Cait’s Review of “Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating” by Christina Lauren

By: Cait Marie

Blurb

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?

Review

I am super late to the Christina Lauren train, but I finally made it here! I had actually started this book a couple years ago but then got busy and didn’t finish it. So, I started over via audiobook, and I’m so glad I did.

I’d loved it the first time, flying through the ebook because I couldn’t stop. Until I had to. The break wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy the book. It was purely for other reasons.

This book was so fun. Hazel is very quirky and over the top. And normally, these types of characters are hit or miss for me because I’m the opposite, and getting into these characters’ minds can sometimes be overwhelming or make me feel awkward. It’s like second-hand embarrassment. However, Hazel bordered that line so well. And I think it’s because she addresses it so openly and owns it. It’s a struggle for her, but she also doesn’t want to change.

Josh, on the other hand, is quiet and more serious. But he adores Hazel’s sporadic behavior. The fact that he is so adamant about her not changing for anyone is why I love him so much. From the outside, he first seemed like he might be judgy, but when Hazel drunkly insists they’re going to be friends and he doesn’t argue… I just really appreciated him.

I love the setting-each-other-up trope. It was fun reading about their disastrous blind double dates and how, in the end, they both realized they were only continuing with them to have an excuse to see each other.

This book was a quick read, despite being 300 pages. It’s very easy to get sucked into the shenanigans. The characters felt real and well developed. I do wish their had been a little more development with some of the side characters, but it wasn’t too bad. There was some spice, but it wasn’t excessive. The whole thing was just really fun.

I look forward to reading more by Christina Lauren! Maybe it’s a good thing I’m just now getting into them because they have a ton of books out now. If you have a suggestion on which to read next, let me know!