Quan gets his own story in The Heart Principle. After recovering from cancer and lack of confidence, Quan joins some dating apps at the behest of his cousin, Michael (from the Kiss Quotient) – get yourself back out there. Anna, a quirky violist whose boyfriend decided he wanted an open relationship, catches his attentions. Although each is looking for a one-night stand, after 4 weeks/dates they have not gone all the way; things keep getting in the way. As they settle into a nice friendship, enjoying each other company, feelings begin to deepen.

Story: I was really looking forward to Quan’s story. I loved his swagger in the other novels. He was so confident, carefree, funny, and supportive of his family. This novel, though, is marred with almost the opposite. It doesn’t feel like the same person, which I guess is understandable because of the hardship he’s gone through the past few years. Anna’s character is really complex, her diagnoses of autism later in life sends her into a tailspin. For so long, she has tried to keep herself looking and acting “normal,” careening her into depression by the end of the novel – with Quan the only one to keep her grounded. It was really challenging to listen to, honestly. So, if you are looking for a light-hearted romance, this really isn’t it.

Audio: The female narrator was really good. I liked her voices for all the characters – I kinda wish she would have done the whole novel. I was not as impressed with the male narrator. He had some strange inflections and spoke more like, I would imagine, an excited dog (if they could speak human). Overall, I wish this book would have taken the same route as the other audiobooks for this series and just had a female narration. Don’t get me wrong, some of my favorite audiobook narrators are male, but this one just didn’t fit the character, to me.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this audiobook version as much as the other two in the series. Physically reading this book might have made it more enjoyable.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the early release and sorry for posting the review after the release date. I do not get approved for many romances as I am a teacher, but I am so thankful I was approved for this one.
Helen Hoang does it again! The Heart Principle was definitely one of my favorites of her books. What I like so much about her books is how it is not necessarily a series, but the characters in her other books are all in the books and the focus is on a character you previously met.
What I enjoyed about "The Heart Principle" is the relatability to the characters and how they learn to deal with the struggles in their lives and how they move on. I'm also a softy for them finding romance in the end. I look forward to reading more Helen Hoang in the future!

Dear Helen, you really didn't need to rip out my heart in this manner. I did go into this one thinking that it would be a lighter read similar to the previous two books, but it is NOT! I LOVED every second of this book, but please be mindful of triggers for this one!

TW: ableism, anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal ideation, death of a parent, grief, coping after cancer, infertility, gaslighting, toxic ass family members...there's definitely some that I am probably missing so please check out other reviews.

I have been struggling to write this review because I just want to scream for everyone to read this book. That being said, I know this book will not be for everyone because a lot of it is traumatizing, depressing, and rage inducing. It is evident that this mirrored Hoang’s own personal experiences, and my god was it brutal to witness.

I think the hardest part about this book is that I saw a lot of myself in Anna. From the way that masks around people to the point of burnout, putting up with toxic family that constantly gaslights you and undermines you until you physically break down, feeling like you’re not worthy of love…all of it. My heart yearned for Anna, and I just wanted to burn everything down for her.

Quan. Everyone needs someone like Quan in their lives (regardless if its romantic or platonic). From the beginning, he immediately understood Anna’s needs and never pressured her into any situation that made her uncomfortable. When Anna first started considering the autism label, Quan didn’t even bat an eyelash unlike Anna’s vile sister that I wanted to throw off of a cliff. Watching these two just be together was everything. I honestly can’t even describe it.

This book is easily one of the best books that I’ve ever read. It made me angry. It made me cry. It made me want to throw it across the room on Anna’s behalf. But it was also such a beautiful story about self discovery and love.

Thank you to Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

I feel the need to preface this review by saying that I have signed first copies of the first two books in this series. They were warm, sappy and swoony. I loved every word and recommended them to every romance fan I know. Needless to say, I waited on baited breath for Quan's story to be released.

Unfortunately, this book was not those things.

