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The Bride Test  By  cover art

The Bride Test

By: Helen Hoang
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
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Publisher's summary

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 important emotions, like love. 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. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go as planned. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection.

©2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Featured Article: The Lushest Romance Listens for Bridgerton Fans


With Bridgerton season two filming now, but an anticipated release not expected until sometime next year, it may feel like we have nothing but time on our hands. If you're looking to fill the Bridgerton-shaped hole in your heart, I've gathered up a variety of picks that tap into various aspects of the show. Whether you're romance rooted, romance curious, or (gasp) romance-adverse, have a read through the list and find something to scratch that Bridgerton itch.

What listeners say about The Bride Test

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Worst female lead ever

I wanted to like this book so much. The narration was amazing. And, to be fair, I really loved the male lead. He was unique and interesting and complex and you couldn't help but root for him. But the female lead was the WORST female character I have ever read about. The amount of time dedicated to her fixating on how disgusting and horrible she thought she was was unbearable. And her fixations would just pop up and disappear again whenever it was most convenient for the plot, but it was never dealt with or addressed. It made the main character absolutely unbearable. The story just wandered about and the characters just acted completely randomly without any rhyme or reason. DNF about two chapters from the end because I was just too fed up.

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50 people found this helpful

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Wonderful book!!!

I don’t think I can recommend this book enough and the author. It was a wonderful book with just more than romance. The narrator was amazing!!! Highly recommend if you love a good romance book. Almost finished it in one sitting.

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35 people found this helpful

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Cute

It was a very cute romantic story. A little far fetched sometimes, but never the less very entertaining. Not as good as the kiss quotient. The narrator is amazing, I heard other books by her and she truly brings the characters to life, she is amazing at changing her voice!

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23 people found this helpful

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Book heaven

I loved Kiss Quotient and there was a shadow of doubt in me that this book will not be as good. But it was lovely. Fighting for love, fighting with insecurities and demons. But still polite and kind to others. Importance of the family despite how annoying our family members may be. Bravo. Another great book!

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18 people found this helpful

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5 stars

Helen Hoang will always be an automatic purchase for me after this book. I loved her first book The Kiss Quotant but I am going to say this book, The Bride Test, may be better.
Emily Woo Zeller did an awesome job narrating, I will be checking out her backlist.
Definitely worth a credit!

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16 people found this helpful

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Beautifully Done

This is the best story I’ve listened to in a while. While only being partially familiar with autism and Vietnamese culture, this story sucked me right in. Best character development I’ve across in quite some time. This author really strummed my heartstrings. I’d love to see more from her.

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15 people found this helpful

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not nearly as quirky or fun as

another of Hoang's books, which I adored. I could not get over the miscommunication and lack of communication hurdles. Not so much between the love interests but Kai's family not helping Esme understand how autism affected him. Sorry if names are misspelt.

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14 people found this helpful

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Horrible

I rarely use the word hate, but I honestly abhorred this book. The manipulation of someone on the spectrum is wrong on each and every level one can think of. Esme was focused only on taking care of her daughter and truly only a heinous despicable person would do what she and his mother did. I am honestly disgusted and disappointed in this book. Walking around half naked, throwing herself at a man who is truly unsuspecting and unknowing and her own mother telling her to throw herself at him was enough to make me want to punch someone. How anyone could find this sweet and cute is beyond my comprehension. Each and every woman was telling her to whore herself out to "get"him. There are not enough words to Express my disgust. When she learns he has autism she doesn't even try to learn about it or him and only is using him as a means to an end for her daughter. I understand and truly appreciate the love a parent has for her child, but there is no excuse for her behavior or that of her mother or his mother. I just don't get how no one else found the same issues.

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13 people found this helpful

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great story

i completely enjoyed the first half of the book but i felt it dragged a little towards the end. great storyline though. it was pretty funny overall

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The best romance novel I've ever read...

...but I'm not really into the genre. I read it for a change of pace and I was interested in the non-typical characters (Vietnamese, Vietnamese-American, Austistic). It was an interesting and fun read, and quite steamy. I really appreciated the determination of the main-character.

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  • Karrie
  • 05-26-19

Loved it!

After reading "The Kiss Quotient ", I've been eagerly awaiting the next book... I was hooked from the very first chapter. Loved the writing, the narration... most definitely worth a credit!

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3 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 08-25-19

A lovely read to restore your faith in love!

Helen Hoang is quickly becoming one of my favourite romance authors. Her next book will be an auto-buy for me. Hell, all her books from now on! Great representation and the cutest characters you ever did see. Highly recommend! 👌🏾

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 08-09-20

I loved this book with all my heart

After reading the Kiss Quotient, I didn't think I would be able to like this book as much as I did. i was rooting for Kai and Esmee so hard! I really wanted to be happy and cheered for them every step of the way..

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  • Sophie Taylor
  • 02-20-20

I couldn’t put this down!!

I loved this book! I didn’t want it to end!
I think it’s the quickest I’ve finished an audiobook.
Fantastic story!! The narrator tells it so well. I’m going to listen to other books by this Narrator now! And other books by this author because it was an amazing Rom Com! Overall I would give this 10 starts and I hope it will become a movie one day!! Also loved that Esme is a Eurasian because I am too and I haven’t read a book where I can relate like this!!

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  • Riks
  • 09-02-19

Clever storyline

This book was everything! I can honestly say it's the best book I've read. filled with humour, emotion, tension and love. I couldn't put this down!

