Status
Available
Collection
Series
Publication
Headline Review (2019), 352 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:Instant USA Today bestseller! �??Abbi Waxman is both irreverent and thoughtful.�?��??#1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin �??Meet our bookish millennial heroine�??a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet, if you will�?� Waxman�??s wit and wry humor stand out. She is funny and imaginative, and �??Bookish�?� lands a step above run-of-the-mill romantic comedy fare.�?��??The Washington Post �??Abbi Waxman offers up a quirky, eccentric romance that will charm any bookworm�?�. For anyone who�??s ever wondered if their greatest romance might come between the pages of books they read, Waxman offers a heartwarming tribute to that possibility.�?��??Entertainment Weekly 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… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member LyndaInOregon
I loved this book, which was a group read by my F2F club.
In it, a trivia-obsessed bookstore clerk discovers the father she never knew, the family she's not sure she wants to know, and the boyfriend she's too scared to know. It all turns out fine in the end, but not before a wild ride with an
And, by the way, the girlfriend-discussion of guys who send pictures of their junk to random women is worth the price of the book. The food fight near the end is a bonus.
Read. This. Book.
In it, a trivia-obsessed bookstore clerk discovers the father she never knew, the family she's not sure she wants to know, and the boyfriend she's too scared to know. It all turns out fine in the end, but not before a wild ride with an
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endearing heroine.And, by the way, the girlfriend-discussion of guys who send pictures of their junk to random women is worth the price of the book. The food fight near the end is a bonus.
Read. This. Book.
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LibraryThing member schatzi
I made it to around a hundred pages into the book before I called it quits. It wasn't that I hated the book; it was just so freaking boring that I realized that I didn't care what happened to Nina at all. The dialogue felt rather too "cutesy" and forced, and I never bonded with the main character.
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I also really didn't like the all-knowing third person narrator, who could jump into anyone's head on a whim. That was too much head hopping for my tastes. Meh. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
Nina Hill, 30, was brought up by a nanny hired by her single mom who preferred to be off traveling the world as a news photographer. Nina now lives with her cat Phil in Larchmont - a small, trendy neighborhood in Los Angeles - and works at Knight’s, an independent bookstore. She loves her job
She and her trivia team members, having been thrown out of their regular bars because they win too often, is now “cautiously testing a new venue,” where they encounter another high-powered trivia team, “You’re a Quizzard, Harry.” Nina is attracted to the leader of that team, Tom Byrnes, and Tom is drawn to Nina, but neither of them want to admit to it. Nevertheless, each of their team members conspire to bring them together.
But Nina feels her life has gotten too complicated to add dating to the equation. She recently found out she not only had a father in the area, William Reynolds, but that he just died, and left her, along with the many other members of his large family (he had had three wives), something in his estate. He was an entertainment lawyer in L.A. and had been quite wealthy. His lawyer invited Nina to attend the reading of the will, and let her know she would be hearing from her brothers and sisters. In particular, he had asked Peter Reynolds, one of Nina’s nephews, to contact Nina and explain the family to her.
She feared the sudden addition of all these new people in her life, but when she met Peter, 33, who described himself to her as “your fabulous gay nephew,” she was immediately charmed as well as astounded by all of her physical and behavioral similarities to him. She was also surprised to find out that her siblings ranged from Peter’s mother, who was 59 - to Millie, aged ten, the daughter of William’s most recent wife.
How would she deal with the anxiety of her suddenly-transformed life?
When Nina met Peter’s sister Lydia and complained that having all these new family members was “too much” for her, Lydia countered: “You’re an idiot. We’re family; you can ignore us completely. We’re like succulents: Minor occasional attention is entirely sufficient.”
Discussion: This writing in this book is quite entertaining, but the repartee is a little too clever and cute, in my opinion, to seem realistic. Not only is Nina smart, witty, and quick with comebacks, but so is everyone else in the book, even the very small kids. In fact, so is the author, who inserts herself into the book often, such as in these examples:
“Saturday nights Nina had a ritual: She went home, fed Phil [her cat], had a shower, got dressed, and headed out into the night to sink her teeth into the neck of any virgins she could find. Clearly, this isn’t true: There are no virgins out on Saturday night in L.A. No, Nina would grab her camera and go out to take pictures.”
On selecting books and readers for her many clubs:
“Nina did her best to keep things fair, but she had been known to succumb to bribery (See’s Candies were her weakness, in case you’re wondering).”
Thus, I never felt “close” to the characters because they all seemed to have scriptwriters. Moreover, Nina kept maintaining that she preferred solitude and people made her anxious. But she sure has a busy life interacting with people for someone like that!
I did enjoy the wit though, and the numerous funny observations to which I could relate, such as the fact that, for Nina, “grilled cheese in any form was her spirit animal.”
Evaluation: This book is amusing and entertaining and perfect for a lighter read.
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because she feels more comfortable around books than people: she considers books “medication and sanctuary and the source of all good things.” People make her anxious, she avers, although she has plenty of involvement with them. She runs a number of book clubs and is in a trivia group called “Book ‘Em, Danno” that competes weekly in area pubs.She and her trivia team members, having been thrown out of their regular bars because they win too often, is now “cautiously testing a new venue,” where they encounter another high-powered trivia team, “You’re a Quizzard, Harry.” Nina is attracted to the leader of that team, Tom Byrnes, and Tom is drawn to Nina, but neither of them want to admit to it. Nevertheless, each of their team members conspire to bring them together.
