Helen Hoang

The highly anticipated final novel in Helen Hoang's bestselling Kiss Quotient trilogy

The Heart Principle

USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang returns with a witty and sizzling new romance that shows how wrong you can be about someone...and how right they can be for you.

No one should need a diagnosis in order to be compassionate to themself.

Chaellei Orpilla

“Part of me wants to yell at her to stop spouting nonsense, to get angry. Another part of me wants to cry because how pitiful do I sound? I’m afraid she’s seen right through me. In the end, I neither yell nor cry. I sit there like a deer in headlights, which is my default reaction to most things—inaction. I don’t have a fight-or-flight instinct. I have a freeze instinct. When things get really bad, I can’t even talk. I fall mute.

 “What if I don’t know how to stop?” I ask finally.”

Celine

The bittersweet irony of the situation strikes me. I lost my dad and my sister, but somehow that gave me my mom.

Those epiphanies that I had were fake. That sense of identification was misguided. It is human to struggle. If there was a diagnosis for every diffculty, they wouldn't mean anything.

Sufia imran

Just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean we need to throw it away. 

ruhaani ♡₊⊹

“I don't want you to be like Julian. I want you to be just as you are. i love you. I don't know how i would've gotten through these past months without you. Everyday in that house is hell for me, watching dad suffer, watching him hate his life, and keeping him alive anyway. It destroyed me bit by bit until there was almost nothing I wanted to live for. I've been swallowed up in sadness, and pain and hopelessness and every different kind of self hatred that exists. But you've been my bright spot. You've pulled me through. The only good thing this broken heart of mine can feel is love for you. ”

Lizeth Esmeralda

The mental problems that I'm facing aren't worthy of their respect or even a cursory attempt at understanding. In their minds, I need to identify the problem, find a solution, and get on with it. It should be that easy. 

I’m not ready for a future where I never see him again. Yes, I still have my family. But what do I have to look forward to now? Where is my safe place now? He's just a man. I shouldn't feel so empty with him gone. But I know I've lost something important, something essential. Because I haven't just lost him. I've also lost the person that I am when I’m with him - the person behind the mask. I've lost me.

If only they knew… What they see is not who I am. It’s the mask that they love, the mask that’s suffocating me. 

"But what do I do when my family doesn't believe me?" I ask. His mouth twists like there's a bad taste on his tongue. "Ignore what they say, and live your life the way you need to." I release a heavy sigh. "That's not easy to do."

“You can't please everyone. The second you change it so one person likes it, you'll lose someone who liked it the way it was before. Isn't that what you've been doing as you go in circles? You have to learn how to listen to yourself again, to be yourself"

“You will disappoint people,” Jennifer says in a firm but not unkind voice. “But you’ll also blow others away. That’s just how this works.” “I know,” I say. And I really do understand logically. But emotionally, it’s another matter. I’m terrified that if I slip, if I fail, everyone will stop loving me, and where will I be then?

Kacey Plunkett

“You have to learn how to listen to yourself again, to be yourself."

This is soo relatable. Being one who did do soo in therapy myself

"A lot of the time, I believe you tell me things just because you think thať's what I want to hear. I hope you can see how counterproductive that would be in therapy."

Edna

Keira 💫

read it in one day (I mean I guess until 1am the next day)

did cry pretty much the entire last third

so good

read it in one day (I mean I guess until 1am the next day)

autism rep - fantastic 

did cry pretty much the entire last third

virgoooo

Definitely my favorite of Helen Hoang’s. Hit a lot closer to home. 

Sumeetha

Not bad, I like how it didn't end with all the characters living their perfect lives, but on the road to improvement.

As a neurotic person who has gone through artistic burnout with music, yeah I see some similarities. As an Asian, yeah I see some similarities. I couldn't help cringing at the rest though. I also hate make up sex.

Also Michael what are you doing here giving advice that you didn't follow. I was there for your story bro

Not bad, I like how it didn't end with all the characters living their perfect lives, but on the road to improvement.

