Blurb:
Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.
As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.
With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.
~REVIEW~
This was just so good. funny, sweet, heart wrenching. I adored both Khai and Esme.
Khai is in no way prepared for Esme. Who would be??? Especially when your mom is like well here’s this woman I got for you who will stay in your house for the summer and you have to decide if you’ll marry her or not. Kai was legit like WTF! He likes things a certain way, lives his life a certain way too and Esme basically comes and turns it all upside down. It made for soo many funny scenes.
Being in Khai’s POV in those moments were hilarious as heck. It would really make for such a great rom com and I do hope we see this book on the big screen some day!
Esme was a great character as well. I love how she comes into her own, sees her self worth eventually and this isn’t tied to Khai showing her her self worth. She realizes it on her own. When we first meet Esme, it’s a fish out of water trope for sure. She doesn’t think a guy like Khai could believe her good enough, but Khai never ever thinks she isn’t. There’s a lot of miscommunication stemming from how Khai deals with situations and reacts to things because he’s autistic.
These two together are just so good and sweet and yes funny because omg Khai does not know how to begin to deal with his attraction to Esme and she’s trying to seduce him but it is sooo awkward. my word lol.
Also Quan. Quaaaaan. Khai’s brother captured my attention from book one and we see alot more of him in this. I really liked him. And I’m looking forward to his book.
My heart nearly broke from the black moment. I felt it for Esme whew, but the resolution satisfied me.
One thing I don’t think was ever really addressed, unless I just didn’t catch the meaning: several times Khai makes note that Esme speaks English to others but not him. no explanation was given as to why. I just found it a curious thing, since Khai pointed it out every time it happened in his presence. so many times it was a noticeable thing to me because clearly it was big deal to him. So I would’ve liked to see him ask Esme why at some point and get her reasoning.
Overall i absolutely enjoyed this book!
~RATING~
