Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Pages: 320


Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: ARC, NetGalley
Also by this author: Second Chances: A Romance Writers of America Collection

Goodreads

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right?

I have finally read a Christina Lauren book!! Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating was adorable and fun. If you are a fan of friends to lovers or awkward encounters, this is a perfect pick.

So Hazel’s first few meetings with Josh are hilariously uncomfortable. Then several years later they meet again. Hazel’s awkwardness continues of course because that is just who she is! What I liked is that Josh was accepting of it all. He is kind of like “Thats just Hazel”. The book is a series of funny double ‘dates’ with other people, fun times as friends, and the slow burn of a love that builds over all this. Normally, NOT a fan of the slow burn books, but Josh and Hazel’s adventures are so funny and enjoyable, I didn’t mind!

Also, Hazel is a teacher! I love teacher characters (because teachers rock!). She is a perfect person for a 3rd grade teacher-weird, not afraid to embarrass herself, and fun! I imagined her as Zooey Deschanel’s character from New Girl. The story really focuses on building these characters so that the reader is really just in love with them. I’m not always a fan of the rom-com because the situations can seem hokey or overly ridiculous, but CL writes the story perfectly. The situations felt realistic and true to the characters and helped build the story instead of being isolated, random, funny events. Overall, I am thrilled to have finally read a CL book and that my first one was Josh and Hazel! What a delightful read!

 

• POV: dual 1st
• Tears: no
• Trope: friends to lovers
• Triggers: none
• Series/Standalone: stand alone
• Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »no « Hide Spoiler
• HEA: View Spoiler »yes « Hide Spoiler

The Allure of Julian Lefrey by RS Grey, Pucked by Helena Hunting (Violet is SO WEIRD!), Good Girl by Jana Aston (another quirky heroine!)…then you will probably like Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating!

 

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