4.5 stars

Deemed undateable early on, two people reunite in friendship and bad dates to find an unexpected connection.

Hazel Bradford is a woman who lives her life to the beat of her own drum. Quirky, impulsive, awkward and spewer of word vomit, she knows her faults, but refuses to change for anyone. As such, she's happily single and aware that her goofy ways keep her from a long-term relationship.

Josh Im is the opposite of everything Hazel represents. He is the brother of Hazel's BFF, Emily, and all too fondly remembers how he came to know Hazel in college, involving a series of unfortunate incidents. When the two cross paths at a barbecue, Hazel reinserts herself into his life as things begin to fall apart for him.

"I feel like I have a lot to apologize for," I admit, "but I can't be sure I won't be constantly exasperating you, so maybe I'll just wait until we're elderly."

While she suffers from "food in mouth" syndrome, I loved Hazel's confidence in who she was and how she worked to please others. As Josh's moods begin to spiral downward, she forces him to get back into the field, with a series of double blind dates. The dates themselves are epically bad, with each one worse than the next, but Hazel and Josh seem to relish the time together, often joyfully recounting bad memories of each date.

As much as the two address how opposite they are and unfit to date one another, it is clear how well they work together. So, it was surprising that the biggest obstacle for them, is actually Hazel herself.

"We both know Hazel is a butterfly. I think you have the power to take the dust from her wings."

How their relationship evolves is far from normal. Like Hazel, it is impulsive and a bit awkward. As both are desperate to maintain their friendship, neither shares how their feelings are changing. There are rocky parts, as new people come into their little bubble, but this thankfully isn't drawn out, so the angst is minimal. And I loved how Josh handles Hazel's surprise - it was unexpected and really sweet.

I really enjoyed this friends to lovers story. It had the perfect mix of humor, sweet moments and a little heat. If you are looking for a light and fun read, check this out!

5 stars!!

“The world seems full of men who are initially infatuated by our eccentricities, but who ultimately expect them to be temporary.”

Josh and Hazel have known each other since college when she vomited on his shoes. Hazel was the wild child and Josh always liked her but thought she was a bit too much.

Now years later the two of them meet up again and become the best of friends. Knowing they are both undate-able for each other, they set out on a series of double dates each more unfortunate than the last. But they might be having more fun with each other than anyone else….

“When I meet someone I love, I become an octopus and wind my tentacles around their heart.”

It took me until the end of chapter 1 to realize I had been smiling the entire time I had been reading. Throughout reading this book I would continue to find myself smiling and laughing out loud. Sometimes I was laughing so hard I had to put the book down before diving right back in. To say I loved this book is an understatement, and it came into my life exactly when I needed it.

Christina Lauren is an author duo who only get better with every new release. How is that even possible? Most authors tend to go downhill, get boring or deliver the same book with a new cover. Not these two!!! They’ve cemented themselves into a favorite author spot for me, and I know they are automatic one click authors.

Josh and Hazel are characters I loved equally, but for very different reasons. I loved Hazel’s bright inner light, her eccentricities, and how she was aware she was different from everyone else but was unwilling to change for anyone. I loved how Josh got Hazel and accepted her, never wanting to change her. He’s more a stoic type, but the kind that will quietly be beside you through everything.

This book is going into my best of the year list! I LOVED IT! It’s a special story and I really do hope reader’s everywhere will pick it up and enjoy it even half as much as I did.

“He doesn’t need me to change or pretend to be someone else. He’s my person. He’s my best friend.”

ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley. All/any quotes in this review came from an advance unedited copy and may be subject to change in the final product.

My review will post on my blog (www.bugbugbooks.com) and Amazon on September 4. Thank you for the ARC!

Josh Im is cool, calm, and collected. Hazel Bradford is zany, erratic, and fun (if you like 'em wild). The two meet in college where it becomes abundantly clear that, despite Hazel's immediate attraction to Josh the Adonis, they are simply incompatible. Fast forward a decade, and they run into each other again at the house of Josh's sister, who happens to also be Hazel's new best friend. They begin building a friendship and over time discover they're more compatible than they originally thought.

 *   *   *   *   *

This book is basically When Harry Met Sally but with hotter sex. It's totally predictable and the ending was a little lazy, but holy smokes it was fun to read. Hazel is your typical manic-pixie-dream-girl, and Josh is the reserved-and-withholding-but-secretly-wounded stony soul who just needs the "right girl" to open his eyes to true love. There's not much new here, honestly. But the characters are still lovable and relatable, and the story is entertaining and zips along. And the sex scenes are perfect! Just the right amount of over-the-top-ness to make you laugh...but also secretly make you a little randy, too. Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is just a fun novel that made me smile and feel light for a day. I loved it.

