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.

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.