But Nina feels her life has gotten too complicated to add dating to the equation. She recently found out she not only had a father in the area, William Reynolds, but that he just died, and left her, along with the many other members of his large family (he had had three wives), something in his estate. He was an entertainment lawyer in L.A. and had been quite wealthy. His lawyer invited Nina to attend the reading of the will, and let her know she would be hearing from her brothers and sisters. In particular, he had asked Peter Reynolds, one of Nina’s nephews, to contact Nina and explain the family to her.
She feared the sudden addition of all these new people in her life, but when she met Peter, 33, who described himself to her as “your fabulous gay nephew,” she was immediately charmed as well as astounded by all of her physical and behavioral similarities to him. She was also surprised to find out that her siblings ranged from Peter’s mother, who was 59 - to Millie, aged ten, the daughter of William’s most recent wife.
How would she deal with the anxiety of her suddenly-transformed life?
When Nina met Peter’s sister Lydia and complained that having all these new family members was “too much” for her, Lydia countered: “You’re an idiot. We’re family; you can ignore us completely. We’re like succulents: Minor occasional attention is entirely sufficient.”
Discussion: This writing in this book is quite entertaining, but the repartee is a little too clever and cute, in my opinion, to seem realistic. Not only is Nina smart, witty, and quick with comebacks, but so is everyone else in the book, even the very small kids. In fact, so is the author, who inserts herself into the book often, such as in these examples:
“Saturday nights Nina had a ritual: She went home, fed Phil [her cat], had a shower, got dressed, and headed out into the night to sink her teeth into the neck of any virgins she could find. Clearly, this isn’t true: There are no virgins out on Saturday night in L.A. No, Nina would grab her camera and go out to take pictures.”
On selecting books and readers for her many clubs:
“Nina did her best to keep things fair, but she had been known to succumb to bribery (See’s Candies were her weakness, in case you’re wondering).”
Thus, I never felt “close” to the characters because they all seemed to have scriptwriters. Moreover, Nina kept maintaining that she preferred solitude and people made her anxious. But she sure has a busy life interacting with people for someone like that!
I did enjoy the wit though, and the numerous funny observations to which I could relate, such as the fact that, for Nina, “grilled cheese in any form was her spirit animal.”
Evaluation: This book is amusing and entertaining and perfect for a lighter read.
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LibraryThing member quondame
Nina Hill lives west of Western Ave, closer to mid-Wilshire and the Miracle Mile than to downtown LA and calls her neighborhood East LA. Sorry, but East LA is, well, east of downtown and not the quite the same as Larchmont Village, west of Korea town. If you can stand the tone of writing, archer
Disclaimer - I was a regular visitor to Los Angeles for 22 years and have lived here nearly 50 years, and Nina just doesn't come off as Angelino - the ones I know her age, my daughter is 26, get around a good deal, and are generous about offering rides to their friends without cars. Crossing the 405 on Olympic is a verified nightmare, but we all know, given a choice, a better route. Also Los Angeles proper is built on a coastal plain, not a valley.
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than arch, there are funny bits, though character depiction is pretty hit or miss, most of the misses being among the group of friends Nina starts off with. The too-good to be boyfriend common to the romance genre makes exits and entrances as directed. Nor does Nina appear to read much. She actually spends good reading time filling up her planner, and at no point does an incoming phone call find her mid-read.Disclaimer - I was a regular visitor to Los Angeles for 22 years and have lived here nearly 50 years, and Nina just doesn't come off as Angelino - the ones I know her age, my daughter is 26, get around a good deal, and are generous about offering rides to their friends without cars. Crossing the 405 on Olympic is a verified nightmare, but we all know, given a choice, a better route. Also Los Angeles proper is built on a coastal plain, not a valley.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Interesting story, very interesting protagonist. I identified more with her at the beginning of the story than at the end, but I guess she really wanted a relationship. Though she does say (repeatedly) that being with him is like being alone - not an energy-drainer. I was getting very strong Dick
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Francis vibe off the first 3/4 of the story (starting with racehorses' birthday, then the multiplex family with some seriously nasty members (and some quite nice)...). But her actual legacy kind of derailed that. The end was very nicely itself, not reminiscent of any other book, with some excellent wrapping up of threads. I like Nina, and her new family, and Tom too. I'd be happy to read more about them, but I don't think there will be a sequel - wouldn't really fit, I don't think. So I'll have to settle for reading other books by Waxman. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sheila1957
Nina works in a book store which is her sanctuary. She then learns her father has died and she has relatives she never knew of and she meets a man who could be the one. She may not survive.
This is what I call a feel-good book. I enjoyed it. It made me happy. And that is all I ask for. I laughed
This is what I call a feel-good book. I enjoyed it. It made me happy. And that is all I ask for. I laughed
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throughout the book. The characters are interesting--all of them. What a group! I was rooting for Nina the whole time hoping she'd be able to deal with what was coming. This was just fun! Perfect summer reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisCarey
Nina Hill works in a bookstore and lives in her tiny apartment, both in the Larchmont neighborhood of Los Angeles. She has a cat named Phil, a mother who is a renowned, world-traveling photojournalist, and no other family.