Honestly, one of the best books I read in a while -- since maybe The Hating Game. This is the authors' best book to-date IMO. I'm ready to read it all over again.

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is another witty, hilarious and sexy read from this duo!

Hazel and Josh are such opposites, but for some reason, their dynamic worked. Hazel Camille Bradford is quirky, eccentric and a funny character. She is free-spirited and does what she wants to do, even though some may view her as being "weird." Whereas Josh Im, is more reserved and likes to do things by the book.

Hazel and Josh begin an unusual friendship. When she met Josh in college, Hazel had a crush on him, but her quirkiness and embarrassing moments were all witnessed by Josh. So she was convinced, she was never going to be a fit to his calm and reserved personalty. And jump to years later, Josh and Hazel are back into each other lives and Hazel is determined to be Josh's best friend.

These two form a friendship by setting each other up with blind dates. But the more these two spend time with each other with other dates, they realize that their attraction is more than friendship. But how they tell each other they want more than friendship? It takes many bad dates before these two figure it out. And getting there is the best part of their story!

What I love about this book is the Korean culture and lifestyle that is brought into the characters of this book. Being Asian-American myself, it's rare to get a glimpse of interracial couples in romance books that I can sort of relate to with my family. So it was refreshing with the diverse story line. And again, these two authors always hit it out of the park with their storytelling! And looking forward to more new reads from them!

There is no one quite like Hazel Bradford. She’s fearless, dresses however she wants and has been hopelessly in love with Josh Im ever since her college days.

Coming face to face with her forever crush after all this time has made her realize that maybe they both need to find that special someone and she devises a plan that will help them do it - together.

“At the outset, this should explain how I have successfully never dated Josh Im: I have made myself entirely undatable in his presence.
For instance, the first time we met, I was eighteen and he was twenty and I vomited on his shoes.”

Josh Im always knew that Hazel was one-of-a-kind. Unlike her, he always seemed to gravitate toward safety and commitment. Somehow she’s managed to convince him to jump back into the dating pool after his current girlfriend shatters his heart.

Enduring one disastrous double date after another brings them closer than they ever expected. But when complete opposites collide, they either fade away or burn brighter. And it’s a risk that they are going to have to take.

"While Cali and Adam are listening to the rules, Hazel leans across the table. “You have to be on my team.”
“In case you haven’t noticed,” I reminded her, “we’re supposed to be on dates, With other people. Play with Adam.” I straighten, but she reaches out, grabbing my shirt.
“I want that cruise, Josh, and you’re smarter.”
“Why do you think I’m smarter?”
“I saw Adam flexing in the windows outside the car. Call it a hunch.”
“Hazel, a normal cruise is bad enough. You really want an all-you-can-eat buffet on a budget cruise?”
“It’s free.”
“Diarrhea is never free.”"

Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is everything that a modern romantic comedy should be! It’s wickedly smart, hysterically funny and so swoony that it can’t possibly be measured with modern technology.

Christina Lauren really have perfected their own brand of magic that make their characters truly shine. Josh is perfection incarnate but it’s Hazel in all of her quirky glory that absolutely makes this book so unforgettable.

So dance like no one is watching, Hazel. And if they are, they are secretly wishing they were as free and as beautiful as you…

*happy sigh* Okay, seriously. I should know better. Why don't I gobble up every single book that Christina and Lauren write? I am sitting here with the biggest smile on my face right now. Was it perfect? No. But then again, is love perfect? No. Would I recommend this book? Absolutely, without a doubt. What this writing duo have mastered, other than a style, grace and writing that is so smooth it reads like silk, is a key ingredient...they make you care about their characters. You want to know what happens to them, you become invested in them as people. Hazel, the quirky, third-grade teacher is someone that you would be friends with. And Josh, the quiet, physical therapist, is someone that you respect and want to have his respect and friendship in return. And the secondary characters... I just adored it all. This book, for me, threw off a distinctive "Beautiful Player" vibe, which is one of my top ten books ever. It wasn't a copycat, or even anything blatant; I just felt that same pull, you know?

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It should come as no surprise after reading this review. 5 stars.

