The Bride Test by Helen Hoang Book Review

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang Book Review

The lowdown from Goodreads

Publication Date May 7th, 2019

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang Book Review

Helen Hoang is my Romance Queen

If you talk books with me, you know Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient is a game changer. Helen’s writing opened up a whole new world of romance for me. As soon as I found out Helen had a second book on the way, I marked the calendar. To say I’m excited about The Bride Test is the understatement of the year.

While The Bride Test is a sequel of sorts, this story is easily a stand-alone novel. Throughout the book, Helen reveals the story of an immigrant woman in an unfamiliar place. Esme is in America to see if Khai is a good fit for her. Helen reveals Esme is a strong  & memorable character. She’s so easy to root for & so easy to love. I loved getting to know her.

Asperger’s / ASD

Much like The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test centers around a character diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), more specifically Asperger’s.

Through Khai, readers learn a bit more about loving someone with Asperger’s. There are some very raw moments especially when it comes to sex & foreplay. I live for this aspect of the book. As Khai unfolds his needs from a sensory perspective, my heart warms. This makes the story all the more real & true.

Read the Acknowledgments

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book. You already know I will be first in line to get my hard copy of The Bride Test come May 7th. Helen’s writing & her tender love stories make my heart soar.

You can check out my full review of The Kiss Quotient here.

Special thanks to Helen Hoang & Berkley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: HELEN HOANG

Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since.

In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired THE KISS QUOTIENT, which comes out in June 2018 with Berkley.

She currently lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two kids, and pet fish.

Helen is represented by Kim Lionetti of BookEnds Literary Agency.