Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is my second Helen Hoang books and I learned my lesson from The Kiss Quotient and dived into The Heart Principle blind. I didn’t know much of anything about it and it made my reading experience super good as I didn’t have any expectations.

I absolutely loved this book, as well as Anna and Quan. I found myself in Anna in little ways and I felt for her more than once. I did wish we could have gotten more about Quan himself, though.

Moreover, I love Hoang’s honesty in her books and in her characters. The representation in her books is not only necessary, but needed. And I really appreciate it, and the way she breaks down stereotypes regarding the autism spectrum. I hope it helps people learn and be more open-minded.

“The thing with feelings is they pass. Hearts aren’t designed to feel anything too intensely for too long, be it joy, sorrow, or anger. Everything passes in time. All colors fade.”

This is not the novel you would expect after reading Helen Hoang's previous books. A lot is going on and most of it is quite sad. That being said, this story is very powerful and absolutely my favorite. I loved Anna’s character development but most of all I love Quan's personality. He's such an inspiration.

4.5/5 star rating

I can’t begin to say how much I have loved this book and the other two books in the Kiss Quotient series.

Anna and Quan are great characters and I loved them both so much. They are both so strong and kind and honestly they deserve all the happiness in the world.

I hoped to see more of a character development of Anna’s sister and their relationship but overall this was such a great book and I will forever recommend this entire series to everyone.

4.5/5! What an incredible book!

Anna’s long-term boyfriend Julian thinks Anna is “the one”. But just to make sure, he wants to open the relationship and see other people, so he has no regrets (yes, I think he’s an asshole!). So Anna thinks, if Julian can do it, so can I! Anna signs up to a dating site and starts talking to Quan, the opposite of what she normally goes for. Anna’s thinking, I will have a one night stand with Quan, not that I’ll enjoy it, and that’ll show Julian. However, nothing’s ever simple is it?

Never before have I fallen so head over heels in love with a fictional character as much as I did with Quan - oh my! This book is hot and steamy in all the right places, and so tender and loving in other places. The author insightfully explores sensitive issues, including the journey of Anna’s ASD diagnosis, carer stress, cancer and pressures caused by family expectations.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, and I look forward to reading others by Helen Hoang.

Thank you netgalley for providing and ARC in exchange for an honest review

I haven’t read the first two books in the series yet but I was told I could read this as a standalone, despite this I absolutely adored everything about it. The romance was amazing and beautifully developed making the steamy scenes mean so much more. What I loved about this book in particular is that they had their own things going on that had nothing to do with the love interest(s). Her relationship with her music was beautiful, the family dynamics and her constant need to please people was done really well with her character development. Her ASD diagnosis was really interesting especially seeing how the rest of her family reacted to it and her inner feelings with it, it really brought insight into Annas struggles.

Now let’s talk about Quan !!!! Best man ever home boy can GET IT. Hes been nothing but a gentleman the entire time, even through rocky times he never resorted to anything low, he always had Anna’s best interest in mind.

“Can you talk to me? Did I do something wrong? If I did, just tell me, and I’ll fix it. I want this to be good for you.”

“I might not be whole, I might not be perfect, but I can be what Anna needs.”

We love an emotionally mature man! He made me swoon so many times it’s unreal.

The reason why it’s not 5 stars is because I felt Quan fell for her pretty quickly and I would have liked to have seen a bit more development maybe even a slower burn. Nonetheless really enjoyable read I adored every part!

I absolutely loved this book!

The story feels so fresh and so real. Anna is a great representation of so many other people and it feels great to read it.

It is a true romance book and I enjoyed it a lot. The characters are amazing and we see some of our favorite old characters too.

Overall, it was an amazing book and I can't wait to see what Helen Hoang does next!

Heart Principle Struck an Emotional Chord!

After falling head over heels for Hoang’s Kiss Quotient and Bride Test, I calculated a high probability of loving every single book she releases. Which is why I jumped at the chance to read The Heart Principle as soon as possible! Naturally, I wasn’t disappointed.

