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

lighthearted tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I was beyond excited to read this book because of how much I enjoyed "The Unhoneymooners". Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with this novel. To start off, I found Hazel's personality to come off as more "quirky, and not like other girls" instead of outgoing and unique. There were a lot of points in the book where I had to roll my eyes at actions she partook in or things she said. Although I know that being different was the character's purpose, I felt like it was forced too much and didn't seem natural. This being said, I did find moments where I related to Hazel in her moments of vulnerability. Additionally, I felt the plot to be very mediocre. There was very little character development and I felt as if there was no major spark between Josh and Hazel. Although they had connections throughout the story, I didn't feel any excitement or thrill when hearing about their progress individually or as a couple. Furthermore, I did find a lot of the storyline predictable which added a bland element to the story. Lastly, I hated the ending of this book. I felt the need to add a pregnancy was very unnecessary and it felt like the author was reaching for a new idea to spice things up.   Overall, I was very unsatisfied with this book. 

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