Words do not even begin to express how much I adored this book.

This story starts as a light-hearted romcom, but as any Helen Hoang veteran fan knows, her stories always retain a hidden depth to them that touches the heart in the exact right spot. To say Hoang has done it again is an understatement. What she's done with this book builds from The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test in such a spectacular way I still feel emotional as I write this review. Following Anna and Quan was such a privilege and such an emotionally charged adventure; I laughed with them, I mourned with them, I fell in love with them (all within the one night in which I DEVOURED this book).

What I think solidifies this book as easily the best book of my 2021 reading so far is the way Helen Hoang balances creating this beautiful narrative with such incredible emotional depth with some of the hottest and heaviest scenes I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Romance readers, you will NOT be disappointed.

I will say there are perhaps some trigger warnings for ableism and suicidal ideation, so please do be aware of that!!

Ultimately, somehow despite the unimaginable hype I had built up in my head and heart for this book, Helen Hoang has managed to exceed these expectations in every way possible. A genuinely talented romance author whose work I will always look forward to reading.

Helen Hoang has done it again. My love for this series has grown a little bit more with each instalment but I have to admit The Heart Principle might take the spot of favourite. Anna and Quan's story was a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, I wept, I swooned. I related to Anna so so much, and my heart broke for her on so many occasions.

I admire Helen for being able to write such intimate difficulties in a novel. I do believe it’s going to impact many of the people who read it in a beneficial way. I know it did, for me.

I think this must be a personal record for me - 3.5 hours from receipt until completion. It's fair to say I basically inhaled this book.

I discovered Hoang about 2 years ago on a "diverse writers everyone should read" type of list. I distinctly remember getting her first book at the library, and sitting in my car reading the first 100 pages. I only ended up going home because it got cold, and had it been summer I might have read the whole book in the library car park.

The Heart Principle is her third novel, and I loved it. Like her previous novels she writes about someone on the spectrum finding love. In this case it is a woman, Anna, who finds herself looking for a one night stand, only to meet the kind and understanding Quan. The book follows them both learn to understand each other, as well as dealing with Anna's family.

There is an authenticity to Hoang's writing - about Asian characters and families, and those on the autism spectrum - both aspects are part of Hoang's own identity. As someone in neither category, I think she speaks to me so much as she creates characters who are perceived to have 'oddities', but find kind, patient and loving people who embrace that. I think most of us can feel confused by others or social situations at times, but Hoang embraces the differences, and expresses the notion that there really is someone for everyone.

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I have never been so excited to be issued an ARC in my life.

This book was not it for me. Some romances just feel a bit too unbelievable. Not enough to feel like a full fantasy, just enough to feel a bit off. And this was one of those for me.

The Heart Principle includes:
-Adult romance
-Chinese female MC/ Vietnamese male MC
-Female mc is neurodivergent

Anna has been dating her boyfriend for 5 years but one night he tells her that he wants them both to take time apart to see other people to see if they are actually right for each other. After some time Anna thinks that she maybe does want casual sex and joins several dating apps. Quan hasn't been seeing anyone for a while because his health hasn't allowed him to, but his cousin Michael encourages him to try and get back in the game. Anna and Quan match and they immediately hit it off. However, when they meet their first attempt at a one-night stand fails as does the second and third. But over time they both realise that they are both good for each other and being together is more than just sex.

I've been anticipating this book for so long and unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped. When Entertainment Weekly released an excerpt in 2019 I instantly fell in love with and it made me excited even more. But then months later it was announced that this book will be going in a different direction. I didn't think too much of it as I absolutely loved the other two instalments. I was expecting a fun, lighthearted book as reading about Quan in the other 2 books he was such a fun character and a fantastic brother to Khai. I was expecting to fall in love with him more here, but he just felt like a side character in this book and didn't have much character development

Despite this, this book did focus on Anna’s growth and was executed well. As Helen Hoang states in her author’s note this was a personal story to her as Anna’s struggles were hers. It was very heartbreaking to read about Anna’s thoughts and feelings and I related a lot to her. I liked seeing her heal and finally stand up for herself. The plot mainly focuses on mental health which is not a problem and I like reading about it, but I expected the main plot to be romance.

