I came out of a romance reading dry spell when I landed on Helen Hoang’s The Heart Principle. And thank goodness; with the days getting shorter and the nights getting longer, I needed this novel to bring a little loving light into my life. Hoang doesn’t disappoint: her characters deliver, and her storyline compels even the most curmudgeonly of anti-romantics.
Life as a prodigy can’t be easy; there are pressures to perform, to awe, and to constantly be at the top of the list. For Anna Sun, a woman recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the pressure she feels from her family, her boyfriend (don’t get me started on him), and the rest of the musical community is almost unbearable. Add to that her boyfriend’s request to open their relationship (“just to make sure Anna really is the one”), and Anna slips into a nearly insurmountable quagmire.
Enter Quan (please get me started on him). He’s a breath of fresh air, and the perfect fit for Anna. Quan takes the time to learn Anna’s preferences, her rhythms, and her special quirks. Theirs is *almost* the perfect relationship. But it isn’t. Anna has to learn to speak up for herself if she wants to free herself from the pressures imposed on her by others and enjoy the life she could have with Quan.
I first fell in love with Helen Hoang when I read The Kiss Quotient, an adorable romance that’s akin to The Wedding Date (the 2004 Debra Messing / Dermot Mulroney vehicle). The Heart Principle is Hoang’s third novel, and it’s just as binge-worthy as her other works. This is the perfect read for anyone who’s enjoyed writing by Jasmine Guillory, Sally Thorne, or Beth O’Leary.
shelly. walston. writes. 