That's Not How It Happened cover art

That's Not How It Happened

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

$8.99/mo after trial ends. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

That's Not How It Happened

By: Craig Thomas
Narrated by: Marli Watson, Cobie Smulders, Josh Radnor, Kevin Iannucci
Try for $0.00

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $29.52

Buy Now for $29.52

Summary

 “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? Dark Humour Family Life Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Marriage Funny Heartfelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_c
All stars
Most relevant
Did not expect such a real story, this was funny real and although I have no idea of this life
I could relate

Emotional roller coaster

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It’s true that they say there are three sides to every story and this story truly does a beautiful job of exploring this narrative.

I absolutely adored all the characters and the story itself was such a great tool in deep diving family dynamics, the politics of hollywood, and so many important themes around acceptance and inclusivity which were respectfully heroed!

Of course, Josh & Cobie are amazing and I’m obsessed with their work on this (yet again!) along with the rest of the cast. Truly a brilliant audiobook!

Heartwarming, Nostalgic and Reflective Read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.