Not what I was expecting from the author. I've read most of Christina's books. My library is likely to purchase a copy of this book.

4.5

It's been a while since I've read an adult romance, and this book showed me that I really need to do so more often. This was absolutely adorable! Our female protagonist, Hazel, is this eccentric, quirky girl that's worried no one will want to subscribe to her brand of weird for the longterm. Now hold on, if the idea of a ~quirky girl that's just too weird to love is a turn off due to the way this "trope" is often handled, a-la manic pixie dream girl/a guy "fixes" her kind of thing, be assured that this book doesn't go down that route at all. Hazel is different, yes, but she is so naturally and realistically different. She really reminded me SO much of Jess from New Girl (she's even from Oregon and a teacher!!) with a dash of Lorelai Gilmore. Her dialogue was genuinely funny, never cheesy or cringe-worthy, which is often how books written with this kind of character go down. Christina and Lauren did such a good job fleshing Hazel out and making her a real person.

Our other protagonist/main love interest, Josh, is the first character that I've read about in a while that really made me think, damn I want a boyfriend. He's so sweet and really approaches his relationship with Hazel thinking of what's best for her. He's also Korean, and there's a lot of discussion on his Korean culture. Obviously, I can't speak on whether it's good representation. It seemed to be from my very limited knowledge, but lookout for some own-voices reviews that will hopefully pop up and be able to speak on it! His relationship with Hazel, however, was just so wonderfully tender. You couldn't ask for a better love interest.

There are a few things that kept this from being a full five stars. They're mostly little things that might not even bother someone else. Two of them I can't talk about due to spoilers, but when you read this, you'll see there's a plot point that comes up at the end that I personally feel wasn't well explained and felt very sudden. It would of gone over better, I feel, if it happened earlier in the novel, just so that it could have been given more attention and not feel like it had been thrown in at the end.

The other thing is absolutely so minor it's almost silly to talk about, but the music lover in me just has to. At one point, the characters go to a music festival. From the way this reads, it doesn't sound like Christina and Lauren have been to a lot of these. The music festival starts at 10 am, a little early (most start at noon) but okay, sure. What was completely unrealistic to me was that METALLICA was the opening artist. What?! I don't know if there's some kooky music festival where something like this actually happens, but never, ever, ever would a band that is so obviously the biggest act listed not be the headliner, let alone the opening act at 10 am. Also, two of the characters "go down to the pit" to enjoy seeing Metallica. There isn't really a pit at music festivals, there's just this giant ass crowd, and unless you get there at the crack of dawn, if not the night before, to line up, you're not anywhere near what would be considered "the pit" at any concert. Ya girl has been to a music festival where Metallica was one of the headliners (shout out Lolla 2015) so I know what I'm talking about.

But like I said, that was an incredibly minor detail that wouldn't irk anyone besides music fanatics, so don't take my little ranty paragraph there too seriously.

Overall, this was refreshingly adorable and will probably end up as a favorite of the year!

I love Hazel! I love when the heroine of a story is different or quirky and unapologetic about it. Hazel and Josh had several non flattering run ins during college and then meet again several years later. The result is a tight friendship and many awkward double dates. This was a pretty quick read that kept my attention and kept me entertained! #JoshAndHazelsGuideToNotDating #NetGalley

This is my favorite guide to not dating written to date. It's laugh out loud funny great one liners but also talks Received this book from Netgalley. By far this is my favorite not dating guide to date. It's laugh out loud funny great one liners but also speaks of acceptance. Acceptance of different cultures, personalities and of self. It's written in the Christina Lauren style we all love and look forward to reading.

New favorite Christina Lauren book? YOU BET!

This story had me laughing one minute at the hysterical Hazel, always being so unpredictable, yet so addictive to witness. While the next minute, I was swooning for Josh & how caring & open his heart learns to be for this wildly beautiful Hazel.

It’s a story about best friends, yes. But it’s also a deeper story about being ok with who you are & surrounding yourself with good people that love every aspect of who you are, too.

