297 reviews for:

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell

Abbi Waxman

3.65 AVERAGE

melissarochelle's review

4.0

funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Christa's dad died in a plane crash when she was a toddler. Her mom then used her as a cute prop when she went on late night shows trying to get donations to their wildlife foundations. Christa then entered her teen years famous against her will and she rebelled -- partying too hard and learning that people really suck. Then instead of her family talking to her about it, she's sent to boarding school. Fast forward 20+ years and dead dad isn't so dead anymore. Christa has secluded herself in her work on a remote island studying sea snails, but not-dead-dad's return means she's got to leave her paradise and return to Los Angeles. She has to face her mean older sisters, her perfect mom, and the boy-now-man who helped save her just before going to boarding school. 

I really enjoyed the little sketches at the beginning of each chapter, loved Christa's random knowledge drops about nature, and appreciated the mystery around her father (although, predictable). 

I enjoyed Waxman's first two books so much I refused to read The Bookish Life of Nina Hill when it went BIG. But after reading Ashley Poston's Novel Love Story, I needed more like that and Christa was on the new books shelf at the library and seemed similar-ish. This doesn't have the small-town vibes I was looking for, but it's got those easy-breezy with a side of drama and romance vibes so it worked.

cassierc's review

3.0

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

A fast-paced book. I wish there was just one more scene at the end, but I won’t spoil the ending.

hefuller's review

3.0

---

It starts out slow, but it is such a cute fun quick read (yeah it took me three months to really get there but then I read 80% of the book in like 4 hours). Kind of niche but super fun, the love story melted by cold dead heart lol

sharon005's review

4.5

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

melissasue81's review against another edition

3.0

lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kdtoverbooked's review

3.5

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Another solid Abbi Waxman book. This one has more “steamy” stuff than her previous novels but still much tamer than the current average rom-com. If you have enjoyed her previous novels, I think this will be no different. If you are new to her, I think she has better books to start with.

zinetta's review

3.5

emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

rebeccaforstner's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

cozybooksquirrel's review

4.0

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cassieonrepeat's review

3.0

lighthearted