This was a good contemporary book! A great MC in Christa, and very well written. I would say try reading the book if you think it sounds good! (I would recommend checking trigger warnings, as difficult subjects are mentioned in this novel.)

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell is a quirky romance about a marine biologist living on a small island in the Indian Ocean studying sea snails. Christa's work is turned upside down when her father a famous TV naturalist who was thought dead 25 years ago after a plane crash turns out to be alive. She returns home to Los Angeles and the spotlight she gave up as a teenager as she meets with her family but wonders if she'll lose herself in the chaos. New romance blossoms in between the drama and pulling Christa from her solitary life, but overall, I had a good time reading it!

Christa Liddle has lived on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean for the past few years, studying snails for her graduate degree. She is happy and loves being on the island but must return home to LA after her missing father turns up alive. Her father, Jasper, was famous for his animal shows and disappeared in a plane crash when Christa was two.

She has very few memories of him and in the aftermath of him missing, her mother took over his shows and brought Christa in front of the cameras as well. Christa had a tumultuous childhood growing up in front of cameras and got into trouble because of it. She is once again thrust into the spotlight with her father appearing on the media circuit, trying to make amends. It doesn't help that her older sisters feel like she got all the attention growing up and her father is pressuring her to join him on a new show. While all this is happening, she reunites with Nate, her childhood friend and instant sparks.

I really enjoyed this book. Having your father show up after 25 years of being missing was a great plot point and I was rooting for Christa and the rest of her family. She was a quirky protagonist that got thrust into the spotlight again but with more family support. I really liked reading about the dynamics between the sisters - seeing as how Christa was so much younger than them. Her mother was a force. I also liked the new romance between her and Nate.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this eARC. Christa Comes Out of Her Shell is out now.

(3.5⭐️) Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free #gifted copies of this book.

When Christa’s father turns up out of the blue after going missing decades before, she is thrust out of her quietly satisfying life into a stress filled media frenzy.

This premise and the fact that I adored the Bookish Life of Nina Hill had me eager to get my hands on this book.

One thing is certain: Waxman has a way with zany characters! Christa, a scientist that studies snails, was living her best solitary life amongst the marine life on a remote island. (Introverts unite!) So, it was no surprise that she was a completely and totally awkward character, particularly in social circumstances. Her thought process, sometimes noted in the footnotes, often had me in stitches.

Brimming with family drama, the dysfunction in this family was oftentimes comical. But occasionally the antics went beyond the realistic into the absurd. Still, it kept the storyline interesting and juicy.

The title is spot on for this read. Christa’s growth throughout the book is its strengths. With a focus on leaving the past behind, I appreciated the way Christa evolved into herself and found her voice. And by the end, she had definitely come out of her shell.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is my favorite read by Waxman. But this book continues to show Waxman’s talent for writing warm storylines that entertain.

🎧 With dual narration from Jesse Vilinsky and Jonathan Todd Ross, the audiobook was a treat to listen to. Vilinsky’s portrayal of Christa felt genuine and vibrant, adding to the eccentricities written into her character. Vilinsky’s depiction was engaging and kept me fully tuned in to the story. The “In the News” segments were adeptly portrayed by Jonathan Todd Ross, making them feel authentic to an actual broadcast. (Watch out Lester Holt!)

Abbi Waxman is a really great author and I have enjoyed everything she has written so far! I really like this book and can't wait to read whatever she releases next!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

The Liddle family had a wee bit of Irwin vibes, but then took a very dysfunctional turn. I didn't like the way they treated Christa. She was a little bit wishy washy when it came to knowing what she wanted, but I was still rooting for her and her happiness at the end.

I always know when picking up an Abbi Waxman novel that there will be quirky and there will be fun. Christa Comes Out of Her Shell was no different.

