This one thoroughly surprised me with how much I liked it, how much I was rooting for the whole family, and how I couldn’t put it down. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while!

Hazel says no to her new high school's principal. This happens in the first chapter so I'm not giving a spoiler. What follows is the aftermath, the fallout, and a look at how we treat women that do say no. I recommend.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
5/5

I saw a post that said “everyone should read this book” and I wish I remembered who posted it to give them credit (if it was you, please let me know!) because they are truly correct on this. I went into this with decently solid expectations after stumbling upon Jessica Berger Gross’ IG page from The Hive’s IG. I really love to read books by authors that have the same morals & beliefs as myself. Especially with the state of the world. I know I’m going into a mentally safe space when I read their books. And this one was not only a safe space, but also one that made me want to scream from the rooftops.

With that being said, this book made me think & feel so much. The impact this story has had on me has made me feel even more empowered & less alone in the world. Without giving too much away, I truly believe that this story is an important one that anyone can relate to in one way or another.

This story depicts a modern day family living through life changes, struggles, & challenges that we wish weren’t every day occurrences, but unfortunately are very common. Specifically, I feel women of all ages can truly relate to not only Hazel, but also Claire. Being a woman and also an extroverted introvert like Hazel & Claire, I really connected to both of these characters through this story. It begins in the summer & ends the following summer.

I recommend this book to anyone that is feeling alone with the state of the country (US) & even the state of the world as whole. For those that need to hear a voice through the words of an author that relates to them & understands them.

I went into this not knowing the major plot points, which are also not stated in the description of this book, so I don’t want to give anything else away! The ending was perfect. And I’ll leave you with this…I highly recommend this book & I truly believe it’s important that you read it! (And then message me immediately, I NEED to talk about this book with someone please!!)

Here’s what I loved…

📖 Hazel was also a bookworm & I highly related to that…I also took AP English classes in high school, but I fortunate to have amazing teachers! My hope is that Hazel found them in college.

📓 the dynamics between Gus & his student Sam over the time in the book was written so well considering it wasn’t the main plot line!

📎 I feel like I would have loved taking Gus’s American Studies class!

👗 the overall writing of American culture through each character in this was written in such a masterful way…especially with Claire through fashion & the latest trends & Gus through his class that digs into pop culture.

❌ experiencing the backlash differences between the townspeople & those that were a part of the college system in the same community

‼️ Gracie’s growth throughout who she “blamed” for what was happening to her was so insightful without her even being a main character

📺 the pop cultural mentions in this was great… naming two of my hands down favs; Girl, Interrupted (this was filmed at the old state hospital building, which was converted into offices that my dad worked in when I was growing up; this movie holds a big place in my heart) & Northern Exposure (I watched this show growing up with my parents & it also holds a big place in my heart….felt like an old friend popping in to say hello & made me feel even more in a safe space in this book

🖊️ I had 59 notations in this one….I could go on forever. Which is why I have my full review on the second slide in the photos! Swipe to read more.

This debut shares the experiences as told from the Blum family. I like d the Blums and found myself rooting for them as the move from New York to Maine. Hazel, a high school senior, encounters the unexpected and unacceptable on the first day of school. This impacts each family member and they tell you about it in alternating chapters. I thought it was well played to capture the #metoo movement in a smaller community in an everyday situation. The characters are well developed and there are many literary references. My favorite character was 11 year old Wolf, an aspiring Thespian and the voice of reason. Relatable with solid writing. I will look out for this author's next work.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

I was really excited to get an early copy of this book. As someone who moved around and was “the new kid/fish out of water” I was immediately rooting for Hazel. I carried this book around with me because I could not put it down.

This book felt so timely and moving and will absolutely have you thinking about the MeToo movement and survivors and expectations and privilege. Yes these are some tough topics but they are handled with such care.

This book definitely gave me Schitt’s Creek vibes when it came to the style of humor and emotion and empathy in this book - I absolutely loved it!

We get multiple POVs and see how this incident affects not just Hazel but also her family and even the whole town. I highly recommend giving this a read!!

