The Kiss Quotient Audiobook By Helen Hoang cover art

The Kiss Quotient

A Novel

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The Kiss Quotient

By: Helen Hoang
Narrated by: Carly Robins
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About this listen

A cosmopolitan title to get excited about in 2018!

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases - a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with as well as way less experience in the dating department than the average 30-year-old. It doesn't help that she has Asperger's and that French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. She decides that she needs lots of practice - with a professional - which is why she hires escort Michael Phan.

The Vietnamese-Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and he agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan - from foreplay to more-than-missionary position... Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses but also to crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges convinces Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

©2018 Helen Hoang (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC
Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Multicultural Romance Romance Essentials Series Essentials Women's Fiction Feel-Good Heartfelt Funny Korean Authors
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Editorial review


By Mysia Haight, Audible Editor

NEURODIVERSITY MEETS PASSION IN THE KISS QUOTIENT

My cousin Mallory is autistic. She's 29, nearly a decade older than my daughter, and we get together every few months. I love hearing her talk about subjects she’s passionate about—bluegrass music and elephants, among them—and I'm used to her sensory sensitivities, including discomfort with being hugged.

Because I know and love Mallory, I was fascinated by Helen Hoang’s romance, The Kiss Quotient. After reading an author profile and discovering Hoang's own autism story, I just had to listen to the audiobook. I was immediately captivated by the heroine at its heart, Stella Lane. Smart and driven, Stella has a rewarding, well-paid Silicon Valley job as an econometrician—she comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases. Outside of work, her life is unfulfilling and lonely. Stella is autistic, and struggles with being comfortable in social situations. Though not a virgin, she doesn’t enjoy sex (especially if there’s revolting French kissing involved) and has never experienced romance. At 30, she feels her mother’s pressure to meet someone to settle down with like a dragon breathing down her neck. So, Stella decides to start her search for a mate by improving her skills in the bedroom. Taking a methodical approach, she hires a professional coach—a male escort. Enter Michael Phan.

Half Vietnamese, half Swedish, and all hunk, Michael blew me away. He's confounded by Stella, but he does what she hires him to do—teach her how to have sex with a priority on pleasure. The lessons get steamy! But Michael is also tender, patient, and kind to Stella. While practicing having sex, again and again, they gradually develop a genuine relationship that’s romantic, giving, and mutually satisfying.

While following Stella and Michael’s journey from transactional to true love, you’ll get to know their complicated backstories and colorful families, all brought vividly to life by the voices of Carly Robins—a narrator who also rocks at making love scenes sound clinical and sexy at the same time. Throughout, Hoang writes with deep empathy and respect for her flawed lead characters, and Stella and Michael come to understand and respect one another too. I recently recommended The Kiss Quotient to Mallory, and I hope she enjoys Stella's story as much as I did.

Continue reading Mysia's review >

Featured Article: The Audible Essentials—The Top 100 Romance Listens of All Time


With thousands of romance titles releasing every year across a huge swath of subgenres, it’s a tall order to choose the best among the bunch. So our romance editors listened, debated, and listened some more to bring you this list of the 100 must-hear romances on Audible. From Regency to contemporary, love at first sight to second-chance romance and every trope in between, there’s a story here for every romance fan.

What listeners say about The Kiss Quotient

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Quirky sweet socially challenged nerd + tormented, hot Korean hunk= HEA

