The Bookish Life of Nina Hill - Book Review
Genre: Fiction | Contemporary fiction | Romance
Author: Abbi Waxman
Year: 2019
Pages: 333
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a heart-warming and surprisingly compelling book, despite its slightly predictable plot.
Nina’s life is perfectly organised. She works in a bookstore, has a devoted tabby cat called Phil and is part of an excellent trivia team – despite the annoyingly handsome man on the rival team. Her brain is constantly switched on, filled with knowledge after spending her childhood alone with books as her only friends. When she’s not moderating book clubs at work, Nina can be found curled up with a good book, content with her own company.
So, it comes as a surprise when she learns that the father she never met recently died and she has a whole swarm of siblings, nieces and nephews she’s yet to meet. Can Nina find the courage to step out her comfort zone when she’s already content with her quiet, planned out life?
This is a delightfully quirky book. I loved the writing style; it’s as if I was reading a cheesy rom com with a witty and sarcastic narrator. I really empathised with Nina – I clearly love books and love to plan ahead. Our protagonist suffers from social anxiety which, at times, can be debilitating. In the beginning, I did find the abundance of new family members a bit confusing, but there is a diagram you can refer to if you’re a little lost. You can see the plot coming from a mile away, but it’s such a fun read. I couldn’t put it down, and if I’d been able to, I would have finished the book in a day!
It’s definitely a little predictable in parts, but The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a charming and wholesome read. It’s perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jodie Silver and Beth O’Leary.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★