Abbi Waxman Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Abbi Waxman

Abbi Waxman has built a beloved reputation in contemporary women's fiction and romance for her incredibly witty, sarcastic, and heartwarming storytelling. Because her books are either standalone novels or part of a newly launched cozy mystery series, you have a couple of excellent entry points depending on what genre you prefer to start with:

• For Contemporary Romance & Women's Fiction: Start with The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (2019) or her debut, The Garden of Small Beginnings (2017). Both novels perfectly showcase Waxman's signature blend of humor, relatable neuroses, and deep emotional healing.
• For Cozy Mysteries: Start with One Death at a Time (2025), which is the first book in her Mason & Mann Mystery series.

The Larchmont (Los Angeles) Shared Universe

While Abbi Waxman's contemporary novels are frequently marketed as standalones, several of them are set in the same real-life neighborhood of Larchmont in Los Angeles. Over time, these books have formed a loose shared universe where characters from previous stories pop in as supporting cast members or make delightful cameos.

The Garden of Small Beginnings (2017)

This debut novel introduces Lilian Girvan, a young widowed illustrator and mother of two who is struggling with grief. When she is signed up for a weekly vegetable gardening class, she unexpectedly finds community, healing, and a potential new romantic spark. This book introduces the character of Bob (colloquially known to fans as "Impossibly Handsome Bob"), who serves as a major recurring link in future stories.

Other People's Houses (2018)

Set in the same upscale neighborhood, this book shifts the focus to a tight-knit school carpool group. When an affair is uncovered within their social circle, the ripple effects disrupt the lives of four neighboring families. While it shares the Larchmont setting, it functions almost entirely as a standalone domestic drama.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (2019)

Waxman's breakout hit follows Nina Hill, an introverted, trivia-loving bookstore employee who is perfectly content with her quiet life, her cat, and her books. Her world is turned upside down when the father she never knew dies, leaving behind a massive, chaotic family she didn't know existed. Bob appears here as a love interest, and we get a closer look at the local neighborhood vibe.

Adult Assembly Required (2022)

This novel serves as a direct companion and "sequel of sorts" to The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. It follows Laura Costello, a young woman who moves to Los Angeles to start over after a personal tragedy. She rents a room in a boarding house and is quickly absorbed into a new friend group. Nina Hill, Bob, and Polly (Nina's bookstore colleague) all appear as significant supporting characters, making this book much more rewarding if you have read Nina's story first.

The Mason & Mann Mystery Series

In 2025, Waxman branched out into the cozy mystery genre with a dedicated, chronological series. This series features Julia Mann, a cynical former actress and lawyer, and Natasha Mason, her younger sobriety sponsor, as they team up to solve neighborhood crimes.

1. One Death at a Time (2025): Julia Mann's quiet life is disrupted when she finds a dead body in her swimming pool. To clear her own name, she must work with her Gen Z sponsor, Natasha Mason, to find the real killer.
2. Deadly Does It (2026): The duo returns when Natasha's own sobriety sponsor begins receiving anonymous threatening letters, dragging the two back into amateur sleuthing.

Standalone Novels

If you prefer entirely self-contained stories that do not require any background knowledge of Larchmont or recurring character webs, Waxman has written two highly acclaimed standalones:

• I Was Told It Would Get Easier (2020): A dual-perspective novel told from the points of view of Jessica, a high-powered mother, and Emily, her teenage daughter, as they embark on a college admissions tour along the East Coast. It is a heartfelt exploration of mother-daughter dynamics and parental expectations.
• Christa Comes Out of Her Shell (2024): This story centers on Dr. Christa Liddle, an introverted marine biologist specializing in sea snails on a remote island. Her isolated life is thrown into chaos when her famous conservationist father, presumed dead for 25 years, suddenly reappears alive.

Complete Book List in Publication Order

For readers who want to experience the evolution of Abbi Waxman's writing style and watch the Los Angeles neighborhood universe expand naturally, following the publication order is highly recommended:

1. The Garden of Small Beginnings (2017)
2. Other People's Houses (2018)
3. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (2019)
4. I Was Told It Would Get Easier (2020)
5. Adult Assembly Required (2022)
6. Christa Comes Out of Her Shell (2024)
7. One Death at a Time (2025)
8. Deadly Does It (2026)

What to Know Before You Start

Waxman's novels strike a unique balance between heavy real-life challenges—such as grief, familial abandonment, and divorce—and lighthearted, dialogue-driven comedy. Her protagonists are almost always fiercely independent, somewhat introverted women who find themselves pushed out of their comfort zones. Since the character overlaps are light, you will not be confused if you read the Larchmont novels out of order, but reading The Bookish Life of Nina Hill before Adult Assembly Required is strongly encouraged to get the full enjoyment of the characters' arcs.