Thanks so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this book!

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating was such a fun little book! I curled up with it and read it in one sitting. This was my first Christina Lauren book to read, and I thought it was such a cute story. Josh and Hazel are best friends who, since they're both single and "definitely not" one another's type, decide to set up multiple blind double-dates to help each other find a partner. As the blind dates get progressively worse, though, Josh and Hazel realize they actually like spending time with each other more than any of their dates.

Like I said, this story was so cute, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought Hazel was such a quirky but likable character, and her antics had me laughing out loud multiple times. Of course, even the title of the book implies that there will be some sort of romantic feelings develop between them that both Josh and Hazel will try not to act upon, but watching their story unfold was still fun, albeit a little predictable.

My first thoughts: fun, sexy and warm! I have always been a huge Christina Lauren fan and this adorable and funny story is another winner.

Hazel is quirky and just a fun heroine. She was never embarrassed by her personality and has the perfect job: an elementary school teacher. Josh and Hazel have known each other since college but become best friends when Hazel finds out that Josh’s sister is actually her friend Emily!

"In summary, I am superb at making an ass out of myself. At the outset, this should explain how I have successfully never dated Josh Im: I have made myself entirely undatable in his presence."

Josh and Hazel, being the best friends that they are, set each other up on terrible blind dates that of course go hilariously wrong. Can’t these two see they are perfect for each other?!

“You like animals, huh?”
“I like babying things. I swear I want, like, seventeen kids.”
I freeze, unsure whether she’s being serious. Her mouth curves up in a thrilled arc.
“See?” Her index finger aims at her chest. “Undatable. I like to drop that one on the first date. Not that this is a date. I don’t really want seventeen kids. Maybe three. If I can support them.”

I loved that Josh is Korean American and the authors don’t simply drop that in as a plot device. His traditions are woven into the plot seamlessly. This is a character-driven novel, and there are not a ton a burning hot scenes but the chemistry that Josh and Hazel have is quite electric. Josh is smart, sexy and caring, and slowly comes around to the fact that he actually is very attracted to his best friend Hazel.

"My head is a mess. I slide my phone onto my nightstand and collapse back on the bed. Hazel sounds fine today. Which is good. I should be glad that she’s the same Hazel she was when she woke up yesterday. But I’m not the same Josh."

This author duo are a powerhouse and they are excellent writers. So there are no plot cliches here, just some very smart characters and a wonderful romantic comedy that is a fun, quick and very satisfying read. I love a good Epilogue and this one was amazing! If you love an “opposites attract” romance, then you will fall in love with Josh and Hazel.

(With thank to the publisher for a review copy.)

If you have read any of Christina Lauren’s work, you know you are going to get a well written Rom Com and that is just what this is. I have read most of their work, and rate this book as high as any I have read. It was a joy to read, and in fact, I stayed up way too late to read this all in one sitting. Josh is a typical, low key, by the book kind of guy, but what makes him lovable is that he is truly entertained by Hazel. She is a whirlwind, a mess, a person with no filter, but who is so friendly and good hearted that everyone should want to be her friend. This book had a great slow burn, a wonderful storyline and if you like good romantic contemporary, this book should be one hour definite TBR list.

Christina Lauren delivered another feel-good love story that will leave you warm your hearts. This time, it's between a free-spirited, no filter Hazel and a stoic, no-nonsense Josh.

Josh and Hazel met each other in college. And Josh witnessed firsthand some of Hazel's penchant for outlandish behavior. Hazel's crush on Josh remains unrequited. They reconnected again through Emma, who happens to be Hazel's best friend and co-worker. This time, they're older but one thing remains true, at least for Hazel, Josh Im is still her unattainable ideal, and as much as she'd love Josh to see as more than a friend, Hazel is content. She also wants Josh happy. So when Josh's long term relationship ended, Hazel volunteered to guide Josh back into the dating world.

It become very clearly quite immediately that Hazel would steal everyone's heart in this book. She's zany and without any filter whatsoever, and I loved her. Despite being written as a crazy fun character who says what's on her mind without any second thoughts, Hazel is a capable and responsible adult. Free spirited doesn't equal a hot mess or incapable of holding down a job and I liked how the authors respected Hazel's character to give her complexity. She is a character with hopes and dreams and she's damn good at her job!