For Jessica Berger Gross's fiction debut, Hazel Says No was a fantastic family drama. Each member of the Blum family was crafted so well and they all had great arcs throughout the book. The book deals with heavy and extremely relevant topics, sexual harassment and antisemitism, and Jessica handled these topics with such care. I can't wait to read more from her in the future!

Hazel Says No is a story that at once feels moving and sincere. It follows Hazel, as well as her family, after she moves to Maine from Brooklyn and is propositioned by her principal. Hazel is the star, and it shows, as she reads like so many precocious yet misunderstood teenage girls. She feels like such a real person, but her family is equally vivid. Her mother, Claire, struggles with her new life and artistic block. Gus, the father, is a professor who catches some flack after teaching a lesson about The Cosby Show. Wolf is Hazel's younger brother, whose struggles must be that of every middle school kid who feels like a fish out of water. His chapters were particularly engaging and fun, and at times, heartbreaking. It's easy to root for this family, and especially Hazel, who struggles and then shines after her ordeal. The story feels like an actual small-town saga. Afterall, men take advantage of young women all the time, without considering the aftermath. This book dives into that with heart and humor. I truly recommend it and think it's perfect for most library collections.

I love a Maine setting, which is what initially drew me to Hazel Says No, but then I fell in love with Hazel. I think we can all see a little bit of ourselves in her, but also in her brother, Wolf, or her parents, Claire and Gus. After a move from Brooklyn to Maine, they’re all struggling to fit in with their new environment when Hazel’s principal sexually harasses her and then turns it back onto Hazel when she stands up for herself. Although Hazel and her family lose their way again after gaining some notoriety, the choices they make in the end made me love them as characters even more. While partially a coming-of-age novel, Hazel Says No is so much more than that, and it would be the perfect book club choice.

Wow! Hazel Says No really surprised me in the best way. It tackles some serious and heavy topics, but does it with this sharp, satirical edge that totally works. I wasn’t expecting to laugh while also feeling totally punched in the gut emotionally, but here we are.

I loved getting to know each member of the Blum family, every perspective added something unique and layered. It’s one of those books that makes you think, but never feels like it’s preaching at you. Just real, raw, complicated people dealing with real, raw, complicated stuff.

It’s powerful, it’s smart, and it’s funny in that way where you laugh and then immediately feel a little sad about it. Highly recommend if you're into family dramas that aren’t afraid to get messy, with a darkly funny twist.

I loved Hazel Says No! It covers several important heavy topics and perspectives while maintaining a light feel and fast-paced read. The characters were relatable and I hope moms and daughters (and husbands and sons!) read and discuss this book!

In this thoughtful and timely debut novel, Jessica Berger Gross explores the ripple effects of one teenage girl's powerful act of refusal. When Hazel, newly relocated to a small Maine town with her family, is propositioned by her school principal, she simply says “no”—but that one word disrupts her family, her community, and her own sense of safety and purpose. Told through the rotating perspectives of Hazel, her parents, and her younger brother, Hazel Says No unpacks all of the issues surrounding a decision to say no and to speak out including alternative perspectives. Gross is able to balance a heavy and controversial topic with humor and great perspective. I was expecting to sort of eye roll my way through this, assuming it would be a cliche storyline but it was very well done and really brought out perspectives to the issue not typically discussed and noticed. I think this book out be a great YA book. and probably should be marketed that way. Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for an advance copy of this book which was released on June 17th.

Hazel's family relocates from Brooklyn to a college town in Maine when her father gets a tenured position at the college. Hazel and her brother Wolf spend the summer at the town pool where Hazel meets the high school principal. When the principal propositions Hazel on the first day of school, she writes a widely read essay, resulting in media attention. As she deals with all the unexpected spotlight, the perspective of each family member is detailed. Dealing with a divided community and harassment has each wondering if the move was worth it. Emotional read dealing with real life issues.
#HazelSaysNo #HarlequinTradePublishing #HanoverSquarePress #NetGalley

“Hazel Says No” starts with Hazel Blum, a high school senior, being propositioned by her principal on her first day at a new school in Maine. Her family has just moved there from Brooklyn for her dad Gus’s new job as a department chair at the town’s university. Her mother Claire is at loose ends, unsure who she is outside of NYC. And her little brother Wolf is caught in the crossfires of it all, navigating middle school and his family’s drama.

