Written by Erin Fehres
Readers and writers of the ‘friends to lovers’ trope, take notice: Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is by far the best example I’ve seen of this trope being flawlessly executed. In general, I’m not actually a huge fan of this particular trope, but Josh and Hazel were just so damn wonderful.
When I sat down to write this review, I decided to take a moment to analyze why this particular book stuck out to me. After a few moments of contemplation, during which I imagined Josh Im naked, I figured it out. In most friends to lovers romance novels, one party or the other spends all of their time hiding secret feelings, or being insanely jealous. In Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, however, the first half of the book is solely about Josh and Hazel as friends. There were no ulterior motives, not romantic scheming or unrequited feelings. It was refreshing as hell.
The premise of the novel was, as expected, hilarious. Josh and Hazel decided to set one another up on dates, double dates. Of course, the dates went wrong in the most ridiculous ways imaginable. Their antics had me laughing out loud in the most inconvenient of places, and by the end of the book, my cheeks hurt from smiling. The secondary characters in the novel were quirky and fun, adding to the charm of the book.
Hazel was wonderfully weird—kind of everything most readers like to be, but are not quite brave enough to share. She was zany and entertaining and had no filter at all. Her issues stemmed from past relationships, and really spoke to issues that most women have: that they’ll be too much or not enough for the person they’re dating. She was so secure in herself though, and refused to change for anyone. With a Cinderella sized family of animals, and a tendency to say anything and everything that was on her mind, she was absolutely charming.
Josh was, sigh, just a dreamboat. He was such a great contrast to Hazel’s wildness. They complimented each other right away and it was easy to be drawn to his stoic calmness. His lack of judgement of Hazel and ability to accept and cherish all of her quirks made him an outstanding male lead.
Together, the two of them were endearing and hilarious. Friendship goals personified, folks. They had inside jokes galore, and unspoken language, and the kind of candid honesty that rarely makes an appearance in a friendship.
When the pair finally hooked up, it just felt so organic and natural. Though there was, understandably, plenty of awkwardness, the progression from friends to more felt well-paced and right for the couple.
You can find Josh and Hazel’s Guide To Not Dating on Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers from September 4th!
Will you be checking out Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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 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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