September 2021 Not First in a Series BOTM - The Heart Principle, by Helen Hoang

[Alaina]

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this heartfelt new romance by USA Today bestselling author Helen Hoang.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She's going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she has just started to understand herself. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

**This BOTM thread will be open until October 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Laura]

I hope my copy comes in on time!

[Aly]

Ch 1-11 (view spoiler)[ I wish I'd reread the other books before this. Not that I can't follow the plot, just so I'd have all the characters fresh in my mind.

But I feel so bad for Anna. I wish she'd told her boyfriend to f#$% off and broken up with him, what a dick.
Quan is so sweet and I like that he doesn't push her and only wants to do things that she's also into. Much better than that other asshole. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 12-21 (view spoiler)[ It's sad what happened to her dad, but she's not required to give up her life for him. Anna's older sister really makes me angry, dismissing her Autism diagnosis and insisting Anna do whatever it takes to be with their dad who's barely there.

I am holding out for Anna to stand up for herself and do what makes her happy (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

My copy came in, now to find time to grab it and read🙄

[Aly]

Yay Laura!

[Aly]

Ch 22-33 (view spoiler)[ I have no idea what it's like to be neuro divergent and I know Anna struggles with saying how she feels and wants to please everyone. But when she agreed to the marriage in front of everyone and let Quan go, I was so angry.

I'm glad she told her sister no and Julian that she wasn't marrying him, but I hope she really works to make things up to Quan (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 34-End (view spoiler)[ I'm glad they got back together, but with how much Quan was hurt I kind of wanted Anna to show him that she'd made progress and was ready to go all in. Instead she showed up and they had sex and everything was fine.

I did like that her mom made strides to understanding Anna was great and her sister being awful was a realistic response.

So happy that Quan got another offer from LV and gets to sell the clothing everywhere! (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Ch. 10 (view spoiler)[ Oh man I love these characters. Quan is exactly who Anna needs especially as he understands her in ways her shitty bf doesn't. And how F'd up you ask for space from the woman you supposedly want to marry, yeah sure smh (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

End Part I (view spoiler)[Oh no her dad. This is going to be tough on her and their new kind of but not really relationship :P (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

End Part II (view spoiler)[Wow this is crazy. I do not like her sister. Calling her out like that in front of everyone, just wow that was so uncalled for. And I mean damn, her poor father is suffering and hating life but his family doesn't even really care about that, it's pretty heartbreaking! (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finished (view spoiler)[I loved this. I loved these two together and how Quan was so patient and understanding with Anna. I think once she got her diagnosis things in her life just started to make a little more sense! Glad they found one another! Personally I also found Anna to be relatable. I don't know what it is but it really is hard for some people to take control of their own lives especially when life society tries to dictate it all. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

I'm gonna jump into this tomorrow! So excited!

[Mariem]

Chapter 11 (view spoiler)[I hate her boyfriend so much. I love both Quan and Anna , especially how Quan cares about what she wants and enjoys and not only himself, he's very sweet (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Starting this now!

[Alaina]

Ch 1-10: (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

[Mariem]

Ch 12-20 (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for Anna, her sisters is so mean to her, and what's happening to her dad is so sad, i hope Quan will help her get through this (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 11-20: (view spoiler)[I don't really like how she lets people walk all over her. Especially when it comes to her family. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-11 ..."

HECK YES! I hate her boyfriend

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Ch 12-21 ..."

Yes yes yes! I really want her to take a stand right now because I don't like how they all walk over her.

[Alaina]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch. 10 [spoilers removed]"

Yes I love him for her! She's definitely opening up more with him around.

[Alaina]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "End Part I [spoilers removed]"

Ohhh it's a relationship in my eyes lol

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ch 12-21 ..."

Yes yes yes! I really want her to take a stand right now because I don't like how they all walk over her."

It's really sad and frustrating

[Alaina]

Mariem wrote: "Chapter 11 [spoilers removed]"

GIRL SAME! I hate him so much.

[Alaina]

Mariem wrote: "Ch 12-20 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I don't really like her sister or her mom right now. They are very judgmental.

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ch 12-21 ..."

Yes yes yes! I really want her to take a stand right now because I don't like how they all walk over her."

It's really sad and frustrating"

I just want to slap them.

[Alaina]

Ch 21-30: (view spoiler)[Yeah, I am NOT a fan of her mother. Stop shoving that cheating asshole in her face. WE DO NOT WANT HIM MADAM (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Aly wrote: "Ch 22-33 .."

Yeah, I wasn't happy with that either but at least she started to say the word no.

[Alaina]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "End Part II [spoilers removed]"

I hateee her sister

[Alaina]

Ch 31-40: (view spoiler)[
ME TO ANNA'S SISTER. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 41-Finish: (view spoiler)[I'm so glad she's with Quan!! And her mom came by and acknowledged what she had. My heart is happy. (hide spoiler)]

[Mariem]

Ch21-33(view spoiler)[I hate how her mom and sister don't even car about what she thinks and wants, they're literally the worst, i mean who forces their daughter to marry someone who wants an open relationship???

Also i feel bad for Quan havi,g to witness that while he was already sad was really hard for him

I'm glad she left her home and i hope she'll be able to fix things with Quan (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 41-Finish: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I'm glad her mom came around too (hide spoiler)]

[Mariem]

Ch34- end (view spoiler)[I loved this, i'm so happy for Anna and Quan, what she went through during the last 10chapters was very sad, i'm glas she's better and that her mom was there for her in the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Mariem]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 31-40:
."

Literally same