The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

Abbi Waxman

My mom REALLY wanted me to read this book—and it wasn’t a surprise why. Books. ADHD. Anxiety. A menace cat. A consistent habit of dodging anything resembling a love life. Even dead dads!!! Nina, baby, we’re twins. 

I really enjoyed the writing—my book is FILLED with sticky tabs etc—but some of the storytelling left me wanting. I didn’t feel like I got a firm wrap up on almost anything but the romance. What were in the other letters? What does Nina do with the money? Was she HIGH when she offered to buy the store? What happens with the crazy Reynolds family? Did Clara ever successfully kidnap a camel? 

Claire

My mom REALLY wanted me to read this book—and it wasn’t a surprise why. Books. ADHD. Anxiety. A menace cat. A consistent habit of dodging anything resembling a love life. Even dead dads!!! Nina, baby, we’re twins. 

I really enjoyed the writing—my book is FILLED with sticky tabs etc—but some of the storytelling left me wanting. I didn’t feel like I got a firm wrap up on almost anything but the romance. What were in the other letters? What does Nina do with the money? Was she HIGH when she offered to buy the store? What happens with the crazy Reynolds family? Did Clara ever successfully kidnap a camel? 

You can see I have some questions. 

That said, I still really enjoyed it!!! 

*The hilarious new novel from Abbi Waxman - I WAS TOLD IT WOULD GET EASIER - is available to pre-order now* Abbi Waxman's charming novel follows introvert and bookworm Nina Hill as she discovers if real life can ever live up to fiction... Shortlisted for the Comedy Women In Print Prize, this novel is perfect for fans of Lucy Diamond and Maria Semple. 'GORGEOUS' Marian Keyes 'Like a conversation with the funniest person you know - just lovely' Katie Fforde Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own. . . shell. Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, an excellent trivia team 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. So when the father she never knew existed dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. And if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny and interested in getting to know her... It's time for Nina to turn her own fresh page, and find out if real life can ever live up to fiction. . . Praise for The Bookish Life of Nina Hill... 'Charmed by its funny loveliness' NINA STIBBE, AUTHOR OF REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL 'Book lovers will absolutely relate' O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE 'Meet our bookish millennial heroine - a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet' THE WASHINGTON POST 'A quirky, eccentric romance that will charm any bookworm' ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY 'I hope you're in the mood to be downright delighted, because that's the state you'll find yourself in' POPSUGAR

'GORGEOUS' Marian Keyes

Sarah Sammis

Just as fun as an audio.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill really and truly reminds me of so many of the cozy mysteries I love to listen to. The only difference is that there's no murder to solve. Now if Nina's father had been killed and she had ended up identifying the murderer, it would be a quintessential cozy mystery.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...

As I sit and write this review, I’m trying to work out how this book ended up on my Wishlist and I think that it was down to a friend’s recommendation and I’m glad that I added it as this is such a wholesome book for any book fans out there. I flew through this one in just 2 days and after just deciding to pick it up I’m glad that I read it at the start of the Easter Weekend!

Nina is in her late 20's and is a self-proclaimed bookworm. She has a calendar filled up with things like trivia dates and 'free time' ie- reading and works at a bookstore. She's introverted and is happiest when around books. When Nina finds out her father, who she never knew, passed away and left her something, she’s shocked. She's also shocked when she finds out he comes from a huge family and she has a brother, sisters, nephews, and nieces. It was always just Nina and her mom (more like Nina and her beloved nanny) and she doesn't know how to feel about all this.

This is my First Abbi Waxman book and I really enjoyed getting lost in the story of this one, It was a joy to fall In to her world and explore the world of Nina. It’s an endearing, and beautifully written book with some quirky characters and a setting that just pulled in as most books set in and around a bookstore seam to do. As its probably one of the most satisfying, pleasurable, gratifying, and validating experiences out there and so relatable to all of us book lovers. I was totally taken and fascinated with Nina Hill’s character, and she fully captured my heart. There were so many times I felt a strong kinship to Nina and nodding in agreement to pretty much every aspect of her character and to plenty of scenarios in this book.

I can honestly relate to Nina on so many different fronts, as an introvert, as a lover of books, as a planner/list maker/routine follower. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a delightful read. It’s funny, at times relatable as only bookish people would “get,” and it’s smoothly written. There’s so much to love about Nina and infinitely more to love about this story. It’s a huggable, feel-good read, for when you need your spirits lifted. A huge thanks to Abbi Waxman for this endearing character and story.

Ian Brakspear

As I sit and write this review, I’m trying to work out how this book ended up on my Wishlist and I think that it was down to a friend’s recommendation and I’m glad that I added it as this is such a wholesome book for any book fans out there. I flew through this one in just 2 days and after just deciding to pick it up I’m glad that I read it at the start of the Easter Weekend!

