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Romance Annotation



 


Image text

Author: Christina Lauren

Title: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating

Genre: Romance

Publication Date: 2018

Number of Pages: 309

Geographical Setting: Portland, Oregon

Time Period: Contemporary

Series (If applicable): Standalone

 

Plot Summary:

Told from the alternating perspectives of both Josh and Hazel, this book follows their romance as it unfolds. Josh and Hazel have a history of meeting in awkward situations and although Hazel has always been interested in him, somehow they have never ended up dating. Hazel is a free spirit with no filter and is unapologetically herself. Josh is more mellow and finds his life shaken up when Hazel decides they are going to be best friends. They go through a long series of double dates and find themselves becoming more and more interested in each other.

Subject Headings: romance, contemporary, adult, humor, fiction, chick lit 

Appeal:

Frame

Romance appeals first to the reader’s emotions. It has an evocative tone and engages the reader’s feelings to form an emotional pull toward the story. Josh and Hazel’s immediate connection and likeable personalities draw the reader to become invested in their story.

Story Line

Romance is at the center of the story, with other themes being secondary.

Characterization

Romance novels feature a hero and heroine that must come to terms with themselves and their relationship. The characters grow and they also learn to love. Josh and Hazel each have trouble in their personal lives that they must learn to work through and over time, after resisting dating each other, they finally see that they love each other.

Pacing

Romances tend to be quick reads and rely more on dialogue than description. This book is no exception and moves quickly through the characters’ lives.

Style

Like most romances, this book uses adjectives to describe the characters and places and set the mood. The language pulls the reader in so they are able to see the story unfold in their mind and feel as if they are a part of the story.

Similar Authors and Works:

- The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

The first novel in a series, this book features a quirky female lead, similar to Hazel, and has a similar charm and wit to Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating.

- The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa

Like Josh and Hazel, the characters in this rom-com are put in humorous, awkward situations.

- The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

 Like Josh and Hazel, Rhiannon and Samson are lovable characters that are given a second shot at a relationship together.


Comments

  1. AlexFebruary 28, 2021 at 10:54 AM

    Your work has been so well crafted in the image you provided! After reading a few of these annotations for romance novels, I think I am finding out just how much I enjoy reading about love. What I appreciate most in your annotation isn't the simple description of a traditional love story. I think of romance and think of "meant-to-be" and of Romeo and Juliet.. but you describe two people that grow overtime and only then find out that they are "...more interested in each other". Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I just really appreciate that you highlight the ways in which readers might find this appealing. I think of romance novels and think of dramatic stories of forbidden love, so I also am learning to go beyond our preconceptions of what a specific genre entails.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Erin CataldiMarch 4, 2021 at 9:27 AM

    I LOVE Christina Lauren but I haven't read this one yet! Great job on your annotation - not only is it well written - but it's beautiful!! Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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