Publication:
September 4, 2018
Publisher:
Gallery Books
Source:
Publisher & Purchase my
own copy
Synopsis:
Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to
take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and
thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll
say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul
in search of honest fun.
Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.
Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right?
Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.
Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them...right?
**********
Josh Im and Hazel
Bradford share a pretty colorful introduction in college. And all throughout
college Hazel has continued to make quite an impression on Josh. They always
managed to run into each other during one time or another. After
graduating, they don’t see each other for 7 years, when they reunite at a BBQ
hosted by Josh’s brother-in-law Dave and sister Emily. Emily also happens to be
best friends with Hazel and is surprised to see Josh.Hazel sees Josh as her
blueprint for perfect and determines from the beginning that they will be best
friends.
Josh comes from a
pretty close knit Korean family and has more of
a traditional background. He’s pretty even-keeled, a little
reserved/serious, but also has a dry sense of humor. He is
also a physical therapist and has a business there
in Portland. His personality, loyalty, and easy friendship with Hazel
had me falling in love with him right alongside Hazel.
Hazel, a third grade
school teacher is not what you might expect when you first meet her. She has absolutely
no filter and is pretty straight-forward. She usually says the first thing that
comes to her mind, but isn’t rude about it. She has the biggest heart, sweet,
super easy-going, loves to be happy and make friends. Essentially she is a
giant social butterfly. And I loved her to pieces!
This book took me by
surprise. I’ve been in a little bit of a book funk lately. Sometimes
it’s taken me awhile to get really into a book. So when I started
this one, I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. Actually I didn’t
just like it, I kind of fell in love with it. Josh & Hazel’s Guide
to Not Dating was a great story about friendship, love, and not
changing who you are to suite others around you. I loved Hazel and Josh. I want
to have friends like these two! I’ve always enjoyed reading, but this book…I
had so much fun getting to know Hazel and Josh and watching their friendship
grow and develop. The other characters like Dave, Emily, Hazel’s mom and
Josh and Emily’s mother all added to the story and made it that more
special. I lost count of the number of times I laughed. I ended the
book with a big smile on my face. I couldn’t wait to tell everyone I knew about
it.
In short, go check
out Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating!
RATING: 5 out of 5.
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