And then of course, there is Josh Im. Serious and quiet, he's the exact opposite of Hazel on paper, but as the reader will soon discover, Josh and Hazel actually have a lot more in common than people think. I adored Josh. His patience and his understanding, and the way he came to value Hazel for who she is was amazing to read.

If you love the opposite attracts type of stories, I highly recommend this gem. I adored the heck out of this book and its characters. Two thumbs up!

Christina Lauren’s books are some of my favorites; specifically, Roomies, Dating You/Hating You, and Love and Other Words. So I was especially excited to read Josh and Hazel. Friends-to-lovers is such a fun trope and is definitely one of my favorites too. While it was a great light and fun summer read, unfortunately, this story just missed the mark for me.

While Hazel was relatable at times, she almost felt like a caricature, especially at the beginning. I know people who are scatterbrained and kooky, but Hazel felt too over the top, too unrealistic. Maybe there are people like her in real life and I just haven’t come across anyone like that, but it still felt like she was a “character” if that makes sense.

I did think her tendency to verbally vomit everything was relatable and funny. And I appreciated that she did what she wanted and didn’t care what other people thought of her.

There is something I did empathize with Hazel on. As a single woman, I completely related to Hazel’s insecurity that she would be “too much” for someone. I don’t know about other people, but I have a similar insecurity. Will anyone really like me for me long-term? Or will they eventually tire of dealing with me and my anxiety, my depression, my severe indecisiveness, and my hypochondriac tendencies? I could empathize with Hazel on that level, even if I felt her character at times was too much of a character and not a real person.

Josh as a hero was wonderful. His and Hazel’s friendship was fun and supportive and nonjudgmental. What a friendship should be, right?

I guess I just felt like something was missing. The meat of the story was lacking. It was like I needed something bigger that was keeping Josh and Hazel apart other than just themselves and their worries and insecurities.

I was talking to another reader and we were questioning whether these writers who publish multiple books a year, if it actually hurts more than it helps. While I would love to consume as many of my favorite authors’ stories as possible, I would rather have to wait between releases and have the books be amazing, then the writers rush through them.

Even though this wasn’t a 5 star read for me, it won’t deter me from reading more Christina Lauren in the future. I’ll just be sure to keep my expectations in check.

PLOT

I'm newer to the Contemporary Romance genre than most of my Blogger friends but Christina Lauren is a name I've heard float around since the beginning of my blogging journey. I came across Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating on Bookstagram & of course the colors caught my attention for a potentially fun read  Happy to report that it is most definitely one of the MOST fun reads I've read in a long time. I laughed & giggled so much and also just rooted for a new found favorite character. Hazel & Josh are the definition of night and day but also give truth to the saying "Opposites attract." I enjoyed getting to know these two characters over the course of several bad double dates and shook my head so many times reading my first ever friends to lovers romance. Funny & a downright blast to read, I'd easily recommend this book for a good time. Weaved throughout the story is a awesome F/F friendship, A+ sibling relationship, and Korean-American rep.  I also might be a little biased only because Hazel reminded me SO much of Polly Prince from Along Came Polly who I absolutely ADORE for all her unapologetic quirks and eccentricities

CHARACTERS

These characters were so much fun getting to know and although Hazel and Josh are the MC's, I also included a side character. Emily is BFF to Hazel & also Josh's sister & many times fills the role of translator between the two. Emily knows her brother & BFF better than they know themselves and really does have both their best interest in mind. One of the best examples of F/F friendship #GOALS I've found on the page.

Hazel- Quirky, eccentric, free spirited, feminist AF, and openly admires Josh which really made for some of the funniest lines. Hazel is a teacher & everything from her quirky clothing to her love of animals make her the complete opposite of Josh who she's known since college. Hazel's unbending will to stay true to herself made her an instant fave for me & I just LOVED the message she sends out with regards to self acceptance

"The world seems full of men who are initially infatuated by our eccentricities, but who ultimately expect them to be temporary. These men eventually grow bewildered that we don't settle down into calm, potential-wifey girlfriends."

Hazel's mother is also briefly mentioned but we get enough to know where Hazel's beliefs come from. Having a mother who was unhappily married to a man who never accepted her quirks, Hazel looks up to her mom for having the strength to move away from that. It isn't about changing the person you're with, it's about loving them for all of the things that make them stand out

"I realize that finding the perfect person isn't going to be easy for me because I'm a lot to take" she says, "but I'm not going to change just so that I'm more dateable."

Josh/Jimin- a Korean-American doctor Hazel went to college with but has since lost touch with. Once she recognizes him as the guy she sort of had an embarrassing encounter with & that he's her BFF's brother, the fun really begins haha! Josh is legit the complete opposite of Hazel & often looks upon her with awe although he'd never tell her as much  Josh is reserved and quiet, he has a rough start in the beginning of this story as he navigates a long distance relationship gone cold. Josh is also traditional & very close to his parents who he hopes to one day take care of as the only son which is also a part of Korean culture. The moments Josh found himself admiring Hazel were some of my fave parts...

"I could never quite tell whether she was oblivious or just didn't care what people thought, but no matter how chaotic she was, she always managed to give off an innocent, unintentionally wild vibe"

Emily- I realize I started this segment of my review talking about Emily for being such a FAB friend to Hazel & caring sister to Josh but she really does deserve her own spot here. Emily truly cares about Hazel & accepts her as she is. Knowing how different & sometimes vulnerable Hazel can be, seeing Emily talk to Josh and question him to make sure he doesn't do something he may later regret was really indicative of the kind of friend she is.

"I think that's the one thing that could dim her light. We both know Hazel is a butterfly. I think you have the power to take the dust from her wings."

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS

This being my first Christina Lauren read, I can now say it won't be my last. I actually already have a copy of Roomies on deck I can't wait to get to & I'm sure will also love. This was the perfect read this Summer & also a perfect pick for #SMUTATHON which was a read-a-thon hosted by Lainey from GingerReadsLainey & Riley from RileyMarie that was SOOO much fun to participate in! This book had me in stitches at some points while in others I was red in the face embarrassed for Hazel's predicaments haha! It was a fun  slow burn/friends to lovers read that kept me flipping pages through the night. The two reasons I docked a star was for the fast paced ending that didn't match the tempo of the book as a whole & made it feel a bit rushed. Lastly, there is a conversation that takes place where a character mentions how a homophobic slur was used. Although it's made clear that it was used in a negative light, it did leave me bothered to read it on the page and made me question the need for it in this story. It didn't really serve a purpose at all & it was someone who isn't a character in this book who said to begin with...just seemed like something that could've either been challenged by a character in the book or just completely left out. Overall I HIGHLY enjoyed this book, characters, and writing! Christina Lauren has now joined the ranks of my fave Contemporary Romance authors & I will most certainly read whatever they write next

* LINKS TO BE ADDED WHEN REVIEW GOES LIVE ON BLOG 9/4/18*
* Quotes taken from ARC/pre-publication & may be subject to change

Thank you to Gallery Books for a Netgalley edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is such an enjoyable book! It was a perfect book for me after some more emotional reads this month. It was funny and cute and I liked our main characters and their development through the story. I enjoyed the multiple points of view in this book and I loved that different aspects of family, relationships, personal insecurity and acceptance were discussed. This book includes one of my favourite tropes and often left me smiling.

I Loved that this novel included Asian characters and portrayed them as strong and attractive/desirable individuals. Though I am not Korean and can not speak to the accuracy of the language or traditions discussed I appreciated that this part of the characters life was included in the novel. I am half Chinese and related to parts of the house rules that are similar between my family and that of the characters ( such as the taking off of shoes!)

There was one aspect to the plot that I was weary of when I reached it but I liked how it was resolved and overall was happy with the ending of this book. This is an adult romance and there is sexual content in this book but in reading past books by Christina Lauren I expected that before reading. This book was cute and made me laugh and I had fun reading it!

4.5/5 stars

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating comes out September 4, 2018 !

4 ‘Crazy Hazie’ Stars!

”When Josh tells this story he makes sure to mention that before I threw up on his shoes, I charmed him with a dazed ‘You are the hottest guy I’ve ever seen, and I would be honored to give you sex tonight.’”

I love Christina Lauren and I loved this book! This was such a fun read that I didn’t want it to end.

Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Dating stars Josh Im and Hazel Bradford. Josh is quiet, reflective, calm, sweet, you know, “normal.” Hazel is one of the best heroine’s that I’ve come across in a long time. She is wild, spunky, hilarious, inappropriate, crazy and sweet.

This book is a friends to lovers romance that was super sweet in all the best ways. Josh and Hazel originally met in college, where their paths crossed in some pretty hilarious ways. They meet again years later when they are more established in their lives. Josh has a thriving physical therapy practice and Hazel is an elementary school teacher with a menagerie of pets. Hazel has always had a crush on Josh and Josh has always enjoyed her brand of crazy.

This book takes us through some hysterical hijinks involving these two, peppered with some very sweet and spicy moments too. This was such a great read and I know I will remember these two characters for a long time.

💋

I have been wanting to read Christina Lauren for a long time, but just have not gotten to reading a book of theirs yet. So, when I had the opportunity to read Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, I jumped at the chance and I am so glad I did! This was such a fun friends to lovers romance and I devoured it!

Hazel loves to live in the moment and apologizes for nothing. She was a female character you could not help but love. She was strong, full of life and so unique and usually did not care what others thought of her. Josh on the other hand was more reserved, but such a likeable character. He was sweet and caring. When you first meet them, they seem worlds apart, but somehow become friends. I loved their journey so much! It was fun and quirky.

I enjoyed reading Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren and look forward to reading more of their work. Not sure what took me so long, except timing.

This is the 1st time I've read one of Christina Lauren's books and I can honestly say I LOVED this book. There wasn't anything I didn't like about it. It's funny, quirky, sexy and a whole lot more. This is going to a tough book to beat, I could not put it down,

Hazel Bradford’s quirky and off-beat antics, while occasionally tiresome for the reader, have her convinced that she is “undateable.” Josh Im is a down-to-earth guy who finds out his girlfriend has been cheating on him for 2 years. When Hazel runs into Josh for the first time since a couple of awkward encounters in college, she believes they are destined to be best friends. She decides that setting Josh up on blind dates is the best way to get him out of his funk. The dates get worse as their friendship deepens. The chemistry between these two characters, even when they are just friends, is downright fun. This is a delightful romance that will have the reader smiling throughout.

The blurb really made me smile so I knew I needed this and to simply put it, this is hilarious. Genius. Beautiful.

Hazel is just a scream! She actually made me out of breath reading her!!! In her words,
'I tend to be too chatty, too silly, too exuberant, too random, too eager.Too Hazel-y.” I was worried she might grate on me but she didn't, she was just so genuine that I loved her.

And Josh, his dry wit had me smirking. Their friendship, their love, just them! 'We have nowhere to go but up.'

I picked it up to read a few chapters before bed and I nearly finished in 1 sitting (a girl's got to sleep!) But I had a smile on my face from start to finish.

You need this book in your life. It is one hell of a pick me up!

The awesome pairing that is Christina Lauren has done it again with this friends to lovers romance. The story is a wonderful combo of silly, sweet, sexy, and laugh out loud hilarity. Everyone should have a Hazel in their life. That one friend who's full of spunk, completely inappropriate, absolutely lacks a filter, and loves those close to her with all her heart. She's a hot mess all the way around and such a fun character. Broken down, this one is typical of most friends to lovers romances. Josh and Hazel are just friends, free to be exactly who they are and just have fun together until something changes. But the way the story is delivered kept me turning pages for the next bit of crazy this pair would get up to. The attraction is obvious, at least to the reader, and the chemistry between them is off the charts even when neither of them realize it. On the surface, the off-the-wall Hazel and oh, so sweet Josh seem like complete opposites, but inside, where it counts, they are absolutely perfect together. With a few fun twists and even a little bit of angst, this one is another must read from these authors.

I laughed at all the right places just as I smiled and swooned at others. The seamless flow that is Christina Lauren always blows me away.

It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s cute, it’s sexy, and it’s everything that’s right with a Christina Lauren book. Josh and Hazel balance each other out in this game we call life. Hazel is the perfect character. Her quirky sense of style, thoughts on life, and love make her one of my all-time favorite heroines. Josh was just as great with his down to earth attitude. He centered Hazel in such a way that brought out the best both her and him. Opposites do attract.

I have yet to meet a Christina Lauren Book I didn’t like. They create storylines that grab you and take you along for the ride. Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is a must. Their epic adventures are priceless.

