LOVE STORY HOOK:  The charming, awkward, will-they-won’t-they relationship between Hazel and Alfie forms the spine of the book and nods toward rom-coms like One Day in December or The Flatshare, but the assured writing and bigger themes elevate this into larger book club fiction territory, for readers of Emma Straub or J Courtney Sullivan or Linda Holmes. 

BOOK CLUB FICTION: Though this is a light-hearted read, it also brings up some serious themes that would be perfect fodder for book club discussions, including non-traditional family structures, climate change and the morality of bringing children into a warming world, health anxiety, toxic masculinity, and revenge porn. 

UPLIFTING, FUNNY, SMART:  A breezy but thoughtful read, this is perfect for the beach!

TRADE ORIGINAL: The paperback format is the perfect fit for this book club- and beach-friendly read, with a price point that will appeal to readers in their 20s and 30s.

Kate Brook lives and works in London. She has a PhD in French Literature and Visual Art from King’s College London, and a Masters in European Literature and Culture from the University of Cambridge. Her short-form writing has been published in The Fiction Pool and The Real Story. Not Exactly What I Had in Mind is her debut novel.



Author Residence: London, UK

“I adored this book―fresh, funny and thought provoking, I fell in love with the characters and did not want it to end.” ―Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year and Just Haven’t Met You Yet

“Brook’s enjoyable debut tackles the messiness of love and family… Heartfelt and entertaining.” ―Publishers Weekly

“A charming peek inside the messy world of modern dating, blending hard-hitting realities with frivolous fun. Fans of Jamie Brenner and Hannah McKinnon will appreciate Brook’s celebration of the chosen family of roommates, coworkers, and friends who provide steady footing in an unstable world.” ―Booklist

“Brook’s ability to balance humor with explorations of heartbreak, anxiety, and betrayal is admirable….an entertaining tale from start to finish, with characters you’ll miss right after finishing the epilogue.”―Kirkus

“A clever and insightful take on what love and family mean in the twenty-first century.” ―Nicola Gill, author of We Are Family and The Neighbors

“Captures the intricacies of modern relationships with undeniable skill, heaps of humour and a style that fans of Sally Rooney will love. Captivating and addictively complex, this novel is full of an unshakable tension that is a delight to get entangled in.” ―Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of Your Show