The Kiss Quotient is a fake dating classic and should be your next read

After finishing the Love Hypothesis, I decided to reread the Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, and I realized I do not have a review for it on my blog. I don’t know why, when it is one of my favorite romance novels! 

If you loved Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, but you felt like it lacked steamy scenes, you’ll love the Kiss Quotient. It has a swoon-worthy and patient male lead and intelligent and kind-hearted heroine. Did I mention this is book one in a series?

Summary:

Stella Lane’s never had luck with relationships, but she doesn’t pay much mind to her dating life. She loves her job and would rather spend all her weekends analyzing data. But when Stella’s mom threatens to set her up on another blind date and her arrogant coworker informs her she’s single because she’s boring in bed, Stella realizes she’s never enjoyed sex and concludes she needs more practice. So she hires an escort to teach her everything she needs to know.

 Michael Phan can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer despite his own rule to never repeat clients, and soon their relationship changes from sex lessons to fake dating. Michael doesn’t mind; he loves Stella’s humor, her passion, and her kind heart, But then Michael realizes he wants Stella a part of his life, but he’ll have to come clean about his father first.

At the same time Stella begins to crave Michael’s presence, and she realizes she never wants to let him go. But can Stella convince Michael to give them a shot?

Thoughts:

What I love about The Kiss Quotient is the chemistry between Michael and Stella is explosive. After their first meeting, it becomes obvious that the two are attracted to each other, and their first lesson is very sweet! And their chemistry just builds from that point on. I love these accidental romance stories.

Additionally, Stella reveals early on that she has autism, and she keeps this from Michael because she worries he wouldn’t want to see her anymore. However, Stella is so much more than her diagnosis. Although she struggles to read social cues and feels flustered in social situations, she’s a very caring and loving person. Which is one of the reasons Michael falls in love with her so quickly! And the only reason she hasn’t had a long-term relationship is because no one has had the patience to get to know her. But Stella can’t shake this mindset! 

Speaking of my girl Stella, she’s a stem baddie. Stella works as an econometrician, which means she uses statistics and math to predict economic outcomes. And she loves doing it! Stella loves her job so much she works all the time, but when she starts seeing Michael, she finds it easier to take breaks. 

“I don’t want just a night or a week or a month with you. I want you all the time. I like you better than calculus, and math is the only thing that unites the universe.”

The Kiss Quotient Helen Hoang

Stella has some insecurities but so does Michael. Michael has a complicated relationship with his father, and that trauma convinces him that Stella would never want to date him. Dumb boy! 

Like Stella, Michael is also kind, and he’s super patient with Stella. He also loves his family, and there is an adorable scene of Micahel and his little sister wrestling. Additionally, he’s a hottie, described as a Daniel Henney look-alike; Michael’s was already on my list on book boyfriends. But then we learn that he works as a tailor and he was studying fashion before his mother got sick. And he dreams of starting a clothing company. 

The sex scenes in this novel are so good! Don’t listen to this on your commute to work with the windows down. I’ve been guilty of that a few times.

All in all, The Kiss Quotient is a romance novel about learning to love yourself and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Helen Hoang’s writing is both charming and entertaining, and you’re going to want to wish you read this one sooner.

CW: Cancer, ableism, sexual assault

As always keep living in libros book besties,

Gaby

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