NPR

Sweet And Hot, 'The Kiss Quotient' Really Adds Up

Author Helen Hoang used her own experience on the autism spectrum to build the character of Stella, a straight-laced numbers whiz who falls for the escort she hires to help her work on relationships.
"The Kiss Quotient" by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient is out this week after months of fanfare, and I'm happy to report it absolutely lives up to the buzz. It's a heartening, fun, and all-consuming story in which we fall in love with both an endearing on-the-spectrum econometrician and the sexy biracial male escort she hires to teach her everything about modern dating and sex.

Stella Lane might be a whiz with numbers, but after numerous sexual encounters go lookalike and fashion designer in the making — wants to keep things purely professional; he can't afford to complicate his side hustle when his entire family is depending on him. But even non-romance readers know what happens when you mix business with pleasure — literally, in this case. Hoang's vivid and descriptive style gives readers the opportunity to live vicariously through Stella and feel all the tingling excitement as Michael very professionally seduces her.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Baltimore's Key Bridge Was Built In The '70s, But Has A Deep And Patriotic History
The bridge was built mere yards from where Francis Scott Key watched the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814, inspiring him to write the song that would become the U.S. national anthem.
NPR1 min read
6 Presumed Dead In Baltimore Bridge Collapse; Former RNC Chair Dropped From NBC
Recovery efforts are underway for six people presumed dead in the Baltimore bridge collapse. NBC has dropped a former RNC chair as a contributor after backlash from the public and its network stars.
NPR12 min read
Composer Anna Clyne, A Radical Melodist With A Painter's Eye
One of the most performed living composers unpacks the power of melody in her music, her unconventional path to success and how visual art guides her process.

Related Books & Audiobooks