It's Not What You Expect

by Norma Klein

It begins for Oliver and Carla, fourteen-year-old twins, when their father splits for New York, grows a beard, and tries to write a novel in his "bachelor pad". In the tenseness and confusion that follow, Oliver decides to put his flair for gourmet cooking to good use by opening a small restaurant with Carla as maitre d'. Soon after, older brother Ralph's girlfriend becomes pregnant and has an abortion. Then, Mom makes a shocking confession. Suddenly, summer becomes a time of self-discovery, as Oliver and Carla achieve a new maturity and depth of understanding about life, love, and parents.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1973

About the author

Norma Klein was born in New York City and graduated cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard College with a degree in Russian. She later received her master's degree in Slavic languages from Columbia University.

Ms. Klein began publishing short stories while attending Barnard and since then she had written novels for readers of all ages. The author got her ideas from everyday life and advised would-be writers to do the same -- to write about their experiences or things they really care about.

Ms. Klein died in 1989.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

After re-reading Norma Klein’s Mom, the Wolf Man, and Me and Taking Sides, I’ve decided to move on to the next one on my bookshelf: It’s Not What You Expect.

I recall as a “young adult” this was my least favorite of Norma Klein’s novels because, even reading this as a pre-teen, the novel felt like bullshit to me. As an adult re-reading it, it still does.

So, It’s Not What You Expect revolves around Carla and Oliver, two 14-year-old twins who, over the course of one summer, deal with their parent’s separation. You see, their Dad is having a midlife crisis. He has moved to an ultra-modern subleased bachelor pad in New York City, grown a beard, started dating someone named Francine, and is working on his great American novel.

Meanwhile, their non-plussed yet lackadaisical artist Mom putters around the house, making art, dating their friend’s father, and dressing up as a chicken every Monday to work as a mascot at the local grocery store.

Bored with nothing do since they decide to forgo summer camp, 14-year-old Carla and Oliver (here’s where the bullshit part kicks in) decide to open a restaurant with the assistance of their 18-year-old brother Ralph. Their next-door neighbors are going away to Europe for the summer (like you do), so they finagle a deal to use the ground floor of the neighbor’s sprawling old home for the restaurant. Oliver’s hobby is gourmet cooking, so he’s the chef. Carla is gorgeous so she’s the maître d’ (This is the one Klein novel so far where the protagonist isn’t the ugly girl best friend. However, Oliver’s love interest is the “ugly” friend foil to the gorgeous yet modest Carla). Their brother Ralph oversees the operations; Ralph’s girlfriend acts as sous chef; and they recruit a bunch of equally bored friends as waitstaff.

All of this happens with no regard to labor laws; no health inspection or food handling training; no mention of taxes; and no liquor license. Perhaps things were different back in 1973 but it reads as complete bullshit to me now as much as it did when I first read this way back when.

Will dad come home? Will the restaurant succeed? Will their parents get a divorce? That’s pretty much the novel, and the novel’s title is the Mom’s take on life in general.

Like in other Klein novels, yet again the teen protagonists are worldly and wise beyond their years. The family is very upper class what with the restaurant, their dad’s swanky apartment, their summer home, and the fact Oliver and Carla play the flute and cello respectively and form a chamber music trio (again, like you do).

Also, there’s a very matter-of-fact abortion and an interracial relationship thrown into the mix. It’s totally obvious Ralph’s girlfriend is Japanese. However, just like the lesbian side story in Taking Sides Klein never expressly addresses this outright. It’s hinted at with subtlety.

It’s Not What You Expect is not one my favorite Klein novels. I recall I didn’t like it that much way back when. That opinion hasn’t changed much now as well. It’s just ok but not very realistic.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I'd find this book again! Another one I read when I was a young teen, but only remembered vague details. I knew one of the characters was called Oliver, and he baked madeleines, and his sister played cello. At one point, they went on a picnic, with one other person, and played cello under a tree. No title, no author, nothing. I did so many google searches! But then I discovered Internet Archive, which has digital copies of loads of books I read when I was growing up. It's got an amazing search feature, which searches full text. Plugged in my very few search terms and found it! Not quite what I remembered, but still a very good book. Norma Klein was one of the best.

[Elizabeth Lund · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Norma Klein's straightforward, sophisticated teenagers. This book is reminiscent of Judy Blume. There's not necessarily a plot to speak of, just a young teenager coming to terms with various pieces of life.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT! Not too serious, not patronizing, very funny. A character even gets an abortion and nothing bad happens to her.

[Michele Mcfadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a tween. Would like to re-read and share with my daughter!

[Judith Rosenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Norma Klein and recently found all my old copies at my parents’ house. I must have read this one before but didn’t remember it (unlike some others of hers, which seem to be seared in my memory.) This book is slim and in some ways feels not fully developed but also has that Klein-ian strength of capturing so perfectly and succinctly what it’s like to be young and trying to make sense of the world and figure out who you are.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one from when I was a kid. Norma Klein's second novel for children/teens. She was a really solid stylist. One of the central storylines would definitely have made this title - probably now long out of print - vulnerable to 2022 book bans.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about 14-year-old twins who open a restaurant one summer.