I was excited about Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating from the very minute I first saw the cover and read the blurb. I always love Christina Lauren's books. There's a reason the duo is one of my go-to authors. When I had the chance to read it in advance of release, I was over the moon. I quickly jumped in and read it in a mere matter of a few hours. I fell 1000% in love with it, too. In fact, I loved it so much that I read it twice before release. Josh and Hazel definitely found a way into my heart and I know I'll be rereading this book for a long time to come. It was just that good.

Often I've found quirky characters in books come off as if they're trying too hard. That wasn't the case with Hazel at all. She was just ... Hazel. I loved her because of it, too. She made me laugh and smile and basically want to hug her and be her friend. She's undoubtedly one of the most quirky characters I've ever met in a book and, truthfully, she was a breath of fresh air. Where she fun and spirited, Josh was more steadfast and reserved. They complemented each other perfectly. I loved how they brought out each other's personalities without ever seeking to change the other. They totally accepted each other as they were, which made their friendship and what came next all the more authentic. Their story has a bit of a slow burn — as you might expect as they're going on double dates (with the wrong people) through a large portion of the book. But, really, it was pretty obvious from the start — to everyone but them apparently — this pair was meant to be a thing. I couldn't have shipped them harder if I tried.

Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating was utterly swoony and adorable and I loved every single thing about it. It's one of those books I read with a giant, swoony smile on my face. And yes, I did hug my iPad when I finished reading. Both times. In addition to the swoons and laughs, Josh & Hazel also brought the sexy. Whew. I was definitely fanning myself. There was also a plot point that hit VERY close to home and could've been disastrous for me emotionally, but it wasn't. All it did was make me relate to Hazel — and love her — that much more. I don't like to play favorites when it comes to my favorite authors and their books, but I can't help but say THIS BOOK is my new favorite CL story. It had literally everything I wanted in a book.

FAVORITE QUOTES
The way Emily describes it: when I meet someone I love, I become an octopus and wind my tentacles around their heart, tight and tighter until they can't deny they love me just the same.

"I tend to be too chatty, too silly, too exuberant, too random, too eager. Too Hazel-y."

I should be glad that she's the same Hazel she was when she woke up yesterday. But I'm not the same Josh.

"I'm sorry for ending things, and making you feel that you weren't worth my time long term. I'm sorry I couldn't let you move on afterward. I'm sorry I used you as an escape whenever things got hard in other areas of my life."

<b>The way Emily describes it: when I meet someone I love, I become an octopus and wind my tentacles around their heart, tighter and tighter until they can’t deny they love me just the same.</b>

AHHHHHH I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. Seriously by now I have come to the conclusion that these two literally cannot write a book that I will not like. They just keep getting better and better and at this very moment I can’t decide which one is my favorite between this and <a href=“http://starcrossedbookblog.com/2018/04/book-review-love-and-other-words-by-christina-lauren/”>Love and Other Words</a>. Either way it doesn’t really matter. You really should go out and read every single one of their books because I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

<b><i>But at the end of the day,”</i> she says, and puts her hand outside the open window, letting the wind pass through her fingers, <i>“being myself is enough. I’m enough.”</i></b>

I think I’ve actually figured out why I love their books so much, too. It’s because no matter how different and diverse the characters are, you will ALWAYS be able to find something relatable in each book. In this book is was a few little things. The first is that Hazel has a dog named Winnie that she treats like her baby. I ALSO have a dog named Winnie who is my first baby and I love her with all of my soul, lol. It just made me happy to see that someone else (even a fictional character) loves their Winnie as much as I love mine. The second thing is how Hazel knew and accepted that she could be a lot to handle, and also knew that she was never going to settle with being with someone who couldn’t handle that, or would want to change her. Now, I’m much more of an introvert but my ~thing~ or ~quirk~ is that I am obsessed with reading. Duh. I know most of you can related but seriously, if I find a book (especially a series) with a story and characters that I love, I go all in. I follow the author on every social media platform possible. I endlessly scroll GR, Twitter, and Tumblr trying to find related posts. I talk about them…A LOT. In previous relationships my boyfriend’s basically just didn’t care. I get that a lot of people just don’t like to read but they wouldn’t even really listen to me blabber on about my fandoms. My husband though has always been a different story. He may technically not care about the books either, but he cares about my interests. He cares that I care so deeply about these books and these characters and he listens to me when I just have to tell him about how I am basically over here pulling my hair out, waiting for the next Sarah J Maas book to come out. That turned into a pretty long winded paragraph but what I wanted to get across is that the characters in all of these books are so real and relatable and they make you feel like you’re home when you’re reading about them. I love it.

