The narrator did a good job. I don't think she did so great changing her voice for the characters though. She sounds like a kid. That is not always a bad thing though. She did good but not great.

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.

Thank you so much to @htpbooks and @htp_hive for the advance copy of this amazing debut.
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From the very first page, I was completely drawn into the world of the Blum family. They are reluctantly uprooted from their Brooklyn life and dropped into the slow-moving rhythm of small-town Maine.
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Hazel is the kind of teenage narrator you root for immediately: sharp, awkward, observant, and just trying to hold it all together while the world shifts under her feet. But what makes this debut really shine is how Jessica Berger Gross gives each member of the Blum family their own voice and perspective. Claire, Gus, and even eleven-year-old Wolf each bring something honest and surprising to the story.
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The writing is emotionally rich without ever being heavy, and Gross has such a knack for capturing the weird beauty of a town that doesn’t quite know what to make of its newest residents. When everything falls apart on the first day of Hazel’s senior year, it sets off a ripple effect that’s both dramatic and deeply personal.
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If you love character-driven stories that balance wit and heart, you’ll want to add this to your summer TBR!

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.

Tha audiobook of HAZEL SAYS NO kept me great company on a summer road trip. I enjoyed the characters, the unexpected turns in the plot, and the way the multiple points of view complemented one another to add depth to a thought-provoking story. I'll look forward to more from this author.

This is a perfect summer read....it had a little bit of everything...romance, family issues, funny moments, and a happy ending. The author did a fantastic job in getting the reader to feel the small town vibes....as a person from a small town, I really enjoyed this. I loved Hattie and just wanted her to have her hapoy ending. Her rekindled romance with Lee and her growing feelings for Fox was great and I didn't know which way I wanted the story to go. I also loved the music element in the book. I also LOVED the cover...in fact, it was the cover that caught my eye and made me read the synopsis to the story first. I love feel good books in the summer and this one delivered!

I chose to listen to Hazel Says No, because I was intrigued by a story about a family moving from NYC to small town Maine. And while that was certainly part of it, the majority of the plot centered around 18-year-old Hazel and an incident with her new principal on the first day of school. If I had been aware that the book's themes focused more on #metoo and cancel culture than family dynamics, I probably wouldn't have picked it up.

Hazel's struggle with the opportunities she was given after speaking out added some dimension to a common story, but wasn't enough to make the book stand out.

I also did not care for the audiobook narration. The story was read straight without any change in voice or tone for the different characters. I thought the voice used (I assume this was the reader's natural voice) fit the character of Wolf, a sixth grade boy, perfectly. But it felt ill-suited to the main character and her parents.

I am absolutely obsessed with this book! Hazel Says No follows a family who moves to Maine and is dealing with the fall out of multiple issues that occur during their first weeks there. It jumps between all the members of the family, with the most emphasis on the perspectives of the women (Hazel and her mother, Claire). I really appreciated the take on small-town Maine life, sexual harassment, and life as a college professor (which as a college professor, was incredibly accurate). This is a great book for people who life family dramas.

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.

I am a sucker for family drama books and this is about the Blum family moving from Brooklyn to a small town in Maine. The story is about changes as well as how a family handles a sensitive situation.

The story is told in Hazel's POV who is a senior in the thick of applying for college. The book has a YA feel to it since it is from her voice.

Despite having some very sensitive topics, there's humor and so much love in the story. Wolf is adorable as he navigates the start of middle school.

The audio was narrated by Emma Galvin and she did a great job. I especially enjoyed the interview between the author and narrator at the end.

Thank you @htpbooks @htpbooks_audio for a copy of this book.

I can’t believe this is a debut book/author. This is a gorgeous story of contemporary/literary/domestic fiction.

I adored each character, and we see each family member’s POV. Both kids were so vibrant and unique, not to mention personable and brave.

Hazel’s story and her actions are poignant and moving, and I absolutely recommend this book (provided you are comfortable as a reader and not triggered by the inciting event of this book).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you HTP The Hive and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

A big Thank You to @htp_hive @htpbooks @htpbooks_audio for hooking me up with all things 𝑯𝑨𝒁𝑬𝑳 𝑺𝑨𝒀𝑺 𝑵𝑶 𝒃𝒚 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝑩𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔, and read by Emma Galvin, which was published June 17!

