excellent plot idea, horribly executed. characters were morons, the whole story dragged on longer than it should have.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This book title is exactly what I felt about the book...not how I pictured it! I was so much more!! This is not the first time I have read about the reunion of cast members of a TV show. That is where the similarities end, however. Yes, we get the reunion years later into adulthood with the backstories and all the emotional baggage scattered throughout. Add the cast getting stranded on an island with an abandoned porn castle (apparently that is a thing,,,) So not only do we have the stress of the relationships and the past history, but also a tale of survival, forgiveness, second chances, romance, addiction and the mystery of who is sabotaging and filming the stay.

I really enjoyed this book and all the clever and quirky storylines. This would make a great movie/TV show....

4 stars

Lord of the Flies meets Gilligan’s Island but add dash of romance and make it an abandoned Epstein island. Sex dungeon, two way mirrors, and mountains of porn but no rescue or useful items in sight. Seriously this is a fantastic read.

# Not How I Pictured It
# 5/1/2024 ~ 5/3/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0

This book was definitely not how I pictured it. 😆 I couldn’t anticipate anything that happened because it was all SO random. Not like, in a bad way but in a “what is going on right now?!” kind of way. This definitely kept me on my toes.

Not How I Pictured It gave cozy mystery vibes meets closed-door romance. However, I’d definitely call this more of a fiction than anything. The romance was pretty new and surface level based on their pasts.

There’s a good amount of double standards here. Your typical man “aging like silver fox” or whatever but the women “have to” suck their stomachs in and are compared to the new younger woman. Annoying more than anything

The idea itself for the book is really fun, but I found myself bored at times. If you’re wondering why they have access to some items, but not others while they’re stranded, just know that it makes sense later! For some reason being stranded in an abandoned mansion doesn’t feel real urgent to me, even though it definitely is! They definitely meant it when they said these people had 0 survival skills!

If you were to ask me if you should read this book, I’d say yes. I have nothing really against it, its just not anywhere near a favorite and was a book that I would zone out while reading. I’m sure this is someone’s cup of tea though!

Ending on a positive note: I loved that most of the characters were in their 40s!

thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Ness Larkin signed on to recreate her character 20 years after her hit series ended, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After the series ended, she had hit a wall. She was acting out, flaming out, and shutting everyone out. It took years for her to get her life back together again, and she thought she had left acting behind. She was in real estate now, the person her tenants call to fix the garbage disposal or unclog the toilet.

But then Hollywood called. The Good News Network has decided to revisit Ocean Views, the story of a group of teens getting their first taste of adulthood. The ensemble cast included Ness’s best friend Libby and the love of her life Hayes. But after the show ended and her father absconded with all her earnings, Ness had frozen them out of her life. She knows going back would mean taking responsibility and apologizing. But she’s always wondered what could have happened if she had stayed in Hollywood and pursued the acting career she loved.

Ness only agreed to come back when she found out that Hayes wouldn’t be there. He is making major films now, and his schedule wasn’t open for the Ocean Views reboot. It’s not until she shows up for for the first table reading of the script that she finds out that the plans have changed. Hayes will be appearing in the first episode, and now he’s sitting in the seat next to her, his arm grazing hers with the same crazy chemistry they had all those years ago.

The show is set to be filmed on an island, and the cast is heading to the island on a boat together, accompanied by a young production assistant, Tyler. They’re a little dubious that they’re in a boar while the network bosses are taking a plane, but there are drinks and snacks for them on the boat. The boat ride will be short, so they go ahead and climb aboard despite the dark clouds heading their way. Tyler drives the boat while the cast can relax and drink, but as the water gets choppy, he’s knocked over and Ness takes over the wheel. They lose the navigation and the radio on the boat, and then their map gets blown away in the wind. Ness, with the help of Hayes, finds an island and heads towards it.

She hits the beach with the boat, but at least they can get onto land. They tie up the boat and head inland to try to find shelter. What they find is a castle, filled with gothic furnishings and little else. There are no inhabitants, no food, no power, and the probability of random critters having taken up residence. The group grab some mattresses from the bedrooms and put them all together in the living room, so they can stick together. They pool their resources and scavenge the food and drinks left from the boat. Once the storm blows over and they’ve all gotten some sleep, things will look better. Right?

Maybe not. The next day, things don’t look much better. They are able to figure out where they are, but the boat has gone missing, and there is no way for them to get from where they are to where they need to be. They were supposed to start filming that morning. Instead, they are making a list of their meager resources and wondering how long they’ll be able to survive before they’re rescued.

