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Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position... Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic... A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.
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A satisfying quick read, reminding me of the days I only read chick lit :)
The only reason I took off a star was that the development of Michael and Stella's relationship lacked some of the dialogue that makes emotional closeness believable. Sometimes I felt like I was reading a romance movie montage--the weakest of all overused devices!
Anyway, the heroine was a refreshing one, and the kindness of Michael, who always sought consent and tried to make Stella feel comfortable, was lovely.
0I was disappointed in the plot after reading the bride test. ***(Possible spoiler ahead) I was uncomfortable with how many times the MC was sexually assaulted, and sexually harassed even in her own workplace, and then the guy who sexually harassed and assaulted her was never held accountable.
The book plot felt outrageous, some people are saying it’s a pretty woman reversal, which I don’t know I’ve never seen that movie, but the scenarios felt really forced and dramatic it seemed like the author was more interesting in writing intricately detailed sex scenes than creating a good story.
I wouldn’t count her out though like I said I loved the Bride Test which is the next book in this series- but there’s another thing it’s a series but none of the books so far are connected in any way?
0Enjoyed this romance!
Listened to the audiobook. (x3)
2024 reread: basically same as before-- not a perfect book but one I've thoroughly enjoyed multiple times!
**original 2018 review**
There was a lot of internal conflict for these characters, and not much external conflict. I was a bit frustrated at this, considering that both of the main characters definitely have actual romantic feelings for each other and yet everything is construed as fictitious based on the premise of their hired/fake relationship. At the beginning and for awhile this was fine, but after they started having sex and being "committed for a month" it was tiresome and I wanted better reasons for them not being together.
Also, Michael's father. This subplot/"reveal" was wayyyy too dragged out for me (I didn't care) and then the "reveal" wasn't even that juicy to me, nor was it well explained!
I enjoyed having an Asian main guy, that was different and fun. I told my husband about this book just after I'd finished it while we were on a long car ride (he is frequently subjected to detailed summaries of whatever I'm reading) and he was on the edge of his seat of my plot descriptions! He did say though that it was a bit stereotypical to have M have a dragon tattoo and to be working in the family shop and to be interested in martial arts. Whatever, I liked him!
Stella has Asperger's and I overall understood and felt for her, without that veering into pity. I think her voice and experiences were well presented and realistic, and I really enjoyed how she was trying to always connect to Michael and to others.
There is really good sexual tension and a slow burn that leads to steamy sex scenes, the physical stuff was all spot on and well written in my opinion.
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