Review copy provided by the publisher
Fun, Sexy Friends-to-Lovers Romance Features Christina Lauren’s First Korean-American Hero
Christina Lauren is a one-click author for me. No matter how different the heroines have been in their books, I’ve always found something to identify with or appreciate in the women they’ve created. I had trouble with Hazel Bradford, the heroine in their next friends-to-lovers romance, JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING (out September 4, 2018). It was much easier with Josh Im, the first Korean-American hero they’ve written.
Kimchi fried rice is one of Hazel’s favorites in JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING, out September 4, 2018.
Josh is coming to life on the page just as Asian dudes are finally having a moment as thirst objects. Crazy Rich Asians’ Henry Golding, Chris Pang, and Pierre Png are setting our eyebrows on fire on the big screen. On TV, Simu Liu is breaking the model minority stereotype as Jung on Kim’s Convenience. (If you haven’t checked out Kim’s Convenience on Netflix, add it to your watch list now.)
In JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING, Josh and Hazel knew each other in college. She sort of had a thing for him, but through a series of unfortunate events, made herself virtually undateable. Now she’s best friends with his sister, Emily. Josh and Hazel meet again at a barbecue and set up a series of double dates, which go from hilariously bad to worse, until they realize what’s been in front of them all along.
Although most reviewers are gushing about no filter, bounce-off-the-walls Hazel, I’ve been interested in what CLo would do with a Korean-American hero. Josh fits in with a lot of their previous heroes, he’s a good guy, good looking, funny, gainfully employed. He only sort of breaks the typical Asian-American mold. He’s a physical therapist, he’s the steadier, responsible, more reserved one. It would have been interesting to reverse the roles, make Josh the kooky one, and offer a more diverse view of Asian-Americans. What Josh does have is a hot bod and a quiet confidence that Hazel just can’t resist. He embraces her brand of crazy in a way that I just didn’t.
Josh and Hazel both have strong family relationships and it’s through Josh’s family that we get real glimpses into his connection to his Korean heritage. I’m half Japanese, not Korean, but based on my experience, the cultural details rang true. Not just the taking off of shoes at the door, but also the Westernization of names (from Jimin to Josh, Yujin to Emily), moms who drop off containers of kimchi and try to farm off giant bags of rice on their kids, the “amma” and “appa” references. JOSH and HAZEL stands out for the care and respect given to the cultural details that inform Josh’s character.
So that’s why it’s baffling that in the eARC Hazel’s mother drops a microaggression that caused me to say out loud, “Seriously. SERIOUSLY?” How many people read the eARC and thought nothing of it? Too many. And how many are going to go back to read the final copy and notice it’s not there? Not enough.
Then there’s Hazel. Ultimately, she dragged down this story for me. The blurb says it’s “most men” who can’t handle Hazel because of her “toddler energy” and lack of a filter. For me, it’s something else entirely. I appreciated that Christina Lauren wove in a strong message about self acceptance. I loved in concept that Hazel wasn’t going to change who she is for a guy. But even as Josh fell for her, I didn’t.
Hazel moves through the world doing and saying more or less whatever she wants, justifying it as “I’m just being me.” The issue isn’t being quirky or having no filter or having the confidence to fully be yourself. It’s that with Hazel it turns into a lack of personal responsibility. Though she has lingering insecurity from past relationships, she seems to assume the total chaos is just lovable and that everything will work out for her, because apparently, it usually does. What a luxury.
There is a twist that comes late in the book that could threaten the HEA, and it about broke my brain. If you’ve ever been the responsible one who has to pick up the pieces in the wake of people who are total chaos, it’s not cute. I had to put the book down and walk away for awhile.
Even with a heroine I can only take in small doses, JOSH AND HAZEL is a fun, steamy read. The representation is pretty solid. Christina Lauren brings the laugh out loud moments, jalapeño boxers, and a Korean-American hero who’s more than worthy of an eyebrow waggle. For me, it’s show up for Josh, put up with Hazel.
JOSH AND HAZEL’S GUIDE TO NOT DATING will be available on September 4.
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P.S. If you find yourself inspired to make Hazel’s favorite, kimchi fried rice, this recipe is a good one.
