Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating

Hazel is the novel’s energetic and unconventional protagonist. She has dark hair, dark eyes, dimples, and a wiry build and short stature. A third-grade teacher who thrives on joyful chaos, she refuses to hide her quirks and embraces spontaneity, colorful outfits, and a small menagerie of pets. Her arc centers on learning that authentic self-expression is the key to forming genuine connections, an idea that hasn’t been supported by her past romantic relationships. Hazel is aware of her eccentricities and often jokes about them, and she does not attempt to suppress who she is for others, despite her fear that she will never find love. When she first turns in her job application for the position at Riverview, she notes that she’s “braless and…still wearing [her] Homer Simpson slippers” (9). Even when seeking a new professional position, Hazel is her most genuine self, and this faithfulness to her identity doesn’t hinder her success. She gets the job, as Dave and the others at Riverview see her eccentricities and openness as an asset instead of a hindrance.

Hazel’s primary motivation is authentic friendship and romance, initially believing her personality might make her undatable, especially to Josh Im.