<b><i>“But I was right?”</i> She’s breathless, hair wild and face flushed and how has nobody seen how crazy and fucking amazing she is?
I decide right there to make sure somebody does.
<i>“Yeah, Haze. You were.”</i></b>

Another thing I loved about this book was Josh in general but also the tidbits we get about his Korean heritage. I don’t know much about it myself but I enjoyed seeing their Korean names and reading about all of the yummy food they were eating—it really made me want to visit the one Korean restaurant where I love. Seriously though, I thought the progression of Josh and Hazel’s relationship was great. From their awkward run-ins in college, to their budding best friendship to falling in love, ugh I got all of feels. AND the best part is obviously that even though Josh knew that Hazel could be a little crazy, a little wild, he never once wanted her to change. I loved how even when they started their double dates they would look over at one another when weird stuff happened and just know what the other was thinking. It was magical.

<b>Drunk giggly Josh is my favorite, but drunk confident Josh is my new religion.</b>

Somehow, too, even though this books was full of typical romantic tropes, it seemed different to me. We saw them go from friends to lovers, we saw them drunkenly have (super hot) drunken sex and then try to pretend that it didn’t change their relationship, we saw them trying to set each other up while remaining “friends” and finally we saw them both falling in love with each other while not being sure if the other one felt the same way. It didn’t matter though. At all. That’s how you know you’re reading a damn good story.


<b>He smiles, but it’s not a smile I’ve ever seen before. It’s a dangerous smile; he’s a movie villain, the seductive one, the one who robs you but fucks you real good first.</b>

By now this has turned into a super long review and I don’t even care. I have read so many romances by now that it’s so refreshing when I find that that makes me feel this way. The ending too is just pure magic. Part of it is actually a well-used trope too but I didn’t want to give it away. Usually I don’t like when books go there either but in this one I loved it. GAHH. Believe me, you do not want to miss out on Josh and Hazel.

<b><i>“Are you listening?”
“Barely.”
“You are perfect for me.”</i>
A star is born inside my rib cage. <i> “I am?”</i>
He nods, pinning me with his attention. <i>“You are.”</i></b>

I haven't read very many books by Christina Lauren but the books that I did read, I enjoyed. I didn't love them but they were solid contemporary romances that brought the goods. The time has come where they wrote a book that I absolutely adored.

Josh and Hazel went to college together and while they weren't friends there, they were in each other's orbits because Hazel was a hurricane of a young girl and Josh was a TA for one of Hazel's classes. They're complete opposites and even though Hazel has always a bit of a crush on Josh, she knows it's not going to happen because she won't ever change who she is for anyone, she settles for being Josh's friend. They don't become friends until after they run into each other 7 years after college but friends they become.

Josh is reserved and he's careful and when he finds out that his long-distance girlfriend is cheating on him, he becomes single and his sister puts Hazel into his path to make sure that he has fun. He needs to have more fun in his life and there is nobody more fun than Hazel Bradford.

Hazel is a third-grade teacher who loves life. She's eccentric, she's bold, she's loud and she knows that she's a lot to take on so she's not at all surprised that she's single. She respects that she's a lot to handle and doesn't let that stop her from being her. She's not for everybody and deep down, she hopes to find her person. Her person will be someone who accepts and loves her the way that she is. She sees the good in people and she doesn't waste a lot of energy on negative shit so she's just a ray of sunshine.

When Josh and Hazel become friends, we see their relationship form. For Josh, Hazel goes from being the loud and inappropriate young woman to the caring, will do anything for him best friend that he appreciates more and more with each passing day. She's a lot of things, but she's also one of the very best people that he knows. In an effort to help him move on from his cheating ex, Hazel starts setting him up on blind dates that Josh drags her along on with a blind date of her own. They choose dates for each other and then they go on these dates together and each date cracked me up.

I read this book in one sitting and throughout most of the book, I was laughing. I had a clear picture of both Josh and Hazel in my head (Jung from Kims Convenience for Josh and Jessica Day from New Girl for Hazel) so I could see each scene play out perfectly. Christina Lauren wrote a fabulous romantic comedy with a friendship that I was jealous of and a love that charmed the socks right off of me. Josh and Hazel made no sense and yet they were perfect for each other. I loved that Hazel could bring Josh out of his funk and I adored that Josh accepted and loved Hazel as she was. Their romance completely worked for me and I definitely recommend this book. This book isn't being as well received by other readers but for me? I loved it all.

