Absolutely loved this one! Picked it for our book club because there is so much to unpack and talk about. The alternating POVs and Jewish rep were great.

I really liked the first half of the book when it was focused evenly on all four family members. As the book went on, it became just about Hazel and got less interesting for me.

I, like many others, was surprised that this was a debut novel. This was a writing style I really enjoyed as well as the New England setting. I’ve already told my friends to grab a copy! It was ann enjoyable read, and I’m genuinely looking forward to what is next from Jessica Berger Gross.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy! Publication date June 17, 2025.

This novel perfectly balances humor with real life issues that need to be brought to light and discussed. I absolutely adored this read. It's hard to believe that this is Gross's debut novel! I can't wait for more. 5 stars for Hazel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

This was a surprise to me. I have to say, I kind of loved this book. I loved Hazel, I loved her entire family. I was totally invested in what would happen to each of them. What a perfect summer read.

This is a debut novel and a good one. It's a touchy subject matter but a good one. It has ups and downs. Laughter and tears. A strong teenager. A strong family vibe.

The Blum family moved to Maine from Brooklyn, NY. A small town in Maine where everyone knows everyone. There are few secrets. Gus Blum got a job at the college. Claire is going to start her own clothing business. Wolf starts middle school. Hazel starts her senior year of high school. All should be great. But then something happens that no one could have seen coming.

On the first day of school Hazel is called to the principal's office. He propositions her saying that every year he picks a girl to have sex with and this year it's her, Hazel. Hazel is flummoxed. Did she really just hear her principle say that. Hazel says no and leaves quickly.

Hazel has no idea how much her life is about to change. She rushes home and of course she has to tell her mother what happened. Her mother in turn tells her dad. The whole time her little brother is listening and adding his opinion. When word spreads it's not good. Not good for Hazel or her family. The people in this town love Principal White. He's a major upstanding person. He's done so much for the school and the community. How dare Hazel accuse him. Maybe she misunderstood. According to him Hazel made a pass at him. Yeah right. Isn't that what all predators say?

The Blums go through a lot. There are a few who believe them and stand with them but most are on the principal's side. He could and would never do such a thing.

You get to know this family well. How they stick up for each other. How much they love each other. It's the subtle things. The little things they do. Sometimes big things. Hazel has big ambitions. She wants to go to Vassar. She has dreams. Principal White threatened her dreams. Tried to make her believe he could stop her from graduating if she didn't sleep with him. Hazel said no...

More girls come forward. Hazel did the right thing. But will it all be ok. Will she be able to live in Maine and get into the college of her dreams. Will her brother be able to cope with things. Wolf has ADHD. Though he can be cute and funny at times he is also a very serious kid. He has no friends. Well he had one but turns out she is Principal White's daughter. Go figure.

This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. From laughter to full on tears. From serious to a bit comedic. A family with problems but also there for each other. How will this one end....

Thank you #HarlequinPublishers, #HarlequinAudio, for this ARC.

4.3 stars. Read this one. It's good.

This one wasn't for me, unfortunately. As a parent of a teen and a tween, I found the kids in this book (especially Wolf) incredibly unrealistic. He felt like a kid written by an adult rather than an actual kid. The way the characters interacted in general, and especially the dialogue, felt pretentious and did not ring true.

I really wanted to like this book. As a New Englander, the Maine setting piqued my interest. And the overarching theme of the novel is certainly a timely and important topic. But unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me.

An excellent debut by this author; the characters, setting and story lines were all fantastic. Hazel is a high school senior when her father gets a new teaching job at a liberal arts college in Maine. The family leaves their Brooklyn apartment for a small town, something Hazel’s mom, Claire, is not totally convinced is a good idea. When the principal of Hazel’s school inappropriately propositions her on the first day of classes, Hazel faces a dilemma of whether to tell her parents. Wolf, Hazel’s younger brother, is having problems adjusting, and overhearing Hazel, reports the incident. The repercussions of this one day will impact the whole family, but especially Hazel, in numerous ways. The family was also victims of antisemitism, which compounded the situation. This book is one of my favorites that I have read this year, and I highly recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I cannot believe this book is a debut by this author. The writing was fantastic and the character building was so descriptive and amazing. I was truly blown away by this novel and I absolutely love multiple POV where we get a feel for each characters emotions. I highly recommend this one.

