Another amazing story by Helen Hoang. This one was hard for me to read. It caused a lot of anxiety and there wasn't a nice, clean ending. So whereas I enjoyed the book and felt the power of the story, it isn't one I'll read repeatedly like I do with the first two Hoang books.

I’ve loved this entire series, but this one was different in many ways. Not better, not worse, the impression it made on me was just different. It really touched an emotional cord for me. It was happy, it was sad, and it was very brave. There was a particular line in this book that immediately struck me more than any other ever has. I loved reading this book and will most certainly read it again.

First, thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My heart is so full after reading this book! I fell in love with Helen Hoang’s writing in the Kiss Quotient and immediately connected with Stella, I liked the Bride Test but didn’t feel the same connection as I did with Stella, and now I feel almost more connected to Anna.
I love the way Hoang’s books feel like you are reading real life, I forget that it’s just a story sometimes and I get lost in the characters.
The Heart Principle dealt with so many important issues such as dealing with Insta fame, caregiver burnout, and feelings of not amounting to “enough” and all I can say is a huge thank you to Helen for writing this.
Her books feel necessary, and I always feel just slightly more understood after reading them, even if I don’t always struggle with the same things that her characters are going through.
I will continue to recommend her books to everyone I see, and The Heart Principle might just be my be my new favorite.

THE HEART PRINCIPLE is my favorite by Helen Hoang so far. I love that she balanced the sweet, honest, yet steamy romances she became known for with THE KISS QUOTIENT and THE BRIDE TEST with some very serious subject matter from autistic burnout to end-of-life caregiving. Much of what Anna faces in this book comes from Hoang's own life, which makes it especially powerful.

I think this is my fav of hers so far. The story was much fuller and the characters more well rounded. There were aspects of it that were a little too predictable, even for a romance-esque novel. I also felt the book could have ended much sooner.

It is hard to summarize this book because there is so much in it, but I will simply say it is a journey well worth taking and I absolutely loved it. Anna is a violinist who has struggled her whole life, and through therapy learns the reason may be because she is on the autism spectrum. Dealing with her father's serious illness may fracture her family, especially when it is so difficult for her to make her voice heard. Quan is a character readers know from the author's previous novels, but he, too, has had serious life issues after recovering from a cancer diagnosis. These two just fit together, but it takes them a long time to really come together with all they have to deal with in everyday life. The character of Anna was so real to me and my heart broke with all of her struggles, but Quan's empathy, love, and goodness shone through, as ultimately did Anna's strength. I will follow Helen Hoang to the ends of the earth..

Gah I feel like I've been waiting forever for this book. Finally a book about Quan and boy did it not disapoint. I throughly enjoyed it and it hit me in all the feels. With Anna learning she is on the autism spectrum and Quan fighting his cancer battle and Anna losing her dad...there's alot of heartache in this book.
There's also alot of love. The romance between Quan and Anna was beautiful and I loved it.

Long awaited follow up to "The Bride Test", this is a bit heavier than her previous titles. That being said it was a great read, well worth the wait. I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

I adore Helen Hoang's books, and this one is no exception. Her centring of Asian and non-neurotypical characters, and the decent humanity of those characters, is nothing short of life-affirming. And the sex is very, very hot. Now I need to go back and reread the other two.

I’m going to be completely upfront. The Heart Principle is nothing like its predecessors, The Bride Test and The Kiss Quotient.

There is very little fluffy or light about this book, and if you are sensitive to depictions of parental death, cancer, grief, suicidal ideation, caregiver burnout or at times unflinching glimpses of familial neglect, this book is not for you. If you are looking for a pure romance, similarly, this book is not for you. There is an HEA, but that is not central to the story, even if it is important to the story.

For those of you who are able to read this subject matter, and also are willing to set aside how the first two books were written, you will likely not be disappointed.

The Heart Principle is emotionally raw and viscerally real. Your heart will be wrenched. Anna and Quan both suffer from similar conundrums: how to love oneself in the face of dramatic sea change.

Anna’s journey is much harder and given the author’s note that this is largely semi-autobiographical, all I want to do is give Anna (and Helen) a big hug. Quan has, how do you say, “seen some shit” in the years between The Bride Test and The Heart Principle, and it changes him in ways that make him perfect for Anna. I could argue that his dilemmas seemed ancillary to the story, and in some cases, completely unnecessary, but to be blunt, I needed the break from Anna’s overstimulated and raw perspective.

Overall, the romance itself was a balm to the fevered brow of this narrative. As Anna comes into herself, Quan’s quiet support undergirded two thirds of the narrative with a deftness that made the romance feel less like a journey of two people coming together and more like an unspoken inevitability. How could she not love him? How he not love her, seeing how much she cares?

