The Kiss Quotient

March 1, 2018

Stella Lane, a successful 30-year-old econometrician with Asperger's syndrome, is feeling the pressure from her mother to settle down. But she doesn't like dating, or kissing, or what might come after. So she finds a practical solution: hiring escort Michael Phan for some unconventional education. When their first night doesn't go as planned, Stella realizes that her intended field of study should be relationships, not just sex. Michael agrees to be her faux boyfriend, but neither can deny that the feelings brewing between them are very real. Debut author Hoang, diagnosed with Asperger's herself, portrays Stella with honesty and tenderness. Michael's fraught family history is given lush attention, with a cast of endearing relatives who come together in a delightfully realistic portrayal of an unlikely couple falling in love. This title sits firmly in the erotic romance category, but the couple's slow build (and sizzling sexual chemistry) is certainly worth the wait. VERDICT A compulsively readable erotic romance that is equal parts sugar and spice. Highly recommended.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 9, 2018
oang knocks it out of the park with this stellar debut about an autistic woman who takes a methodical approach to learning about sex and accidentally gets a lesson in love. Stella is great at her job creating predictive algorithms, but she’s not so great at relationships, which is why she decides to hire escort Michael. Stella’s autism is presented as both a genuine challenge and a part of her that she knows how to use to her advantage, and Hoang gives her tremendous depth as a character, never reducing her to a walking diagnosis. While Stella’s intentions toward Michael start out as purely sexual, his gentleness and compassion begin to nudge her in more romantic directions, and his sense of honor, along with her tendency toward obsession, soon complicate their tidy professional arrangement. The two of them do a beautiful job of navigating their insecurities and fears, transforming their commercial relationship into something emotionally meaningful to them both. Hoang carefully avoids stereotypes and clichés: Stella never judges Michael for his profession, and he never judges her for her neuroatypicality. The diverse cast and exceptional writing take this romance to the next level, and readers who see themselves in Stella will be ecstatic. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary.

A woman with Asperger's falls in love with the escort she hires to teach her about sex and relationships.Stella Lane's job as an econometrician is perfectly satisfying, but now that she's 30, her mother expects her to look for a husband and start producing babies. Stella has never enjoyed dating or sex, so when a male colleague she's cautiously interested in rudely suggests she should "get some practice," she takes his advice to heart. Enter Michael Phan, a man as gorgeous as any K-drama star, who abandoned his promising career as a fashion designer and started escorting to pay for his mother's cancer treatments. At their first appointment, Michael refuses to rush into sex with a woman so frozen with discomfort, regardless of whether or not she's paid him. Stella, both deeply attracted to him and grateful for his kindness, asks him to consider a long-term arrangement. Michael is hesitant after a past experience with a stalker client, but he recognizes her vulnerability and is overcome by an instinct to protect her. Hoang is sure-footed in her character development; Michael and Stella both have robust, sympathetic stories and complicated, loving families. The initial sizzling sexual chemistry deepens into a satisfying romantic relationship. Both of them are plagued with insecurities even though they are generous and nonjudgmental with each other. Stella is nervous about revealing her Asperger's to Michael, but he accepts her unconditionally. Michael keeps his escorting a secret from his family and struggles to separate his own identity from that of his con-man father, but Stella judges him on his own merits. An unnecessary late-stage plot twist feels forced and inorganic, but it's a small misstep.A well-crafted and charming debut romance.

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)

May 1, 2018
Econometrician Stella Lane feels more comfortable with statistics than people. Her mother is pressuring her to focus more on her love life, but Stella has issues about getting intimate with men. The solution? She decides to hire an escort to tutor her in sex and dating. Her choice, Michael Phan, becomes much more than a detached date-for-hire. Michael works as an escort to support his family. His father is a con artist who left Michael's mother and sisters saddled with debt, and his mother has been diagnosed with cancer. He wants to keep his relationship with Stella on a purely business basis, but, between their steamy encounters, a surprisingly authentic connection develops. Debut author Hoang's romance novel features two uncommon protagonists: a woman with autism spectrum disorder and a biracial man. Inspired by personal experience, Hoang depicts Stella with empathy and honesty. Readers will find this to be a refreshing take on the classic romance story of an arranged, pragmatic relationship that turns into true love.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)