As a neurotic person who has gone through artistic burnout with music, yeah I see some similarities. As an Asian, yeah I see some similarities. I couldn't help cringing at the rest though. I also hate make up sex.

Also Michael what are you doing here giving advice that you didn't follow. I was there for your story bro

  Green Flag, that is how I would describe this book.  There’s so much representation for mental health, autism, body dysmorphia, family dysfunction and cancer.

  I’m so happy the author decided to write in first person, it makes it all more powerful.

  The book flows beautifully.  Dialogue is easy to follow and enjoyable.

  Plot and character development felt slow, and it was supposed too.  I wish Anna’s character development was sprinkled throughout the book, instead of the last 12%.  Learning how to say no doesn’t come over night, especially when you’re a people pleaser.  I understand why the author wrote it this way, it was the catalyst.  I’m saying setting up boundaries and learning to stand up for yourself is a process, a long process.

  Quan character didn’t get enough attention.  I would have liked to read more about body dysmorphia.  Quan over coming or accepting his body on his own instead of Anna being a solution.

Katherine Hampton

The Heart Principle: 5 ⭐️

Plot: 4.50 ⭐️

Characters: 5 ⭐️

Character development: 4.75 ⭐️

POV: Dual

Writing: First person

  Green Flag, that is how I would describe this book.  There’s so much representation for mental health, autism, body dysmorphia, family dysfunction and cancer.

  I’m so happy the author decided to write in first person, it makes it all more powerful.

  The book flows beautifully.  Dialogue is easy to follow and enjoyable.

  Plot and character development felt slow, and it was supposed too.  I wish Anna’s character development was sprinkled throughout the book, instead of the last 12%.  Learning how to say no doesn’t come over night, especially when you’re a people pleaser.  I understand why the author wrote it this way, it was the catalyst.  I’m saying setting up boundaries and learning to stand up for yourself is a process, a long process.

  Quan character didn’t get enough attention.  I would have liked to read more about body dysmorphia.  Quan over coming or accepting his body on his own instead of Anna being a solution.

  Would I recommend?  Yes!

USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang returns with a witty and sizzling new romance that shows how wrong you can be about someone...and how right they can be for you. To most people, Quan Diep is nothing but a surly-looking, underachieving playboy. The problem is he's not any of those things. And now that he's the CEO of an up-and-coming retail business, he's suddenly a "catch," and the rich girls who never used to pay any attention to him are looking at him in a new way--especially Camilla, the girl who brushed him off many years ago. Anna Sun dislikes Quan Diep almost as much as germy bathroom door handles. Or so she tells herself. She will never admit that she has a secret crush on him, especially because he only has eyes for her charismatic and newly engaged younger sister Camilla. Over the years, Anna has worked hard to overcome her OCD, but she'll still need to find a way to bury her anxieties and seduce Quan so he doesn't ruin her sister's engagement, and with it, a crucial real estate development deal. Slowly, Anna breaks down Quan's dangerous and careless exterior while peeling off her own tough, protective shell. But when Quan discovers Anna's true intentions, he's forced to confront his own hurtful past and learn to forgive, while Anna must face her greatest challenge: truly opening herself up to love.

Rebecca Hurd

I LOVED THIS!! Two people battling with their own separate insecurities to grow as people and to grow together…finding love, connection, and acceptance for being who you are!!

This one was up there as on of my favorites in the series. This one is definitely sadder than the first two books but that added in emotional aspect made me love them more. Helen Hoang gives amazing representation in her books and Anna’s story was so emotionally impactful on the discovery of her life and how difficult it is for those she loves around her to understand it too. I brought it down slightly because the end felt rushed to me. As I was listening and the when the book finished the end just didn’t feel like the end for me. I also think we could of had more Quan and his recovery from his surgery and cancer journey. That gel like it took a backseat to Anna’s story but I think them coming together bonding through their experiences would have been even more impactful with more of Quan’s story. But I’m glad to have read this series and highly recommend it to everyone!

