Jessica Berger Gross opens her debut novel with a deceptively simple premise: “everything can change in an instant.” For seventeen-year-old Hazel Blum, this moment arrives on her first day at Riverburg High School when the principal’s office becomes the setting for a proposition that will alter not just her senior year, but her entire family’s place in their new Maine community.
Hazel Says No is a coming-of-age story that tackles the uncomfortable realities of sexual harassment with remarkable nuance and authenticity. Gross, previously known for her memoir Estranged: Leaving Family and Finding Home, demonstrates impressive range in crafting this multi-perspective family drama that feels both urgently contemporary and timelessly human.
The Heart of Small-Town Maine
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its authentic portrayal of small-town dynamics and the ripple effects of speaking truth to power. When the Blum family—father Gus, an American Studies professor; mother Claire, a clothing designer; eighteen-year-old Hazel; and eleven-year-old Wolf—relocates from Brooklyn to the fictional college town of Riverburg, Maine, they expect typical fish-out-of-water challenges. What they don’t anticipate is how quickly their new community will fracture when Principal Richard White propositions Hazel with his annual “selection” of a student.
Gross excels at capturing the claustrophobic nature of small-town life where everyone knows everyone else’s business. The author’s prose crackles with contemporary energy—Hazel’s voice feels genuinely teenage without being patronizing, peppered with observations that are both funny and cutting: “We plod along like caterpillars until we’re squashed under the boot of patriarchy and homework.”
The Maine setting becomes almost a character itself, from the community pool where the family first attempts to integrate, to the penny bridge where Hazel walks with her love interest Noah, to the town meetings where the school board ultimately decides White’s fate. Gross demonstrates an intimate understanding of how place shapes character and community dynamics.
Multiple Perspectives, Unified Voice
One of the novel’s most ambitious elements is its structure, rotating between the perspectives of all four Blum family members. This technique allows Gross to explore how trauma affects an entire family system, not just the primary victim. Each voice feels distinct and authentic:
- Hazel’s sections pulse with teenage authenticity and growing self-awareness
- Claire’s chapters reveal a mother’s fierce protectiveness tempered by uncertainty about how to best support her daughter
- Gus’s perspective explores the complexities of being a progressive academic caught in his own campus controversy
- Wolf’s storyline follows his descent into online radicalization and eventual redemption
The rotating perspectives never feel gimmicky; instead, they create a rich tapestry that shows how individual trauma becomes collective healing. Gross is particularly skilled at showing how Wolf’s struggles with fitting in make him vulnerable to internet rabbit holes and extremist ideologies—a subplot that feels painfully relevant to our current moment.
Contemporary Issues with Literary Depth
While the book tackles serious contemporary issues—sexual harassment, cancel culture, online radicalization, and small-town politics—Gross avoids the trap of issue-driven fiction that sacrifices character development for message. The author demonstrates remarkable restraint in her handling of White’s harassment, focusing on the aftermath and community response rather than the incident itself.
The novel’s exploration of #MeToo dynamics feels authentic and complex. Hazel’s journey from victim to survivor to someone who ultimately chooses not to be defined by her trauma rings true, especially her decision to walk away from a lucrative book deal about her experience. This choice—declining to monetize her pain—feels like genuine character growth rather than plot manipulation.
Key themes that resonate throughout:
- The power of saying “no” in a culture that often pressures young women to be accommodating
- Family resilience in the face of public scrutiny and trauma
- Community healing and the possibility of redemption
- Coming-of-age in the digital age where private experiences become public narratives
Strengths That Elevate the Narrative
Gross writes with a keen eye for detail and an ear for authentic dialogue that brings her characters to life. Her background as a memoirist serves her well here—she understands how to balance intimate personal moments with broader social commentary.
The author’s handling of romance deserves particular praise. Hazel’s relationship with Noah, a college student and aspiring journalist, develops organically and avoids the typical young adult romance tropes. Their connection feels genuine and age-appropriate, built on intellectual compatibility and mutual respect rather than instant attraction or manufactured drama.
The book’s pacing is generally excellent, building tension through the investigation and community response while allowing breathing room for character development. Gross demonstrates particular skill in her depiction of how trauma affects daily life—Hazel’s depression is portrayed with sensitivity and realism, showing both its devastating effects and the gradual process of healing.
Areas for Critical Consideration
While Hazel Says No succeeds admirably in most areas, it’s not without minor weaknesses. The novel occasionally feels overly determined to address every contemporary issue affecting teenagers today. While the inclusion of Wolf’s online radicalization adds important dimension to the family dynamic, at times it feels like Gross is trying to pack too many social issues into a single narrative.
Some secondary characters, particularly at Riverburg High School, remain somewhat underdeveloped. The student body’s response to Hazel’s situation sometimes feels more symbolic than realistic, with characters serving as representatives of different viewpoints rather than fully realized individuals.
The book’s resolution, while emotionally satisfying, arrives perhaps too neatly. The community’s eventual support for Hazel and rejection of White feels slightly too optimistic given the entrenched dynamics established earlier in the novel.
Literary Merit and Cultural Impact
Gross demonstrates impressive literary chops throughout the novel. Her prose is clean and engaging without being showy, and she has a gift for capturing the rhythms of family conversation and teenage dialogue. The author’s background in creative nonfiction serves her well in crafting scenes that feel both intimate and significant.
The book succeeds as both entertainment and social commentary, offering readers a compelling story while engaging with important contemporary issues. Gross avoids preaching, instead allowing her characters’ experiences to illuminate larger truths about power, community, and resilience.
Perfect for Readers Who Enjoyed
Readers who appreciated the following titles will likely connect with Hazel Says No:
- “Pineapple Street” by Jenny Jackson – for its keen observation of family dynamics and social issues
- “Run For the Hills” by Kevin Wilson – for its coming-of-age themes and small-town setting
- “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid – for its exploration of women finding their voices
- “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng – for its multi-perspective family drama
- “Flashlight” by Susan Choi – for its literary approach to contemporary issues
Final Verdict
Hazel Says No announces Jessica Berger Gross as a novelist to watch. This debut successfully bridges the gap between literary fiction and contemporary social commentary, offering readers both an engaging story and meaningful reflection on timely issues.
The novel’s greatest achievement is its authentic portrayal of how ordinary families navigate extraordinary circumstances. Gross understands that healing happens not through grand gestures but through daily choices to keep moving forward, to maintain connections, and to believe in the possibility of better days ahead.
While not perfect, Hazel Says No is a strong debut that establishes Gross as a voice capable of tackling difficult subjects with both sensitivity and skill. For readers seeking fiction that engages with contemporary issues without sacrificing literary quality, this novel delivers on both fronts.
The book’s ultimate message—that saying “no” can be a form of self-preservation and empowerment—resonates long after the final page. In our current cultural moment, when young people are increasingly called upon to be activists and advocates, Hazel’s journey toward finding her own voice feels both necessary and hopeful.