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Nothing Like I Imagined (Except for Sometimes) #1-6
Nothing Like I Imagined [Except For Sometimes]
In this hilarious collection, Mindy Kaling considers her new role as single mom, the perks of not having a husband, and her struggle with social anxiety. In between, the beloved actress, writer, and Hollywood power-bruncher gets Kanye West'd at her best friend's birthday, thwarts an "only in LA" crime, and learns what it means to have it all.
3 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 6, 2020
45 people are currently reading
8091 people want to read
About the author
Mindy Kaling
32 books251k followersMindy Kaling is an actor, writer, producer, and director. She currently stars in the Hulu original comedy series “The Mindy Project," which she also writes and executive produces.
Before "The Mindy Project," Mindy was best known for her work on the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning NBC show “The Office.” In addition to directing, producing, and portraying celebrity-obsessed Kelly Kapoor, Mindy wrote 18 episodes of the series, including the Emmy nominated episode “Niagra.”
In 2011, Mindy penned the comedic memoir Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns), which continues to be featured on New York Times’ and USA Today’s best-seller lists. Mindy’s second memoir Why Not Me? was released in September 2015 and launched at #1 on the New York Times’ best-seller list.
In 2005, Mindy made her film debut as the object of Paul Rudd's unwanted affections in Judd Apatow’s THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN. Most recently, Mindy lent her voice to the character Disgust in the Oscar-winning Pixar animated film INSIDE OUT alongside Amy Poehler and Bill Hader, and was seen in THE NIGHT BEFORE alongside Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. She will next begin production on OCEAN’S 8 alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway.
Mindy was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2012. In 2014, she was named one of Glamour’s women of the year.
Before "The Mindy Project," Mindy was best known for her work on the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning NBC show “The Office.” In addition to directing, producing, and portraying celebrity-obsessed Kelly Kapoor, Mindy wrote 18 episodes of the series, including the Emmy nominated episode “Niagra.”
In 2011, Mindy penned the comedic memoir Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns), which continues to be featured on New York Times’ and USA Today’s best-seller lists. Mindy’s second memoir Why Not Me? was released in September 2015 and launched at #1 on the New York Times’ best-seller list.
In 2005, Mindy made her film debut as the object of Paul Rudd's unwanted affections in Judd Apatow’s THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN. Most recently, Mindy lent her voice to the character Disgust in the Oscar-winning Pixar animated film INSIDE OUT alongside Amy Poehler and Bill Hader, and was seen in THE NIGHT BEFORE alongside Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. She will next begin production on OCEAN’S 8 alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway.
Mindy was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2012. In 2014, she was named one of Glamour’s women of the year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 678 reviews
July 8, 2022
interests may change, people may grow, things may shift, but one thing is for certain: i will always love mindy kaling.
this is shorter and more rushed / less personal than her other two (amazing, generation-changing, genre-defining) memoirs, but it's still nice to have New Mindy Content.
also very impressive that her babies are publicly faceless and yet still very cute. i, too, am a publicly faceless person but i don't think i pull it off with that level of pizzazz.
it's important to have role models.
bottom line: mindy forever!!!
------------
reading books by asian authors for aapi month!
book 1: kim jiyoung, born 1982
book 2: siren queen
book 3: the heart principle
book 4: n.p.
book 5: the hole
book 6: set on you
book 7: disorientation
book 8: parade
book 9: if i had your face
book 10: joan is okay
book 11: strange weather in tokyo
book 12: sarong party girls
book 13: the wind-up bird chronicle
book 14: portrait of a thief
book 15: sophie go's lonely hearts club
book 16: chemistry
book 17: heaven
book 18: the atlas six
book 19: the remains of the day
book 20: is everyone hanging out without me? and other concerns
book 21: why not me?
book 22: when the tiger came down the mountain
book 23: the lies we tell
book 24: to paradise
book 25: pachinko
book 26: you are eating an orange. you are naked.
book 27: cursed bunny
book 28: almond
book 29: a tiny upward shove
book 30: ms ice sandwich
book 31: the woman in the library
book 32: nothing like i imagined
this is shorter and more rushed / less personal than her other two (amazing, generation-changing, genre-defining) memoirs, but it's still nice to have New Mindy Content.
also very impressive that her babies are publicly faceless and yet still very cute. i, too, am a publicly faceless person but i don't think i pull it off with that level of pizzazz.
it's important to have role models.
bottom line: mindy forever!!!
