Review * Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating
Published on: September 4, 2018
Pages: 320
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? 

Midnight Thoughts

What a fun and cute book! I've enjoyed Christina Lauren's books in the past, but this one is hands down my favorite.

Hazel is quirky and fun. I absolutely adored her and appreciated that she knew she was quirky and owned it. None of this being embarrassed about it nonsense.  She's an elementary teacher who works with her BFF Emily, and Emily's husband Dave (who were also awesome). She's encountered Josh a few times before, but finds out at a party at Emily and Dave's that Josh is Emily's brother. This leads them to a friendship and the strange idea to set each other up on blind double dates.

These blind double dates are hilarious and go wrong in the strangest of ways (as it only can with Hazel). I enjoyed reading them and also you can really feel that Josh and Hazel are being pulled to each other. 

Josh is Korean American and I loved that some of the Korean traditions and family views were woven in to the story. I'm glad to see that his culture was not ignored, but embraced.

There is a bit of a veer from the main plot near the end that I can see some readers not enjoying (don't let that stop you though, it's such a small, small piece at the end). It didn't bother me at all, but it was unexpected as I didn't feel like the book needed it, but it also led to Josh and Hazel having a conversation that we all know is awkward, but important nonetheless.

Midnight Rating


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