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The Kiss Quotient: The ultimate opposites attract steamy romcom from tiktok Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient series Book 1) Kindle Edition
A GOODREADS ROMANCE BOOK OF THE YEAR
A Washington PostBook of the Year
An AmazonBook of the Year
Elle Best Summer Reads
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DATA IN THE WORLD TO PREDICT WHO WILL MAKE YOUR HEART BEAT FASTER...
It's high time for Stella Lane to settle down and find a husband - or so her mother tells her. This is no easy task for a wealthy, successful woman like Stella, who also happens to have Asperger's. Analyzing data is easy; handling the awkwardness of one-on-one dates is hard. To overcome her lack of dating experience, Stella decides to hire a male escort to teach her how to be a good girlfriend.
Faced with mounting bills, Michael decides to use his good looks and charm to make extra cash on the side. He has a very firm no repeat customer policy, but he's tempted to bend that rule when Stella approaches him with an unconventional proposal.
The more time they spend together, the harder Michael falls for this disarming woman with a beautiful mind, and Stella discovers that love defies logic.
'Original and sexy and sensitive' - Roxane Gay
'Steamy hot and sweet at the same time' - Guardian
'An absolute delight... Equal parts endearing and (very) steamy' - Buzzfeed, 30 Best Summer Books
READERS ARE RAVING ABOUT THE KISS QUOTIENT
'I'm absolutely CRAZY over this book!' *****
'A super enjoyable read!' *****
'All the stars!' *****
'Wow was this a fantastic book!!' *****
'This book rocks!' *****
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherCorvus
- Publication date7 Jun. 2018
- File size1.6 MB
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From the Publisher


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The Kiss Quotient
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The Bride Test
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The Heart Principle
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Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars 24,419
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4.2 out of 5 stars 9,655
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4.3 out of 5 stars 6,732
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Price | £8.15£8.15 | £6.28£6.28 | £5.98£5.98 |
Sweet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Smart | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Steamy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Product description
Review
AWESOME. Adorable, sexy, smart. Exactly the book I wanted to read! – Christina Lauren, author of Love and Other Words
I devoured The Kiss Quotient . It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. It’s funny, sad, poignant and impossible to put down. – Christine Feehan, author of Dark Promises
I loved it. Hoang's writing has a sharp, quirky, emotional edge that will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to navigate the complicated world of modern relationships. – Jayne Ann Krentz, author of Promise Not to Tell
The Kiss Quotient had me under a spell. I was excited, in love, and couldn't wait to get back to this book every time life forced me to put it down. A rare and riveting love story. —Penelope Douglas, author of Bully
Left me with a huge smile on my face. I dare you not to fall in love with these two characters and their story. Helen Hoang’s debut is quite simply delightful! —Nalini Singh, author of Angels’ Blood
Charmed and connected with me in a way no other book has done in a long time. – Book Riot
Hoang knocks it out of the park with this stellar debut. The diverse cast and exceptional writing take this romance to the next level. – Publisher’s Weekly
From the Back Cover
It's high time for Stella Lane to settle down and find a husband - or so her mother tells her. This is no easy task for a wealthy, successful woman like Stella, who also happens to have Asperger's. Analyzing data is easy; handling the awkwardness of one-on-one dates is hard. To overcome her lack of dating experience, Stella decides to hire a male escort to teach her how to be a good girlfriend.
Faced with mounting bills, Michael decides to use his good looks and charm to make extra cash on the side. He has a very firm no repeat customer policy, but he's tempted to bend that rule when Stella approaches him with an unconventional proposal.
The more time they spend together, the harder Michael falls for this disarming woman with a beautiful mind, and Stella discovers that love defies logic.
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
“I know you hate surprises, Stella. In the interests of communicating our expectations and providing you a reasonable timeline, you should know we’re ready for grandchildren.”
Stella Lane’s gaze jumped from her breakfast up to her mother’s gracefully aging face. A subtle application of makeup drew attention to battle-ready, coffee-colored eyes. That boded ill for Stella. When her mother got something into her mind, she was like a honey badger with a vendetta—pugnacious and tenacious, but without the snarling and fur.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Stella said.
