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

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

"Love is messy, complicated, and unpredictable. But it’s also the most beautiful thing in the world".

I'll be honest, I'm writing this review a month late but these are the main points I remember:

I enjoyed the plot and thought most of the story was pretty sweet. Friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes and Josh and Hazel didn't disappoint. I thought the pacing was pretty good and allowed for that tension build up as well as the opportunity to bang my head against the wall waiting for certain people to realise how badly they both wanted each other.

The spice scenes were pretty detailed and a nice length. If you're looking for a book that focuses on the story and meaning of each scene as well as just raw physical description, then this is a good one.

I actually really didn't like Hazel and found her annoying! Which did make me feel guilty as this is one of the main character points that she struggles with anyway. She seemed like a lovely girl and it was easy to want the best for her, but yeah... I adored Emily and Dave though, and Josh was alright - a real gentleman so that's always a plus.

I wasn't a huge fan of the pacing at the end of the book. To me it felt as though Christina Lauren was trying to get in one more trope just for the sake of it. But I think it was a nice, unexpected twist that wasn't too foreshadowed throughout. However, I'm not sure how realistic the emotions and general happenings were, hence why the whole last 70 or so pages just felt rushed.

Maybe it's because I read this on holiday in the sunshine, but this book did have a really nice vibe. Would recommend to anyone looking for a quick, relaxed read with a nice amount of depth and a low level of craziness.
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