I absolutely loved this book. Having really enjoyed the 1st book in the series and then been *slightly* disappointed with the second, I really wasn’t sure what to expect but this is definitely my favourite of the series. The story felt relatable rather than overly romanticised and the characters were my favourite. I loved the underlying story and I have just lost an entire morning reading this in essentially one sitting. 5 stars for me!

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang is the third book in her Kiss Quotient series but can absolutely be read as a stand alone.
Anna Sun never expected to be famous but when a clip of her playing violin goes viral on YouTube she suddenly finds herself in demand for performances and recording deals and even has a famous composer write a piece just for her. The pressure becomes too much and she burns out, losing all the joy she once found in her music. The icing on the cake is her boyfriend Julian's request to try an open relationship as he doesn't feel ready to commit.
At first Anna is heartbroken but after discussing it with her friends and her therapist she decides that if Julian wants to try no strings attached sex, its only fair that she does the same thing. Picking out the guy furthest from her usual tastes on a dating app , she matches with Quan, a tattooed motorbike riding martial arts instructor. When their first attempt at a one night stand goes awry it seems like Anna may not be as ready for this as she thought. However it seems that Quan has some issues of his own, namely a bout of testicular cancer that has left him scarred both physically and psychologically. The pair decide to give it another try, and another because despite their best efforts something always seems to get in the way. Spending more time together does cause each of them to question whether this could be more than a one night stand , but then family tragedy draws Anna away from Quan and back to the family who has always made her feel weird, awkward and less than. On top of trying to come to terms with the fact that she may be autistic, Anna has to deal with her family's attitude and her father's declining health, and when Julian swans back onto the scene it seems like Quan and Anna will have to fight for each other if they want a shot at the happiness they deserve.
This book is simply phenomenal, it is smart, sweet and yes a little smutty, but I can't remember the last time I rooted for two characters like I did for Anna and Quan. Having read the author's afterword I know this was a very personal story for her, and it certainly felt that way while reading the book. The characters felt so completely real. The story deals compassionately with a character being diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder later in life, something that often happens , particularly to women who are more adept at masking the issue at a great cost to their own health. Reading how Anna slowly puts the pieces together and begins to understand so many things about herself and her relationships and interactions with other people was heart breaking , as was seeing how the family as a whole struggled with being full time carers for Anna's dad. It is rare to see that being so accurately and vividly portrayed in a book, and the author does it with sensitivity and and honesty that I can only admire. The relationship between Anna and Quan is truly the heart of the book, and as I said before , I have never wanted a fictional couple to live happily ever after more than I did this pair, but that being said, I loved the final few chapters of the book which are so much more real than any fairy tale ending and let us as readers leave Anna and Quan with the belief that while things may not always be easy, they will be okay.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

An utterly heartfelt book that struck a deep, resonant chord. I devoured this in one sitting and couldn't have enjoyed it more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Heart Principle

4/5 stars

Spoilers ahead and as always check trigger warnings.

I love a good romance novel and I’m so glad I’m seeing and reading more romance novels with good representation.

Helen Huang always writes about autistic characters well! We know this from all of her previous work and this book was no different. In Helen’s author’s note, she says that this book was the closest to her experience and was difficult to write, so I just want to say I really appreciate the love and care that went into this book and the struggle paid off.

Let’s start with the romance, which is so incredibly sweet! I loved the starting point and how the characters were introduced. I hate waiting around for the characters to meet, but we didn’t have to wait too long. There were so many sweet moments and moments that really stuck with me as well.

“Tough love doesn’t allow room for weakness, and tough love is all I’ve known. Maybe for now, just this once, I can experiment with a different kind of love. Something kinder.”

I think everyone is their own biggest critic and I know for me, practising self-love and acceptance is something I work on everyday. So watching our MC, Anna, start to advocate for herself and love herself the way she feels is lacking, was so empowering and beautiful to watch. And then to have her love interest, Quan, quietly championing her in the corner throughout the whole thing, was really special to read about.