As far as she knows.
Obviously there must have been a father involved at some
Then one day a lawyer walks into the bookstore, tells her that her father has died, and she's mentioned in the will.
She has several sisters, a brother, nieces and nephews, and even two grandnieces and a grandnephew. Her oldest sister, you see, is thirty years older, and her youngest is just ten years old. Her brother is just a few months older, because his mother was pregnant when Nina was conceived. It's a large and complicated family, with landmines she will need to discover.
No one else in the family suspected she existed. Her mother had offered William Reynolds an agreement absolving him of all financial responsibility in exchange for agreeing to never contact Nina. He accepted, and no one knew except his lawyer. But he included Nina in his will.
Nina is not prepared for a large and sometimes contentious family, some of whom welcome her and some of whom resent her. She's a quiet, shy, anxiety-prone individual whose idea of a quiet night out is book club or trivia night. She likes order, routine, no surprises. anxiety attacks are both debilitating and embarrassing.
I do so feel for Nina. Her trivia nights would be too much for me.
So, on top of whole new large, extended family, she really, really doesn't need the complication of her and the captain of a rival trivia team becoming interested in her. That's just too much, isn't it? It's even worse when she finds that being with him tamps down her anxiety. That's weird! When she's not with him, it's another thing to worry about.
You may think this doesn't make sense. Let me assure you, as a fellow anxiety sufferer, yes, it makes sense. It makes total sense, and is completely familiar.
I love Nina, I love her discovery of her new family, her discovery of a guy who might not be the terrifying trap most guys are for her. I love that Nina doesn't need to get "cured;" she just needs to embrace who she is.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
As far as she knows.
Obviously there must have been a father involved at some
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point, but her mother has told her nothing except that he wouldn't have been a good father.Then one day a lawyer walks into the bookstore, tells her that her father has died, and she's mentioned in the will.
She has several sisters, a brother, nieces and nephews, and even two grandnieces and a grandnephew. Her oldest sister, you see, is thirty years older, and her youngest is just ten years old. Her brother is just a few months older, because his mother was pregnant when Nina was conceived. It's a large and complicated family, with landmines she will need to discover.
No one else in the family suspected she existed. Her mother had offered William Reynolds an agreement absolving him of all financial responsibility in exchange for agreeing to never contact Nina. He accepted, and no one knew except his lawyer. But he included Nina in his will.
Nina is not prepared for a large and sometimes contentious family, some of whom welcome her and some of whom resent her. She's a quiet, shy, anxiety-prone individual whose idea of a quiet night out is book club or trivia night. She likes order, routine, no surprises. anxiety attacks are both debilitating and embarrassing.
I do so feel for Nina. Her trivia nights would be too much for me.
So, on top of whole new large, extended family, she really, really doesn't need the complication of her and the captain of a rival trivia team becoming interested in her. That's just too much, isn't it? It's even worse when she finds that being with him tamps down her anxiety. That's weird! When she's not with him, it's another thing to worry about.
You may think this doesn't make sense. Let me assure you, as a fellow anxiety sufferer, yes, it makes sense. It makes total sense, and is completely familiar.
I love Nina, I love her discovery of her new family, her discovery of a guy who might not be the terrifying trap most guys are for her. I love that Nina doesn't need to get "cured;" she just needs to embrace who she is.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
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LibraryThing member Cats57
This is not going to be a great review---I'm just too happy with this book to be able to express my feeling distinctly!!! As a matter of fact, even though I got this as an ARC I am going to be buying my own copy...I also put this on my 'comfort read' shelf!
This is the type of book that you can get
Nina is a great character if you love b oos as much as most of us do-she is the consummate bookworm and even schedules reading time; she IS a tad anal about her life and when you know more about it you will understand why.
In this book, you will find romance, a long lost family, humor, deep belly laughs, and even tears.
I found it all with this book and I hope you do also.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
This is the type of book that you can get
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lost in; you can love and sometimes hate the character's, love and sometimes dislike the storylines (there are several in this book). However, ultimately you will be rooting for Nina (at least I did!).Nina is a great character if you love b oos as much as most of us do-she is the consummate bookworm and even schedules reading time; she IS a tad anal about her life and when you know more about it you will understand why.
In this book, you will find romance, a long lost family, humor, deep belly laughs, and even tears.
I found it all with this book and I hope you do also.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
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LibraryThing member Cherylk
I have recently read a hand full of "bookish" themed books. What I love the most about these types of books is that the main character shares my love for books. So, I can usually relate to the character. Plus, I love a good story that takes place in a book store. Thus I was looking forward to
This time it did not work the best. Not to say that this book was bad as it wasn't. It was just not a rock star. Nina was kind and a true introvert. As I do think a lot of bibliophile bookworms like me are. Therefore, I could understand Nina's feelings about being excited to learn she had many relatives but at the same time overwhelmed that they want to include her in parties and such.
While, I did not "love" this book, I would read another book from this author. We do need more Nina's in the world.
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reading this book. This time it did not work the best. Not to say that this book was bad as it wasn't. It was just not a rock star. Nina was kind and a true introvert. As I do think a lot of bibliophile bookworms like me are. Therefore, I could understand Nina's feelings about being excited to learn she had many relatives but at the same time overwhelmed that they want to include her in parties and such.
