Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

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I loved reading about these two together. They were perfect. You could feel the attraction under the surface, the friendship, and the love. They had so many adventures and crazy (non)dates with others that just made me laugh out loud. I think what I loved the most is that Josh loved Hazel for who she was, crazy and all. He never wanted her to change or calm down, he just accepted her. It was a beautiful thing.

Thanks to all of my Goodreads friends who recommended this so highly (Melissa, Larry, Berit, Melisa and Hollis, to name a few). You were right! This is a gem and I highly recommend it. So—read this book y'all (what is with me and using y'all every 2 seconds! I don't even live in America to have a Tennesse accent...also don't come after me for wrong facts too). With Christina Lauren’s signature “beautifully written and remarkably compelling” (Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author) prose and perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner, Twice in a Blue Moon is an unforgettable and moving novel of young love and second chances. Josh, too, is a likable character. At first, he and Hazel seem totally incompatible. He's more serious, more straight-laced, more in control of his life. In Josh's life, everything has its place; in Hazel's life, she has to somehow navigate through the mess and pets to find anything. Josh only speaks when he has something important to say; Hazel blurts out pretty much every thought she has. I love characters (and people) who are unique and authentic. But I have to be honest: Hazel worried me at first. I’m a fairly low-key person and larger-than-life people can be overwhelming to me. Also, in a book or movie, there’s the Manic Pixie Dream Girl pitfall.Also, without giving too much away, I found the ending abrupt. Almost as though they ran out of things to write or they didn’t want it to sound too similar to any of their other book endings. I don’t know, it want just odd for me. Left me feel wanting for more but not in a good way. Sort of like I totally missed listening to a few chapters, like there should have been more between the last chapter and the epilogue. Unfulfilling. Overall, I am beyond glad that I had the chance to read this book this time around. It definitely brightened my mood and I will definitely be reading this beauty again. Thank you to Gallery books for letting me enjoy this romance novel that had me itching for more love of Christina Lauren. If you are looking for something sweet, exciting, and enthusiastic, then this novel is the ideal one for you.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good. James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn’t all he thought it’d be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus. 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 is so eccentric and wonderful. She reminds me of myself when I was younger, but still somehow acts her age at the same time. She's the biggest sunshine in the universe. Josh is so endearingly, consistently confused by her and I loved watching him fall in love with her antics. I loved watching him join in and become a better version of the kind person he already was. There wasn't a single moment between them that felt forced, or unnecessary, or even out of place. From the start of their friendship to where they end up, it felt as real as anything. Most of you know that I’m a pretty big fan of Christina Lauren! Autoboyography is now one of my favorite books of all-time. And friends, I really enjoyed this book and it made me so unreasonably happy! Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating is set in Oregon and is honestly one of the cutest friends to lovers stories I’ve read in such a long while. I honestly never wanted this book to be over.

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At the end of the narrative, readers discover that Josh and Hazel are married and his parents live with them. They have two children and are expecting a third. Their daughter has Josh’s personality. She is the baby that Hazel almost lost and who taught her how to be calm. Their son has her personality. Josh and Hazel marvel at the fact that they are together. Happily, as I got to know Hazel better, I liked her. And I found this friends to lovers story extremely sweet. Josh and Hazel have known each other since college. Josh breaks up with his girlfriend and becomes depressed. He and Hazel start setting each other up and going on double dates. Humor ensues and they start wondering … could they actually be perfect for each other? I just know this is going to be my ultimate comfort read for the rest of my life. There's not one moment in this book I didn't love. I also really loved how Hazel wouldn’t change herself for anyone. And I think this book does a really good job at showing you how most people are pretty negative about anyone being too loud, too weird, and too different than the standards society puts on us. This isn’t like the typical “oh, the girl is quirky and cute” but this is the more realistic and sad treatment of people who live their life to the beat of their own drum. And seeing Hazel (and Josh) always speak up if anyone was negative or judgmental, was really beautiful. Because, like, who the hell wants to be normal anyways?