Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

“But at the end of the day", she says, and puts her hand outside the open window, letting the wind pass through her fingers, "being myself is enough. I'm enough.”

Hello everyone! Welcome back to my blog and for today's review. This review I am going to be talking about Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. I first heard of Christina Lauren when I was browsing for some new books to read, especially after I read Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. That's when I ended up reading Beautiful Bastard, their first book. Ever since that first read, I have been a huge fan of theirs. So, it's no surprise that this book is definitely one of my favorites. It's actually my seventh favorite book of 2018. With that being said, let's get to the review.


This is the synopsis:

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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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Now, I really loved this book! It was everything I was looking for in a chick-lit book. It was funny, cute, sexy at times, perfect characters, and a good story. Josh and Hazel were such a cute couple and I love how they first met. They met back in college when Hazel, typical Hazel, threw up on Josh's shoes plus when he became her TA. They always had these chanced encounters and I loved it!

"Sometimes your lack of filter kills me,” he says. “It’s not even like you lack a filter; you lack a funnel.”

Hazel was exactly what I looked for in a female character in a rom-com. She was the kind of person that once you met her, it was hard to forget her. Josh even pointed out how many times he heard stories about her during their college days. Another thing I loved about Hazel was how she knew she was different, sometimes she would even apologized for being too much.

“Sorry. I’m being too Hazel-y.”

 I watch her wash the dishes and manage to clean up the kitchen quite capably while I pick at my breakfast. She isn’t pouting, and it doesn’t seem like I’ve hurt her feelings—she honestly just seems to have heard something in my tone that I didn’t intend. “What does that mean,” I ask, “ ‘being too Hazel-y’?”

Turning with a dish towel in her hand, she shrugs. “I tend to be too chatty, too silly, too exuberant, too random, too eager.” She spreads her hands. “Too Hazel-y.”

Hazel was simply adorable with her brood of equally quirky pets. There's Winnie the poodle, Vodka the parrot, Janice Hoplin the rabbit, and the fish Daniel Craig. I mean, seriously. This is rom-com magic right here. But I digress. Hazel knows what her faults are, and she knows that she's doomed to short lived relationships because of it. Men seem to think that her over the top personality is cute at first, but then they expect her to settle into being a 'normal' girlfriend. And when she doesn't, things end. Hazel, overall, is my spirit sister!

“But at the end of the day", she says, and puts her hand outside the open window, letting the wind pass through her fingers, "being myself is enough. I'm enough.” “But at the end of the day", she says, and puts her hand outside the open window, letting the wind pass through her fingers, "being myself is enough. I'm enough.” 

Josh, on the other hand, has a calm manner and unassuming personality, the opposite of Hazel. He can be serious at times but I love that he doesn't try to 'normalize' Hazel like other people do. He knows she is crazy but he goes along for the ride.

"I can’t believe I’m encouraging this conversation, but you were telling me about your gynecologist snubbing you and I’m actually curious to hear how it turned out.”

 “So I stopped in the middle of the gymnasium and smiled at him—not my courtesy smile, but my real one—and he just walked by.” 

“Maybe he didn’t see you.” 

“He definitely saw me—and don’t get me wrong, I run into guys all the time who’ve seen my vagina and pretend not to know who I am. Things don’t work out and that’s fine. But I paid this guy.”

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★  ☆
This book was beautifully written and just so funny! If you ever get the chance to read a Christina Lauren book, it is a must! I love these ladies' stories, their characters, and just their overall style. Plus, if you haven't read any of their books, I would totally recommend them. 
Thanks for reading!
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