maggiefan
Written on Dec 6, 2021
Expected it to be just as good as The Kiss Quotent. Well, we can not always win.
Goodread's Big Books of Spring 2019 - Romance
'Such a fun read... Original and sexy and sensitive.' Roxane Gay, author of Bad Feminist, on The Kiss Quotient
__________________
From the bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient
Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, 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 refuses to consider a relationship, 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. So when the opportunity arises to go to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down. This could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go quite 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.
As Esme's time in the United States dwindles, will Khai let his head catch up with his heart? Will he find the strength to let go, and let love in?
'Refreshingly real.' Marie Claire on The Bride Test
- ISBN10 1786499630
- ISBN13 9781786499639
- Publish Date 6 June 2019 (first published 7 May 2019)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Atlantic Books
- Imprint Corvus
- Edition Main
- Format Paperback
- Pages 336
- Language English
Reviews
Expected it to be just as good as The Kiss Quotent. Well, we can not always win.
scarr
Written on Sep 14, 2020
Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading
Written on Sep 9, 2019
It is said that mothers know what is best for their children. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang illustrated the phrase well. In this installment of The Kiss Quotient series, we meet Khai and Esme. Now Khai is not typical of the heroes you generally find in romance novels because of his autism. He does not process feelings the same way other people do. As a result, he feels he is defective and not capable of loving anyone. His family does not agree with him and his mom sets out on a matchmaking journey to Vietnam to find the perfect girl for him. What follows is a stream of emotional moments that had me laughing, crying, and wanting to shake sense into the characters.
I found Esmie and Khai to be great characters. They both faced challenges, which they fought to overcome. Esme is one of those characters you start of not being too fond of, but as the story progresses, you cannot help but admire her strength and determination. Her desire for a better life for her daughter drove her success. She proved that whatever your mind conceives you can achieve.
I loved watching Khai’s development throughout the story. He was such a sweet and caring guy opposite of what he believed himself to be.
I believed Esmie and Khai, made a wonderful couple. Esme worked at trying to make Kai happy, but due to her ignorance about autism, she had a hard time understanding his needs.
Kai’s embracing the idea of a relationship with Esme was a funny yet heartwarming moment. Watching him navigate the complexities of said relationship made for a compelling read.
I loved the secondary characters, with my favorite being Quan, Kai’s older brother. He stood by his brother. I loved the tactic he used to convince Khai that he was in love. It was so much fun.
My only problem with the story was the secrets/lies on Esme’s part, but it did not hinder my enjoyment, and it did not create any unnecessary drama.
Narration
I listened to the audio book, and I loved the narration I thought Emily Woo Zeller did an excellent job with the character voices. I loved the accents, which helped to bring a authentic feel to the story.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Overall, this was a sweet, fun and passionate story, which featured relatable characters. If you have not read this yet, I recommend you do so as soon as possible
leahrosereads
Written on Sep 2, 2019
Now, I should really read This Kiss Quotient (and any other books by this author)!
Liz (Bent Bookworm)
Written on May 26, 2019
"When she died, demons were going to torment her for eternity instead of letting her reincarnate. Or worse, they’d let her reincarnate, but she’d be a catfish who lived under a river outhouse."
The Bride Test is a companion novel to The Kiss Quotient, but it isn’t necessary to have read that one before this one (thankfully, unlike many novels marketed as “companion”).
So, somehow I avoided all the general hubbub that surrounded The Kiss Quotient, author Helen Hoang’s debut novel, when it came out last year. I was aware of it, but not being in a mood AT ALL for romance, I skipped it. I continued to hear people rave about it, and then this subsequent companion novel, so I decided to pick it up.
I loved so many things about this book. I loved Khai so much, and I liked Esme even if I didn’t entirely relate to her…and, since she is coming from SUCH a different background than, I imagine, almost anyone who will read this book, I doubt I am the only one. She is a strong woman who will do anything – ANYTHING! – for her family, even if it means sacrificing herself. She does eventually come to realize that it is not worth it to sacrifice her happiness, even if it means a better life for her daughter, but she plays such a dangerous game here. The author’s note at the end of the book actually talks a lot about this, which I really appreciated.
Autism definitely gets positive rep here, and it was such a refreshing breath of air. I did think it was a little odd that Esme – who researches EVERYTHING – just sort of blew off Khai’s statement about it. That seemed really out of character, but whatever, I guess. She was super sensitive to his need for a different kind of touch, to his need for order and routine…but I felt like part of that was her desperation to try to get him to like her, and it sat a little sour with me. I’m glad that she came into herself by the end, but still.
There are also definitely sexy times in this book – phew! The way Khai handles his sexual attraction to Esme is funny, cute, and sexy at the same time. There is clearly attraction between them, and I love that Esme was completely okay with having sex for sex’s sake – even if nothing else would come of it. We need more of that sort of sex-positive attitude in books. Enough with the slut shaming.
I also loved Khai’s big family. His mom – the whole reason Esme is in America – is hilarious but also so sweet because she clearly loves her kids so very much. The way Kwan and Khai interact completely melted my heart, too. I hope we get Kwan’s full story in the next book! Now I am definitely going back to read The Kiss Quotient and am really looking forward to the next installment as well.
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liz089
Written on May 20, 2019
thebookdisciple
Written on May 6, 2019
The Bride Test was one of my most anticipated 2019 books and I knew Helen Hoang would deliver. She has such a beautiful way with words. Khai is on the spectrum and Hoang writes these characters dynamically. Even if you don't know anyone on the spectrum, you can understand Khai because Hoang ensures it.
