That's Not How It Happened

De: Craig Thomas

Narrado por: Marli Watson, Cobie Smulders, Josh Radnor, Kevin Iannucci

“Funny and poignant... Craig Thomas is a big-hearted, empathetic writer who knows his characters inside and out." —Tom Perrotta, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Mrs. Fletcher and The Leftovers

“Funny, real and moving all at once...[A] wonderful, heartfelt debut.” –Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony-Award Winning creator of Broadway’s Hamilton

From the Emmy-nominated co-creator and Executive Producer of How I Met Your Mother, this smart, funny, bighearted novel for fans of Kevin Wilson and Monica Heisey, follows a family turned upside down after Hollywood decides to make a movie version of their lives.

With Audiobook narration by Cobie Smulders and Josh Radnor

Paige didn’t set out to be a stay-at-home mom, but when her husband’s screenwriting career took off right before they had a son with Down syndrome, the decision was made for her. Now, with their children nearly grown and unsure what's next, Paige writes a memoir about the challenges of raising a child with a disability. When a major actress-turned-producer shows up at her door eager to make her “inspiring” story into a movie, she’s shocked, excited, and a little terrified.

This movie just might be the comeback opportunity her husband, Rob, desperately needs. His career has fizzled in recent years. But the movie is going to need a screenwriter, and who better to adapt his wife's memoir than him?... Meanwhile, their son, Emmett, doesn’t understand why people think his Down syndrome is the most important thing in his life (that's definitely his girlfriend, Amy)—but he hopes his newfound fame might somehow get him closer to meeting his idol, Eddie Vedder. Their daughter, Darcy, couldn't care less about the whole thing because she’s hardly even in their mom's book. The “normal” child who nobody ever worries about is feeling more forgotten than ever as her love life implodes and college decisions loom.

As their lives are chewed up and spit out by the Hollywood machine, triggering old resentments and launching new betrayals, will any of them even recognize the "inspiring" family in this film? Or will this "feel-good" movie be the end of them?

Could not stop listening

As a divorced father with primary custody of two children with special needs, I literally could not stop listening to this book. I binged it in one day.

I connected with this book on so many levels, and broke down crying in public at least twice while running around on my very busy daily routine.

the idea of perspective, of seeing things and experiencing things in different ways and coming away with different ideas and interpretations has been a primary theme of my divorce and my life healing from it.

there's no doubt that this book was written by the parent of a child with special needs, who understands, who's been through the ringer. and who understands the different roles that we as parents fall into. the things that we stress about and worry about and think about. at one point in the book, the father was wondering what his child inherited from him, and what came from his disability, and I started to sob. I couldn't stop. I had wondered this so many times. To hear it said out loud truly hit me where I lived.

the book is Well written, the story is well told, and the voice actors are well chosen.

thank you for this book.

Listened in three days…now what?!

A layered, deep dive into the emotional terrain of a family whose adult child has Down’s Syndrome and how they navigate an unexpected brush with Hollywood when the mother’s memoir is discovered by a Reese Witherspoonish actress. I like to read, but audio books allow me to multitask. I am grateful for having listened to this one. The voice actors truly brought the characters to life with heart and nuance. Cobie Smulders stands out…I had trouble not laughing out loud in my car as she delivered her lines with absolute perfection. Shout out to Josh Radnor, Marli Watson, and Kevin Lannucci who also deliver stand out, poignant performances. Be ready to be really mad at Josh’s character…but worry not - there is redemption. I’m throughly impressed at Craig’s ability to write from the mother’s perspective. Someone raised him right! :P As the mother of an adult child who struggles with a different disability, this book made me feel seen - seen and hopeful. It’s 100% a 5 star read (listen?). It doesn’t get any Vedder than this.

Comical yet truthful take on family & Hollywood

Outstanding listen! The performances were well done, engaging, and fun. Craig Thomas masterfully weaves a story where family is at the heart, told with wit and love. His comical yet truthful take on Hollywood and the delightful characters made this a real winner.

Funny, Authentic, and Full of Heart

I picked up That’s Not How It Happened because How I Met Your Mother is one of my all time favorite TV shows, and Craig Thomas co-created that show. I went in not really knowing what this book would be about, and I assumed it might have a similar tone to HIMYM. It was not like HIMYM at all, but it was absolutely wonderful in its own way.

I loved hearing this family story unfold through multiple points of view. All four voice actors brought so much life to their characters and made the audiobook feel rich and layered. The story follows a family of four as their lives shift while the kids enter adulthood. Rob, the father, is a formerly successful screenwriter who fears his career has ended. Paige, the mother, has written a memoir about raising their son with Down Syndrome, and the book has suddenly become a bestseller. Emmett is trying to step into adulthood, but he feels like everyone still sees him as a child because of his disability. Darcy, the daughter, is used to being the one no one worries about, and she often feels overlooked.

When Paige’s memoir is optioned for a movie, the family is pulled into the Hollywood machine, and everything begins to shift. The story is full of humor, real emotion, and moments that feel both honest and heartfelt. The plot moves at a perfect pace, and I was invested from the very first chapter.

The voice acting deserves special praise. Hearing Josh Radnor and Cobie Smulders as Rob and Paige was a treat, but Marli Watson and Kevin Iannucci were equally impressive. Iannucci’s performance as Emmett was the standout for me. He captured Emmett’s humor, spunk, and lovable personality in a way that made me fall completely in love with the character. You can feel why everyone in the story adores him.

I really cannot say enough good things about this book. It is funny, realistic, emotional, and full of heart. I am already looking forward to whatever Craig Thomas writes next.

BEST BOOK EVER

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. the GROWTH? the REPRESENTATION? the POLITCAL STATEMENTS? no notes. 10/10.