Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: September 4th, 2018
Pages: 309
My Rating: ★★★★★

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?
A girl's crush is reunited with her after years of not seeing him.
Christina Lauren has done it again and has amazed me with their writing. They are easily one of my favorite authors. I am on a mission to read all of their books now. The main character Hazel is one of the most likable characters that I have read in a long time. She is silly and made me laugh out loud several times while reading this book. 

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is one of the most entertaining books that I have ever picked up. The romance is exactly how a romance should be. This was one of my favorite friends to lovers story. I wish all romances were like this book. You cannot help but smile while reading. 

I love how the book promotes the idea of being your true and goofy self. Hazel never apologized for her quirks and Josh loved her for her quirkiness. The story pulled at my heart and got very emotional for me towards the end. It was beyond beautiful that I could not put the book down. I needed to know what was going to happen. So I devoured the book literally. 

There were many Korean references and food throughout the book that tended to make me hungry a lot. Hazel's mom was amazing and very supportive. I could relate to their relationship as I am with my mom. I also loved all the pets in this book. My mom also gets excited over my dog before she acknowledges me sometimes. Their relationship was so much like my mom's and I that I laughed a lot. 

Overall, Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating has a very important message of never changing yourself for a significant other. Easily five stars from me! Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.
AbeBooks / Alibris / Book Depository / Indigo / BOOKSAMILLION / Barnes & Noble

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced fourteen New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 30+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)