Back of Book: 

What if only kind of knowing your family’s heritage is actually kind of lame? For Mindy Kaling, the number one bestselling author of Why Not Me?, the search for an answer begins with an Edible Arrangement of chocolate-covered strawberries and a Hindu priest.

Like Kelly Kapoor on The Office, Mindy is engaged with her Indian heritage to the extent that it is fun and convenient. So apart from a tolerance for spicy foods and an appreciation for Ravi Shankar, Mindy isn’t all that Hindu. Her daughter’s Jewish godfather—TV and film’s B.J. Novak—prompts her to reconsider her religious beliefs and ask herself: How Indian do I want my daughter to be?

From the acclaimed writer, actor, director, producer, and New York Times bestselling author comes Nothing Like I Imagined. In these essays, Mindy Kaling shares the latest chapters of a multitasking life in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single setting. Either way, they’re pitch-perfect. 

Book Number: One 

Genre: Adult | Memoir | Essay | Short Story 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

The first essay in Mindy Kaling's Amazon exclusive short stories series that showcases her life events in humorous detail.

Kelly Kapoor and Mindy Kaling both have the fact that they only embrace their Hinduism when it is convenient and entertaining in common. In this story, Mindy tells us about her shifting views on religion as she contemplates her daughter's future and debates how she must provide for her spiritually.

Religion is such a weird soup for so many people. Most kids grow up believing whatever their parents tell them to believe, which is a huge weight on the parents' shoulders. In Mindy's case, she has to decide whether she wants to introduce Hinduism into her daughter's life. At eight months old, Kit obviously can't make these decisions herself, which leaves Mindy feeling rather stressed and confused. This debate between embrace what you grew up with versus doing your own thing is something that most people experience in their lives, so I feel that this is a relatable story to many people.

I found that I enjoyed learning about the Mundan ceremony and all that it entails. Many Hindus believe that by shaving the baby's hair, they will leave behind the burdens and the karma from their past lives. This is a really neat concept, and I found learning about it from Mindy's hectic experience with her daughter's to be quite enlightening.

Overall, Mindy Kaling is just as witty as ever in her essay "Kind of Hindu." Hearing her discuss something as serious as religion was a nice change of pace, and the dive into her version of Hinduism was enlightening. I look forward to reading more of Mindy's essays in the future!

Back of Book: 

Freaked out by her fortieth birthday, the creator and executive producer of Never Have I Ever reflects on the importance of good friends—and the mortifying obligations it takes to keep them.

Yes, Mindy Kaling is the genial Hollywood celebrity who posted twelve selfies from a single Oscar party, but that smile took work. In this hilariously honest essay, Mindy reflects on the social anxiety that she traces back to the slices of white cheese her parents served at her ninth birthday party. Little has changed in thirty years—least of all the fear of being judged forever. It’s probably best to just back away.

From the acclaimed writer, actor, director, producer, and New York Times bestselling author comes Nothing Like I Imagined. In these essays, Mindy Kaling shares the latest chapters of a multitasking life in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single setting. Either way, they’re pitch-perfect. 

Book Number: Two

Genre: Adult | Memoir | Essay | Short Story 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Mindy Kaling discusses what it is like to be a socially awkward introvert who just so happens to be famous. 

The first segment of this essay goes back to Mindy's roots as she discusses birthday parties of her youth. Even as a young girl, she was worried that something would go terribly wrong at her party, and this concern definitely didn't go away as she got older. 

The second segment talks about when Mindy first moved to LA and how she had absolutely zero friends to her name. She goes through some serious growth and learns a ton about herself after hanging out with a few wrong crowds. Loneliness is something that affects us all, so I'm sure most people can relate to this section. 

In the final portion of this essay, Mindy dives into the anxiety she feels surrounding her fortieth birthday party. Being a socially anxious person, she wants to just spend the day camped out by herself on her couch watching a comfort show, but her best friend B.J. Novak is not letting that fly. I find Mindy's insights to be so relatable as a socially anxious introvert myself, and I find this to be comforting. Even stars get stuck in their own heads. 

