The Bride Test
by Helen Hoang
5/5
“She was so beautiful she made his chest hurt.”
I am so in love with Khai it’s not even funny! Thank you Helen Hoang for giving us such an amazing character as Khai. If you guys read this book for any reason, let it be him. The hype around this book and author is real. It’s all over the place on social! Is the hype worth it though? In my opinion, yes!
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.
With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.
So lets start with our main female character Esme. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about her, but I loved her so much. She’s so sweet and I was rooting for her the entire book to win over Khai. I also loved how understanding and patient she was and really how willing she was to learn. She not only tries to learn as much about America as possible, like speaking english, but she also takes her time with Khai and learns him. The relationship was definitely a slow build and the entire time I had the feels. Like I said Khai was written SO well, and you fall in love with him slowly and completely. Also the fact that we get the perspective from both Esme and Khai makes the story so well rounded.
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.
With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.
So lets start with our main female character Esme. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about her, but I loved her so much. She’s so sweet and I was rooting for her the entire book to win over Khai. I also loved how understanding and patient she was and really how willing she was to learn. She not only tries to learn as much about America as possible, like speaking english, but she also takes her time with Khai and learns him. The relationship was definitely a slow build and the entire time I had the feels. Like I said Khai was written SO well, and you fall in love with him slowly and completely. Also the fact that we get the perspective from both Esme and Khai makes the story so well rounded.
Towards the end of the book I literally had pangs in my heart and felt so emotional when Khai was trying to express his feelings. I felt what I think Esme was feeling, and that’s how you know an author did a bomb ass job! I couldn’t put this book down from page one. I was hooked and captivated the entire time. I really like how the author threw in a few emotional twists with Khai’s character, and it really helps us understand him and why he feels the way he does. Or at least why he thinks he feels that way. Uh I just loved this book so so so much, and I enjoyed seeing Khai get the love he deserves, and same for Esme too. The whole time I kept wondering when she was going to tell him abut her daughter, and when he found out?! It was done so well, and perfect for Khai. Also that ending? Let me just say that sometimes authors who have done such a good job with their book and have this dynamic relationship can sometimes have an ending that doesn’t hold up to that relationship they've spent building for 95% of the book. NOT THIS BOOK. It’s a wonderful balance, and this ending...well it’s movie worthy! This whole dang book could be a movie. I could 100% see Netflix picking this up. (PLEASE DO THAT) If you want a book with great representation, a strong female character, loyalty, friendships, great family relationships, and a slow burn romance that will make you die from happiness then check out this book. P.S. I can not wait for Quan’s book, I need it right now!! So guys if you did read this book and loved it, then you should check out The Hating Game by Sally Thorne!
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