Again, this is not Helen Hoang’s now trademark work. That was before. This is after. And I think that she has become a much more evocative writer for it.

The Heart Principle is a tough one to critique, since Hoang says in the author's note how autobiographical points of the story were and I feel for what she has gone through in general writing this book as well as in specific in her personal life..
That said I want either more or less out of this story. Similar to The Bride Test (where a million things happen in the last 10%) , there are so many things going on with Anna and Quan that just dont get enough resolution/discussion. My "script doctor" instinct would prefer if this book is either relocated to a more serious fiction genre, add a hundred pages or so, and really get into Anna's numerous family and work issues or if we stay in romance have fewer problems that get fully explored. I'd prefer the fiction route and really get into things, because I love misery, but it can go either way.
The following are all issues that are in the story: cancer recovery changing the survivor's personality, ASD diagnosis, lifelong dismissive mother and sister, end of life planning, being a family caregiver, grief, a wild disrespectful ex-boyfriend that crops up every now and again, suicidal ideation, long term disability leave from work, autistic burnount. Just so many serious things happening in a 275 page (per my e-reader) book.
As much as I totally believe Quan can fix everything in every situation, loved his character from the first, being Anna's magical boyfriend is just a lot of responsibility. I don't know that enough time was spent on her healing from her traumas to be ready for love. It reminds me somewhat of the YA trend a few years back where a character's mental illness would be totally solved with a love interest. Obviously relationships ebb and flow and people go through traumas, but it's just so much suffering from their very tentative beginnings.
I read this book in one sitting the day I was blessedly approved for it (obviously, it has been my most anticipated book since I finished my arc of The Bride Test in January 2019), and I enjoyed aspects of it.
I also think the cover should be redone since it was drawn for the story/blurb that was previously posted and doesn't match the somber tone here.
Is The Heart Principle Good and do I recommend it? Hesitant yeses to both.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review.

Hoang continues to astound and delight with her ability to present fully realized, relatable characters. The characters we’ve adored since The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test are here in this latest installment which will tug at your heart. I adored this book so much. Highly recommended.

Loved The Kiss Quotient! Enjoyed The Bride Test! Struggled through The Heart Principle. This book did not capture me as the first two did. Something felt off as I continued reading. There was nothing there to grab me and keep me interested in Quan and Anna's story. Which makes me sad because I really wanted to love The Heart Principle. I found it falling flat even in the end.

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of The Heart Principle!

ahhhhhh I have never been more grateful for receiving an ARC. Thank you thank you thank you @berkleyromance and @netgalley for my eARC. I honestly don’t think I could have waited till August 31st!

This book!🥺 THIS BOOK!!!! 😭😭😭😭
My thoughts will never be organized enough to write down how I truly feel about it but I 'll try...

let's be clear, this book is a romance. A steamy one *gulps*. 🥵Not so 🔥 as The Bride Test and Kiss Quotient IMO but exactly the right amount of sexy. Perfectly balanced in all the right places and at the right times. However, this book is also a deeply personal and heartfelt story of two humans learning to heal while leaning on each other.

TW-The important issues discussed in this book are plenty:

1- Autism, autistic burnout and the struggle of going through life undiagnosed and the pressures of masking feelings and trying hard to meet society's expectations of what is considered socially acceptable behavior. 

2- Caregiver burnout and the difficulty of caring for terminally ill family members and the implications this physical, mental and emotional toll takes on them including the inability to cope, and feelings of guilt and depression.

3- Dealing with insta fame and the pressure it puts on the "insta famous".

4-  Family roles, and the pressure and interference from overly controlling family members. 

5- Cancer and the struggle with body image after recovery. 

6- Depression.

These are all not easy subjects, but Hoang managed to talk about it all with so much heart and vulnerability that felt deeply personal while still keeping this a light read. How? How does she do that? Also, how is it that every single protagonist in her stories is likable. The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test were already so good, I honestly didn't think it was possible for the third book to be even better. But it is. The best out of the three for sure. You guys, I actually really think this book is my favorite romance of all time!!!! 😱 

This book has so much heart in it, almost every reader will find something to connect with. clearly, if you are on the Autism spectrum, if you are caring for a terminally ill family members, if you struggle with anxiety and/or depression, if you’re a cancer survivor, you’ll very deeply relate to the protagonists in this book. But, there is more:

🎻 If you are into music then you’ll love that Anna is a violinist, there is talk about creative block, artists’ struggles and references to popular music pieces.

