Title: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating
Author: Christina Lauren
Year Published: 2018
Genre: Rom-Com
Setting: Portland, Oregon, US
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating: A Blurb
Josh and Hazel go way back. They met several times in college, almost always with disastrous results. When they’re reunited through his sister and her best friend and pushed into a best-friendship nearly a decade later, the outcome is hardly different.
Why? Because Hazel’s a hot mess and Josh is getting out of a relationship with a cheating ex. In the name of their new friendship, they begin going on blind double dates. As they grow closer, however, their relationship begins to deepen, and they must figure out how to navigate those new feelings without destroying their friendship.
My Thoughts
As far as I’m concerned, Christina Lauren are the queens of rom coms. They can basically do no wrong. Are there books that I like less than others? Sure. Yet I’ve yet to encounter one from them that I would rate lower than 3.5-4 stars. Everything they write is just such a cute, happy escape from the real world, and it’s never overly sappy.
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating was no exception. It was so cute, and it reminded me of everything I love about rom-coms. Both characters were charming and quirky, and they paired well together. Their relationship developed naturally, and I enjoyed seeing how they complimented each other. Sometimes in romance novels, the characters (especially the male character) exist only to fix a problem/character flaw in the other. I definitely didn’t feel like this happened here, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom because they were true complements and acted maturely toward the other person.
As a side note, I also loved the fact that Hazel was a teacher. I love characters who are also teachers, but more than that, I love how Christina Lauren really seem to include just about every career in their books. It makes it even more interesting.
Other Thoughts
One thing that I know people complained about was the twist in the last quarter of the book. I honestly thought that this was cute and made sense for both of their characters. I obviously won’t spoil it here. It took me by surprise, but again, I enjoyed how the challenge brought them together and showed how they supported each other. That made it feel like a real, strong relationship, which isn’t something that I always feel when I read romance novels.
My one complaint was Hazel. It’s clear from the start that she’s a hot mess, and the antics she gets up to are hilarious. However, i sometimes gave off a bit of pick-me energy, and I felt like the whole “I’m a hot mess, look at me” and “I’m so unique” lines got repeated too much. We got it the first few times, and her actions proved it. I didn’t feel it was super necessary to keep going back to how this was her main characteristic.
Other than that, everything else was positive. The writing was great as always, the story was filled with obstacles, and the pacing was excellent. It was the perfect way to make my ten hour flight feel a little less long.
Wrap Up
If you like the friends to lovers, best friend’s sibling, exes reappearing, and building each other up tropes, you’ll definitely love Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating. I read it in two sittings, and I’m sure that you’ll get through it just as fast–and thoroughly enjoy it.
Have you read it? Let me know what you thought!
If you liked this review, feel free to check out my recent reviews to two other romances: Beth O’Leary’s Swept Away and Rachel Lynn Solomon’s What Happens in Amsterdam.
