Review: The Heart Principle

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is Quan's book (Michael's business partner from The Kiss Quotient and Khai's brother from The Bride Test).

Anna Sun became an overnight sensation as a violinist when a performance she gave went viral on YouTube. However, she has struggled ever since and has taken a leave of absence from the San Francisco orchestra to try to overcome her obsessive need to be perfect, which is forcing her to restart pieces from the very beginning if she makes a single mistake when practicing. Then her long-term boyfriend (let's call him douchebag Julian) tells her he thinks he may be ready to commit but wants to see other women first, to get it out of his system!!! As the youngest of two daughters (by fifteen years) of a traditional Chinese family, Anna is used to being subservient and obeying her elders at all times, she puts up with her mother's disapproval and her elder sister's bullying without complaint, she's even the perfect girlfriend to Julian, but it is making her unhappy and she has started to see a therapist, although therapy isn't going well because Anna always tells her therapist wants to hear. Basically, Anna is a people pleaser.

Anna reacts badly to Julian's suggestion of an open relationship, she is only dating him because his family is close to her family and he has her family's approval: good job, good family, etc. She determines that she is tired of wearing a (metaphorical) mask when dealing with others, pretending to smile etc, she will have a one-night stand (or more) and act more like her authentic self.

Quan is a Vietnamese, shaven-headed, tattooed, partner in a start-up children's clothing enterprise (think dinosaur dresses with tutus) and a part-time martial arts instructor. He has recently recovered from cancer, but is reluctant to resume his dating activities, particularly because he feels vulnerable after his surgeries, so his partner Michael suggests a one-night stand to get him back in the game (but not phrased as crudely as that). Swiping through potential matches on a dating app, avoiding the women who are clearly looking for relationships, he comes across Anna's profile; she might look like a woman who is searching for a husband but her profile is very clear that she is looking for a one-night stand. They message each other and a friendship is born, not least because each of their attempts at a hook-up is foiled and they end up watching documentaries about sharks or doing something totally PG.

Quan and Anna may be Asian, but they are worlds apart in every way, socially, economically, etc and yet they click. Quan is the only person that Anna can truly be herself with, and she is the only person that he can talk to about his cancer. When Anna's therapist suggests a potential diagnosis for Anna's anxiety and other issues it shines a light on why Anna finds social engagements so stressful, but her family refuse to even entertain the idea. When tragedy strikes will Anna go back to her subservient, people-pleasing ways, or will Quan's love help her to make her own way in life?

I loved this book, it felt really authentic and detailed, unsurprisingly as Helen Hoang has stated that this draws heavily on her own life. My only criticism would be that Quan is not as fully realised a character as Anna, she's turned up to 120% brightness and he fades into the background a bit. Don't get me wrong, he has storylines but the spotlight is definitely on Anna.

I loved Helen's first book, was less enthused by her second but with Anna she drew me in completely and I felt everything that she felt. I understand from the notes at the end of the book that this was an incredibly difficult book to write, and I can understand why because the angst jumps off the page. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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