As the days tick by, the facades slip away and true feelings come out. These are exactly the type of emotional discussions that Ness had been hoping to avoid, and now they’re locked together on this small island and there is nowhere else to run. Insect bites, sunburn, hunger, frustration, desperation—all this and more plague the castaways as they try not to be killed or kill each other as they try to live long enough to do their jobs. But how much can they put up with before they crack for real?

Not How I Pictured It is a frothy look at Hollywood and it’s penchant for rebooting popular television shows and creates a situation infused with enough drama for a blockbuster thriller. The locked-room mystery of not knowing exactly how they came to be stranded on the island paired with the need to survive life on a deserted island makes for a cracking drama about perseverance, forgiveness, and hope.

I really enjoyed Not How I Pictured It and didn’t want to put it down. I liked Ness a lot and wanted to root for her, but this was also a lot of drama, and I also wanted to take a long, hot shower, grab some snacks, and take a long nap. This story is stress upon stress upon stress, but these characters dug deep and found out what they needed to not only survive the island but to thrive once they could get back to safety. This is a fun, compelling read.

Egalleys for Not How I Pictured It were provided by Kensington Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but I liked it so much I bought it.

Former teen superstar Ness Larkin agrees to a reboot of Ocean Views, the show that made her (in)famous twenty years ago. En route to the deluxe Bahamas resort where they're to start filming, the cast gets stranded by a storm on a tiny island.

Well, this was something 😅 Ness had ran away from the spotlight after her father/manager took off with her earnings and was now a property manager. Everyone else in the cast had a glamorous career so there was a not so subtle undertone of disregard where she was concerned.

I was frustrated with most of the cast for a while. Ness seemed to be the only one using her common sense to try and make them survive until they were rescued but she still got grief for it. Then, everything that could go wrong on a deserted island went wrong. I found it at times hilarious.

Aside from all the shenanigans, there was Hayes Beaumont, her old flame and fellow cast member. They gravitated towards each other even as things were falling apart. I loved how it all wrapped up in the end 😄

I'm still confused on how to feel about this but it was an interesting read 😂 Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was quite different from Robin Lefler's first novel but equally enjoyable. The premise  is that the cast from a 90210 type TV show is gathered together to make a reboot 20 years later. The other cast members have had varied success in acting and life but Ness Larkin got the short end of the stick when her father/manager took off with all her money. She's been a property manager in Toronto while the others have been in Hollywood, none quite so successfully as her former boyfriend who she lost in the meltdown 20 years ago.

They end up on a boat crash in a hurricane which leads to seeking refuge in a weird mansion on a deserted island - with somebody out to get them. It took a while to fully grasp who all the characters were but it was worth the effort. Ness ends up being a bit of a superhero and this book would make a great movie or maybe even a series. I hope it is because it's quite cinematic and would offer a great action role for a 40 ish a female actor. Well done Robin Lefler (no relation) on a humorous, engaging plot and lots of fun turns of phrase. 

Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for the advance copy an exchange for a review.

I can never say no to a Hollywood inspired story, and I appreciated that the characters in this one reflected a huge range of what might happen to people whose fame burned bright at younger ages. The survival part of this story added a touch of both danger and humor, but it did feel quite long at times, despite not all of the characters feeling fully fleshed out.

This book is aptly named. It wasn't how I pictured it would be, but it was a fun, quirky read with an intriguing premise.

A group of former teen TV stars decide to do a reboot of the show that made them household names. The time since their show ended has been different for everyone, especially Agnes 'Ness' Larkin who is living a life far from Hollywood's prying eyes. It's been a while, but are there remnants of the old friendships they made? Or will the long-standing grudges of these former heartthrobs win out?

They soon find themselves stranded on an island in the Bahamas in a 'unique' old house with its own secrets where they find refuge, local beasties and a few of these eclectic characters learn about themselves in the process. There's some angst from the past, some rebuilding of former friendships and a mature (in their 40's! Yay!) cast of characters who each have their own issues to deal with. But my favourite part was the humour that often had me giggling to myself.

I enjoyed Ness as the main character and her reason for wanting to make a comeback after a betrayal ended her career in Hollywood. Hayes made an impression too - he was a totally dreamy silver fox of a man (I wish we had his POV) and the rest of the oddball cast add to the chaos.

This is a quirky, light, escapist kind of read that you can just dive into. Get ready for a fun, 'I can't believe that just happened', over-the-top kind of read set on a beautiful tropical island that is part locked room whodunnit, part tropical adventure/disaster with a touch of romance, featuring a group of people who have more baggage than Samsonite.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the author for the complimentary copy of this book (and the publisher for the digital arc) which were given in exchange for an honest review.