I struggled with the second half of the book, not because the writing was bad or the characters were boring but because it covers sensitive subjects, so I really would recommend checking trigger warnings for this book. It was frustrating watching Anna take steps back in her journey of self advocacy, but I think that’s what makes the story so good, because if we’re frustrated with how the characters are treating the MC, then we’re really able to empathise with their struggle.

My one criticism is the ending and how I felt it was a bit rushed. Throughout the whole book we skim over large sections of time (it wasn’t until the end when the MC said it had been two year since an event that I really saw how large an amount of time was covered in this book). Jumping months at a time is understandable and can show the monotony and repetitiveness of someone’s life and for Anna, who experiences autistic burnout towards the end, only briefly describing months at a time does make sense. I just wish we had gotten more story line after she recovered and was back in therapy and playing the violin again. I wanted more of the sweet romance that had made me start reading the book in the first place. It felt like the author just quickly wanted to tie up the loose ends, so wrote a chapter tying up Quan’s business deal and then had a chapter where Anna was playing again and a section where they celebrate Quan’s birthday and then it’s the end. This might be very specific to me but I wish the ending was fleshed out a bit more and it didn’t feel so rushed from the ‘climatic’ point of the book to the ‘resolution’ to the end. This is the only thing I didn’t like and the reason it’s not 5 stars for me.

I would really recommend this book for romance fans, readers looking for more autism rep, readers who have lost a parent or had to care for a loved one.

thank you to netgalley & the publishers for providing a copy in exchange for a review

This is by far the most emotional of Helen Hoang's books. Anna's story hits hard and is beautifully written. The chemistry between Anna and Quan is very sweet and also stands out amongst the three couples she has written so far. Hoang excels at writing the inner conflicts of the characters in a way where you completely empathise and very quickly become emotionally invested.

I did have a slight issue in that it felt like two different books, the one it is for the first 85% and then the last 15% - I love what Hoang explored in the last part of the book but because the book was rapidly coming to an end it was more telling the characters emotions and development rather than showing like the first 85% of the book. It takes nothing away from the book and was still very affecting to be clear, I just almost wished that last section could be extended so we could really follow the journey as we had with the rest of the book.

If you loved The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test then you're basically guaranteed to love this one and I can't wait to read whatever Helen writes next, whenever that may be!

Helen Hoang's books just continue to surprise me on so many levels. They're so much more than the cover and descriptions give them credit for. They look like fun, light-hearted romance novels but instead they are the most beautiful, heart-felt, emotional contemporaries that I have ever picked up. These books are just incredible, Helen puts so much heart in to what she writes, and it comes through in her writing.

The Heart Principle contains less smut than the other two books, but like the other books in the series it still focuses on meaningful, trust filled relationship based on love and acceptance. Out of all of the male love interests in the series, Quan is my favourite, and from now on I am going to blame Helen Hoang if I have high standards!

I loved the other two books in the series for their autistic characters. Invisible disabilities (and disabilities of all kinds) are so underrepresented in books, especially in romance novels, so these books stood out straight away for that alone. But this book resonated with me on a hugely personal level. Some of Anna's struggles are struggles I have experienced too, and the situation she finds herself in with her family is unfortunatly something I have experienced in the past too. It was a bit chilling to read a book that got me so much, but I loved it even more because of that. I felt heard.

I am incredibly grateful to Netgalley and Atlantic books for accepting my request to read this book, especially as it gives me the chance to shout about this wonderful book before its offical publication. The Heart Principle is emotional and beautiful. It's so much more than a contemporary romance, it's about mental health, loss, acceptance, and forgiveness. It really resonated with me more than any other book in this genre has, and I know this is going to stay with me for a really long time.

CAWPILE: 9.33

The Kiss Quotient: ★★★★★
The Bride Test: ★★★★.5
The Heart Principle: ★★★★★ (and more if I could)

CW: ableism, suicide ideation, lack of eating, end of life care, family struggles with the previous, family ignoring medical needs / and personal needs, scumbag boyfriends (unsure about this last one, but its relevant humph)

** Spoilers below **

I'm not really sure where to start with this book - firstly, its deeply personal in everyway - and it leaps off the page as such. I'm not on the spectrum, and I'm not sure what it would feel like to have a diagnosis for something that you didn't understand or realise was ongoing throughout your days (my issues have generally been ongoing since I was little) - however, I have had my father and stepfather in serious health issues, were end of life has been a thought, where papers have been signed andn I've seen the toll that has taken on my mum over time, on my brothers. It is something that changes your thought process, and not feeling up to caring - I understand that.

