The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
I had to take a moment before writing this review. The Heart Principle is the third in the loosely connected Kiss Quotient trilogy, but where The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test are romances, this one is literary fiction. Don’t get me wrong what The Heart Principal reveals is so important, meaningful, and necessary for us to hear. There is a love story and it is a good one, but this book is nothing like the other two.
There is so much sadness and stress, so many people are unwilling to listen when they are presented with the truth. So much heartache for the sake of fitting into an ideal that isn’t realistic.
My heart bled for Anna, for all the ways in which she cut herself down because she was taught, that this is the way to “be”. I loved Quan’s absolute acceptance of her needs, not because he was being a hero, but because that’s what you do if you are a decent person. You accept others and you tell them your needs. If they can meet them, wonderful, and if they cannot, you do not blame them. Quan was beautiful in the way that he was just decent and kind.
The Kiss Quotient was sexy as all get-go, The Bride Test was sweet and this one felt like watching someone reassemble and paint with gold a piece of broken pottery. It hurt to read, but having read it, I know it is gorgeous and stronger for it. -Sky
(Ford Note: repairing broken pottery with gold is called kintsugi, enjoy that Pinterest hole)
—————————————————————————
What a beautiful book. I devoured it, like good, hot ramen on a chilly day- it filled me up with its warmth, vulnerability, and truth.
When the black moment is coming, and it’s coming and you cannot look away, I almost put the book down. I was so nervous for Anna and Quan. My heart was racing, my muscles were tense, I was shaking. I didn’t want things to change for them. I didn’t want to see their heartbreak. But Anna couldn’t go on the way she was, she needed change. She needed rock bottom first.
Helen Hoang always makes me feel. Deeply. Vastly. I’m so honored to read her books. Each book is a treasure, like watching a butterfly hatch from its chrysalis. - Ford
CW: invasive thoughts, hospice care of a family member, stroke, cancer, autism spectrum, diagnosis denial