Christa adores her life studying snails on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. When family calls and asks her to come to LA because her missing father of over ten years has been found alive, she must go- leaving her snails for now. Christa, known as the "wild child" back in the day, immediately has cameras and reporter's mics thrown in her face. Luckily, she has her Mom, sisters and handsome family friend Nate to help her navigate the messy waters together, especially when secrets come out... for she, must finally come out of her shell.

I found myself laughing and highly invested in Christa's story, especially the family dynamics that were at play. Every single time I felt that the novel/plotline would go one way, I was surprised to find another twist thrown in that I was not expecting. While some may classify "Christa" as a romance because it does have that, it's also about finding your family once more when life turns to chaos and learning that you can lean on them. Some of the sexual scenes however; were unnecessary and I wanted more about Christa's love of life/science. Beautiful backstory, maybe a little off-putting with some of those romantic entanglements. But, of course, I am waiting anxiously for Waxman's next- as I know it'll be just as delightful!

This was fine, but I had trouble connecting with it. It is not a bad book, but it was just not for me.

There is just something fun about Abbi Waxman's writing. her characters are always so well developed and Christa is no exception. Christa likes her quiet life, but her once famous father who was believed to be dead shows up and throws her life into a tailspin. this was a good, fun, light read. perfect summer book!

one of my favorite romantic comedies, and one that makes the weirdest zany plot (supposedly dead dad pops up in Alaska and wants a broadcasted family reunion, and shit keeps hitting the fan) feel believable and real and utterly delightful.

Christabel Liddle has been famous since childhood. Just not really by choice. Her dad, Jasper, did animal shows for PBS until he disappeared in a plane crash when Christa was two. After many months, he was presumed dead. Christa made lots of TV appearances with her mom after her dad was gone, got into lots of trouble during her teens, and made quite a name for herself in the public eye. Since growing up, she has become a zoologist and stayed out of the spotlight living on an island in the Indian Ocean. Until her dad suddenly reappears after 25 years and Christa travels home to LA to be with her sisters and mother to figure out where her dad has been this whole time. Christa is once again thrust into the spotlight, and doesn’t know whether to trust her dad or not. She also might be falling in love. It’s a tough time to be Christabel Liddle!

I loved this book full of strong women characters that aren’t afraid to be themselves and voice their opinions. I also liked all the science and animal facts in the book. A interesting book for many reasons! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Dysfunctional family drama, a quirky second chance romance, and a touch of smart comedy—this is the summary of another heartwarming and entertaining Abbi Waxman novel that never fails to surprise with its well-constructed, nerdy, and absolutely lovable main characters and their inner struggles.

Christa Liddle may just be one of my favorite protagonists of all-time! After a tumultuous childhood after her famous father's disappearance and a particularly impressive flameout in the spotlight as a teen, she's hidden herself away both figuratively and literally, studying sea snails in the middle of the ocean. She's thrust back into the spotlight when her father returns alive, well, and ready for one heck of an apology tour. Christa has such a wry wit and is great with the one-liners! And who couldn't relate to her endearing antisocial tendencies?! An amusing, fast-paced, read that isn't easily forgotten.



Genre:Relationship fiction
Themes:Bouncing back
Storyline:Plot-driven
Characterization:Sarcastic
Mood:Steamy; Amusing
Style:Engaging; Fast-paced




endearingly antisocial (as she says when explaining why she prefers the company of snails: “Humans talk so much and look at you expectantly, as if you’d been paying attention”), and it’s satisfying to watch her come out of her shell as she accepts the chaos of her family and learns to make peace with the past.A fun novel that manages to blend romance, family drama, and animal facts

This book took me some time to get into. I was intrigued by the story but as it continued I wasn’t a fan of Christa and how she was just letting everyone dictate what she should be doing. She seemed tougher in the beginning and for someone who hates the spotlight I hated that the family pushed her into it. I think the middle of the book fell a little flat to me and it took me a long time to read. I did really enjoy how Christa finally came into herself in the end though.

