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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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:
Decompressing from all the holiday madness, I finally was able to read The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, by Abbi Waxman. It is a Contemporary Fiction book filled with great observations on Millennials, Los Angeles culture, and bookish people. Throw in some family mayhem and a lovely romance, and this book was a quick, enjoyable read.
What I Liked:
Narrator:
Emily Rankin does a wonderful job of narrating this book. She distinguishes between characters with subtle vocal changes that make listening easy to follow. Her timing and delivery work well with the humor of the book.
Setting:
I grew up in Southern California and really appreciate all the little touches that the author put in to show how well-to-do Millenials live in L.A.. Everyone is obsessed with consumerism, but also with making sure that each product they buy is responsibly-sourced, fair-trade, and cruelty-free. It's a given that you know someone in the film industry, whether it's an actress, a producer, or a screenwriter. And nearly everyone drives a car. Everyone, except the main character, Nina Hill.
Characters:
Nina is a very typical Angelino (with the glaring exception that she doesn't drive). But she is also an introvert who has panic attacks, particularly when unscheduled things happen. With the constant bombardment of social media, pop-culture, and just dealing with people, it's no wonder Nina treasures her time to herself. But despite her challenges, Nina is a busy person, scheduling in all sorts of activities from yoga to competitive trivia nights. I admired her willingness to be so active which, at times, put her in uncomfortable situations.
There are also a number of wonderful secondary characters, such as the bookstore owner, Liz, a small business owner who is having trouble staying afloat, and the numerous relatives of Nina who are suddenly part of her life. Even Nina's cat, Phil, is a fun character! I love how she imagines him speaking to her in a sophisticated British accent.
Story:
The story has several threads, but the two main ones are the discovery of Nina's father's relatives (she hadn't known her father at all!), and Nina's attraction to Tom, a fellow Trivia competitor.
When Nina finds out that her father was a wealthy lawyer who has passed away, a dozen relatives are thrust upon her. Many are surprised and curious about who she is. A few people question if she is some kind of con-artist out to steal their inheritance! Nina, who doesn't handle change well, is ambivalent. On the one hand, she is thrilled to have siblings. But she is also nervous about what kind of obligations will go along with all these new connections.
The same can be said about her feelings for Tom. While she enjoys getting to know him, she is wary of having a steady boyfriend. Can she fit yet another person into her busy schedule? While this may seem silly at first, I understood it was a way for Nina to find excuses for avoiding true intimacy, and possibly getting hurt.
Romance:
I love the romance in this book. I found it refreshing that the characters took time to get to know each other. They didn't go rushing into sex the moment they see each other. And, when the sexy stuff finally does happen, it was fun and not smutty.
Rating:
Release Date: July 9th, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Author: Abbi Waxman
Print Publisher: Berkley Press
Page Length: 352 pages
Audio Book Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Narrator: Emily Rankin
Audio Book Length: 9 Hrs, 3 Min
Source: Public Library
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: This was a very enjoyable book with lots of humor and romance. A quick, fun read.
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