The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1)

by Helen Hoang

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.”—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...

• ISBN10: 0451490800
• ISBN13: 9780451490803
• Publish Date: 5 June 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451490803

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Everywhere I go, I see raves for this book, and whenever I see too many raves, I worry that the book won't live up to all the hype, but you know what, The Kiss Quotient more than delivered.

Who?
• Stella, a brilliant woman with ASD, who works in econometrics, and thinks if she was better at the physical aspects, she would be able to have a successful relationship.

• Michael, a devastatingly attractive male escort by circumstance, who puts his family needs before his own, but worries that he may become like his father.
What?
Stella hires Michael to "help" her learn to tolerate kissing and other physically intimacies, to make her better at relationships, but this arrangement may become more than either of them had anticipated.

Why?
Oh. My. God! This book so funny, so sexy, so sweet, so heartfelt, and just all around amazing. I was drawn into this story from the very beginning, and once I started, I found it really hard to stop.

I absolutely adored Stella. She was intelligent and driven, but the confidence she had in her professional life did NOT carry over to her personal life. It was such to joy to watch her flourish with Michael, because he was able to see how wonderful she was.

And let me tell you, Michael was a fantastic hero. I understand, that he was an escort, and they are supposed to cater to their client's needs, but he went beyond that. He had this gentleness with Stella, which made her more open and receptive to things, and once he realized she had ASD, he was even more aware of how to approach things with her. Aside from that, there were a ton of other things to love about Micheal. He was so dedicated to his family. He didn't want to be an escort, but due to his family's financial situation, he needed to earn copious amounts of money quickly. He abandoned his dream in order to help with the family business. Michael was very self sacrificing, and that made me root for him to get something that he really wanted, because he deserved good things to happen to him.

The romance between Michael and Stella was everything! It was hot, steamy, sweet, adorable, swoony. I just couldn't get enough of these two. But there was more than just romance in this story, and I loved the way Hoang wove those other plot lines into the story. It was as seamless and organic as how she educated me on things associated with ASD.

This was a really beautiful story too. Both Michael and Stella felt that they were not good enough. Michael was stuck in this prison due to family debts. He felt defined by his circumstances, but Stella saw him as smart and talented. She saw more than the nice car, great body, and pretty face. I loved seeing Michael's confidence in himself grow as he spent more time with Stella. Stella felt as though there was nothing more to her than her ASD. Michael seeing beyond her disability was such a huge step in her journey towards self acceptance, and it was really heartwarming to watch these two grow together.

Overall
One of the best and most delightful adult contemporary romances I have read this year! I shall await Hoang's next book with bated breath.

[leelu92]

Absolutely, no doubt in my mind, this is a five-star read.
It was everything I love about great romance, sexy, sweet, sincere and completely unforgettable. Stella and Michael are a one of a kind couple and it was refreshing to read about a somewhat non-traditional couple. Stella, in particular, was such a lovely character and I fell in love with Michael and the way he treated her, even before he knew something was (clinically) different with Stella.
And the sex? Holy moly... it was redonkulous, but so well written. Stella and Michael's chemistry was completely undeniable and every physical encounter was perfect for me.

The Kiss Quotient will be on my best of 2018 list for sure and I truly cannot wait to see what Ms. Hoang writes next.

[thebookdisciple]

Every once in a while, a book comes along and blows you away. The Kiss Quotient is that book for me. By day, I am a special education teacher and I have had the joy of working with many students on the Autism spectrum. These kids are awesome! So, to read a book about a woman with Asperger's trying to figure out relationships and love is amazing. Hoang does a marvelous job of really making the reader understand the quirks of someone with Aspergers. Seriously, some of the things Stella says or does I have heard or seen my students do! And so many of the things the adults do (her parents, coworkers, exes, etc) I have seen as well.

Stella doesn't like sex. She decides that a tutor would be helpful! This leads her to Michael, an escort! The set up between these two was great! I loved how Stella approached sex and I loved that Michael was not judgmental about it at all. These two are so different but it works perfectly.

