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.

A book about relationships, after Covid. Unfortunately the 4 main characters were just not that interesting or easy to relate to for me. A little out of my comfort zone as far as reading for pleasure.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for my honest review.*

A group of 4 people are trying to navigate love, dating, and relationships in Great Britain during and after Covid. Two are roommates. Two are sisters. Two are married. There is a lot going on.

I felt like there was almost too much going on right from the start and it took me a bit to get into the novel. But once I got past that, I was eager to see how their lives would connect and interact throughout the novel. I feel like some things could have been left out. It makes me wonder how day to day life in England is. Whether I live under a rock too much or does everyone really contemplate the environment and wokeness and carbon footprints as much as some of the millennials in novels.

Getting past all of that though, I thought this was a really sweet novel and I enjoyed the ending.

Hazel worries that hooking up with her new roommate, Alfie, might make things awkward. She has no idea.

While she definitely feels a connection with Alfie, she knows she’s not the only woman who’s shared his bed recently so she decides to keep her options open. Then she meets Miles, who is an incredibly hot fellow artist, with better connections than she has.

She ignores some misgivings about Miles (and the fact he’s disappointing in bed) as well as the subtle and not so subtle hints from friends and family that Miles is kind of a dick. Then things implode in an epic manner, forever altering the trajectories of both her and Allie’s lives. Will they find their way back to each other?

The finely drawn Romany and secondary characters (who I really want to be friends with) elevate this novel far above the typical romance. Alternately hilarious and heart wrenching but definitely memorable. #NotExactlyWhatIHadInMind #NetGalley

Unfortunately this was to quote the title “Not Exactly What I Had in Mind”.

I wanted to step out of my comfort zone with this one and unfortunately it was not a hit. I did not connect with Hazel, Alfie, Emily, or Daria.

I think that this seemed to be described as something that would be more in the vein of a romantic comedy and I didn’t get that vibe from it.

I think that this will be wonderful for some, especially if you love depth and smart writing that depends on relationships.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to review this. Thank you NetGalley and Dutton!

I really liked the characters of Not Exactly What I Had in Mind. This story is full of love, family, disappointment, abuse, sadness, joy and determination. What happens to Hazel is frustrating and I'm sure happens a lot more in real life than what we know.

Not Exactly What I Had in Mind is perfect for fans of Sally Rooney. This was a fresh, fun, character driven novel that follows two roommates and two sisters as they navigate life and find love. I really enjoyed following these characters, as they were impossible not to like. It was fun to see each character's journey unfold. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel--but could have done without the epilogue. Huge thank you to Dutton Books for the gifted copy.

The synopsis and the book don’t match up in the sense that the book completely lacks in the wit and humor that was promised in the synopsis. I am am easy reviewer but to be honest I am struggling for anything positive to say. I felt like the story was totally flat, unnecessarily complicated, the characters extremely one dimensional, and in many places wildly unbelievable… and I’m not even going to say what I think about the terrible epilogue.

Not Exactly What I Had in Mind by Kate Brook was a thought provoking book. It contained some sliding doors moments as well. I was intrigued by the will they won’t they roommates living in London then Brook zoomed out and I saw more layers of the story.

I think the title summarizes exactly how I felt about this book. I don't think I'm cut out for literary fiction.

Unfortunately a DNF for me. The writing style was not dragging me in for the first 10% but I did want to continue as it had been marketed as funny and witty and that's usually a hit for me, but by 20% I didn't feel that or a huge connection to the characters so it was time to move on. Potentially I will revisit in the future but not for now.