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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
4.5⭐️
Abbi Waxman’s character building is unmatched. I love every single character and every one of their quirks. It was wonderful to be back in the world of Nina Hill. I’m deducting half a star only because I couldn’t help but want a little more plot, although the emphasis on character and worldbuilding is also a big part of its charm. Can we have Polly’s story next?
Abbi Waxman’s character building is unmatched. I love every single character and every one of their quirks. It was wonderful to be back in the world of Nina Hill. I’m deducting half a star only because I couldn’t help but want a little more plot, although the emphasis on character and worldbuilding is also a big part of its charm. Can we have Polly’s story next?
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What I read: Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman
Why I picked it up: I like this author! And am now just one book shy from being a completist.
How I read it: On paper.
What it’s about: Laura decides to take a leap and move west even though her family thinks it’s the worst idea she’s ever had. Her apartment goes up in flames and before her life can too, Polly tells her there’s an open room in the house where she rents. This changes everything for Laura, and Bob, and everyone else too.
What I liked: I love the perspective Abbi writes from. I think it’s 3rd person omniscient, but I can’t quite remember what all of the possibilities are called. You know everything about everyone without losing the idea of a central character, in this case, Laura.
What I disliked: It ends too early.
Genre: Finding oneself, chaste romance, closed door.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and definitely! It’s the second in a delightful series that’s worth reading in order but not necessary to be read in order.
Why I picked it up: I like this author! And am now just one book shy from being a completist.
How I read it: On paper.
What it’s about: Laura decides to take a leap and move west even though her family thinks it’s the worst idea she’s ever had. Her apartment goes up in flames and before her life can too, Polly tells her there’s an open room in the house where she rents. This changes everything for Laura, and Bob, and everyone else too.
What I liked: I love the perspective Abbi writes from. I think it’s 3rd person omniscient, but I can’t quite remember what all of the possibilities are called. You know everything about everyone without losing the idea of a central character, in this case, Laura.
What I disliked: It ends too early.
Genre: Finding oneself, chaste romance, closed door.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and definitely! It’s the second in a delightful series that’s worth reading in order but not necessary to be read in order.
The most basic plot line of this book is that a twenties-something girl named Laura moves from NYC to L.A. to get out from under the control of her overbearing parents (especially her mother) and to attend grad school to become a physical therapist. She is suffering from PTSD after a scary accident, but she has been raised to ignore mental health issues and push through them. In L.A. she meets a girl named Polly who lives in a large house near Beverly Hills with a middle-aged landlady and several young single people who rent the rooms. Soon, Laura starts falling for one of the other lodgers, Bob.
First of all, can I just say, Bob is the worst name for a romantic hero in the history of all names. The only people I know named Bob are baby boomers. And the name itself makes me think of a dollop of mayonnaise that has fallen on the floor.
But that is a superficial complaint. The main problem with this book is that it is a hot mess--too many characters (a new character was introduced when I was 72% through the book!) and too many POVs. Not only were there too many POVs (I lost track of the amount), but they sometimes shifted from paragraph to paragraph. It was jarring, to say the least.
So why did I finish the book? Because there were some genuinely sweet, lovely moments. This book felt like a wholesome, happy read, where the characters were mostly authentic, faced real problems, and dealt with those problems in a largely functional way. But the structure of this book was so messy that I'm not sure I would pick up another book by this author.
First of all, can I just say, Bob is the worst name for a romantic hero in the history of all names. The only people I know named Bob are baby boomers. And the name itself makes me think of a dollop of mayonnaise that has fallen on the floor.
But that is a superficial complaint. The main problem with this book is that it is a hot mess--too many characters (a new character was introduced when I was 72% through the book!) and too many POVs. Not only were there too many POVs (I lost track of the amount), but they sometimes shifted from paragraph to paragraph. It was jarring, to say the least.
So why did I finish the book? Because there were some genuinely sweet, lovely moments. This book felt like a wholesome, happy read, where the characters were mostly authentic, faced real problems, and dealt with those problems in a largely functional way. But the structure of this book was so messy that I'm not sure I would pick up another book by this author.
The author of “The Bookish Life of Nina Hill,” Abbi Waxman is my favorite. Her new novel in the Nina universe, “Adult Assembly Required,” is a deepening and an extension of the first novel, which is excellent because when I reached the last page of the first, I was very upset about the story being over. The only trouble is that now I’m upset to have already finished this second story. Please, Abbi, write Polly’s story, STAT!
An inoffensive easy read, this one was fine but nothing out of the ordinary. I didn't particularly like the main character Laura, I thought she was super naive, and somewhat annoying! Like, why didn;t she just tell Nick to back off?? The supporting characters had elements of interest, especially Polly and Nina, but at times there were too many people to keep track of, and the changing perspectives mid chapter/mid paragraph was grating. There was a bit too much telling not showing, and it was dialogue and description heavy, but with focus on really minor things but then big events were rushed. The choices of what to focus on in detail were inconsistent too - for example the outfits people wore and then a shopping montage. But not for everyone all the time? A scene that really bothered me was when they were all ordering burgers and shakes towards the end, and then were interrupted - but then returned to that scene after the interruption. Some instances like that, and some of the dialogue, didn't ring true. Did everyone in that scene have to give a specific order in extreme detail? There was a lot happening too - Laura moving to a new city, starting grad school, dealing with trauma, dealing with her family, dealing with an ex, falling in love, finding herself, joining trivia, meeting new friends...then big changes/events for Impossibly Handsome Bob, Polly, Asher, Maggie - all in one book. And it was all moving along as normal and then there was a random time jump with a "Fall" heading? Laura was too goody-two-shoes, and I really don't like characters who know nothing about pop culture as a personality trait! Everyone has at least heard of Hogwarts!! There were times that I felt it was trying too hard to be quirky. And I agree with some other reviews that the characters were aged oddly - in that they were meant to be young but then acted like mature aged people but then also teenagers? Look, I will read Nina Hill to see if it was just this book that didn't gel for me, but like I said, it was fine. I can see why it's popular online!
I'm halfway through this book and it's a little disappointing so far. There are a lot of good elements to the plot but the writing is sub par. Lots of telling, not showing which leads to poor character development. The male love interest is so uninteresting. The many side characters are so much more interesting.
Update: upon finishing the book, my rating is a firm 2 stars. The plot completely stalled out about halfway through and was a slog to the end.
The author is clearly an older writer who is unsuccessfully trying to write younger characters. Some of her references are extremely dated and are not anything a twenty or early 30 year old would say or do. If the book were supposed to be set in the late 90s or early 2000s it might be acceptable. But as it is, what twenty something who is afraid of driving try to drive to the airport in LA when ridesharing is a thing? Plus, I don't know a single Robert under the age of 55 who goes as "Bob". Ugh.
Update: upon finishing the book, my rating is a firm 2 stars. The plot completely stalled out about halfway through and was a slog to the end.
The author is clearly an older writer who is unsuccessfully trying to write younger characters. Some of her references are extremely dated and are not anything a twenty or early 30 year old would say or do. If the book were supposed to be set in the late 90s or early 2000s it might be acceptable. But as it is, what twenty something who is afraid of driving try to drive to the airport in LA when ridesharing is a thing? Plus, I don't know a single Robert under the age of 55 who goes as "Bob". Ugh.
A traumatic experience leads to new friendships that morph into family. This common thread, punctuated with humor, is a Waxman staple. It works; she’s a must read! Set in the world of Nina Hill and Garden of Small Beginnings, new LA transplant Laura ducks into a book shop during a downpour. There, she meets some whimsical folks who immediately take her in. Sometimes it takes a village to raise an adult, and to gently help them adjust.