*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - The Bride Test (The Kissing Quotient #2) by Helen Hoang

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: The Bride Test
(The Kissing Quotient #2)
Author: Helen Hoang
Publication Date: May 14th, 2019

Publisher: Berkley
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

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.

Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon

4.5 “You love her” Stars

I think I liked this a little less than The Kissing Quotient, but I’m not sure why. It was still adorable, diverse, sexy and beautifully written—pretty much everything I need in a romance. It was also super easy to get into, meaning I finished it fast. Khai and Esme were both great leading characters. There was plenty of chemistry between them, and I honestly thought they were perfect for each other. 

Esme’s attempts to seduce Khai, his confusion about his feelings for her, their awkward and adorable first time together, the conversation between Khai, his brother and cousin following that first time, and tons of other scenes made this a memorable read. There were moments I laughed out loud, smiled like a fool and swooned.

Still…there was just something that kept me a little (just a little bit) disconnected and I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe, just maybe it was Esme’s relationship with her daughter and how, though it’s implied that she’s trying to marry Khai to provide a better life to her little girl, I never really felt like that was what was driving her. The daughter was barely present at all in the book, which I also understand because this was about the romance and not her family. Yet, I get the feeling that either the story didn’t need the daughter or it could’ve handled that relationship better. Considering the author’s note at the end, I think the second option would’ve been the best choice.

Despite that, which is really not a big problem considering all the other great elements, I truly believe romance fans will not regret picking up this book. The Bride Test is another example of how a great author can write sexy and fun stories with respectful representation.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.