In Christa Comes Out Of Her Shell by @abbiwaxman , Christa is the daughter of a famous naturalist (I pictured Steve Irwin!) who was thought to have been killed in a plane crash when she was a kid. Her life as a sea snail researcher gets thrown into chaos when said father suddenly reappears, not dead at all. This book was absolutely hilarious. It had everything, romance, humor, emotional family relationships, stories of forgiveness, self-reflection and resilience. And all the quirkiness of a dysfunctional family that had me cackling while I was reading it. There were some twists I didn’t see coming that were clever in how they played out. The characters were multi-dimensional with layers that were slowly peeled away, revealing strong and intelligent women (and a little nerdy which I loved).
And the writing was just so perfect with the sarcastic quips dropped at the perfect spots, like little mic drops. What an absolute pleasure to read.

Christa is a researcher of sea snails on a remote Pacific island. . This suits her perfectly, she’s a private person because as a child, her famous father (think Steve Irwin) disappeared and she ended up on his TV show with her mother.

Now, suddenly after many years, her father has reappeared from Alaska where his plane went down. Christa doesn’t remember him at all but the media is desperate to talk to her, her mom and her two older sisters. The family wants to know where he’s been all these years and why didn’t he contact them?

Christa also meets a childhood friend who’s all grown up and gorgeous. Their chemistry lights up the page, but as they get closer and closer Christa gets further and further away from her precious snails.

This book is charming and funny, 4 stars.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is one of my favorites so I was really excited to dive into Christa Comes Out of Her Shell!

Christa had me hooked from the start, and I love that we got to see her at the job she loves so much at the start of the book! I thought all the characters were well developed and well balanced. I really loved how baffled Christa was by her emotionally mature sisters and how they didn’t match up to the mean girls in her memory!

The thing I loved most about this story was that the romance was natural and almost easy. They had an instant reconnection and the romance developed with minimal drama, which allowed the family storyline to lean into the drama without the book feeling over the top!

I really enjoyed this book! It had Abbi’s great sense of humor and sharp writing style. I highly recommend it to romance fans!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Abbi Waxman is a go-to author for me. This book did not resonate as much as some of her previous books however.

A famous father that disappeared 25 years ago suddenly reappears and Christa is called back from her research work on a secluded island. The characters are fun and quirky and the STEM storyline was a bonus.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advanced digital copy of the book.

I’m a huge fan of Waxman’s writing because she has a gift for creating the most wonderful characters. They’re charming, quirky, and just so lovable that you can’t help but root for them to overcome whatever struggles they are facing.

When we meet Christa, she is happily studying snails on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. That is, until she receives a phone call that rocks her world. Her father, a beloved TV star who was presumed killed in a plane crash 25 years ago, has suddenly turned up, alive and well. As much as Christa would love to stay on her little island, she knows she has to go home, both to meet her dad and to confront the demons of her own past.

I adored Christa right from the start and absolutely loved the journey of personal growth that she goes through in this story. Christa was so young when her dad went missing that she barely knew him but both his immense fame and the media circus surrounding his disappearance impacted her young life tremendously. There were people in her life who hurt and betrayed her, making her close herself off from people. I loved watching her gradually come into her own and confront those who had hurt her, which in turn allows her to more freely open her heart to those who would never hurt her. While it definitely takes a backseat to Christa’s personal journey, there is also a delightful second chance romance with a childhood friend in this story.

While some of what Christa and her family faces veers into some heavy topics, Waxman keeps things from getting too heavy by infusing the story with her signature humor and warmth. I especially enjoyed listening to the audiobook because the narrators, Jesse Vilinksy & Jonathan Todd Ross, do such a wonderful job capturing both the heartwarming and humorous aspects of the story.