This book also includes infertility, the loss of a loved one and gaslighting so proceed with caution if these topics are triggering.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The issue is I had high expectations and expected something different which is why I'm a little disappointed, but don't let my review discourage you as this story can resonate with many people due to how personal it is, especially Asians and POC who face pressure from parents and not being able to be themselves.

Thank you @netgalley and @atlanticbooks for an e-arc.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, having not been that enamoured with the first book in this series (I have not yet read 'The Bride Test.') The subject matter was much heavier than typical romance novels, and the central relationship felt so much more impactful as the characters slowly revealed their vulnerabilities to each other rather than falling in love/lust straight away. The exploration of family dynamics, with the contrast of Quan's network of support to Anna being crushed by the weight of her sister and mother's expectations was also very well done, which contributed to my usually dread third conflict trope feeling believable and earned, with the novel building up to that point. The depiction of Anna's ASD (which I believe derives from the author's own experience) felt so honest and really added another layer to the story, and I loved how it didn't make her any less desirable to Quan, who was so respectful and patient throughout their relationship.

(Many thanks to Netgalley and Atlantic Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.)

After the reading the Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test I was so excited to read Quan’s story. This did not disappoint. Such a wonderful, emotional, painful and real book. Quan still had those lovely qualities that made me always want more of his story. Loved him throughout this and how HH was not afraid to show his vulnerability and struggle following his illness and the resulting changes. How he was with Anna, that care, respect, love and understanding was everything.

Anna was wonderfully written and her journey to fully understanding herself and her diagnosis was so heartbreaking and painful at times but incredibly real. Those complicated family dynamics and having to suppress yourself to please people felt so relatable.There were a lot of heavy issues the author dealt with in relation to Anna especially in relation to the negative impact her masking was having on her emotional, mental and physical health. I felt they were handled with great sensitivity and honesty.

Anna and Quan had excellent chemistry. I loved how they were with each other They managed to bring the heat and the softness. An excellent read which has been well worth the wait (5 ⭐️)

This book is excellent. Anna and Quan are amazing. Helen Hoāng is the very best.

I thought this book was a brilliant five star read whilst reading it. The depiction of an adult woman's struggle to be who her family demand she is, how she learns that the behaviours she finds difficult are so for a reason - she is on the autism spectrum, how she starts to deal with and own that; all of it is exceptionally weaves into and around a sexy, passionate and loving romance.

Then there came the exceptional portrait of the strength, pain, resilience and flat out too much that caring for a sick loved once can ask of you. You are not less if you find it hard. If you just can't do it. If it makes you feel impotent, helpless or angry. You are a certain kind of wonderful if it doesn't make you feel that way, but there is a reason non-relatives can, at times, be better caregivers - some of us aren't built for it, and even if we are sometimes we can love someone in a way that makes it hard to see them on their deathbed.

The narrative overall looks at consent in a way no book I've ever read before has. Anna's relationship with her family is one wherein she is never allowed to say no. She has to do what is asked of her even if it feels wrong to her, and she has to do it without complaint and with a smile on her face. Along comes Quan, who seeks to establish genuine sexual consent and Anna is...overwhelmed. The book shows how a partner giving you space to consent, reconsent, to not consent....it is all kind of futile if your parents, your family, your friends have never given you space to make genuine choices without judgement, to trust your own mind and to use your voice to express it. Consent doesn't start with sex. It never has, and of a person is taught they have now power or agency in their life, a sexual partner asking for consent may not seem like a genuine offer.

