A heavy hitting novel about love

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Helen Hoang is a brilliant author. As the debate swirls around whether this book is a romance or not, readers can rest easy that, on these pages, she has constructed an intense story of a woman who is struggling with who she is and how she loves.

The Heart Principle is the story of Anna, a violinist who is struggling with her playing, her identity as someone who might have autism, and her relationships within a traditional family. Enter Quan: a favorite from Hoang's other novels, who, predictably, has some struggles of his own. The two find, in each other, the piece they've been missing: someone who will love you no matter what.

The book takes you on Anna's story, with little room for Quan's as Anna's problems go from bad to worse.

Is it a romance? Is there a happy ending? Has anything been redeemed?

I would say: yes. There is love here, deep and transformative, and the characters end the book better than they began it. But if you love Hoang's prose, you should definitely give The Heart Principle a shot.