I wanted to kick her ex, shake her sister to mke her see that Anna needed help, and given Anna a long hug to try and help her. I hadn't realised until recently how exhausting masking is, and I hope that Hoang (and other books like A Kind of Spark) help those on the spectrum to feel comfortable in themselves.

I feel like Hoang is an artist of writing unresolved sexual tension - none of her books are overly explicit, or filled to the brim with sex scenes, but boy do you just feel the desire and the connection leaping off the page.

I sensed a collision coming, and went to bed before it could hit as I knew if I kept reading I would have read this all in one sitting and I wouldn't be sleeping until I finished it. It wasn't easy to put it down and sleep - but I was very happy to pick it up again and finish it today. Couldn't stop is the understatement of the century.

Can I give Quan, Anna and Helen a hug please?

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. i loved some of the other books by this author, so i went into it with high expectations, and i certainly wasn’t disappointed. i loved this book. because of this i’m going to give it 4/5 stars.

Quirky Anna and Quan (who ticks all the boxes for best book boyfriend) are really sweet together and they are the most adorable characters. The book gives a great insight into ASD and the struggles people face who suffer from this. There is a bit of sadness in the story and a lot of bullying, which makes you feel quite exasperated for Anna. I have no way of knowing whether the way Asian culture is portrayed in this book is accurate, but it felt authentic.

Although the romance element of the story wasn't always the primary focus, I think most readers will love this book and it could be a great book to take to the beach this summer - I highly recommend it.

The Author's note explaining her personal struggles is really brave and heartfelt.

Many thanks to Atlantic Books and NetGallery for allowing me a copy of the book which I enjoyed immensely.

I enjoyed this as I enjoyed the previous novels in this series. There were times when I felt frustrated by how Anna was treated, but, I'll admit to feeling very frustrated with Anna herself at one point in the book and I should've been working harder to really understand her.

What's interesting is that her masking behaviours have been so successful that people don't associate her with the usual signs of being on the autism spectrum. This is such an important reminder that we don't know what's going on in someone else's mind, that appearances can be deceiving and that we should listen to someone when they tell us what they need.

It's also a good reminder that it is a spectrum and that people on it may share similar attributes but they're still individuals and not everyone will be great at maths for example.

I do think that the overall shape of the book didn't really work as well as it could have. I understand it was deeply personal but I'm not sure it all quite fit together.

I did enjoy that the ending seemed realistic. She isn't suddenly better.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

wow! this was so different to the kiss quotient and the bride test, the heart principle was less about the romance and more about serious sensitive topics such as medical related trauma. it was so emotionally raw.
would recommend but be aware before reading,

This was an amazing representation novel. I absolutely loved the series so far and this book did not disappoint. The right mix of steamy and romantic that I love in a romance. Will be recommending to everyone I know.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That's where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex - he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. However, when tragedy strikes Anna's family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves...
Very good novelist. Exciting, engrossing, page turner.

I received a free ebook version of this through Netgalley. Thankyou to both Netgalley and the publisher for reading this! My review is still honest.

Okay. Wow. I love The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test, but if you're expecting this one to be like those, you'd be wrong. This one is on an entirely deeper level, is more serious, is less about the romance than about character development and really goes for the heartstrings. It deals with loss, a toxic family and partner, medical related trauma and insecurity, career and achievement struggles, depression and grief, caregiver burnout, adulthood autism diagnosis and so much more in a healthy, well-written way. The focus isn't the spice or the romance, but on the two character's journeys finding themselves and overcoming struggles. Lots of TWs for loss of family, terminal illness of a close relative and caring for them, etc. but if you feel comfortable, give this one a go. You will not be disappointed.

This book surprised me in the best possible way. I went in expecting one thing and was completely blindsided when the story went in a totally different direction but I'm delighted it did.