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  • Leigh UK
  • 09-08-21

Fantastic!

Even better than the first one! I absolutely loved the intricate weaving of Kai and Esme's relationship. Beautiful writing with believable nuanced multi-faceted characters you can relate to. Plus, this story even made me snort, cackle and giggle out loud. Truly fantastic!

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  • LP
  • 03-09-21

A true naive yet honest love

Couldn't put this book down. Wish there were two narrators instead of one but still enjoyable. It's not quite what I expected but I enjoyed it so much. It was a lot more steamier than I expected. The love was so honest and pure, Kai was so innocent and naive in so many ways, it was frustrating, funny and endearing all at the same time. Definitely recommend this book if you love romcoms

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  • Murray
  • 02-02-21

Interesting take on the autistic male lead

Interesting take on the autistic male lead but I found the narration a little grating and the story dragged out too much. I had to come back to it. I'm still looking forward to the next book though.

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  • Milhe
  • 10-30-20

incredible narration, loved it!

I had read the book and loved it (not as much as the first one), & wanted to enjoy it in audiobook format, and it was so worth it! very well narrated, impressive range of voices, the characters came to life, so many hours of entertainment (crying and laughing out loud at the fish sauce and blue balls). the plot is quite contrived at times like most romance plots are but just flow with it and enjoy the emotional journey, the funny quirks, and character developments!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Book addict
  • 05-19-19

Enjoyable listen

This was a good book, though not as strong as the first book in the series. There were some aspects that frustrated me, but way more that I loved, so it balanced out as 4 stars.

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  • Anong
  • 07-12-20

Enjoyable but . . .

Esme, a young single Mum, is plucked from her native Vietnam cleaning hotel toilets to be a mail order bride in California for Khai . She has one short summer to successfully win her reluctant intended beau and find her long lost American father if she can. A tall order on top of learning English, holding down a job in her (maybe) mother-in-laws restaurant and discovering the deep secret in Khai’s past that he believes has taught him he is incapable of love all the while keeping her own secret, that of the existence of her young daughter.
The story is told alternately from Esme and Khai’s point of view which helps to build the tension as the reader gains insights into the various misunderstandings that arise as both characters pursue their divergent goals. Khai also has the added filter of autism (very very mild) to his perspectives.
The novel is engaging and evokes laughter and empathy for the two main protagonists' various calamities and is a quick easy read, something we all enjoy once in a while though it would probably appeal more to a young female market as it is at times little more than a Mills and Boon with a spot of soft porn thrown in, otherwise excluding it from the Young Adult Fiction category I would guess.
Enjoyable none the less and recommended if you have the time but not one I would choose if it had not been selected for our book club.
While not at first, I did love the readers whispered delivery in the end.

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  • Shannon
  • 01-16-20

Great narrator and amazing storyline

I absolutely adored listening to this book. Great narrator and amazing storyline. It really enthralled me. Esme and Khai were made for each other!! And the brief mention of Michael and Stella was beautiful. Next it's Quan's turn!!! Helen Hoang is an amazing author. I felt so many emotions and the book kept me interested right till the end.

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  • Allana Kate
  • 06-03-22

Enchanted

I can't express how deeply in love I am with this book. This whole series, in fact! This one in particular I hold dearly in my heart because of many many reasons. Character development being aligned with relationship development is such a key motif for authors to include and wow did Hoang achieve this with flying colours. I love this series, her writing and her slow burn style, making you blush and pine for the desire the characters share.

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  • Bibliophile Mom
  • 01-03-22

My First 5-star Read for 2022

Perfection! One can never go wrong with a Helen Hoang masterpiece. This book is a great way to start 2022! I absolutely adored the characters and writing style. It is highly entertaining and overflowing with life lessons. I finished it quickly via audiobook and there was never a dull moment. It is fast-paced and relatable. The main characters complemented each other which made the story grounded and not cliche'.

Liked:
-Autism has been one of the focus
-Women empowerment
-Life of a migrant/expat has been delved into

Disliked:
-I wanted more from the secondary character aka the main character's hottie brother

Setting: 3⭐️
Character Building: 5⭐️
Writing Style: 5⭐️
Message: 5⭐️
Overall: 5⭐️

Overall, this is an excellent recommendation to readers who are venturing more to contemporary new adult genre. I still like reading YA but part of my new year's resolution when it comes to my bookish life is to dive more on to stories where the characters are closer to my age range (not that I'm too old or something. LOL)z This is highly recommended and the author did a fantastic job. I am now off to read her next book!

Instagram: @BibliophileMom

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  • Wednesday's Child
  • 07-14-20

Fabulous!

I love Helen Hoang's writing! It's just like dessert: fun, sweet and easy to swallow :-D Now I absolutely HAVE to go back and re-read the Kiss Quotient! Two completely independent stories that stand wonderfully on their own beautifully intersecting with each other - so fabulous! I can't wait for the release of her next book.

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  • Elizabeth Hooker
  • 06-06-19

Excellent!

Loved every minute. 100 percent reccomend! well done Helen Hoang! So adorable, So realistic, All the feels!!!

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  • Bukaka
  • 05-23-19

LOL

I can't stop laughing while listening to the book. There was a balance of happy and sad events of the story. I enjoyed it since this is a different type of love story, the fact that Khai has autism and he is capable of falling in love also Esme who is a single mom found the love of her life. Somehow this story gives hope to all people who doesn't believe that true love exist. I am now a a fan Helen Hoang.

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