Not Exactly What I Had in Mind lives up to the name. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind -- I imagined this would be a romance-dominant story, and while there are romantic elements, it's much more about the quarrels of modern dating, platonic relationships, and the ability to trust people.

This story was weaved together in surprising ways and I wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen. I found it funny, heartwarming, and also deeper than anticipated. It is a heartwarming debut and I found was gripped from the beginning. I think some aspects of this story could've been developed a bit more, but overall I really enjoyed it.

Rating: 3.5 stars

NOT EXACTLY WHAT I HAD IN MIND By Kate Brook

Alfie and Hazel are flatmates and they need to keep it that way. Although things are messy they're adults and they can figure it out.

Until Emily and Daria, Hazel's sister and sister-in-law crash the flat, and then suddenly everything is up in the air.

Thoughts:
When I reach for a book, especially a romance book, I'm seeking to escape for a couple of hours. This book provides no escapism.

I felt the author was trying to surprise the reader. There are words used and scenarios proposed that are unnecessary and create an atmosphere of detritus that is as fun to read as it sounds.

There is one particular storyline that I felt was not wrapped up completely that could be upsetting to some readers. Especially if they have been through a similar situation.

There is no one that I would recommend this book to.

NOT EXACTLY WHAT I HAD IN MIND...⭐️


Thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the advanced copy!

I really struggled with this one and ended up dnfing. A lot of the writing was witty and comical but I thought it would be more of a romance story. I feel like this read similar to Sally Rooney in a way and that is not for me at all. The miscommunication tropes also pushed me over the edge.

When I requested Not Exactly What I Had In Mind, I didn't know what to expect..The title intrigued me but the cover confused me. I at least expected a summer room com.
What I got? A crazy mixed up mess.
The problem for me is I didn't really like the characters. They all seemed so wishy washy and changed their mind completely if it fit the plot. Maybe the author was trying to prove a point that people who pick up a cause...being vegan or getting involved in protests...aren't really dedicated but just jumping on the trendy bandwagon and will tire of it at some point so people aren't really dedicated to a cause except when it suits their fancy. I have actually seen this myself with friends and family so that is a good point and makes sense.
The only character I liked was Alfie but he didn't really do anything. He mainly listened to others. I was surprised he agreed to be the donor for Emily and Daria. The scene with his first attempt to provide hus sperm in the primary school where he worked was just creepy and stupid. Hazel might have been OK if she wasn't so obsessed with her own pity party. I don't think Emily and Daria were sincere characters. Daria has a fear of pregnant women and childbirth???? That doesn't even seem realistic.
Very disappointed in this book. I appreciate NetGalley and author Kate Brook for giving me a free copy and my opinion is freely given and my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the writing was good and the storyline was fast paced and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book at my library

This book tackles a lot, and not everything is well fleshed out. Some of the character interactions are great, actually making me LOL, while others have no context or lack any depth.

The epilogue completely threw me off and seemed very unnecessary. I hope writing about the pandemic is not going to be a trend in the coming years. I do want to live through it all again each time I open a book to escape.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Not Exactly What I Had in Mind was a really unique read. I loved all the characters we had the pleasure of getting to know: Alfie, Emily, Daria, and Hazel.

There were turns in the book and character/relationship developments that I absolutely did not see coming but were quite timely and relevant.

Emily especially I felt drawn to as I shared many of her own anxieties about the world and about bringing a child into the world as it is now. At time her anxieties triggered my own and I had to work to separate the storyline from my own anxiety, but ultimately it had a positive affect on me because I didn’t feel quite so alone in those fears.

At times, the lack of communication between Hazel and Alfie had me pulling out my hair, but it was quite indicative of how complicated roommate relationships can get.

I thought the way these four characters were entwined and connected was lovely to watch. A very timely and enjoyable read.

This book was not exactly what I had in mind. I think it’s a mistake to market it as a rom com. It’s more contemporary fiction with perhaps too much social commentary. For the most part I liked the book, it was just different than what I thought I was getting. I liked the relationships between the characters and there’s some great witty dialogue. Would have been a higher rating without the epilogue, my advice would be to skip it.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Group Dutton for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought it was pretty good. It let my attention fairly well and despite the characters getting on my nerves from time to time, they were good too. I’d read more from this author.

Hazel and Alfie have been roommates in London for a few months; they have sex and each would like to date the other but each thinks the other isn’t interested in more than a one-night stand.

When Hazel’s sister and her wife visit, they get to know Alfie and really like him. They keep thinking the two will get together, but they just don’t. Emily and Daria are moving back to England and buy a house and are ready to start a family. They are just facing a few complications. Then they think of how Alfie may be able to help them.

I think this may have been an interesting book written with less vulgarity, but I just couldn’t read further than halfway. There are just so many instances of crude and vulgar talk and some scenes I can only describe as icky. So it just wasn’t for me.

I loved the characters in this book! Hazel and Alfie are so like many of us who are never sure how to relate to possible partners, and spend a lot of time screwing it up. Thank goodness they figure it out in the end! This book was funny, engaging, and very entertaining.

