Helen Hoang

Despite sudden, startling fame as the result of a viral video, Anna and her violin have gone silent as she finds she's unable to play to the high standards she has set for herself. To rub salt in the wound, her boyfriend makes the surprise announcement that they're now in an open relationship. Nonplussed, Anna convinces herself that embarking on a series of one-night stands, something she would never previously have considered, is exactly what she needs right now.

I chose this book to read on vacation, and it was a perfect fit: a fun, refreshing, believable (important!), and (mostly) light-hearted escape. Enthusiastically recommended, in addition to the first two titles in the series.… (meer)

I enjoyed this book immensely and I was sure I would give it five stars - right until the ending, which was, I'm sorry to say, quite horrible. It was like one of those crazy, silly comedies and I hated it, so finally I gave this book only four stars.

The story was simple and cute: Esme, a very poor girl from Vietnam, goes to the USA to meet and marry Khai. Khai is autistic and it's his mother who chose Esme as his future wife. He's not very happy about it at first, but soon he discovers that maybe it's not such a bad idea.

I really liked Khai, he was a sweetheart. He always tried to make people happy and he was so clumsy with people and kept saying and doing the wrong things. And the first sex scene was hilarious.

I didn't like Esme. She was dishonest, she didn't tell neither Khai nor his mother about her daughter, which was a huge lie. She kept hiding her thoughts from Khai, although both he and his mother asked her not to do this. She kept taking his things without asking for permission - for example his dead cousin's bike. She cut the tree in his garden with a kitchen cleaver, for heaven's sake, and she didn't even discuss it with him first. She run from him and didn't take his phone calls, she didn't seem to care, that he worried about her. She seemed very selfish and untrustworthy to me.

Still, I enjoyed the story and I'm happy I read it. I will definitely read the next book by this author.

From my blog: https://dominikasreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-bride-test-by-helen-h...
… (meer)

5⭐️ I absolutely loved this book. I tried reading book 2 before I knew there was a book one and just couldn’t get into the story. It was because I was missing out on this love story. They are pretty much stand alone stories and you do not need to read either before or after to get the individual story. There is only one small tie in from this book in the second book.

I def prefer this book over the second but love both so much I am waiting for the 3rd.

This love story grabbed my attention because it could be real. There are so many people living a very fictional life that you never know what differences, hardships or trials they may be facing.… (meer)