Nobody Told Me About TbilisiA book by Olga Sverchkova about everyday life in Tbilisi
I didn't move to Tbilisi to write a book about it. At first I thought I'd come for a little while. Then I lost track of how long “a little while” actually is. And one day I realised there were far too many stories around me not to write them down.
Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi isn't a guidebook. It's a book about everyday Tbilisi: its people, habits, conversations and quirks, the details you only begin to notice once you stop being a tourist and start living here.
Life in Tbilisi, the part nobody tells you about
This is a book about moving somewhere new, and about slowly realising that the move itself was only the beginning.
About people who walk into your life uninvited and, ten minutes later, talk to you as if they've known you for years. About neighbours, dogs, courtyards, hot bread, roads, language and misunderstandings. In the end, that's what a new life is made of.
I'm not trying to explain Georgia or teach anyone the right way to live here. I simply wrote down what was happening around me. Sometimes it was funny, more often absurd, and nearly all of it ended with the same thought:
Well, of course. It's Tbilisi.
About people who walk into your life uninvited and, ten minutes later, talk to you as if they've known you for years. About neighbours, dogs, courtyards, hot bread, roads, language and misunderstandings. In the end, that's what a new life is made of.
I'm not trying to explain Georgia or teach anyone the right way to live here. I simply wrote down what was happening around me. Sometimes it was funny, more often absurd, and nearly all of it ended with the same thought:
Well, of course. It's Tbilisi.
You can open it on any page
Each chapter is a story of its own, so you can read from start to finish or dip in anywhere. Some stories begin with the suitcases still packed; others could only have happened once the city had become familiar. Together they make a portrait of the Tbilisi I gradually came to know.
Start reading for freeThe prologue and first five chapters
You do not have to buy the book to find out whether it is for you.
The prologue and first five chapters of Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi are available to read online for free. They are published together on one page, with no registration and no jumping between separate posts.
It is enough to meet my Tbilisi, get a feel for the voice of the book and decide whether you would like to continue.
“Any resemblance to real people is purely coincidental.
Any resemblance to Tbilisi is inevitable.”
Olga Sverchkova, Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi
You might feel at home in this book if…
You have moved somewhere new
And discovered how a thousand small, everyday things can make starting over feel like a completely new life.
You now live in Tbilisi
And sometimes find yourself wondering whether these strange little Tbilisi moments happen only to you.
You have visited Georgia before
And suspect that beyond the balconies, wine and khinkali there is another Tbilisi waiting to be discovered.
You love stories about people and places
And enjoy discovering a city through everyday life, unexpected encounters and the people who call it home.
Get the full book Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi
30 illustrated stories, a prologue and an epilogue
Contemporary Prose · Autobiographical Prose · Tbilisi & Georgia
Available in digital and print editions.
Available in digital and print editions.
$7.99
Kindle eBook
Start reading straight away.
Price on Amazon
Paperback
The printed edition, delivered by Amazon.
$7.99
Gumroad eBook
Download the file and keep it on your own device.
About the book
Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi by Olga Sverchkova is a book about everyday life in Tbilisi, written after she moved to Georgia. It contains 30 standalone stories, a prologue and an epilogue. Each story has its own original illustration, and every chapter ends with a Georgian word of the day. The English edition was published in 2026. The book is also available in Russian as «Тбилисские хроники».
About the Author
My name is Olga Sverchkova. I've been practising law in St Petersburg for more than twenty years, and for many years I wrote about the law and the people behind legal problems. My legal column won the Golden Pen of Russia award.
I've lived in Tbilisi since 2023. At first it was simply a new address. Then, almost without my noticing, it became the main character of a book. Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi grew out of the conversations, observations and small accidents that began piling up after the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi about?
It's about everyday life in Tbilisi after moving there: neighbours, dogs, courtyards, food, language and the strange situations that gradually become part of life in a new city.
Who wrote Nobody Told Me About Tbilisi?
Olga Sverchkova. She has more than twenty years of legal practice in St Petersburg and has lived in Tbilisi since 2023. The book was published in 2026 and contains 30 illustrated stories, a prologue and an epilogue. The Russian edition is called «Тбилисские хроники».
Is this a guidebook to Tbilisi?
No. It is literary non-fiction rather than a travel guide. The book is based on personal experience and everyday stories rather than recommendations about where to stay, eat or visit.
Can I read part of the book for free?
Yes. The prologue and first five chapters are free to read on the website, with no sign-up. They're all on one page.
Is there a Russian edition?
Yes. It's called «Тбилисские хроники» and is available as an eBook.
Where can I buy the book?
The English eBook is available on Amazon Kindle and Gumroad, and the paperback is available on Amazon. The Russian edition is available through Russian-language book platforms.
Start with the first few pages
The prologue and first five chapters are free to read. After that, you can decide whether you'd like to stay in this Tbilisi for another twenty-five stories.
Contact the Author
Questions about the book, reviews, interviews, or collaborations? You can reach me directly.