------------
reading books by asian authors for aapi month!
book 1: kim jiyoung, born 1982
book 2: siren queen
book 3: the heart principle
book 4: n.p.
book 5: the hole
book 6: set on you
book 7: disorientation
book 8: parade
book 9: if i had your face
book 10: joan is okay
book 11: strange weather in tokyo
book 12: sarong party girls
book 13: the wind-up bird chronicle
book 14: portrait of a thief
book 15: sophie go's lonely hearts club
book 16: chemistry
book 17: heaven
book 18: the atlas six
book 19: the remains of the day
book 20: is everyone hanging out without me? and other concerns
book 21: why not me?
book 22: when the tiger came down the mountain
book 23: the lies we tell
book 24: to paradise
book 25: pachinko
book 26: you are eating an orange. you are naked.
book 27: cursed bunny
book 28: almond
book 29: a tiny upward shove
book 30: ms ice sandwich
book 31: the woman in the library
book 32: nothing like i imagined
May 25, 2021
Is Mindy Kaling ever anything less than smart and charming? Short but sweet.
October 16, 2020
As she did in her other books, Mindy delves into some serious topics in this short essay collection, including her "kind of Hindu" faith and her life as a single mother. For me, though, the most enjoyable essays were the ones where Mindy just tells funny stories about things that have happened to her in L.A. Definitely recommend this for any reader looking for some fun.
October 22, 2020
My only complaint is that it finished too quickly, and I wish it was longer.
October 16, 2020
This was my first audio book, and it was the perfect one to try it with! Love Mindy and loved her stories. She is exactly the person you think she is, and I can't get enough of her.
October 8, 2020
Y'all, I'm so upset. I LOVE Mindy Kaling. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, Kaling's first book, is one of my all-time favorites. But something has clearly shifted between that book and this one. Suddenly, Kaling is a lot less critical--of herself, of culture and of others--and as a result, this book is a lot less charming and witty. She's also a lot less transparent, glossing over deeper insights and feelings, and therefore feels a little boring. Maybe Kaling has just grown up. (I noticed a lot of these same characteristics in her second book, but it still has some of her initial charm.) Maybe she said it all in her first book. Maybe as a A-list celebrity, she has to be more careful of what she says. Whatever the cause, I'm sorry to say that this book was not very interesting. Excuse me while I go cry now.
October 6, 2020
Mindy is the best and I will literally read anything she writes. when she said she spends all her time in her house? felt that. when she mentioned that she was never popular, but was chubby and friendly and therefore harmless? felt that too. when she talked about getting to watch whatever she wanted on the TV because she doesn't have a husband? FELT THAT.
just generally love her tbh. you know those people you super-admire and would be the most nervous to interact with in any way because of their killer work ethic and your lack of ability to be cool? that's
Mindy.
just generally love her tbh. you know those people you super-admire and would be the most nervous to interact with in any way because of their killer work ethic and your lack of ability to be cool? that's
Mindy.
January 14, 2021
In her fun, entertaining, and sometimes self-deprecating way of telling stories, Mindy brings is up to date on her latest experiences and general life observations.
This was a collection of six essays, and I liked all of them. My favorite was "Help is on the Way", but they're all great.
If you're a fan of Mindy Kaling and enjoy her humor and storytelling, you'll like this one too!
This was a collection of six essays, and I liked all of them. My favorite was "Help is on the Way", but they're all great.