I quickly got tangled up in Anna’s story: a violinist going through burnout and a breakup- yeesh! That’s a helluva lot to have on your plate. But, enter hot motorbike-riding Quan and we have ourselves a love story waiting to happen.

While Quan has all the trappings of a bad boy, he’s the kind of cinnamon roll that makes your heart sing. It’s actually rather ironic that the “nice guy” her family approve of is a TOTAL JERK. Looks can be deceiving- and it didn’t take long for me to be making *heart eyes* at her new beau.

Yet as romantic as this was, I felt like in some ways that took a backseat to Anna’s personal journey. Because this is really about being blocked creatively and struggling to do the thing you love most in the world. Because how do you even deal with not being able to do the thing that defines you? For me, this was a punch in the gut, cos oof I hardcore relate to feeling like this. It got me thinking about all the things I’ve been grinding my teeth over lately. And of course, this gives the answer that you have to find a way back to the pure joy, the love, the happiness… but, as the Heart Principle shows, it’s not simple. You don’t just feel ready one day, pick up the bow and the music comes. It takes time and turning up and a lot of deep breaths before you get there. And I really appreciated how patiently the story traced over the notes and melodically made its way towards healing.

What’s great is how personal this story is. Beyond her individual difficulties, she’s trying to navigate her relationship with her family. Trapped by their expectations of her, I felt her agony as she tried to balance being a good daughter and being true to herself (particularly after her recent autism diagnosis). As much as she wants to be understood, she also wants to take control of her own life. And that’s not an easy path to navigate. Through the narrative, Anna breaks down the problem into individual bars, playing through them, circling back, until she finally makes it through the whole piece. I really liked how raw and honest this was. I felt like I got to know the characters in such an intimate way.

Another beautiful addition to Hoang’s collection, I was certainly swept up in this story. Can’t wait to be carried away by another of her romances!

Rating: 4/5 bananas

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
I give this book 4.5 stars

Violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video which leads to a burnout, Then her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment,Anna decides that if he wants one, then she does too!
That's where Quan Diep comes in. But their 1st,2nd and 3rd attempt at a one-night stand fail.Although they both seem to really like one another.
Then a tragedy strikes ………Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

I haven’t read either of the other 2 books by this author,it worked for me as a standalone (although lm now going to read the other 2)
This is not a light fluffy romance, it has a deepness to it that l absolutely loved.We are taken through an intimate and touching journey of insecurities, family,struggles, acceptance and love. The author creates such a realness to both the highs and lows of the story and the main characters, my heart felt for them in so many different ways. I raced my way through this and it is one of my favourites from this year.
Make sure to read the authors note when you finish
With thanks to Netgalley,Helen Hoang and Atlantic Books,Corvus for my chance to read and review this book.

The third instalment into the Kiss Quotient series is released on the 2nd September and I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy through NetGalley.

The Heart Principle focuses on the story of Anna; a famous classical violinist who is struggling with burnout, and Quan; Michael from the first books cousin, and Khai from The Bride Test’s brother who has had some personal issues of his own over the past 18months.

The two meet via an online dating app when they are both just looking for a one night stand; Quan doesn’t want anything serious and Anna just wants to get back at her boyfriend who suggested they have an open relationship. However, when Anna struggles to go through with the one night stand, a relationship evolves in which they bond over their love for documentaries and individual issues. Quan is dealing with the aftermath of testicular cancer, whereas Anna’s psychologist has just suggested to her she may have autism.

This was possibly my favourite of the series as it was so packed with emotional turmoil; which I understand is linked to the authors own experience. There are so many difficult topics covered; autism, cancer, parental expectations, end of life care, emotional abuse etc. yet it still manages to remain an easy read.

This is definitely worth picking up, and although it fits nicely in the series you could definitely pick it up as a stand alone book too. The only criticism I really have about the series is that it doesn’t seem realistic that this close family would have so many links to autism without the individual autistic people being the link if that makes sense? But I do like the they each provide a different insight and experience.