If you love unconventional characters (a woman with Aspergers and a male escort-seriously! Thats pretty unconventional!), The Kiss Quotient delivers. Helen Hoang has become my hero author and I will forever buy every one of her books. This is a story I know I will reread. I will probably grab the audiobook so I can listen whenever I want!

 

• POV: 3rd person


• Tears: no


• Trope: opposites attract, fake relationship, teacher/student


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: yes

books by Kristan Higgins, RS Grey, Christina Lauren, Sally Thorne, ...then you will probably like The Kiss Quotient!

 

The Kiss Quotient

 

See full review on The Book Disciple

[EBookObsessed]

The Kiss Quotient is an exquisite treat. Stella and Michael melted my romance-loving heart. I was heartbroken that the story had to end. I didn’t want to let them go.

Usually storylines of that “one true mate made just for you” are saved for paranormal romance, and while there was no mystical cataclysm which took place when they met, there is no question that Michael and Stella were made for one another.

I receive many emails from publishers telling me that this latest story rocked their world and it is impossible to try each and every one of them. Yet something drew me to this story and I am so glad I gave it a try. There is no question that The Kiss Quotient melted my heart. The most surprising part was that the book description led me to think that this would be in the category of erotica — geeky girl hires escort to teach her how to be good in bed — but I am so very happy that I was wrong. And while I wouldn’t catagorize it as erotica, it was very sexy and oh so delicious. I love an author who can make a kiss euphoric all by itself.

Occasionally, I have a hard time walking away from a book. Everything about this story is so wonderful that I just don’t want to let it go. Not only have I had a hard time walking away from Michael and Stella, but I have to admit that I really haven’t done it yet. I have read it three or four times…okay, maybe five, since I first downloaded it. It is still sitting in my carousel on my Kindle and then I received a paperback copy the other day and just wanted to see if there were any changes from my digital ARC copy and sat and read it over again (okay, make it six times).

This is also a book that I want to tell everyone about. I want to stop strangers on the street. If I had extra copies, I would be passing them out wherever I went. But yet, this is also a story I don’t want to tell anyone about. There is a big part of me that wants to keep Michael and Stella all to myself. They are mine, mine, mine and I don’t want to share them.

Stella Lane is a nerdy math geek, but there is so much more to her social awkwardness than just not understanding social etiquette. Stella has Asperger syndrome. She has issues with sights and sound and touch. Stella freezes on casual contact, let alone the intimate contact of lovers. Stella wants love just like every other woman but how to get it when every sexual encounter becomes a disaster. So she decides to hire an escort and selects Michael Larson.

Michael is amazed to see Stella sitting in the restaurant waiting for him. His usual customers are older women looking for a night of entertainment, not exquisite young women. He believes that Stella just lacks confidence but when she truly freezes up when he tries to initiate sex, he, at first, fears she has suffered sexual trauma. He knows that there are deeper issues and he wants to help her.

Michael has learned from experience not to see a client more than once. Some have become too clingy in the past. But from their first kiss, both are addicted and Michael agrees to meet Stella again for more lessons. When those lessons aren’t getting them any further along, Stella asks Michael to give her 30 days of a practice relationship to teach her how to be a couple. She hopes that if she can get someone to love her they would be willing to work past her sexual stumbling blocks.

Michael knows this is a very bad idea because his attraction to Stella is already too great, and what he doesn’t know is that Stella is hoping the man Michael can teach her how to seduce is him. The problem is that neither Michael nor Stella believe themselves worthy of the love they want so desperately.

The only sad part of this story was that we couldn’t keep Michael and Stella out of their heads. They made magic together and both desperately wanted their relationship to be real but Stella believed Michael wouldn’t want her if he knew she was autistic (he knew) and Michael couldn’t believe that Stella could overlook that the fact that he was a whore who sold his body to strangers (she didn’t care). These two were madly in love and only their own inferiority issues kept them from the HEA they both wanted.

