This was such a fun read, especially being a bookish person. Nina spoke to me in a way that other characters haven't. I loved all the other quirky characters that played a part in Nina's life and I even liked the extra planner pages that were woven before each chapter. This was just a great read and I really didn't want it to end!

Nina has her days all planned out between her work at the bookstore, her book group meetings and her trivia nights. She doesn’t do well in social situations, plus they tend to cause her a lot of anxiety and she’d rather stick to what she knows.

However, her life is about to get a bit more complicated with when she hears from a lawyer that her father has died and has left her in his will. She’s about to meet a lot of family some who are welcoming and others who view her with distrust. She really just wants to go back to the way things are and not have to deal with having to meet a bunch of new people.

Plus, the sporty and handsome guy in her trivia group seems to be trying to impress her. Nina thinks that if he’s that good at sports trivia it’s doubtful he’s a reader but he is definitely handsome.

As a bookworm myself I really liked a protagonist who loves books, belongs to book groups and schedules time to read. I thought there were some really cute moments as Nina is trying to brave her new social circle and some others that made me feel for her, like when her anxiety is so crippling that all she can do is hug herself and be alone. Overall this made for a quick enjoyable read.

Adorable romcom! Lovable characters. Charming and relatable as a bookworm/regular trivia-goer. I think a lot of readers will enjoy this. If you're drawn to the cover/title, you'll enjoy the story.

What a fun book! I love the inclusion of authors and books in the story. On more than one occasion, I added books to my Goodreads TBA list! The passion with which Nina talks about reading, books and connecting readers to the right book is a direct reflection of my life. I absolutely love this book and hope to see more of Nina Hill in the future.

Cute book! I found Nina relatable to my book nerd side and it was fun hearing all the different books discussed, and doing a mental checklist of which ones I've also read!

Can I just say I relate so hard to Nina Hill?! Yeah, this was a light read with some predictability, but it was entertaining and I read it in one day. Books will always be my jam and reading books about books is one of my favorite things.

I feel personally victimized by The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman.

I love Nina and the charming and vibrant life Waxman creates for her in Larchmont, a neighborhood in L.A. that feels culturally far away from the shallow and commercial stereotypes of that city. The cast of characters is quirky and delightful. There are slow sections but they feel more luxuriously slow, not laboriously slow, and help feed the characterization of Nina as a literature-obsessed bookseller with great friends and a kick-ass quizzo team. And the plot is interesting enough to keep you invested, even if it can be a little predictable. It doesn’t feel trope-y or like a retread, just familiar and cozy with a dash of sexy dates with a respectful suitor named Tom.

Throughout the book I was bothered, however by the clear message that valuing books and reading too highly can be a fault. That it’s not okay to be a “book snob.” Nina is reproached by her friends for considering dating someone who doesn’t read a deal breaker. She’s a bookseller and reading is her most-loved pastime, I think it’s okay to want to be with another reader. No one reprimands the girl who won’t date people who talk about politics or any of the other dealbreakers - and everyone has them. This seemed like an odd choice and a little preachy for a book so obviously tailor made for book lovers and booksellers (who, it’s worth mentioning, Waxman presumably wants to, you know, actively sell her book!).

But when I got to the culmination of the romance I did the audiobook equivalent of throwing the book across the room, I ripped my earbuds out. ***Spoiler alert***, but Nina has to apologize for her anxiety and for needing time alone to deal with major life issues to get the guy back. WHAT?! Having a panic attack is likened to “losing her composure.” There is some backtracking where Tom says he loves her just the way she is, anxiety and all, but that wasn’t the message his actions and earlier words sent. The resolution of the rest of the plot points is more satisfactory and Waxman almost charmed Nina and Tom back into my good graces but overall some of the heavy-handed “lessons” left a bad taste in my mouth. I would still recommend the book to others who might not have my qualms and I don’t want to let 1-2 chapters ruin how much I enjoyed the rest of the book, but it’s not the favorite read it could have been.

Nina Hill you rock! Fun, quirky, whimsical, and witty. Nina is the ultimate lovable introverted bookworm. She loves to plan, she loves to read, but she does NOT love change. When Nina’s perfectly cultivated life is turned topsy-turvy by two events she does not know what to do with herself. Not only has she just found out her biological father has died and that she has multiple half siblings, she is also facing the fact that she might have a possible love interest. What transpires is an extremely engaging story about a character that we will all find a little piece of ourselves in. A must read for all book lovers! Abby Waxman has definitely become an auto Red, I’ve loved everything I’ve read from her. I also had an opportunity to meet her at an author event this year and found her to be as witty, whimsical, and fun as her books!

