*I received a free copy of Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating from Gallery Books via Edelweiss. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren Published by Gallery Books on 4 September 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: Edelweiss
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 is my favorite friends to lovers story ever! They are both golden, and I adore them!
Story:
Josh and Hazel had nothing much in common at first glance, on second glance, however, they were perfect for each other. After they knew each other in college, they lost sight of each other for ten years. Until Hazel’s best friend had a welcome summer BBQ. And Josh was there – because he was Emily’s sister. Little by little, Josh and Hazel became friends, and their friendship was strong. They are both very loyal, and only wanted the best for the other.
Because Josh left his girlfriend after they had known each other again only for a few weeks, they decided to go on blind double dates together. What could go wrong, right? These dates Josh and Hazel went on just cemented the fact that they were extremely attuned to each other. Paying attention to the little things, and always getting to know each other better. Little by little, it was clear that they both had strong feelings for each other. However, not wanting to muck up their friendship was important to both of them.
I just love a good friends to lovers story, and Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is the best I have ever read. My heart is all squishy, and I am in awe for Christina Lauren’s writing. The characters are just so relatable. And the way they grew throughout the story made me so very happy.
There was also a lot of humor here, which I always enjoy. And when Josh and Hazel finally caved in to the temptation, it was both very hot and so tender my heart almost ached.
Characters:
Josh is one of my favorite book boyfriends. He’s very mature, but still approachable. He’s nice, strong, fairly happy, confident, and doesn’t mind all of Hazel’s craziness.
Hazel is the kind of woman we should all have as a friend. The light of a party, loyal, strong, but still thinking she might not measure up.
Emily was the best friend Hazel could have had. They always had each other’s back.
Dave – Emily’s husband was a smaller character, but still important. And I loved that he also accepted everybody just the way they were.
Hazel’s mom was great, too, and I loved the mother-daughter relationship.
Writing style :
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is written in dual points of views, with chapters from both Josh’s and Hazel’s perspective. Present tense and great dialogues made everything flow very nicely. And I can’t wait to read this again!
Feels :
Josh and Hazel brought out all the feels. I fell in love with both of them. And I cringed when Hazel thought she had chased Josh away with her strange ways. I laughed out loud in several places, and I melted when they finally got together.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 18 Contemporary Romance
- 18 COYER Summer
- 2018 NetGalley and Edelweiss Challenge
- 2018 New Release Challenge
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
Twitter: ailynk
if a guy remains your friend after you puke on his shoes, he’s a keeper yes
Right? That’s BFF material right there!
Twitter: ailynk
oh but i’m thinking more husband hahaha
I love a good friends-to-lovers story too, and I am glad CL delivered with Josh and Hazel.
CLo are amazing! I just love their writing, and their characters. Josh and Hazel are adorable – I hope you’ll be able to read it, too.
Twitter: ejaygirl77
Great review, Lexxie! Nobody writes this kind of story better than these two. Can’t wait to listen to it.
I agree, they’re truly amazing! Josh and Hazel will definitely stay with me a while. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did, Jonetta!
Oh man, I really need to read this. I’ve only read one book, Roomies, but these two authors! I need to read more.
You definitely need to read more, Quinn! This book is SO good. And I don’t know how they do it – but in my opinion, each of their new books is better than the last.
Twitter: Mollykatie112
I loved it too. My review is tomorrow. To be honest I wrote it so long ago I don’t remember what I said. You are right though, this is definitely rereadable. I read Roomies recently too and that was amazing also.
I’m happy you loved it, too, Lorna! And I need to check your review tomorrow – you made me curious 🙂
Robin reviewed this today for us also. It sounds amazing. I already went out to the library and reserved it. I’m going to have to read it. Anne – Books of My Heart
It truly was very, very good, Anne! I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
Twitter: nadz1809
This sounds adorable. I have never read this author before. I think I am going t add this one to my list.
Christina and Lauren are just awesome in my opinion. And they keep writing books that are better and better. Plus, of course, I absolutely love the friends to lovers trope 😀 I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
I just read a review for this book on another blog and she loved it too! I’m going to have to find out what I’m missing, This sounds so fun.
You definitely need to find out what you’re missing, Laura 🙂 It’s really good!
Ok – I have not had good luck with this author duo in the past, but your review really makes me want to read this one. It sounds so good, and I do love a friends to lovers romance.
Fabulous review.
I didn’t like their very first series, the Bastard one, but their contemporary romances after that have all been winners for me 🙂
If you feel like a good romantic comedy that also has some more serious moments, you should definitely pick this one up, Angie!
Josh & Hazel sound amazing together and you know I love a friends-to-lovers romance. 🙂 Christina Lauren is on my list to binge on and I’ll have to add this one to the list of their books I “need”. 😉 I’m so happy you enjoyed this one, wifey!
{{{BIG HUGS}}}
Josh and Hazel are wonderful, Brandee, and I’m sure you’d absolutely love them as well 😉
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
I am going to have to read this one. I loved Roomies, but keep reaching for fantasy novels ..lol
I know the feeling, Kim! However, Josh and Hazel are worth a detour from fantasy.
Oh I loved this one too! Josh and Hazel were great and loved all the humor too. Christina Lauren can do no wrong by me!
I agree, Grace! Well, I didn’t love their first series, but I have loved everything they’ve written since then 🙂 Their writing just keeps getting better and better, too!
I loved this one too. I read it in one day. I don’t often finish a book in a day but I couldn’t stop.
I agree, Jennifer! It was just so good. I loved both Hazel and Josh so much. And the way they tried to tell themselves they weren’t dating was very funny.
Friends to lovers stories are really the best and it sounds like this one is done incredibly well here! Hazel and Josh just sound like the cutest couple and I always love a bit of humor in what I’m reading as well ^.^