BOOK REVIEW – THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL BY ABBI WAXMAN

RATING – 4.5/5

Nina Hill is one of the most relatable characters I have read and an absolute joy to spend time with.  She is an only child of a single mother who was never available to her throughout her life. She might seem odd or introverted to a few but far from it. She loves her books and her planned routine, her job at the bookstore and her cozy apartment with her cat. She enjoys spending time with her friends, watching movies, meeting with her book club and taking part in Trivia Contests with her team with a competitive fervour. 

But life throws a wrench in her planned and organised life when she is informed that her father, a man she never knew, has passed away, and she has been named in his will. All of a sudden her life is infiltrated with a hoard of brothers, sisters, nephews and even grand nephews who are all (almost) eager to meet her and know her. After a life of quiet growth and solitude, Nina suddenly finds herself in the midst of a large dysfunctional family.  And to top it all her bookstore is going through financial trouble and of course there is Tom, her trivia nemesis who is smart and handsome, good looking and extremely interested in her.

What ensues is a well paced novel with a host of quirky and relatable characters and witty writing. I truly found this book delightful and by the end of it wished to spend more time with Nina and Tom and her newfound family members. The characters were beautifully fleshed out and the humour is on point. Trust me, there is a hilarious discussion lasting a few pages on the topic of dick pics which had me snort laughing for a good few minutes.

The book is about being resistant to change  and yet learning to open your life to new people and experiences without having to jot them down in your planner first.  This is the feel good summer read you were looking for. If you haven’t already read this book, you should. It will truly charm you. All you bookworms are going to relate to it like crazy. I certainly did.