THE HEART PRINCIPLE

 

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.

Relevant Publications

“Coming Out with Autism”

The New York Times

“On The Heart Principle and Burnout”

Orpah Daily

Praise for The Heart Principle

The Heart Principle Isn’t the Light Romance Novel You Think It Is”

Marie Claire

Starred Review

BookPage

The Heart Principle Riveting the Whole Way Through”

AP Review

“Intimacy Is Nothing To Be Ashamed Of In Helen Hoang’s Powerful New Romance”

NPR