The Bride Test

The Bride Test (2019), a novel by American author Helen Hoang, is the story of Khai Diep and Esme Tran, an unlikely couple who learn that there is more than one way to love and to share a life together. Because he is autistic, Khai convinces himself that he doesn't feel emotions and has no capacity to love. So, it is up to Esme to prove to him that he can—and that she loves him right back. The Bride Test was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Romance, and the audiobook version received a nomination for an Audie Award.

The novel begins 10 years ago in San Jose, California, where Khai attends the funeral of his best friend, Andy. As with most experiences requiring a human emotional response, the funeral pulls no feelings whatsoever from Khai, and he cannot cry even for his best friend. He decides that he needs to avoid further friendships and romantic relationships because of this deficit of feeling.

The narrative jumps ahead to four months before the present. Mỹ, a young single mother, works as a hotel maid in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As she cleans one of the hotel bathrooms, a rich woman enters and begins a conversation with her. This woman—Khai's mother—asks Mỹ if she'd like to come to America to seduce and marry her son. After initially refusing, Mỹ eventually agrees, buoyed by the promise of a new life in America for herself and her daughter.

Mỹ, now going by the more Anglicized name of Esme, arrives in America. Khai picks her up at the airport, even though his mother's matchmaking attempts anger him. There is an attraction between him and Esme, but she is struck by his oddness.

Almost immediately, Esme upsets Khai's ordered and routine life. Though he keeps his distance at first, he can't help but soften when she enters his room one night, shaken by a nightmare. She holds him, and, much to his own shock, he holds her back. From then on, they share a bed.

This tentative peace shatters when Esme takes Khai's motorcycle without his permission to run her errands. They argue, and Khai admits that she is upsetting his life and routines. As an olive branch, Esme offers to cut his hair, an idea that is distressing to him because of his autism. Khai finally tells her that he is autistic, but he agrees to the haircut, showing her how she must touch him to help him stay calm.

When Esme hurts her ankle, Khai takes care of her and accompanies her where she needs to go. They visit a nearby college campus in hopes of finding information on Esme's missing father. While there, they run into Angelika, a girl with whom Esme is—unknown to Khai—taking GED classes. When Angelika inadvertently reveals her connection with Esme, Esme is humiliated; she had told Khai she was an accountant back in Ho Chi Minh City. Now, she fears she has driven Khai away.

Khai keeps his distance. The two attend a wedding together, where he seems to push Esme and his brother, Quan, together. When Esme asks him what he's trying to do, Khai feigns nonchalance, telling her she can be with Quan if she wishes to. This crushes Esme. As Khai comforts her, they kiss and, later that night, make love for the first time.

The relationship between Khai and Esme deepens, but one thing stands in their way: Khai's refusal to tell her that he loves her. He proposes, but he still cannot profess his love. Esme declines his offer and vows to never see him again.

Quan intervenes, explaining to Esme that Khai feels he cannot love not only because of his autism, but because he feels guilty about Andy's death. Quan informs her that Khai really does love her; he is just afraid of showing it.

Khai visits the place where Andy was killed and experiences a life-altering breakthrough. For the first time, he can finally weep for his friend. Meanwhile, with her visa soon to expire, Quan agrees to marry Esme so she can stay in the country. Now in touch with his emotions, Khai rushes to stop the wedding.

As Esme prepares to walk down the aisle, Khai arrives and professes his love and his genuine desire to marry her. Khai has invited another guest to accompany him: Esme's father, whom he tracked down for her. With surprises and revelations coming to light, this is the moment that Khai learns that Esme has a daughter. Now, with a readymade family awaiting him, Khai tells Esme he loves her and proposes again—an offer she happily accepts.