July 19, 2021
A classical musician struggling with professional burnout, family judgment, and a faithless long-term boyfriend gets her groove back in the beautifully melancholy and meditative latest from Hoang (The Bride Test). Violinist Anna Sun is already in a major professional rut when, instead of the marriage proposal she expects, her parent-approved long-term boyfriend proposes that they experiment with an open relationship. Given what he perceives as Anna’s lack of interest in sex, he doesn’t expect that the experiment will go both ways. But then Anna meets sexy, tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep. Quan quickly proves that he only looks like a bad boy; he’s patient, kind, and supportive as both a friend and sexual partner and, sweetly, brings food for Anna’s unwelcoming family when her dad lands in the hospital. Hoang strikes a more somber tone in this outing, giving Anna daunting challenges to overcome, including some serious hang-ups around sex. Readers shouldn’t expect a typical rom-com, but many will still swoon for this sensitive love story. Agent: Kim Lionetti, Bookends Literary.
Starred review from August 1, 2021
When a video of violinist Anna Sun goes viral, it catapults her career to new heights--and ratchets up her anxiety. A recent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder explains a lot, but having the joy stripped away from playing music is taking a toll. If that wasn't enough, her boyfriend decides he might want marriage, but he wants to try an open relationship first. Anna figures that if her boyfriend is dating, she should be as well, so she signs up for dating apps in search of a one-night stand. It doesn't take long for Anna to match with Quan Diep, a tattooed, motorcycle-riding bad boy who is the polar opposite of her milquetoast boyfriend. But their first date isn't what Anna was expecting. Neither is their second, or their third, and soon enough Anna realizes that Quan is far more than a one-night stand. He's relationship material. Hoang's latest delivers everything her fans have come to expect: thoughtful explorations of neurodiversity, steamy love scenes, and relatable characters. The first-person narration adds a feeling of intimacy and immediacy to the story. Readers will be delighted that Quan has met his match; this is also a good pick for fans of Talia Hibbert.
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