While, I did not "love" this book, I would read another book from this author. We do need more Nina's in the world.
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LibraryThing member teachlz
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" by Abbi Waxman, Berkley Publishing, July 9, 2019
Abbi Waxman, Author of "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" has written a delightful, entertaining, enjoyable, charming, and witty novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women's Fiction,
Nina Hill works in a bookshop, engages in trivia night, and various bookish activities. Nina gets anxious easy, prefers being alone with her cat, and reading books. Nina has grown up never knowing her father, and is closest to her child caretaker, than her single mother. Nina also uses a planner and organizes her life in an efficient manner for herself. It should come as a shock that Nina doesn't like surprises. She likes everything in order and predictable.
When it is brought to Nina's attention that the father she never had known, has died and she is invited to the reading of the will, Nina is flabbergasted. Now it seems there are other members of this family. Will Nina's life ever be the same? Will our Bookish Nina be able to make it to the reading of the will? One thing is for sure, Nina's Bookish Life as she knows it holds many surprises.
This is an easy to read, heartwarming story that I highly recommend.
Abbi Waxman, Author of "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" has written a delightful, entertaining, enjoyable, charming, and witty novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Women's Fiction,
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Humor, and Romance. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated, quirky, delightful and dysfunctional.Nina Hill works in a bookshop, engages in trivia night, and various bookish activities. Nina gets anxious easy, prefers being alone with her cat, and reading books. Nina has grown up never knowing her father, and is closest to her child caretaker, than her single mother. Nina also uses a planner and organizes her life in an efficient manner for herself. It should come as a shock that Nina doesn't like surprises. She likes everything in order and predictable.
When it is brought to Nina's attention that the father she never had known, has died and she is invited to the reading of the will, Nina is flabbergasted. Now it seems there are other members of this family. Will Nina's life ever be the same? Will our Bookish Nina be able to make it to the reading of the will? One thing is for sure, Nina's Bookish Life as she knows it holds many surprises.
This is an easy to read, heartwarming story that I highly recommend.
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LibraryThing member oddandbookish
I received this book for free from the publisher (Berkley Publishing) in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book! It was everything!
To start, I obviously loved the bookish aspect of it. Like chapter sixteen, when she describes her bookshelves….just wow. This book perfectly
Interspersed between chapters are daily planner templates that Nina fills out each day. Not only were those super cute, but they were very insightful and offered an interesting glimpse into the mind of Nina.
This book was also hilarious. There were some funny situations and Nina has a unique sense of humor that I loved.
I also enjoyed the family aspect. One storyline was Nina discovering who her father was (he recently died and Nina was contacted in regards to his will) and meeting her numerous relatives. I loved her interactions with her family and how she was able to develop a bond with them. It was very heartwarming to see.
The supporting characters were awesome as well. There was an interesting collection of people and personalities. I especially loved the elementary school girls in Nina’s book club. They were adorable and funny!
Lastly, the trivia tidbits were so fun! I loved reading the random trivia facts that get thrown around by various characters, including Nina herself.
Overall, if you consider yourself a bookworm, then read this book!
I absolutely loved this book! It was everything!
To start, I obviously loved the bookish aspect of it. Like chapter sixteen, when she describes her bookshelves….just wow. This book perfectly
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captured what it’s like to be a bookworm. It’s like a giant love letter to all of us. Interspersed between chapters are daily planner templates that Nina fills out each day. Not only were those super cute, but they were very insightful and offered an interesting glimpse into the mind of Nina.
This book was also hilarious. There were some funny situations and Nina has a unique sense of humor that I loved.
I also enjoyed the family aspect. One storyline was Nina discovering who her father was (he recently died and Nina was contacted in regards to his will) and meeting her numerous relatives. I loved her interactions with her family and how she was able to develop a bond with them. It was very heartwarming to see.
The supporting characters were awesome as well. There was an interesting collection of people and personalities. I especially loved the elementary school girls in Nina’s book club. They were adorable and funny!
Lastly, the trivia tidbits were so fun! I loved reading the random trivia facts that get thrown around by various characters, including Nina herself.
Overall, if you consider yourself a bookworm, then read this book!
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LibraryThing member arlenadean
Title: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
Author: Abbi Waxman
Publisher: Berkley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Bookish Live of Nina Hill" by Abbi Waxman
My Rationalization:
I enjoyed reading "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" maybe because I am too a book reader. When it looks as though Nina
Oh, by the way, did I tell you Nina suffers from 'Anxiety?'
I found this read fascinating with its witty humor along with Nina's thought pattern. However, the reader will have to keep up because there will be lots of characters...Louise, Liz, Mr. Meffo, Phil [cat], Polly Lisa, Eliza, Millie, Archie, Leah, Tom, Peter and I am sure I have left out a few others that will add to this interesting story.
