Book Review: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
The bride test by Helen Hoang is a contemporary romance novel that follows Khai Diep, a man with autism who struggles with emotions and relationships and Esme, a Vietnamese woman who is brought to the USA by Khai’s mother to try to convince him to marry her. Esme who is looking for a better life and has a child agreed to the arrangement despite her own personal struggles. As the two spend time together, Khai remains distant and unsure of his feelings while Esme begins to develop deep affection for him. Because Khai struggles with emotion, he didn’t know how much he had fallen for Esme and kept saying he wasn’t in love with her until his bother triggered jealousy in him by proposing marriage to Esme which worked out really good. Initially Esme lied about being an account just to feel among and make Khai like her but over time both of them learnt more about themselves and opened up about each others life and secrete.
The novel explores theme of acceptance, communication and self-discovery while providing emotional and heartwarming love story.
During our book meet last weekend, I had initially argued that Khai was in denial of his feelings for Esme but going back to re-read some chapters I can agree with other people’s opinion/ perspective that he actually struggled with emotional connection and didn’t know he was in love.
8/10 .
During our book meet last weekend, I had initially argued that Khai was in denial of his feelings for Esme but going back to re-read some chapters I can agree with other people’s opinion/ perspective that he actually struggled with emotional connection and didn’t know he was in love.
Review
This book took us to unexpected places. It’s the first book I’ve read where a main character and love interest is on the autism spectrum and it was fascinating seeing life and love through this lens.
In addition, even though I’m very familiar with immigrant stories, this Vietnamese story was unique in that I’ve not read a story from that perspective.
Not only that but a story of leaving grinding poverty, being essentially a mail order bride but in modern times, as well as a single mother love interest who was also a teenage mother. The fact that she was a cleaner and later a waitress, went to night school, got a GED were all elements that distinguished the book from others in the romance genre.
I feel though that making her a mixed race person and talking about her green eyes a lot plays into the narrative that Whiteness is tantamount to beauty.
The timeline was also very compressed, a heck of a lot happened in one summer.
In all, a very enjoyable book and one that I would recommend. The author and her father are also autistic, her mother was like Esme in background and she lives in California as well.
Rating 8
Dallas Review
The Dallas ladies shared that the book was informative and eye-opening in the way that it showed how people on the spectrum struggle with showing emotions while also highlighting the challenges and complexities therein.
The ladies thought the autistic protagonist made them think about high functioning individuals on the spectrum like Elon Musk, and the challenges he must face to understand himself and those around him.
The ladies applauded the fact that the author being autistic herself, was able to highlight and showcase the daily challenges of life as an adult on the spectrum.
Generally, we were more empathetic to the challenges of living with autism than we were before reading the book; especially in dealing with romance and getting comfortable with it. The book definitely sparked an in-depth conversation about autism and being on the spectrum, along with how the healthcare experiences of people on the spectrum can be improved and made inclusive, while also being cognizant of their daily life challenges.
Some of the ladies enjoyed the sex scenes while others thought it was too juvenile and couldn’t quite get into the book.
All in all, it was a quick and light read which the ladies appreciated and enjoyed. There were some unrealistic things towards the end of the book which underscored the fact that the book was indeed a work of fiction 😃.
Dallas ladies rated it a 7.5.
(It was a virtual meet, so no pictures 😎)
Review of “The Bride Test” by Helen Hoang
Our Twin Cities Chapter recently delved into Helen Hoang’s “The Bride Test,” and we found it to be a refreshing and enjoyable read, earning an overall rating of 7.5/10. After a string of more demanding books, its easy-going and entertaining nature was a welcome change.
The romance between Khai and My was genuinely inspiring and a pleasure to follow. We were particularly engaged in dissecting their relationship, sparking a lively debate about who expressed their love more profoundly. This led to a broader discussion about cultural differences in expressing affection, particularly for men.