Shock gave way to rapid-fire, panic-scrambled thoughts. Grandchildren meant babies. And diapers. Mountains of diapers. Exploding diapers. And babies cried, soul-grating banshee wails that even the best sound-canceling headphones couldn’t buffer. How did they cry so long and hard when they were so little? Plus, babies meant husbands. Husbands meant boyfriends. Boyfriends meant dating. Dating meant sex. She shuddered.
“You’re thirty, Stella dear. We’re concerned that you’re still single. Have you tried Tinder?”
She grabbed her water and gulped down a mouthful, accidentally swallowing an ice cube. After clearing her throat, she said, “No. I haven’t tried it.”
The very thought of Tinder—and the corresponding dating it aimed to deliver—caused her to break out in a sweat. She hated everything about dating: the departure from her comfortable routine, the conversation that was by turns inane and baffling, and again, the sex . . .
“I’ve been offered a promotion,” she said, hoping it would distract her mother.
“Another one?” her father asked, lowering his copy of the Wall Street Journal so his wire-framed glasses were visible. “You were just promoted two quarters ago. That’s phenomenal.”
Stella perked up and scooted to the edge of her seat. “Our newest client—a large online vendor who shall remain nameless—provided the most amazing datasets, and I get to play with them all day. I designed an algorithm to help with some of their purchase suggestions. Apparently, it’s working better than expected.”
“When is the new promotion effective?” her father asked.
“Well . . .” The hollandaise and egg yolk from her crabcakes Benedict had run together, and she attempted to separate the yellow liquids with the tip of her fork. “I didn’t accept the promotion. It was a principal econometrician position that would have had five direct reports beneath me and require much more client interaction. I just want to work on the data.”
Her mother batted that statement away with a negligent wave of her hand. “You’re getting complacent, Stella. If you stop challenging yourself, you’re not going to make any more improvement with your social skills. That reminds me, are there any coworkers at your company who you’d like to date?”
Her father set his newspaper down and folded his hands over his rounded belly. “Yes, what about that one fellow, Philip James? When we met him at your last company get-together, he seemed nice enough.”
Her mother’s hands fluttered to her mouth like pigeons homing in on bread crumbs. “Oh, why didn’t I think of him? He was so polite. And easy on the eyes, too.”
“He’s okay, I guess.” Stella ran her fingertips over the condensation on her water glass. To be honest, she’d considered Philip. He was conceited and abrasive, but he was a direct speaker. She really liked that in people. “I think he has several personality disorders.”
Her mother patted Stella’s hand. Instead of putting it back in her lap when she was done, she rested it over Stella’s knuckles. “Maybe he’ll be a good match for you, then, dear. With issues of his own to overcome, he might be more understanding of your Asperger’s.”
Though the words were spoken in a matter-of-fact tone, they sounded unnatural and loud to Stella’s ears. A quick glance at the neighboring tables in the restaurant’s canopied outdoor dining area reassured her that no one had heard, and she stared down at the hand on top of hers, consciously refraining from yanking it away. Uninvited touches irritated her, and her mother knew it. She did it to “acclimate” her. Mostly, it drove Stella crazy. Was it possible Philip could understand that?
“I’ll think about him,” Stella said, and meant it. She hated lying and prevaricating even more than she hated sex. And, at the end of the day, she wanted to make her mother proud and happy. No matter what Stella did, she was always a few steps short of being successful in her mother’s eyes and therefore her own, too. A boyfriend would do that, she knew. The problem was she couldn’t keep a man for the life of her.
Her mother beamed. “Excellent. The next benefit dinner I’m arranging is in a couple months, and I want you to bring a date this time. I’d love to see Mr. James attending with you, but if that doesn’t work out, I’ll find someone.”
Stella thinned her lips. Her latest sexual experience had been with one of her mother’s blind dates. He’d been good-looking—she had to give him that—but his sense of humor had confused her. With him being a venture capitalist and her being an economist, they should have had a lot in common, but he hadn’t wanted to talk about his actual work. Instead, he’d preferred to discuss office politics and manipulation tactics, leaving her so lost she’d been certain the date was a failure.
When he’d straight-out asked her if she wanted to have sex with him, she’d been caught completely off guard. Because she hated to say no, she’d said yes. There’d been kissing, which she didn’t enjoy. He’d tasted like the lamb he’d had for dinner. She didn’t like lamb. His cologne had nauseated her, and he’d touched her all over. As it always did in intimate situations, her body had locked down. Before she knew it, he’d finished. He’d discarded his used condom in the trash can next to the hotel room’s desk—that had bothered her; surely he should know things like that went in the bathroom?—told her she needed to loosen up, and left. She could only imagine how disappointed her mother would be if she knew what a disaster her daughter was with men.