I’m sitting here trying to write a review and all I want to do is go read it all over again. I know that this isn’t the last time I will be spending my night with Michael and Stella and I am looking forward to seeing what the author will bring us in her next story.

Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See more at EBookObsessed.com

[kimbacaffeinate]

Do you ever enjoy a book so much that you are dying to pick it back up and finish, but you want the perfect uninterrupted time to do it? I read this in two sittings. The first until I knew if I didn't stop I'd be a zombie in the morning, and the following evening as soon as my hubby's basketball game was turned on. The premise of this story was refreshing and at first, made me a tad nervous.

Stella is an econometrician who loves all things math and has Aspergers. Having a son with the disorder made me understand this sweet, driven woman. Her work is her obsession, it makes her happy, but her mother wants grandbabies and is determined to set her up.

When a male co-worker makes a remark that rings too close to the truth about Stella's intimacy issues, she decides to hire a male escort to teach her about sexual intimacy. Her own sexual experience was downright horrible and she tackles this analytically.

"Girls like me have never been asked out by a single boy. Girls like me have to find their own way, make their own luck. I've had to fight for every success in my life, and I'm going to fight for this. I'm going to get good at sex, and then I'll finally be able to entice the right person into being mine."

My nervousness stemmed from the said escort. This isn't a scenario I particularly enjoy, but Hoang gave me a character I instantly swooned over. Michael Phan a Swedish-Vietnamese clothing designer stole my heart. The man was sexy, patient and beautiful.

Hoang herself lives with Aspergers and  I adored her portrayal of Stella. She showcased not only her brilliant mind but how different their thought process and perception of the world is. Like most folks, she wants to be known for herself, not her condition. Like many, she keeps her disorder a secret. However, routines, crowds, clothing issues and open unabashedly candid comments made for some of the sweetest, laughable and tender moments in a romance I've ever read.

Michael has his own hangups most stemming from his father, but he is very close to his mother and siblings. In fact, the whole reason he works for the escort service on Friday evenings is for them. It melted my heart and only further endeared him to me.

"Michael was mint chocolate chip for her. She could try other flavors, but he'd always be her favorite."

I laughed, wept and simply lost myself in this sexy, heartwarming and sometimes erotic story as Michael gave Stella lessons that began as sexual and moved to dealing with relationships, family, and social outings. As the two worked towards helping Stella learn the nuances of a relationship something incredible happened. Of course, there were plenty of stumbling blocks and growth but the story that unfolded was one that will stick with me. In fact, I may never look at my hubby's underwear the same way again. Ha, and I don't mean sexually, you'll have to read the book to discover the true meaning of briefs.

"I like you better than calculus, and math is the only thing that unites the universe." This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Leigha]

Please note: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A professional woman hires an escort to teach her about sex and relationships in this phenomenal adult romance.

Hoang's The Kiss Quotient is the best romance I've read in years. The main characters, Stella and Michael, bring something unique to the romance genre. Stella is a high functioning autistic! She's not a side or stereotypical character, but the 👏 LEAD 👏 character in this romance. Michael is a dreamy biracial escort! He's not a side character or the comic relief, but the 👏 LOVE 👏 interest to Stella in this romance.

While successful and brilliant, Stella struggles with confidence in the romance department. While passionate and loving, Michael struggles with financial issues and his own pride. Together the two of them embark on a sweet, romantic exploration of love. Their romance helps them grow as individuals in a genuine way. Sex is a major component to their relationship (duh, Michael IS an escort), and the author is explicit in her descriptions. Readers uninterested in explicit sex scenes be forewarned - you will read quite a bit in this book.

Not only does this book deliver amazing main characters, it immerses readers into a rich setting full of diversity. The secondary characters, especially Michael's family, are complex and layered. The setting, from the elite golf clubs to the dry cleaners, feel vibrant and real. Even the careers are something new and delightful to read - Michael and Stella's careers are just as much a part of the story as their personalities.

tl;dr A must read for contemporary romance fans interested in a genuine, steamy relationship between two uniquely wonderful characters.