In true CLo fashion, the steamy scenes are OFF THE THERMOMETER. This might just be the hottest book they’ve written yet. I love these characters & their story.

This was a sweet story about two best friends and their path to romance. The characters were easy to fall for, and their dynamic was so fun to read!

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating was phenomenal! I absolutely loved every hilarious, eccentric part of it!!

❝I swear my mouth and my brain are siblings who hate each other and give each other wedgies in the form of mortifying moments like this.❞


Josh and Hazel haven’t seen each other since college where it was one awkward encounter after another. The two weren’t exactly friends, I mean throwing up on someone’s shoes isn’t exactly a friendly maneuver. Now, years later, Hazel is a teacher at Josh’s sister’s school and is standing in her backyard. When Hazel’s apartment floods and she needs a place to stay, Josh’s sister volunteers his home. It’s only temporary and what could possibly go wrong?

When Josh breaks up with his long-time girlfriend, Hazel cannot stand watching him mope around his house. She’s on summer vacation and wants to have fun. When she challenges Josh to get back into the dating game he returns the challenge and the result is each other setting the other up on blind dates — terrible blind dates — double blind dates — but they are just roommates and there’s nothing between them…right?

You guys, Hazel is the best! She’s a fun, (and hilarious) carefree woman who loves herself and life. She isn’t willing to change who she is for anyone, including or especially a man. I love that these authors celebrated her eccentric behavior. Characters like Hazel are usually the “weird best friend” that no one wants to spend much time with or no one understands except the best friend. They aren’t main characters.

Josh was sexy, funny and charming. His quiet reserve was the perfect balance to the wild, quirky and funny Hazel. He was at times reticent and guarded, but when he loved, he loved without reservations. He was all in.

I can’t recommend this book enough! It was quirky, charming, sexy, funny, and so well written! Not only were there laugh-out-loud moments, there were moments that made me pause, and had my chin quivering. Seriously, if you’re looking for a feel good, laugh-out-loud book this summer, grab ‘Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren’!

I loved this one!
Fresh, fun, and yet, meaningful.
Such a different approach to friends to lovers, and it was perfect!

~4.5 stars~

This book was a delight to read. The two main characters, Hazel and Josh, are incredibly entertaining. I was so upset when I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer last night--that is how hard it was to put this book down. It’s one of the most fun, light, cute reads I’ve read thus far in 2018. If you're a fan of humor, love, friendship, and fantastic characters then you should check out this book. Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is a rom-com in book form. Netflix needs to get on it and make this a movie because it would be a HUGE success.

Characters:
Hazel is by far the most original, unique, and authentic character I have ever come across. She is so authentically herself every single second of every day. I love how vibrant she is, you simply can’t resist falling in love with her. She was the perfect heroine. I aspire to be like her.

Josh is such a sweet guy. He definitely never expected to become friends with Hazel let alone best friends with her which is what makes this book so much fun. Josh thinks Hazel is a hot mess, which she definitely can be, but he soon learns that he actually likes how crazy she can be. Josh is the opposite of Hazel; he’s extremely organized, quiet, and guarded. So, you can only imagine how entertaining their encounters are with each other.

Plot:
Hazel has always seen Josh Im as the blueprint of a perfect specimen. So, naturally, she embarrasses herself in front of him several times in college to the point where he thinks she is crazy. Fast forward 7 years and these two meet again. But, this time Hazel is determined to make Josh her best friend.

After many many terrible double-blind dates, Hazel and Josh start to wonder if they like each other as more than friends. Josh is scared to open his heart up again while Hazel is scared of Josh realizing she is too much and embarrassing one day. Will they overcome their fears and profess their love? Will love conquer all? I don’t know ;) you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Overall:
This book was such a fun, summer read. I enjoyed every single second! I haven’t laughed this much while reading a book in a long time!! My only complaint would be the ending felt a tad rushed. I think there should have been one more chapter before the epilogue. I was honestly shocked when I finished the last chapter and flipped the page to see the word epilogue. Other than that, I adored this book and definitely definitely recommend it.