The first half of this book is BLEAK. After Hazel reports her principal’s behavior, she and her family become pariahs in the town, even becoming victims of antisemitic hate directed towards them. I kept re-reading the blurb on the front of the cover, the blurb where the book is described as “exuberant and big-hearted” and wondering if I was reading the right book. But right at about the 50% mark, things turned around.

I think fans of Amy Poeppel, “The Wedding People”, and heartfelt character driven contemporary fiction about likable quirky families will enjoy this book … IF they can get through the first half. Let me be clear – the first half of this book absolutely does not feel like what most of us probably want to be reading this summer. Did I mention the sexual harassment? And the antisemitism and #MeToo victim blaming that follows it? But the second half has a radially different vibe and it is worth the pain to get there. The whole thing felt very real.

I’d recommend this book to readers who are open to a summer read that is heavy at times but ultimately heartwarming.

This book starts off with a bang--in the first chapter, the principal at Hazel's new school propositions her with a carrot and stick offer, and the rest of the book explores the repercussions for Hazel, her family, his family, and the people in the well-drawn Maine town that the family has just moved to. I enjoyed the family dynamics--especially how supportive her parents and brother were at all times- and Hazel's growth throughout the book. At some points, things seemed to fall a little too neatly and easily into place, but Hazel handled it all very well. This book did seem to me to fall more into the YA category, though. Nothing wrong with that--I enjoy YA books--but it was not what I was expecting. I think this impression was heightened by the fact that I listened to the audiobook. Although I think the narrator put a lot of effort into acting it out, it all came across to me like it was narrated by an adolescent boy; it was most convincing during the parts about Hazel's middle-school-aged brother, Wolf. Nevertheless, this book has a lot to recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Harlequin Audio for the e-ARC and e-audio ARC.

No. A simple word. Two letters. One syllable. Universally understood. Requiring no modifiers. No. When Hazel says “NO” to a wildly inappropriate question from her high school principal it sends shock waves through the community and threatens to upend lives.

The story follows Hazel and her parents and brother shortly after they relocate from Brooklyn to Maine for her father’s job as a college professor. New to the area and with no connections outside her family, Hazel attracts the attention of her principal who, on the very first day of a new school year, propositions her and sends her world into a tailspin. Hazel rebuffs his advances with a resounding “NO” that is the first domino to fall with many to follow.

Jessica Berger Gross tackles some big topics in her debut novel and does so with humor and an uncanny ability to cut to the heart of the issue. She probes the consequences of telling versus remaining quiet. Frames how easily someone’s personal story can become the property of others. She delves into the fine line between advocacy and exploitation and examines the challenges of finding one’s voice. She looks at the fear that results when antisemitism and small mindedness read their ugliness within a community. She reminds us that none of us exist in a vacuum and the ability of one action to impact many lives. This is truly a well plotted and superbly executed debut.

Of special note is the entirely authentic character development of Hazel and her younger brother, Wolf. Berger Gross’s writing perfectly captures the tone and thought processes characters their age. Their dialogue, in particular, is spot on.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC on exchange for my honest review. I fresh voice in women’s fiction. The quirky nature in which it is written makes the subject matter easy to read.

4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
What a wonderful book!
Hazel Blum and her family leave Brooklyn for small town Maine when her father accepts a position at the local college. Hazel starts her senior year and when she is called to the Principal's office she is faced with a traumatic situation. The story is told from multiple POV's and I loved how layered the characters are. Hazel is a strong woman who knows the power of speaking the truth when something bad happens. Definitely recommend.

If you're looking for a book that draws you in right from the beginning, this is it. As a teacher, this book really pulled at my heart strings. No means no. It doesn't matter if you are an adult or a child.