The Heart Principle is Anna's story. This in itself is not the issue (because, really, book #1 was Stella's story to tell). The issue is that Anna is a sad character, difficult to root for. She goes through a great bout of self-doubt and depression in this book, which really sucks the swoon right out of it. The romance between her and Quan is a secondary tale, told in the background, which plays second fiddle (or violin - ha!) to her journey through a late diagnosis of autism and the serious illness of her father. I've heard the author state that writing this book was cathartic after the illness and death of her own parent, but sorry to say it was a bizarre placement here.

Now if this was marketed as a literacy fiction, my rating would be much higher. If this book wasn't the third in a fabulous series my rating would be higher, but this was a letdown for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for letting me listen and review.

I absolutely love Helen’s writing!! This series has been amazing, and I would highly recommend it to any romance reader. I love how she involves real life issues in her books and deals with sensitive nature subjects. I like the real aspect in a book, it makes them more relatable.

I read the first 2 books, no this one I listened to the audio. The narrator did a fabulous job. It took me a day to listen to this book because I was so into this book.

I don’t know if there are anymore books in this series, but I am really hoping so!! Helen is definitely one of my favorite authors and a she’s also on my one click list!!

Such an amazing audio book. I have read the other two books but this is my first narration and I am so going back for the others. The voices pulled me right in and I was just involved from the start. I loved the story but the voices brought it to life and dang it was it hot and emotional and wonderful and heartbreaking and just AMAZING.

I love a good book with diverse characters. Not the perfect ones that have never struggled. Anna having struggles and fighting to constantly please everyone is relatable in a lot of family dynamics. I’m happy to see an author making a characters struggle and find out there is a cause that they have to learn to live with. It made her come across as a very human character and less fiction. I think lots of people can relate to her without having the same condition. Enter a man who is not perfect either but kind. He has his own struggles and that’s what made this story everything it was. No perfect characters, no perfect situations, just realistic struggles and life events. This made it such a heart warming and emotional Rollercoaster of a story. The flow of the story was just right and I really enjoyed it.
The only thing I wish I could change about the story is the sex scenes. I found them a little cringy at times do to the over the top descriptions and proper autonomy terms. It kind of ruined those scenes for me and with this being an audiobook arc I couldn’t really skip them. This is the only downside of the heart principle to me. The story itself is 100% worth it though


Narration review


I loved the audio version of Anna. She really brought the character to life. I found those chapters so easy to be pulled into the story
. However the voice of Quan really threw me. The voice didn’t match the description and I kept picturing an older man do to the voice narrating those chapters. The story is still a great story but I think the narration could have been vetted better.

I received an advanced copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I feel like this one was more heavy and personal than Hoangs other work. Most of the plot is Anna’s realizations about herself and learning how to set boundaries and learning what she is willing to rule her emotions and obligations. Quan was a good fit for her and I adore they relationship.

I've heard people complain that this isn't a "romance" and I couldn't disagree more.

This is a healthy romance. It's not all butterflies and rainbows. It's sadness and growth and still loving that person even on the hard days.

I adored this book and will absolutely buy and read Helen Hoang again.

The audio was done really well too. I enjoy hearing the different accents and really connecting with the characters. The narrators were perfect at encompassing the emotion of the book. Would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to DreamScape and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to The Heart Principle audiobook. I enjoyed Natalie Naudus reading as Anna and thought she really brought the character to life. The book has an intriguing premise as Anna’s long term boyfriend decides he wants an open relationship before committing to forever. Anna is shocked and determined to teach him a lesson, when in fact she embarks on a learning journey of her own. The Heart Principle has steamy vibes that romance lovers will enjoy: Quan has a bad boy image and is everything Anna's family has taught her is unacceptable in a partner. However, the book portrays the growth of a more realistic relationship with substance, full of sexiness and hardship.

