The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
on May 2019Genres: Adult Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
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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.
This sweet and charming story about an autistic gentleman and the girl who his mother sends to live with him for the summer in the hopes he falls in love. Wait, what? No, just go with it.
I really like Khai. His challenges and vulnerabilities are really honest and open. His internal battles are real they made him full and human to me. Esme really falls for Khai, but she has secrets of her own. She is noble and hard working, trying very hard to bring Khai out of his shell. Of course there are misunderstandings and unsaid feelings and characters’ own hang ups that keep them from being together. That adds to the charm of the story!
But who really steal the show in this novel for me was their family. I love the supporting characters, all colorful and supportive. We even see a glimpse of Michael and Stella from the first book (who I adore!).
I think anyone who enjoyed The Kiss Quotient will like this sequel. It didn’t grab my heart as much as the first, but it’s still a romantic and well written story that will surely solidify Hoang as one of my favorite romance writers.
Kimberly majored in Songwriting and currently works full time in the music industry. When she's not listening to music, knitting or writing, you can find her outside reading her favorite genres: Young Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
I love a romance where all the supporting characters are awesome too! I haven’t read this author before, but I really want to check out her books. Great review!