A review by melissarochelle
Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

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

4.0

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.