Quan. Last but not least, Quan ❤ Strong, intelligent, caring and sexy - with this romantic hero the reader is asked to genuinely consider notions of male body insecurities, of toxic standards of masculinity and of what it means for a man to emotionally deal with the after effects of health trauma. It is so, so well done I can't even begin to explain how happy men would be with it if they were to pick up this book. I imagined the Bromance Book Club reading it and absolutely losing their minds for it.

So, yeah, I thought this books was brilliant whilst I was reading it.

And then I read the author's note. Helen Hoāng is amazing, and I can't actually express how much it means to know that an author is willing to share so much of herself to represent and support others. I will buy any book she ever publishes.

I have never been disappointed by Helen Hoang and this is no different. She writes with such heart and I love that she portrays autism in romance novels. It means so much to me!

This is my first book by Helen Hoang and it won’t be the last! I LOVED this book 🥰 I was expecting a fluffy romance but this was SO much more! I don’t really give 5 stars unless it was a truly exceptional book, welcome The Heart Principle as my first ever 5 star book.

The story is about Anna who has a bunch of issues going on in her life, her struggles with them and how she learns to overcome them. I love the relationship between Anna and Quan, since they both have their own battles but they help one another through them no matter what. I felt I could relate to Anna as I’m also from an Asian family, so I understood some of what she went through family wise. I was totally rooting for Anna throughout the book.

The author’s note at the end was truly emotional and definitely needs to be read. I had no idea this book is the third of a series, so the first two are going onto my TBR for sure.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

In enjoyed reading it. It was a funny reading but in the same time didn't expect it to be so complex about the emotions involved in taking care of the people around or dealing with the emotions when discovering more about own persona. I was hoping for Michael and Khai to be in the story and they were.

WOW. I was not expecting to love this so much. Anna Sun is a violinist who is struggling in almost every aspect of her life, but especially when it comes to her career. Quan is struggling with his identity after a health scare. These two meet when they're both in a bad place, and yet they never judge each other, they never ask for more than the other can give. Their love feels so genuine, so pure and natural. It definitely has some steamy moments but unlike the other two novels in this series, the love almost feels like it takes a back seat as Anna deals with a downturn in her mental health following a family crisis, and a lot of this book follows her growth as she learns to advocate for herself and her health. The authors note made this book hit even harder and I really can't recommend it enough.

'The Heart Principle' is the first novel I have read from Helen Hoang, and will certainly not be the last. The raw emotions on display left me reeling and have stayed with me long after I finished reading. Anna is a violinist on-leave from the San Francisco symphony, stuck in a self-destructive loop and experiencing emotional burnout. To add to her burden, her boyfriend insists they open their relationship. In her quest for a one-night stand, she meets lovely Quan, cancer survivor and entrepreneur. Their attraction is destined to be something more than a brief fling - we are left to wonder whether their love will survive against the reality of life, loss and familial expectations.

Anna and Quan are not your typical romance novel protagonists. Their story is not neat - it is characterised by suffering and struggle, yet this makes their love something to admire and fully invest in. I raced through the novel, emotionally drained but driven by wanting to know the outcome of Anna and Quan's story. Helen Hoang channelling her experience of autistic burnout and caring for an unwell parent makes this book personal, raw and real. It is an essential read for anyone who enjoys a well-plotted romance firmly rooted in the truth of the human experience.

All in all, Helen Hoang has written something beautiful which many readers are going to love and feel seen in its pages. I already have her other two novels waiting on my Kindle ready to devour - I can only hope they are as emotionally affecting and romantically stirring. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Heart Principle centres Anna Sun, who after accidentally achieving career success from a viral violin performance, finds herself with creative block and burned out. On top of this, her boyfriend announces he wants to date other people before finally committing to her. Hurt and angry, Anna creates an online profile and meets Quan with the intention of a one-night stand. Their attempts to hook up fail because being with Quan is more than just sex. When a tragedy strikes, Anna and Quan must fight for their change at love, but to do that, they also must fight for themselves.