I love that this series shares neurodivergent experiences and helps normalize them. Anna has to come to terms with her autism diagnosis and what she has done her whole life to hide that part of herself to fit in and find approval from her family. Hoang does a fantastic job portraying Anna’s story in a relatable way to a mainstream audience, but I love that the book speaks to the experience of many children of immigrants and families of color as well. I appreciate Anna’s first person narration and found her actions and decisions, while sometimes frustrating, understandable and realistic based on her experiences and thought process. The novel deals with some tough topics, including burnout, familial pressure, cancer, emotional abuse, the difficulty of being a caregiver, and depression. I am grateful that issues aren’t superficially swept under the rug or that a romance is created to “cure" it all in the story. Quan and Anna try to create a beautiful and human relationship that they have to work at to be healthy individually and as a couple. It’s the complexity and intersectionality of Hoang’s characters that have me always coming back for the next read.

Love this book! The characters were relatable and the story was interesting! Would absolutely recommend this!

A really cute romcom with characters that are charming. Good to see a neurodivers main character, too. Really liked the narrators.

I've read the book and now that I've listened to the audiobook, I love it even more. The narration is absolutely wonderful.. I will never stop recommending this book to people!!!

The Heart Principle is my third read by Helen Hoang, and while it didn't live up to The Kiss Quotient for me, it followed a similar formula and was a decent read.
Our protagonist, recently diagnosed with autism, is looking for a one night stand to get over her shitty boyfriend, but fails miserably... In all the best ways.
This book had some interesting layers, family drama, some steam, and a love story. The story itself held my interest, but I just didn't feel as connected to the characters as I could have been. This may have been because I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrators just really didn't do it for me. I found it so annoying when the female narrator faked a male voice and the male narrator faked a female voice.
Overall a good book, I'd recommend, especially if you like the previous 2 books in the set!

Thank you SO MUCH @netgalley for my audio copy of THE HEART PRINCIPLE by @helenhoang …. How have I never read any of her books yet?! I own all of them, (The Kiss Quotient and The Bride TEST) but haven’t read them yet…. Why?! That needs to change! The Heart Principle was amazing! It’s already out (pub date: August 31), so you can go grab your copy today!

Ahhh I just love Anna. She experienced such character growth, and I’m so glad she did, because she is so kind and caring, and learns to see herself for who she really is, and not change for anyone else, especially her family.

Quan. Oh Quan. There is no part of him I didn’t love in this book. He has his own struggles, but he comes out stronger on the other side. He is such a great partner for Anna. Even their relationship has a bit of a rocky start (failing at a one night stand multiple times until they got it right!). You can tell he has the biggest heart, and cares deeply for Anna. I love that he helps to see her condition as something positive, and gets Anna to realize she needs to advocate for herself.

Speaking of conditions, Hoang does a great job of portraying an invisible disability in this book. The struggles Anna has always had, now make amends when she gets her diagnosis. I think what Anna struggles the most with, is having her family not support and accept her diagnosis. But she refuses to let that get in her way of finding true love and happiness.

If you have read any of Hoang’s previous books, then I highly recommend this one! Also, this one was STEAMY🔥🔥🔥 so just a warning if that’s not your thing!

Minor spoilers. Trigger warnings: emotional abuse, cancer, looking down on mental illness/ autism, severe depression/ suicidal thoughts.

I liked this book but sadly not nearly as much as the first book (I skipped the second as the mc's/ plot sounded boring to me). I absolutely love Quan and Anna together, but I felt like it was too 'insta-love' for me. I'm glad that the author talks about mental illness- suffering from severe depression/ having suicidal thoughts, and seeking professional help for this- since this is still such a taboo subject even though around 25% of the US population suffers from depression or some other mental illness. So many people would be much better off if they sought help but in general we're still conditioned to brush mental illness under the rug.

Since recently reading both The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test, I was super excited for this one!

While the first still remains my favourite, I just love Hoang’s ability to create such vulnerable and sensitive characters that you instantly fall in love with. She has such a knack at writing such beautiful and emotional stories while perfectly balancing some serious and heavy topics of mental health and everyday struggles yet never straying away from including all the spice and steamy bits!

