Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

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And these two’s paths have constantly crossed since college, but fate has truly brought them together when Hazel attends her best friend’s BBQ, only to realize that Josh is the guy who she has embarrassed herself around since college. I'm not saying that I am Hazel (because that would be creepy), but so many parts of her resonated in me that when I read all those reviews dismissing her, I struggled not to take it personally. But she feels more like a type than a character– Hazel is the epitome of the “quirky girl,” although most of her wildness comes out in the stories from her college days rather than her present behavior.

She never thought she was the one for Josh but Hazel was exactly what Josh needed, it just took him a little while to catch up. And this book is also hilarious like New Girl and just all around giving me New Girl vibes which I loved.But the appeal of Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating doesn't lie in surprises, it lies in the utter charm of its characters, the utter warmth of its heart, the beauty of its message of being yourself no matter what, and, if I'm being honest, some pretty steamy sex scenes. Now Hazel has a plan to get him out on the dating scene again by setting him up on blind dates to help him get over his ex. The first chapter is Hazel’s recap of her college years, including her crush and misfortune with Josh, who was her TA. Of course, the more they try to find the perfect person for the other, the more they start to realize how intense their feelings are for each other. Instead of adding non-romantic drama as a curveball near the end, we get really unnecessary romantic drama.

the parts did not mesh well enough together to make me think "wow they are MADE for each other," and sadly that's the whole point of a romance. I liked the smut in the book but the scene that ruined it for me was when Hazel lied about being on the pill.But it gets to a point where the sexual chemistry between Josh and Hazel, the unexpected status of being roommates, and one drunken night, they change the tables to wanting to become more than best friends.

She's got that whole clutzy and embarrassing (in a funny way) romance heroine thing going on, but she's also unapologetic. Usually even if I don’t have a lasting appreciation for romance novels they do at least offer some instant amusement, but I was losing the will to finish this story as I read.

If the characters had only spoken to each other and been honest, they could have got together so much sooner. The characters were reasonably likeable, but both were overly extreme versions of what they were meant to be.