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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Did not like the writing style. Storyline was too silly and I am not a fan of books written like they are movies. I will try another by this author, thought, and hope for something better.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Romance was unrealistic and progressed too quickly. Main character was repeatedly described as strong and independent, yet continuously let other people make decisions for her that she didn’t want to do.
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.
I have been so eager for Ms. Waxman's next book ... Having gobbled down everything else by her, I've been completely hooked on her smart, funny voice, her interesting plots, and her insightful characterizations. She can be a master of "show, don't tell."
But oh golly, this one just did not do it for me. I wanted it to... I loved the beginning, and wanted it to be all about her life in Violetta.. Or something.
Okay, weird twist with the father story... relatable sister love/hate stuff... lots of opulent, decadent LA show biz... but somehow, no one really came to life for me.. Kept waiting for it. And Nate especially was way, way, way too good to be true.
I am no prude, but I am not a big fan of really intimate sex scenes, so that was all a bit cringey for me, too.
Somehow, it's like this story lost its way, and Ms. Waxman lost her buoyant style. Three stars because it was not a total fail.. There were several great laugh out loud moments. But.
Better luck next time. I'll look forward to a better rebound.
But oh golly, this one just did not do it for me. I wanted it to... I loved the beginning, and wanted it to be all about her life in Violetta.. Or something.
Okay, weird twist with the father story... relatable sister love/hate stuff... lots of opulent, decadent LA show biz... but somehow, no one really came to life for me.. Kept waiting for it. And Nate especially was way, way, way too good to be true.
I am no prude, but I am not a big fan of really intimate sex scenes, so that was all a bit cringey for me, too.
Somehow, it's like this story lost its way, and Ms. Waxman lost her buoyant style. Three stars because it was not a total fail.. There were several great laugh out loud moments. But.
Better luck next time. I'll look forward to a better rebound.
I just finished Christa Comes out of her shell by Abbi Waxman and here are my musings.
Christa Barnet likes her solitary life. She has her research, she has her sea snails, she has her peace. Her peace gets blown apart when her father, a man who was declared dead 25 years ago after his plane crashed, suddenly makes a reappearance. That’s news enough but her father also happens to be a famous naturalist and the toy company still has his name… This is hot, hot news. The reason he comes back? The lady who finds him in the wreckage, the one he left his family for, dies. Wanting to make amends to his ex wife and their 3 daughters, Jasper makes the flawed mistakes of appearing on Oprah before seeing his family in person.
Not wanting to deal with the fallout of it all, Christa begrudgingly returns home and the highlight being she gets to see her childhood friend and the sparks are flying. The more the media digs into her story, the more cracks develop not just in his story but in the darkness from the past that Christa has buried. Christa wants nothing more than to hide back inside her shell but she is forced to face the realities of the life she has been avoiding.
The book had a rocky start for me. It felt unsure at first. Like it was trying to find its footing but I wonder if that's what the author was trying to do because Christa starts out so unsure. The writing style was different from what I usually read. Lots of descriptive language which was nice but detracted from what I really wanted to get to the crux of. I wanted more about the dad and the mystery of his missing 25 years. There was a solid story there and it felt a bit rushed. I did enjoy the relationship between Christa and Nate but sometimes it was a little cheesy and it didn’t suit the overall tone of the book.
I am a big fan of family dramas and this one had it in spades. The dynamic between the sisters and the mom…. So good! Watching Christa develop in the face of everything that was happening was really quite beautiful and that should have been the focus that would have made this book a 5 star read. It was a real shame that the book didn’t quite find the perfect balance but I was entertained and I might have gone down a sea snail rabbit hole.
4 stars. If you love chick lit with a little substance, this book will hit all the marks for you.
Thank you @berkleypublishing and @netgalley for my gifted copy
#romancebooks #romancereads #romancebooklover #chicklit #berkleypublishing #christacomesoutofhershell #bookreview
#romancebookstagram #romancebookclub #romancenovels
#romancebookaddict #romancereaders #romancebookworm #romancebookseries
Christa Barnet likes her solitary life. She has her research, she has her sea snails, she has her peace. Her peace gets blown apart when her father, a man who was declared dead 25 years ago after his plane crashed, suddenly makes a reappearance. That’s news enough but her father also happens to be a famous naturalist and the toy company still has his name… This is hot, hot news. The reason he comes back? The lady who finds him in the wreckage, the one he left his family for, dies. Wanting to make amends to his ex wife and their 3 daughters, Jasper makes the flawed mistakes of appearing on Oprah before seeing his family in person.
Not wanting to deal with the fallout of it all, Christa begrudgingly returns home and the highlight being she gets to see her childhood friend and the sparks are flying. The more the media digs into her story, the more cracks develop not just in his story but in the darkness from the past that Christa has buried. Christa wants nothing more than to hide back inside her shell but she is forced to face the realities of the life she has been avoiding.
The book had a rocky start for me. It felt unsure at first. Like it was trying to find its footing but I wonder if that's what the author was trying to do because Christa starts out so unsure. The writing style was different from what I usually read. Lots of descriptive language which was nice but detracted from what I really wanted to get to the crux of. I wanted more about the dad and the mystery of his missing 25 years. There was a solid story there and it felt a bit rushed. I did enjoy the relationship between Christa and Nate but sometimes it was a little cheesy and it didn’t suit the overall tone of the book.
I am a big fan of family dramas and this one had it in spades. The dynamic between the sisters and the mom…. So good! Watching Christa develop in the face of everything that was happening was really quite beautiful and that should have been the focus that would have made this book a 5 star read. It was a real shame that the book didn’t quite find the perfect balance but I was entertained and I might have gone down a sea snail rabbit hole.
4 stars. If you love chick lit with a little substance, this book will hit all the marks for you.
Thank you @berkleypublishing and @netgalley for my gifted copy
#romancebooks #romancereads #romancebooklover #chicklit #berkleypublishing #christacomesoutofhershell #bookreview
#romancebookstagram #romancebookclub #romancenovels
#romancebookaddict #romancereaders #romancebookworm #romancebookseries
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a funny and science-y rom-com that made me want to escape to a tropical island.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity
Adorkable is the word that pops to mind here. Christa is a great main character, flawed, not healed from her traumatic past, but smart, funny, and a huge science nerd. It was easy to root for her and watch as she, often antagonistically, grows and attempts to stop being her own enemy. Lots of family drama but with a ton of humor thrown in there, a cute romance, animals, and did I mention the science? A very fun, sweet book.
Such a fun ride! Interesting look at society today, how stories play out.