Anna, 24, has graduated college and is now in an opera singer apprentice program in London. (These are hard to get into; it means she's good enough to make a career of it). This novel is about the struggles of an aspiring performer, specifically a soprano opera singer: money struggles, auditions, keeping the delicate voice healthy; Sopranos have the most competition. A good number of them end up getting married to someone who can support their creative lifestyle, but Anna is single. She's renting a small room with her friend when she falls in love with a finance guy who might or might not be married. (He says he's separated, and he's often distant). On the flip side of the frustrations, there are the highs of performing, and the love of the art, and the drinking after a performance, scenes of which Crimp displays with finesse and truth and style.

Besides being in love with a hot/cold guy, Anna has trouble when she gets a case of the yips, like a mental block with singing. She has to decide if she is going to leave the scene altogether.

I've had experience in the Chicago scene of aspiring opera singers, many years as a chorus girl, but my voice wasn't big enough to get into an apprentice program and I didn't want to teach in a classroom. I eventually realized I didn't want that exhausting lifestyle of the untraditional hours and lots of evenings anyway, and always worrying about getting sick or straining the voice. Anna thinks about these things and I connected to her. (Even though I pursued a different career, I'm glad I have my musical training, it has resulted in a fulfilling side job).

One thing I found annoying is Anna's weirdness about her boyfriend giving her money, with her friend buzzing in her ear that he's probably happily married. That's all the more reason you should take his money since he can't give you all of himself. I didn't understand her conflicting feelings of his support, financial support which made her pursuit of a performer lifestyle possible. This is the reality, he wanted to help her, and she was giving herself in return. Her friend was annoying. Anyway, I liked the end.

I don't get why this is called A Very Nice Girl. The title implies maybe the protagonist is NOT going to be nice, or be so nice that she's a doormat; but neither of these apply. Also, the description said this was "darkly funny," but I didn't think it was dark or funny. Also, the cover is misleading, giving the impression this is a chic-lit, or that the protagonist has a lot of sex, which she doesn't. Readers who expect that will be disappointed. I wonder why this cover.