If you're a fan of Mindy Kaling and enjoy her humor and storytelling, you'll like this one too!
June 13, 2022
I just discovered that Mindy Kaling had released collections of essays via Amazon, and I had to download and listen to this immediately. Freaking hilarious. Like sitting down with a friend you haven't seen in a while and having her dish all the stuff she's been doing for the past couple years. She talks about having a baby on her own, and weird things that have happened to her, and having social anxiety, and I just love her.
October 6, 2020
I will get on board with anything Mindy Kaling decides to put out. So when I saw she was putting out a book/set of short essays, I downloaded it the second it was available. And it didn't disappoint. Even though we obviously lead very different lives, she has a way of writing that feels authentic, relatable, and fun. I enjoyed all the essays and recommend anyone who's a fan of Mindy to pick this up.
May 20, 2021
Was set on doling each essay/book out to last until the weekend but alas- devoured it all in one night. Reading her books are like reading a fun (albeit long) email or text from a close girlfriend. Easy & fun read.
October 11, 2020
I would read her grocery list; no kidding.
October 21, 2020
Yes I read all six stories in a three day span but luckily GR has merged them all into this title because the stories (actually essay's) are so short I do not want them counted as separate books. Should Mindy have just written another memoir instead of these small slivers of humor and amusement written in 4,000 words or less? YES. Did I enjoy all of these however? You betcha. I especially enjoyed the one where she talked about her social anxiety and her need to only have seven good friends and her crippling fear at BJ's 40th birthday party where he had more than seven friends and expected her to make a toast. In front of everyone. Cue the horror (and amusement).
Honestly at this point Mindy could write about her taking a dump on a toilet and I'd read it. Seriously. It'll probably be funny.
Honestly at this point Mindy could write about her taking a dump on a toilet and I'd read it. Seriously. It'll probably be funny.
October 9, 2020
I was a little disappointed when I heard that Kaling's new "book" was actually just six essays released on Amazon. On one hand, they were free with Prime. On the other hand, they definitely did not overall add up to the length of her previous books.
I'm actually curious if maybe this switch to six essays was a relatively last-minute change from an earlier project. I think in 2017 she and BJ Novak had signed a book deal together, and he does feature very heavily in this, making me wonder if some of these are revisions from that book. Also, Kaling apparently gave birth in September to a son. So I totally understand if this was meant to be a full book that she decided to scale back on.
But I enjoyed these essays, overall. One perhaps could be dropped simply because it's just an amusing story, not really an essay ("One Night in Silver Lake"). The other essays though perfectly fit into the Mindy Kaling-universe alongside her other books. They're thoughtful, funny, and peel back that curtain between the rich and famous and the ordinary.
I think Mindy Kaling is so likeable because while she's achieved an amazing amount of professional success she's not afraid to also be vulnerable on certain topics, particularly being a single mom in these essays. She's also not afraid to talk about what it's really like to be a celebrity and is refreshingly honest about the people who work for her, from assistants to her baby nurse Rose.
I think the essay about her baby nurse "Help Is on the Way" was my favorite overall. Kaling touches on her mother's death and what having a newborn is actually like. All the essays made me laugh but that one also came pretty close to making me cry.
I hope that Kaling keeps writing throughout her life. She's a celebrity with a glamorous life that I'm jealous of but also someone I respect a lot. She doesn't take herself too seriously, but she's also firm on what stays private.
I'm actually curious if maybe this switch to six essays was a relatively last-minute change from an earlier project. I think in 2017 she and BJ Novak had signed a book deal together, and he does feature very heavily in this, making me wonder if some of these are revisions from that book. Also, Kaling apparently gave birth in September to a son. So I totally understand if this was meant to be a full book that she decided to scale back on.
