*Grabby Hands* Release & Review - Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Image and blurb from Goodreads

Title: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating
Author: Christina Lauren
Publication Date: September 4th, 2018

Publisher: Gallery Books
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

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?

Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon

4.5 “Guide to Falling for you BFF” stars

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Christina Lauren’s early books, but between the releases of Dating/Hating You and Loved and Other Words, I went from reluctant to when is the next book coming, out, please?

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating only reaffirmed that feeling.

A friends-to-lovers romance, this book had everything I needed: a protagonist that was unique enough that I’ll remember her for a long time, an adorable love interest who stole my heart, enough banter to make me fall hard in love and tons of laugh out loud moments.

Hazel was one of the funniest protagonists I’ve come across in a while. She’s unapologetically quirky and she gets herself in the most embarrassing situations because of her lack of filter. I loved, loved meeting her.

Josh was Hazel’s opposite. More on the serious side, he came from a traditional family with traditional values, but as soon as he got to know Hazel better it was clear he didn’t care she saw life differently. He embraced her completely and never looked back, and that’s because the man had a heart of gold. Josh is one of those beta males who makes me believe there are still good people out there. The world needs more Joshes.

I was obsessed with their chemistry, with how their friendship developed and how they fell in love with each other so organically. There was nothing forced about their relationship. It was everything it needed to be and more. And the hot scenes???

The double dates were fun, some a little awkward, but still fun. Hazel and Josh’s relationship with her sister and brother-in-law made the book even richer. So did their relationship with their mothers. I only wished the ex-boyfriend plot had never happened. That’s probably my only complaint about this story.

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating was not only an amazing read, but it left me yet again anxious for what these authors will write next.

*If you liked this review (or not), if you read the book (or not), come say hello and leave your comments bellow.