The Heart Principle is a raw, nuanced story tackling the reality of a late asd diagnosis, depression, the lasting effects of a serious illness, and familial strife. This entire novel resonated with me in a way that few contemporary romances do and it's going to stay with me for a while I think.

Both Quan and Anna are likable, complex characters with full lives and struggles outside of their involvement with each other but their dynamic together is absolutely gorgeous and gripping. I was particularly invested in Anna's journey accepting her autism diagnosis and it is clear from the accuracy and depth of that plot that it comes from a deeply personal place in the author's own experience. This is not a neat, compact story. The characters (Anna especially) are messy but it works incredibly well.

This is the first book I have read from Helen Hoang and it certainly will not be the last. It was so well written and absolutely gripping. It was a heavy and emotional read in places but absolutely worth it.

Thanks to Netgalley for an e-Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After experiencing issues with the way boundaries were portrayed in the previous two books, I was a little apprehensive about reading this one. But I was relieved to discover that we finally have a true consent king in the form of Quan in what is hands down the best book in this series!

A badass on the outside and a marshmallow on the inside, Quan is pretty much everything you could want in a LI.

I also adored Anna and loved following her journey to becoming a strong, independent woman as she adjusting to life as someone on the autistic spectrum.

My only complaints are things being left a little unresolved between Anna and her sister, and missing out on parts of Anna and Quan’s relationship due to a large time jump.

Have you read any of Helen Hoang’s books? I’d 100% recommend this and The Kiss Quotient to anyone who loves a slightly steamy romance!

I simply devoured this book, reading it almost in one sitting. The emotions are heartbreaking and soul quenching, the depth and the intensity of the feelings unlike anything I've experienced in similar fiction. The book never leaves doubt as to who, or indeed what, is the main thing that binds everything together - honesty and understanding.

It was incredibly powerful to read a story about two people who love one another. There is no trope to speak of, not that underpins Anna and Quan's relationship, but instead it's a bond that is powerful and true, and that allows the characters themselves to understand and heal personally, and together.

This is more than a piece of fiction, it's a window into the soul of humanity.

This book was a story that needed to be told. The raw emotion from everything that was written was something none of her other books have managed to hit inside me before. Every character is fleshed out with flaws and and heart warming features. this books has everything you want from a romance.
the story is about 2 people looking for love after events that have changed them in a way. How each of them deal with their change. how they help each other and fall for one another.
I will say this is the least fluffy romance out of them all.if you like something with a real emotional punch this is you. If you want fluff and smut nope. this aint it

This book is so much more than a typical Romantic Comedy. It tackles tough themes such as ASD, discrimination, grief, caregiving amongst other topics in a beautiful and honest way.

Anna shot to fame when a YouTube video of her playing the violin exploded online. Seemingly she has the perfect life including everything from professional success to a long term boyfriend. That is until Julian, said long term boyfriend, decides he wants an open relationship.

The way an open relationship is discussed amongst characters is wonderful, minus Julian that is. There is no shame or judgement about something that many could see is the end of a relationship or an alternative lifestyle. If anything the concept is normalised.

Anna's autism is also skillfully handled and clearly demonstrates research, own experience and compassion. The book gracefully avoids all stereotypes and sweeping generalisations and instead educates the reader. The very personal author's note just emphasises the care taken when writing this book.

Quan the love interest is the sweetest guy that ever existed. My only slight gripe was he seemly had no backbone. At points it was farfetched to be believe he would stand for other people's behaviour when he did. This didn't cause a hinderence to the book at all though.

I throughly enjoyed the dual perspective of Quan and Anna. Both characters were distinct with narratives equally important. I feel the Anna's arc was slightly more fleshed out than Quan's and it would've been nice to hear from his experiences more.

I would recommend this book in a heart beat and can definitely be read separately from the author's other books.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Hoang is redefining the genre and it is wonderful to see, The Heart Principle is full of positive representation and provides an authentic (own voice) characterisation of a young woman on the autism spectrum.

The Heart Principle follows a young violinist, Anna, who has become "internet famous" overnight and whose boyfriend has decided he wants to see other people before they settle down. In a bid to stick it to the boyfriend (and regain some self worth), Anna embarks on a one night stand mission that doesn't go quite to plan.