Christa Comes Out of Her Shell: 08/10/24

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman, Jesse Vilinsky and Jonathan Todd Ross (Narrators) (2024) is about a family coming together after the husband, presumed dead, returns after twenty-five years. Christa Liddle after a tumultous childhood and teenage years has earned her PhD and is studying sea snails on a small island nation near the African continent. Her life is turned upside down when she's summoned back to Los Angeles after her father's appearance in Alaska.

I was surprised when the novel started on the fictional island of Violeta. Given how little a role the island ultimately plays in the novel, I don't understand the need for a fictional island. Why not pick a real place?

Mostly, though, the book is about Christa being forced back to Los Angeles to deal with the fallout of her presumed dead father. Before he vanished, Jasper was a wildlife celebrity and he and his daughters would do shows about wildlife and celebrity appearances with animals. After he disappeared, Christa's mother took over the roll and forced her, the youngest child, into the business.

Now, though, she's a no nonsense, socially awkward post-doc who prefers to work alone. She's back into the middle of the celebrity life and into a family that has changed during her absence. She's also falling in love with a man who knows her past demons.

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell reminds me of The Neapolitan Sisters by Margo Candel (2022) but with a healthier family dynamic. Christa's mother and sisters have been to therapy and they have worked through issues that Christa has run from. Their willingness to change helps Christa finally begin truly healing.

Five stars

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