Are you tired of alpha assholes, bazillionaires, practically perfect people and virginal damsels? Then this book could be for you. This is my first Christina Lauren book but it definitely will not be the last, because on the merits of this one book I’ve decided to read everything they have ever written.

Josh and Hazel met one night in college when Hazel might have puked on his shoes just after offering to sex him up. It is now years later and Hazel is still a wild and crazy hot mess, but she is a completely respectable one as a third grade teacher. I completely fell in love with this character on page one and Hazel just got better as the book went on. The girl has a menagerie of pets in a tiny apartment and each one has a better name than the last, I mean she has a rabbit named Janice Hoplin. I want to be Hazel’s friend in real life.
I tear off a chunk of pancake and carefully feed it to the dog.
“Don’t spoil her,” Hazel tells me over her shoulder.
“Hazel. The dog you don’t want me to spoil is wearing a Wonder Woman T-shirt.”

Josh is the perfect straight man to Hazel’s wild woman. He has a nice respectable job, family and just found out his girlfriend is cheating on him. No better time for Hazel to enter his life and be the bestest best friend he has ever had. He has no idea the ride he is in for.
Hazel groans in jealousy. “You get to talk about cores all day, and working things nice and deep. I would never get any actual work done.”
“I mean, I occasionally get to tell people to take their pants off, but it’s rarely the people you want to see naked from the waist down.”

Hazel’s pretty sure she is undatable in Josh’s eyes, well most men’s eyes, she is a lot to handle and usually doesn’t have a filter on her mouth. But what if they helped each other date. So, the plan begins to go on double blind date they set up for the other. What could possibly go wrong? Well nothing for you, the reader, because it is one crazy fun adventure after another.

Sure, you know they are going to end up with one another eventually, it was inevitable but the journey is so much fun. Hazel is her own woman and proud of the crazy character she is. I loved that she didn’t conform to the world around her and marched to her own beat. Even the lack of filter is adorable in her character.

The story is told from both Josh and Hazel’s PoVs which made the story even better. I really like knowing where each person is emotionally; in a story like this, it definitely makes it more fun. Hazel is definitely the kind of character that worked her way into my heart
We met up in person for venting over coffee and became immediate fast friends. Or, maybe more accurately, I decided she was amazing and invited her to coffee again and again until she agreed. 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.

I’m with Emily on this and Hazel didn’t even have to buy me coffee.

So recap, fantastically funny, completely cute, silly smart, uniquely quirky and just a dang good time in a book. When you need some laughter in your life pick this up.

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Is there anything better than a Christina Lauren novel? Maybe but the truth of the matter is, when you open one up all thoughts of anything better are long gone because you just know that whatever is written inside, is going to be a real treat and far better than anything else you could have planned for the day.

I have to say, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating just might be my favorite Christina Lauren book to date.

It was so much fun, Hazel, was just so much fun. And I'm pretty sure I need someone like her in my life.

Josh and Hazel's budding friendship was just...perfect. I loved every single second of the relationship they built with each other. From the quirky blind dates to the just hanging out watching TV. These two were so much fun to see and be able to get inside their heads. I truly read this in one sitting in a couple of hours and was so sad when it was over.

I wish I would have prolonged it a little bit longer and made it last but I couldn't help it, I just adored these two and couldn't get enough of them.

Truly an outstanding read that I loved every single page of.

*I was provided an e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Gallery Books for the opportunity.*

This review was originally posted on the day of publication, 4 September 2018, at 12 AM Pacific Daylight Time on my blog here: https://readysetandread.blogspot.com/2018/09/book-review-josh-and-hazels-guide-to.html

This summer, I started reading more romance novels. Before the summer, I read romance novels here and there, but never actively kept up. After reading Roomies and Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren and loving them, I had to request Josh and Hazel's Guide on NetGalley. I was delighted when I was approved, and thank goodness I was! At the time of finishing the book, and now months later, Josh and Hazel's Guide is one of my favorite from the author duo.



If you have been following my readings tastes these past years, you won't be surprised when I say that I love romantic tropes. That is, if they are done well. Josh and Hazel aren't love interests right away. Instead, they are best friends who set each other up on blind dates. Combine the "best friends to lovers" trope with Christina Lauren's magnetic writing and hilarious blind dates, and you've got a wonderful novel.


