A review by simplymegy
The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I just love the diversity of characters in Hoang’s novels.

This time, we meet Esme- a poor young woman living in Vietnam who never finished high school. She catches the eye of a wealthy matriarch, who thinks she is the perfect match for Khai- the matriarch’s handsome, successful, yet autistic son. Esme goes to the US and has three months to make Khai fall in love with her so she can get married, get a green card, and build a new life.

Like The Kiss Quotient, the Bride Test was an easy read. Esme is a relatable character for me- she is an outsider, just hoping to build a better life abroad. She is naive but strong at the same time. I loved Khai and I love how Hoang writes about his eccentricities.  Apart from a bit of instalove and the lightning speed issuance of visas that are far from realistic, this was actually a good read. I loved the inclusivity and the honesty in this book. A love story based on real life struggles as an immigrant trying to forge a new path in a foreign land deeply resonates with me. I support these kind of novels, I hope to read more of them.