To find out how this will all work out for Nina you will have to pick up "The Bookish Life Of Nina Hill" to see how this story will all turn out. It will be a funny and witty story all-around that will keep you turning the pages to see what's coming next. I would highly recommend this novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Abbi Waxman
Publisher: Berkley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Bookish Live of Nina Hill" by Abbi Waxman
My Rationalization:
I enjoyed reading "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" maybe because I am too a book reader. When it looks as though Nina
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has her life all placed out with 'detailed planner, small circle of friends, book clubs, trivia nights and working at Knights Book store something will happen that will give her cause to wonder what in the world is going on? It seems as though Nina has an inheritance from a father she didn't know of plus a family of 'complicated siblings, nieces, nephews, and multiple stepmothers." The main question is why had Nina's mother not told her of her father? To make matter even more complicated she meets Tom who was her trivia nemesis where there seems to be some interest. How in the world will she handle all of this? Will her life be too full to squeeze him in?Oh, by the way, did I tell you Nina suffers from 'Anxiety?'
I found this read fascinating with its witty humor along with Nina's thought pattern. However, the reader will have to keep up because there will be lots of characters...Louise, Liz, Mr. Meffo, Phil [cat], Polly Lisa, Eliza, Millie, Archie, Leah, Tom, Peter and I am sure I have left out a few others that will add to this interesting story.
To find out how this will all work out for Nina you will have to pick up "The Bookish Life Of Nina Hill" to see how this story will all turn out. It will be a funny and witty story all-around that will keep you turning the pages to see what's coming next. I would highly recommend this novel.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member JypsyLynn
I expected to like The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. What I did not expect was to relate so well to Nina. At times, it was like I was reading about myself. For example:
-Find people and situations exhausting ✔
-Prefer the company of books to people ✔
-Need to be alone most of the time ✔
-Terrible
-Planning everything ✔
-Can't drive a stick shift ✔
See? Wow. I adored the story. The dialogue is so freaking witty and sharp. Every character is likeable in some way, and each one is distinct with heart and substantial personalities. Nina is an awesome heroine. Just a girl trying to figure out life one planner page at the time. With a judgmental cat. I was surprised to learn that anxiety is such a big part of her life. The author addressed the subject with sensitivity and respect, for which I am grateful as an anxiety sufferer myself. Her world is thrown into chaos due to unforseen circumstances, but how Nina responds ultimately reveals her inner strength and true character. This story is amazingly well written, insightful and entertaining. I loved the book and culture references sprinkled throughout. I laughed. I cried. Everything about this book is delightful, and it's a fun read. Abbi Waxman is definitely a new favorite for me!
-Find people and situations exhausting ✔
-Prefer the company of books to people ✔
-Need to be alone most of the time ✔
-Terrible
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panic attacks and anxiety that require several days alone to recover ✔-Planning everything ✔
-Can't drive a stick shift ✔
See? Wow. I adored the story. The dialogue is so freaking witty and sharp. Every character is likeable in some way, and each one is distinct with heart and substantial personalities. Nina is an awesome heroine. Just a girl trying to figure out life one planner page at the time. With a judgmental cat. I was surprised to learn that anxiety is such a big part of her life. The author addressed the subject with sensitivity and respect, for which I am grateful as an anxiety sufferer myself. Her world is thrown into chaos due to unforseen circumstances, but how Nina responds ultimately reveals her inner strength and true character. This story is amazingly well written, insightful and entertaining. I loved the book and culture references sprinkled throughout. I laughed. I cried. Everything about this book is delightful, and it's a fun read. Abbi Waxman is definitely a new favorite for me!
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LibraryThing member ecataldi
A super cute book that as a bibliophile I appreciated. Was it great literature? No. Was it something I'll read again? No. Was it super fun? Hell yes. Nina Hill likes things nice and orderly. She lives by her planner; any fun that happens is scheduled. Nina works at a local LA bookstore, is involved
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in multiple book clubs, and kicks ass at trivia with her friends. She even sorts her shelves by Book of the Month, and signed editions - same girl! I felt Nina on a spiritual level; from the way she was organized, valued reading, and got stressed and overwhelmed easily if there was too much on her plate or surprises were thrown her way. And lo and behold, a lot happens to Nina in a short amount of time; she's introduced to a whole new part of her family that she didn't know existed and she starts to develop feelings for one of her rival trivia team members. She's going to have to come out of her shell, (at least a little bit) to deal with the world, and who knows, maybe she'll even like what she finds. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
Nina, twenty-nine, has her rails and she runs on them. She works at a bookstore, has a very organized life, and keeps track of everything in her planner. The only child of a single mother, she was raised by her loving nanny while her globetrotting mother was off being a photographer of the world.
