Bookbub's Top 25, reviewed: The Kiss Quotient

So as hesitant as I am to declare any “top 25” list the definitive list, Bookbub’s Top 25 Romance Novels of All Time is a fantastic cross-section of the best the romance world has to offer. Not only does it cover the big settings of historical, contemporary, and paranormal/fantasy, it also gives us multiple books with queer couples and protagonists of color. I've only read about a third of them but the rest are definitely on my TBR list now. Aside from Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre, which are obviously amazing, I really want to recommend The Kiss Quotient, Slave to Sensation, and Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang is a fantastic and charming read. The heroine, Stella, has found great professional success but never been comfortable with the men she’s tried dating, partially because they have discounted her personal preferences resulting from her Asperger’s. She hires an escort, Michael, to help her explore the world of physical intimacy, but before long their connection has gone well past their bodies and both of them must negotiate the much more complex world of the heart in order to find the connection they’re truly searching for.

Stella’s awkward social interaction and logical analysis of the world around her is both charming and painfully relatable. She is a well-realized character for whom her Asperger’s is just one facet of her personality, giving the book a scope beyond a simple romance as it humanizes those on the spectrum who often struggle to relate to people in the expected way. Michael, too, is a deep character who is so much more than a simple gender-flipped Pretty Woman. His complex family dynamic and personal dreams make him a worthy foil for Stella.

I’ll be reviewing Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh and Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake soon. In the meantime, check out the Bookbub list for more great reads!