The Heart Principle is the story of Anna Sun, a violinist who at the start of the novel is suffering from artistic burnout due to an unexpected internet video going viral. When her long term boyfriend then asks for an open relationship to decide if he's ready to settle down, Anna decides that anything he can do, she can do better. Enter Quan, the tattooed motorcycle guy she meets on a dating app. With intimacy issues of his own to deal with, the two embark on a love affair that starts out as a one night thing but ends up being much more.

After reading Helen Hoang's previous two books in the Kiss Quotient series and really enjoying them, I knew I'd love a book about Quan. He's the cinnamon roll character that's seen as the emotionally supportive side character in both the previous books, the one who's always there to listen and give advice and make sure everyone gets their happy ending. He's no different here, except this time it's the story of his happy ending with the girl of his dreams. However, this is very much the story of Anna. You can tell immediately that the author put a lot of herself into Anna, especially in relation to creative burnout and her personal circumstances, and this only makes her feel more genuine and authentic. I felt a very strong emotional attachment to Anna, especially as the story progresses, and at times I did feel just as overwhelmed as the character does. I often find it difficult to relate to characters, so the fact that I developed such a strong attachment only demonstrates what a good job Helen Hoang did in developing and building up the story of this character. I do think that the two have a strong character arc, and a good amount of chemistry, however at times I did feel that their relationship was moving too fast.

This is heavily marketed as a romance, and while yes, the romance is a strong component to the plot, with several rather spicy scenes, it's so much more than that. It's a story about Anna's journey to self discovery following her autistic diagnosis, and finding her own voice in a domineering, tough love family. A lot of the book follows Anna in a heavily toxic environment, where she's constantly belittled by her sister and overlooked by her mother. Her whole life she's felt unwanted and unloved, and a lot of the story is dedicated to Anna overcoming this. As Anna's home life spirals further, I felt so desperately sad for the situation, so frustrated and personally connected to aspects of the story that I just sat and cried. For Anna, but also for me too, because I could understand what she was going through. That feeling of grief and loss is so hard to capture and describe, but Helen Hoang touched on it perfectly - and anyone who's read the author's note will understand why.

A story of grief, self discovery and finding love when you least expect it. The Heart Principle swept me away with its personal portrayal of loss and intricate character arcs. Hoang's writing has grown so much since The Kiss Quotient, and I can't wait to see where she goes next.

An intense, emotional and personal story/part memoir

Firstly I'd like to announce that even though I loved this, it wasn't the rom-com I was expecting after the first two books in the series.

Told in 1st person unlike The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test, I would say this was more Anna's book that Quan's. Whilst Quan was amazing and dreamy in this, and had his own chapters, I felt that his journey and demons took a backseat to Anna's one. The Heart Principle was clearly a personal, powerful and sometimes heartbreaking look at adult Autism diagnosis in women, masking, mental health, caregiving for a family member and the stress of living up to both family and society's expectations.

It was not what I expected at all! Some parts about Anna and her family were extremely hard to read. Some parts almost had me tearing my hair out in frustration. Some parts made me cry and want to reach out to hug both Anna and Quan. It was a brave book to write, and it upsets me greatly that Helen Hoang has suffered as Anna did.

But, it was also a raw and inspirational story. A hopeful story. Anna overcame so much and grew as a person. As gutwrenching as some of the book was, other parts focused on love and acceptance.

Romance was present, and I loved it, but it definitely wasn't the central theme. Where we did get romance, Anna and Quan were just too sweet together! The care and vulnerability that they both showed was both cute and sexy. They had great chemistry! And I loved the consent and communication! Quan was such a great guy, so patient, understanding and kind! ❤️
Anna showed great courage with Quan, and their relationship was heartwarming. I just wanted more of Quan's journey since the last books. He had been through some awful things, but it was off page. I wanted more of him.