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Nina has limited friends, one cat, and tons of books. Her life is stable, and while she cherishes her aloneness, she does participate in organized trivia quiz competitions, and she goes to movies with friends. But her life is about to be turned upside down when she receives a notice from a lawyer that her father has died and left her an inheritance, along with several new-to-her family members. Now she has siblings, nieces and nephews, and cousins. And maybe even a boyfriend. And now Nina must learn to quell her growing anxiety and accept and adjust to her new life. Author Abbi Waxman has penned a lovely and delightful tale, peopled with wonderful if slightly flawed characters placed in unusual circumstances. Liberally sprinkled with humor and hope, this novel is delightfully delicious from beginning to end. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookDivasReads
Nina Hill is a bit of a loner. Okay, massive understatement, Nina Hill is a highly organized bookish introvert that doesn't like surprises and suffers from an anxiety disorder. She works in a neighborhood indie bookstore, has several weekly book groups that she loves organizing, and is somewhat of
I was immediately drawn to The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman because, hey they word bookish was in the title. The primary character works in a bookstore is an introverted book nerd (I prefer book diva, but that's just me), and has difficulty dealing with people outside of the bookstore. This was a book that seemed tailormade just for book people like me. I loved Nina, Tom, and all of the other characters in this book. The great thing about this story is that there weren't really any bad guys. There were people behaving badly, Nina's niece Lydia for one (read the book to fully understand), but everyone was just realistically quirky and relatable, even Nina. I enjoyed the scenes in the bookstore, especially the one with the children's book group and Nina and Tom's attempts to flirt. (When 8-12 y.o. call you out on bad attempts at flirting, you know you're doing something wrong.) I also enjoyed the team trivia competitions as they provided another facet of Nina that is not seen anywhere else. Ms. Waxman has crafted characters and a story that resonated with this reader. There were scenes that made me smile, a few that made me laugh ("spoga" my friends), and some that made me ponder the nebulous nature of our family ties. If you enjoy reading stories about book people, self-awareness/self-realization, coming-of-age stories regardless of the age of the primary character, and romance, then you'll definitely want to add The Bookish Life of Nina Hill to your TBR list. If you just want to read a story about quirky yet realistic characters, then I suggest you grab a copy of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill to read. Just in case you couldn't tell, I really enjoyed The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. Happy Reading!
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a rabid trivia team player. She's also an only child, or so she thought. Nina's life is turned upside down, literally and figuratively, when she finds out her biological father has died, living her with numerous siblings, nieces, nephews, several great-nieces, and a great-nephew, and they all live nearby. If that's not bad enough, she seems to be attracted to the team leader of her rival trivia team, "You're a Quizzard, Harry," Tom. Nina has spent several successful years avoiding longterm relationships, being without family ties (her mother doesn't really count as she's traveling all of the time and hasn't really been a mother figure since Nina was a year old), and locked into her daily routine. Now all of that is being threatened because the "You're a Quizzard, Harry" team leader is also attracted to her, her oldest nephew is a really great guy and wants to establish a relationship, her half-brother is pretty decent and also wants to get to know her, and her youngest half-sister is just as much of a book nerd as Nina. The more she meets with her new relatives, the more it seems as though a lot of the quirks she has just might be inherited from her biological father. Initially, she doesn't want to have anything to do with her bio-family, but the more she learns about them and from them, the more she begins to understand them and herself, as well as like them. Just when it seems like she might be opening herself up, she makes a mistake that just might be the death knell for her burgeoning romance with Tom, the "You're A Quizzard, Harry" team leader. Nina isn't equipped to handle all of this family and a romance but can she successfully withdraw back into her shell after experiencing more that life and love have to offer?I was immediately drawn to The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman because, hey they word bookish was in the title. The primary character works in a bookstore is an introverted book nerd (I prefer book diva, but that's just me), and has difficulty dealing with people outside of the bookstore. This was a book that seemed tailormade just for book people like me. I loved Nina, Tom, and all of the other characters in this book. The great thing about this story is that there weren't really any bad guys. There were people behaving badly, Nina's niece Lydia for one (read the book to fully understand), but everyone was just realistically quirky and relatable, even Nina. I enjoyed the scenes in the bookstore, especially the one with the children's book group and Nina and Tom's attempts to flirt. (When 8-12 y.o. call you out on bad attempts at flirting, you know you're doing something wrong.) I also enjoyed the team trivia competitions as they provided another facet of Nina that is not seen anywhere else. Ms. Waxman has crafted characters and a story that resonated with this reader. There were scenes that made me smile, a few that made me laugh ("spoga" my friends), and some that made me ponder the nebulous nature of our family ties. If you enjoy reading stories about book people, self-awareness/self-realization, coming-of-age stories regardless of the age of the primary character, and romance, then you'll definitely want to add The Bookish Life of Nina Hill to your TBR list. If you just want to read a story about quirky yet realistic characters, then I suggest you grab a copy of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill to read. Just in case you couldn't tell, I really enjoyed The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. Happy Reading!
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LibraryThing member PattyLouise
The Bookish Life Of Nina Hill
By
Abbi Waxman
What it's all about...
Nina Hill loves books and book shelves and quirky things. She loves lists and can remember details...enough to get her on one of those group challenge events that occur weekly at different little clubs. All of a sudden she discovers
Why I wanted to read it...
I love this author’s books.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
Nina is the star of this book...again...funny, delightful and odd!
Why you should read it, too...
Although this wasn’t my fave Abbi Waxman book...if you love quirky it deserves to be read. I would read every one of her other books first, though!
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
By
Abbi Waxman
What it's all about...
Nina Hill loves books and book shelves and quirky things. She loves lists and can remember details...enough to get her on one of those group challenge events that occur weekly at different little clubs. All of a sudden she discovers
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she has a wealthy dead father and lots of mean mad hateful relatives. This book is about the calm way she handles this along with her new boyfriend and a kitty she loves but who just might want to kill her. Why I wanted to read it...
I love this author’s books.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
Nina is the star of this book...again...funny, delightful and odd!
Why you should read it, too...
Although this wasn’t my fave Abbi Waxman book...if you love quirky it deserves to be read. I would read every one of her other books first, though!
