From the author of The Bride Test comes a romance novel hailed as one of The Washington Post’s 50 Notable Works of Fiction in 2018 and one of Amazon’s Top 100 Books of 2018!“This is such a fun read and it’s also quite original and sexy and sensitive.”—Roxane Gay, New York Times bestselling author “Hoang’s writing bursts from the page.”—BuzzfeedA heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves … page.”—Buzzfeed
A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there’s not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases—a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.
It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice—with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan—from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…
Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he’s making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…
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“How did one not obsess over something wonderful? How did one like something a reasonable amount?”
This quote pretty much sums up how I feel about Helen Hoang’s writing. When I read The Bride Test, I found it hard to finish any book I started. I just wasn’t in the mood. I wanted to read others like it. So I read The Kiss Quotient and again, I was sucked into it.
Starting this book when you’re about to sleep is not a good idea. There is something about the way Helen Hoang writes that makes you want to read her books in one sitting. I was able to finish this book in less than 24 hours. It was that addicting.
I now understand why some of the people who read The Bride Test were disappointed because this set the bar too high. Somehow, the characters in this book are more dimensional and present. It didn’t feel like only Michael and Stella are important. The rest were also essential.
I loved Michael. I loved how he didn’t make Stella feel less despite her autism. He considered her feelings. He thought about her needs as much as his own. And most importantly, he always asked for her consent.
“All the things that make you different make you perfect.”
I liked the way Stella’s character was presented. Stella made me understand autism in a much better way than Khai in The Bride Test did. To me, it is the most important part of the book. It is what I really wanted to know.
At this point, I would read anything Helen Hoang writes. I hope she never stops writing books like this. Aside from being entertaining, it also gives us a closer look at autism. I am really excited to see what’s in store for Quan. I can’t wait!
Review can also be found on my blog.
https://kookbookery.wordpress.com/2019/07/22/review-the-kiss-quotient-the-kiss-quotient-1
This was a simple and lovely read. I loved this book.
Stella Lane is a 30-year old single econometrician (you’ll need to read the book for that) who is highly successful in her business life but not doing so well in her personal. In her limited experience, she knows she’s lacking in the intimacy aspects so she hires Michael Phan, a Vietnamese/Swedish escort, to teach her the fundamentals. This would be intriguing enough but Stella is on the autism spectrum and presents more than the normal challenges for Michael.
I have to admit I thought this was more about kissing and would be a tame little story. Be forewarned that it’s anything but tame as Michael takes Stella on quite the sensual and erotic journey in her “education.” It helps that the author compares him to Daniel Henney so having that visual image for Michael made the scenes a little too real He’s extremely sensitive to Stella’s unusual reactions and behaviors, even before he learns of her disorder. Stella is extremely interesting and seeing life through her eyes gave me much needed insights about those who are on the autism spectrum. It changed many of my perceptions, most notably that they lack emotional connection…far from it.
Michael’s family has a major role in the story and I loved how the author presented an Asian family without isolating that element. They were just an American family dealing with typical issues most face. They were often hilarious, bringing some comic relief at the best of times while also giving me an unfiltered look at their culture. I want more of these type stories told without stereotype.
I thought Carly Robins delivered a fabulous performance in her narration. She handled accents, female/male characters, humor and sensual scenes with perfection and great timing. I’ve enjoyed her in the past and she’s now elevated to my favorites list.
I really liked this story, even when I felt overwhelmed by the number of sensual scenes. It eventually dawned on me that there was a point to that as Stella evolved through those encounters. She emerges triumphant and though her relationship with Michael followed a more predictable path, Stella doesn’t. I liked seeing her come to terms with herself, which I feel is the central point of the story.
I really liked this book a lot I did put it down for a while but it was a sweet story.
Stella has no idea how to interact with people she is very strath forward she says what she is thinking. Her mother is ready for grandkids which means she has to have a relationship first. How can she have a relationship when most people don’t get her and she doesn’t like being touched?
Her idea is to hire an escort to teach her how to be in a relationship and learn the art of enjoyment in the bed room.
Michael has a deep secret he refuses to let business collide with his personal life. Friday nights are strictly for “work” he can’t and won’t get attached to any of his clients but then Stella comes into his life.
This sweet story makes you hope for a happily ever after and prove that everyone is worthy of love. I really loved the characters and how it was written.
“The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang
Wow. This book was awesome. I was instantly interested in the premise – an econometrician with a fear of french kissing who looks for sexual experience with a half vietnamese, tailor come male escort. Not your typical book intro. But as I started reading, it became more than interest, I was invested. Stella is a fascinating character, who is funny and relatable, and given she has Asperger’s, you really start to admire her strength of character.
Michael is daydream handsome, and his backstory pulls you into his character, but also his family life, growing up the oldest child in a Vietnamese family living in California. The interactions with his sisters and mum are brilliant and you get a real sense of authenticity.
The love scenes are great – hot but real. My favourite parts though, was the slow discovery and relationship that builds between them – both trying to sort out their feelings in their own context. For Michael this is managing his mother’s illness and fathers abandonment, and for Stella trying to grapple her emotions and desires while managing her Asperger’s and her mother’s pressure for a child.
I also love the acceptance and respect that this book promotes. It was refreshing.