I enjoyed this book, but admittedly it wasn’t quite as I had expected. It is a very deep and emotional story, obviously very personal to Hoang as explained in the authors note at the end. There is a large focus on autism spectrum disorder, mental health, anxiety, and depression – I did find it refreshing and I’m so pleased to see these represented so unashamedly and honestly.

The story is very different to the others in the Kiss Quotient series, and I felt it had very little romance. There was a large focus on Anna and I would have loved more exploration of Quan. At times, I really felt for him because he had his own personal struggles on top of having to compete with Anna’s boyfriend, care for her and try to become accepted by her family.

I would recommend this one! It is bittersweet and I loved watching Anna and Quan’s relationship develop. Be warned for an emotional one.

Talk about reading a book in one sitting!
This story proves once again why it was one of my most anticipated read of the year or better said years now. But I’m so happy that the author took her time because it’s just the perfect romance book that you’ll fall in love with without even realising.
I loved how everything starts and while I mightn’t be so brave as Anna to start over or just give a chance to a new experience after her douche boyfriend did what he did, I was rooting for her all the way through.
Quan was the perfect hero in every possible imaginable way. Caring , assertive and very thoughtful, he was there for Anna even when he wasn’t asked for it.
There’s a few topics that are tackled here and I love how the author managed to give them voice and true colours.
Family dynamics and interventions aren’t always the best, and while I hated her sister for so many reasons, I cheered Anna on her way to break the chain and just be herself.

I really hope we’ll get to see this series on the screen soon because it’s worthy much more than anything else.

Very grateful to the publisher Atlantic Books for my review copy.

Witty, charming & heartfelt! I love Helen Hoang's romances because they're thoughtful, steamy & packed with fun sentiment. The 3rd book in the series was so worth the wait!

Helen Hoang knows how to grip you. Right from the start I was hooked, just like I was with The Kiss Quotient (another 5 star read).

I love that this book touches on so many sensitive and delicate subjects. I genuinely felt my heart breaking and a pounding in my chest alongside the characters.

The authenticity shown behind each autistic character that Helen Hoang portrays does so much justice and helps the reader to understand how it is to think differently to what you’re used to. This is shown in the heartfelt authors note that made me fall in love with her writing style even more.

Each character in this book are so unique, I love Quan and his supportive nature. How no matter what he has been through and is currently going to he is able to still concentrate on others, which makes him feel like a genuine character.

There isn’t a part of this book that didn’t flow or any cliches that normally come with a romance novel. Because it is so much more than that ans 100% worth the read.

I've loved all of Helen Hoang's books, and 'The Heart Principle' did not disappoint. Anna's struggle with her autism diagnosis, and then with her father's illness really hit hard.

The romance between Anna and Quan was so sweet (and sexy), and I loved how patient Quan was when Anna was struggling. The inevitable third act conflict didn't even really bother me the way they usually do, as often I find the third act conflicts in romance novels to be very forced. However, due to how intense and horrible Anna's situation was, while preventable, the conflict did feel realistic.

I also urge everyone to make sure they read the author's note at the end of the book, it really brings the whole novel into context, and gave me a new appreciation for how amazing Helen Hoang is.

I was super eager to read this one, after binging the other books in the series this year. I love Hoang's romances, they're diverse, imperfect and believable (and cough, steamy, cough) but this one struck a new level for me. It was raw and real, I cried multiple times reading this book! A perfect example of why contemporary romance is so much more than 'chick lit'.

Anna is a violinist who has been struggling since a video of her went viral. Now she is stuck in a loop of practicing music but never feeling good enough.
When her boyfriend tells her he wants an open relationship she confides in her friends, who tell her to go and have some fun of her own. She meets Quan via a dating app. He has his own issues he is dealing with, but wants to be with Anna. Will they find a way to be together?

A great read,which is qute emotional at times.

I like how Michael and Stella from The Kiss Quotient appear in the book too.