Imagine moving from Brooklyn to a smaller town in Maine for your Senior Year of High School. Then imagine after what you thought was a real welcome from the principal during the summer to morph into a proposition on the first day.

Hazel says NO!

But that's just the start.

The fallout from this cataclysmic event threatens to derail Hazel, and has impacts on her mom, dad, and younger brother. They all have to navigate this new community while disrupting the "peace" to find out what their paths will be and how they will get there.

I could see a little bit where this story was going to go, but that in no way lessened it for me. I was wondering how Hazel and her family would process the events, and I was impressed at how well the emotional journeys were presented. There are so many things to feel in a situation like this, especially when it feels justice is lacking.

I would say, since most of this is from Hazel's perspective, it does have a bit of a YA feel. I did listen while reading, so that may have been the narration really tuning in to the character. I did like the audio, but felt it would be just as effective in print only.

An audio benefit was the bonus conversation between the author, narrator, and editor, which was fantastic!

I think this is a great book to highlight how tough it can be to make the right decision, and how it doesn't always magically make it all go away. It can make you a target, which her Jewish heritage made her even more so. I liked how this story took Hazel from searching for her place to being confident in what she wanted her story to be.

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.

I very much looked forward to every listening session with this audiobook. Emma Galvin did a great job.

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.

A heartfelt thank you to @jessicabergergross @htpbooks @htp_hive for the #gifted book and @harlequinbooks for the #gifted audiobook #hiveinfluencer.

This debut novel is nothing short of extraordinary. The storytelling is riveting, and the emotional depth is truly exceptional. The author skillfully addresses a challenging subject with remarkable sensitivity and grace.

As Hazel and her family navigate a significant transition from New York to Maine, adjusting to a new job and new schools, Hazel faces an unimaginable situation when her high school principal propositions her on the very first day. Her courageous decision to say NO unleashes a tidal wave of consequences that ripple through her family, community, and school.

I was deeply moved by Hazel and her bold journey to fight back against injustice. The repercussions of her saying No profoundly affect her family, particularly her brother, adding layers of complexity to the story. The author masterfully captures the myriad of emotions Hazel experiences throughout her senior year, which is laden with depression, self-doubt, community backlash, and anxiety. The story unfolds through the insightful perspectives of Hazel and her family, allowing readers to fully appreciate the depth of their struggles.

The narrator brings these characters to life with incredible skill, conveying the intense emotions each one grapples with as they navigate the fallout of Hazel's actions.

If you’re a fan of contemporary literature that tackles difficult themes, explores nuanced family dynamics, and highlights the journey of healing, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I really, really enjoyed this lit fic debut about a Jewish family from New York who move to a small town in Maine thinking it will mean better things for everyone only to have a shocking incident involving their eldest daughter, Hazel rock everyone's world with ripple effects throughout the community. Thought-provoking and told from bold, unforgettable characters, this is one of those stories that will stick with you and had the perfect combination of humor, heart and human insight. It was also great on audio and I can't wait to see what the author writes next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

HAZEL SAYS NO by Jessica Berger Gross starts off with a major bang that made my jaw drop and eyebrows shoot to the sky. Hazel Blum’s family is new to town, so she’s a bit surprised when she gets called to the principal’s office on the first day of school. The high school senior has a conversation with her principal that instantly changes the trajectory of her final year. It throws Hazel and her entire family for a huge loop.

The characters in this debut were absolutely EVERYTHING to me! Gah! I seriously loved them all. Hazel, Wolf, Claire, and Gus will live rent-free in my heart and mind forever. The author crafted this family impeccably. The character development was top-notch and extremely impressive. What a realistic, relatable, and lovable family!

This novel explores some heavier themes that the author handles with heart and humor. You can’t help but root for and sympathize with the Blums. I kept asking myself what I would do if my family was in a similar situation. (Especially with my daughter entering high school in the fall.)

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Family drama and dynamics
- Multiple POVs
- Maine setting
- Small town vibes
- Feminist activism
- Marriage and parenting
- High school life
- Teenage angst
- Witty dialogue
- Jewish representation
- Well-developed characters

I HIGHLY recommend the audio version of this novel as Emma Galvin knocks the narration completely out of the park! She brings the entire Blum family to life with plenty of emotion and enthusiasm. I couldn’t stop listening.

Overall, I absolutely LOVED this debut and have zero complaints. I will be the first in line to read whatever Jessica Berger Gross writes next! 5/5 glowing stars for HAZEL SAYS NO!