"Not How I Pictured It" by Robin Lefler is a sharply hilarious and deeply heartfelt novel that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of nostalgia, humor, and self-discovery. As former teen superstar Agnes "Ness" Larkin reluctantly agrees to join the reboot of her hit TV show, she finds herself stranded on an island with her former co-stars, navigating not only the challenges of survival but also the complexities of fame, friendship, and forgiveness.

Lefler masterfully captures the essence of both the glamour and the absurdity of Hollywood, weaving a narrative filled with witty dialogue, memorable characters, and unexpected twists. From the dysfunctional dynamics of the cast to the comedic mishaps of their survival attempts, every page brims with laugh-out-loud moments and poignant reflections on the passage of time.

At its core, "Not How I Pictured It" is a story about confronting the past, embracing the present, and forging a path toward the future. Through Ness's journey of self-discovery, readers are reminded of the importance of authenticity, resilience, and the enduring power of friendship.

I didn’t get the ‘funny and heartfelt’ part of the book description, it was neither of those things for me. It was filled with lots of unlikeable characters, which I liked. The problem for me was that I tend to dislike romance novels in which the FMC is a red flag.

This is marketed as a rom-com, however I would call this a decent mystery adventure book. Halfway into it, I put it down and was like, “When does any romance happen?” I picked it back up to see how the adventure turned out and the mystery solved.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

In the book Not How I Pictured It by Robin Leffler we meet Agnes “Nessa “Lochlyn a former child star who was on a Baywatch type show and she has returned after living in anonymity in Canada for 20 years 20 years ago she lived the life of a young Hollywood star until the day her dad left town and took her life earnings and savings with him and needless to say it knocked her off her keel for a little while. Not only did she flea LA but basically ghosted everyone who thought she was their friend in this includes the cast of Ocean Views The cast includes Coco Brady Ian Nessa Libby and Haze. When Nessa returns she’s hoping everyone will be adult about it and for the most part Coco Brady and Ian are happy to see her as well as Haze but costar and ex best friend Libby Kim is a different story but then again she has an attitude in general only Nessie knows when it comes to her there’s much more behind her barbd comments. She was told her ex-boyfriend Hayes was off doing movies and couldn’t do the show so when he arrives she’s happy to see he is happy to see her but doesn’t like the yearning in old feelings that come rushing back at the side of him. Is it things couldn’t get more awkward the costars and a crewmember Tyler gets stranded on an island after setting off in the middle of a hurricane if not for Hayes and Nessa they probably would’ve all drowned thankfully they landed on an island that’s for sale what was it an accident or on purpose? She’s stuck on an island with seven other people and none of them have survival skills and the one who does the least keeps yelling at Nessa asking who put her in charge? There were a lot of things that frustrated me about the main character Agnes but especially the way Libby talk to her and how she kept saying she didn’t like confrontations but how much can one person take I would’ve slapped Libby the first day back with the group let alone being stuck on an island hungry you’re the only one using your common sense to get by and all she does is sit there with her scarf over her face lounging around she certainly put up with more than I would have in my story wouldn’t have ended the way her dead. Having said that I found the twist and drama in the book was enough to keep me turning the pages although why would she turn all the lights on in the castle saying in case a boat pass by but wouldn’t a boat just think people were at home on their island? I had so many questions and so many things to say this would be such a great book to do a body read with but having said that it was a great ending the little mystery was great I loved the new cast member Daisy so I definitely recommend this book a really great way to pay us time. I want to thank Kensington books for my free art copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for access to this arc.

Well, this certainly is not how I pictured this book would go. I thought I was getting a rom-com second chance romance. I didn’t. I must also question it being described as “sharply hilarious.” There is some “heartfelt” I will give it that but when all is said and read, even that is in short supply.

First let me say there were way too many characters dumped on me at the beginning of the book. The setting for this version of “Survivor” was interesting. Without much food, a generator with only 5 containers of gas, no cell service, and questionable water they’re stuck. They do manage to pull off a bit of trying to make the island visible to possible searchers but fail to do something that I would have thought would be “up there” on a list of things to search for. It’s not the first silly or stupid thing they’ll do.

Ness is getting her chance at trying to make things right with those she spurned in the past. For some reason, be it spite or the fact that she’s been a hands-on property manager for years, all tasks – icky or otherwise – seem to fall on Ness. She might grumble and huff a bit but darned if Ness doesn’t actually have some know-how and leadership skills. It’s needed because Lawd these are some whiney ass cry babies she has to deal with.

About 2/3 of the way through the book I finally just decided to go with the flow and see how this mystery (and the book is mainly the mystery behind how they ended up on this island) resolved. I guessed what was actually happening and like Ness finally does when she knows the answers, I wondered how – beyond the plot needing it – a whole group of seven adults managed to be so clueless for so long. Seriously.