As of September 3rd, I've read several of Christina Lauren's books. This includes:

Beautiful Bastard
Beautiful Stranger
Roomies
Autoboyography
Dating You / Hating You

I read all these books this year, so while I'm not a long-time fan of Christina Lauren, I am now familiar with their work. All five of the books, except for Autoboyography (which is a gem!!), are adult romance novels. It is without question that Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is my favorite adult romance novel from the writing duo. I don't know about favorite all the time, but it would be a very tight race between Autoboyography and Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating. Out of the list, Josh and Hazel's Guide stands out to me. Yes, I recommend all the books, but Josh and Hazel's story has been the closest to perfection for me.



What makes Josh and Hazel's Guide stand out was the perfect balance among drama, romance, comedy, and more emotional moments. With other romance novels, the never ending drama and non-stop sex scenes can grate on my nerves, the humor doesn't work, etc. Surprisingly, and much to my pleasure, Josh and Hazel's Guide worked perfectly for me. There were times I was laughing out loud and other times where my heart ached for Josh and Hazel.


There is only one teeny tiny speck that detracts from what would be a five-star book, and it happens near the end of the book. There is a revelation, and if you read the book you will know what I'm talking about, that I found to be cliche. I think Hazel should have been immediately upfront about it once she found out, instead of waiting for reassurance. Then, what happened after was just too cheesy for my taste. It felt too...perfect? Tidy? Thankfully, there was an epilogue that did warm my heart and left a much better taste in my mouth.


Besides the revelation in act three, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating was a compelling, heartwarming, and laugh out loud romance novel. If you are new to the romance genre, new to Christina Lauren, or a lover of one or the other (or both!), I recommend this book to you. Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is one of my favorite books of the year, and I know that I'll be rereading this in due time.


With that, I give

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

4.5 out of 5 Flowers!

No matter how many novels of theirs I read, Christina Lauren’s ability to infuse their stories with freshness and verve, time and time again, never seizes to amaze me, but it is their singular brand of wit and heart that keeps me coming back for more. Their latest offering is a delicious case of opposites attracting, set in the prickly world of modern-day dating, where the plot takes the ‘friends to lovers’ trope and flips it on its head by telling the story of two people who remain adamant they are not dating, regardless of how much everything they do or feel says otherwise. The writing is delightful—clever and engaging—but, as always, the characters steal the show as their endearing quirks and indomitable spirits shine through on every single page. This is one of those wonderful books that will leave you sighing and swooning and smiling and cursing yourself for not being a slower reader.

Continue reading review » https://natashaisabookjunkie.com/2018/09/03/review-josh-and-hazels-guide-to-not-dating-by-christina-lauren/

4.5 sweet, lighthearted....Josh + Hazel gave me all the warm and fuzzies. Hazel was such a spitfire, I loved her quirky style and thoroughly enjoyed her being too Haze-yy. And Josh was the sweetest, most adorable B alpha. Once Hazel became the one his love for her gave me the cheesiest grin. CL is an auto buy author for me its another winner in their court.

I absolutely FLOVE Christina Lauren. Their books are out of this world amazing but Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating was absolutely incredible. I seriously had a smile on my face from ear to ear and could not stop reading! I loved Josh Im and Hazel Bradford so much and loved the way the authors showcased a beautiful love, friendship and the idea of unequivocal acceptance. This story was just so fantastic. I laughed, I teared up and could not stop rooting for this fantastic couple.

The minute I started this story I was hooked and then when I really met Hazel, I fell in love with her and her sass and humor. God, she was such an outstanding heroine. She was confident and sassy and had no qualms about being herself. She was quirky, blunt and different but that was what made her who she was. I seriously had a crush on her the entire time. And Josh?! Lord!! He is my new favorite Christina Lauren hero as he was just brilliant. This was a slow burn romance and the way he loved Hazel just touched my heart. He loved her as a friend at first and then fell in love with the woman that she was, quirks and all. He accepted who she was and felt like she was the perfect woman for him. More importantly, he didn't ever want to change her and thought that she was made for him.

Gah! The wit, banter and swoons in this story were glorious. I loved everything about it and seriously can't wait for more! I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula