The writing style is heavily expositional and extremely narrative, which I don’t enjoy. I loved the chapter heading images. That was a lovely design choice. Stopping midway through chapter 2 (6%) but would guess a solid three to four stars for the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

This was pretty cute and definitely worth the read. I didn't think Crista was the most interesting character, she needs some therapy and self awareness. But I liked all the side characters and I would have liked more of them. It was a little insta-lovey for me which is why it was a 3 star instead of a 4 star.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this engaging romance from author Abbi Waxman.

I really liked Christa as a character, and I enjoyed seeing her growth as the story went on! Her romantic partner was so sweet, I really liked them together.

Overall this is about healing past wounds in your family, and finding love where you least expect it!

This storyline was rich, romantic and delightful. Christa is a character worth knowing. This book was filled with wonderfully detailed observations and the characters leap off of the page.

3.8
You know how, for some inexplicable reason, you agree to meet up with a friend you haven't seen in ages and then the two of you get to talking and it suddenly feels as though no time has passed? Christa 100% has that kind of voice. Her story is imperfect, but it's tough to be upset about it.

The main problem I had with this book. was that I was unsure of what it was trying to be and who it was supposed to be for. It was rife with millennial nostalgia (drawing obvious inspiration from Steve Irwin and Beanie Babies as well as the toxic media influence of the early 2000’s) but with a constant onslaught of Gen-Z buzzwords and phrases. I think I would have connected to it much more had I read it as a teenager, so I thought perhaps that was the audience it was geared towards but then a fairly graphic sex scene would pop up out of nowhere and I would get confused about it all over again..

I have read another book that this author wrote and enjoyed it, unfortunately this one missed the mark for me.

Christa comes out of her shell by Abby wax man. A light read about a well known animal adventurer who is found after being lost in Alaska for years. Now the Liddle women must deal with the fallout.

I don’t think I’ll be able to properly review because I could not finish. This book wasn’t meant for me and that’s okay. It was well written but I just didn’t click with it.

Christa is a marine biologist who has devoted years to studying snails on a remote island. She enjoys this solitary life and avoids interactions with her family due to the anxiety and conflict they bring. However, her life takes a sudden turn when her famous father, who was presumed dead for 25 years, returns to share his account of survival in the wilderness. Christa is then forced to return home to her mom and sisters to deal with the newfound fame and attention.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I had hoped. I found the characters to be petty and annoying, especially the relationship between Christa, her mom, and her sisters which seemed artificial and over-the-top. Although the premise of the book was intriguing, it didn't resonate with me in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Abby Waxman, and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of Christa Comes Out of Her Shell in exchange for an honest review.

Christa Barnet has spent the last four years studying bubble raft snails on Violetta, a tiny island off the coast of Africa. Her father was Jasper Liddle, the “famous TV naturalist, explorer and all-around badass,” who was presumed dead after his plane crashed in Alaska 25 years ago. After a childhood spent in the public eye, Christa has put as much distance as possible between herself and everyone else, especially her family. Except—impossibly—Jasper just returned to civilization, and Christa is forced to return home and face and the people she’s been avoiding.

On one level, Christa Comes Out of Her Shell has a premise somewhere between unrelatable and impossible. A handful of kids become famous because of their famous parents, and a few people return after being missing and presumed dead for 25 years, but what are the odds of both happening to the same family? Fortunately, this extreme set up is often played for comic effect, involving everything from Beanie Baby knockoffs called “Liddle’s Liddles,” to nose bumps with bears on late night tv shows.

But once you look past those absurdities, Christa Comes Out of Her Shell has an entirely relatable premise. Christa was abandoned by her father, used in the aftermath by her mother, and mistreated by her two sisters for years. And now, with her father’s return, everyone suddenly wants to make amends, and Christa isn’t sure she’s interested in any of it. Throw in a story of a long-simmering crush maybe finally coming to fruition, and a very charming and funny main character in Christa, and you’ve got a pleasant, rather sweet story centered on trying to heal broken family dynamics. It’s not Ms. Waxman’s best book, but I’d still recommend it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I'm a big fan of author Abbi Waxman's & have read all her books. Her latest, "Christa Comes Out of her Shell" is not my favorite (that's Nina & her world), but I still found it quite enjoyable and entertaining. I enjoyed this quirky tale of a female scientist & introvert who has to drop her beloved project when her long-lost Dad resurfaces. I enjoyed all the character development & family dynamics quite a bit. I was, however, not as happy with some of the more "spicy" scenes, but they were easy to skim. Lots of quirky charm still here, tho. My sincere thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC - my pleasure to review it.

Abbi Waxman does not disappoint and her latest novel proves again what a wonderful storyteller she is.

Christa is a scientist who lives on a remote island studying marine life. Her father was declared dead after a plane crash when she was a child. Now he has turned up and has a story to tell. Christa returns home and must learn to deal with family all over again. Add is a hot former friend and things get interesting. Christa will have to decide if she can become a part of this life or return to the one where she is most comfortable.

Laugh out loud funny but also an exploration of family and what it means to live your true self. A bit of a more steamy novel than her previous ones, the characters and plot are wonderful. The scientific aspect adds a whole new dimension to the novel.

I wanted to like this book so badly. It's a marine-snail-biologist-hiding-from-her-feelings romcom. With a grumpy-sunshine dynamic where she's the grumpy to her childhood crush's sunshine. Unfortunately, I'm just enough of a marine biologist and fucking pedant to not be bothering by the off-putting fake scientific names, clunky dialogue, unbelievable character chemistry, and shallow characterization. Sorry <i>Janthina janthina</i>, you didn't deserve this.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I did enjoy this book, but I felt like something was missing. I can't put my finger on it, but it just felt a little empty to me. I will still recommend this book to my patrons though.

Christa Comes Out Of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman is a layered, emotional book. There are many difficult topics discussed yet they are all done in Christa’s tone, which is snarky and very relatable. I’ve been in a slump and I’ve always counted on Waxman to provide the humor and the feels and she has succeeded at this yet again. Christa is an excellent main character, as her whimsy is just as powerful as her determination. Her romance with Nate enhances the story but it isn’t the main theme (although I keep thinking about sunscreen IYKYK). Watching Christa grow throughout the book makes the ending very rewarding. I highly recommend this.

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.

The only issue I had with the book was Christa's young age to be a doctor. Her journey through addiction, her long-standing issues from childhood make us think she might be a little older (or perhaps she skipped classes at a young age and graduated from college early, which could help us do the math for her becoming a doctor, completing her PhD in marine biology, having a room in the UCLA faculty, and leaving to conduct research on a fictional island in the Indian Ocean where she currently resides. Nope, my calculations failed. If she were in her mid-thirties, it would provide a more reliable perspective. Anyway, let's skip this hiccup.)

As I mentioned before, Dr. Christa Liddle is content on her island, burying her head in the study of snails, far away from the spotlights, family drama, crowds, and paparazzi. It seems like she's already found her happily ever after. But when her long-presumed deceased father, who was thought to have died in a plane crash, decides to get resuscitated and return home, her secluded, well-designed lifestyle is doomed to crack.

She's forced into the spotlight, facing the most nightmarish scenario in her life, including dealing with the nosy press's curious behavior as they delve into the secrets her family has hidden away. Not only does she have to confront her long-lost father, which brings back unhealthy relationship patterns from the past, but she also has to reunite with her mother and sisters, adding even more drama and unresolved issues to the mix. And to make things even more complicated, her old flame Nate reappears in her life, igniting undeniable attraction. How can she return to her peaceful, press-free, and silent old life?

Despite my initial reservations about the characters' ages and background stories, the family's reunion, the cute and heartfelt love story, and the genuine, smart portrayal of sister-mother connections won me over. The slow beginning was compensated for by the enjoyable family drama and their redemption. The authenticity and smart approach to the relationships among the sisters and mother made me love this book even more, and I'm rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4! And let's not forget Christia and Nate's extra cute interactions!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this lovely book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was okay but nothing very exciting or memorable. The best thing I can say about it is it was a quick read. I guess I am just not a fan of hers because I gave another book of hers also 2 stars. For this one, it was hard to tell if it was supposed to be funny &/or lighthearted, but it really wasn't & it described a sexual assault that was difficult to read about which didn't really fit into the overall tone of the book. I enjoy a lighter read as well as anyone, but mixing dark subjects into one is just not for me. I feel like that needs to be written differently to really address the seriousness of it.

This was a sweet, fun read! I struggled a little with the believability of the premise, but the budding romance between Christa and Nate was adorable, and the family dynamics were messy and true to life.

The book blurb (and new Abbi Waxman!) hooked me immediately. Unfortunately, the story itself was not very compelling. Thank you NetGalley for the advance ecopy.

I love Abbi Waxman and have since I read The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. This was such a fun new read from her. While not my favorite from her collection, I adored the cast of characters and the family dynamics! I will definitely recommend this book to others.