"Not Exactly What I Had in Mind" by Kate Brook is a quirky, endearing contemporary romantic novel. Fun characters and catchy entanglements, this book was certainly enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the reader copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a truly stunning debut. It falls into the “slice of life” category, without much action outside of everyday life, but so immaculately crafted. I loved all of the characters, but Alfie was my favorite! The chemistry he had with Hazel was so well shown, and the way their friendship grew felt so organic and real. This book packs a lot into a short book, but is somehow able to tackle it all thoroughly. I would have loved to keep reading about these characters for a hundred more pages, and while I normally enjoy an ambiguous ending, I selfishly want to know what Hazel and Alfie decided on. The “will they/won’t they” killed me! The epilogue wasn’t my fave, but it certainly didn’t detract from how much I enjoyed this book. Highly recommend for the contemporary fiction lover!

Thank you to Penguin Book Group Dutton for this advance copy!!

My first time reading from this author, I really enjoyed the story and seeing where it went and there were some definite surprises along the way, that you would not expect it. I would give this book a chance, and you will love the characters, especially Alfie.

Hazel and Alfie are roommates that not only have just moved in together but also have just had sex. A drunken evening led them to the bedroom for a memorable evening. Hazel fiinds that she might have feelings for Alfie, but his continued mentions of his ex-girlfriend and other circumstances have led Hazel to try and push her feelings aside. Hazel's sister and wife have just moved back into town and want to start a family. Circumstances bring the four together in ways that Hazel never imagined. This book was, at times, funny and, other times, heartbreaking. I loved the characters and the way that they developed throughout the book. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC. 4 stars.

While "This is Not What I Had in Mind"  wasn't my favorite read, I was mostly along for the ride until the very end. It's been mentioned in a few reviews already, but that ending really threw me out of the story. Minus the epilogue and I might have given this story four stars. With the epilogue, I feel too generous giving it three. 

I actually almost forgot that this book was on my TBR. I read "The Arc" by Tory Henwood Hoen a few months back, and the cover art style was so similar that my brain thought I'd already read TiNWIHiM. Oops.

The beginning starts off with a bang- literally. Hazel and Alfie have just slept with each other- they've both enjoyed it and like each other-- but since they are flatmates, they decide to put the night past them and not talk about it so as not to ruin their living circumstances. Seems adult, right? Nope. Not at all. They never learn to communicate with each other, and as a reader, it gets very frustrating. I'm only slightly older than the characters, but I felt like I was stuck in a teenage drama at times.

I wish I could have loved this story. The writing style makes it easy to read and there are a few good discussions to be had about current world issues. At the same time, it's so hard to wash that ending out of my head. I'm just so disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced E-copy of this book in exchange for a review. I received an e-copy, but this book was published in June 2022 and is available to read.

I feel like this author tried to cram a lot into this book. Hazel was the most frustrating character, and the moral of the story is that if people would learn to communicate, life would be a lot fucking easier. There were some aspects of the book I enjoyed, like the social commentary, but I think Kate Brook was trying to be the most woke person by putting in every single social issue imaginable. I also didn't love the big vegan push and shaming Hazel for eating a steak.. but that's just me I guess.. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I typically like stories with multiple POV's, but this one felt like way too much. It was all over the place, too mnay characters and sometimes hard to tell who's POV it was at a given time. It made it difficult for me to focus or really get invested into any of the characters or story, as I was confused much of the time. Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the ARC.

Not Exactly What I Had In Mind
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/28/22
Author: Kate Brook
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 352
Goodreads Rating: 3.28

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Dutton and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Hazel and Alfie have just moved in together as roommates and just slept together. Due to financial reasons, they need to find a way to keep living together. Then Hazel's sister, Emily, and her wife, Daria, come for a visit, and Hazel's and Alfie's feelings about each other are pushed to the side in the whirlwind of their arrival. As the lives of Hazel, Alfie, Emily, and Daria collide, a complicated chain of events begins to bind them all together, bringing joy and heartache, hope and anxiety, and reshaping their relationships in ways that no one quite predicted.

My Thoughts: This is my first book from this author and I would be interested into adding others to my TBR. The characters are developed well with layers of depth, emotional, have chemistry, and the relationships are built over the course of the story. The characters were relatable and likable. The author’s writing style reminds of Sally Rooney, it is complex, creative, and unique. This story tackles various issues such as mental health, gay/lesbian relationship, genealogy, environmental concerns, and how having kids in today’s environment will impact the world. The only con was the ending for me, it was not what I expected and/or wanted. However, overall, this was a good read and I enjoyed it. This book was released last month.

This was definitely an interesting read. Not at all what I expected and I would say the description isn't quite accurate. While there were funny and witty parts, it felt like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I mostly just felt confused the entire time and kept waiting to get to the rom-com part. This is in no way a rom-com. I don't think it's a bad book at all - in fact, the more I digest it, the more I think I like it - I just was not at all prepared for the type of story it turned out to be. I'm not even sure how to accurately describe it. It's just one giant miscommunication and mis-step after another. There are several trigger warnings that also caught me off guard: miscarriage, cancer diagnostics, cancer related death, revenge porn.
3.5 stars - It might deserve higher, but I have to admit I didn't enjoy it while reading because I was so confused about what was going on. If I'd had different expectations going in, I might have enjoyed it a lot - hard to say.