I cared about both characters immensely, and wanted the best for both of them. They were just such nice people. I desperately wanted Anna to be able to be herself, and not who she thought others wanted her to be!

I devoured this book, feeling all sorts of emotions, but did feel a bit disappointed with the ending. It felt a bit rushed, and glossed over important things in order to get to the happy ending.

However, I'm so glad I read this. The message of being kind to yourself and to others, listening if others ask for help, and asking for help if you need it, are so important. The message of love and hope in times of darkness struck a chord in me. I do recommend this, but just be aware that it feels different from the other books in the series, and that there are multiple trigger warnings, including for bullying, gas lighting, death of a loved one, suicidal thoughts, burn out and a toxic family.

I urge you to read the author's note at the end, which explains much.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

This book? Fantastic! Execution? Fantastic?

I loved both main characters in this book.

I cried so many tears realising that I may also fall on the spectrum.

It was moving, steamy and funny.

I honestly have to give Helen Hoang her props, she definitely knows how to write!!

Helen Hoang, YOU HAVE MY HEART! She has not written one bad book. Not one. Every story she writes is so unique and funny and the characters are so well fleshed out that it’s impossible not to fall in love with them too. ⁠
⁠
The Heart Principle is the third in The Kiss Quotient series. The story follows Anna, whose boyfriend wants an open relationship to see if they’re right for each other before they get married. That’s fine…she guesses. If she can participate too. Enter heavily tattooed Quan, who is the polar opposite of violin playing Anna. ⁠
⁠
I would actually say this book was less predominantly a romance as it was a story that featured a romance. So many little spoken about topics were explored, including being diagnosed with autism as an adult, quality of life and caregiver burnout. ⁠
⁠
100% if you love romance read this, and even if you don’t, still read this. It’s bloody brilliant.

Much like Hoang’s previous protagonists, Anna and Quan join the ranks of characters that are so fundamentally good, it was impossible to feel anything other than adoration, empathy and a fierce sense of protectiveness for them.

They are each in a time of crisis when they come into each other lives. Anna, an incredible violinist has hit a brick wall not only with her questioning her talent but also her relationship with her less than stimulating boyfriend. The end of said relationship prompts a discovery that she nor I were prepared for where it would take us.

Quan is character that would be familiar to lovers of the series. He is faithful cousin and business partner to previous leading man Michael, but it’s here we truly experience the boundless selflessness Quan possesses. He has experienced health issues that left him feeling rudderless, but it’s his connection with Anna that helps to steer him in a direction he didn’t think he was capable of.

The Heart Principle is a multi layered story that is extremely melancholy at times, but at the heart of it is the message of what love, whether it be familial or romantic, has the power of achieving.

It’s a funny old thing to have finished one of the most stellar books I’ve read this year, but yet find myself at a loss of how to put into words just how much it meant to me. Emotionally The Heart Principle packs a punch, and combined with it’s moments of levity and it’s heart warming love story, it’s nothing short of a knock out read.

This book follows Anna and Quan. Anna’s long term boyfriend decides he wants an open relationship so Anna decides that she will try to have a one night stand. She meets up with Quan but is unable to go through with the one night stand. The two start spending more time together and realise they want more than one night.

I loved this book. We are introduced to Quan in the first two books and I was eagerly anticipating this book and it did not disappoint. I loved the relationship between Anna and Quan. The story is more than just a romance though. The scenes where Anna was taking care of her father were heartbreaking. I liked the writing and could tell that this was a personal story for the author.

Headlines:
Love is messy
Grief is messy
Life is messy

My expectations coming into The Heart Principle were altered by things I'd seen on the author's social media. I came into this expecting it to be different from the previous two in the series...and it was...and I'm okay with that. This story was definitely Anna's book, Anna's journey with some Quan on the side. I think some readers will miss that he wasn't the full focus but I really liked Anna, her realisations, her evolving self awareness and her vulnerability. I could definitely have managed more Quan focus because as a character and great human, he was superb.