Being stranded and in close proximity with all these people gives Ness a chance to make some amends and face her own past. She does learn, she does take advantage of the opportunity, she does come out stronger. Yay Ness. If I were her, I would think long and hard about the fact that so many of them were willing to believe the worst of her. The ending is completely bonkers. I’ll give the book credit for getting enough of my interest and for getting me to stick around to the end just to see how the others would apologize to Ness but this is not a book I would be interested in rereading. C

The cast of teen TV show Ocean Views are being reunited for a new series twenty year later, including Ness who left the show under not-so-friendly terms and is no longer on speaking terms with her best friend Libby. Ness’ father/manager ripped off her earnings and she’s now a landlord who spends her days unclogging toilets and responding to messages from her tenants.
Ness only agreed to do the reboot because she could do with the money – and her former paramour Hayes is too big of a movie star to even consider returning to his role.
As the cast make their way to a Bahamas island for filming, their boat hits stormy weather and they make an emergency landing at a deserted island. They find an abandoned castle to shelter in, but next morning their boat is gone. And so it turns into a Survivor-like experience, with the group having to contend with limited food and water, snakes and rats while they await rescue. And the biggest rat may be amongst them.
Thankfully this story was the opposite of a shipwreck; it was a super fun read with dark humour, an offbeat cast, and a second-chance romance. I’d be keen to read more from this Canadian author.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I wasn't able to fully connect with the main character enough to dive into the narrative. (I'm sure plenty of readers will enjoy this book, and it definitely has an interesting premise. I'll try to give it another read in the future.

This was described as hilarious but I don't think I laughed once... the characters were caricatures and it was hard to really get a sense or like any of them. I didn't find the torture, starvation or withdrawal from addiction to be funny or well written. I liked the Hayes/Ness dynamic but I'm still not sure I can get on board with the name Ness. I will say the ending was very satisfying and you may have better luck with this overall.

Not How I Pictured It comes out next week on April 23, 2024 and you can purchase HERE.

"You're an adult now," Libby had said over more than one Sunday brunch, in the know-it-all tone usually reserved for people other than her bestie. "Don't you want to know where your money is going?" But it had felt like a tomorrow problem, and besides, it was her dad. Surely, if anyone had her back, it was him.

Well, that turned out to be laughably incorrect.

Ness had tried to ignore the pitying looks, but she couldn't escape the feeling that she was not only the world's dumbest human, but also that she must be deeply and utterly flawed for her own parent to turn his back so easily. She'd suddenly found herself deep in debt and entirely incapable of digging herself out. It was humiliating. After a few months she couldn't take it anymore. The collection agencies, the whispers behind her back, the lowball offers for roles she previously would never have considered.

Navigating the minefield of showbiz and media attention without the guidance of the person who'd shielded her for so long was beyond shocking. Sure, she'd wanted some freedom, but being thrown directly into the lion's den without even a year's worth of savings to shield her? Disaster.

Not How I Pictured It by Robin Lefler is absolutely brilliant! It was so fun to read! Our main character is former teen star, Ness. After some struggles in her early adulthood she leaves Hollywood for Toronto where she ends up being a very grounded adult and landlord. Deep down she regrets some of her choices and the wonders what would have happened if she hadn't run. A reunion of her hit show throws her back into the mix with her former friends and offers a chance to right past wrongs. Naturally, they get stranded on a deserted island with a porn castle and hijinks ensue. The story is a times silly and serious, but always fun. I enjoyed reading it so much I finished in just a day. It was a little lighter on the romance than I was expecting but that was still satisfying too.

Thank you, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eARC!

I loved this beachy second chance romance with a hint of mystery. The characters grow through the story as you get to peek behind the veneer they present to the world.

The premise of a group of former teen stars reuniting to reboot their popular series twenty years later held so much promise. Who doesn’t want to relive their youth by living vicariously through their former heartthrobs - especially if those icons are stranded on a deserted island? There’s plenty of angst to go around. Unfortunately the execution left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.

The beginning and end of the book delivered. There were plenty of ridiculously absurd moments that fit perfectly in Hollywood’s version of an ensemble drama. Where else can you find a group of superficial characters held captive in a porn castle? It’s the middle of the book that nearly lost me. I found it easy to put the book down and had to make a conscious effort to pick it up again.

I’m glad I pushed through because the final chapters, including the epilogue, paid off nicely. This is a book that doesn’t take itself seriously and the reader should adjust their expectations accordingly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was crazy fun! I love the premise of the story, its unlike anything else I’ve ever read. The characters are endearing, I loved their reunion, and the setting was vivid. This was just a lot of fun!