But I enjoyed these essays, overall. One perhaps could be dropped simply because it's just an amusing story, not really an essay ("One Night in Silver Lake"). The other essays though perfectly fit into the Mindy Kaling-universe alongside her other books. They're thoughtful, funny, and peel back that curtain between the rich and famous and the ordinary.
I think Mindy Kaling is so likeable because while she's achieved an amazing amount of professional success she's not afraid to also be vulnerable on certain topics, particularly being a single mom in these essays. She's also not afraid to talk about what it's really like to be a celebrity and is refreshingly honest about the people who work for her, from assistants to her baby nurse Rose.
I think the essay about her baby nurse "Help Is on the Way" was my favorite overall. Kaling touches on her mother's death and what having a newborn is actually like. All the essays made me laugh but that one also came pretty close to making me cry.
I hope that Kaling keeps writing throughout her life. She's a celebrity with a glamorous life that I'm jealous of but also someone I respect a lot. She doesn't take herself too seriously, but she's also firm on what stays private.
October 14, 2020
Esse livro na real é uma coleção de seis essays que a Mindy Kaling escreveu e estão disponíveis individualmente na Amazon. Eu tinha pego só duas pra ler, Help is on the way, sobre os primeiros meses da filha recém nascida dela, a mãe já falecida e a babá que ela contratou, e Searching for Coach Taylor, sobre a vida como mãe solteira, mas me diverti tanto que acabei pegando os outros pra ler também (são todos curtinhos!).
A Mindy tem um humor que eu gosto bastante e que acompanho desde The Office e The Mindy Project (e agora com Never Have I Ever), então já sabia o que esperar– e não me decepcionei! Li os essays rapidinho, dando risada e ficando emocionada. Tem uma coisa ou outra que me deixa meio err, mas, no geral, foi um bom jeito de passar o tempo.
A Mindy tem um humor que eu gosto bastante e que acompanho desde The Office e The Mindy Project (e agora com Never Have I Ever), então já sabia o que esperar– e não me decepcionei! Li os essays rapidinho, dando risada e ficando emocionada. Tem uma coisa ou outra que me deixa meio err, mas, no geral, foi um bom jeito de passar o tempo.
October 11, 2020
I stan Mindy. Always. And GD every time she mentioned BJ - my heart! 4.5 stars only because it felt a little short.
April 7, 2021
Aggressively nothing. I get it, you’re rich.
November 19, 2020
I love Mindy Kaling and really enjoyed listening to her audio narration of this book. This was exactly the levity I needed at this moment. I really appreciate her humor and wit but also her vulnerability and transparency / acknowledgment of her faults. This collection was one I could personally relate to more than her previous books because some of these essays explored her newish role as a mother. While I enjoyed each essay for different reasons, I absolutely loved “help is on the way” and would put this particular chapter at 5 stars. I laughed and cried along with her, probably because I’m very near welcoming a baby myself and it brought back a flood of memories of how hard first time motherhood feels, and the grief she experienced having lost her own mother before becoming a mother herself (I haven’t experienced this personally but she depicts it so powerfully).
If you’re not a fan of Mindy Kaling, I don’t think this is going to be the book that changes your mind about her. But I appreciate her voice and humor so much right now. Thank you, Mindy!
If you’re not a fan of Mindy Kaling, I don’t think this is going to be the book that changes your mind about her. But I appreciate her voice and humor so much right now. Thank you, Mindy!
November 16, 2020
A series of fun essays that have you laughing out loud while simultaneously pondering deeper subjects.
(An Amazon exclusive for Kindle available to purchase as 6 essays or download as 6 Prime Reading selections).
(An Amazon exclusive for Kindle available to purchase as 6 essays or download as 6 Prime Reading selections).
May 6, 2025
I just love Mindy's writing style. Another fantastic group of essays from her about life, friendship, and now, motherhood too.
Read
January 3, 2023As usual, no rating for a memoir/autobiographical short stories.
Mindy Kaling is a blessing and I love her.
Please Like Me (But Keep Away) is the most relatable essay I have ever read.