 

Nina is in her late 20's and is a self-proclaimed bookworm. She has a calendar filled up with things like trivia dates and 'free time' ie- reading and works at a bookstore. She's introverted and is happiest when around books. When Nina finds out her father, who she never knew, passed away and left her something, she’s shocked. She's also shocked when she finds out he comes from a huge family and she has a brother, sisters, nephews, and nieces. It was always just Nina and her mom (more like Nina and her beloved nanny) and she doesn't know how to feel about all this.

 

This is my First Abbi Waxman book and I really enjoyed getting lost in the story of this one, It was a joy to fall In to her world and explore the world of Nina. It’s an endearing, and beautifully written book with some quirky characters and a setting that just pulled in as most books set in and around a bookstore seam to do. As its probably one of the most satisfying, pleasurable, gratifying, and validating experiences out there and so relatable to all of us book lovers. I was totally taken and fascinated with Nina Hill’s character, and she fully captured my heart. There were so many times I felt a strong kinship to Nina and nodding in agreement to pretty much every aspect of her character and to plenty of scenarios in this book.

 

I can honestly relate to Nina on so many different fronts, as an introvert, as a lover of books, as a planner/list maker/routine follower. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a delightful read. It’s funny, at times relatable as only bookish people would “get,” and it’s smoothly written. There’s so much to love about Nina and infinitely more to love about this story. It’s a huggable, feel-good read, for when you need your spirits lifted. A huge thanks to Abbi Waxman for this endearing character and story.

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 ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

Riya

This book had mellow and gentle tones to it, and I quite liked it. As someone who has really bad anxiety and is disposed to get anxious over smallest of things, I could really relate to Nina. Her struggle with anxiety was really realistic. I am glad it was not romanticised or anything. 
The plot was sweet and simple, not too much drama or angst. Although I liked the romance, I wish it had a little more nuance because something felt missing from Tom’s character. He at times felt shallow like someone who only arrives in the scene just for the sake of saying his lines. Anyhow, this book is a good and comforting read.

★★★☆ // this character feels both archetypal and relatable. i find that this is the life that i’ll probably choose if i didn’t have... responsibilities. and i don’t mean that in a condescending way. it would be so peaceful and fulfilling to live your life surrounded with the absolute best thing you love, and to use this as a way to connect with more people. i didn’t find Tom necessary to the story, to be honest. i feel like this book would still work without him, and that it would be even better if it was focused solely on Nina’s reconnection with a family she didn’t know and getting to know her father, even if it’s just through anecdotes and stories. she was a lonely character looking for a home—a place to belong—and this extended family feels like the right place to be. still, it was an enjoyable read all throughout. gained a couple of (unsolicited) advice that i will forever treasure. 
  ”I’m not saying you shouldn’t be alone; there’s a lot to be said for it. But if you’re choosing to be alone because you’re scared of other people, resist that fear. Trust people with your truth, and bravely tell them you’re not brave at all.”

Melissa Palmer

This is a book that book lovers will love. Nina Hill works in a book store and loves Thursday nights, which are here comfy pjs and read with her cat Phil nights. Then she finds out her father, whom she never knew, has died and she has a whole new set of siblings and nieces and nephews. How will this introvert adjust?

Krystyna 

Really enjoyed this one. I annotated this and it’s so full of tabs. It’s a fun, quick, and quirky story about an introverted girl that loves books and trivia. There’s a bit of everything in here, self-discovery, family drama, humor, romance, etc. It’s a great book to read if you enjoy books about books.

Colleen

4 Stars
 
*An entertaining romp sure to speak to all bookish introverted souls*
 
 
  



The Bookish Life of Nina Hill – if you didn’t guess from the title – is a book about a booklover named Nina. Just when she thinks she has her life perfectly organized, Nina discovers an extended family she never knew. And suddenly her introverted ways and her perfectly organized day planner are all thrown asunder.
 
The start of this story was hilarious! Nina’s observations of people were so entertaining. From her parroting of Valley Girl moms to a book club conversation that almost made me do a spit take during my lunch break, I thoroughly enjoyed the setup of this book.
 
I could relate to a lot of Nina’s likes and dislikes. From a love of books to frustration with societal pressure to be “normal,” I had a ton of empathy with Nina. If I had a dollar for every time someone accused me of being obsessive-compulsive just because I color code my calendar…
 
The reason this isn’t five stars for me is that the ending didn’t have enough oomph. It was cute and satisfying but not amazing. It also had that overly convenient aspect where things end too neatly and happily. Don’t get me wrong; I do love a happy ending. But there are a maximum number of character reformations that can occur in a single book and still be believable.
 
Overall, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a sweet and entertaining story about finding family, love, and oneself. The ending could have been stronger, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story.
 
P.S. It does get bonus points for using the word quisling!
 
 
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 4 Stars

Jess LeBlanc

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill was witty, fun and easy to read! I found Nina was really relatable, I mean who doesn’t have a huge obsession with books and anxiety?? I also found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions which doesn’t happen often when I read a book 

Definitely recommend!