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
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LibraryThing member maneekuhi
“The Bookish Life of Nina Hill” (BL) by Abbi Waxman is a very nice, satisfying read. Though it’s much like a caramel frappe’ – a nice moment in time but once it’s finished, it’s finished. We get a very quick feel for our heroine in the opening pages. A customer wishes to return a book
Nina is someone you get to know quickly, and like right away. She does not have to grow on you, nor do her friends, nor do most of the people you will meet in BL. With one exception. Nina’s in her late 20’s, has never met her father (she is the result of a sex-filled, booze-filled one week-ender) and has largely been raised by a loving nanny since Mom is a rather famous globe-trotting photographer. Nina is into bar trivia contests in a big way. I particularly enjoyed those scenarios because I knew next to nothing about them and I can answer almost any Jeopardy question. So, a lot to like in BL. And I haven’t even mentioned the non-reader, non-planner guy yet. Nor the lawyer.
There’s a lot to enjoy and smile about here. There’s a lot of lickety split repartee mostly between Nina and her squad but also with others. And this I can follow unlike being able to stay with spoken conversations of any female under 30 these days. There’s also some very cute scenes with brainy little ten year old girls. And for someone who has lived all his years east of the Mississippi it is interesting to get some exposure to LA.
But BL does have a few minor annoyances. The most glaring for me is that most of the characters sound like Nina – with the quick comebacks, always a funny line – even lawyers! So while it worked great for Nina’s crew, it got a bit unreal for some other characters. And just about everybody is NICE…..too nice? Is that possible, even in California? Anyway, 4 stars. But I will read more Waxman, though not right away. Maybe next February when its 20 degrees and the sun hasn’t appeared in 23 days. Enjoy!
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and Nina with the penetrating insight of a homicide detective quickly establishes that the book has been read in its entirety. When the reader offers as a defense her ability to send food back at a restaurant, Nina is quick to pounce with “not if you’ve eaten it.” And so in only a few pages we’ve already learned that Nina works in a bookstore (and that tells us a LOT), she has spine, she is quick thinking and can hold her own in a discussion, and that she has read “Pride and Prejudice” more than twenty times. We also know that she lives and works in LA’s Culver City, specifically the Larchmont area. And Nina plans. Boy, does she plan – she even shares a page from her planner at the beginning of most chapters.Nina is someone you get to know quickly, and like right away. She does not have to grow on you, nor do her friends, nor do most of the people you will meet in BL. With one exception. Nina’s in her late 20’s, has never met her father (she is the result of a sex-filled, booze-filled one week-ender) and has largely been raised by a loving nanny since Mom is a rather famous globe-trotting photographer. Nina is into bar trivia contests in a big way. I particularly enjoyed those scenarios because I knew next to nothing about them and I can answer almost any Jeopardy question. So, a lot to like in BL. And I haven’t even mentioned the non-reader, non-planner guy yet. Nor the lawyer.
There’s a lot to enjoy and smile about here. There’s a lot of lickety split repartee mostly between Nina and her squad but also with others. And this I can follow unlike being able to stay with spoken conversations of any female under 30 these days. There’s also some very cute scenes with brainy little ten year old girls. And for someone who has lived all his years east of the Mississippi it is interesting to get some exposure to LA.
But BL does have a few minor annoyances. The most glaring for me is that most of the characters sound like Nina – with the quick comebacks, always a funny line – even lawyers! So while it worked great for Nina’s crew, it got a bit unreal for some other characters. And just about everybody is NICE…..too nice? Is that possible, even in California? Anyway, 4 stars. But I will read more Waxman, though not right away. Maybe next February when its 20 degrees and the sun hasn’t appeared in 23 days. Enjoy!
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LibraryThing member dawnlovesbooks
Nina Hill has never felt more at home than she does at her job at Knight's bookstore. "She thought of books as medication and sanctuary and the source of all good things." Nina is quiet, reserved, and prefers being alone. People exhaust her and make her anxious. Because of her anxiety, Nina finds
One day a lawyer walks into the bookstore notifying Nina that her father has died and left her in his will. Nina is suddenly introduced to family she never knew she had and despite her initial feelings of not wanting anymore people in her life, she finds herself enjoying and appreciating these new relationships. And speaking of relationships, Nina finds herself involved in a little romance of her own.
All of the characters in this book were lovely and had such charm and wit. Book lovers and anxiety sufferers will all see a little of themselves in Nina and all readers will be cheering her on as she faces her fears.
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that "being with someone feels intrusive." Books are "the only constant thing in her life." She was practically raised by her nanny while her mother was out photographing the world and she never knew her father. One day a lawyer walks into the bookstore notifying Nina that her father has died and left her in his will. Nina is suddenly introduced to family she never knew she had and despite her initial feelings of not wanting anymore people in her life, she finds herself enjoying and appreciating these new relationships. And speaking of relationships, Nina finds herself involved in a little romance of her own.
All of the characters in this book were lovely and had such charm and wit. Book lovers and anxiety sufferers will all see a little of themselves in Nina and all readers will be cheering her on as she faces her fears.
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LibraryThing member Deelightful
This book made me laugh out loud, and at this point in my life that is not an easy task. Witty, romantic, with a heroine who is really likable.