Mindy Kaling is a blessing and I love her.
Please Like Me (But Keep Away) is the most relatable essay I have ever read.
June 9, 2021
I enjoyed listening to this book which was really a series of essays. It wasn’t laugh out loud funny but her honest look at her own shortcomings made me smile a lot. This was a quick listen that left me with lots to think about from some of her self-critical thinking. I plan to read more of her work when I need a little uplift!
October 11, 2020
Entirely possible that my expectations were too high or that I wasn't in the mood for this. I want to love this.
I know she lives a privileged life and I appreciate that she's open and not hiding things like having a baby nurse, but I simply don't care that some other rich person didn't personally thank you for buying them dinner. Or that you finally realized that charities/people without money would give you the appreciation you were seeking when you gave them money. Or how you didn't enjoy B.J.'s expensive and over the top birthday party. Silver Lake seemed to be missing enough eerie / a conclusion worthy of sharing it in print instead of just to friends.
Lacked the charm of her first books, which were frivolous yet fun. But again, perhaps I'm not in the right mood for this.
I know she lives a privileged life and I appreciate that she's open and not hiding things like having a baby nurse, but I simply don't care that some other rich person didn't personally thank you for buying them dinner. Or that you finally realized that charities/people without money would give you the appreciation you were seeking when you gave them money. Or how you didn't enjoy B.J.'s expensive and over the top birthday party. Silver Lake seemed to be missing enough eerie / a conclusion worthy of sharing it in print instead of just to friends.
Lacked the charm of her first books, which were frivolous yet fun. But again, perhaps I'm not in the right mood for this.
April 14, 2023
I listened to this because it was free. I now know everything I want to know about Mindy Kaling, mainly that she is more scared of me than I am of her. If you like a good celebrity time waster, this one will be a lot of fun for you. Mindy is the Indian girl next door who made good. You can't not like her.
October 23, 2020
I love reading anything from Mindy Kahling! I think she is hilarious and love the conversational tone of her writing. These short stories were quick to read and really fun!
November 7, 2020
Apparently essays about doing rich people things aren't my sort of thing, who would have thought.
August 16, 2022
Read via audible plus (narrated by the author).
October 18, 2020
I listened to these as I read them, but I’m going to count this as more of an audiobook read because I definitely paid more attention to the audio than the written stories.
I'm kind of annoyed that Goodreads originally made all of these short stories into six separate books instead of just one and then made the option for the single book halfway through me reading, but anyway, here’s my roundup of my reviews for the individual stories.
KIND OF HINDU
This was a fun start to Mindy's new essay collections. This one talked about culture, religion and identity. Mindy wonders what religious aspects she wants to introduce to her daughter as she raises her. I was laughing from the start, of course and it was cute to hear a story about her daughter.
PLEASE LIKE ME (BUT KEEP AWAY)
First of all, this title reminds me of her book “Why is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns).”
I don't know how Mindy managed to touch on such deep and personal topics in just one short story, but of course she did it. This story was all about social anxiety and being introverted and lonely in a new city with no friends. It was so relatable and she was able to put all my thoughts into words. It felt like I was listening to my friend talk to me.
HELP IS ON THE WAY
This was a really cute essay on Mindy's path to motherhood and all her insecurities around being a mother. Admitting you need help is hard for anyone to do, and it's honestly comforting for Mindy to be so open and candid about all of her struggles (while also making me laugh).
SEARCHING FOR COACH TAYLOR
Growing up with a single mom and watching her do single mom things, I was totally able to resonate with Mindy in these essays. Mindy talks about our expectations of romantic relationships and marriages vs. reality. I really enjoyed hearing about her personal story of being a single mom, and how it might be nice to have a husband, but it's not necessarily the best option for everyone. It's refreshing for someone like Mindy to talk so openly about how the traditional way isn't the only way and anyone can be a parent with or without a partner.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN SILVER LAKE
This short story was about a weird, funny story that happened to Mindy and B.J. Novak. I really enjoyed it and it was a fun story to hear, but it felt a little out of place. It's kind of a different wavelength from the other stories she has shared so far, and I feel like it shouldn't have been a standalone. But either way I enjoyed it.