I definitely flew through this one and can’t wait to see what she does next!

Thank you to @netgalley @dreamscape_media for the ALC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts…
I really like this series. I’m not an expert on romance and steamy 🧖‍♀️ romance novels but, for me this series has everything I like in a romance/romcom. Hoang has done a great job in writing neurodivergent characters, and able to articulate the emotional, physical and mental difficulties they were having. I’ve also listened to all three books on audiobooks and enjoyed everyone one of them. This was more intense than the other two, in turn, more stressful. But, that was also my fave narrator’s @natalienaudus ‘ doing - she was amazing. The male narrator was okay but, I was comparing him to Natalie. This book also help others understand what it may be like to grow up in a culturally different family, with the burden of expectations. I absolutely related to Anna. My heart broke for her. This is my fave of the three. They could be stand-alone but, it’s best to read in order because of the other characters’ development and cameos.

3.5 stars

I'm starting this by saying that I know very little about Autism or any neurodivergent diagnoses. I understand that the author has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder so I assume the portrayal of Anna is realistic to her experiences.

Overall I did like this story and was happy to get more of the Kiss Quotient universe. Michael got a decent amount of page time, but we saw the other characters very little. I would love a novel or novella showing all three couples together so we can catch up with them. Michael was super cute and I loved his friendship with Quan! He supported his cousin and encouraged him to go after Anna and be happy.

Anna wasn't my favorite character. She's incapable of saying no to anyone, resulting in her being miserable and a doormat for others to walk all over. I just kept hoping she'd tell Julian off and break up with that jerk, then tell her family to accept her or get out of her life. Anna does make a lot of progress throughout the story and I appreciated her development. I just couldn't identify with her at all.

Quan is a sweetheart and I would die for him. He's amazingly patient and never pressures Anna to do anything. Quan truly cares about Anna's feelings and well being, to the point that he gets hurt by her but still wishes her the best. He's been through a lot and deserved someone to love him back, I just wasn't sure if Anna could be that for him.

There was a part where one character needed to apologize to the other and the way the scene was written disappointed me. I thought the problems were sort of swept aside and they just moved on to sex to fix everything. I would have liked a longer reconciliation period, but oh well.

This has been a fun series and I love the neurodivergent and POC representation.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audiobook

This book is not what I was expecting. This is a quiet book. I've read (and loved) both of Helen Hoang's other books, but this one was so different in so many ways. Firstly, it's told in first person person POV, where the first two were told in third person. This switch was actually I think one of the downfalls of the book. This POV made the story feel almost too close, with the characters being too transparent. For such a heavily emotional book, it was hard to be in these characters' heads the whole time, hearing their thoughts first hand, and I just don't think it was done well, in a way that served the storytelling.

Another weak point of the book for me was the characters themselves. Quan doesn’t have a lot of dimension or complex interiority, and for the first part of the book, it really is just two decent, rational, near-perfect people falling in love. But then Anna shifts, and I found almost all of Anna’s actions from that point on to be unforgivable, and nearly incomprehensible. So many choices in this book were painful to watch, and not in a way that felt productive for the storytelling. Yes, many of the things in this book are challenging and emotional and then painful in that way, but reading these characters process them and make choices about them were painful in a whole different, deeply frustrating way.

I can imagine this book was very cathartic to write, and that it would be very cathartic to read as a woman who was diagnosed with Autism as an adult, or someone who has worked as a caregiver to a dying family member. In a lot of ways, it reads a little bit like a self help book far more than a romance.

I do want heavy, emotional, hard, scary romance novels. This is not a romcom and it doesn’t have to be. I just don’t think it was very successful at beings heavy, hard romance either.

If you're interested in this one, I would caution you to leave your expectations of genre and author at the door.

As always, Natalie Naudus is a marvel who is excellent at her job and Brian Nishii did a great job as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape for this ALC.

CW: masking, cancer, illness/death of a parent, suicidal ideation