Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Happily Ever Afters

This summer we are highlighting #OwnVoices books. #OwnVoices, a hashtag created by Corinne Duyvis, highlights books that are written by an author that shares a marginalized identity with the protagonist because the best people to represent a marginalized group are those who experience that marginalization. We love being able to share these great books by amazing authors with you! 

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The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient is Helen Hoang’s debut novel, featuring Stella, a young woman with Asperger’s syndrome (now known as Autism Spectrum Disorder). Stella is consumed by her job and the fact that math and numbers are the only things that makes sense in the world. Stella’s job has given her more money than she can spend but left little time for experiencing the dating world.

Stella decides she needs practice with French kissing and dating. Who would be best to teach her? A professional. Stella hires Michael Phan, a Vietnamese and Swedish escort. Michael isn’t in a position to turn down the pay and decides to help Stella complete her check list.

Stella learns more than just French kissing and eventually realizes that love might actually make sense for her (and Michael). 

Helen Hoang was 34 years old when she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome) and that journey led her to finally understand herself and inspired her to write The Kiss Quotient. As Lisa Bonos from the Washington Post notes in her article, A romance novelist struggled with Asperger’s. Now she writes about love on the spectrum,

Stella’s journey has resonated with readers of all kinds, from autistic readers who have “never seen themselves represented in a positive way, especially having sex and having a normal life,” Hoang said, to the parents of children with autism who worry that their kids are not going to have happy futures. Her books show otherwise. “I think a lot of it is about finding the right environment and being with the right people,” Hoang said. In her books, the love interests are patient and respectful of boundaries, they see their autistic partners as capable of love and worthy of it — even if the characters don’t always see themselves that way.

The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

Hoang’s second novel, The Bride Test, follows the story of Khai Diep, Michael’s cousin. Khai’s autism means he has difficulty processing emotions. He’s convinced that he’s “defective” but does little to change his ways. Khai’s mother takes his love life into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him a bride. In The Bride Test, Hoang shows readers that autism affects each person differently. 

Every reader deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. Hoang’s authentic characters also give readers a chance to step into the shoes of different folks and further develop empathy and understanding. 

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What are some of your favorite books that reflect your lived experience? What are some of your favorite books that helped you understand someone else's lived experience?

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