Christina Lauren is back at it blaze a burning throwing fits of laughter with a hint of some emotion in between.

Hazel is freaking amazing in the book I think any woman can relate to her and will automatically love her, she is feisty, sassy, and a woman who tells it like it is and knows exactly what she wants. She is just awesome!

Josh is a hottie with a body, but he also has that boy next door charm I loved him and always smiled at him even when at times he drove me insane.

Josh and Hazel are meant to be and you know it from the connection they share but the two are to blind to see it, and after some frustration it finally becomes clear that what they need is right in front of them the who time!

I fell in love with Christina Lauren's book Love and Other Words earlier this year. When I was approved for Netgalley, I inhaled it. I am at a point in my reading life where I want to read what I want when I want....and yesterday. I wanted to read Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating. I’m not sorry. I am sorry that I choose to finish it on a Tuesday night with work on Wednesday...but whatev.
I enjoyed this book. Hazel was fun and quirky. Josh was good-looking and serious. I adored them both. It wasn’t a shocking novel. It was a little steamy and lovely. Christina Lauren invents great characters....that's what stands out for me. They are an auto buy author and with JAHGTND....that remains the case.
I gave it four stars and highly recommend if you want a fun read. Do not read this book thinking it will be like Love and Other Words....it's not. But it is still delightful and a light romance read.

Christina Lauren know how to write the most amazing romances. They have depth, they're creative even when there are tropes, and without fail they make you swoon.

I love, love, love Hazel. She's incredibly relatable to me as a quite peculiar girl myself. Her peculiarness wasn't forced or unrealistic - she felt entirely authentic. And this story reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend once. I told her I was surprised a guy "tolerated" me because I'm so weird. And to that, she said, "for every weird gal there has to be a weird guy out there somewhere." Which is a sentiment I'd like to have cross stitched to hang above my (fictional) fireplace.

And it's sort of the basis of this story (minus the fact that Josh is not particularly weird). Hazel knew that she didn't want to change for anyone, and in the end, she found someone who didn't want her to change at all. If that's not true love than I don't know what is.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a pulse. It's Christina Lauren so, of course, it's one of my favorite books of the year.

LOVED LOVED LOVED this one. By far my favorite Christina Lauren book they've ever written. The only thing I didn't love was that it ended and its a stand alone book.

In exchange for an honest review I received an advanced reader copy of this book.

Very enjoyable. Fun story, loved the characters, loved the environments. Quirky people, lots of animals, Portland? Yes please. Sign me up for the sequel!

I also quite enjoyed that the book finished, and you knew what happened years later. Stand alone books, what a novel idea these days.

Definitely recommend to a friend for a fun and light read.

This was my first Christina Lauren book and I will absolutely read more. The characters were relatable and realistic. The plot was entertaining and the ending satisfying.

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

Most of you know that I’m a pretty big fan of Christina Lauren! Autoboyography is now one of my favorite books of all-time. And friends, I really enjoyed this book and it made me so unreasonably happy! Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is set in Oregon and is honestly one of the cutest friends to lovers stories I’ve read in such a long while. I honestly never wanted this book to be over.

➽ Hazel - Teacher, the quirkiest character I’ve ever read, but I mean that in a good way, and has finally reunited with a guy who she has embarrassed herself around for the past almost decade.

➽ Josh/Jimin - Doctor, Korean (Yeah, named Jimin, smart marketing because BTS Armies are going to love him with their whole heart), and currently in a long distance relationship that isn’t working.

And these two’s paths have constantly crossed since college, but fate has truly brought them together when Hazel attends her best friend’s BBQ, only to realize that Josh is the guy who she has embarrassed herself around since college. But after that BBQ, they decided to be friends and it leads to them going on a lot of double dates, which are all mostly bad.