Christa Comes Out of her Shell by Abbi Waxman
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Christa is living her best life by herself on a small island studying sea snails. Until she gets a call she was not expecting and has to return home to LA to the chaos of her father returning from the (presumed) dead.
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What I liked:
-Christa and her family were hilarious. I loved the snark.
-I could relate to the anti-social desires that Christa had. People-ing is hard. However, I loved all the conversations that Christa had with her mom and sisters.
-The flashbacks of Christa’s story were emotional and helped me understand how deep this family drama went.
-I loved how the story ended.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ For another funny and heartwarming story from Abbi! I love Abbi’s books, she is definitely on my auto-read list.

This is a Romance/Women's Fiction. This book is slow to get going, and it had to grow on me. Once, I got into the story I was all in. I loved the characters in this book, and there were some fun twists in this book. I really enjoyed this book after I got pulled into it. The romance in this book did not really go anywhere until way into the book, but I found the romance in this book to be so cute. There were so many cute and fun times in this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Christa is a malacologist, someone who studies mollusks. She lives on a remote island studying snails when she receives word that her famous scientist father, Jasper has returned after a plane crash 25 years ago. She flies home to be with her family during this time and she’s not ready to be thrust back into the spotlight.

After her father disappeared, Christa had a hard time coping and began some party girl ways. She was often in the news for raucous behavior when she decided to live a quieter life. When she returns home, she reunites with an old friend that turns romantic. Between her new love and dealing with her father’s stories that just don’t add up why he was missing for so long.

Christa was an entertaining listen that did hold my attention, but I have a feeling it won’t be very memorable in a few days. It was also much longer than necessary. Jasper is a horrible person, and even worse dad. I cannot imagine how you just disappear from your family just to waltz back in and pretend nothing happened. He was a low point of the story.

Christa's father disappeared and was presumed dead. What followed was a rollercoaster of emotional upheaval and ultimate stability in the job of her heart. Her father shows up and the world takes notice of the family. Being in the spotlight again seems to be a joy for only her father.
This was a pleasant surprise to read. I so enjoyed Abbi's Nina Hill but her recent two were not for me. However, this one carried more of the humor and quirky characterizations I would expect from Abbi based on her 2019 release. It did take me a few chapters to get that Christa is not in fact a mermaid (cue self-mockery) but I really loved the family drama and the appeal of an unrequited sort of crush turned into a he-fell-first on second meeting. Overall, I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys coming of age sibling dynamics and the bonds that push them to stick together through the storms of adulthood. Christa's ending was exactly what I love to see in a modern romance.
Thank you to Berkley Besties and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

When I read the description of this one I wasn’t totally sold, but I gave it a shot and I am glad I did. The description felt a little all over the place and unsurprisingly the book was all over the place too, but in a way that just worked. This is a rom-com story, but it is also and even more a book about family drama/trauma and healing. It is also a book with a female scientist as a main character and I have to love that. While the romance was fine, I thought the family drama and healing was a better story and I was glad it took more of the book. The love interest was lovely and I liked their sweet story, but I can see why some didn’t love the book if they went in expecting a more typical rom-com. Christa doesn’t remember her father, he disappeared when she was two. Her father had been a mildly famous naturalist and in the wake of his disappearance her mother took her along as she went on talk shows and ensured the conservation they had continued to help save the planet. Christa didn’t deal with her semi-fame well, but now she is an adult living on a remote island studying sea snails with no desire for anything else. Until her mother blows up her phone to let her know that after 25 years they have found her father and he is alive. This book was fun and I enjoyed it and read it in one day. Definitely will be looking for more by this author.

Look no further, this story has it all! CHRISTA COMES OUT OF HER SHELL is quirky, dramatic, romantic, comedic and addictive. It stars Dr. Christa Liddle who studies snails on an island, far, far away. She's happy and content. However, she receives a message that her celebrity dad, who she thought was dead, is actually alive. Christa returns home and her secluded, quiet life is about to change big time.

Christa is forced back into the celebrity spotlight and faces alarming family secrets. She is reunited with her mother, sisters, and her old boyfriend, Nate. She has to confront her lying father, which stirs up issues from her past. There are family complications, paparazzi nosing around, mental drama, and more. There is still an undeniable attraction between her and Nate. How will Christa deal with it all? Will she ever be able to return to her peaceful, private life?

Ms. Waxman's tale is cleverly plotted as it slowly reveals all about a supposedly deceased celebrity father whose family learns he actually is alive. Where has he been all these years? There is jaw-dropping drama, a little romance, sassy characters, celebrity gossip-mongers, and much more. Ms. Waxman is a compelling, classy writer and this story totally delivers! The main characters along with their problems and family issues are funny, nerdy, quirky, and very likable. The story started out slow but as I got into it, it blossomed and snowballed into a melodrama of epic proportions. CHRISTA COMES OUT OF HER SHELL is a uniquely, off-beat, divine rom-com!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An enjoyable narrative that sweeps readers into a manic and funny tale. As a reader of Waxman’s work since ‘The Garden of Small Beginnings’, I looked forward to this latest offering, wondering what quirky world she would come up with next.

From the beginning, humor and contentment in her work are central to Christa’s life. But beware, beneath the humor lies a moment that should come with a trigger warning. Christa’s past has its painful moments. Her father, Jasper, vanished when she was a toddler. She doesn’t recall him, only the wreckage he left behind. Christa clings to her resentment convinced that Jasper’s disappearance marked her downfall.
The women—her mother and sisters—form their intricate family dynamic. Roles are assigned, and boundaries are drawn. So, when Jasper reappears after a quarter-century, chaos descends. How dare he disrupt their equilibrium? The story behind his departure and return unfolds, leaving the reader angrily exclaiming, “Wow!”

Christa’s and Nathan’s chemistry simmers, adding a layer of romance to the narrative. But make no mistake—this isn’t your run-of-the-mill romance. It’s firmly rooted in the Women’s fiction genre, where kick-ass women reign supreme.

So, buckle up for a rollercoaster ride. Waxman’s wit and warmth guide us through Christa’s transformation and redemption.

I adore this author and this book — she has a way of making characters who are utterly flawed and loveable (not to mention quirky), and I adore seeing them in future books as well as meeting her new MCs. Here we have Christa, who studies snails and doesn’t particularly like the spotlight. She’s thrust into it, however, when she goes back home to LA when the famous father she thought was dead is in fact, alive. I loved seeing Christa grow here while remaining herself. It was also fun to read about another female scientist (I am one, and this made me feel seen). The romance was a perfect example of how someone can love you for who you are— Nate and Christa had so many green flags going they could have been their own country. In a word, this story was delightful - wholly unique from this author’s other works but with the same sense that belongs to Abbi. As always , I will happily recommend her! If you’re considering picking this one up, I think you should. You won’t be disappointed.

Christa Comes Out Of Her Snail is Christa's story. She is not just a nerdy scientist and recluse but also famous (think Steve Irwin, Steve Backshall or maybe even David Attenborough famous) Jasper Liddle's daughter - the scientist whose plane crashed in Alaska 25 years ago and who has been missing ever since.
Having survived a childhood in the limelight - put in the spotlight by her mother after her father disappeared and living a youth of rebellion and extremely negative publicity, she is happy to be alone, unbothered, and having a blast with the quiet marine life she loves.
Unfortunately, she is called back into the heart of the family and LA when her father reappears after a twenty-five year, presumed-dead hiatus in Alaska.
What follows is a fun fast paced story including old friends, greedy agents, journalists, and media outlets all wanting the „real" story. Nobody actually wants the
"real" story, of course — they want the highly marketable, „let's make a ton of money" story starring all of the smiling faces - the beautiful reunion.
Lots of marine biology factoids, lovely animal drawings heading every chapter and a reignited love interest in the form of a recently divorced handsome childhood family friend, and you have all the makings of a typical Waxman romcom and I love Abby Waxman's writing.
This was very fun to read! Thank you to @berkleypub for the eARC - all opinions expressed are of course my own!

