Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

By: Christina Lauren

Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn, Jayme Mattler

Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling “romance It Girls” (Kirkus) bring you a hilarious, sexy romance about love perpetually unrequited (and denied), in the vein of their Roomies and Beautiful Bastard.

Foul-mouthed, quirky, sharp-as-a-whip Hazel never thought she would win the heart of her gorgeous college TA, Josh. And, in fact, she didn’t. But what a difference 10 years can make. Well...10 years, and a lot of legwork.

©2018 Christina Lauren (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

The male narrator was just terrible

The story was sweet. Hazel is a little immature, but likable. The male narrator was just awful. His voice was not very masculine and his rendition of Hazel’s voice was terrible.

Love love female narrator not so excited by the male narrator.

Jayme Mattler is an awesome narrator. First time I’ve heard her, but she is able to make the character seem quirky but smart. He make narrator made the the character Hazel sound like a teenager with no sense. It really threw me off. The story as always from these authors is as always good. The humor and build up to the relationship is perfect. Could’ve done with out the little twist at the end that I won’t ruin.

His voice

Omg his voice ruined The moment for me so many times I can’t even count them!!

Not what I've come to expect from Christina Lauren

I always look forward to new Christina Lauren books because they never disappoint...until this one. It's possible I would have liked it better if I had read it instead of listened, because Hazel was such a different character than the typical female leads. Lauren has always written about independent, but flawed and real females, but Hazel was too over the top for me. To me, her eccentricities and quirkiness bordered on obnoxious, and I just couldn't relate. It didn't help that the male narrator's "Hazel voice" was horrendous. I just cringed whenever he had to speak as her character and made me like Hazel even less because she sounded like a pre-pubescent spaz, rather than a free-spirited and unique 27 year old. I will say, I think the female narrator did a fabulous job, but I could not reconcile the drastic difference between how the narrators portrayed Hazel with their voices.
It was a sweet story, but in the end I wasn't really invested in either character and didn't feel any real build-up between them to really care, even though the story was built around their growing friendship. As much as I had wanted to love it, I just couldn't get into this one.

The journey to their HEA is everything

Josh and Hazel! Oh how I loved this friends to lovers book! It was so good. The author did a great job fully immersing me into the story with so much detail. And kept me so interested in the story I barely felt the chapters pass. It ended well and tied up all loose ends but I’ll miss these two characters. Well done.
I’d heard about it on a YouTube blog – otherwise, it wouldn’t have been on my radar and I’m not sure I would have noticed it. Before purchasing, I was on the fence with the reviews I’d read but I went for it anyway. So glad I did.
Hazel is quirky and eccentric. As such, she has a tough time finding someone to see her as more than the party girl. They expect her to calm down over time but her personality is what it is. Fun! That doesn’t mean she does have feeling and doesn’t get sad when people tell her to stop being embarrassing when she feels mood to stand and dance to a song when no one else is.
Josh has a Type A personality. Everything has a place and should be orderly. Beige is more than likely this hot man’s favorite color. He’s quiet, kind, caring, and a big softie for his parents and little sister.
Hazel decide in college that he’s the perfect blue print of for all men and goes about her life. Ten years later – then meet again and she then decides they will be best friends. And they are. Really! There aren’t tons of flirtatious moments for majority of the book. These two are fun and funny. The kind of funny that makes you want to be a part of their crew. Hazel drags Josh on adventures. Josh brings Hazel a calm and focus she’s never been able to find before.
Until of course, a realization crosses. Knowing that bit of information can’t possibly ruin this book. You should still read it! What great romance doesn’t have a HEA? But the journey to the HEA is everything! Read it.

Also – I didn’t mind either narrator. I think their acting skills were spot on. Yes, I like that the male narrator too. He sounded the part of a Type A personality - average - and it worked. He didn’t sound like the men that are gracing every single audio book right now (don't get me wrong, I like them too) but this was something a little different and it worked.

Didn’t hate it.... but also didn’t love it.

This book was not bad. I want to say that right off. I’m a huge fan of Christina Lauren books.

There was certainly a great amount of their true to form humor and the beginnings of wonderful main characters. But, throughout the book, I felt like there was a “distance” from those characters. Usually their characters jump off the page and by the end of the book I know them. But after listening to this book I don’t have a clear mental image of any of the characters.

The male reader, his female voice grated on me. It distracted from the story for me. I don’t usually have to concentrate too hard to keep myself in the story, but his voice caused my mind to wander while I was listening so I had to go back and listen to several parts over and over.

Also, without giving too much away, I found the ending abrupt. Almost as though they ran out of things to write or they didn’t want it to sound too similar to any of their other book endings. I don’t know, it want just odd for me. Left me feel wanting for more but not in a good way. Sort of like I totally missed listening to a few chapters, like there should have been more between the last chapter and the epilogue. Unfulfilling.

I see many great reviews for this book and I’m happy so many others enjoyed the book. I really wish I could have enjoyed it as much.

I still love Christina Lauren and will continue to buy their books. As I said, I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. Which makes me a little sad.

Good story, hard to get past male narrator.

Story was very enjoyable. And the female performance was great. She did a good job depicting the lead male character. And unfortunately that is where the disconnect occurs. The male performers voice for one does not match the character of the voice that the female character depicts, and as she is the first voice you hear it is difficult to readjust your conception of the male character. Also and this is the biggest problem with the entire production is the males interpretation of the female character.... it’s is the most awful unforgivable sh!t I have ever heard. I seriously don’t know who signed off on it because good god!!! He makes the female character sound like a deranged gnome with a sinus and respiratory issues. It took all my imagination to input her voice when ever the chapter was from the male characters perspective. It did get easier as the book progressed but I still exhaled a “crap” every time the chapter started with him. So the take away is, if you think you can ignore his performance or that stuff just doesn’t bother you then yes! Go ahead, get this audio book. I did really enjoy the story, just probably would have enjoyed reading it more.