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Fun, frothy, forgettable. A book seller in LA struggles to find room in her introverted life for a new live interest and a family she never knew she had. I had trouble believing Nina at times. She was intentionally obtuse and yet, for someone who claims to hate the company of others, she’s
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constantly at trivia nights, book clubs, or seeing mic I sent with friends. That said, it was still an entertaining and quick read. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman is a 2019 Berkley publication.
Sweet, witty, clever and whimsical- my kind of people- in my kind of book!
By some standards, Nina may seem a bit eccentric. But, truly, she just likes her job and her books and a solid routine. She may be a classic
However, her quiet, ordered life turns topsy-turvy when she is informed that her father, a man she never knew, has passed away, and she has been named in his will. Suddenly there are lawyers, and a slew of relatives invading her life- none of which fit into her carefully constructed day-planner.
Nor, does dating, it would seem, although there is an interested party- except it’s Tom, her main competition on Trivia Nights. If this weren’t enough to rattle her, her job at the bookshop is in jeopardy because her boss can’t pay the rent.
Although, Nina does her best to avoid the lawyers and new family members, and genuinely tries to pencil Tom in for a date night, she isn’t having much luck on either count. Will Nina ever be accepted by her new family? Will her day planner ever make time for poor Tom? Will the bookshop sink or swim?
I new I would love this book!! The characters are easier for me to relate to than the ‘loudest person in the room’, voted most gregarious types- and of course, who doesn’t love books about books?
I’ve never been to trivia night, but it certainly sounds like a lot of fun- although I’m not that knowledgeable or competitive. Everything about this book is executed perfectly- pace, dialogue, characterizations, and tone. It’s light, but has depth, is poignant, but mostly it’s a fun, feel good story anyone can enjoy. I loved Nina’s life so much, I felt a bit wistful, wishing I could find fit into the mix of work, family, and friends that make up her charmed life. The ending was the cherry on the cake and left me grinning from ear to ear!!
This is just an all-around great story about the truly important things in life and staying true to oneself while adapting to life’s inevitable changes. Of course, us bookworms and introverts will find this book highly relatable, maybe seeing a bit of ourselves in this story, which makes it even more charming and touching!!
All the stars for this one!! (Did you ever doubt it?) That's makes three for three for Ms. Abbi Waxman
Sweet, witty, clever and whimsical- my kind of people- in my kind of book!
By some standards, Nina may seem a bit eccentric. But, truly, she just likes her job and her books and a solid routine. She may be a classic
Show More
introvert, but she hangs out with her friends and competes in trivia competitions.However, her quiet, ordered life turns topsy-turvy when she is informed that her father, a man she never knew, has passed away, and she has been named in his will. Suddenly there are lawyers, and a slew of relatives invading her life- none of which fit into her carefully constructed day-planner.
Nor, does dating, it would seem, although there is an interested party- except it’s Tom, her main competition on Trivia Nights. If this weren’t enough to rattle her, her job at the bookshop is in jeopardy because her boss can’t pay the rent.
Although, Nina does her best to avoid the lawyers and new family members, and genuinely tries to pencil Tom in for a date night, she isn’t having much luck on either count. Will Nina ever be accepted by her new family? Will her day planner ever make time for poor Tom? Will the bookshop sink or swim?
I new I would love this book!! The characters are easier for me to relate to than the ‘loudest person in the room’, voted most gregarious types- and of course, who doesn’t love books about books?
I’ve never been to trivia night, but it certainly sounds like a lot of fun- although I’m not that knowledgeable or competitive. Everything about this book is executed perfectly- pace, dialogue, characterizations, and tone. It’s light, but has depth, is poignant, but mostly it’s a fun, feel good story anyone can enjoy. I loved Nina’s life so much, I felt a bit wistful, wishing I could find fit into the mix of work, family, and friends that make up her charmed life. The ending was the cherry on the cake and left me grinning from ear to ear!!
This is just an all-around great story about the truly important things in life and staying true to oneself while adapting to life’s inevitable changes. Of course, us bookworms and introverts will find this book highly relatable, maybe seeing a bit of ourselves in this story, which makes it even more charming and touching!!
All the stars for this one!! (Did you ever doubt it?) That's makes three for three for Ms. Abbi Waxman
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LibraryThing member bookczuk
Picked up at a Book Exchange, because anything with a reference to books in the title is a magnet for me.
Enjoyed this. Enough meat and book references to draw me in, and a sweet girl meets boy story. This author has yet to disappoint.
Enjoyed this. Enough meat and book references to draw me in, and a sweet girl meets boy story. This author has yet to disappoint.
LibraryThing member Narshkite
Parts of this are wonderful. I loved most of the characters (including LA, which is definitely a character in this book), but other parts are too self-aware, to cutesy, too wink-and-nod. It is like sitting across the table from a man living in New York City who is wearing overalls and eating
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avocado toast while he talks about how hipsters are ruining Brooklyn. Also, I liked Nina, and I understand that anxiety is real and can be crippling, but she was so judgmental and she made her life so tiny, it seems questionable that she exuded such sunshine that everyone, after sharing an hour with her, loved her so much they celebrated sharing their inheritance. Also, I hated the talking cat. A lot. Show Less
LibraryThing member JennyNau10
Loved this!
Awards
Comedy Women In Print (Shortlist — 2020)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Fiction — 2019)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-07-11
Physical description
7.72 inches
ISBN
1472266218 / 9781472266217