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

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
Find the Author: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Published by Gallery Books
on September 04, 2018
Pages: 320
Genres: Romance, Humor
Review Copy Provided By: Gallery Books


Goodreads
AMZ US B&N Kobo IndieBound Apple Books Books-a-Million Google
This post may contain affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I may receive a small commission from the sale.

Most men can’t handle Hazel. With the energy of a toddler and the mouth of a sailor, they’re often too timid to recognize her heart of gold. New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Roomies, Beautiful Bastard) tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together.

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 was provided a review copy; this did not influence my opinion of the book.

 

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating was phenomenal! I absolutely loved every hilarious, eccentric part of it!!

❝I swear my mouth and my brain are siblings who hate each other and give each other wedgies in the form of mortifying moments like this.❞

Josh and Hazel haven’t seen each other since college where it was one awkward encounter after another. The two weren’t exactly friends, I mean throwing up on someone’s shoes isn’t exactly a friendly maneuver. Now, years later, Hazel is a teacher at Josh’s sister’s school and is standing in her backyard. When Hazel’s apartment floods and she needs a place to stay, Josh’s sister volunteers his home. It’s only temporary and what could possibly go wrong?

When Josh breaks up with his long-time girlfriend, Hazel cannot stand watching him mope around his house. She’s on summer vacation and wants to have fun. When she challenges Josh to get back into the dating game he returns the challenge and the result is each other setting the other up on blind dates — terrible blind dates — double-blind dates — but they are just roommates and there’s nothing between them…right?

You guys, Hazel is the best! She’s a fun, (and hilarious) carefree woman who loves herself and life. She isn’t willing to change who she is for anyone, including or especially a man.  I love that these authors celebrated her eccentric behavior. Characters like Hazel are usually the “weird best friend” that no one wants to spend much time with or no one understands except the best friend. They aren’t main characters.

Josh was sexy, funny and charming. His quiet reserve was the perfect balance to the wild, quirky and funny Hazel. He was at times reticent and guarded, but when he loved, he loved without reservations. He was all in.

I can’t recommend this book enough! It was quirky, charming, sexy, funny, and so well written! Not only were there laugh-out-loud moments, but there were also moments that made me pause, and had my chin quivering. Seriously, if you’re looking for a feel good, laugh-out-loud book this summer, grab ‘Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren’!

Related Posts