The Kiss Quotient
Book - 2018
"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 crave all of the other things he's making her feel. 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.."--
Publisher:
New York : Jove, 2018
Edition:
First edition
ISBN:
9780451490803
0451490800
0451490800
Branch Call Number:
FIC HOANG 2018
Characteristics:
ix, 317 pages ; 21 cm



Opinion
From Library Staff
A 30-year-old math whiz with Asperger's tries to make her love life as rich as her career by hiring an escort to help her with her lack of knowledge and experience in the dating department. (NoveList)
Romance - short list
From the critics

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Add a CommentMixed reviews but worth reading.
Loved it! Great romance and I loved seeing a protagonist with autism.
This steamy adult romance had me grinning from ear to ear from start to finish. I loved everything about this book, it is the perfect guilty pleasure read! I am so looking forward to read the rest of the Helen Hoang's series!
Math and numbers have always made sense to Stella Lane, but social interactions especially with men have been difficult until one of her coworkers suggests that maybe she just needs to practice. Stella takes his idea to heart and researches several male escorts before settling on Michael Phan. Michael doesn't expect his "Hot for Teacher" fantasy to work in reverse, but he is charmed by Stella's lesson plans and proposal that they work together for three weeks. Michael doesn't usually take on repeat clients, but there is something about Stella that makes him want to help her. When they begin spending more and more time together and the original three weeks has come and gone, Michael starts to wonder if he will be able to let Stella go, but there are things in his family and in his past that make Michael wonder if he will ever be good enough for her.
The Kiss Quotient is a cute "Pretty Woman" in reverse romance that deals with real issues under the surface. Stella is autistic and her insecurities and desire to fit in are presented first hand. Michael has insecurities of his own dealing with a past that includes an estranged but famous con man for a father and a mother who is dying of cancer. The only real problem I have with the story is how easily Michael's past as a male escort is forgotten, but otherwise, this is an engaging romance with likable characters and unique perspectives.
Romance. Loved the main character with autism.
“The Kiss Quotient'' by Helen Hoang was an exceptional story which follows Stella, an autistic woman who struggles with relationships until she meets someone who is able to be patient with her, despite the fact that he isn’t aware of her diagnosis. Romance novels are not typically my go to read, considering most focus on cliche romances, and the stories are usually very similar and repetitive. This book, however, left me on the edge of my seat. Every chapter brought with it a new twist that had me hooked, and made it very difficult to put down. It was so addicting that I finished it in one read! This book normalizes autism, and helps you realise that people diagnosed with autism aren’t very different than those without. At the end of the book, the author includes a series of questions that really gets you thinking about how people view not only autistic people, but people who are different from them in general. In this book she manages to focus on the aspect of an autistic person entering a relationship-overcoming her fears, social anxiety, and her intense feelings-and also manages to show that people, no matter their race or how wealthy one may be, can come together and love one another. This novel was easily a 5 star read and I would recommend it to people over the age of 15, considering it does include some mature content. In this ever changing society, we need stories like these to help normalize people who are viewed as ‘different’ if we are to make positive changes for future generations. @academia_fanatic of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library
I very much enjoy stories featuring a character who has autism, especially Aspergers. Helen Hoang does a remarkable job of getting inside the minds of both the woman and the man in her work of fiction. The only caution I would give readers is that if they are turned off by erotic descriptions of arousal and physical intimacy, they might want to give this story a "pass" because many such descriptions. Other than that, the writing, plot, character development and captivity and progression of the story rate 5 Stars.
I don't really read romance, unless it has a paranormal setting. However, I'd heard great things about this one and decided to give it a try. The Kiss Quotient does not disappoint! I was so darn happy that the main female love interest is an autistic woman and so many things about how autism can present were represented wonderfully in her - so many thanks to Helen Hoang for that! The love story was like watching a Rom-Com in my own head, it did have some of that predictability, but it's no less wonderful for that. There's a reason so many Rom-Coms work the same way, they're just kind of a nice way to break from reality and lose yourself in a cute love story. However, there are a few spicy scenes, but I do feel they were important in navigating the relationship and learning more about how the female character lives with her autism when trying to build and maintain relationships. So much was wonderful about this book.
Loved reading this! Easy to read and I couldn't put it down once I started it. It's a lower-stakes romance novel, with an interesting protagonist. It was novel to see through Stella's eyes her experiences as someone with Aspergers. Reading about Michael's vietnamese culture and famlily, as well as how much he cared about his mom was heartwarming. I think finding non-caucasian love interests in the romance genre is not common, so having a different perspective here was refreshing to read.
I don't get the love for this book. The main character (Stella) is okay. I understood where she was coming from, because she explained herself pretty clearly. BUT the trope of that only Michael can see that she's actually sexy/interesting/worth girlfriend material is beyond irritating. It was basically a boring story about someone enjoying sex for the first time, but the author tells you they're falling in love. The steamy parts were dull, and the Stella also had ZERO female friends. I don't mind smutty books for the most part, but this story was not enjoyable to read.