Hazel Hart Character Analysis: Mistakes Were Made
Overview
Hazel Hart is a secondary protagonist in Mistakes Were Made (Story Lake #2) by Lucy Score. A successful romance novelist, she is Zoey Moody’s closest friend and literary agent’s top client. Hazel provides emotional support, matchmaking, and a sounding board for Zoey as she navigates a new life in Story Lake. Her own journey from writer’s block to a #1 bestseller mirrors the novel’s themes of second chances and commitment.
Plot Role
Hazel serves as the catalyst for Zoey’s move to Story Lake. In Chapter 2, she suggests Zoey relocate permanently after Zoey loses her Manhattan apartment. Throughout the book, Hazel acts as a confidante and a matchmaker—prying details about Zoey’s attraction to Gage to fuel her own writing. She also defends Zoey against her ex-husband Jim Whitehead (Chapter 12) and helps Zoey after her breakup (Chapter 44). In the epilogue, Hazel marries Cam Bishop, bringing story closure.
Motivations and Traits (Shown Through Actions)
Loyalty and support: Hazel repeatedly puts Zoey’s needs first. She uses her network to help Zoey stay in Story Lake and offers to burn Gage’s clothes after the breakup (Chapter 44: “I like fire. Or maybe we can put them in the pigpen on the farm?”).
Tenacity: When Zoey refuses to admit her attraction to Gage, Hazel does not relent. In Chapter 10, she claims she is “more tenacious than a house raccoon” and literally wrestles a notebook out of Zoey to mine details for her writing.
Matchmaking instinct: Hazel sees Zoey and Gage’s chemistry before they do. She later relays Gage’s apology message (Chapter 47) and orchestrates their reunion.
Creative drive: Hazel experiences writer’s block (Chapter 9) but overcomes it by observing real-life romance. By the epilogue, her book is a #1 bestseller.
Self-awareness: She admits her own fears of losing success (Chapter 37: “I’m so happy and so fucking scared that it’s all just going to go away again”).
Chronological Arc
- Introduction (Chapter 2): Hazel is engaged to Cam, coping with writer’s block, and encourages Zoey to stay in town.
- Midpoint (Chapters 9-12): She presses Zoey for romantic inspiration, defends her at the publishing party, and continues matchmaking.
- Crisis (Chapter 44): Hazel supports Zoey after the public breakup, offering vengeance schemes and emotional refuge.
- Resolution (Epilogue): Hazel marries Cam, her book has become a bestseller, and she looks forward to story Lake adventures.
Relationships
- Zoey Moody: Their bond is the emotional heart of the book. Hazel calls Zoey “my best friend, my agent, my sister from another mister” (Chapter 10). They trade sarcasm but have deep mutual loyalty.
- Cam Bishop: Hazel’s fiancé and eventual husband. Cam is protective, supports her writing, and shares her enthusiasm for raccoon-proofing the house. Their relationship is stable and affectionate.
- Levi Bishop: Hazel sees his creative potential and later teases him as a future matchmaking target (Epilogue).
- Jim Whitehead (Ex-husband): A source of past pain. Hazel lost her books in the divorce, but she has moved on; Zoey confronts Jim on her behalf (Chapter 12).
- Navya (Publisher): Hazels’s publisher believes in her, helping her achieve a comeback.
Key Decisions and Consequences
| Decision | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Pushing Zoey to stay in Story Lake (Ch. 2) | Zoey starts a new life, and reader weekend, and falls for Gage. |
| Pressing Zoey for romantic details (Ch. 10) | Provides writing inspiration, but also fuels Hazel’s own matchmaking. |
| Defending Zoey via proxy (Ch. 12) | Strengthens their friendship and ensures Zoey stays in Story Lake. |
| Supporting Zoey after breakup (Ch. 44) | Solidifies their trust and sets stage for reconciliation. |
| Marrying Cam (Epilogue) | Completes Hazel’s arc; she becomes a permanent part of Story Lake’s community. |
Theme and Symbol Connections
- Vulnerability and Commitment: Hazel admits fear of losing everything again (Chapter 37). Her choice to marry Cam mirrors Zoey’s eventual commitment to Gage. Interpretation: By overcoming writer’s block and trusting Cam, Hazel models the emotional risk that Zoey must take.
- Small-Town Community: Hazel’s writing class, the bookstore, and her wedding all highlight Story Lake’s support network. Interpretation: The town functions as an extended family for both characters.
- Control vs. Spontaneity: Hazel plans her wedding but lets inspiration come from everyday life. Interpretation: This balances Zoey’s chaotic spontaneity with Gage’s need for control.
- Grief and Forgiveness: Hazel’s divorce and struggle to write again parallel Zoey’s past relationship trauma. Interpretation: Her success signals that mistakes do not have to define a person—a lesson Zoey also learns.
- ADHD and Neurodivergence: While not Hazel’s direct theme, her experience with creative blocks and needing external inspiration mirrors the broader exploration of different thinking styles. (See ADHD and Neurodivergence theme page.)
Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers
1. Why does Hazel experience writer’s block in Mistakes Were Made?
She struggles because the previous book came easily and she now feels she has “used up all the magic” (Chapter 9). She does not know the new characters or what keeps them apart. Zoey suggests she needs new real-life inspiration, but Hazel insists on following real couples instead.
2. How does Hazel support Zoey after her breakup with Gage in Chapter 43?
Hazel offers physical and emotional support: she suggests burning Gage’s clothes or putting them in the pigpen, she sleeps in the guest room so they can talk, and she threatens to “actually for real kill him” (Chapter 44). She also reminds Zoey that she is “more amazing than you know.”
3. What role does Hazel play in bringing Zoey and Gage back together near the end?
After Gage sends apology emails, he texts Hazel to relay the message to Zoey (Chapter 47). Zoey agrees to dinner, intending to reject him, but Hazel’s involvement gives Zoey an opening to reconcile. Interpretation: Without Hazel as a bridge, Zoey might not have responded.
4. How does Hazel’s own romance with Cam evolve over the course of the book?
Their relationship is already established at the start. They are engaged and planning a wedding; Cam helps with the raccoon problem, sleeps in the guest room to support Zoey, and asks Hazel about her writing. By the epilogue, they marry in a lakeside ceremony. The text shows “Cam is as happy as I’ve ever seen him” (Chapter 50).
5. What does Hazel’s writing success represent in the larger story?
Her #1 bestseller demonstrates that second chances are possible—even after a public divorce, writer’s block, and self-doubt. Interpretation: Hazel’s arc parallels Zoey’s journey. Both women must learn to trust that mistakes do not have to define their futures. For a deeper look, see the ending explained page.