There is a constant theme of family in this book, both from Hazel and Josh’s side, and I loved it so much. Hazel’s relationship with her mother was so inspiring, and I loved how they loved each other unconditionally. Josh is from a much more traditional background, but the love is so there and so very abundant. Seriously, both of these families warmed my damn heart and it was easily one of my favorite parts of this book.

I also really loved how Hazel wouldn’t change herself for anyone. And I think this book does a really good job at showing you how most people are pretty negative about anyone being too loud, too weird, and too different than the standards society puts on us. This isn’t like the typical “oh, the girl is quirky and cute” but this is the more realistic and sad treatment of people who live their life to the beat of their own drum. And seeing Hazel (and Josh) always speak up if anyone was negative or judgmental, was really beautiful. Because, like, who the hell wants to be normal anyways?

“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.”

This book was actually funny, too! Like, I was giggling alone in bed while reading at least a third of this book. Hazel is one of the most fun protagonists I’ve read about, and she and her animals had me laughing constantly. And all the dates? So freakin’ funny! I honestly could perfectly picture this book, and I actually think it would make for a fantastic romcom movie adaptation.

But this book does have a lot of steamy scenes, so trigger and content warnings for sexual content, talk of past death of a loved one, cheating (off-screen and not main characters), and a homophobic slur.

And out of all these trigger warnings, I want to talk more about the homophobic slur, because it was so damn pointless. I mean, it was said in a negative light, but it wasn’t necessarily challenged. Like, it felt so bad to read and took me completely out of the story. These authors could have just as easily said “he said a rude thing” or hell, even “he said a homophobic slur” without actually using the word. Like, I hated it so much and it was easily the worst part of this book.

The only other negative thing I'll say is that the ending felt rushed. Like, we spend so much time watching these two people become friends, and the romance and love has to come rather quickly. Which I get, and I don’t mind that much, but I was still shocked with how the last few chapters went and then I got hit with the word “epilogue” and it felt so abrupt. Also, this book is 95% light, cute, and heartwarming, and then it just takes a really dark turn during the last tiny bit, and it just felt very disjointed.

“You’re second only to a unicorn as far as best friends go, Josh Im.”

But overall, I really did enjoy this sweet friends to lovers story. I think this is for sure a perfect summertime read. Oh, and even though it has a cover that looks very much like Roomies , these worlds and stories are not connected what so ever. So, don’t be scared or think you have to read Roomies first! But I totally recommend this one, and I hope if you pick this one up, that you’ll enjoy it so very much, too! Happy reading!

Rom com quality, laugh out loud funny, and plenty of honest communication between adults. Hazel may be "a lot" but Josh is up for the challenge. Their series of blind date set ups was hysterical.

I love anything by the Christina Lauren duo, and this was no exception! Super cute and diverting summer beach read.

Quirky, loveable characters and a fun, fast-paced storyline make this a great read. Highly recommend

I legit just put this book down and it was probably the sweetest thing, ever. Hazel is quirky and not just manic pixie dream girl quirky, she's unapologetically different and I love her for it. She's had bad luck in love because guys usually find her brand of different annoying or inconvenient after a while. And so when her best friend's brother turns out to be Josh, the man she met in college that she never dated but uses as a benchmark for her perfect guy, comes back into town they strike up a friendship. Why just a friendship? Cause she's clearly too quirky and weird to date and she wants him in her life however she can get him.

I saw so much of myself in Hazel and her relationship with her ex Tyler and it broke my heart. I may not be as quirky as Hazel, but sometimes I doubt my loveability and oh man...this book just does so much right. Josh is adorable, so loveable and his Korean family is adorable. I love the cultural focus in this story so much.

What I think I love most is that Hazel (and her mother) are very strong in their stance of not changing for any man. She knows shes' out there and hard to handle sometimes but there is zero chance she's dulling her shine for anyone. It's such a strong message to send and oh my goodness, the sex! Holy crap the sex scenes are just...really good. Christina Lauren crushed it with this book. I think it's going to be a lot of people's new fave contemporary romance.