🏃🏻‍♀️ If you are into running, then you’ll enjoy how Quan would resort to running as a way to deal with his stress. Hoang described the rush and liberating feeling that runners experience so vividly, I sometimes felt like I was there running along with Quan and experiencing his pain, frustration, joy, and elation.

🐙 If you’re into nature documentaries, then you’ll absolutely love the fact the protagonists bonded over their love for documentaries and that they continued to talk and refer to all the different nature documentaries throughout the book.

🗂If you’re a small business owner, you’ll relate to the struggles that Quan and Michael ( oh hi Michael😍) have to deal with in building their company while staying true to their brand.


There is still a lot more in this book that I didn’t cover but I have to stop otherwise this review will turn into a book on its own! 😬

lastly, I must now declare Helen Hoang as my favorite sexy romance author and declare The Heart Principle as my favorite romance book of all time 🙊

OBVIOUSLY 5 SOLID stars!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Now, I will leave you with some of my favorite quotes from #TheHeartPrinciple ☺️ Enjoy!!!!!!


  " I remove the pajamas that I've been wearing all day and pull on exercise clothes that I don't plan to exercise in. Somehow, these are considered more appropriate in public even though they're more revealing. I don't question why people do things. I just observe and copy. That's how to get along in this world."

"You're trying, unconsciously perhaps, to change your music to be what people like. But that's impossible, Anna. Because it's art. You can't please everyone. The second you change it so one person likes it, you'll lose someone who liked it the way it was before."

"Family is not safe. Not for me. Tough love is brutally honest and hurts you to help you. Tough Love cuts you when you're already bruised and berates you when you don't heal faster. "

" I don't know if it's better never to be successful at all, or to have success for a short while, only to lose it."

"The thing with feelings is they pass. Hearts aren't designed to feel anything too intensely for too long, be it joy, sorrow, or anger. Everything passes in time. All colors fade."

" I can't brush it aside just because I don't understand it. I can't place judgement on it. Pain is pain. I know what it's like to hurt and for others not to understand."

"How can he expect me to speak up for him when I can't even speak up for myself?"

Plot: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Writing: 4/5

Anna Sun — musical prodigy and dutiful daughter. Her carefully constructed facade starts to crack as the pressure gives her complete musician block and her long-term boyfriend suggests they see other people for fun. Then she gets an even bigger surprise — her (secret) therapist tells her she may be on the autism spectrum. And suddenly, everything begins to make sense. Quan Diep has fully recovered from cancer but can’t quite come to terms with the scars it left behind. When Anna and Quan meet on a hookup site they intend to have a one night stand only — but that one night keeps going wrong so they have to have another. And another. Until maybe “one night stand” isn’t the right word for what they are doing.

This is a deeply reflective novel that masquerades (well!) as a steamy romance. What I like about Hoang’s books (this is the third and the first two are also great) is that her characters spend as much time learning about themselves and how to fit into the world as they do about seeking a relationship. Also — no shopping and the relationships that develop are supportive and loving as well as physically intense. I love the process Anna goes through to understand her diagnosis, how it explains aspects of her personality that she hadn’t understood before and — most importantly — how she can move forward in the face of disbelief and unintended but deeply felt censure from her family.

There has been a spate of popular novels about people on the spectrum (eg Eleanor Oliphant, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time) but I find those entertaining rather than enlightening. These book help me understand from the inside. For me (not a professional!) what we currently label high functioning autism is more about a different brain organization than a disability and one that I often find makes more sense than the “normal”. In the current world of social manipulation and personal branding, I find the direct, literal and honest engagement depicted quite refreshing. [As an aside, I loved this description of “neurotypicals” (the “normals” I referred to) from a spectrum group: “Neurotypical syndrome is a neurobiological disorder characterised by preoccupation with social concerns, delusions of superiority, and obsession with conformity... Neurotypical individuals often assume that their experience of the world is either the only one, or the only correct one...NT is believed to be genetic in origin. Autopsies have shown the brain of the neurotypical is typically smaller than that of an autistic individual and may have overdeveloped areas related to social behaviour.” Makes you think!

Whether you’re looking for a romance, a positive story about relationships, or are interested in the personal development of an unusual woman who is learning about herself, you will enjoy this book.

I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time. I think we all did. And I must admit that I didn’t remember much of what happened in the past, and felt a bit out of the loop in regards to Quan’s history. But that didn’t take away from how much I loved Quan as a hero. He was such a dreamy kind of guy. Confident yet vulnerable. Funny but also incredibly supportive and understanding. Honestly, he had it all.