Working in the medical profession I have a fair understanding of Autism (Aspergers). I liked being able to read a story that gave a more personal aspect on anyone diagnosed in the Spectrum.
Stella’s mother starts to talk about grandchildren, this throws Stella down the path of trying to evaluate how she is going to overcome her social awkwardness and have an actual relationship. Her colleague, Phillip, comments on practice making things perfect. Stella then decides to hire a male escort to assist her in this endeavour.
Enter Michael who has been escorting every Friday night for the last three years to help pay his mother’s medical bills and to look after his family.
I found their relationship quite endearing from the beginning. Michael is innately patient, gentle and kind to Stella even though he is unaware of her diagnosis. The more time they spend together the more they come up with new titles for their relationship; escort, pretend boyfriend to boyfriend.
Their admiration and obsession for on another is quite heartwarming. Only their fear of not being good enough for the other is an obstacle that almost upsets the apple cart.
There is a lot of steamy sexual content with raunchy language.
I absolutely loved this book! Stella Lane has Asperger’s and is very insecure and thinks there’s something wrong with her when it comes to her sexual encounters. She hires an escort, Michael Larsen, to teach her, and they agree on her needing a lot of practice in a professional manner. Stella isn’t Michael’s typical client and before you know it, due to her naivete, he falls in love with her. There is so much substance to this story, and you won’t want to miss this one. I highly recommend it, and be sure to read the Author’s Note.
This was an enjoyable romance novel with two likable protagonists. I bought after reading the rave reviews, because the female lead is autistic, the author is on the spectrum and I wanted to see how the writer would approach the material. The book had some moving romantic moments and a fair number of hot sex scenes (which should not be surprising given that Michael is a male prostitute) and I had fun time reading it. While reading it I got the next book in the series to see what happens with Michael’s cousin. This is a good one and if you like a romance with many tastefully written intimate moments this is the book for you
Everyone should have a chance at love, sometimes it just requires patience and understanding. Wonderful story exposing how life can be with Autism.
Great debut. Very funny. Will be reading #2. So grateful for diverse, strong characters.
Great narration!
Witty, insightful, and romantic with a touch of sexy. Rich, three-dimensional characters give the reader an honest view of the unique road to romantic happiness experienced by a character with Asperger’s.
This romance which touches on real life issues: two people who are far from perfect trying to make a connection in a world of where flaws and weaknesses are seen as hinderances to finding love.
An original tale. It reminded me of The Rosie Project. The central character, Stella Lane, was clueless about social interactions but crazy smart and successful in her business life. She finds comfort in routine, math . Therefore, she hires a professional escort to help her learn about relationships.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang blew me away, I can hardly formulate an equation on my mind to describe the characters’ chemistry multiplied with the dynamics they are in, dividing my attention in more ways than one, even as far up in the spectrum.
See, I can’t even sum up all the feels and emotions that accumulated in my heart. Michael and Stella’s romance isn’t just your typical male escort falling for his client story, but also explores Stella’s autism and coping mechanisms. That and those erotically heartwarming scenes between them make this book a real tasty treat!
I’ve heard so much beautiful things about The Kiss Quotient, and now I finally understand what the hype is all about. It’s simply amazing, Helen Hoang is simply fantastic! The whole reading experience is simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! This is my best read yet this 2019! I can’t wait to read The Bride Test next! Helen Hoang
I LOVE the Kiss Quotient! Beautifully written, an amazing special heroine and a hero who can appreciate all that she is!
“All the things that make you different make you perfect.”
A great listen. Really well narrated!
-5 Stars!-
I found this book after I read Penny Reid’s “Neanderthal seeks Human” and now I know that I have a thing for the socially inhibited characters finding their own special way to love. Maybe I can relate to that? I don’t know. But I do know that these characters and their stories touched me and got me invested into their world and their deserved HEA. I’m looking forward to the next book by this author.
Amazing
I’ve never experienced a book like this before and I loved it! I went into this blind without even reading the blurb on the recommendation of a friend, what a delightful surprise! Michael and Stella are so refreshing and wonderful, I was left with a huge smile on my face while my heart soared.
Everybody loved this book. And the synopsis totally made me think I might enjoy it as well. While it did start out interesting, but different from what I expected, I got stalled out about 40% of the way through the book. Partly because I had books to read at the time for tours and other things, but it just wasn’t keeping my interest. So I set it down at the beginning of July last year, and didn’t pick it up again till this past February. What happened to get me to pick it back up had nothing to do really with how much everyone else seemed to love it on every other blog. I found this past fall that one of the other employees at my bookstore was also a huge romance reader like I am, and when I told her I had a copy of this, she asked about borrowing it. I knew I wouldn’t get to it, so I let her. Unlike me, she devoured it much quicker. She did tell me though, that the part I had stalled at was right before it really picked up and took off for her. So, I made it a goal for this year to pick it back up and finish. And I’m so glad I did! I read more things that made so much sense to me. The more I read about people, adults specifically, with mild autism, the more I wonder if maybe I have a mild case, but in my day, that wasn’t really ever diagnosed like it is today. In the end, this was a good book, and I have the ARC of the sequel that I need to read soon as well!
Loved it!
Charming, sexy, original, and fun to read. I love this book down to it’s quirky cute bones.