And now her mother wanted babies, too.
Stella got to her feet and gathered her purse. “I need to go to work now.” While she was ahead on all her deadlines, need was still the right word for it. Work fascinated her, channeled the furious craving in her brain. It was also therapeutic.
“That’s my girl,” her father said, standing up and brushing off his silk Hawaiian shirt before hugging her. “You’re going to own that place before long.”
As she gave him a quick hug—she didn’t mind touching when she initiated it or had time to mentally prepare for it—she breathed in the familiar scent of his aftershave. Why couldn’t all men be just like her father? He thought she was beautiful and brilliant, and his smell didn’t make her sick.
“You know her work is an unhealthy obsession, Edward. Don’t encourage her,” her mother said before she switched her attention to Stella and heaved a maternal sigh. “You should be out with people on the weekend. If you met more men, I know you’d find the right one.”
Her father pressed a cool kiss to her temple and whispered, “I wish I were working, too.”
Stella shook her head at him as her mother embraced her. The ropes of her mother’s ever-present pearls pressed into Stella’s sternum, and Chanel No. 5 swirled around her. She tolerated the cloying scent for three long seconds before stepping back.
“I’ll see you both next weekend. I love you. Bye.”
She waved at her parents before exiting the ritzy downtown Palo Alto restaurant and walked down sidewalks lined with trees and upscale shops. After three sunny blocks, she reached a low-rise office building that housed her favorite place in the world: her office. The left corner window on the third floor belonged to her.
The lock on the front door clicked open when she held her purse up to the sensor, and she strode into the empty building, enjoying the solitary echo of her high heels on the marble as she passed the vacant reception desk and stepped into the elevator.
Inside her office, she initiated her most beloved routine. First, she powered on her computer and entered her password into the prompt screen. As all the software booted up, she plopped her purse in her desk drawer and went to fill her cup with water from the kitchen. Her shoes came off, and she placed them in their regular spot under her desk. She sat.
Power, password, purse, water, shoes, sit. Always this order.
Statistics Analysis System, otherwise known as SAS, automatically loaded, and the three monitors on her desk filled with streams of data. Purchases, clicks, log-in times, payment types—simple things, really. But they told her more about people than people themselves ever did. She stretched out her fingers and set them on the black ergonomic keyboard, eager to lose herself in her work.
“Oh hi, Stella, I thought it might be you.”
She looked over her shoulder and was jarred by the unwelcome view of Philip James peering around the door frame. The severe cut of his tawny hair emphasized his square jaw, and his polo shirt was tight across his chest. He looked fresh, sophisticated, and smart—precisely the kind of man her parents wanted for her. And he’d caught her working for pleasure on the weekend.
Her face heated, and she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to pick up something that I forgot yesterday.” He extracted a box from a shopping bag and waved it at her. Stella caught sight of the word TROJAN in giant capital letters. “Have a nice weekend. I know I will.”
Breakfast with her parents raced through her mind. Grandchildren, Philip, the prospect of more blind dates, being successful. She licked her lips and hurried to say something, anything. “Did you really need an economy-sized box of those?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she winced.
He smirked his assholest smirk, but its annoyingness was softened by a show of strong white teeth. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to need half of these tonight since the boss’s new intern asked me out.”
Stella was impressed despite herself. The new girl looked so shy. Who would have thought she was so gutsy? “For dinner?”
“And more, I think,” he said with a twinkle in his hazel eyes.
“Why did you wait for her to ask you out? Why didn’t you ask her first?” She’d gotten the impression men liked to be initiators in matters like these. Was she wrong?
With impatient motions, Philip stuffed an entire militia of Trojans back in his shopping bag. “She’s fresh out of undergrad. I didn’t want to get accused of cradle robbing. Besides, I like girls who know what they want and go for it . . . especially in bed.” He swept an appraising gaze from her feet to her face, smiling like he could see through her clothes, and she stiffened with self-consciousness. “Tell me, are you still a virgin, Stella?”
She turned back to her computer screens, but the data refused to make sense. The cursor on the programming screen blinked. “It’s none of your business, but no, I’m not a virgin.”