And Anna and Quan couldn’t have been any better suited for each other. I loved them so much as a couple!! And felt this deep attraction between them, as well as true understanding and empathy for the other. They made sense on a deeper level. From their connection, to how they met. The failed one-night stands were so on point for the characters. I loved the support they both showed each other. And the insecurities they both struggled with but were able to open up about had me rooting for them even more. There was nothing I didn’t LOVE about them!!!

When I started the book I was immediately hooked. I loved the premise, but must admit that I wasn’t prepared for the deeply emotional subplot that took the novel on an unexpected path.

Anna’s struggles are incredibly personal, and it comes across that way. My heart was breaking while reading and afterwards, after I read the author’s note, the story became even more poignant. I loved that the author put so much of herself into the book. It’s a deeply personal book and the story reflects it.

Overall, the story wasn’t necessarily what I hoped it would be. I expected something light, fun and sexy. Nevertheless, I adjusted my expectations and had a wonderful time reading it. And I know that fans of this author will love the book. And everyone who loves to read romances that offer something more will want to pick it up. Because in the end, THE HEART PRINCIPLE is an emotional novel full of heart and soul.

Unfortunately, my high hopes for this book were not meant, especially since I was not really prepared for the very heavy subject matter. I would have liked to have known ahead of time that this would be more women's fiction with an HEA. A majority of the book, Anna is miserable. She's made miserable by her horrible boyfriend (not the love interest in this book), her callous and hurtful family, and having to care for a parent who has a debilitating stroke and no advance directive.

While I appreciate the author's note indicating this was a very personal story, I would have preferred the note be at the beginning of the book, or at least a short list of CWs be provided. I too cared for a parent in home hospice, and this was really a really rough read for me.

.As I see many readers are excited to read "Quan's Book", this is not Quan's book. Quan is a very kind and amazing partner to Anna when he can be, but he is also dealing with his own trauma and difficulties, besides being in an open relationship with Anna. The scenes with them together sparkled, their love scenes were tender and beautiful, but ultimately I did not buy their HEA.

Rounded this 3.5 up to 4 stars because it got me out of my slump and I flew through it!

I’ve tried one of Helen’s books before (The Kiss Quotient), but the characters didn’t do it for me to I had DNF. This one felt more developed and a depth that surprised me! I enjoyed the relationship and the individual journeys for both main characters. The authors note at the end made me appreciate the story even more.

Be prepared, this one is quite steamy!! 🔥🔥🔥

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Hoang and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully balanced novel of steam, emotion, personal reflection and growth.

Anna Sun, a violinist, becomes burnt out seeking absolute perfection in her playing and life. When her boyfriend says he wants an open relationship before making a full commitment, Anna decides that it is also her chance to explore as well. Enter Quan Diep - tattoos, motorcycle and hunky man-ness. Anna and Quan stumble through their attempted one-night stands where they learn there may be some deeper feelings at play.

The Heart Principle is a roller coaster of emotions where Hoang grabs your heart and doesn’t let you go. I read some sections out loud to my husband near the beginning, but then he kept asking “So what's happening with Anna now?” so he was also intrigued by the story. Anna and Quan end up building a beautiful and believable relationship that's not all sunshine and rainbows.

Anna is the neurodivergent character of this story, who is diagnosed with ASD later in life. Hoang's cast of diverse characters also doesn't disappoint, but both Anna and Quan take the stage. They both have to navigate societal expectations and you can tell how much heart and soul Helen Hoang has put into this book.

Themes: Asperger's syndrome, sexual empowerment, sisters, personal/societal/familial expectations, caregiver burnout

TW: cancer, death, grief, ASD, panic attacks, sterility

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Readers Copy for an honest review of "The Heart Principle" by Helen Hoang.
Anna is a violinist who went viral online who has lost he ability to play. Everytime she tries, she gets frustrated and cannot finish. When her boyfriend tells her he wants an open relationship before they are engaged, she decides she can also have a one night stand. She meets Quan, a tattooed motorcycle rider online and realizes they have more in common than she thought. In getting to know him, she realizes maybe what she thought she wanted in life, is not what she wanted after all.
Full of wonderful characters who I fell in love with and a few that frustrated me,this book swept me up and I sped through it. With a story touching on sister relationships, saying goodbye to family, a medical diagnosis that explains behavior you didn't understand completely and overcoming your fears, I loved the many plotlines that felt realistic.
My favorite part of the book was seeing the relationship between Quan and Anna and the acceptance of each other that they were having a hard time accepting in themselves.
I highly recommend this book. If you're already a fan of Helen Hoangs books you will love it and if this is your first book, it's a great introduction.