Publication Date: April 16, 2024
Just when she thought she’d gotten far enough away . . . a life-changing phone call throws an antisocial scientist back into her least favorite place—the spotlight. A hilarious and insightful new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.
After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Barnet has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.
Tucked away on an island in the Indian Ocean, Christa Barnet relishes her quiet life researching bubble raft snails. When a phone call sends her back to Los Angeles, chaos quickly ensues.
Author Abbi Waxman generates plenty of laughter with Christa Comes Out of Her Shell. The premise focuses on her father’s sudden reappearance 25 years after crashing into the Alaskan wilderness.
Told in first person, Christa relays the details surrounding her larger-than-life TV personality father. Her quirky personality easily comes through, especially as she gets sucked back into the drama that accompanies her family relationships. However, she’s thrown off kilter by how her mother and sisters have changed.
In order to move forward, Christa and her family must confront past challenges. There’s a powerful message here as they struggle with the intrusion of the media. A growing attraction with her tween crush simply must be explored.
Christa Comes Out of Her Shell features a reclusive biologist who gets yanked from her peaceful existence for a life-altering adventure.
Abbi Waxman, the USA Today bestselling author, is a chocolate-loving, dog-loving woman who lives in Los Angeles and lies down as much as possible. She worked in advertising for many years, which is how she learned to write fiction. She has three daughters, three dogs, three cats, and one very patient husband.
