Hazel Says No

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross is a heartfelt and sharply observed debut novel about family, identity, and the unexpected ripple effects of a single moment in a small town. When the Blum family moves from bustling Brooklyn to the quiet college town of Riverburg, Maine, they hope for a fresh start. But their new beginning is upended by a dramatic incident that reverberates through the entire community—starting with Hazel, the family’s fiercely independent teenage daughter.

Told through the alternating perspectives of Hazel, her younger brother Wolf, her designer mother Claire, and her newly tenured father Gus, the novel paints a vivid portrait of a modern family navigating change, belonging, and personal transformation. As the Blums struggle to adapt to small-town life and face a scandal that rocks their sense of stability, they discover that the ties that bind them—however imperfect—are what will carry them through.

With wit, warmth, and emotional clarity, Hazel Says No explores the messy, beautiful realities of coming-of-age, parenting, and reinvention. Perfect for fans of Now Is Not the Time to Panic, Pineapple Street, and Schitt’s Creek, this is an irresistible story of resilience, community, and the courage it takes to speak your truth—even when it’s hard.