The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Synopsis

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 has just started to understand herself. 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.

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Review

I have been anticipating The Heart Principle for years now. I loved Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test, but this one might be my favorite.

Quan stole my heart in both Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test. He is so accepting and just a genuinely nice guy. I knew I would love him, but even I underestimated just how much! Quan is just the best; I don’t know how else to describe him. I also loved Anna. Her struggles were relatable, and I loved how strong she ended up being. The way that Quan was with her and how she was able to let him in. These two really found what they needed in each other.

Like the other books Hoang has written, Anna is likely on the autism spectrum. I think out of the three, this one tackles a lot of issues associated with that and many mental health issues. Many characters, including Anna and Quan, suffer from mental health issues, and I appreciate that this book did not shy away from that.

I loved everything about this book, and I hope there is more from this author!