My (Esme) won my heart as quickly as Khai! She is a poor single mother cleaning hotels in Vietnam. Khai's mother is in town interviewing potential wives for her son and quickly realizes Esme is a gem. She is keeping secrets from Khai, but as a reader, you get why and it isn't a bad or selfish decision. She really does develop feelings for Khai and she has the patience of a saint!
I loved seeing Khai develop an understanding of himself. He had one version of himself that he thought was who he was, and throughout the story, he begins to rewrite his own ideas on Khai. Their romance is slow burn and perfect for their story. The best thing about The Bride Test is it isn't "The Kiss Quotient" with a different couple. Autism is a spectrum, and no two people have the same behaviors or quirks. While Khai and Stella might have had the same medical diagnosis, they certainly are not the same and neither are their experiences. Hoang not only brings the diversity with characters on the spectrum, but having an entire story about an Asian family and with Esme being from Vietnam (and of mixed heritage) and in America for the first time , the level of diversity is high and on point!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: a few
- Trope: arranged relationship, virgin hero, mental health
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes
Josh and Hazel's guide to not dating by Christina Lauren, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Elements of Chemistry by Penny Reid...then you will probably like The Bride Test!
See full review on The Book Disciple
Sam@WLABB
Written on Apr 30, 2019
Esme wanted a better life for her daughter, her mother, her grandmother, and herself.
Mrs. Diep wanted a wife for her son, Khai.
A chance meeting in a hotel bathroom resulted in a possible solution for both, if Esme could woo Khai by the end of summer.
First of all, I have to commend Hoang on avoiding the sophomore slump. Her first book, The Kiss Quotient, was such a stellar debut, and left me setting the bar high for this book. I am here to say it was a fantastic addition to the series.
Hoang won my heart with many of the same things she did so well in her previous book.
One of the things I loved about TKQ was all the humor, and we were treated to a good dose of that in this book as well. I am all about the rom-com, and we see it again, here, in TBT. Esme did some zany things in her pursuit of Khai, and many of their encounters are quite hilarious. All of this left me in laughing fits, which are always welcome.
But, there were also a LOT of emotional parts, especially for Khai. A big part of the story concerned Khai's belief, that he couldn't love someone. This belief was predicated on his failure to grieve his cousin's death. This was a tough journey for Khai, but it was very rewarding to see him finally come to terms with his grief, and to see him lower his walls and allow Esme to be part of his life.
And Esme! I adored her. In the beginning of the story, it seemed as though she was just looking for any inroad to America, but she quickly changed her tune, and wanted more. She not only wanted more, she was actually doing things to make this "more" happen. I found her determination and drive really inspiring, and I was so proud of her too.
I also liked the way Hoang utilized Quan in this book. He was given an opportunity to show he was way more than the resident man-whore. His love for Khai was demonstrated over and over again, and they shared some really beautiful, tender, and hilarious moments in this book.
Can we talk about the ending? It was a bumpy road, but it was worth the trip. The ending was so much more than I expected, and it was a wonderful gift she gave to each of these characters. It was a little bit of a jump ahead, which I always adore, and you can't ask for more than the fantastic futures she gave to Khai, Esme, and the rest of TKQ gang.
Overall: Hoang employed the perfect balance of humor, emotion, and heat to tell this beautiful love story between a man trying to understand the ways of his heart and a woman trying to bring her dreams to fruition. It was emotional, touching, and, for me, perfection.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Rowena
Written on Apr 19, 2019
ccbookwitch
Written on Mar 30, 2019
I really wasn’t sure what the tone of this book was supposed to be. I think it was supposed to be a romantic comedy? But there were certain scenes and aspects of the story that I found upsetting, and I couldn’t be fully invested in the fun tone I think it was possibly supposed to have. I found Khai’s characterization of having no feelings upsetting throughout the book, and the whole concept of their romance just bothered me.
I felt like I couldn’t fully ship the romance, and they had no chemistry. I don’t think I shipped Khai and Esme from the get go because the basis of their relationship happened because Esme felt forced and icky. Their whole relationship felt really forced for me, probably because it kind of was forced on them, but the whole time, even as they got to know each other, I found myself unable to believe that Esme really had feelings for him that weren’t manufactured by the situation. She decided just looking at his picture that she would seduce him, so it was hard to believe in any real feelings for me, especially since Khai was also really reluctant for most of their romance. The whole thing made me feel uncomfortable and weird consent-wise.
Esme’s motivations fell flat for me. At the beginning of the book, it seems like Esme is motivated to go to Khai because of her daughter, Jade, but then talk of Jade seems to fade somewhere in the middle. Though Esme does somewhat talk about feeling guilty for leaving Jade and for lying to Khai about her in the middle of the book, overall I feel like Jade was kind of forgotten about and it became unclear why Esme continued the relationship when Khai was being awful to her.
I didn’t connect with either of the characters. I just felt painfully uncomfortable for them when I was reading, and I do not like secondhand embarrassment when I am reading or watching something. I didn’t feel the same connection I did with them that I did with Stella and Michael, and I didn’t feel as much for either of their characters because I was just so uncomfortable by their actions and the basis for their relationship.
Overall, I had a lot of issues with writing and romance craft stuff in this book. It did not seem as well put together and thought out as THE KISS QUOTIENT, and I definitely didn’t ship the romance as much as with THE KISS QUOTIENT. It is really hard to like a romance novel when you are not a fan of the romance, so unfortunately I will probably not be recommending this one even though I loved its predecessor.