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A review by the_vegan_bookworm
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a cute romance, but it has a lot of problematic elements.
I loved the autistic representation of Stella's character, and many elements of her experience resonated with me as an autistic adult. This being said, I was disappointed that her relationship with Michael seemed to be entirely fixated on removing these autistic traits. There was nothing to change about her, but the happier she was, the less she displayed these autistic traits and the more she worked to remove them. This isn't the reality for most (or more likely, any) autistic people, and I don't think it's a good or healthy standard to show.
Stella's ludicrous wealth also bothered me a lot. She just had this never-ending stream of money to throw at any problem (for example, deciding to pay escort boyfriend $50,000 a month and having a $15 million trust fund). That's more money than I can conceptualize for a person. These elements of infinite wealth were both boring and not at all relatable for me. I can't imagine anybody being so rich that money is literally not an object at all, and it felt like it removed a lot of challenge or intrigue for the plot.
I also don't really understand the dynamic between Stella and Phillip. He seems like such an obvious and flat villain (of course he's obsessed with her and then dates someone else in the same breath). I also don't understand why Stella tolerates him as he is nothing but unkind and predatory towards her. Though autistic people do experience higher rates of abuse than allistic people, and maybe this was the point the author was trying to make, I don't understand Stella acknowledging that this guy is awful and still acquiescing to him.
I loved the autistic representation of Stella's character, and many elements of her experience resonated with me as an autistic adult. This being said, I was disappointed that her relationship with Michael seemed to be entirely fixated on removing these autistic traits. There was nothing to change about her, but the happier she was, the less she displayed these autistic traits and the more she worked to remove them. This isn't the reality for most (or more likely, any) autistic people, and I don't think it's a good or healthy standard to show.
Stella's ludicrous wealth also bothered me a lot. She just had this never-ending stream of money to throw at any problem (for example, deciding to pay escort boyfriend $50,000 a month and having a $15 million trust fund). That's more money than I can conceptualize for a person. These elements of infinite wealth were both boring and not at all relatable for me. I can't imagine anybody being so rich that money is literally not an object at all, and it felt like it removed a lot of challenge or intrigue for the plot.
I also don't really understand the dynamic between Stella and Phillip. He seems like such an obvious and flat villain (of course he's obsessed with her and then dates someone else in the same breath). I also don't understand why Stella tolerates him as he is nothing but unkind and predatory towards her. Though autistic people do experience higher rates of abuse than allistic people, and maybe this was the point the author was trying to make, I don't understand Stella acknowledging that this guy is awful and still acquiescing to him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Cancer, and Abandonment
Minor: Stalking and Sexism