Hazel Says No is a powerful story of a young woman in her senior year of high school whose family has recently moved to a small town in Maine. Hazel, the FMC, is a strong, resilient student who has her sights set on attending Vassar for college. She has plans to make her senior year of high school academically perfect as she prepares to apply to the college of her dreams. Until one event and its rippling effects change everything.

This story, with its diverse cast of characters, is well written and carefully curated. It addresses several current and generational societal issues that can tend to turn controversial. I am impressed that this is the author's debut novel. Although it is a work of fiction, it was very informative but balances these heavy topics with empathy and humor. I really enjoyed reading the Blum family’s story and the use of multimedia to help drive the story. I loved how strong, resilient, but still empathetic, and forgiving Hazel was. I absolutely adored Hazel’s brother, Wolf, and all his funny shenanigans.

I highly suggest listening to the audio book. It made for a great immersive experience. The narrator, Emma Galvin, is very energetic and did a great job with giving each character their own unique voice. The tone and pacing were spot on and helped bring the characters and story to life.

The Blum family relocates from bustling Brooklyn to rural Maine after Hazel’s father Gus lands a professor/department head job at a small but prestigious liberal arts college. On the first day of her senior year of high school, Hazel is summoned to the principal’s office, where he informs her that each year, he chooses a female student to have sex with, and this year, he’s chosen Hazel. You can probably guess from the title what Hazel’s response is. The story that follows is a post-#MeToo examination of how the fallout from that one brave little word affects each of the four members of the Blum family and the entire community of Riverburg, Maine.

Told from four perspectives, this is a smart, nuanced story that straddles the line between commercial fiction and literary fiction. Really well-written, it doesn’t shy away from heavy, meaningful topics but there are also moments of lightness, tenderness, and humor too. The characters feel authentic and relatable as they try to come to grips with the ripple effects. There are so many themes that would make for a great book club discussion, including, power, privilege, victim blaming, antisemitism, and cancel culture.

Although I’d definitely recommend the print version of this book, the audiobook narration did not work for me. Emma Galvin is the sole narrator and even though the book is written from four POVs, she makes them all sound exactly the same, no differentiation whatsoever. Based on the author/narrator conversation at the end of the audiobook, I think this was a conscious choice, but the end result feels a little flat and doesn’t do justice to this compelling novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, and Harlequin Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Thank you Hanover Square Press, HTP, The Hive, and Harper Audio for the gifted copies!

Hazel Says No
Jessica Berger Gross
Publishing Date: June 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧 Narrator: Emma Galvin 🎧

What a special book this was. Hazel and her family have moved from NYC to Maine and are definitely fish out of water. As if a move your senior year of high school isn’t traumatic enough, on Hazel’s first day of school she is propositioned by her principal, who she had met over the summer at the town pool. And Hazel says NO.

This book takes a look at the consequences of Hazel saying no, not only for her, but for her entire family and community. We all know that the statistics regarding sexual assault and harassment are inaccurate due to the amount of women who don’t report. This book shines a light on at least some of the reasons why that is. Power differentials, stigma, not being believed, victim blaming.. the list goes on and on.

While Hazel is the shining star of this book, the author does an amazing job creating well developed side characters who you are fully invested in. A mother who has lost herself, her career, her friends, and her identity to do what she feels is best for her children. A father who is struggling in similar ways as he tries to provide for his family. A neurodivergent little brother who in many ways gets pushed aside as the trauma of this situation dominates their world.

This book tackles heavy themes, but there is such beautiful levity provided throughout as well as inspiring shows of strength. The balance is absolute perfection.

🎧 I read this one primarily with my ears and Emma Galvin did an amazing job. She conveyed the emotions of the characters so well, but where her narration really stood out was in how it helped provide levity and showed the unique quirks and personalities of each character.

I really enjoyed this book! I actually switched between a couple different formats and while I enjoyed them all, I think the audiobook might have been my favorite. I was so into the story that I really couldn’t stop listening once I switched to audio. The narrator was amazing!

This book was told from third person in multiple POVs following one family. It’s basically about what happens when someone is propositioned by their school principal to have sex with them and they stand up and say “no.” It goes through ups and downs of how the town reacts, telling the characters story, as well as how it affects the entire family. I thought this was a very well written book and I look forward to reading more by this author. If you like contemporary fiction then give this one a try!