The Heart Principle
A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected--and the man she enlists to help her--in this new New York Times bestselling romance by Helen Hoang.
When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better. That's where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex--he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna's family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.
When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better. That's where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex--he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna's family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.
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Community Reviews
I must thank NetGalley for this ARC copy. I truly enjoy this author and this is part of the Kissing Quotient series, book #3.
Sometimes it's hard for people to say "no," especially when you are being bulldozed all your life by your own family and boyfriend. Add being autistic (no matter where you are in the spectrum), which makes it even more arduous.
Anna is a violinist. She was discovered when the first chair couldn't make it and the second chair happened to have gotten into the accident with the first chair. Suddenly, Anna is an overnight sensation, thanks to YouTube and that faithful night. However, she is compounded with self-deprecation and her constant sister's comments on putting Anna down and then there's the anxiety to keep up with how to be, how to act, and oh, did I mention the crappy a$$ boyfriend who cares only about himself and suddenly wants an open relationship "to see what he's missing?"
In comes Quan and Anna discover, donât be so quick to judge a book by its cover. She learns she can be herself and voice her truest thoughts with him.
This is a very good read for anyone who wants to see a personâs journey to learning to have a voice and growth.
âPeople like me better when I make them feel good about themselves.â
3.5 out of 5 stars
Sometimes it's hard for people to say "no," especially when you are being bulldozed all your life by your own family and boyfriend. Add being autistic (no matter where you are in the spectrum), which makes it even more arduous.
Anna is a violinist. She was discovered when the first chair couldn't make it and the second chair happened to have gotten into the accident with the first chair. Suddenly, Anna is an overnight sensation, thanks to YouTube and that faithful night. However, she is compounded with self-deprecation and her constant sister's comments on putting Anna down and then there's the anxiety to keep up with how to be, how to act, and oh, did I mention the crappy a$$ boyfriend who cares only about himself and suddenly wants an open relationship "to see what he's missing?"
In comes Quan and Anna discover, donât be so quick to judge a book by its cover. She learns she can be herself and voice her truest thoughts with him.
This is a very good read for anyone who wants to see a personâs journey to learning to have a voice and growth.
âPeople like me better when I make them feel good about themselves.â
3.5 out of 5 stars
Possible spoilers ahead.
This was frustrating to read. DNF @ about 70%. I loved Quan. Anna... I understand her people-pleasing tendencies, all the masking she does... but even up till that point, I barely see any development on her part. I have to constantly face the frustration that comes with how her family treats her, how her boyfriend treats her, and there she is allowing all of it to happen EVEN THOUGH she already has Quan. I don't see her putting in the effort. The most ridiculous part was when she agreed to get married to the boyfriend she doesn't even love. By saying that she would love his mom to be her MIL. Poor Quan. He deserves so much better. So, so much better.
And honestly... this wasn't something I was looking for. It was too heavy to read. I expected it to be a light-hearted romance (just look at the cover). I may have made assumptions on my own, but I also knew the author as someone who writes rom-com. This isn't rom-com. This is a book full of suffering that I currently don't need in my life.
This was frustrating to read. DNF @ about 70%. I loved Quan. Anna... I understand her people-pleasing tendencies, all the masking she does... but even up till that point, I barely see any development on her part. I have to constantly face the frustration that comes with how her family treats her, how her boyfriend treats her, and there she is allowing all of it to happen EVEN THOUGH she already has Quan. I don't see her putting in the effort. The most ridiculous part was when she agreed to get married to the boyfriend she doesn't even love. By saying that she would love his mom to be her MIL. Poor Quan. He deserves so much better. So, so much better.
And honestly... this wasn't something I was looking for. It was too heavy to read. I expected it to be a light-hearted romance (just look at the cover). I may have made assumptions on my own, but I also knew the author as someone who writes rom-com. This isn't rom-com. This is a book full of suffering that I currently don't need in my life.
