After reading a review of this book from a friend, I decided that I would not care for what occurs in this book. Therefore, I feel it would be a detriment to read and review for you. I appreciate the advanced copy and apologize for any inconvenience. Please disregard the star rating as I did not read this book.

This book has so many varied elements and complex characters. A few heroes and one true villain. My favorite stories are ones in which I can picture myself being in the story, and this definitely was one where I can say that’s true.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one. I thought it was funny and enjoyed the four characters. I guess what I can say with certainty is that the title definitely is a great synopsis of the book. This book was definitely not exactly what I had in mind!

Thank you to netgalley for my advanced copy for review in exchange for my honest review. Sorry it took me so long to get to review.

overall 3.0 read.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

This book was...wow. and not in a good way. It was all over, tried to tackle too much, and was like a roller coaster - really boring, exciting for a few pages, and then boring again. I did finish, but it wasn't for me. Two stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book.

I tried to get into this book for awhile but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Granted, there were parts of the book that were good so I would get hooked but I quickly found that it was just part that was entertaining.

This book didn't work for me and I think it's because it was trying to do too many things -- it tried to cover assault, climate change, bullying, LGBTQ+ issues, mental health, pregnancy etc. The romance was plagued by miscommunication and I just didn't feel invested as a result. If you're into contemporary fiction with a TON of social commentary this may be for you.

As always, I’m super thankful to get free copies of books in exchange for honest feedback. In the name of honest feedback, I didn’t enjoy most of this. I struggled to see the plot, I was almost always confused, and the characters and storylines were a bit too… lackluster for my liking. The end/epilogue was ??? Maybe the book would work for others, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea!

I had a really great time reading this one! The writing was funny, I really liked most of the characters and I had fun cheering them on and being along for the ride on all of their different adventures. I enjoyed that this was more contemporary, and even though I don’t love the miscommunication trope, I thought Kate Brook did it well. This is the first book I’ve read by them, and I’d be eager to try another to see if I like it more. This book was complex and attacked important concepts in a creative way, which I really enjoyed.

Wow - alright. This book really does live up to it's name as it's definitely not what I had in mind, and I mean that in both a positive and more constructive way. I liked the themes and heavier discussion points that were brought up throughout the novel, and I agreed with the messages that the book was promoting. Feeling like a fly on the wall watching Hazel and Alfie's relationship evolve was interesting, but their communication issues left me a bit frustrated. It felt like that was largely used as a method to add some bulk to the book when it really didn't need to. The epilogue was a bit jarring and pulled me out of the story I'd just read but it didn't really impact my thoughts on the overall text.

This was a cute premise and cute story but missing the flow of other strong writing that kept the plot moving and held my attention. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

This book had it's funny and entertaining moments but overall wasn't for me. I HATE the miscommunication trope and this book is full of it - plus tons of other trigger warnings. The plot basically wouldn't exist if the characters actually talked to each other.

I liked this book. It was a little slow and the ending was a little rushed but overall it kept my attention and I had to know how it ended.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton ​and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
This book turned out to be the complete opposite of what I had anticipated, and yet, it was an absolute delight. The vague description led me to expect something entirely different, but I was pleasantly taken aback – in the best way possible. I truly adored it! Hazel, the protagonist, felt incredibly authentic, and the heartfelt and sweet storyline resonated deeply with me. Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read, packed with fun moments that left me thoroughly satisfied.

Well, well, well, "Not Exactly What I Had in Mind," you certainly took me on a rollercoaster ride I didn't anticipate. When I picked up this book, I must admit I had my reservations, as I usually steer clear of women's fiction and clichéd narratives. But something about the promising premise drew me in, and I decided to give it a shot.

From the start, I was intrigued by the will-they-or-won't-they romance between the somewhat awkward and bumbling main characters. The initial hook of starting the book with sex was both attention-grabbing and a bit eyebrow-raising, considering they were roommates. Nevertheless, it made for an interesting dynamic that kept me turning the pages.

As the story unfolded, I found myself rolling my eyes at the predictable clichés that crept in. The protagonist's foray into dating a pretentious, artsy man-bun-wearing hipster, all for the sake of potential career advancement, felt both exasperating and oddly relatable in a way. Don't we all make questionable choices at times, hoping for something better?

And then, there were the lesbian couple's attempts at starting a family, which brought a mix of emotions. On one hand, it was heartwarming to see their journey, but on the other, it did feel like a predictable trope. However, as the narrative wove together, and connections formed between the characters, I couldn't help but be drawn into their tangled lives.

Despite my initial hesitations, I have to admit that "Not Exactly What I Had in Mind" was utterly engrossing, like a guilty pleasure you can't resist. The author's attempts to infuse depth and meaning into the story were admirable, even if they sometimes fell into familiar patterns. In the end, while I won't proclaim it a literary masterpiece, the book left me with a mix of frustration and intrigue, making me reflect on the complexities of human relationships and the unpredictable paths we all traverse.

So, if you're up for a somewhat predictable yet oddly captivating read that explores the intricacies of modern relationships, "Not Exactly What I Had in Mind" might just be the right fit. It's a quirky concoction that may leave you with mixed feelings, but sometimes, that's exactly what we need to remind us that life is a delightful mess of clichés and surprises.

This was a cute story but overall I lost interest and didn’t finish it. It isn’t because the story wasn’t good, but I just didn’t finish it.

This book was just sadly not for me! I was hoping for something different but it turned out to be something I was not expecting, which is okay and I'm sure someone else would love it!

This was very good. I liked this one a lot. I love stories about a ragtag group of young people figuring out their lives together and separately.

DNFed this one fairly quickly. Did not pull me in or gave me anything to keep reading. Just not for me.

*Thank you @duttonbooks for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF."

I was initially interested in the premise but found the story lacking. It was full of superficial dialogue and characters—probably a better read for romcom fans, but not general audiences.