Title | The Heart Principle |
Author | |
Series | |
ISBN | 9781760876982 |
Publisher | |
Ed. Language | English |
Format | Paperback |
Length | 333 pages |
Pub. date | August 31st, 2021 |
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This is my favorite of the entire series. The plot is complex, and the characters are well-developed. Very touching and heartbreaking. The book also goes into greater detail about the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder, which makes it more interesting.
Summary from Publisher:
A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this new New York Times bestselling romance by Helen Hoang.
When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.
That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.
Anna is my favorite character in each of the three series. The progression of Anna's character makes you impatient and annoyed, but it is ultimately worthwhile. The slow progression emphasizes the dramatic ending. Quan is also a fascinating character. Most bad boy characters I've read will give up everything once they fall head over heels for someone, but not Quan. He didn't overreact; he still respected himself. That's a really nice touch.
Anna's family dynamic was the most irritating to me. I don't want to ruin anything, but I definitely want to smack Anna's sister in the head. Ugh. The plot of this family, on the other hand, manages to make the story even more emotional. I'm lowkey hoping there will be a sequel to Anna's sister. Who can warm her icy heart?
Overall, I had a good time reading this book. I like how this book is very personal to the author, showing what the autism spectrum is and how to deal with it in everyday life. Props to the author!
"No one should need a diagnosis in order to be compassionate to themself."
"For that’s the only place where true perfection exists—the blank page. Nothing I actually do can compete with the boundless potential of what I could do. But if I allow the fear of imperfection to trap me in perpetual beginnings, I’ll never create anything again."
"People like me better when I make them feel good about themselves."
"Just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean we need to throw it away."
Recommended for those who like:
Slow burn
Autistic representation
Mental health awareness
Chinese-Vietnamese culture
Dual POV
Steamy
Content Warnings: sexual content, open relationship, depression, anxiety, family pressure, death of loved one, ableism.
Where to buy:
Google Play (e-book) | Shopee: Periplus (Paperback) | Amazon (kindle)
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