Hazel Bradford... eccentric, exuberant, quirky, fun-loving, charismatic, outlandish, marches to her own drum... For many people, she is just too much. But not for her best friend, Josh, who appreciates her "crazy," and celebrates her unique personality. Josh is on the rebound from a bad break up, and the pair decide that the dating scene is much more fun when you can do it in tandem with your favorite person. So the pair decide to set each other up on a series of joint double dates! What coul...

Hazel Bradford... eccentric, exuberant, quirky, fun-loving, charismatic, outlandish, marches to her own drum... For many people, she is just too much. But not for her best friend, Josh, who appreciates her "crazy," and celebrates her unique personality. Josh is on the rebound from a bad break up, and the pair decide that the dating scene is much more fun when you can do it in tandem with your favorite person. So the pair decide to set each other up on a series of joint double dates! What could possibly go wrong with that?

As with other books of theirs, I found myself laughing out loud to Christina Lauren's banter between the characters. I read this book in less than 24 hours because it was engaging, endearing, and thoroughly entertaining. I absolutely adored Hazel, and I found her free-spirited personality to be refreshing and unique. Despite all of her crazy shenanigans, I feel like everyone needs a Hazel in their life.

I found this story when I was looking for a new audiobook to listen to. I have read Christina Lauren’s Love and other words so was open to reading another book from them and OMG this book is hands down the funniest romance book I have read this year and I have read 158 of them. Like immediately in the first chapter I was howling in the car funny. Now maybe it’s because I could related to Hazel because I used to be a 3rd grade teacher as well or maybe it’s because Hazel
Is so unapologetically...

I found this story when I was looking for a new audiobook to listen to. I have read Christina Lauren’s Love and other words so was open to reading another book from them and OMG this book is hands down the funniest romance book I have read this year and I have read 158 of them. Like immediately in the first chapter I was howling in the car funny. Now maybe it’s because I could related to Hazel because I used to be a 3rd grade teacher as well or maybe it’s because Hazel
Is so unapologetically unique and unhinged. Not sure what it was but there were sooooo many chapters that I could not stop laughing. Now I even encouraged my friend to listen to it at the same time and she too thought it was hysterical.

Other wonderful surprises: Josh is Korean so we got to see the dynamics of Korean culture come through in his family relationships. I also love a good mixed race story!! Their families were so sweet. The double date stories were side splitting! The besties turned lovers was so sweet with no dramatic breakup. Also loved the epilogue which gave a lot more detail on their future.

I knocked off a star mainly for the audible component because it was a huge miss not to have an Asian actor voice Josh. Also, the actor who voiced Josh and at times Hazel during Josh’s POV chapters did a horrible annoying girl voice. (Also confirmed by my friend who listened to it), but I still loved this book so much I bought a copy to re-read it. Highly recommend!

FINAL DECISION: Quirky and sweet contemporary romantic comedy. I read this one on a whim and ended up loving the story between two opposites. It was cute and fun and just perfect for a couple hour's escape.

THE STORY: Hazel Bradford is a lot to handle. Chaos follows her everywhere, she doesn't have a filter and she has a habit of doing or saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. She met Josh Im in college when she vomited on him at a party. Ten years after college, the two meet again and ...

FINAL DECISION: Quirky and sweet contemporary romantic comedy. I read this one on a whim and ended up loving the story between two opposites. It was cute and fun and just perfect for a couple hour's escape.

THE STORY: Hazel Bradford is a lot to handle. Chaos follows her everywhere, she doesn't have a filter and she has a habit of doing or saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. She met Josh Im in college when she vomited on him at a party. Ten years after college, the two meet again and Hazel is determined to be Josh's best friend. After a bad breakup, Hazel convinces Josh to agree to go on a blind date with Hazel. Well, they would each set the other up with someone and they would double date. The two have no interest in one another, but somehow their dates don't work out and the attraction between Hazel and Josh keeps growing.

OPINION: Some books you just have to approach with an open mind and an open heart. Not that everyone would love this book if they did, but I know that I had to be open to this book to enjoy it.

Hazel is a lot to take in. She is a whirlwind -- chaotic, intemperate, brash. But she also is completely open to loving other people. She cares deeply. The chaos and her inability to censor herself would be something that might annoy me greatly -- until I saw how caring she is. She wants to love so much that she opens herself up and is hurt again and again. And yet she keeps caring for others. And that is what makes her who she is.

She is desperately aware that people are attracted to her, but that she becomes too much and people expect (or want) her eventually to tone down. But she doesn't. Although Hazel is confident in herself, she also doesn't believe that she has any chance with Josh. She dubbed him "Perfect" as in the model for the perfect guy. Her caring for him makes her want to be close to him, but because she doesn't believe he can be for her, she instead wants to be his best friend.

Hazel and Josh begin a friendship that is funny and sweet at the same time. She brings color and imperfection into his life. Josh brings some order into Hazel's. Josh, however, is always completely accepting of Hazel. He may not understand how her mind works, but he doesn't criticize her or try to make her into someone else. Hazel is a force of nature and Josh is the calm in the storm.

The two end up on a series of terrible dates (with other people) which end up being an odd courtship between them. I loved the humor and the pure acceptance between these two.

This is the first Christina Lauren book I've actually read. I have a bunch on my TBR list and own a bunch, but I have always set those aside to read something else. Why did I decide on this one? Because the hero is Korean American. I thought the interracial romance was handled well.

My only complaint about the story was the ending and the epilogue. I'm not a fan of leaving obvious story points unfinished and them coming back in the epilogue to give answers. I love epilogues, but personally prefer that the story be complete without it and then have the epilogue as a bonus. But that is a quibble with what was a wonderful, light and fun romance.

WORTH MENTIONING: The story is told in alternating first person points of view.

CONNECTED BOOKS: JOSH + HAZEL'S GUIDE TO NOT DATING is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to help prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Good read. Funny too. I can identify with Hazel a bit. She's a little quirky and not afraid to show it. But I don't know why every book I've read in the last few month needs a drunken hookup.

Good read. Funny too. I can identify with Hazel a bit. She's a little quirky and not afraid to show it. But I don't know why every book I've read in the last few month needs a drunken hookup.

I enjoyed this book but sometimes the heroine was too over the top for me. What they described as quirkiness seem to sometimes come across as immaturity or thoughtlessness. For example how she blurted out to Emily and her husband that she and Josh had been intimate. How do you do that in front of him without giving him a heads up?? It’s his sister. But other than that the story was cute

I enjoyed this book but sometimes the heroine was too over the top for me. What they described as quirkiness seem to sometimes come across as immaturity or thoughtlessness. For example how she blurted out to Emily and her husband that she and Josh had been intimate. How do you do that in front of him without giving him a heads up?? It’s his sister. But other than that the story was cute