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

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

This book totally struck out for me. Hazel sure was quirky, but she was also a bit of a pick-me-girl, which I found unappealing. There's also a really fine line between appreciating/celebrating vs. fetishizing a different culture, and Hazel flirted with that line throughout the book, so be forewarned. The timeline went way too fast to be believable—Hazel met Emily like nine months before the start of the book and they were already best friends, and then within two weeks of re-meeting Josh, he was her best friend? Plus the trope at the end was a big nope for me. The dual POV might have actually been the only good thing about the book because I found both Josh and Hazel annoying enough that I couldn't have handled a whole book from just one of their perspectives.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings