Most men can’t handle Hazel. With the energy of a toddler and the mouth of a sailor, they’re often too timid to recognize her heart of gold. New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Roomies, Beautiful Bastard) tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together. Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to … Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take–and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.
Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met–when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes–to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.
Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?
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This book was an ARC I requested simply because I liked the set-up of a woman with no filter having an uptight male best friend. I was totally prepared to hate the female protagonist because she’s someone who gets drunk too often and says things even she knows she shouldn’t even when she’s not drunk. But I wanted to see how the author pulled it off. And she really does make it work, I think because she portrays a protagonist who has a huge heart and is completely herself and unwilling to let anyone change her. I’m so tired of reading women’s fiction about women who spend their lives counting calories, buying high heel shoes, and trying to please friends, family, and employers that Hazel is an entire hurricane of fresh air.
Hazel Bradford has known Josh Im since college, where she thought him a total hottie, then threw up on his shoes. His patience and understanding impressed her, even though there wasn’t any other connection. Some years later, they meet again through Hazel’s best friend, who turns out to be Josh’s sister. So Josh is pressed into service when Hazel needs help, and when Josh’s girlfriend turns out to be a real loser, Hazel decides to help him as a return favor. Because she has a heart as big as her mouth, Hazel refuses to let Josh hurt over someone who never deserved him, so she goads him into double-dating, with each of them picking dates for each other.
The results are often funny, poignant, and the relationship builds beautifully. Josh’s sensitivity is almost too much to believe, except he’s from a family that expects the oldest son to take care of his those he loves and has trained him to look after others. It may be a little over the top, but I enjoyed every moment that they tortured each other, then pulled together against the world. A keeper!
Such a funny and sweet read! Loved the characters, and especially loved Josh’s easy acceptance of quirky, weird (but extremely lovable) Hazel.
What a fun book. Christina Lauren gets better and better with each book. This one was a rom-com romp and I devoured it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This is the first Christine Lauren book I’ve read. It won’t be the last. This book was hilarious. Usually I don’t get comedies – I suppose my comedy meter is off or something.
So this book features Hazel and Josh. They knew each other in college but are re-acquainted years later. Hazel is hilarious. She doesn’t hold back what she thinks and poor Josh is so reserved. I don’t know if he knows how to take her sometimes.
They make a great combination of friends, or non friends, or non dating best friends. HA! See…it’s a bit crazy. Some of their non dates are the worst!
You wait for them to get a clue about their non dating status the whole book. As smart as these two are it takes a few others to screw in their light bulb.
This might be my favorite CL book. I adored these characters and their relationship. I have friends to lovers envy!
Loved this so much! Give me a MoC hero anyday!
A fun, entertaining read that I could not put down! Highly recommend.
There’s something special about Christina Lauren’s lyrical writing style that’s so easy to read. These two authors always come up with original and unique plotlines. You get sucked into their world of witty characters and will not want to leave!
Hazel Bradford is unique. At least that is one way to put it. Hazel is a lot to take in and frankly most men just don’t know what to do with her bag of crazy. If her mouth doesn’t scare them off then her love of animals and crazy antics surely will. But what they don’t stick around to find out, is that Hazel is kind, caring and has a heart of gold. So Hazel does what Hazel does best…….have fun.
Josh Im is Hazel’s best friend Katie’s brother. Also as Hazel describes him to be, her college crush. But as luck would have it in college, all he knows her as is the girl who threw up on his shoes at a party, caught having sex with his room-mate and the girl who wrote him an email while on painkillers. Yep Crazy Hazel. So when ten years later they bump into each other, Hazel is determined to make him her best friend.
When Josh is in a slump after finding out his girlfriend has been cheating on him, Hazel is determined to get him off the couch and out of his sweats.
“If my life were a movie, I would (1) be much better grounded, and (2) co-star in a montage of scenes in which Josh sits on the couch in his sweatpants and I dance around in front of him trying to get him to laugh.”
So Hazel comes up with a crazy scheme for her and Josh to go on a series of double dates. Not to find a serious relationship, but to have fun.
“Seriously. No games, no expectations. Double blind date. Just for a laugh.”
But what happens when it becomes more?
This is the second book by this duo set of authors that I have read, and it did not disappoint. This book didn’t only have enjoyable characters, but it had a very fun and energetic story line. This book was hard to put down. With its uniqueness and originality, this book is sure to impress you.
Josh and Hazel are perfect for each other, even if they claim disinterest. Their friendship is an unusual one at that. Their romance is the perfect blend of humor and hot steaminess. Oh la la! Right!?
I haven’t laughed this hard reading a book in quite a while. I was laughing from the very beginning of this book, all the way up to the end. I absolutely loved this story. If I could give this book a 10 I would. A fun read no doubt. So if you are looking for some fun, then this book is for you. Follow along on Josh and Hazel’s dating disasters….I mean adventures. I bet you will enjoy every last page.
*ARC provided by NetGalley & Gallery Books
Josh Em and Hazel Bradford knew each other back in college and managed to collect some awkward memories before graduation led them to adulthood. But life has a way of helping people cross paths again when they’re meant to. And Josh and Hazel? …they were definitely meant to. First you need to know that Hazel is strange but in an incredibly endearing kind of way. She is absolutely and unapologetically herself with the carefree attitude we all wish we had. Josh gets her. They are best friends, they have never dated, and the fact that he knows her so well pretty much ensures that they never will. But, spending all their time together has its down side. They are sexual beings after all. So Josh and Hazel agree to set each other up on what becomes a series of hilarious and unsuccessful blind dates. When it comes down to it, they have the best sort of fun with each other and no one else will do.