He walked into her office, leaned a hip against her desk, and considered her in a skeptical manner. She adjusted her glasses even though they didn’t need it. “So our star econometrician has ‘done it’ before. How many times? Three?”
No way was she going to tell him he’d guessed correctly. “None of your business, Philip.”
“I bet you just lie there and run linear recursions in your head while a man does his business. Am I right, Ms. Lane?”
Stella would totally do that if she could figure out how to input gigabytes of data into her brain, but she’d rather die than admit it.
“A word of advice from a man who’s been around the block a few times: Get some practice. When you’re good at it, you like it better, and when you like it better, men like you better.” He pushed away from the desk and headed for the door, his bag of condoms swinging jauntily at his side. “Enjoy your endless week.”
As soon as he left, Stella stood up and shoved her door shut, using more force than was necessary. The door slammed with a hard, vibrating bang, and her heart stuttered. She smoothed damp hands over her pencil skirt as she brought her breathing back under control. When she sat down at her desk, she was too jittery to do more than stare at the blinking cursor.
Was Philip right? Did she dislike sex because she was bad at it? Would practice really make perfect? What a beguiling concept. Maybe sex was just another interpersonal thing she needed to exert extra efforts on—like casual conversation, eye contact, and etiquette.
But how exactly did you practice sex? It wasn’t like men were throwing themselves at her like women apparently did to Philip. When she did manage to sleep with a man, he was so put off by the lackluster experience that once was more than enough for both of them.
Also, this was Silicon Valley, the kingdom of tech geniuses and scientists. The single men available were probably as hopeless in bed as she was. With her luck, she’d sleep with a statistically significant population of them and have nothing to show for it but crotch burn and STDs.
No, what Stella needed was a professional.
Not only were they certified disease-free, but they had proven track records. At least, she assumed so. That was how she’d run things if she were in that business. Regular men were incentivized by things like personality, humor, and hot sex—things she didn’t have. Professionals were incentivized by money. Stella happened to have a lot of money.
Instead of working on her shiny new dataset, Stella opened up her browser and Googled “California Bay Area male escort service.”
Product details
- ASIN : B0792L7HRN
- Publisher : Corvus
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : 7 Jun. 2018
- Edition : Main
- Language : English
- File size : 1.6 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 338 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1786495730
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 1 of 3 : The Kiss Quotient
- Best Sellers Rank: 8,397 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 13 in Gay Erotica
- 30 in Children's Autism Spectrum
- 32 in Humorous Erotica
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since. In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired THE KISS QUOTIENT. She currently lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two kids, and pet fish.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this romance novel a heartwarming story with a beautiful difference, praising its well-developed characters, particularly Stella's portrayal with autism, and its easy-to-read writing style. The book features humor that makes readers laugh and cry, and customers appreciate its depth and insight, with one noting the clever study questions at the end. Customers describe the book as sweet, charming, and considerate.
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Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a feel-good read that they loved absolutely every moment.
"What a wonderful book...." Read more
"Great book and really appreciated seeing an autistic protagonist whose "quirks" truly reflect (some people's) autism and not just a group of..." Read more
"...The storyline is not original but it was a good read...." Read more
"What a read!! In this lovely book the main character Stella decides to hire a male prostitute to help her overcome her issues with dating and sex...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the detailed portrayal of Stella's autism and the connection between the two main characters.
"I loved the characters. Well worth the read. Romance all the way" Read more
"...Hoang has created 2 fantastic characters that compliment each other wonderfully, neither are cliched or stale, they have lots going on for them to..." Read more
"...I love the characters and how Stella and Michael's relationship develops. Will be looking for more books from this author :)" Read more
"Just a wonderful eye-opening book. Loved the characters, loved the storyline, I will not give anything else away. Just read it." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting it is well written with depth and has an easy-to-read style.
"...LOT of adult content, Micheal is an escort, after all, but it's very well written (no cringey 50 shades scenes here) and it deals with the topic of..." Read more
"...Well written, different perspective and worth a read - not a fluffy throwaway but not heavy either." Read more
"...It was an easy read, I liked the writing style...." Read more
"...Beautifully written and such immersive characters. I will re read this for sure." Read more
Customers find the book sweet and charming, describing it as delightful and sexy.
"...This was such a sweet, realistic, believable romance novel." Read more
"...a gender swapped version of Pretty Woman and the story was both sweet, sexy and incredibly romantic...." Read more
"...It was beautiful, heart-warming, heart-breaking and I want to read it again, but later, when my heart pieces itself back together again...." Read more
"...Sweet, if a bit ‘is that even remotely possible?’ ending. 3.5 stars." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and insightful, noting its depth and educational value, with one customer particularly appreciating the clever study questions at the end.
"...The main characters Stella and Michael were both likeable, believable, interesting and flawed...." Read more
"...THE KISS QUOTIENT is one of those truly memorable romances that are both real and perfect...." Read more
"...The book has a simple premise that is executed beautifully...." Read more
"...It is a pretty interesting insight. The romance is sweet and the characters are likeable...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character's caring and kind nature, with one customer noting their emotional intelligence.
"...to what’s going on, she’s brilliant and funny and horny and strong and kind. Michael doesn’t come across as a sap or boring...." Read more
"...Michael was so patient and caring, and I loved how quickly he felt invested in 'his Stella'...." Read more
"...Not only is he a great and caring person, he is also a designer, but the hardships of his family force him to set his dreams aside. -..." Read more
"...an escort who’s not only the hottest man on the planet, but emotionally intelligent, and able to show Stella just how explosive sex can be...." Read more
Reviews with images

Incredibly lovable characters!
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 June 2025A sweet HEA story, great spice and characters you care about. Already re read it three times! It was a perfect read if you like Ali Hazelwood or Ana Huang!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 June 2021I am kicking myself for having waited so long to read this book! It is delightful!
This book is so easy to read... You just slide into the story on page one and are promptly swept away on a gentle current of laughter and romantic awesomeness.
The book has a simple premise that is executed beautifully. Filled with loveable characters, real challenges and understandable conflict, it was a super enjoyable read.
The Asperger's elements really hit home for me (as I imagine they would for anyone who is close to an Aspie) and I adored the care and understanding Michael showed Stella even before he knew anything about it. (If only the majority of people in real life were so kind and understanding of people's differences...)
Michael is such a wonderful character... I mean, Stella is fine - I liked her - but Michael stole the show and my heart. The lengths he went to for his family... Not many would. I totally understood why he did the escorting but I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't struggle with it. It gave me a slightly skeezy feeling whenever I thought about how many women he'd slept with. I honestly don't know how Stella could handle it but the pair of them were so good together that I'm glad she could!
I didn't love The Kiss Quotient as much as I did The Bride Test (yes, I read them out of order) but, if you haven't read it already, I highly recommend it just the same!
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 October 2018I'm absolutely CRAZY over this book!
"This girl was different. It was that spark in her eyes. He wanted to take his time and see if he could make her shine with a different kind of excitement."
Stella Lane is 30YO, has Asperger's, and thrives on routine. In her world, things are pretty black and white, especially maths. Her job as an econometrician helps her make sense of the world through algorithms. Unfortunately, her love life is pretty lacklustre, awkward and just wholly unsatisfying. Therefore, she decides to approach it scientifically and clinically by hiring an escort to help her find her way through the quagmire of relationships and intimacy. It doesn't hurt that he looks like a famous K-drama hottie.
"He forgot he was seducing her. He even forgot why. All he knew was her taste and the hot sighs of her breath. He wanted to devour her."
Michael Phan has huge financial burdens. He uses his God-given looks and sexual talent to bridge the gap, and has basically given up on his dreams. When he meets the beautiful, quirky Stella, he does something uncharacteristic - he breaks his one-date rule. There's just something about this woman that gets to him. The fact that he's not just a body for hire, but that she actually sees the real him.
"It was like Stella was made for him, specially designed to respond to him. Only him. The thought filled him with fierce possessiveness."
I just ADORED this book! The characters were well-drawn with sensitivity and empathy, and the scenes between the MCs were humorous but heart-meltingly sexy. Stella is a unique and amazing heroine. She's super brainy but so adorable in all her socially-awkward glory. I loved her unfiltered directness and her tenacity in her approach to everything in her life. I loved the connection and trust that built between Michael and her.
"He'd developed a new kink, and it involved a shy girl who daydreamed about economics."
Michael is a pretty noble character, in spite of his night-time profession. He has huge burdens on his shoulders, and he does the best he can with what he's got. Even though he's supposed to be the teacher, I loved his vulnerability when he's with Stella. I adored how valued he felt just by virtue of her enjoyment in being with him.
The relationship that built up between Stella and Michael was just so damn THRILLING! I adored every single bit of their journey. Stella's sexual awakening was gorgeous and sensuous. Michael was so patient and caring, and I loved how quickly he felt invested in 'his Stella'.
This story is such a FANTASTIC and RIVETING debut novel and I cannot wait for this author's next book.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2019Living with Aspergers has not held Stella back from a very successful career, she loves her high powered job wrangling algorithms for an online retailer, but personal relationships, especially romantic ones are a different story. Deciding that something must be done, and taking a practical approach, she hires a male escort to show her the ropes. But there is a lot more to Michael than first meets the eye and their relationship very quickly deepens into something more meaningful.
Write what you know, they say, and in her note at the end of the book author Helen Hoang reveals that she herself is autistic, so we can be confident that this is a good representation of how one autistic person may act or feel. It is a pretty interesting insight. The romance is sweet and the characters are likeable.
so why didn't I enjoy it?
Michael is perhaps just a little over the top, ridiculously good looking, highly talented and endlessly self-sacrificing. The fact that the plot constantly hinged on people jumping to the wrong conclusions and trying to sabotage there own happiness was gratingly annoying. Some of the plot twists towards the end were really ridiculous - details would be spoilers - but it was just too ridiculously convenient.
In my opinion, this was a great idea that went right of the rails halfway through, but, a lot of people do love this book - there is so much hype out there. I must be missing something.
Top reviews from other countries
- Nita S.Reviewed in Germany on 4 June 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful, funny and very sexy reverse Pretty Woman story
Rating: I actually rated it 4.5/5, but for the purposes of this review I can bump it up to 5!
Steaminess level: freshly served bowl of pho.
****.
The Kiss Quotient is a reverse Pretty Woman story, with a twist. Stella is a successful, sexy and autistic econometrician without much of a love life. She's much more interested in her job, anyway. But her parents (well, her mother) want grandkids, so Stella decides that the logical thing to do is to hire escort Michael to teach her how to be good at sex and relationships. Sparks fly and they fall in love, of course. Who would have guessed?
I hadn't read romance novels in a whiiiile, but this book single-handedly has gotten me into reading romance novels again. There's something so relaxing about reading a sweet, fluffy love story where you know things will work out in the end. But this book is also a thoughtful and insightful read that touches on a number of important issues. I didn't know both were possible, and now I'm on the constant lookout for similar reads because I enjoyed this one so damn much.
There are issues with a relationship developing with someone hired for sex, and the author deftly handled those issues. The dynamic between Stella and Michael is such a delight, I loved the delicious tension and sizzling chemistry as they got to know each other better and started to fall for each other. The premise of the book is sex, but it wasn't rushed into. There's a slow and careful build-up that's so worth it, as it adds to and is integral to the story. One of the things that was so wonderful about this book is how careful and considerate Michael is throughout. This book could be a textbook for enthusiastic consent, basically, and it's so important to see that establishing consent can be very sexy. Speaking of sexy... *fans self* I am someone who likes my romance with explicit scenes, and this book has a healthy number of them. And they're wonderfully written - writing good erotic scenes is a skill, and Hoang has it is spades. If you're someone who likes your romances a bit tamer, that's worth noting. It's also notable that the book is never judgemental about Michael's sex work, which I very much appreciated.
One of the things that took this book to the next level for me was that while it was a straight-up romance, the story is also more than the romance. There are a number of lovely side characters I enjoyed getting to know, like Michael's whole family. His mother and grandmother were a delight to read. I loved how much he cared about them, and I also appreciated the development of Michael's backstory and why he did what he did - (view spoiler) I also really enjoyed the nods to his Vietnamese culture with food, worship and movies, which added such warmth and authenticity. The scenes with food made me hungry, everything seemed so yummy! The humour is on point, I laughed out loud on multiple occasions.
Also, straight up, Michael is such a hottie. He's got his own issues, but the man is gorgeous, does swordfighting as a hobby, and knows the value of foreplay. He even adds it to her lesson plans. Yes, she's got lesson plans.
