Review: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Title: The Bride Test

Author: Helen Hoang

Series: The Kiss Quotient # 2

Rating: 5 stars!

Publisher: Berkley

Date Published: May 7, 2019

Summary:

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but 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 avoids relationships, 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. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go 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.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

My Review:

I really loved last years The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, so I was super excited when I was able to receive a copy of the follow up, The Bride Test. This story follows Khai, an autistic man who doesn’t do love or relationships and Esme, a Vietnamese women who wants a better life for her and her daughter. I loved these two so much! Since the second they met, their connection jumped off the pages.

The story had so many laugh out loud moments, but also had a lot of heart and emotion. It literally had everything I could want in a story. The ending had me stupid smiling, even hours after I had finished it. The beginning was a little slow, but after about 25%, the rest just flew by! I needed to know how Esme and Khai’s story was going to play out.

I also loved how Khai’s autism was portrayed and how his family, especially his brother handled it. I loved Khai and Quan’s relationship. I loved no matter what they were there for each other. I really enjoyed seeing Michael and Stella again (The main characters from The Kiss Quotient) too!

My favorite scene is a scene between Khai, Quan and Michael. Even thinking about it makes me laugh again!

Esme was also a wonderful character. I loved how motivated and determined she was. I loved watching her grow into a confident women and seeing her stick up for herself!

Overall, Hoang has done it again with her sophomore novel! I cannot wait to see what other amazing stories this hugely talented lady comes up with! 

Thank you Berkley Romance for sending me an advanced review copy!