New author to me, Helen Hoang, offered me some fresh elements- at least unusual in that I can’t remember reading a romance where these characteristics were central to the h or H. Stella, the h is a really endearing character- an econometrics professional who is extremely successful in her field, probably partially due to her hyper focus on her job because her Aspergers makes a social life problematic- and a love life and dating has been confusing and unsatisfying too. Missed signals are just one problem. But now, to complicate matters, as she neared 30 her Mom has expressed her hope for grandchildren and has been pressing for her to date more. Stella’s parents are not a problem- they seem supportive in their way and she loves them and sees them often. So, she just would like to make them happy- if only she could figure out how. A chance conversation in her office inspires her and she bravely comes up with a Plan. On the face of it, a goofy plan...but intellectually... probably pretty sound! She will hire a tutor who will teach her and help her figure out what has been going wrong in her relationships with men in the past. Then she can fix it, and because he will be objective and a professional there won’t be emotions involved. Enter Michael. Yummmm...Michael. Google Daniel Denny (if you don’t already know who this hunky part, I think, Korean actor- “Criminal Minds” among many others). His reasons for becoming an “ escort” are very complex but she still got lucky when she selected him to teach her. Their story...learning about them, their families, their backstories, quirks- all of it- is very satisfying. Interesting characters, interesting issues, interesting resolutions. In typical plot device fashion, I didn’t agree with every choice...but how that initial simple agreement went through a metamorphosis as the journey progressed and actually taught both of them lessons - about themselves and their lives and about Choices- was satisfying. I also liked that the author presented the characters main issues unapologetically- never wimping out. I kept going to the end and you probably will to. Try it!

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24 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

What an experience...

Listening to The Kiss Quotient was an intense experience for me. I don't think I have ever listened to a book and felt so drawn in. There was one particular scene where the main character has a panic attack, and to be honest, I was right there alongside her with my heart pumping. It happened on the way to work and by the time I got there, I was a jittery mess. I was completely sucked in.

The first half of the story, I was completely riveted and loved getting to know Stella and Michael. Stella was quirky and I loved seeing her process her surroundings and deal with her ticks. Michael was interesting to get to know. His burdens, the guilt attached to his choices and his embarrassment with a job he does because he has to not because he wants to, are at times hard to witness. Both Stella and Michael are originals.

The second half of the book lost a little of the momentum for me. When we are faced with drama, misunderstandings and a lack of communication, I felt it was a little misplaced. Her previous openness deserted her and Michael's patience and concern for her happiness seemed to have disappeared. I was just a little disappointed.

The narrator does an exceptional job but I think her work was made easier for her considering what she got to work with. Her slight accent with certain characters, her ability to give us an experience and not just read it to us made it even more amazing.

I enjoyed The Kiss Quotient and I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

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5 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Good premise got lost on the way...

Got to chapter 17... and just couldn't go any further. Had enough of characters' self doubt and constant rethinking in my ear.
wish it had gone in a different direction and not wasted its potential.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

Its good

I loved this book until the last 3 hours or so. Got so repetitive and I found myself wishing for it the end already. I liked the story and the characters just think it could have been shorter.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars

Sexy, boring and very predictable

Story moves along slowly. I couldn’t wait for it to be done. Very predictable ending and storyline not exciting at all. Narration was good except for Michael’s voice. Bit irritating. I need a little more story for such a long listen. Every chapter seemed the same.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Steamy!!

I couldn’t get enough... I found myself fanning myself! Loved the story it was cute, the sexy scenes were steamy!

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2 people found this helpful

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fell in love

loved this story and the representation of a main character with autism. I looked forward to my drive to work everyday so that I could hear what happens next.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A book that moved me!

I loved this book! I could relate to Stella and her little quirks. At times, I could really feel the emotions that the author was describing. My husband and son both have Aspergers. Even though it was Stella who was autistic it this story, I think it gave me a better insight on what one with this condition goes through, when it comes to matters of the heart. Thank you for writing such a story.

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Super cute & very sexy!

I grabbed this title thinking it was something that had been recommended. I’m so glad I made a mistake! I was in love with this story from the start. The characters have quirks and backgrounds that make them so charming and unpredictable. Their story and connection is somehow equal parts adorable and super sexy. The more they connected, the more charmed I was. A sweet, happy story without being predictable. Highly recommended!

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Absolutely Loved This!

So cute and goodness gracious Michael was so sensual! I swoon. Take me now! Ha! 😉 I need a Michael in my life!

Having a best friend with Aspergers, Helen really zoned in on the reality about the difficulties people have with communication that comes with everyday social interaction. I loved how patient Michael was with her, how respectful. I loved the insight the author gave into Vietnamese culture.

This book was really good. A start to finish read in 1 day flat. Definitely going to check out more from this author and narrator as I've never had the pleasure of listening to Carly before.

Thank you for sharing your story, Helen!

5 stars!

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1 person found this helpful