Before I lost 99 percent of my book collection in a cross-country move, my copies of Mindy Kaling’s memoirs were some of my most well-loved. The pages of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Why Not Me? were dog-eared and underlined with notes in the margins — quick reminders to text funny lines to my closest friends. I miss those paperbacks dearly, but luckily, Kaling is releasing a set of essays and accompanying audio readings to fill the void.
With her latest literary venture, Nothing Like I Imagined (Except For Sometimes), I once again expected Kaling to become my surrogate BFF in a time when friendship feels more essential than ever. Groups are separated — by thousands of miles or at least six feet — as the world continues to navigate pandemic restrictions. Regular visits are relegated to Zoom call