<strong>Grade: 5 out of 5</strong>

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating was my first book to read by author Christina Lauren and I have one word to describe this ADORABLE. It was such a great read and the characters for so fun to root for. I can't wait to read other books by Christina. GREAT BOOK and a must read.

Josh + Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is the newest work from the dynamic writing duo known as Christina Lauren - and if I'm making it seem like they're some kind of literary super heroes, well, yeah, they are. They are more powerful than a locomotive, able leap genres in a single bound, rescue jaded readers...ok, ok, you get the idea ;-)

I'm always looking forward to a new book from Christina and Lauren, and Josh and Hazel lived up to every expectation I had after reading the synopsis.  It was fun. It was flirty.  It had emotion and was filled with a cast of characters who were endearing all in their own ways.

Hazel is this ball of quirky, always outside the box, never stuck in the norm fun. She's cute and sassy and had me wanted to be her BFF from the very first chapter.  She's also not had very good luck in finding a guy who will appreciate all the color and vibrancy she is, and it broke my heart for her.

Josh is exactly her opposite in almost every way.  He's calm and controlled.  Loves things organized and steady.  He's also got a heart of gold and is steadfast and loyal to his family and friends. He's a great catch and is 100% thee type of guy you'd want to marry.

After being reunited by a stroke of fate, they spend more and more time together.  Just not necessarily in the way you'd think. They end up trying to set one another up with blind dates and turn those dates into double dates.  The mishaps and hilarity that ensues is priceless...and it also draws both Hazel and Josh into realizing maybe they don't need the blind dates.  Maybe the person they're supposed to be with is right in front of them.  Sure, they're opposites in almost every facet of their personalities, but you know how the saying goes...opposites attract.  And that, right there, is why I loved these two so darn much.

I won't go into too much more detail because I don't want to spoil anything for you but I will say that you can always count on some of the best happily ever afters out there from Christina and Lauren and you won't be disappointed :-D

Whether you've been with these authors from their Beautiful Series or this is the first of their work you pick up, I know you'll love Josh and Hazel as much as I did.

This is my favorite Christina Lauren story so far. I so fell in love with everything about this book. It was sweet. It was fun. It made me smile and I loved the messages it presented. I would definitely love to read more of these characters and can't wait to see what Christina Lauren has in store for us next.

4.5 stars.
I've only recently gotten into reading Christina Lauren but I've enjoyed everything that I've read. This is no exception. This book is adorable and has a perfect balance of sweet and sexy with characters that are well-rounded and likable. Hazel is quirky but not in an annoying way that makes you roll your eyes. She reminds you of that slightly out there friend who you still love no matter what. She may do something silly but that's just who he is. Josh is on the opposite side of the spectrum. He's quiet and he's internal but he makes a great friend.
These two quickly connect, despite their differences, and their journey throughout the book was a fun one. From them going on disastrous double dates with each other to growing closer and becoming better friends. I loved it all. I knocked off half a star because it does seem short and would want at least another chapter before we get to the epilogue. It's a perfect combination of a light and fun story with a dash of angst and pining. I'd recommend this book to anybody who loves a good romcom book.

Hazel isn’t the typical cookie cutter, happy go lucky girl, she’s more like a walking disaster and her personality is explosive. I appreciated that she was created to be herself, not the most graceful, and I found her bluntness to be charming. This was a refresher and I had a good laugh. Being a single 31-year-old woman has helped me embrace my “I am weird” insecurity and I think she can touch others too. Hazel’s perception for herself is both funny and sometimes sad because it sets herself up for failure on her dates. Despite her off the wall crazy personality, Josh appears to see past all of it.

I found the story to be perfect for end of summer reading, I needed a nice romantic comedy after the other hefty books I’ve read in the month of August. I feel that Christina Lauren has created a major hit with this once because of the character Hazel. Josh is the other piece of the puzzle, but he is outshined by Hazel and her strong personality. I suppose it shows that opposites can attract, and a whirlwind romance can set sail. I enjoyed how simple and breezy the book was while reading and how connected you felt to the overall story. I wanted to know when these two were going to get together, it felt as if they were destined to be together.
Thank you, Gallery Books, for the gifted e-copy to read to review.

