The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1)
Summary:
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 to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, 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... (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
This is a really cute book and one that immediately engenders empathy with Stella. In so many ways there are unwritten rules of socialization, expectations, and wants to act that people are “supposed” to follow. Stella’s point of view has you stepping into the shoes of someone who has to learn these rules manually rather than picking them up through daily interactions. I really appreciate that Hoang writes about a character with Asperger’s because she herself realized that she has Asperger’s and it’s great to have more authors writing about their own experiences.
I have to emphasize from there on out that this book is a classic romance. It doesn’t portray a realistic relationship, interactions, or development of characters. But it does provide great depth to Michael’s Vietamese culture and a setup for a fun and much-enjoyed “Pretty Woman” twist. This is a book that romance fans will love, but if you’re looking for a book to be the end-all-be-all #ownvoices book, you may be a little disappointed.
Warning: Contains repeated sexual content.
Rating: 5 stars!
Who should read it? Romance fans who will enjoy new and interesting characters from a different perspective.
Want to read the whole series?
The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient #2)
The Heart Principle (The Kiss Quotient #3)