Priscilla Stanfield

4.5/5⭐️ • 2/5🌶️

This one was up there as on of my favorites in the series. This one is definitely sadder than the first two books but that added in emotional aspect made me love them more. Helen Hoang gives amazing representation in her books and Anna’s story was so emotionally impactful on the discovery of her life and how difficult it is for those she loves around her to understand it too. I brought it down slightly because the end felt rushed to me. As I was listening and the when the book finished the end just didn’t feel like the end for me. I also think we could of had more Quan and his recovery from his surgery and cancer journey. That gel like it took a backseat to Anna’s story but I think them coming together bonding through their experiences would have been even more impactful with more of Quan’s story. But I’m glad to have read this series and highly recommend it to everyone!

Sarah Sammis

** spoiler alert **
           The novel takes a more autobiographical turn as the author explains in an afterword. In the book Anna is diagnosed as autistic. The final act of this romance then is Anna finally recognizing that she's in full burnout. Throughout all of this trials in her life — her father's hospice and the burnout — Quan is there.

I know this is the final book but I feel like there was so much for Anna and Quan to survive that they didn't get a proper romance. I'd like a chance to revisit them in happier times just to see how they're doing.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...

Selin Igten

olivia campbell

By far my favorite of the series. It was tough to get through at some points because you want Anna to make the right choices, to go down the correct path but life is never that easy is it? One of the realist characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about.

Isabella 

3.5

This book is much heavier than the previous two. It is definitely not the most romantic book out of it. It was o different from what I expected, but I still liked it. I loved reading about Anna's growth and development throughout the book; seeing her struggle and overcome it. However, the ending felt rushed, and I wanted to see more about Quan. Nevertheless, the writing felt real, and after reading the author's note, it made sense. Helen Hoang should definitely be proud of this book.

I have never felt so related and similar to a character as much as I do with Anna. We are so close to being the same person, literally! 

I feel so many emotions, I just got this confidence and courage that I can also be Anna. If she can respect herself and learn to say no, then I can, too. 😀

I loved this book so much!! ❤️

This book has to be one of my favorites out of the series.

Murphy-Ann Craig

lexie

Helena Hoang did this series so goood!!! i love Quan out of most all of them. loved it so much

Julie Burszan 

This book is phenomenal and everyone should read it.

taryn

Maybe I should have spaced this series out a bit more to give each book room to settle in my mind, but too late now. Again, this one fell a bit flat for me after in comparison to the first in the series. I think I just wanted more, something about this one felt very surface level and rushed with the characters. The family drama was more interesting than the romance for me. The love Anna had for her father was heartbreaking, the reconciliation with her mother was full of emotion, and I wanted to see how things developed with her obnoxious sister. The romance plot was cute and had it’s moments but overall wasn’t my favourite part of the story.

Kelsey Munson

I’ll write an actual review when I’m not in the middle of the literal Grand Canyon, but I loved this. 
ALSO THE GRAND CANYON WAS MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK WHILE I WAS READING IT IN THE GRAND CANYON. NOT SUPER RELEVANT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS NEAT.

Lotte Herremans

I actually got this from the library and put off reading this, assuming it would be boring. And it was so good. I was really drawn in. I loved both main characters, and was unaware that caregiving was a huge aspect of this; which I experienced myself in my life. So this was a great read for me. 

Sarah Campbell

Petaco

Ask about Anna's struggles. Not a fun book. Romance world be last on the ingredient list. I read to escape, if I wanted to add depression I'd read the news. Nothing like the first two books. I'm too grouchy for this. Moving on.

haley bertsch

too loud. entirely too loud.
will we be ignoring the fact that i heavily related to all the main characters in this series with autism?
yes. yes will. 

beautiful book. amazing perspective. this series is fantastic

Lily Balderston

Everyone told me that they liked this one better than the second but I wish this one had been a little longer. I was waiting for Quans moment for 2 whole books and I wish there’d been a bit more of him.

Sarah Pino

Couldnt putt this book down. I cried and cried and cried i think because i felt so so so much for our MC.

The Heart Principle

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