Anna's character and her new diagnosis felt utterly raw. Anna's reaction to the diagnostic news really resonated with me (not the same diagnosis), how she reacted, how it floored her, I could really relate to that. Later, how Anna grieved felt tangible and while some of that inertia of grief isn't the most engaging thing to read about, it was and felt real.

I couldn't stand Priscilla, I hated that dismissal she aimed towards Anna and having experienced that from my own mother, I seethed on her behalf. So much of this story that was personal to the character and author, felt personal to me too. This really isn't your average romance, it's messy and complicated but it's rich.

There's a lot of processing to do reading this and coming out of it; it still has me thinking. I will say that I wanted a little more depth in the closing quarter of the book but overall, this was a memorable journey and the most gritty of the three books. Helen Hoang really brought a portion of herself to this book and I am the richer for reading it.

Thank you to Corvus Books for the review copy.

BOOK REVIEW: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

3.5 Stars

Smut level: 3.5/5

I was really looking forward to this book as I adored the first two in the series. Although I did enjoy it, unfortunately for me it wasn't quite as good as the first two books.

The Heart Principle is based around Anna and Quan. Anna is a professional violinist who is struggling with her music and her mental health when her boyfriend decides they should be in an open relationship. Anna starts online dating and meets the very lovely, tattooed Quan. I loved Quan in the first 2 books and this one was no exception. He is kind, caring and deserves only the best. He has beaten testicular cancer but is now pretty self concious about his body. Anna is an interesting character, I enjoyed her character development and although I didn't connect with her as much as I wanted, I did have a lot of sympathy for her problems and wanted her to succeed.

The storyline is pretty heavy at times. It involves a lot of mental health issues among many other problems (not explaining as don't want to spoil anything!) which were handled well. However, I don't think the issues and romance was well balanced. I love Anna and Quan together but I needed MORE. There just isn't enough time with the two of them together!
My other big problem was that the final 15 - 20% where lots of things get tied up was incredibly rushed and I didn't feel the story was finished as well as it could have been.
The smut was decent but again I think more time could have been given to it along with the romance.

Overall I enjoyed this book and as ever, Helen Hoang's ideas and writing were really good. Although it was lacking in some aspects, I still did like it and look forward to seeing what Helen brings out next.

Please note that I was #gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Helen Hoang novel however I was aware that her adult romance books all featured autistic protagonists but it was only on reading the author’s note, in which she refers to this book as “half memoir”, that it becomes clear just how personal The Heart Principle really is. Needless to say there is a lot to unpack and the romance is one of the less credible and secondary aspects of a very affecting story. At times a tough read, particularly given it is written in the first-person, and covering a number of important issues, many that often go unaddressed, do be warned that the hookups are also pretty steamy. Although readers of Hoang’s earlier novels will have met both the central protagonists before this book worked just fine for me as a stand-alone.

Professional violinist Anna Sun became internet famous when a YouTube video of her went viral and now all she hears are the imperfections and mistakes as she struggles to master a composition written specifically for her. Her family practice tough love and she has always laboured under the weight of their judgements and expectations. When Anna’s long-term boyfriend, Julian, one of the things about her life that her parents do actually approve of, announces his wish to try out an open relationship in the belief that Anna’s won’t actually experiment, her friends encourage her to give it a go. Deciding to try a one-night stand in the hope of overcoming her sexual inhibitions she joins a dating app and meets tattooed and shaven-headed biker Quan Diep, who comes with his own emotional scars. After her therapist suggests that she might be on the autism spectrum and Anna finally recognises herself and her struggles in the literature, she is dismissed by her bossy older sister who thinks she is simply looking for an excuse to justify being different. Despite three consecutive date nights with Quan not going to plan he accepts Anna in a way that nobody else does and she is able to shed the exhausting masking that has led her to burnout point. Deciding to overcome their intimacy issues together after making an emotional connection and finding acceptance with each other, The Heart Principle features multiple graphic, albeit very well-written, sex scenes. Life gets even more complicated for Anna when he elderly father falls ill and her older sister makes the decision for the family to care for him at home.