Terrible male voice

It was hard to listen to the male voice if Josh, whoever did the reading was terrible. He sounded like an 80 year old man. When he tried to read the female voice of other characters it was cringe worthy!

Jarring Voices

The two different narrators had such different styles that it was hard to enjoy. Also, the female lead is meant to be endearing but I got more of a vibe that she was just obnoxious. Seemed like a ripoff of New Girl, but in a bad way.

Good, but not great

This book was ok. Endearing in parts and silly and repetitive in others. The end is definitely not as strong as some of the rest.

Male Narrator is bad.

I couldn't get too far into this book. The male narrator puts on a creepy sounding annoying voice whenever Hazel speaks and I got fed up with it. I wasn't too intrigued as the friendship between the two leads is rather rushed. They meet after ten years and then they become friends despite what Josh thinks of Hazel. Hazel can either be considered quirky or stupid. One example is her signing up for a hot dog eating contest but when on stage, she remembers that she's trying to be a vegetarian. If you do like the sound of this book I wouldn't get the audio-book version. The male narrator made it unbearable.

Great listen female narrator stole the show

great chemistry between leads. liked that it changed perspectives between chapters. I loved the female voice didn't like the male voice. Sex scenes could've been more female empowerment but we're quite traditional.

This was so weird

I absolutely loved this book! It was very ‘When Harry Met Sally’ mixed with ‘New Girl’ (tv show) vibes.

However, I feel like the ending was super rushed. There was a plot point that didn’t really need to be there but the authors added it anyway but then it felt like they just got tired of it and stopped writing just to have an epilogue that made it seem like I’m everything was fine in the end? It was kinda irritating because if not for the end, this would have easily been a 5 star read!

A fantastic book

I'd really like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this. My review is unbiased and all opinions are my own.

This is one my favourite of this authors books. I've read quite a lot from them at this stage and I think Josh Im and Hazel are going to stick with me for a long ass time.

I was hooked on by the fake (double) dating and friends to lovers tropes but what kept me hanging on to every word was how genuine and real both Josh and Hazel felt to me. Hazel is one of those wild crazy people and Josh is her complete opposite. Their love story isn't really instant (well from one end it might be) but they're just so stinking cute together I can't even stand it.

Awful Narration

The book has two narrators. It started off well but as soon as the guy who narrates for Josh delivered Hazel’s dialogue it took a really weird turn…he puts on a comically awful voice for Hazel. It is such a bizarre acting choice, he makes her sound like a cartoon baby with a nasal infection. I am gobsmacked, people got paid to produce this audiobook, WTF?! It’s impossible to listen to. I returned it.

Good

This is my personal favourite book from Christina Lauren. I like the chemistry between Josh and Hazel. I prefer the female narrator over the man one!

Enjoyable and quirky !

Lovely story, liked both characters. Though Josh's impersonation of Hazel was laughable... did not like it that much. Preferred Hazel's parts all in all.

Love the book but...

...the male narrator’s voice for Hazel is dreadful.

Great story that I’ve enjoyed in written form and audio form, would have been 5 stars had the narration been better.

Listenable if predictable

Sweet story, and the female narrator is very good. The male narrator does a hideous female voice, really distracting. It's predictable as hell, but if you want an easy listen - this delivers.

Not your typical "quirky girl"

Josh is a physiotherapist, is in control of his emotions, has a great body and seems to have his life organised. He's basically Hazel's blueprint for perfect. Ever since their paths first crossed during college, further interaction has ended with Hazel embarrassing herself.

Hazel is clumsy and blurts out whatever she is thinking, a self-confessed "hot mess". Yet Hazel is not your average "quirky girl". Yes, she's quirky, but it's dealt with in a realistic way. Far too often she has been in relationships with men who initially love her wild side, but then they expect her to settle down, to become a "proper" girlfriend and when she doesn't... they leave her.

Throughout the story Hazel had a wonderful sense of self-confidence. She was happy with herself and knew she would never change for another person. Though she still has her vulnerabilities: she knows that she would never work with Josh, that they're not compatible and she can't stand the thought of him eventually thinking her an embarrassment.

Dating is therefore not in the plan. Best friends is a better option. They even go on double dates together, each one respectively attempting to set up the other. Yet on these dates it seems that Josh and Hazel enjoy their time together more than with their dates...

At first, I admit I didn't warm to the characters. I found Hazel annoying and Josh cold. Yet they grew on me and together they were even more lovable.

The parental relationships were also a nice touch. Hazel and her mother's relationship was heart-warming; they connected like best friends. Josh is from a traditional Korean family who are always there for each other. Josh's sister (and Hazel's best friend) Emily and her husband Dave were also sweet. Everyone around Josh and Hazel vocally matched the readers thoughts: isn't it obvious they're perfect together??

There were some pacing issues. Josh and Hazel meet at a BBQ and suddenly they are BFFs with seemingly little interaction in between. The will-they won't-they got dragged out so much and toward the end I felt like screaming 'JUST COMMUNICATE'. And then the ending twist... it was too much for me and seemed too pandering.

Yet this was still a sweet read and the relationship between Hazel and Josh made my heart happy.

As for the narration, I enjoyed the female narrator but the male narrator's voice for Hazel was very squeaky and quickly grew annoying!