Book Review: The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Synopsis

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.  (Goodreads)

Thank you to Berkley for sending me an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  

So I think this was a case of a book that my expectations were too high for.  I liked this The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, but everyone else seems to be raving about it, and it was not a rave for me. 

I liked Nina, it’s probably not much of a surprise that she reminded me of me.  I just think for me there was a lot going on because of that something felt missing in each of the storylines.  Nina finding her family was probably the most complete storyline for me. It was interesting meeting her new family and seeing how similar they were.  Peter is one of my new favorite side characters for sure. But even still I felt like we got to know maybe 4 or the new family members, and I just wanted more. 

The Tom storyline felt like it was missing the most.  I liked them together, but i just felt like everything moved very quickly.  They barely spend any time together, and I don’t feel like I really say them fall for each other, and I really would have liked to.  

My last complaint was how very bookish this book was, I know that sons entirely silly, but at times I felt slightly pandered to. I know this review made it seem like I didn’t like this book, and that isn’t the case at all I did enjoy it, but I just wanted a little more.  

Overall: 4/5