This is such an intriguing book a very fascinating plot. That’s the question. What would you do if your deceased parent came back to life and now everyone in the world is looking at you. Krista is studying her nails and when her father comes back from the dead she is thrown into the spotlight. Romance is very sweet and you can see that he struggles when she isn’t by herself. I really liked the surprises in the plot the way Krista really had to find out what she wanted and fight for it. This is the book I would recommend.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for this advanced copy through the #BerkleyBesties program. All thoughts are my own.

This was my first book of Abbi Waxman's, but she has been on my radar for a while. I'm glad I was given the opportunity to read this book as I was surprised by how much I liked it!

Christa Liddle is the youngest daughter of Jasper Liddle, a famed zoologist that was the star of hit docu-series Jasper Liddle's Big World in the '90s. Her family was thrust into the spotlight when Jasper was lost and presumed dead after an airplane crash in the Alaskan wilderness. After a tumultuous childhood in Hollywood, Christa has retreated to a remote island in the Indian Ocean to focus on her scientific studies. But one day, Jasper appears out of thin air, alive and well after two decades, and Christa has to return home to have the spotlight on her and her family once again.

This was a pretty bingeable read. Imagine if Steve Irwin showed up alive after all this time and the insanity that would ensue, and you have this as a novel. I loved the Liddle women and their inability to put up with the shenanigans surrounding their family, but I especially loved the B plot of the romance between Christa and childhood friend Nate. It had just the right amount of romance where I wouldn't define this book as a romance book, but had enough to keep me interested in that subplot. Overall, I really enjoyed this concept of Christa figuratively "coming out of her shell" to embrace her role in her family after hiding away for so many years.

I definitely plan on picking up Abbi's backlist as well as keeping an eye out for any future releases!

This book has a little of everything. Family dynamics, love interests and exes, a missing and presumed dead father, snails and science, commercialism, and the impact of having an internet presence without giving consent. All that and a quirky main character who has to rethink some of her truths.

Christa is one of three sisters who grew up in the spotlight of their father Jasper's wildlife TV show. She became the cute face of the show and a fan favorite. Along with the show, there is a product line of stuffed toys (similar to beanie babies). This was a money-making machine. And then Jasper's plane crashes in the wilderness of Alaska. 25 years later, he walks back into his family's lives.

Christa has distanced herself from her family for years, literally going half-way around the world, studying snails off the coast of Africa. When her family calls her back home, it's for news they never thought they'd hear. Jasper is back, and his agent is ready to start making money again.

Where did Jasper go? Why did it take 25 years to come home? The media is abuzz with theories and aren't giving the family a minute's rest.

This was a quick read and thoroughly enjoyable.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is what first introduced me to Abbi Waxman, and I have loved her ever since. Even though I didn't love Christa Comes Out of Her Shell quite as much, it has a lot of great qualities. For one, I will always enjoy Waxman’s writing. It is consistent, sharp, and clever, and I love the way she tackles things like rocky family relationships, the importance of therapy, and exploitation which are all discussed in this story. The plot for this book is definitely out there as many readers have mentioned, and Christa’s age doesn’t quite match up to her current situation, but these are things that I didn’t even think about, and I found myself lost in the story and characters.

I listened to the audiobook which was very enjoyable, and I loved Jesse Vilinsky & Jonathan Todd Ross as the narrators. Vilinsky sounded a little young to be the voice of Christa, but I kept forgetting that she is only mid to late 20s, so ultimately, she had the perfect voice for her. There is some spice and a lot more romance than I was expecting, but the banter between Christa and Nathan was adorbs and I wanted them to be a couple. There are annotations in the book which was a nice little touch that I’ve been seeing a lot recently, as well as all chapters having a unique title (mostly animal-related) with their scientific names below. Despite all of the book's great qualities, there was still something missing for me, and I can’t quite pinpoint what it was. I do however wish it had been about 50 pages shorter. This is still an entertaining and interesting read though, and I definitely recommend it!