A STEM rom com that is equal parts emotional and hilarious! A zoologist who is fascinated by snails and flabbergasted by human interactions. Fortunately, the sweet boy that she grew up with has grown into a steadfast man who is more than willing to take on her prickly demeanor. This sweet friends to lovers with a bit of second chances thrown in is a fun read. It was a bit heavy with scientific language that took a bit to get used to, but it was interesting information that expanded my vocabulary so I rolled with it. I'm quite intrigued to see what other stories this author comes up with for us to devour!

Every time I picked up "Christa Comes Out of Her Shell", I was whisked away on an emotional journey with this story.

Firstly, I love this cover! The sea animals!!!!

Abbi Waxman's writing jumps right off of the page from the very first page to the last. Her characters feel like such real people; I could envision each and every one, and Ms. Waxman's storytelling is full of powerful and poignant themes.

Christa loves to study sea life, quietly away from the world she has known in the past. However, soon, she receives news that brings her back home, and many feelings, both past and present, and experiences are brought to the surface. I do not want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say, this novel truly has so much in it: family, science, romance heartbreak, grief, surprises, memories, warmth, heartbreaking moments, heartwarming moments, and so, so much more.

I recommend this book! I look forward to reading what the author writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this novel, and to Berkley Publishing Group for having me on the blog tour for this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Well, this novel is almost 14 hours long, and it could be shorter. The FMC also has some very quirky “voices” or squirrel moments throughout the novel.

The novel reminds me of the OG Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis- full of cool sciency topics and information I didn’t know. It is NOT the same voice though.

Christa has this very distinct stream-of-consciousness voice where she just starts “talking to the reader”...it doesn’t really progress the novel much, and while it does add to her character, I found myself distracted by it at times, and other times I thought it was really funny.

If you enjoyed Ali Hazelwood’s unique FMCs, lesser-known science details, and stream-of-consciousness writing you may enjoy this one.

This was my first Waxman book and I was slightly underwhelmed. I get the humor but it didn't really hold my attention. I found this to feel really long and ultimately didn't really care or connect with the characters. The plot also seemed a bit out there and outlandish. I've had The Bookish Life of Nina Hill on my shelf for so long but I still want to give it a try since so many trusted reviewers loved that one but unfortunately, this was just an okay read for me.

After a childhood in the spotlight, Christa has found a much quieter life, studying snails on a remote island. But when her famous TV show father, the man everyone assumed died after his plane crashed years ago, is actually alive and is coming home. Christa flies back to be with her family and is immediately thrust back into the spotlight and has to navigate this new family dynamic as well as a new attraction to her long-time family friend, Nate.

One thing that is always so unique and charming about Abbi Waxman’s books is her quirky characters, and Christa might be one of the quirkiest of them all. I really enjoyed Christa as a character, but overall this book fell a little flat for me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but I just didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. One thing I did love was the dynamic between Christa and her mom and sisters - they each had such unique personalities, and the moments where we saw them all together and supported each other were so special. I wanted more of those moments (and more of the sibling drama too) and found myself wishing that was the focus of the book. Christa’s dad Jasper was a garbage human, so having a large part of the plot be focused around him was not my favorite and I kept finding myself irritated during any scenes he was in. I also didn’t fully buy into the romance - especially when we learned a little bit more about Christa’s trauma towards the end. Nate was almost too mice and too perfect and I wanted someone a bit more for Christa. As I said, I liked this book, I just feel like it missed the opportunity to be a fantastic story about sisters.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This is by far my new favorite by Abbi Waxman!! Full of family drama, a loveable but damaged female scientist main character, a beautiful love story, forgiveness, mental health rep and an important focus on date rape and damaging social media culture. Great on audio narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and Jonathan Todd Ross. Who knew I would be so enamored with a book about a snail loving biologist but I totally am!!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!