Christa Barnet is probably one of the least likely celebrities you could imagine. Well, she’s not a celebrity anymore, except maybe among a very (very) small subset of the scientific community.

But back in the day, when she was a child and went by a different name, she was famous for being the daughter of television naturalist Jasper Liddle. She became even more famous once her father disappeared in the Alaskan wilderness when she was still very young. Determined to keep Jasper’s research foundation afloat, Christa’s mother, Denny, would often take to television talk shows to discuss their conservation work. She would have Christa (who was captivated by any kind of live animal guests) with her for a little human interest. Cute kid + cute animal = a perfect strategy for good PR.

"Christa, who narrates most of the story, is a fascinating protagonist. She’s brimming over with zoological trivia, and as fits her pragmatic approach to research, she has a no-nonsense narrative voice that can be dryly funny and caustic."

However, that fame quickly morphed into infamy when, as a teenager, Christa developed a rebellious streak and became one of those Hollywood wild children whose unflattering photos grace gossip sites and tabloid newspapers. Fast forward another decade, and Christa finally has landed in a place of calmness and tranquility, namely (fictional) Violetta, an incredibly remote island off the coast of Africa. She spends her days doing postdoctoral research on a particular species of sea snails and the rest of her time trying to avoid her remaining family.

Christa has been pretty successful at both those projects until she gets a surprising (to say the least) message. Decades after disappearing and being declared dead, Jasper is back. And so Christa has been summoned to the family home in Los Angeles to see her father and figure out, along with her mother and two older sisters, what to do next. Just like Christa, Denny has moved on from her life with Jasper. She remarried years earlier to a wonderful man who unfortunately died too young.

But Jasper’s return has major repercussions for the family’s feelings, not to mention their finances. Jasper’s agent is convinced that his client’s reappearance can be leveraged into a hit reality series. And given the hordes of people waiting outside the television studio where the family goes for an interview, he might be right. But does Christa have to feel compelled to revive her one-time fame and abandon her research? What about her ill-timed attraction to an old family friend, the son of one of Jasper’s business colleagues? This would be a very inconvenient time and place to start a new relationship. And what if Jasper’s story of a plane crash followed by amnesia doesn’t quite hold up?

Christa, who narrates most of the story, is a fascinating protagonist. She’s brimming over with zoological trivia, and as fits her pragmatic approach to research, she has a no-nonsense narrative voice that can be dryly funny and caustic. However, readers eventually learn that, just like the snails she studies, Christa has built a protective shell around herself. Even as she fears that the media will find a way past her defenses, she finds herself longing to let down her guard and let in love.

Although CHRISTA COMES OUT OF HER SHELL is undoubtedly romantic, it’s not exactly a romance. Abbi Waxman’s focus is more about Christa’s personal and professional growth, as well as her relationship with her family and to her past, than it is about love conquering all. But Christa’s story nevertheless will appeal to fans of a variety of genres who enjoy reading about strong, smart women fighting to keep the things --- or the animals --- they love.