Not Exactly What I Had in Mind by Kate Brook is a funny book with great character development. It starts off well and then kind of takes a turn for the worst. It seems like there may have been a tight deadline and the author was trying to finish it up quickly. That being said I think this book is still worth reading and it would make a great beach read.

I loved Hazel and Alfie. They are so cute whether they are together or apart.

This isn’t your typical romance novel and that’s what I loved most about it.

DNF at chapter 11. I’m just not invested in the characters or the storyline and don’t find myself needing to know what happens next.

It took me a long time to get through this. The pacing was ok, I just felt like it was too much back and fourth between the 4 main characters. I wanted more from Hazel and Alfie and their relationship and where it could potentially go. Not that I didn't like Emily and Daria, because I did, I was just expecting something different as the outcome of the whole story.

Hazel and Alfie recently became roommates and slept together. While they are trying to figure out their relationship, Hazel’s sister Emily and her wife Daria come to visit which brings about a whole other host of complications.

This book took me months to read, which is not like me at all. I felt like I couldn’t connect to the characters and the story line seemed very scattered. It was an interesting situation but just wasn’t for me.

I didn't request this book so I'm not sure how it ended up in my books to read list. Unfortunately, I will not be finishing it since there are so many other good books out there that I did request to read.

This book was not what I expected at all. It was a contemporary fiction that covered so many important topics. Climate change, fertility & even white privilege. I really liked all the characters & thought the found family was lovely. Overall it was a quick and easy read.

This was a cheeky and occasionally poignant book that tackled some really big issues. It was engaging to a point, but I had a hard time getting into a groove with it. Something about how it was written and how it jumped all over the place kept it from feeling like it flowed well. And the epilogue sort of came out of left field. But the characters were endearing and I rooted for them

Great title, great cover - and so appreciative to NetGalley for an advance digital copy that I bought myself a paper copy too! A London rom-com that goes in unpredictable directions with characters facing challenges I haven’t seen before in such books. Loved the connection between the 4 lead characters - I was rooting for them the whole time.

This was heartbreaking, beautiful and hilarious read. It is multiple POV and the way it was set up with everyone's lives intertwined reminded me of a mid 2000s rom com. I was laughing hysterically one minute and then ugly crying the next. The main characters are all trying to figure out who they are and who they would like to be. One is a comic writer and the subject matter is funny things that happen to her from bad dates to cooking disasters and eventually an Ex boyfriend who does not take kindly to being made fun of and retaliates. The comic writers sister and wife are trying to have a baby and are suffering from fertility problems and miscarriages (hence the ugly crying). The young couple enlists their sister Hazel's (comic writer) roommate to be a sperm donor and he has his own hilarious debacles and he is hopelessly in love with Hazel. I love the multiple POV and the hilarious things that happened in between all the very real world problems it helped lighten it up and made me fly through it.

Ultimately this book wasn't for me. I sat it down and picked it back up a few times and then never finished it. It was dragging along, but also jumping around so much it I didn't think there was ever a nice flow established. I also found the characters slightly annoying and never could find them likable enough to relate to.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC.

Not Exactly What I Had in Mind by Kate Brook is a solid women's fiction debut. Readers looking for a lighthearted rom-com will be disappointed, as deep topics are explored. This is more about a group of friends and family exploring life and relationships.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this one with me. All thoughts are my own.

It is said that you are supposed to have everything figured out when you are an adult but that is certainly not the case in this one. Allie and Hazel have become roommates but it’s a bit complicated seeing as they slept together. Hazel’s sister Emily arrives with her wife Daria and chaos ensues. This is a story about family, friendship and how friends can truly become your family.

Thank you #Dutton and #Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book without a doubt lived up to its name. One thing I can say for sure: be certain to check the trigger warnings! This book had me feel just about every emotion atleast once

I thought this might have been a good read alike for the Roomate or Mrs Everything, its neither of those things. I think this is a solid debut, but its not an OMG amazing read given the competitive market

The title was pretty much bang on because I was expecting a charming romcom but it was a drag.I don't really enjoy books where so much hinges on miscommunication and people's failure to even try to connect properly with each other. It seems stunted. I don't like that in my real life and I don't want to read about it either. It seems like a weak place to write a book from.

The author created great characters in this book; I didn't always enjoy the book and I felt like it was rushed at the end.

The book really makes you think about dating in today's society and the marvels that can be found in doing so. I thought the author hit on some interesting details in the book. I would definitely read another one by Kate Brook.

I received an ARC copy of this ebook through @netgalley— the cover was colorful and the description sounded interesting. The book was “not exactly” what i thought it would be but i still enjoyed it… just a tale of friendship and love and lust. Lots of mixed signals and romantic pining and also a big conversation about protecting the planet and what our life choices and deciding to have children has done/will do to the planet long term. Didn’t expect all that, but it was interesting to see that perspective, nonetheless. I liked the characters and it was a quick read, so it was ok in my book.

This book explores the complicated dynamics between people who are forced to cohabit while two of them are discovering their growing attraction to each other.

I'll be honest and say that this book was a little bit slow for me, so it was hard to keep my attention. I did enjoy the themes of friendship and finding footing in a complicated situation caused by two roommates sleeping together. Hazel and Alfie trying to navigate their friendship after they slept together was portrayed in a realistic way, and I found their relationship/friendship endearing. I wish they have dig deeper in how their one night stand also affected the other people in the story and caused conflicts that could have been easily avoided.

Overall, the book wasn't terrible but the story wasn't easy to follow either. Not bad for a debut novel.

Very Sally Rooney like in the best way. Loved the complicated dynamics and relationships that these characters had. Thank you Dutton for the ARC for my honest review.