One of the parts of this essay that I felt to my core is nervously pacing for at least half an hour before any social gathering. Even if I am simply inviting one of my best friends over to chill at my house, I still get terribly anxious and seem to find myself contemplating everything that could possibly go wrong. This certainly adds some unnecessary stress to my life, but it's not like I can just turn my anxiousness off. 

Overall, "Please Like Me (But Keep Away)" is a humorous essay that is I found highly relatable. As a socially anxious introvert myself, I can relate to most of Mindy's feelings in this one and have been in many similar situations myself. I'm sure that many people can put themselves in Mindy's shoes in the content she delivers in this essay.

Back of Book: 

After 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.

Becoming a new mother after losing her own, Mindy Kaling needs help—like someone to answer the questions What is a baby, and why don’t they have kneecaps? Enter Rose. The in-demand, dedicated baby nurse alleviates Mindy’s fears, from the minor to the profound.

From the acclaimed writer, actor, director, producer, and New York Times bestselling author comes Nothing Like I Imagined. In these essays, Mindy Kaling shares the latest chapters of a multitasking life in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single setting. Either way, they’re pitch-perfect. 

Book Number: Three

Genre: Adult | Memoir | Essay | Short Story 

Review: ? 

Back of Book: 

A totally relatable essay on showing up to adult life alone, by the singular (and single) writer, producer, and star of Late Night.

In lieu of a perfect, hypothetical future husband, Mindy Kaling is thinking a lot about being single. Pros? She can marathon any Christine Baranski show she wants. Cons? Dealing with married couples and their condescension at cocktail parties. But until a gorgeous, morally flawless, preferably tall TV dad materializes in three dimensions, Mindy can cope with waiting it out (from the driver’s seat).

From the acclaimed writer, actor, director, producer, and New York Times bestselling author comes Nothing Like I Imagined. In these essays, Mindy Kaling shares the latest chapters of a multitasking life in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single setting. Either way, they’re pitch-perfect. 

Book Number: Four 

Genre: Adult | Memoir | Essay | Short Story 

Review: ? 

Back of Book: 

All Mindy Kaling 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-racking minidrama by the New York Times bestselling author of Why Not Me?

When Mindy and her best friend, B.J. Novak, are approached on a dark street by a Charles Manson–esque character, naturally they’re unnerved. Turns out he’s a huge fan of The Office! Now Mindy’s feeling a little judgy. But the night is young, unseasonably hot, and getting weirder. Mindy and B.J.’s brief encounter with the drifter is about to take an unexpected turn in Sunset Junction.

From the acclaimed writer, actor, director, producer, and New York Times bestselling author comes Nothing Like I Imagined. In these essays, Mindy Kaling shares the latest chapters of a multitasking life in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single setting. Either way, they’re pitch-perfect. 

Book Number: Five

Genre: Adult | Memoir | Essay | Short Story 

Review: ? 

Back of Book: 

Is almost $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?

In this meditation on celebrity, power, and a simple thank-you, Mindy Kaling takes the next charmed step in her path from Conan intern to mogul: picking up the entire tab for a famous A-lister. It’s an investment, right? He’ll be blown away by her class. They’ll be best friends forever. Forty thankless seconds later, who wouldn’t spiral into self-doubt, second-guessing, over-rationalizing, and anxious obsession?

Plus, bonus content! An up-close-and-personal look at what Mindy does all day, including “executive producing” and gift wrapping.

From the acclaimed writer, actor, director, producer, and New York Times bestselling author comes Nothing Like I Imagined. In these essays, Mindy Kaling shares the latest chapters of a multitasking life in Hollywood. Read or listen to them in a single setting. Either way, they’re pitch-perfect. 

Book Number: Six (Last Book) 

Genre: Adult | Memoir | Essay | Short Story 

Review: ?