So. Many. Feels!!!

I read The Kiss Quotient as part of my personal reading challenge to read 25 books for 2025. Pick this book because, well, it's been on my never-ending-TBR for more than 5 years, lol. I never watch Pretty Woman (yeah, I know), but the premise of gender-bending Pretty Woman is intriguing enough. It's not everyday I read a romance with reverse power dynamic, to read about woman in power (and competent to her fieldwork) pairing with a struggled and kinda poor man. What make The Kiss Quotient also a little bit different for me is, this is the first time I read a heroine in autistic spectrum written by the author that also in spectrum. Helen Hoang diagnosed by Asperger in her 30-ish and her discovery was what prompt her to write The Kiss Quotient.

In the first glance, the idea about male escort make this book's first impression with "oh, the book's content must be hot/steamy/spicy!!". Actually, yes, the book's vibe already steamy from the first chapter. Stella is an econometrician nearing her 30-ish and her mother already bugged her with talk of babies. Her Asperger condition make her sensitive to touch & noise. Stella also socially awkward and tend to say a wrong thing because she can't read the room or nuances, led to bad sex experience. With the way her mind work, hiring male escort seems like a plausible idea. Enter Michael Phan, apparently hotter than Daniel Henney (we will see about that), charming with a hard past and daddy issues as well, all of it led to his male escort part time. Stella want Michael to teach her in the art of pleasuring in bed and Michael always happy to comply. But when hearts and feeling getting involved, a line between client and lover soon blurred. 

I like that even the book start of strong in steamy level, actually the deeds (aka the sex) happen in the middle of the book. The first time Stella and Michael have their session, it's more like foreplay with so many sexual tension. Stella is so gung-ho about her bad sex experience and she doesn't want a repeat so they start awkward. It's painful to read but also endearing as well. I find myself connecting more to Stella because I'm too kinda socially awkward and tend to voice what's on my mind without sometimes read the room or nuance. Not as bad as Stella, but I really understand what Stella feel. Hoang did a stellar (no pun intended) in writing about Stella's struggle with social interaction and how she feel regarding her body's reaction to Michael's touch. 

As for Michael, I need time to connect with him. He's walking a thin line between red flags and green flags, lol. I feel like Michael try to punish himself and think he's unworthy of Stella (traits that I dislike from hero from any book I read, not just this one) because of his dad's wrongdoing. I think what Michael feels is pretty illogical but I kinda see that his dad kinda damage Michael's confidence and Michael resort to escorting and thrown away his dreams to become a designer because he feel like he was responsible for his mother and family. Basically, both Stella and Michael have flaws of their owns and the misunderstanding, oh the misunderstanding is pretty hard and painful to read. I really want to said "communication!!" rather than both parties assuming things, think that they didn't deserve each other because of their flaws. Stella with her autistic, Michael with his family issues, but then I kinda think, well that what make them a human being. They need to be apart to realize that they really meant for each other and despite their difference in power dynamic, only their willingness to take that differences apart that they will work their relationship.

If there's some complaints, I think the end kinda rush with the way Michael try to make amends to Stella. He need a lot of groveling and Stella need to give him a piece of her mind, lol. I agree with a review that state a change in Stella's parents characterization is sudden and I feel it a little bit jarring to see how in the start Stella's mom is annoying and her dad seems like pretty supportive only to see her dad act distrustful toward Michael when they meet and Stella's mom turn up caring. Maybe it's a dad thing to ensure that his daughter to have a relationship with a better man. If only there's a scene when Stella's dad approved of Michael despite Michael's dirty past, sigh. As for the steaminess, one word: WOWZA! Hoang sure know what she write and I find myself fanning reading the sexy scenes, lol. Michael also very dreamy in the bed but I also like when he pampered Stella and try to understand her needs.

Overall, The Kiss Quotient is a pretty good debut from Helen Hoang with a straightforward story and bearable angsts also drama. The steaminess of the story is off the chart, but the book also have some tender moments as well. I like that Michael call Stella with "My Stella", like, yeah I know that seems like obsessive of sort but I just found it endearing compared to if he call her "baby", "love" or "darling", lol, I also like Stella's interaction with Michael's families, especially with his mom and his sister. I recommend The Kiss Quotient if you want to read a contemporary romance with a unique heroine that well written and a hero that have flaws with some steaminess in and out of the bed that will make you go fanning yourself. I sure did, lol!