The Synopsis via Kirkus:
“Insisting that they’re not a couple, two best friends try to help each other find love. Hazel Bradford and Josh Im first met in college, and it was not love at first sight. Seven years later, they’re reunited when Hazel ends up teaching at Josh’s sister’s school. Josh is already in a relationship, and it’s no surprise to Hazel that she’s still single. Her high-energy quirkiness is not for everyone, and it’s definitely not for a nice, normal guy like Josh—or so she thinks.”

Such a fantastic story, this story was so addictive and I wish we could have more.I loved Hazel and Josh so much, the make the story special.For one more time Christina Lauren delivers a unique and original story.

I fall in love with the story and everything about Josh and Hazel, their awkward moments,their cute and sweet moments and the slow burn between them was something else.I laughed with them a lot.

This book make me have a smile on my face most of the time.If you are looking for a sweet story with a fantastic characters.

Another fun read from the duo of Christina Lauren. I really enjoyed reading such a strong femal lead of Hazel.

So, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating reads like a version of Amy Elliott Dunne's story from Gone Girl.

Yes, I know this is an odd thing to say about a romance.

But.

Hazel is the cool girl. Oh, I know she talks about how her free wheeling spirit and tendencies towards saying the unexpected have made her hard to handle but...

She has a cool girl job. Works with 3rd graders (just the right age for her, she totally loves kids that age! Plus she has loads of cute stories about them and her!)

Her total bff is a relatively new friend, Emily. Hazel just had to become friends with Emily, you see. Had to! And now that Emily and her husband Dave are totally gaga for Hazel (oh shucks, they find her hilarious! And adorable!) Hazel has totally got a new job teaching at Emily's school. Where Dave is the principal! And already prepared for Hazel's antics! Because she's so cute.

Next up, Hazel goes to a barbecue at Emily and Dave's. So much fun! Hazel is going to eat so much! And drink, but not too much because she doesn't want to do anything too embarrassing!

Uh oh, the talk has turned to boobs! Don't worry, Hazel totally is cool with hers being named best! She even makes a loud joke about it and oh no! Everyone is looking at Hazel and her awesome breasts!

Enter Josh. Hazel and he met in college where she was that kooky hot girl everyone knew but Josh...well, they never dated. So not compatible, Hazel declares! And wait, what's this? Josh is Emily's brother! How random is life? Hazel had no idea!

Because, you know, she never knew Emily's maiden name and never guessed the teenage photos of Emily's brother were of Josh! (So she missed the wedding photo(s) sitting around when she was over at Emily's before. Or forgot Emily showed her a few. And if Emily mentioned a brother, she must just never had put two and two together. Sure Amy. I mean, Hazel.)

Now we get Josh's point of view. Hazel sure is not like any other woman! And wow, she's hot!

Back to Hazel. Wacky pet stuff, her mom (also so cool!), meet cute with Josh although they knew each other back when so nothing is ever going to happen, not ever, she's just totally there to offer advice on Josh's icky girlfriend who is then out of the picture and then ..uh oh! Hazel's whole apartment has flooded.

She totally doesn't know how it happened! But she's so grateful to Josh for letting him stay with her! And she's going to help him start to date!

What's this? They go out and Amy, I mean, Hazel, totally eats whatever she wants and drinks and absolutely crushes it at bar trivia and even has a mildly bawdy joke about pronouns that totally kills and such a great thing that she and Josh teamed up! (She confides she is competitive. I bet that is the tip of the iceberg for you, Hazel)

Darn, the dating thing seems to mostly be Hazel entertaining Josh while they out with other people on a series of disastrous double dates. (The girl at the grocery store seemed cool! How was Hazel supposed to know she wasn't?)

You can guess the rest.

Yes, all does end well. But then, Nick Dunne got his cool girl too...

Smile, happy sigh, heart tug, repeat. This book filled me with undiluted joy from beginning to end. The main source of all the warm fuzzies are the two main characters.

Hazel is the OG of quirky. Some refer to her as Crazy Hazie because – let’s face it – she is a total weirdo. She’s come to terms with the fact that most people can’t handle her level of eccentricity in the long run – particularly men. She likes who she is, though, and isn’t willing to tone down her wackiness for anyone, to which I say, “Go ahead and let your freak flag fly, Hazel! You. Do. You.” She’s infectiously endearing, and I admired her her. What must it be like to live life without an ounce of self-consciousness? To believe with 100% certainty that you are completely awesome?