I went in to this book knowing very little about it and ended up really enjoying it.

I loved Hazel's character and appreciated how everyone in her life reacted to her standing up for herself. I enjoyed Claire's character a lot too, as she tries to figure her life out. I liked the writing a lot -- it was very readable and kept me intrigued.

Overall I am impressed with this as a debut novel and will definitely read more by Jessica Berger Gross in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

*Hazel Says No* by Jessica Berger Gross is a charming, honest, and empowering story about figuring out who you are when life doesn't go as planned. Hazel is a relatable, complex protagonist whose journey feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. With warmth, wit, and a touch of humor, Gross explores themes of self-worth, boundaries, and second chances. It’s the kind of book that feels like a conversation with a good friend—real, heartfelt, and full of quiet strength.

The tone on this one wasn't quite right for me, and I struggled with all the characters' inner monologues.

Our store loved this novel so much that we made it our July Favorite. The story is perfectly paced and so relatable, and every point of view was so well done, which is no small feat! We all rooted for Hazel and fell in love with Claire. Such a great read!

I love books with narrators of all ages -- and HAZEL SAYS NO won me over with its portrait of a family deeply changed by one event that no one asked for, that no one wanted, and that never should have happened. This story offered a character-driven look at community, at loyalty, at the assumptions we make about ourselves and others (right or wrong), and about the unexpected moments in life that reveal who we really are ... even if we still have some growing up to do.

The end of Chapter 1 and my JAW DROPPED. I saw this was compared to Schitt’s Creek and jumped in without a synopsis and am glad I did. While that comparison is kind of weak (sorry!) this book deserves to be read. This deals with many familial and societial issues while having real world, every day problems AND a coming-of-age story wrapped up in a beautiful bow. You’ll laugh, you’ll rage, you’ll feel every emotion available - and you’ll have an amazing time. Truly, this is an amazing debut. I did the audio mostly and loved the narrator, Emma Galvin.

This book had a lot of good parts, but ended up just being ok for me. Very important topic, but felt like it was kind of repetitive of things I’ve heard in the news and just didn’t want to hear any more about. Excellent writing and the description of this quaint Maine town has me wanting to go for a visit!

A Perfect Bookclub Choice. Hazel Says No should be required reading for anyone with a beloved child in their life, male, female or nonbinary! Jessica Berger Gross has written a fascinating debut that captures well the agony and consequences of being propositioned by an adult authority figure / pedophile for Hazel, her brother, her parents and her community. Hazel and her brother are both well drawn and compelling characters. The portions of the story offering up the perspectives of her parents, particularly her mother, did not work as well for me - and were not as insightful or thought provoking as the remainder of the tale. Kudos to Jessica. Berger Gross for tackling the “me too” topic in such a realistic and thoughtful manner, however!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I can absolutely see why people loved this book but I ended up dnfing. There was nothing wrong with it, this is perfect for lit fic coming of age fans! I just didn't connect with the characters but I'm still glad I gave it a shot!

This book was much better than I anticipated. It's funny and witty, a bit snarky, with quirky characters and a fabulous Maine setting. The first half was okay, but the second half gave me a lot to think about. Hazel is a precocious senior, starting her school year at a new school in her new town in Maine. On the first day, her principal propositions her. Everything spins out from there. We hear the story through Hazel's point of view, as well as her family's point of views. Sometimes I felt like there were some gaps, like something had been edited out, and it was a bit confusing, but over all, I think this would be a great book for book clubs!

This book jumps right into the plot and I felt invested pretty quickly. I really enjoyed how we got to see each family member’s perspective on what was happening to their family and how it affected them.

I did find that it seemed like it the book was a little longer than it needed to be. Towards the end it felt like it was being dragged out a bit but I did really enjoy the ending! I felt like the writing was good but would have liked a bit more character development before it launches into the event.

I think if you like books with family dynamics and alternating POV, you will probably like this one.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.