Autism in women doesn't get much representation. I don't know much about it, but Stella is rendered in loving detail that gives the reader better understanding of it. There were so many small things I wouldn't have considered that are an issue in her life. It's important that this book exists, if only for that. The author's note is well worth reading, as she's an autistic woman herself, and was able to bring her own insights to the character. This book couldn't have been written in such vivid detail without her own life experiences, and the value of her ownvoices writing is evident throughout. But beyond that, Stella is a strong, generous and thoughtful woman who knows and accepts herself. I loved that she appreciates her own value, and that she does her best to be helpful and considerate of others wherever she can. Also, her house has solar panels and she drives a Tesla so as an environmentalist, she gets bonus points from me.
My only complaint with this book is that it's left me wanting more thoughtful, multifaceted, heartfelt and sexy stories like this, and it's a high standard to match!
- CarolinaReviewed in Brazil on 3 May 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - 5,0⭐️
“𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘪-𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 . . . 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥.”
Meet Stella Lane, she is comfortable with numbers and after a lunch date with her mother she realizes she needs to get better at dating to find her perfect match, even if the person always gets uncomfortable knowing she has Asperger’s and she hates kissing. That’s when Michael enters her life, she hires him to teach her how to date properly and be “normal” around the opposite sex when on a intimate way. What she didn’t expected was to fall in love with him.
What a funny and sexy read! I was hooked since page one and kept going because of the fluid narrative, smart dialogues and kdramas references. Stella is a different character that I loved to get to know what goes inside her head, she is sweet and strong despite all the insecurities and how people treat her because of some of her actions due to her autism. And Michael is always so patient with her, a little intrigued by her forthcomings comments, and honest remarks during their encounters. He is kind of infatuated by her since day one and he is a sweet pie in general. Michael with his troublesome past, and also having insecurities even though he transpires confidence and a perpetual easy going smile, that becomes a real one when with Stella by the way.
Their relationship has a gradual construction, it wasn't love at first sight which is something that's puts me off constantly in books and movies, we can follow Stella and Michael's thoughts as they realize that their feelings are bigger than only attraction, so it felt natural and beautiful.
Philip was a disgusting man that unfortunately we see a lot in real life and it bugged me so much his interactions and disrespectful actions towards Stella. And Stella's dad and mom were super inconvenient but they tried their best to make their daughter happy so I think it's what counts in the end of the day.
The author was very respectful when portraying Stella' autism, with nuances and delicate writing. Me having a close experience with people that has the same issue made me have a more deep insight through what Stella goes through, even if the author does a splendid job when describing it. So plus points to the author.
This was a perfect way of starting my year, just what I needed and what would I give to see this book as movie!
- @Renae_Reads_RomanceReviewed in Australia on 21 April 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars All The Stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book deserves all the stars!
I did not expect to love this but it is now, hands down, one of my top favourite books ever! Everything about this was perfection. The characters, the autism rep, the Asian rep, all of it was done so perfectly and was realistic! Something we don’t get very often in these types of books.
I don’t think I’ve read a book this good in ages. I’ve only just finished it and I already want to go back and read!
That utter adorableness is ridiculous and I want more. Stella and Michael are the most loveable people ever, I never want to stop reading about them!🥺 Seriously I can not get over how cute this is!
Another thing I absolutely loved, and let me tell you-I loved everything, was Stella and Michael, not just as couple but individually. They were beautifully written characters. I adored the way Michael handled everything with Stella, even before he found out she had autism, was so sweet. I loved that he loved her quirkiness and he fell for her because of that. He loved her for Her! I don’t think I’ve met two characters who were so perfectly in sync with each other before. And the steaminess between them was 🥵🔥 was not expecting it to be so sexy!
There was not a single thing that I did not love about this book.
Honestly I could probably go on and on about how amazing this is but we’d be here all day 😅 so I’m just going to say if you’re looking for your next cutesy RomCom that will have you grinning ear to ear then read this one!!!
- J. P.Reviewed in the United States on 18 May 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite reads of 2018 (5+ stars)
Wow was this a fantastic book!! I did as a Buddy Read (see below) with Teresa, my fellow Bookstagrammer—we did a check-in at around the midpoint (39% or end of Ch13) and a final wrap-up ... we had planned to do more, but the book was too addictive and we didn't want to stop until we were done. Leaving out the midpoint check-in from here, and just including the end musings (see my GR review if you want to see the full back-and-forth).