An absolutely stunning, heart wrenching, yet heart healing masterpiece.
Wow...
This book is truly monumental in fiction. So many wonderful aspects that were woven into it, to learn from. The Heart Principle is about Anna a talented violinist, that has reached internet stardom from a viral video. Growing up there has always been lots of pressure to be the best at whatever she does, she had to also live up to her perfect older sister. With all the pressure to create a the next musical masterpiece Anna starts reaching burnout phase very quickly.
On top of her personal and mental burnout, her boyfriend of several years tells her he wants to see other people. He wants to "make sure" Anna is what he wants before they marry. (YUCK!)
Well Anna becomes brave one night and out of spite downloads a dating app to make sure she at least has her own one night stand.
What Anna wasn't expecting was finding Quan. A delicious, tatted, motorcycle riding bad boy, with a heart of gold to sweep her off her feet.
Anna and Quan connect on such an intimate level and they both soon decide that trying to coax up a quick one night stand is impossible for both of them.
As the book goes through the motions it is important to point out that as Anna is seeing a therapist mainly for what she thinks is writer's block, Anna is diagnosed with being on the Autism spectrum. Such a finding is monumental for Anna, as it starts to explain her quirks and the way she experiences the world.
What I love about this book is how easy it is for two neurodiverse people to fall in love. Quan is insistent on learning how and who Anna is. The wonderful conversations on intimacy and sex are so beautiful and healthy for two adults to have.
I had many moments where I swooned, chuckled, and had a therapeutic cry and released some deep things that only Helen Hoang could muster up in me. Make sure to read the author's note, as it is as important as the rest of the novel. This is def a 2021 favorite!
Wow...
This book is truly monumental in fiction. So many wonderful aspects that were woven into it, to learn from. The Heart Principle is about Anna a talented violinist, that has reached internet stardom from a viral video. Growing up there has always been lots of pressure to be the best at whatever she does, she had to also live up to her perfect older sister. With all the pressure to create a the next musical masterpiece Anna starts reaching burnout phase very quickly.
On top of her personal and mental burnout, her boyfriend of several years tells her he wants to see other people. He wants to "make sure" Anna is what he wants before they marry. (YUCK!)
Well Anna becomes brave one night and out of spite downloads a dating app to make sure she at least has her own one night stand.
What Anna wasn't expecting was finding Quan. A delicious, tatted, motorcycle riding bad boy, with a heart of gold to sweep her off her feet.
Anna and Quan connect on such an intimate level and they both soon decide that trying to coax up a quick one night stand is impossible for both of them.
As the book goes through the motions it is important to point out that as Anna is seeing a therapist mainly for what she thinks is writer's block, Anna is diagnosed with being on the Autism spectrum. Such a finding is monumental for Anna, as it starts to explain her quirks and the way she experiences the world.
What I love about this book is how easy it is for two neurodiverse people to fall in love. Quan is insistent on learning how and who Anna is. The wonderful conversations on intimacy and sex are so beautiful and healthy for two adults to have.
I had many moments where I swooned, chuckled, and had a therapeutic cry and released some deep things that only Helen Hoang could muster up in me. Make sure to read the author's note, as it is as important as the rest of the novel. This is def a 2021 favorite!
A surprisingly interesting romance about how a young lady on the spectrum experiences love. Easy but enjoyable read that’s hard to put down.
Anna has just been diagnosed on the Autism spectrum after masking her entire life without even realizing it. When her boyfriend says that he wants to see other people before settling down, Anna decides that she wants to venture out as well. She meets Quan through a dating app and they set up to hook up. Their hookups keep failing and they keep trying, but they start to grow feelings for each other. Anna struggles with the idea of getting back with her ex, the identity of her diagnosis, and her family falling apart.
I related so much to Anna that, at times, it felt like this book was personally attacking me. Struggling with saying no, learning about her diagnosis, her family constantly putting her down and pressuring her into things that she doesn’t want to do? Same.
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