While Hazel is impulsive, energetic, messy and childlike, Josh is her polar opposite: calm, neat, measured, and responsible. Basically, he’s the perfect specimen. They clearly don’t make sense together, so a romantic relationship is out of the question. However, Hazel does decide that whether Josh wants to or not, they will become best friends and guess what? (Spoiler alert) They do!

Their disastrous double dates are funny, and unearthing all of Hazel’s quirks provides plenty of entertainment. What sealed my bubble of joy, though, were the simple interactions between Josh and Hazel: making breakfast, watching TV, or eating ice cream. Seeing the unpenetrable bond develop between Josh and Hazel and the way in which each influences the other for the better warmed my heart.

The more books I read by Christina Lauren, the more addicted I become to their stories. High five to them for creating a minority as one of the main characters in this book. You mean a romance novel can successfully reflect real life?? No way! Seriously though, I’m thrilled to see more and more romances embracing diversity. Josh’s Korean heritage adds another level of affection. Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Dating is one of those tender romances that gives you lots of feels and makes you smile. I can’t ask for more than that.

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating

5 Stars!!!!

I can say with absolute confidence that this book, Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is by far, my favorite rom-com of 2018.
If any movie executives wanted a guaranteed rom-com hit, they should adapt this book into a movie.

I can’t wait until 9/4 so you guys can fall in love with Hazel and Josh. ❤️

I read it back in early July and loved it so much, I couldn’t find sufficient adjectives to describe how or why.
so, I re-read again last week and I’m still at a loss.

I’ll start with Hazel.

She ’s beyond adorable.
She’s the right mix of quirky, flirty, clever and witty and has no filter or boundaries which I LOVE!!
She’s a hot mess but in a beautiful sunshiny way.

The blurb describes her perfectly- “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.”

She’s a third-grade teacher that seems to bring happiness, smiles, and laughter wherever she goes.
I would give anything for her to be real and to be my best friend.

She knows she a lot to take for some people and understands why she may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but also possesses the confidence and optimism not to change or to settle for anyone who cannot handle her “Hazelness”.
One of my favorite lines of hers is when she was explaining her past dating disasters to Josh – “Being myself is enough. I’m enough.”

That brings me to Josh.
His last Korean last name is “Im” which I can only imagine was an editor’s apostrophe autocorrect nightmare. Lol

Josh Josh Josh
He has made his way into the top of my book boyfriends list.

His calm voice and mellow demeanor seem to be at the opposite end of the compatible spectrum from Hazel, but his dry sense of humor, kindness and tender appreciation of Hazel’s uniqueness makes him perfect for her (and me). 😉

They first met in college and as Hazel says, she proved to him her, “undateability”.
Fast forward 7 years and they come face to face at Hazel’s best friend’s barbecue who also happens to be Josh’s younger sister, Emily.

Josh is in a long-term, but also long-distance relationship at this time and is still a little apprehensive about Hazel’s declaration of their best friendship given their shared horrible college incidents.

Hazel easily manages to skip, sing, dance and putt-putt her way into Josh’s structured and boring life.
When her apartment is flooded and becomes unlivable, chaotic Hazel and her odd collection of animals end up in Josh’s place until repairs can be made.
Josh is supposed to be out of town with his girlfriend so he reluctantly agrees.

They figure out they are unexpectedly comfortable around each other and come to the conclusion that even though they are not compatible as a couple, they are fond enough and trust the other to set them up with friends for double blind dates.
Neither wants to ruin their comfortable friendship with possible unrequited feelings so the slow-burn commences.

This is where I’m going to stop before I spoil the story.
You need to enjoy the humor and adventures that unfold from here.

I’m telling you, both times I read it, I could not put it down.
I love Josh and Hazel along with the secondary characters so much, it made me sad both times for their story to end.
Even though this is a romance, I also loved learning some Korean traditions and their strong family bond.

I highlighted over a dozen of my favorite quotes, but I realized that some were either spoilers or wouldn’t be as funny if you weren’t immersed in the story so I’ll post just one that sums up why I love them both:

“I have chaos around me, but it’s like he doesn’t even care. He doesn’t need me to change or pretend to be someone else. He’s my person. He’s my best friend.”
“You’re second only to a unicorn as far as best friends go, Josh Im.”

* Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates and brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the New York Times, USA TODAY, and #1 international bestselling authors of the Beautiful and Wild Seasons series, Dating You / Hating You, Roomies, Sublime, The House, and Autoboyography.