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

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

The lowdown from Goodreads

Publication Date September 4, 2018

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?

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

A sweet, funny & heartwarming story about two college friends who couldn’t be more opposite. Years later, they are both in Portland (YAY!) & start to hang out. But no dating, no way. (wink!)

Vulnerability Hangover

Hazel Bradford is the very definition of what a vulnerability hangover could be. Have you heard that expression? One of my favorites, Brene Brown, talks about it in many of her books. Have you ever overshared at a party? Have you crept out on a limb only to regret it later? I feel like this after I leave most social situations. I say, “Damn, Sarah – why did you say that?” This my friends is a vulnerability hangover.

But, we’re all supposed to be vulnerable right? People now equate vulnerability with strength. When we’re open and honest about our true feelings and who we truly are, it makes us stronger, right?

Hazel is a Butterfly

Well, in that case, Hazel is one of the strongest people out there. But unlike most of us, Hazel has no chill. I mean, none whatsoever. No vulnerability hangover here. Hazel is Hazel & that’s it. Take her or leave her, she will be Hazel ALL DAY. That’s one of the things I really love about her character. She is zany as hell. She’s also honest, kind & follows her heart. I really love her wild nature & free spirit. That being said, I know she can be a lot to deal with.

Can We Talk About Josh?

Let’s talk about Josh. Josh is a gem. Quickly, Hazel re-enters his life and takes over in all regards. There’s not much air left in the room when Hazel is here. But, oh, Josh! (Insert heart eye emoji here!) Josh is patient & so sweet & thoughtful. Remember, he’s nursing his own broken heart. This is a time where he can be selfish and really just focus on himself. Instead, he welcomes Hazel into his life (as friends, duh!) with open arms.

Josh is so freaking sweet. We all need a Josh. This man will search through the couch cushions to find a remote. That’s love if I ever heard it. He also can read Hazel. And when another person is super rude, Josh quickly comes in & tells them to f*ck off. Josh is intuitive & he is a listener. Maybe he & wild child Hazel are meant to be together after all?

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! Y’all already know after reading The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang that I’m super into romance novels. I love, love, love this one. Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating has just enough sex to make it a bit steamy, several laughs & lots of tender moments. Immediately, I want to read everything by Christina Lauren. So my question is do you have any favorites by Christina Lauren? If not, give me some more sweet romances, please!

Special thanks to Christina Lauren, Gallery Books & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS: CHRISTINA LAUREN

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The #1 international bestselling coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. They are published in over 30 languages, have received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, won both the Seal of Excellence and Book of the Year from RT Magazine, named Amazon and Audible Romance of the Year, a Lambda Literary Award finalist and been nominated for several Goodreads Choice Awards. They have been featured in publications such as Forbes, The Washington Post, Time, Entertainment Weekly, People, O Magazine and more. Their third YA novel, Autoboyography was released in September, followed by a contemporary romance, Roomies in December, and their first Women’s Fiction, Love and Other Words in April.