The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang – Audio

Book Blurb:

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.
As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

My Review: 4 stars

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The Bride Test had me waiting in anticipation. I know that this author has a deal to write a book about each of Michael’s sisters from The Kiss Quotient, so this, about his cousin was a welcome surprise. Even from the little we know of Khai from The Kiss Quotient, I found him likable and another great character on the spectrum.

This was a quick and enjoyable read, with charming characters and a foreseeable romantic plot. Sometimes predictability in a book works just fine if I’m entertained and it moves fast. I loved that the plot had a woman doing the seducing and the man overwhelmed with love. It made for a unique dynamic.

As in her first book, food is described with tantalizing accuracy. Each item eaten or prepared made my mouth water. I liked this book a lot but it is still her first book that swept me away.