Not Exactly What I Had in Mind is a meandering look into the lives of two roommates, Alfie and Hazel. Hypochondriac Alfie worries he will never find love in the masses of London. Hazel finds herself slowly falling under the influence of a new beau. Meanwhile, Hazel’s sister and her wife try to find the best way to grow their family. Have Alfie and Hazel missed their chance at a meaningful connection beyond friendship?

This book felt like a slice-of-life tv episode. Each of the characters goes through growth and are relentless in the pursuit of their goals. However, I didn’t feel particularly attached to the characters. Miscommunication is probably my least favorite trope, so I felt frustrated by its use here. I did appreciate the bond between the sisters and enjoyed the depiction of their found family. While this book was light on romance, aspects of Kate Brook’s writing reminded me of Beth O’Leary in terms of sense of humor. Thank you to Kate Brook, Dutton and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On the epilogue: 

While some readers felt betrayed by the epilogue, I found it to be pretty standard. I think more and more as readers, we will see authors begin to incorporate some aspects of Covid into their books. It may be in big or small ways, but doing so is (sadly) not unrealistic. Brook uses the epilogue to illustrate the way the pandemic impacted the characters, but it's not gory or overdramatic.