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.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this title, but my reading interests have changed. I will not be finishing this book, but look forward to others in the future.

BOOK REVIEW: Not Exactly What I Had In Mind by Kate Brook
2022 Publication Date: June 28

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
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T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Best Contemporary Romance Book

CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
Sometimes you can't make move forward... But you can "pause" until you can...

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW:
An Engaging and Unexpected Read
It's not often that I come across a debut romance novel that I enjoy as much as I did Kate Brook's Not Exactly What I Had in Mind. From the very first page, I was hooked by the clever writing and sharp observations.

The story follows two roommates, Hazel and Alfie (who have just slept together for the first time)... And Emily (Hazel's sister) and Daria (Emily's wife) as their lives become entangled in unexpected ways.

I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and relatable situations, but Brook also knows how to deliver a gut punch when it comes to emotional moments. This is a warm, funny, and cleverly observed novel about family, friends, and everything in between.

Kate Brook is a talented new novelist with a sharp observational eye, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

FYI: I "read" this book via audiobook... And the narrator, Charly Cave, was excellent! I could not find additional books she has narrated. So, this may be both an author debut and a narrator debut as well... Brava to you both!

Perfect for readers looking for an engaging read that will surprise you...✨😎✨

Pages: 350
Genre: Best Contemporary Romance Novels  
Sub-Genre: Roommate Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶 (Mild Spicy) 
Time Period: Present Day  
Location: London (England) 
Publisher: Penguin Random House | Penguin Group Dutton

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Haven Jacobs Saves The Plant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Movie: A Beautiful Planet

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A funny, heartbreaking, and relatable story about family, friends, and what it means to truly be there for those you love in both the good and bad times in life.

Hazel and Alfie are roommates who have just slept together for the first time. As their lives intersect with Emily (Hazel's sister) and Daria (Emily's wife), a complicated chain of events begins to bind them all together.

While Hazel and Alfie are navigating their new "relationship" as roommates with the latest event of having slept together for the first time as well... Emily and Daria are dealing with growing pains in their marriage as they navigate growing their family.

Well-written with relatable characters, the relationships between the four main characters were realistically portrayed and I found myself rooting for them all throughout the book. With each one carving out a unique perspective... yet mutually adding to the whole of making a great story.

Penguin Random House's Not Exactly What I Had in Mind is a warm, clever, and devastatingly relatable novel.

I listened to the entire book via audiobook in less than two days... And would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun yet informative read.

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• Life is full of unexpected and unplanned events, but with a positive outlook and the right people to support you, you can find a path to what matters most to you.
• Being honest about our emotions and intentions can lead to stronger relationships instead of creating misunderstandings or even missed opportunities.
• Family doesn't always mean by blood –– it's important to recognize and nurture the relationships that matter most to us.

BOOK QUOTE:
"That way madness lies..." — Not Exactly What I Had in Mind by Kate Brook

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Not Exactly What I Had in Mind by Kate Brook wasn't what I had in mind when I started this book. We start off with Hazel having sex with her roommate, Alfie. They're not a couple so things get awkward since they live together and have to co-habit. Then Hazel's sister and her wife come to visit. They announce they want to have a baby but need a donor....do you see where this is going? Overall, I liked Alfie's character but Hazel annoyed me. I just couldn't get into this book unfortunately.

I couldn’t get into this one at all. I put it down a few times but finally gave up. The storyline just didn’t hold me.

Not Exactly What I Had in Mine was not a book I would typically have on my radar, but based off of the premise and the cover I felt like it might be a nice change of pace from my other reads.

Like the synopsis states, this story is about an unusual living situation involving three female friends (2 of which are married) and a male roommate. There’s a little romantic tension, but mostly some enjoyable themes of friendship and growth. While the relationships among everyone seem to be a bit awkward, it is actually heartwarming at times and there’s definitely some depth there. I felt like this was a great binge read although not the most remarkable book I’ve ever read, it was fun in its own way.

I couldn’t help but draw some comparisons to Sally Rooney novels while reading. I do think that this author’s writing was much less obscure than Rooney and the characters were somehow more pretentious. And much like a Rooney novel, I did enjoy this one for reasons I can’t quite explain.

If you’re looking for an easy read, enjoy Rooney novels, or like stories about unconventional friendships… I think you’d love this one!

Thank you to @netgalley and @Duttonbooks for my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was very sweet and an excellent mind escape. With romances, I find that I enjoy smart and savvy (and therefore perhaps unconventional) plot lines, and this felt very by the book to me. That said, the writing was warm and clever, and the characters were empathetic and entertaining. This will br good for our spring break table in a few months to get in front of more readers!

The synopsis grabbed my attention, but the story could not hold it. I was excited to take the journey with these ladies, but I couldn't. I felt like the synopsis was the best part and that was not enough for me to finish. I appreciate the opportunity of the advance read.

Love family stories, especially when there is some comedy involved. I enjoyed the relationship dynamic between Hazel and Alfie. Enjoyed the spicy-ness in the story as well. Lots of cliched themes and plot points. Don't regret reading it, but not my favorite overall.

The title of this book says it all: This was Not Exactly What I Had in Mind.

Furthermore, this was Not Exactly What I Was Looking For and Not Exactly What I Wanted.

Oh my. This book. It left me vexed and not in a good way. First, it the sex. Can I say ICK?! It happened early (and too often (at least for me)). I prefer romances where the sex fades to black after a kiss. Call me old fashioned, but to me, that’s romance (ha), sadly that didn’t happen here (nor does it happen in real life (bwahahaha)) and I almost quit because of it, but decided to skim my way through instead.

The roomies here, Alfie and Hazel are cute and had chemistry, and not just in the bedroom, so I thought, ok, I’ll hang in, but this book is not really a rom-com, which is what it purported itself to be. It includes some truly serious situations and issues, including, assault, climate change, cyberbullying, LGBTQIAP+, mental health, pregnancy, and tokophobia, among others. Frankly, I felt as though it tackled a few too many, and that it didn’t do all of them well. The novel became tedious, and desperate and I ended up losing interest.

While the writing here wasn’t bad and while the characters were likable, had this book not been marketed as “An irresistible, funny, sharp novel… in which roommates and two sisters will learn that sometimes family and love - find you in the most unexpected places” perhaps I would have had different expectations going in, but then again, had the synopsis been correct, I wouldn’t have read this one at all. That said, I am only one reader and was simply the wrong one for this novel.

Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton for the arc via NetGalley.

Once again I have deceived myself into what a book would be about.

This one was a hard no for me. I can't deal with the miscommunication and just plain out drama of this book.

And the epilogue? No thanks. That's a certified way to ruin a book.