While "Not Exactly 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 NEWIHiM. 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.