Abbi Waxman

This is sort of a sequel to The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, which I loved. Some of the same characters appear, but the story is mainly about Laura, a native New Yorker who has come to Los Angeles to get a degree in physical therapy at UCLA after a significant car accident. She still suffers from some PTSD but probably has more trauma as a result of the attitude of her scientific Ph.D. family members, who maintain stiff upper lips rather than any compassion for Laura.
Ms. Waxman writes some of the funniest scenes while also showing sympathy for the characters' quirks. As a result, she's one of my favorite contemporary writers. The romance is sweet with Impossibly Handsome Bob, the horticultural expert who lives across the hall from her in the best boarding house ever. The supplemental characters all add to the story, even the ex-fiance who is insufferable. Laura learns to become an independent woman with the help of her new friends in this delightful read.… (more)