally understanding of Quan's own hang-ups regarding sex. It was truly a match made in heaven...or Tinder in this case.


All in all, this doesn't necessarily read like her other romances (probably because of the big focus on Anna's relationships outside the romantic spectrum) but the writing quality is what we're used to and the plot will hit every one of your emotional pressure points in the best way. It's another winner.

The summary of this book does not do it justice. It is part romance, part memoir, part one woman’s journey for understanding and acceptance.

Helen Hoang’s The Heart Principle is about a woman who has spent her entire life masking, trying to parrot behavior and feelings that those around her expect of her. It has exhausted her to the point she is physically and emotionally spent.

Anna’s self empowerment journey leads her to a therapist who suggests she may be on the autism spectrum. Her story to matter, to be herself, to be enough, was raw and emotional.

Another facet of The Heart Principle is the heartbreakingly real acknowledgment of the extreme and unrelenting toll caregiving can be to someone who is assisting a chronically ill family member. It also was raw and emotional.

Near the end of Anna’s story she hopes her art makes people feel, think and have an impact. This book, this art, has made me feel, think and has been very impactful. It is a story that stays with you long after you are finished and makes you want to be more compassionate to all those around you.

Thoughts from the book that resonated:
Just because something isn’t perfect doesn’t mean you need to throw it away.
To show your love you fight no matter the cost no matter how hopeless...right?
What if the care prolongs the suffering?
Realizing your family can be toxic to your mental health and having to decide to part ways to save yourself
Stop chasing perfection, it doesn’t exist.
Be kind to yourself

I could not put this book down. I became so invested in Anna’s struggle and wanted her to achieve some measure of happiness and peace with herself, with Quan, and with her family.

Also Quan is hands down the best book boyfriend. Ever.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the most anticipated releases of 2021. According to the author, it's part memoir as much as fiction, one she struggled to write and complete, and one which seems to have been completed rewritten. The original blub had a completely different synopsis and who knows, I may have loved that book. Unfortunately, I did not care for this. It's hard to give a negative review to something the author finds so personal but I just didn't care for the way it was written. It's first person present tense, which is a hard sell for me, and it alternates between Anna's pov and Quan's, but the problem is they sound exactly the same. They're both flat and emotionless, despite there being some heavy stuff in this book. I realize that this is an unpopular opinion, but Anna is hard to like. She's frustrating and miserable and cannot say no to anybody. And why did everyone else have to be so horrible? Her family thinks Julian is such a great guy and perfect for her, even after he basically tells her he wants to sleep with other women. Her sister, Priscilla, is awful. The stuff with her dad was extremely depressing and hard to read. Quan doesn't really do anything in this book and feels more like a side-character and was more developed in his brief appearances in the previous books. I just did not enjoy reading this. I tried to finish it, but when I got to the part where Anna basically agrees to marry Julian in front of her family because she doesn't want to disappoint anyone and she can't say the word no, I was done. I'm sure a ton of people will fall in love with this book, but it just was not for me.

Helen Hoang really outdid herself in the third installment of the Kiss Quotient series. I enjoyed the first two books exceedingly, but the author really knocked this one out of the park. There's so much vulnerability shared in the novel, not just from the characters but from the author herself. As frustrating as it could be to watch Anna struggle as she turned external criticisms inward, I couldn't help but root for her and Quan and was so happy with the way the storyline was resolved.

This is a truly heartfelt book that does such a good job of writing from the perspective of someone on the autism spectrum in a way that makes you truly understand. The main two protagonists are fully fleshed out characters. Dealing with what society and family expects from someone vs what they can offer is a challenge I think everyone can relate to.

I absolutely loved this book! It is my favorite of all of Hoang's books, which were all amazing as well.
I loved the humanity of the story---how open, raw, and hones Hoang presents both Anna and Quan and the challenges that they face. Yes, this is very much a romance, but it is not just about the romantic love between Anna and Quan, but also about self-love and acceptance. Definitely a 5-star read!

I loved both the Kiss Quotient and the Bride Test and gave 5 stars. I thought it would be difficult to best the first 2 books. To my surprise, the Heart Principle was even better than the previous books. It's actually more than a romance book. I could feel Anna's anguish as if it was mine when her family kept on dismissing her as an individual person. I had to stop reading a few times because it became too much for me, but it was worth reading. The ending was realistic and hopeful. I loved it!

Helen Hoang is a precious author who writes very special romance novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced readers copy.

I enjoy this author so much. Anna and Quan's story was great. A little sad that it took Anna so long to say NO because I think it hurts the story somewhat. I thought Quan was spectacular and really patient.