A significant portion of our discussion centered on Khai’s depiction of autism. Many of us have personal or professional experience working with individuals on the spectrum, and we recognized the authentic portrayal of Khai’s guarded nature, low self-confidence, and anxiety in new social situations, especially romantic ones. The author’s portrayal resonated with our experiences, highlighting the nuances and complexities of navigating relationships with autism.
Furthermore, we discussed My’s initial lie about being an accountant. We felt this fabrication was unnecessary and ultimately didn’t influence Khai’s perception of her. Instead, it seemed to stem from My’s own insecurities as a poor, uneducated, and inexperienced immigrant. The lie allowed her to feel more relevant and on par with her new surroundings, highlighting her internal struggle to find her place.
Overall, “The Bride Test” is a heartwarming and engaging story that explores love, cultural differences, and the complexities of human connection. It’s a delightful read that sparked thoughtful discussion within our group.
Virtual Chapter Review: The Bride Test
The Virtual Chapter, full of self-proclaimed lover girls, fell head over heels for The Bride Test, giving it a well-deserved 9.5 out of 10. Helen Hoang masterfully crafted a love story that wasn’t just about romance but also about self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth.
One of the most inspiring aspects of the book was Esme’s transformation—from a janitor with no degree to a woman who embraced sophistication, pursued education, and became an accountant. Her journey was one of empowerment, proving that love isn’t just about finding the right person but also about finding yourself along the way.
While a few scenes felt like a bit of a reach, we happily forgave them because the romance and emotional depth made up for it. And of course, we can’t talk about The Bride Test without mentioning Quan—the ultimate supportive brother. His humor, patience, and ability to guide Khai through his emotions made him a standout favorite for us.
Overall, this book gave us everything we wanted: love, growth, and a beautifully told story of empowerment. A must-read for anyone who believes in the power of love and self-discovery!
Review of ‘The Bride test’ from Toronto
The story revolves around Esme, a Vietnamese immigrant and mail order bride who comes to the U.S. in search of a better life for her family, and Khai, a man on the autism spectrum who has difficulty processing emotions and navigating relationships.
The author does an excellent job of portraying Khai’s autism with sensitivity, avoiding stereotypes and instead offering a nuanced depiction of his unique experiences. His struggles with emotional expression and sensory sensitivities are explored in a way that fosters empathy and understanding.
The cultural nuances, particularly regarding Vietnamese traditions, provide an authentic backdrop to the narrative. While the book is engaging and enjoyable, the ending feels somewhat rushed, which detracts from the otherwise thoughtful pacing of the story.
Overall, we gave it a 6/10.
Lagos Review by Queen Eseohe
The Bride Test is a modern love tale of an unlikely couple who eventually formed a love match after an attempted matchmaking by Co Nga, Khai’s Mum.
The story introduced us to 3 generations of Vietnamese Women trying to do right by their daughters with the limited resources they had.
The author is also Vietnamese and has a strong relationship with her mother which inspired some of the characters in the book.
My’s becoming journey started when she took the chance on herself and took the bold offer by Co Naga to spend the summer with her son and marry him at the end of summer or go back to her life cleaning rooms/toilets in a hotel.
Coming to America, she changed her name to Esmeralda, Esme for short to depict her favourite character. She tried to change her name, dressing, profession, all in a bit to fit in and impress Khai.
She later learns to own her journey and make steps to improve her life. My went to Night schol and got her High School Diploma and later got a degree in International Finance from Sandford University.
As My and Khai explored intimacy, it was useful to note how helpful and supportive his brother and cousin where to help him with SexEd.
Khai was Autistic and had a challenge navigating intimate relationships and his emotions.
However, his family were super supportive and helped him get to the place where he could love and be loved. Khai took in My, Jade and her entire family into his life, leading to their love marriage.
The book was more steamy than romantic and quite direct and predictable in the storytelling.
At BnD Lagos, the mean of the book rating was 5.5.
