The Kiss Quotient

rating-4/5This review may contain spoilers, please do not read it if you haven't read the book yet.“She didn't know how to be semi-interested in something. She was either indifferent . . . or obsessed.”― Helen Hoang, The Kiss Quotient The Kiss quotient follows Stella Lane, an econometrician who is on the autism spectrum and wants to improve her skills in the physical aspects of dating. She decides to hire an escort to help her do this and ends up meeting Michael, a male escort who is financially struggling. Soon enough their arrangement starts to make sense and they find themselves drawn to each other while still dealing with their own problems.I loved the book! It was a fun, fast paced read and had me smiling throughout. Stella's character was extremely well written. I loved how the author portrayed disorders and the stigma, the mental turmoil and everyday problems that come with living with it. I've had it on my tbr since i found out it was an own voices novel of a woman with Asperger's and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. A few minor setbacks for me were: - how Michael was put on a pedestal for simply being a decent human being - a few instances where Stella was apprehensive of trying something and Michael talks her into trying it out felt a little icky to me.- some of the side characters were very flat and had inconsistent characterisation.However, there was more to like than dislike in [b:The Kiss Quotient 36199084 The Kiss Quotient Helen Hoang https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527983633l/36199084.SX50.jpg 57828311]. The protagonists stand out as well developed characters. As I mentioned above, I loved Stella. How she defined love as a variable in economics was also unique and something I loved. Our male protagonist, Michael was also an absolute sweetheart. The depiction of his family, culture and Vietnamese heritage is an integral part of the book. His interactions with his family, the banter with his sisters and the love and support shown by them throughout, stood out to me. What makes this book and others with mental health representation truly important, is that it helps people become aware and increases diagnosis rates. Infact the author's research for this book helped her understand her own symptoms, seek a therapist and get diagnosed on the spectrum.You should definitely pick this up if you've had it on your tbr:)