Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

Discuss how the series of double dates builds authentic intimacy between Josh and Hazel. Trace their changing relationship over the course of the several dates explored in the narrative.

Both Tabitha and Tyler Jones are foils who represent societal expectations of “normalcy.” Compare how these two characters challenge Hazel and Josh and affect their views on love.

The word “embarrassing” is a source of both past trauma and present anxiety for Hazel. Trace the evolution of this concept throughout the narrative, from her father’s criticism of her mother to Tyler’s judgment at Harvest Fest and Josh’s ultimate acceptance. How does its meaning change for her, and how does this shift illustrate one of the central thematic arguments of the novel?

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating utilizes the popular friends-to-lovers trope within the context of 21st-century dating anxieties. Analyze how the novel juxtaposes Josh and Hazel’s friendship with the modern dating world. How does their bond serve as a critique of contemporary courtship rituals?

Analyze how Josh Im’s Korean American culture, with its emphasis on family and order, is represented in the novel.

Christina Lauren employs humor, particularly through Hazel’s self-deprecating anecdotes and the double dates, as a narrative tool. Beyond providing comedic relief, how does humor function throughout the novel?

The literary trope of the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” describes a quirky female character whose main purpose is to teach a male protagonist how to embrace life. To what extent does Hazel Bradford conform to or subvert this trope?

The revelation of Hazel’s pregnancy occurs late in the narrative, fundamentally shifting the stakes of the relationship. Analyze the structural and thematic impact of this plot development, as well as how the novel both uses and subverts this romance genre trope to promote its arguments about love, identity, and authentic self.