Amy Vicknair

OHKAY THIS BOOK IS SOOO SWEET (also, cats + a book about books ABOUT A WOMAN WHO TRIES TO GET THROUGH LIFE WHEN SHE WORKED AT A BOOKSTORE? IT'S SOOO COOL)

i want to be friends with nina hill, sign me up as her bestie. that's it. that's the review.

aurelia 

OHKAY THIS BOOK IS SOOO SWEET (also, cats + a book about books ABOUT A WOMAN WHO TRIES TO GET THROUGH LIFE WHEN SHE WORKED AT A BOOKSTORE? IT'S SOOO COOL)

i want to be friends with nina hill, sign me up as her bestie. that's it. that's the review.

Gisela Ayala 

Cute read! I laughed a lot. Way more than I thought I would. Not life-changing her anything, but a good fluffy read.

Ashley Wendt

3.5 Stars. This was cute! A nice simple feel good read.

Samaa alaa eldin

Okay this was a fun kind of relatable read . So many characters were introduced tho and there were parts when it was dragging and I didn't care much about what was going on but over all it was cute.

Zahia Saeed 

I picked this book at the right time in my life.

I had no prior idea as to what the book was all about, I assumed it was romance (smutty), and so I was amazed at it. (I am rambling here)
Anyways
The writing was witty and humorous and so wholesome.
I felt like this book was written for me because I related to Nina on so many levels.

Anxiety rep? YES! I savored the way the author wrote the emotions. 

This book felt like I was watching a movie with a narrator, it was so good. 

Okay I should stop now. I am going to go recommend this to anyone who is trying to understand me 🙃

Steph L 

This book was so cute and fun. I loved Nina so much.

Saima A

Sonja H

Um es gleich vorweg zu sagen: dies ist ein Buch für introvertierte Menschen. Wer extrovertiert ist, wird sich vielleich ansatzweise in der ein oder anderen Nebenfigur wiederfinden, aber mit Nina wohl nicht viele Gemeinsamkeiten haben.

Nina ist die Verkörperung der Introvertiertheit: sie liebt Bücher, bekämpft ihre Angststörungen mit einem Planer, auch wenn es eigentlich nicht viel zu planen gibt, mag Schreibwaren aller Art, unterhält sich mit ihrer Katze und geht anderen Menschen aus dem Weg. Sie kann stricken und häkeln und hat ein großartiges Gedächtnis...für triviale Fakten.

Ich mochte Nina auf Anhieb und hab mit ihr gelitten, mich mit ihr gefreut und herzhaft über ihren Umgang mit ihrer neu gefundenen Familie gelacht.

Ja, alle Figuren sind - ganz im Sinne einer Komödie - stark überzeichnet und die Handlung stellenweise etwas schwach, dennoch steckt sehr viel Liebe im Detail und der Humor war genau mein Ding.

"The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" ist eine nette, leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch für LeserInnen, die sich lieber im Haus verkrümeln, statt sich ins soziale Leben zu stürzen. Ich habe in Nina Hill eine Seelenverwandte gefunden, die ich meinen literarischen Freundeskreis aufgenommen habe.

Celeste Richardson

Cheeky and charming and incredibly relatable. I think Nina Hill might be my more anxious spirit animal. Reading about her fierce love of books and useless trivia and pop culture references felt like looking in a mirror. It’s impossible not to root for a character who reminds you so much of yourself. This book was fluffy without being shallow. I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Clara Moore

This book was nothing but charming. Nina's character is hilarious and relatable and embodies book lovers to a 't'. I wished for more at the ending but loved the book all the same. It is a nice, light read for when you need to laugh out loud and smile.

Ella Patterson

Endearing and cute, I really enjoyed this sweet story of Nina growing, connecting with her new family and starting a relationship. I loved Nina and how she really understood herself in a way that made sense for her age and where she was at in life. There could have been a bit more conflict as at points it felt a little bit too light, and I found it confusing how similar some of the side characters names were at times. The way in which her father was depicted was really interesting and thought-provoking, as it brought up the idea that people aren't one fixed thing and the way in which one person views another isn't reflective of all that they are in life.

Stephanie Joseph

I definitely loved reading this. It was almost like a cheesy rom com in my head and I found it hard to put the book down as I kept wanting to know what was next. So that’s a good sign. It was refreshing to see a protagonist with just the right amount of sarcasm+introvert minus the whole “I’m going to save the world with my looks” lmao 

Rating: 3/5

Swati Raisinghani

loved it! Plain and simple, I just loved this book! 

Nina Hill is me in an alternate reality! I sometimes dream about this ideal scenario where I am working in a bookshop and earning enough to live comfortably while occasionally having some funds to indulge in planners and fancy stationary.

The bookish life of Nina Hill breaks a lot of stereotypes about people who love to read . For once,the lead is not this sweet faced angel of a person but an actual real person facing issues like anxiety over meeting her new found family.

I wont go too much into details, otherwise I will end up mentioning a lot of spoilers.
But yes, would definitely recommend this to my fellow readers just to get a new perspective.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

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