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A review by obscurepages
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
5.0
(Review also posted on my blog.)
4.5 STARS | I have been rereading Harry Potter ever since the 1st of January, but a few days ago, I decided to a break before I started on Order of the Phoenix. And so, I got my hands on a Kindle edition of Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating!
I loved Christina Lauren's Autoboyography, and it's no surprise that I loved this book as well. It was hilarious, it was wholesome, it was cheesy, it was romantic, it was steamy, it was everything! This is exactly what I needed.
The writing
I absolutely adore Christina Lauren's writing. They have this writing style that just hooks you. It gets you invested with the characters and their lives, it makes you want more, it makes you feel things. It even made me feel like I was in love, and I'm not! That for me is just really amazing.
Just like in Autoboyography, I loved the frequent use of metaphors in this book. It managed to enhance the impact of a scene or the thoughts of a character to the reader. It also made it very relatable and enjoyable as I delved deeper into the characters and the story.
This is also my first Adult book from Christina Lauren, and I'm actually very impressed. It was steamy in the right parts, hilarious from the first page to the last, and so wholesome and relatable.
The characters
I loved the characters, of course! Hazel was quirky, outgoing, and different and the authors wrote her really well. Her character wasn't the type of character that tries too hard to say "Hey, I'm different!", and I really loved that. I also adored how open Hazel is when it comes to her sexual endeavors. She doesn't shy away from it, and she even called out Josh when he gave her a small look when she told him how many guys she has been with. She's confident about herself without ever being too prideful and too much. At the same time, she also knows that she has flaws and these flaws are the root of her insecurities.
I also loved Josh. I can definitely see the "blueprint-perfect" description that Hazel uses for him. He was also described as mellow (compared to Hazel) but he definitely wasn't boring. He was understanding, and mature, and outspoken. He wasn't afraid to convey his feelings and emotions (none of that toxic masculinity) and I really loved that about him.
The plot
The plot was good, and for the most parts I was really enjoying it. It had the right angst, the pining, the funny and quirky scenes, plus the hot and steamy ones. Everything was going good! However, that one plot twist near the end got me dumbfounded, and the ending was just too picture-perfect for me. So, although I liked the story, I wish the ending went down differently. I felt like it was just too easy and safe for me.(Or maybe I just got so used to epic plot twists from reading too much YA fantasy.)
4.5 stars for this lovely book! I definitely enjoyed reading this. I kept laughing the whole time, and I really recommend this to those who are having a book slump, those who wants an awesome, funny read, or those who want to try an Adult book.
4.5 STARS | I have been rereading Harry Potter ever since the 1st of January, but a few days ago, I decided to a break before I started on Order of the Phoenix. And so, I got my hands on a Kindle edition of Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating!
I loved Christina Lauren's Autoboyography, and it's no surprise that I loved this book as well. It was hilarious, it was wholesome, it was cheesy, it was romantic, it was steamy, it was everything! This is exactly what I needed.
The writing
I absolutely adore Christina Lauren's writing. They have this writing style that just hooks you. It gets you invested with the characters and their lives, it makes you want more, it makes you feel things. It even made me feel like I was in love, and I'm not! That for me is just really amazing.
Just like in Autoboyography, I loved the frequent use of metaphors in this book. It managed to enhance the impact of a scene or the thoughts of a character to the reader. It also made it very relatable and enjoyable as I delved deeper into the characters and the story.
This is also my first Adult book from Christina Lauren, and I'm actually very impressed. It was steamy in the right parts, hilarious from the first page to the last, and so wholesome and relatable.
The characters
I loved the characters, of course! Hazel was quirky, outgoing, and different and the authors wrote her really well. Her character wasn't the type of character that tries too hard to say "Hey, I'm different!", and I really loved that. I also adored how open Hazel is when it comes to her sexual endeavors. She doesn't shy away from it, and she even called out Josh when he gave her a small look when she told him how many guys she has been with. She's confident about herself without ever being too prideful and too much. At the same time, she also knows that she has flaws and these flaws are the root of her insecurities.
I also loved Josh. I can definitely see the "blueprint-perfect" description that Hazel uses for him. He was also described as mellow (compared to Hazel) but he definitely wasn't boring. He was understanding, and mature, and outspoken. He wasn't afraid to convey his feelings and emotions (none of that toxic masculinity) and I really loved that about him.
The plot
The plot was good, and for the most parts I was really enjoying it. It had the right angst, the pining, the funny and quirky scenes, plus the hot and steamy ones. Everything was going good! However, that one plot twist near the end got me dumbfounded, and the ending was just too picture-perfect for me. So, although I liked the story, I wish the ending went down differently. I felt like it was just too easy and safe for me.
4.5 stars for this lovely book! I definitely enjoyed reading this. I kept laughing the whole time, and I really recommend this to those who are having a book slump, those who wants an awesome, funny read, or those who want to try an Adult book.