The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1)

by Helen Hoang

Goodread's Romance Book of the Year, 2018

A Washington Post Book of the Year, 2018
An AmazonBook of the Year, 2018
Cosmopolitan's 33 Books to Get Excited About in 2018
Elle Best Summer Reads 2018

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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.

It's high time for Stella Lane to settle down and find a husband - or so her mother tells her. This is no easy task for a wealthy, successful woman like Stella, who also happens to have Asperger's. Analyzing data is easy; handling the awkwardness of one-on-one dates is hard. To overcome her lack of dating experience, Stella decides to hire a male escort to teach her how to be a good girlfriend.

Faced with mounting bills, Michael decides to use his good looks and charm to make extra cash on the side. He has a very firm no repeat customer policy, but he's tempted to bend that rule when Stella approaches him with an unconventional proposal.

The more time they spend together, the harder Michael falls for this disarming woman with a beautiful mind, and Stella discovers that love defies logic.

Heart-tugging, sexy and utterly joyful - The Kiss Quotient is a book for anyone who has been in love, or in lust...

Reviewed by Leigha on

5 of 5 stars

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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.

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  • 2 May, 2018: Reviewed