这个令人心酸的成长故事讲述了几个年轻女性曲折的成年之路。

一个年轻女孩为自己设想了美好的未来，远离英国单调的郊区。两个曾经形影不离的朋友，发现他们渐渐疏远了。三位女士讨论了大城市的生活如何让她们感到被重视或被忽略。通过一系列相互关联的小故事，《生活并非你想的那样》探索了生命中可能走过的曲折道路，以及在这一过程中观点的变化。

在这一系列相互关联的小故事中，斯图尔特（Stewart）聚焦于日常生活的片段——少年爬上屋顶，懒洋洋地躺在屋顶上、一群朋友在酒吧喝着啤酒叙旧、一个女人乘夜班巴士回家——这些场景安静又紧张。通过敏锐的观察和写实的对话，作者揭示了书中角色的复杂本性，从自信到没有安全感，他们经历了成长的快乐和痛苦。从水彩到彩铅再到钢笔墨水，各种不同的风格，与书中人物的演变相呼应。

This poignant coming-of-age story follows several young women on their circuitous paths to adulthood.

A young girl imagines a grand future for herself, far from the drab British suburbs. Two friends, once inseparable, find their connection gradually slipping away. Three women discuss how life in the big city makes them feel seen ― or invisible. In a series of interconnected vignettes, It’s Not What You Thought It Would Be explores the circuitous paths lives can take and the changes in perspective gained along the way.

In a series of interconnected vignettes, Stewart focuses on the ordinary, slice-of-life moments ― teenagers climbing up and lounging on a rooftop, friends catching up over pints at the pub, a woman riding the night bus home ― and charges these scenes with a quiet intensity. Through keen observation and an ear for naturalistic dialogue, she reveals the complex natures of her characters, from their confidence to their insecurities, as they experience the joys and pains of growing up. Drawn in a variety of different styles, from watercolor to colored pencil to pen and ink, the style of this book echoes the evolution of the characters within.