Title: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Satire, Fiction
Length: 351 pages
Book Rating: C+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
The author of Other People’s Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings delivers a quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone’s radar.
Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own…shell.
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?
Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
Review:
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman is a quirky novel that booklovers are certain to enjoy.
Nina Hill is an only child with an emotionally and psychically distant mother. She has no idea who her father is but with one phone call, she inherits a now deceased father and a slew of siblings and extended family members. At first, this chaotic information does not fit into Nina’s well-organized and tightly controlled life. But she is soon charmed by her delightful nephew and brother. Just as Nina has finally adjusted to the sudden appearance of family, she is thoroughly discombobulated when her trivia nemesis Tom asks her out. She is attracted to Tom, but with little in common, Nina is unsure whether she wants to risk her heart on an uncertain romance. But will Tom sneak past her very formidable defenses and convince her to give him a chance?
Nina is sarcastic, intelligent and would rather read than go out on a date. She is a bit of a mess but she has figured out how to manage her anxiety and stress. She has her life planned down to the tiniest detail and she does not deal well when unexpected events throw things into disarray. Although unwilling to disturb the status quo, her new relatives quickly draw her into their rather dysfunctional lives.
Tom is the most normal persona in Nina’s life. That’s not to say that he hasn’t experienced a few speed bumps in his personal life, but he is down to earth and rather laidback. Tom is absolutely enamored with Nina and he enjoys her eccentricities. However, how will Tom react when Nina reverts to her normal way of coping when life overwhelms her?
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is an engaging novel but the pacing is sometimes a little slow. The secondary cast of characters is entertaining and easy to like. Nina is a personable woman but her inner monologues are sometimes overly long and rambling. Nina’s romance with Tom is understated which is a shame because their scenes together are very enjoyable. The family drama is fun to watch unfold and it also serves as a catalyst for Nina to grow and change. Despite being a little over the top, this latest release by Abbi Waxman is an endearing novel of new beginnings, stepping out of one’s comfort zone and ultimately, love.
