Published in 2018, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang has had readers swooning. The novel tells the story of Stella Lane, a woman with Asperger's who hires Michael Phan, an escort, as she has trouble with relationships. It's an interesting premise and the book has also been optioned for film.
There are many romance books that have been turned into TV shows, and it's always exciting news when a beloved book is becoming a movie, too. Before the film adaptation of The Kiss Quotient comes out, let's take a look at some facts about the popular book and author.
Helen Hoang Was Diagnosed With Autism
As Helen Hoang was writing her novel, she was diagnosed with autism. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said that at the age of 34, she saw that she could relate to her character and others who have what the publication calls "trouble with social skills."
Hoang told EW, "In the first draft of the book, Stella had a coming-out-as-autistic moment with Michael, and that moment was really good for me to work through the dialogue on paper before I actually said it." She said in an interview with Publisher's Weekly that it's her first "personal book."
It's Like Pretty Woman But The Other Way Around
Some parts of Pretty Woman haven't aged well but the movie is still a classic '90s romantic comedy that many fans still love watching today. It's one of Julia Roberts's most iconic films and has so many famous moments and quotes.
Hoang wanted to create a "gender-swapped" Pretty Woman when she came up with The Kiss Quotient, according to NC News. It's definitely interesting to see this fresh take.
Hoang Would Love Henry Golding Or Simu Liu To Play Michael
As soon as news comes out that a beloved novel is becoming a movie, it's fun to think about who should play which characters. When asked what her "dream cast" for the movie adaptation would be, Hoang suggested Henry Golding and Simu Liu.
Golding is beloved for his portrayal of Nick in the 2018 movie Crazy Rich Asians and also starred in Last Christmas and A Simple Favor. Simi Liu stars as Jung Kim in Kim's Convenience, a sitcom on CBC that has had five seasons so far.
The Characters Have A Realistic Connection And Timeframe For Falling In Love
Hoang shared in an Q&A with Goodreads that she isn't a fan of fictional couples who fall fast and hard.
Hoang explained that while many books feature characters who have "instalove," that isn't something that she finds very realistic. The love story in The Kiss Quotient is relatable because it feels like the characters have a real connection. They don't fall immediately and when they do realize their feelings, it feels like the pacing and timeframe are completely right.
Hoang Wanted To Raise Awareness Of Living With Autism
The Kiss Quotient is such a well-written and wonderful book because of the main character, Stella, and readers get to know her very well.
In an interview with NPR, Hoang explained that she wanted to write a book to portray how "autistic people can have these very full lives." She said, "I want to believe that I can be a main character, I can be a leading character in my life, that I can have a happily ever after, that I can find true love, and I can get married, and conquer, and be happy."
Stella Is An Econometrician
Movie and TV fans are used to seeing characters with cool jobs that don't make much sense. In the case of the main character in The Kiss Quotient, she's got an incredible job, and Hoang put a lot of thought into it.
Stella is an econometrician. In an interview on Shondaland.com, Hoang explained that Stella's career couldn't involve "strong people skills."
This is a fascinating job, and according to IMF.org, it can be described this way: "econometricians develop economic models to explain consistently recurring relationships." Hoang shared in the interview that her brother-in-law has this job.
The Book Is A Huge Success
Hollywood often turns to the world of books to bring stories to the screen, and there are several horror films with literary roots. But there's something special about romance novels, especially when they offer a fresh and unique perspective.
The Kiss Quotient has been a huge success since it was first published and with the movie adaptation in the works, the buzz is even bigger. The book was published in June 2018 and by July, it was on its fourth printing, according to The New York Times. Book lovers, from critics to readers, are raving about it.
Hoang Was Very Passionate About Writing This Story
In an interview with Bibliophilesoprano.wordpress.com, Hoang described the process of writing the book.
She explained, "I had to translate the story into words, and my time at the keyboard vacillated between pure elation and utter suffering. I loved this story and these characters, but at the same time, I was fumbling to communicate what I saw in my mind." Readers can definitely tell all of the passion and dedication that went into crafting The Kiss Quotient.
Hoang Was Part Of The Mentorship Program Pitch Wars
It's fascinating to hear about how a writer comes out with a story and how they move through their publication journey. There are many interesting movies about authors, which can be a great way to become privy to the creative process. It's also fun to read interviews with writers to learn more about them.
In her interview on Shondaland.com, Hoang talked about being part of Pitch Wars, a mentorship program. She worked with a mentor and then went through the process of looking for an agent through to her book deal.
There Is A Second Novel
It's always exciting when great movies get sequels and the same thing can be said for wonderful novels that make readers want to spend more time with the characters.
Helen Hoang also has a sequel, The Bride Test, that focuses on Khai, Michael's cousin who has autism. In an interview with Refinery 29, the author explained more about this book and character: "When he avoids relationships out of the misbelief that he has no emotions, his mom takes matters into her own hands and gets him a mail order bride. The novel follows these two over the course of a summer of forced proximity."