Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Book Shelf: The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1) by Helen Hoang

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.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...


More info on Goodreads....

Review: 

The Kiss Quotient is Helen Hoang's debut novel and is an absolutely sensational tale littered with sizzling chemistry, endearing moments and powerful displays of love.

Stella Lane is a wealthy, successful economist who prefers analyzing data than interacting with people. As someone who has Asperger's, Stella finds social interactions difficult and awkward, but when her mother reminds her it's time for her to settle down and find a husband, Stella decides to hire a male escort to help her learn to be a good girlfriend. As his mother continues to undergo cancer treatment, Michael Larson found himself facing unending bills, so he decided to put his good looks to use to make extra money on the side. As an escort, Michael has a firm rule about no-repeat clients, but when Stella hires him to help her to learn how to be in a relationship, her unique proposal is too tempting to turn down. Spending time together sees them begin to care for one another, but with Michael's past hanging over him and Stella's fears always close to home will they be able to find happiness together? Or will they let true love slip away?

Having heard nothing but great things about The Kiss Quotient, I was very excited to read Helen Hoang's debut. The concept sounded so good and having now read the novel myself, I can one hundred percent see why the world has fallen in love with Stella and Michael's story.

The Kiss Quotient was just so very beautiful and so very moving to read. Deliciously written with tangible characters, sexual tension through the roof and sex scenes that were electric and not repetitive, The Kiss Quotient  genuinely was just a wonderfully addictive novel to get lost in. Full of plenty of engaging and entertaining moments as well as two protagonists I absolutely fell in love with, there is nothing about The Kiss Quotient that I could fault--except maybe that it eventually ended and I still wanted to stay lost in Stella and Michael's world.

Even though it is a rom-com at it's base, Helen Hoang did just a fantastic job creating a love story that dares to be different with The Kiss Quotient. The Kiss Quotient features a heroine with Asperger's syndrome, a developmental disability that effects how people perceive the world around them and interact with others, and boy to I have to commend Hoang on how she wrote Stella. I feel she depicted a woman with this kind of autism so beautifully and respectfully.

Stella managed to capture my heart so entirely but I still appreciated seeing her written in all her honestly. My heart really hurt for her as she faced her feelings of inadequacy throughout the novel and tried to do, and be, better. Stella was a beautiful soul and I thoroughly loved seeing her find happiness with Michael who appreciated her for everything she was.

And Michael! Well, Michael may just be my next favourite book boyfriend. Escorting aside, Michael could quite possibly be the perfect man in so many ways; he was charming and kind and so patient with Stella. I loved seeing him love so deeply and adore Stella so completely. Even being in his head was a pleasure as he was intelligent and capable and down to earth. I just adored him.

Helen Hoang writes a romance to be remembered with Stella and Michael's relationship. In the beginning she hires him to teach her about sex and relationships but as their connection develops, there's no denying that Stella and Michael have something very real and special. Their romance is built through many thoughtful and endearing moments, sexual tension and care. They just go; making one another happy in a way that is effortless and beautiful.

I honestly could just go on and on about this novel. The Kiss Quotient is such a fantastic story and won my heart and so with it's adorable romance and fantastic characters. I cannot wait to see Helen Hoang expand on her world with the companion novel featuring Michael's cousin Khai and adore the diversity we saw within this tale!

I highly recommend The Kiss Quotient. This is definitely a favourite of mine in 2018 and all time and will stay with me for a long time, especially as I plan to revisit Stella and Michael down the track. Theirs is a story I can see myself getting lost in again and again.....

Rating:
Source: I purchased
Publisher: Corvus
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 5th 2018
Purchase: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: I LOVED this book and cannot wait to read the next one in the series!


No comments:

Post a Comment

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for leaving a comment at The Rest Is Still Unwritten! I read each and every comment, even if I don't reply to them all and appreciate your interest in my blog.

Hope you have a great day and Happy Reading!
~Rachel
xoxo