Writing duo Christina Lauren have knocked it out of the park with this one in terms of comedy. I have read almost all their books and this one is by far my favorite to date. In my opinion, the first sixty percent is quite funny, but as if on cue, the book shifts gears with less humor and more of a serious tone. It adds some internal conflict and emotion, but with low drama which was A-OK with me. It was diverse with the inclusion of Josh’s Korean culture, the storyline made room for family and friends, it gave me an entirely new perspective on the movie Aliens (you just have to read it), and it stresses that no matter how “undatable” you may think you are, being yourself is enough. You are enough. Check it out.
The prologue is so relatable and funny I couldn’t put it down.
I have yet to meet a word of Christina Lauren’s that I haven’t adored – and this is still true after reading Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating.
It is a rom-com, but it isn’t really a rom-com if that makes sense? It is so much more than that.
Josh and Hazel aren’t even dating… each other. I did laugh at some of the “double blind dates” they set each other up on, though even as they are on dates with others, you could fell the attraction between our lovelies. You can’t help but want – no need – them to be together.
No better way to start a romance than by being best friends, right?
I absolutely adored Hazel and all her quirks. My heart hurt for her as she feel her quirks are against her. Be yourself girl! Forget what anyone else says!
I gotta say, I think that Dave and Emily – Josh’s sister and her hubby – were some of my favourite secondary characters I have read in a long time. I could picture them sitting on the sidelines, eating popcorn and watching Josh and Hazel dance around each other, knowing where things would end up.
This book was just cuteness personified. It was funny, it was sad, it was just lovely.
I can’t wait for what this duo brings us next.
THIS BOOK IS FU*KING PERFECTION !
Omfg i don’t even know where to start ,this book had me laughing so hard i almost peed my pants and i looked like a total psycho because i couldn’t stop smiling 🙂 this book is top notch !!!!!!!!!!!! Christina Lauren have done it again and i fell head over heels for both Josh and Hazel 🙂
I don’t think i have felt more of a connection to a character then Hazel ,She is amazing ,she’s coo coo bananas and i can totally relate ,she accepts herself 100% i wish i was as ok with myself as she is ,its awesome that she finds someone who totally loves her for herself and doesn’t want to change her ,i mean she is a laugh riot and i would love to be as cool as Hazel is 🙂 I love that she met josh in college and then they meet again 7 years later and become best friends ,they try and fix each other up but every double date turns into a shit show in the best way possible !
Josh is so freaking hot ! and i love him and want him as my own boyfriend ! he’s sweet and thoughtful and so funny 🙂 and he and Hazel light the floor/sheets on fire (wink wink) i loved every interaction with them and the more they tried to hook each other up the more i could see just how perfect they were for one another !
This book is one of my favs from them and i think everyone needs to read it right now ! i mean it, go read it right now!!!!!!! it was sweet and laugh your ass off funny ! i wish it was longer ,i could read about Josh and Hazel forever
I loved this book. It’s the first from this author and to definitely will not be my last.
I need a friend like Hazel. She was fabulous and so fun and quirky that I’m not surprised that Josh fell for her. Josh was Hazel’s opposite but he was kind and fun and got Hazel. You know from the start that they would end up together but the adventure to get there was well worth the ride/read.
All the 5 star reviews so I’m going to say it must be me. I stopped reading half-way through. To slow and Hazel was annoying.
Oh Hazel, you funny, quirky mess. How I love you Hazel! This book is super cute. I was cracking up. I did the audio and didn’t love Josh’s narrator but it wasn’t enough for me to stop. Christina Lauren can write and make you laugh for sure!
I loved this book!!! I recently read The Unhoneymooners and didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected. That’s why I didn’t want to have high expectations for this book but goodness! I absolutely loved it!
I loved Hazel and Josh individually so much, but even more when they were together. They’re amazing and fun characters. I loved how different they were but perfect for each other at the same time. I absolutely loved how their relationship went from platonic to friends to lovers. It was smooth, so fun, and well-written.
I know not so many people liked the end, but I loved it. Yes, maybe some things could have been done better, but I mostly loved it. Super cute!
Is safe to say that this book motivated me to read Christina Lauren’s other books!
Love BTS? Well, this book has a Korean American male lead named Jimin.
Full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3908416102?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Absolutely fantastic! A perfect score for a perfect romance!
This is laugh out loud funny and tear streaming down your face emotional charged romance. You will not be disappointed in this book. Josh and Hazel are the perfect balance of opposites attract and that the best of friends can be the best of lovers.
A must read!!
Chrisitna and Lauren, you ladies have done it, again! This is my fourth Christina Lauren novel and my new favorite! I’m going to skip the recap because most of you have either already ready this book or already have it on your TBR list! If you haven’t read it yet, you must! You won’t regret it!
I related so much to Millie in My Favorite Half-Night Stand and then I met Hazel. What an absolute breath of fresh air. Christina Lauren managed to write a strong, free willed and free spirited female lead without making her a prude, stuck up or dumb. I loved Hazel so much and I think we’d get along great. Everything from the habitually burned pancakes to the inability to filter in appropriate situations, I related and loved this character! She toes the line of fun and annoying perfectly and was written in a way that didn’t get old and wasn’t shoved in your face too much. Nothing worse than the “hey look at me quirky girls”. Hazel was anything but!
Josh was a great male lead, as well! His ability to be vulnerable and open minded with hazel totally sold me. He had the perfect dry sense of humor to balance out Hazel’s busy character and that’s exactly how my fiance and I are together. He jokes that I “Thrive in chaos”. The relationship between these two felt so real and I’m honestly sad it’s over. Hazel and Josh’s story is a perfect example of waiting for the right person to come along and never settling because your perfect match does exist!
Seriously, though, when are the Christina Lauren movies coming out because I NEED to see this on the screen!