ARC Review: Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman

Adult Assembly Required
Author: Abbi Waxman
Publication: Berkley (May 17, 2022)

Description: A young woman arrives in Los Angeles determined to start over and discovers she doesn’t need to leave everything behind after all, from Abbi Waxman, USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

When Laura Costello moves to Los Angeles, trying to escape an overprotective family and the haunting memories of a terrible accident, she doesn’t expect to be homeless after a week. (She’s pretty sure she didn’t start that fire — right?) She also doesn't expect to find herself adopted by a rogue bookseller, installed in a lovely but completely illegal boardinghouse, or challenged to save a losing trivia team from ignominy…but that’s what happens. Add a regretful landlady, a gorgeous housemate and an ex-boyfriend determined to put himself back in the running and you’ll see why Laura isn’t really sure she’s cut out for this adulting thing. Luckily for her, her new friends Nina, Polly and Impossibly Handsome Bob aren't sure either, but maybe if they put their heads (and hearts) together they’ll be able to make it work.

My Thoughts: This is a story about a young woman who runs away from home and family expectations to find herself and finds friends and a life she loves.

Laura Costello has come from New York City to Los Angeles to attend graduate school. She's only there a day or two when her apartment house catches fire, and she loses everything but the clothes she's wearing. She also gets caught in the rain and finds shelter in a local bookstore. There she meets the quirky staff and is taken to the boarding house where one of them lives.

The house is filled with interesting people including her new friend Polly and Maggie who is their landlord. Laura finds herself living next to Impossibly Handsome Bob who is a quiet gardener. The two fall in love which is apparent to everyone except them.

Laura was a great character who is dealing with PTSD after a car accident. She is terrified of driving or even riding in a car. She is also dealing with her family of academics who don't understand her need for sports and physical activity or her desire to become a physical therapist. She also has an ex-fiancé who is more than a bit of an ass. 

I enjoyed the quirky characters, heart and humor in this story. The characters were engaging and very real. Some were introduced in The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and it is nice to see where they are in their lives in this story. 

The book was an engaging story of real people with real problems.

Favorite Quote:

"I thought being a grown-up meant not needing help with anything."

"No," said Nina, "being a grown-up is accepting help when you need it."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.