I don't normally do reviews for books that aren't out yet. However, I was able to get get my hands on an advanced copy of The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, and I'm here to tell you that this is a pre-order worthy book. (And that's saying something because I'm one who only pre-orders "sure things" AKA auto-buy authors.)
So I wasn't planning on reading this book when I did. I was in the middle of another book and wanted to finish that one first. But I made the rookie reader mistake of opening it to the first page "just to see" what the voice/tone was going to be like. Yeah, you know what happened next. The other book was forgotten and I devoured this in a day.
First, what's the story about? Here's the back cover summary:
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 crave all of the other things he's making her feel. 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...
So I didn't know, based on the premise, if this was going to be a romantic comedy or an emotional book. Turns out, it was a bit of both. It had some funny moments but also had a lot of emotional teeth to the story and the characters. Stella is a fantastic heroine, and as a mom of a kiddo on the autism spectrum, I really appreciated how well she was portrayed. The author does share that she has Asperger's like her character, which did add true-to-life authenticity and an obvious respect for the character's strengths and challenges.
Michael, the hero, *fans self* was such a great character as well. Sexy but kind. Full of his own emotions and life challenges. Patient with the heroine when she needed him to be. And did I mention sexy? I really liked that he was a fully fleshed out character and that we got to meet his family, who added a lot of depth to the story.
Overall, this was a fantastic debut and I can't wait to read the next in the series. If you're looking for a feel-good book with laughs, emotions, and sexy times, go hit that pre-order button!
Oh, and hey, if you want to make it a REALLY GREAT BOX OF BOOKS on June 5th, my book also comes out the same day as The Kiss Quotient. Pre-order Rebecca's story The One You Can't Forget!
"Absolutely unputdownable, delivers all of the feels! Roni Loren is a new favorite. Loved this."—COLLEEN HOOVER, #1 New York Times bestseller
Most days Rebecca Lindt feels like an imposter...
The world admires her as a survivor. But that impression would crumble if people knew her secret. She didn't deserve to be the one who got away. But nothing can change the past, so she's thrown herself into her work. She can't dwell if she never slows down.
Wes Garrett is trying to get back on his feet after losing his dream restaurant, his money, and half his damn mind in a vicious divorce. But when he intervenes in a mugging and saves Rebecca—the attorney who helped his ex ruin him—his simple life gets complicated.
Their attraction is inconvenient and neither wants more than a fling. But when Rebecca's secret is put at risk, both discover they could lose everything, including what they never realized they needed: each other
She laughed and kissed him. This morning she'd melted down. But somehow this man had her laughing and turned on only a few hours later. Everything inside her felt buoyed.
She felt...light.
She'd forgotten what that felt like.
Pre-order your copy Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Indiebound | Books-A-Million | Google Play
*Though I got an ARC of The Kiss Quotient, I was not asked to review it and this review is my opinion.