Nothing Like I Imagined

(Except for Sometimes)

By: Mindy Kaling

Narrated by: Mindy Kaling

Length: 2 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

2021 Audie Award Nominee for Best Humor Audiobook
2021 SOVAS Award Finalist for Audiobook Narration—Author Performance—Best Voiceover

In these fresh and hilarious personal essays, Mindy Kaling gives the inside scoop on her new role as single mom, the perks of being her own husband, and how she deals with social anxiety even at the most glamorous A-list parties. 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.

Kind of Hindu
What if only kind of knowing your family’s heritage is actually kind of lame? For Mindy, the search for an answer begins with an edible arrangement of chocolate strawberries and a Hindu priest.

Please Like Me (But Keep Away)
Freaked out by her fortieth birthday, Mindy reflects on the importance of good friends—and the mortifying obligations it takes to keep them.

Help Is on the Way
When a friend real-talks Mindy into hiring a baby nurse, she finds the help she needs—and so much more—in this soulful essay by the acclaimed writer, actress, producer, and director.

Searching for Coach Taylor
A totally relatable essay on showing up to adult life alone. Pros? Mindy can marathon any Christine Baranski show she wants. Cons? Dealing with married couples and their condescension at cocktail parties.

Once Upon a Time in Silver Lake
All Mindy wants is a night out… But what does the scary stranger in the driver’s seat of her ride want? Find out in a nerve-wracking mini-drama by the New York Times bestselling author of Why Not Me?

Big Shot
Is $2,000 a lot to drop on someone else’s dinner, just to be a Big Shot? Hell yeah! But what if nobody notices that you—one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World”—picked up the tab? INCLUDES BONUS CONTENT

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Mindy Kaling (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Mindy Kaling narrates her latest volume of quirky, sarcastic, hilarious essays on being a 40-something mother in Hollywood. She is everything fans of her television shows, such as The Office and The Mindy Project, have come to expect—lively, upbeat, and irreverent. The overall effect is that listeners feel they are in the room with Kaling as she is semi-ranting over coffee—or something stronger. She races through a diverse array of topics—from contemplating her Hindu spiritual origins and picking up expensive dinner tabs to turning 40. Kaling is unflinching in sharing the intimate details of her life. Listeners will laugh throughout these humorous reflections. Kaling delivers what have come to be her trademarks in this recent installment.” - Audiofile Magazine

Oh Mindy where did you go

Funny thing I really enjoyed Mindys first 2 books but never watched any of her tv shows. This book was just ok it was a little alarming to hear the onset of elitism in Mindys words and actions. I know she was raised better than this and hope she doesn’t get sucked into the whole Hollywood ideology. Mindy is a grateful person at heart and an adoring mother so I give her a chance of remaining true to her upbringing.

As real as it gets ~

I Love Mindy's Persona and Wit.
What I love most is the relatability of her thoughts, with my own Thoughts, feelings and experiences. Mindy is so adept at calling every situation she finds herself in with an antidote to why she does what she does. She then tells you what it means to her when she does it and what she's learned after doing it. All with self depreciating Humor. By the time you are done with her book, you know her in a way to know
she will obsessively read each and every Review about her book on Audible. You will know who she is and hear how she figured it out for herself.

Honest Light and entertaining

I loved it. Listening to mindy read it herself feels like chatting with her rather than listening to a written work. Enjoyable light read!

Fun quick listen

Entertaining, light, and funny. Mindy does a great job layering her characteristic wit and humor with real life stories. Endearing

Love her sense of humor

A lighthearted listen by one of America’s favorite funny girl’s! Mindy takes everyday life and shares her observations and place you right in the story. And yes, I’d love to be her best friend and am okay with not leaving my house, watching Netflix and drinking a Rosé!

Love Mindy’s Work

I always love what Mindy has to write, and hearing her narrate her essays was an amazing way to read her book! If you’re a fan of Mindy Kaling, I would highly recommend giving this a shot!

Enjoyable and relatable

This collection was a very enjoyable listening experience. I laughed at times and found myself nodding my head in agreement many times. I also love the personal insight into Mindy's life and like she said at the end, yes, I'm obsessed! I look forward to more from her!

Really Cute, and Heartfelt

I really liked Mindy as a writer and actress in "The Office." I haven't seen anything else she worked on but I will. Her essays are funny, and poignant at times when talking about her mother and loss. I also relate to social anxiety.

What keeps it from being a "5"? She could not have been any more clear that the mystery actor "Max" was Adam Sandler. Either name him or have a more generic description. Okay Also, I did not like the jokes about pain meds . When this book came out the opioid crisis was an epidemic and it just did not sit well.

love this lady

she is so honest and gives so many great insights. definitely worth the read

Love Mindy!

So fun to hear what Mindy Kaling's day-to-day life is like, in Hollywood . Also, great for the stories of her day today life with her daughter.