BIG SHOT
This was the perfect way to wrap up Mindy's essay collection. It started with a funny story and, like Mindy does best, took lighthearted, fun stories to talk about deeper things. She talks a lot about her issues with generosity and overcompensating as a minority compared to the white men in the industry, as well as her struggles with constantly wanting people to like her. I think this is something that almost everyone struggles with, but it's not something that especially celebrities talk about so openly. At the end of this essay, she gives the reader a sneak peak into her everyday routine, which I loved to see.
I'm kind of annoyed that Goodreads originally made all of these short stories into six separate books instead of just one and then made the option for the single book halfway through me reading, but anyway, here’s my roundup of my reviews for the individual stories.
KIND OF HINDU
This was a fun start to Mindy's new essay collections. This one talked about culture, religion and identity. Mindy wonders what religious aspects she wants to introduce to her daughter as she raises her. I was laughing from the start, of course and it was cute to hear a story about her daughter.
PLEASE LIKE ME (BUT KEEP AWAY)
First of all, this title reminds me of her book “Why is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns).”
I don't know how Mindy managed to touch on such deep and personal topics in just one short story, but of course she did it. This story was all about social anxiety and being introverted and lonely in a new city with no friends. It was so relatable and she was able to put all my thoughts into words. It felt like I was listening to my friend talk to me.
HELP IS ON THE WAY
This was a really cute essay on Mindy's path to motherhood and all her insecurities around being a mother. Admitting you need help is hard for anyone to do, and it's honestly comforting for Mindy to be so open and candid about all of her struggles (while also making me laugh).
SEARCHING FOR COACH TAYLOR
Growing up with a single mom and watching her do single mom things, I was totally able to resonate with Mindy in these essays. Mindy talks about our expectations of romantic relationships and marriages vs. reality. I really enjoyed hearing about her personal story of being a single mom, and how it might be nice to have a husband, but it's not necessarily the best option for everyone. It's refreshing for someone like Mindy to talk so openly about how the traditional way isn't the only way and anyone can be a parent with or without a partner.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN SILVER LAKE
This short story was about a weird, funny story that happened to Mindy and B.J. Novak. I really enjoyed it and it was a fun story to hear, but it felt a little out of place. It's kind of a different wavelength from the other stories she has shared so far, and I feel like it shouldn't have been a standalone. But either way I enjoyed it.
BIG SHOT
This was the perfect way to wrap up Mindy's essay collection. It started with a funny story and, like Mindy does best, took lighthearted, fun stories to talk about deeper things. She talks a lot about her issues with generosity and overcompensating as a minority compared to the white men in the industry, as well as her struggles with constantly wanting people to like her. I think this is something that almost everyone struggles with, but it's not something that especially celebrities talk about so openly. At the end of this essay, she gives the reader a sneak peak into her everyday routine, which I loved to see.
March 12, 2021
I needed a break from all the serious books I’ve been reading. I love Mindy Kaling and have read two of her other books. I appreciate her self depreciating humour and her honesty. I am amazed when she tells stories about situations that she doesn’t really shine in. I appreciate people who can be honest about their lives and opinions and don’t always feel that they need to make themselves out to seem perfect. This audiobook is a little over two hours and a fun and easy listen.
June 8, 2021
I absolutely love Mindy. She’s my background on my computer even!!! This essay collection was short but I relished having Mindy in my ear the whole time and found myself laughing out loud. I loved hearing tidbits about her experience with motherhood especially. Only reason this got knocked down a star is because it was an icky Amazon exclusive collection only available through them and THAT JUST SUCKS FOR INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 678 reviews