The Kiss Quotient

Michael Larsen, who goes by Michael Phan when working as an escort, is of Vietnamese and Swedish descent. He is handsome and very muscular from working out and practicing martial arts. Stella notes that his eyes are “dark brown with slashing eyebrows above” (20). There are several references in the text to him looking like a popular Korean drama actor. He has a large dragon tattoo that goes from his arm to his thigh. Michael is an escort on Friday nights, then works in his family’s drycleaner and tailor shop the rest of the week. He loves the members of his family deeply apart from his father, who betrayed his trust when he stole from his mother.

Despite Michael’s awareness of his physical attractiveness, he is deeply insecure about his financial and mental attributes. His father’s ruinous behavior built up extensive debt for the family, which was further accumulated by Mẹ’s cancer diagnosis. Although his debts are not his fault, he takes his low financial status very seriously. It becomes a major point of comparison between himself and Stella, for he grapples with his ability to pay for things and her desire to give him lavish gifts. His inability to reciprocate makes him uncomfortable. He also struggles intellectually, because although he and Stella get along and have fulfilling conversations, he is not as educated as her. This makes him self-conscious when faced with Phillip, who can keep up with Stella’s work-based thoughts. Michael sees their differences in education as insurmountable and a reason Stella would not want a serious relationship. It is only at the novel’s conclusion, when he rediscovers the value of his work and once again becomes enthusiastic about designing, that he sees himself as an equal partner.

Michael’s family, and his love for them, is one of the main plot lines running throughout the book. His debt accumulates because of Mẹ’s cancer, as he does not tell her she has no health insurance. He becomes an escort when his father abandons his family with significant debt, continuing his service to pay for new drugs and chemotherapy. Although he often fights with and rolls his eyes at his sisters, their banter is a sign of mutual affection. Michael even explains to Stella that despite his father’s abandonment and lies, Michael still misses him, showing how deeply his love runs. Michael is so worried about his loved ones that he tampers his own dreams, a tendency that is only interrupted when Stella helps Janie get a job and, unknown to Michael, erases his mother’s medical debt. Only then does he look outside of his immediate family to his extended family, asking for help at the drycleaner and striking a business deal with Quan.

Michael is unquestioningly accepting of Stella and her autism, which is in part helped by his familiarity with an autistic cousin. Even before he knows her diagnosis, he adapts many of his behaviors and accommodates her, showing his kindness. There are periodic moments in which he further adjusts behaviors and expectations to make sure that Stella is comfortable, such as asking his grandmother to turn the television off and helping Stella find casual clothes. Michael, from trauma caused by his father, thinks of himself as “bad” and yet consistently proves himself to be kindhearted. This is also alleviated by the end of the book, when Michael restores his self-worth through being loved and finding work he is passionate about. He finally sees himself as an equal partner, and thus both he and Stella are elevated as a couple.

Phillip James is Stella’s coworker who Stella initially thinks she might be a good match with. He is described as a “goodish-looking blonde” with an “athletic frame” (240). He notes to Stella that “I have a whole slew of problems that change names every time I switch therapists,” which Stella earlier had speculated were personality disorders (224). Phillip frequently oversteps the boundaries of what is considered appropriate, dating women much younger than him, talking to Stella about sex at work, and harassing Stella after her rejections. He even goes as far as to force her to kiss him twice, ignoring her implied and explicit requests to stop.

 Phillip serves as one of the central plot points of the book and could be considered an antagonist. He is the person who inspires Stella to hire an escort in the first place, making an off-color comment about her “needing practice” (7). Phillip is also the man her parents want her to date at the novel’s opening, in part because he shares Stella’s work specializations. It quickly becomes apparent that Phillip is not a kind man, as he frequently exploits the other women in the office and is dismissive of their feelings during breakups. He tries to make Stella break up with Michael, because as soon as she is seemingly in a relationship, he sees her as more desirable. Phillip stands as the catalyst for Michael and Stella’s “breakup,” for Michael views Phillip as a better romantic partner because of his intellect. Michael’s jealousy and insecurity drives them apart, prompted by Phillip’s dismissive behavior. Phillip, however, also spurs their reconnection. When he forces himself on Stella after their date, Michael intercedes and talks to Stella for the first time after their fight. Stella inadvertently reveals her love for him, leading Michael to woo her romantically. This reconciliation would have been impossible had Phillip not behaved inappropriately and proven himself unworthy of Stella.

Quan is Michael’s cousin on his mother’s side of the family. He has a “buzzed head and dense tattoos covering his arms and neck,” which Michael compares to the “badass Asian drug lord” stereotype (48). Quan works in his family’s restaurant while studying business and is preparing to graduate. Quan, like Michael, practices martial arts. He has a younger brother named Khai who is autistic, though Michael notes that it presents differently in Khai than it does Stella.

Quan’s closeness to Khai is what ultimately reveals Stella’s diagnosis. He unexpectedly joins Stella and Michael at a club and is the first-hand witness to Stella’s overstimulation when the club fills with people and music. He asks her if she is autistic but does not reveal this information to Michael until Michael asks explicitly. In doing so, Quan is upholding Stella’s trust while also supporting his cousin, making sure that their relationship progresses at a rate appropriate to both of them.

Quan is often the person who makes Michael open up about his feelings and experiences. The two have a close bond, allowing Michael to speak freely to Quan about everything except his escort work. Even this secret fills Michael with guilt because of Quan’s general kindness and obvious love for Michael. It is also with Quan’s support that Michael starts his own fashion line, as the two men agree to become business partners. Quan is an important figure for propelling Michael’s healing, because Quan accepts Michael’s proposal unquestioningly. His acceptance, when coupled with Michael’s father’s misbehaviors, reinforces that Michael is seen differently from Frederick. It validates Michael’s place in the world, enabling the eventual reconciliation between lovers. In many ways, Quan serves as Michael’s conscience, helping guide him through difficult decisions by being available to talk.

Mẹ, which means “mother” in Vietnamese, wants her children to have the best in life. She pushes them to follow her passions, but often refers to her desire to have a doctor in the family. Her difficult life does not detract from her hopefulness and optimism, though Michael notes that she often gets lost in rants about Frederick’s crimes. Mẹ is the first one to subscribe seriousness to Michael and Stella’s relationship. She mentions marriage and children early on, much to Michael’s chagrin. As a part of this, Mẹ also is the first one to establish a blind acceptance of Stella, even before any of them are aware of her diagnosis. After Stella hurts her feelings during their disastrous first dinner, Mẹ tells Michael, “‘If you love her, we’ll learn to love her too’” (130). This shows that Mẹ’s first concern is the happiness of her children, even in the face of someone she may not initially feel a connection to. Mẹ’s love and forgiveness enables Michael and Stella to grow closer as a couple, and she is one of the first people to berate Michael after their “breakup.”

Mẹ’s opinion matters a lot to Michael, even though he often gets frustrated with her determination. She refuses to let her cancer stop her from doing the things she wants, including work at the drycleaner. After Michael and Stella separate, Mẹ pushes Michael to move away from the drycleaner business and once again pursue his passions. She is consistently proud of him, a stark contrast to his father’s disapproval, because of his achievements and love for his work. She points out that he has a wide family of people who support him, a fact which Michael forgot after working to save his family’s finances for so long. Her support and reinforcement provide him with the necessary tools to move forward with his career and relationship goals, reconciling with Stella and starting his own clothing line with Quan.