This book in emojis 📅 📚 🍷

*** Big thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

Since her debut novel I've enjoyed reading Abbi Waxman and watching her grow as a writer. While The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is technically up-lit, I also saw it as a love-letter to biblophiles and trivia buffs. Nina, our anxiety plagued heroine, has an organized and simple life working in a bookstore. When she suddenly learns the identity of her dead father, a family full of fabulous characters threaten her structured life. Add a potential love interest and a cat whose gazes speak volumes, and a laugh out loud comedy is born! Will Nina learn to embrace change or retreat into the lonely solitude so many of us book-crazed cat owners succumb to?

The perfect brain candy for my post holiday brain. A great fit for fans of Mary Jane Baker, Terri Wilson, and Phaedra Patrick.

I was fortunate to receive a free ARC of this book from Netgalley. The above thoughts, insights, or recommendations are my own meek musings.

Nina Hill likes to keep her life simple and organized. She loves to be alone at home with her books, play trivia with her trivia team, and go to her job at the bookshop. During the course of this story, life throws her several curve balls that complicate her life. She unexpectedly learns that the father she never knew has died. She learns she has a number of relatives that she never knew about. And she also meets Tom, the cute guy from her trivia league. Nina likes these new turns in her life, but finds that it is all too much for her when also she learns that the bookshop is closing. Can she reorganize her life to include all these changes? Or will she allow her anxiety to rule her?

I really loved Nina Hill. I enjoyed spending time with her. She is a character that I related to and rooted for. Many of us know the feeling of being overwhelmed by the stuff life throws at us. Nina fights for control of her life and finds happiness. This is a wonderful story and I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I read this book for the Girly Book Club chapter that I am in. This book is not quite a 4 but closer to a 4 than a 3. It is an easy read about a young woman who keeps her self on busy routine so she won't feel anxious. Most of the plot was predictable but the story of her connecting with her deceased father and new found siblings was a touching element. If you are look for an easy read this is that kind of book.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman, a quirky read about a female protagonist and her struggles relating to family, love and life.
Meet Nina Hill; an only child who works in a bookstore, belongs to an “expert” trivia team and enjoys escaping life with a great book. She is an introvert who thrives on routine and schedules, and has every aspect of her life planned right down to what she is going to eat everyday. When things don’t go accordingly, she gets anxious and shuts down with a book.
Just when Nina thinks she has her life the way she wants it, she gets news that the father she never knew had died and she has relatives that want to meet her. She is eager to know her family, but she is worried she’ll have to speak…to strangers. If that wasn’t enough chaos for Nina she also discovers the bookstore where she works is closing and that her romantic life is about to get a lot more interesting.
Can Nina step outside her comfort zone and overcome all the turmoil in her life or will she simply ignore all her problems and curl up with her beloved cat Phil and read a book? Reserve this title to find out!

This book is like a love letter to readers.

My favorite kind of stories are ones written by voracious readers. I don’t know a damn thing about Abbi Waxman (*yet* because yes I do plan to follow her on ALL the social platforms – in a totally non-creepy ‘hey watchu writing now’ kind of way). But one thing I can tell you about this author is that she is a bookworm.

The main character in this, the titular Nina Hill, works in a bookstore. She’s introspective and introverted. She also has an amazing memory, and has so many random facts memorized that she’s a rising star in her local trivia circuit. One last thing you should know about her: she has anxiety.

For me, Nina broke the mold in a really good way. So often when we’re presented with characters like hers, they’re portrayed as socially inept weirdos, and that’s just not always the case in the real world. True, her personality traits could sometimes make for awkward interactions with strangers, but as a whole, she was funny and talkative and quick with a comeback when she felt insulted.

As an introvert, she also needed space to recharge. Paired with anxiety, she really needed time to herself. That was just fine for me. Being in Nina’s head was a treat. Her inner monologue was at turns thought provoking and hysterical.

What Waxman does SO WELL is the long joke. Nina would say or think something offhand that was funny at the time, but then that thought would come back around to a real world situation in an absolutely hilarious way. See: ice cream trebuchet.

Waxman knows that bookworms are smart. She doesn’t spoon feed her readers. There are multiple fiction and pop culture references in here that are made and not explained, so if you get it, you get it, and if you don’t, well, read more.

Nina’s anxiety was also handled well. Everyone’s anxiety manifests differently, but for me, this really resonated. It impacted her life in believable ways that never felt over the top.