Quan’s role in the book seems primarily to be patient and understanding and accept Anna without judgment, thus giving her the confidence to express her desires and I was disappointed that there was so little focus on his own personal issues. Although chapters alternate between Anna and Quan I found the focus centred almost exclusively on Anna and the actual growth of their relationship was minimal. There is an awful lot of turmoil in the novel and whilst it is incredibly easy to empathise with Anna and her predicament I would argue that it is not a fully-developed romance. All the giving is from Quan and readers expecting an out and out romance might be disappointed by moments of swooning and passion being back-to-back with hard-hitting issues such as suicidal ideation and autistic burnout. The ending crams a huge amount in and feels rushed as it glosses over Anna’s later struggles. Overall a rather harrowing read for me, probably because I could personally identify with some of Anna’s issues. In all honesty the sex scenes didn’t always feel appropriate or fitting bearing in mind the trauma Anna’s character was undergoing and left me with reservations about the novel.

PUB DAY Review: THE HEART PRINCIPLE by Helen Hoang

⭐️ rating: 5
📖 genre: romance / womens’ fiction
#️⃣ pages: 352
🍾 pub date: August 31st, 2021

Can I get a round of applause for THE HEART PRINCIPLE?! This book was STUNNING and it hit me right in my feels! If you didn’t have this book on your radar already, now it’s definitely the time to get it.

Book 3 in the „Kiss Quotient“ series, THE HEART PRINCIPLE follows violinist Anna Sun, who’s suffering from a burn out after accidentally going viral on YouTube and can’t seem to play anymore. When her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that she can play that game, too: she's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unattaiable the men, the better. And that’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in…

What an absolute amazing book! Anna and Quan are such lovable, quirky characters, and Quan had me *melting* with his sweetness and care! But while I was definitely expecting the romance part, THE HEART PRINCIPLE is SO much more than a love story - which is why I added Womens’ fiction to my genre description. The book deals with heavy topics such as mental health (burn out, suicidality), sexual issues, cancer, grief, and a late stage ASD diagnosis, and all are handled carefully and beautifully. Then again, the author’s note tells us that this book was very personal, and based on some struggles that Helen Hoang had herself - which moved me so incredibly much.

I could go on and on, but in a nutshell: this book is truly AMAZING, with lovable characters, a great love story (which grows and develops in the face of adversities), and also tackles extremely important topics - just the perfect mix of lightness and depth. Easily 5⭐️ from me, and I really hope everyone checks it out!

Thank you to @atlanticbooks and @netgalley for the eARC. This is my honest opinion!

The Heart Principle was not the cute romance book that I was expecting. While reading this book, I started to question the themes and the tones, and I was wondering what exactly the author was going for. I had a feeling it was a very personal book to Hoang, and after reading the author's note at the end which confirmed by suspicions, I feel a bit bad only rating this three stars.

It's just this book was not what I wanted or expected. The romance felt like it was taking a back seat here in order for the main characters to sort through their issues. I'm not even a hardcore reader of romance books, and I don't sign up for loads of smut, but I was still expecting the focus to be on the characters' relationship rather than on their trauma.

This book felt very dark, and I would say go into it knowing it's not a fluffy light read. It covers topics such as anxiety, depression, burnout, cancer, death of a loved one... the list goes on. I think if I had gone into this knowing that it was such a book, I would have been a little prepared and I would have enjoyed it (as much as you can enjoy such a book, anyway) a lot more.

I think this kind of story, which is really half-memoir, would have been better told as a standalone book rather than a continuation of the Kiss Quotient trilogy. I have no doubt that the author tackled such topics well and that this was all true to her. I'm impressed that Hoang was brave enough to share this story. I just don't think this trilogy was the correct place to tell it. (In my personal opinion, of course. If it helped the author to tell it this way then it's definitely not the wrong place to do it.)