BUDDY READ WITH TERESA
Juliana: So: wow. This was such a fantastic book, I kind of don’t even know where to start. I finished it with one of those stupid-silly grins on my face that I couldn’t get rid of and I think I fell asleep that way. After our mid-point check-in I had to read the rest straight through and stayed up until I finished; it was just so good!
Teresa: Agreed! If we hadn’t had a mid-point check-in this would have been a one sitting read for me. Honestly, I am a little surprised I loved the book as much as I did. The premise isn’t one I am big on, as I mentioned before, prostitution is usually a romance no-go for me, and the hype about this book was a little overwhelming so I had sky-high expectations. Luckily, Hoang is a genius and this book checked all of my romance reader boxes. Ditto on the silly smile!
J: I didn’t have the potential-disappointment factor, since I didn’t really have any expectations, but what I was unsure of going in was how much of a romance it was. It’s not a mass market paperback and so I didn’t know what mindset I should have. Fortunately, it delivered on all fronts on the romance side, but I also think it could attract mainstream non-romance readers … granted, it has more sexy times than the average “mainstream” fiction, but I’m definitely not going to complain about that (the chemistry was SIZZLING!!).
T: The chemistry and sexual timing was perfect. I agree that this was a lot of sex for a mainstream audience. I loved it. I think each sexual encounter (idk what else to call it!) furthered the character’s emotional connection or furthered the plot in some way and that is what I look for in a great romance novel. I worry that a mainstream reader would get caught up in the graphic parts and not see the beauty of the character’s sexual connection.
J: I think you hit the nail on the head—I completely agree with the progression, and “regular” readers could be caught off guard if they’re not used to it. I think that’s why it’s all the more fascinating that it was chosen as one of the Book of the Month selections; I doubt they’ve ever chosen one of our types of romance books before, and I’m curious to see what the reaction will be. For me, The Kiss Quotient delivered on all romance fronts: fantastic leading pair, real character development for both, laugh-out-loud moments, great supporting cast, really sweet and romantic exchanges, and terrific chemistry. I honestly don’t think there’s a single thing I would change about this book.
T: I hope people go into this book with open minds because that is what a book of this caliber deserves. Hoang tapped into so many important aspects of the human condition with both Michael and Stella. The fact that she was able to portrayed such beautifully flawed characters and a well constructed and believable happily ever after was awe inspiring. I was overjoyed, charmed, and delighted by The Kiss Quotient and the fact that I have to wait until May of 2019 for the next book is cruel and unusual punishment. I loved this book and I want to recommend it to all my friends regardless of genre preference.
J: [Stepped aside for a moment to do just that!] I completely second that; I feel like this could be one of those romance books that challenges people’s (horrible and unfair) impressions about the genre. And I love that it’s being done through such a strong heroine who is on the Autism spectrum. I cannot WAIT for Khai’s story next year, where we’ll get to see some of the same struggles, but through the male perspective. All I can say to everyone is: read this book!
T: I second that statement! Hoang is an instant favorite author and I know she will do the topic justice. Also, dibs on Quan!
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Canada on 24 March 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK ROCKS!
HIGHLY RECCOMEND READING THIS BOOK! This book is amazing I'm so glad it exists. It was such a good read, there really wasn't a dull moment!
The story of a woman with autism navigating the world of relationships and sex whilst having sensory sensitivities and difficulties in certain social areas, (all varying depending on where you are on the spectrum and who you are as an individual), is a real life struggle for people who have autism. It is so important that society becomes less stigmatized and stops alienating people with developmental disabilities. People with a developmental disability have a right/need for love just as any neurotypical person does! It's great to see a story including someone who is neurodivergent, written from their perspective, and on top of that written by an author who is autistic herself, who's has done further research on autism, and other women's experiences to help form this story. It just makes the book that much better; it's more authentic.
As a DSP just starting in the field, seeing change in society around stigmas with such developmental disabilities is a passion of mine and this story was so cool. Normalizing life experiences specifically around romantic experiences for people who have a developmental disability is really important and I look forward to a day where society isn't so harsh on uniqueness.
It's important to understand that every human being has a right to relationships and every other right a person may have regardless of neurological state and especially if that person is an adult.
All in all, I'm so glad I came across this book and that it got published! I'll be looking for other reads from this author, I'm a sucker for romances and this book hit the spot! :)