With so much hope to moving to a new town in order to succeed in life, the characters' POV showed that it isn't always roses. Hazel was my favorite character, along with her little brother, Wolf. This story is written in third person, and I always enjoyed the point of view from those two characters. I felt like the parent's problems were just an add-on; to be honest, they detracted from the storyline,

The book made me a little sad for the world. It's hard to be the person that no one believes. It's also hard to be the teacher, like Gus, who is doing his best to not offend anyone in his lessons. It's hard to be the daughter of a father that ruins your family.

I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Then it went sideways for me. It was a little too much lecturing about the wrongs in the world. It moved too slowly for me, especially when it wasn't about Hazel or Wolf.

This is the reason I gave it three stars. That being said, if will problably enjoy this book if you like to read about:
*family dramas
*feminism
*antisemitism
*teaching
*Maine
*Me Too

It is a well-written book. It just moved too slowly for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Jessica Berger Gross for sharing this book with me. This is my honest opinion.

When Gus Blum gets a job offer in Maine, the family can’t turn down the lower cost of living and college expense offerings for their children. On Hazel’s first day of senior year though, something happens that will throw the entire family off. Each member tells us how the situation has affected their life, as well as the families as whole.

Hazel Says No, and all I could think was GO HAZEL! Oh man, want a book that will start with something that makes you want to scream in fury? Look no further! Following Hazel through the aftermath of the “incident” was heartbreaking, while also being empowering? You felt her anger, and her fear, and her devastation, but you also knew deep down that she was stronger than the bad stuff that came her way. Not that she had to be…and honestly I truly hate the sentence “you are so strong!” One sure fire way to infuriate me is to say that phrase. Anyway, each member of the Blum family was affected by what happened, but I mostly felt for Wolf. I have my own many feelings about Gus, but I will let you make those opinions yourself. Wolf however was such a sweet little brother and it broke my heart how much of the blame he put on himself. This book covers something that sadly is so insanely common, and the way it played out for Hazel, in the first half of the book, is sadly how most often plays out. I don’t want to say much more…so just trust me and read this one ok?

Thank you to @hanoverquarepress for my gifted copy of this book!

HAZEL SAYS NO by Jessica Berger Gross is certainly a roller coaster of a read. Set in Riverburg Maine, the novel features a family transplanted from Brooklyn: high school senior Hazel Greenberg Blum; her middle school brother, Wolf, who loves to act; professor and frustrated writer Dad named Gus; and Claire, fashion designer Mom. Settling in over the summer, things seem to be going well, but during the first day of school Hazel is propositioned by the high school principal and that event sets off a cascade of reactions. There's plenty of hate mail and self-questioning; shunning of both kids; parenting crises and career angst for Gus and Claire... and then (that roller coaster) ... media interest, trips to New York, local support, and new friends. The audiobook, excellently narrated by Emma Galvin, captures the shock, the sadness, the anger, the self-doubt, the creativity, the joy, the relief... This debut novel deftly explores societal themes (#MeToo; white privilege, antisemitism, small town insularity) while telling a coming-of-age story – mostly for Hazel, but for her parents and younger brother, too, as they all mature and change. In fact, Berger Gross makes the point rather obviously: "it was Wolf's big monologue [in Charlotte's Web] and he remembered, he FELT every word: Whatever will happen, will happen. I may not live as long as I'd like, but I've lived very well. A good life is much more important than just having a long life. So starting now, I'm going to stop worrying about myself. There are more important things than just thinking about yourself all the time." HAZEL SAYS NO could be triggering; it contains some difficult moments and sensitive content; this title received a starred review from Booklist.

Also of interest is Hazel's reading list: "Remembering how good reading made her feel - grounded and alive. She'd read as much as she could before college. Virginia Woolf and bell hooks. Jhumpa Lahiri and Lauren Groff. Celeste Ng and Lorrie Moore, Curtis Sittenfeld and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Elena Ferrante and Sheila Heti and Min Jin Lee and Jennifer Egan and more Zadie Smith."