While this is listed as a romance, the love story isn’t the dominant theme. Early on, Nina discovers who her father is and finds out she has this whole family she never knew about. So for me, this is much more along the line of women’s fiction. It’s really about Nina’s life and her growth as a person. I almost wish the romance wasn’t included, because that aspect is what dropped my rating a star.

It doesn’t seem like this will be a series, and I’m a little sad about that, because I REALLY want a spin-off told from the perspective of Lydia, one of the side characters.

So, Abbi, if you’re reading this: PRETTY PLEASE!

Nina Hill was such a light and airy read and I loved it! I found Nina to be a very relatable character, as a fellow introvert, who loves books, cats and being alone. I laughed at her antics, cried when life didn't go as planned and cheered when she experienced good fortune. A very fun read that I would recommend.

5 Stars / 1 Steam Fans

I do not understand why it took me so long to read this gem! Nina Hill works at a bookstore, runs the reading groups for that bookstore, loves reading and exploring books, is the captain of a rockstar trivia team, and has grown up not knowing anything about her father. When Nina is contacted about the father she never knew she is pushed outside of her comfort zone. Nina has to deal with her anxiety, the possibility of the bookstore she loves closing, dating, and the newly discovered family thanks to that father she didn't know. I found myself laughing so much through this story and I loved getting to know Nina as a friend. The romance between Nina and Tom was sweet and fun but didn't overwhelm Nina's journey in any way. I thought the subject matter about the generational groups in the world was relatable, funny, and intertwined throughout the story that didn't alienate the reader for being in a specific group. I really enjoyed this story and enjoyed the narrator's acting for the multiple characters throughout the book.

Video review available in Week 48 Nov 24 – 30 weekly book reviews.

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I loved this book! Our heroine is settled into her life of books and schedules. She has great friends who share her interests and value her. Then her world is tossed on its ears when she learns she had a father who not only knew about her but left her something in his will. Now she has more family than she ever dreamed.
Wonderful story!!

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was written by Abbi Waxman, released by Berkley on July 9, 2019. I was given my copy by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Nina has her idea of the perfect life. She has a job at a bookstore (SO JEALOUS), her planner, awesome trivia team friends, and her cat Phil. When her out-of-the-picture father dies and she discovers she has a huge family that wants to meet her, she panics. Now she has to figure out how to communicate with these STRANGERS. In addition to all of that awkward, her trivia version of Draco Malfoy named Tom turns out to be cute and kind of funny, and she might have a crush on him! Nina now has to figure out how to break out of her shell to deal with all of the new feelings and people. Thankfully, we get to watch her do it.

This was one of my favorite books of the year. I almost feel like I should personally apologize to Abbi Waxman for taking so long to read it. I related to Nina on almost every level. From wanting to avoid her family to her bookshelf dedicated to Book of the Month, there were so many times I stopped reading to tell my bookstagram bestie "OMG THIS IS ME." The ending was so sweet. It's probably a little stereotypical to people who only read romance, but it made me happy to see that the ending I wanted was going to happen. In my marathon string of thriller and mystery books, this was refreshing. It made me happy, and I can't wait to dive in to Abbi Waxman's next great book.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars

This book was such a pleasant surprise. A quick, fun read that most book lovers will enjoy!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nina Hill is happiest when she is completely alone (except for her very opinionated cat, Phil) and surrounded by books, and has absolutely no desire to change her current situation. She grew up making fictional friends from her stories and was raised on the belief that her mother was the only family she had. Then, with no warning, she is told that not only does she have a father who has just passed away, but she has inherited a family that's so large and complicated, charts and diagrams are a necessity.

"The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" is escapism at it's very best. Rather than suffering through the dreary cold around me, I was able to escape with Nina to an LA neighborhood full of delightful characters, a charming bookstore, and the cutthroat world of competitive trivia. The author, Abbi Waxman, excellently created a unique internal voice for Nina that had me cracking up and commiserating with her choice comparisons (many of which are book themed!). There were a few conflicts that Nina had to face including her new family, new love interest, and the future of the bookstore. Waxman's portrayal of Nina and all of the emotions she had to face was completely relatable for me as a reader, and it was wonderful to socially anxious book lovers so lovingly portrayed! This book is perfect for book lovers and fans of "Well Met" and "The Hating Game." Good to know: This is a "closed door" romance, which means that the steaminess happens behind the scenes.

I loved this bookish book about a bookish bookworm! As someone who identifies with some of the anxiety and inwardness of Nina Hill, I was impressed that this book hit on some deeper themes. I always like a romance thrown in when it's not the sole action going on in the book, so I appreciated the family story line as well. I would love to see this go to screen.