Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
Publisher: Berkley
Pub Date: 4/16/2024

Thank you to Berkley & PRH Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Christa Liddle’s peaceful life studying sea snails is disrupted when her father, thought to be dead, suddenly reappears, leading to widespread media attention and a surprising romantic development with an old friend. As doubts about her father’s story grow, Christa fights to preserve her own identity and continue her research.

I typically love Abbi Waxman’s books, but Christa Comes Out of Her Shell didn’t quite resonate with me. I found the portrayal of ages and the journey through addiction a bit odd, expecting Christa to be in her mid-30s rather than her late 20s. While I enjoyed the evolution of Christa and Nate’s friendship into something more, I struggled to connect with the subplot involving Christa’s estranged father, which felt somewhat disjointed. The pacing was inconsistent, with some moments feeling silly or overly intense in a romantic sense, which seemed out of place within the storyline. Additionally, while some scenes were described in great detail, others were barely touched upon. I wasn’t a fan of Christa’s personality and I ended up skimming towards the end. I ended up rating this book a low 3 stars because the plot sounded interesting, but it isn’t one I could fully recommend.