Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
When We Believed in Mermaids
When We Believed in Mermaids | Barbara O'Neal
From the author of The Art of Inheriting Secrets comes an emotional new tale of two sisters, an ocean of lies, and a search for the truth. Her sister has been dead for fifteen years when she sees her on the TV news... Josie Bianci was killed years ago on a train during a terrorist attack. Gone forever. It's what her sister, Kit, an ER doctor in Santa Cruz, has always believed. Yet all it takes is a few heart-wrenching seconds to upend Kit's world. Live coverage of a club fire in Auckland has captured the image of a woman stumbling through the smoke and debris. Her resemblance to Josie is unbelievable. And unmistakable. With it comes a flood of emotions--grief, loss, and anger--that Kit finally has a chance to put to rest: by finding the sister who's been living a lie. After arriving in New Zealand, Kit begins her journey with the memories of the past: of days spent on the beach with Josie. Of a lost teenage boy who'd become part of their family. And of a trauma that has haunted Kit and Josie their entire lives. Now, if two sisters are to reunite, it can only be by unearthing long-buried secrets and facing a devastating truth that has kept them apart far too long. To regain their relationship, they may have to lose everything.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Kshakal
post image
Pickpick

An emotionally charged story about sisters and the secrets that tie them together and also rip them apart! I loved being plunged into the depths of this story and not wanting to surface until I was done!

review
Jenken1998
post image
Pickpick

A nice quick read about two sisters and a ton of secrets. Some secrets are current, and some from a distant past so painful. Secrets that will bring them together again or keep them apart permanently. Enjoyable but not without some quickly tied up plot lines. I give it a good 3.5 🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️🧜‍♀️..

review
marleed
post image
Pickpick

I‘ve never moved through the death of a someone whose body could not be recovered. This is a story where there wasn‘t a body to return following a tragedy - and would if, just would if…

banjaara_111 This sounds like a beautiful book - I'm adding it to my TBR! 2y
marleed @banjaara_111 I really enjoyed reading it. 2y
VoraciousReader Stack add for the library! 2y
marleed @VoraciousReader it‘s an interesting story of a tragic upbringing with an HEA, after all. 2y
69 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
TheNovelNurse
post image
Pickpick

“The human body is a delicate, amazing creation. It takes almost nothing to completely destroy it, and yet it takes a lot. Most of us manage to stay on the planet, in our bodies, for seventy or eighty years, all of us amassing scars along the way, each one with a story.”

review
WriterAtHeart
post image
Mehso-so

I was so-so with this one. I enjoyed it at times, but I felt like the overall plot was kind of disappointing. It seemed the story was mostly about Kit finding love/accepting love then it was about Kit trying to locate her sister.

review
ErikasMindfulShelf
post image
Pickpick

Such a great book. Loved the descriptions of Auckland, food and the special bond between sisters. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
Are her other books just as good?

review
bernatime
post image
Pickpick

Good read! I wish the author went into the mansion tea a bit more. I was totally vibing with the dual storylines.

review
Roary47
post image
Pickpick

5✨ Trigger warnings for physical/sexual abuse, suicide, drug/alcohol addictions. It wreaked me because of its raw truth. I honestly do not know how to describe this book without spilling my emotions. A young boy comes to live with this family after a lot of abuse. This family has their own problems which ends up ultimately splitting them apart in one way or another. I feel like my heart was ripped out and stomped on in the ways a book should.

6 likes1 stack add
review
Allthebookclubs
post image
Pickpick

I‘m not sure how I came across this gem, but what a GREAT novel. I loved the writing, the character development, the plot, EVERYTHING. I will be checking more of O‘neals books!
Book 30 in 2021

peanutnine Oh I loved this one! You should check out the Art of Inheriting Secrets next, it was also very good 4y
11 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
Rachel725
Pickpick

Didn‘t know what to expect with this one, but was a sweet heart warming book. I liked the duality of the characters and depth of their stories. Could‘ve had more twists, but was a very enjoyable, touching read.

review
Coleen
post image
Pickpick

I thought this might have the potential to be a little sappy, but it wasn‘t. Well-written with a good storyline. I liked it a lot and was sad to see it end.

review
InkintheMargins
Bailedbailed

Eh - I'm about 80 pages in, and it's just not pulling me. I think the timing might be off for me with this one. It's not bad; I'm just lacking the patience to stick it out for the slow burn right now. Plus, it's due at the library, so I'm going to return it and move on!

blurb
TheSpineView
post image
Eggs Great choice 👏🏻📚🎶 4y
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
GinaKButler
post image

Waiting on swim practice to end and starting this book to finish up another bingo for October‘s #bookspinbingo

This one was recommended by a friend and I can‘t wait to read it!

12 likes1 stack add
review
Lollymya
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 8/25 ◼️ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43717362 #litsylove

review
KristiAhlers
post image
Pickpick

This was a beautifully written book and one that was a rather large surprise for me as I wasn‘t sure if I‘d enjoy it as much as I did.

blurb
Chelsey_5
post image

Today‘s #tarottakeover is perfect for When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O‘Neal. Josie definitely missed out on years by erasing her past and starting over.

Meaw_catlady Sounds like an excellent choice! 4y
13 likes1 comment
review
Chelsey_5
post image
Pickpick

Wow, what a tragic tale. This intense story follows 2 sisters, the scars they share, and the lengths they both go to overcome them. Definitely not a light read but will have you in all the feels. I‘m left speechless at the end as to the love and heaviness of the heart. So glad I can across this free kindle ebook. Aug 11/20 #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
6 likes1 comment
review
Jhullie
post image
Pickpick

I was fascinated with this story, mainly the idea of leaving your life and starting again in a new country with a new name. Told from both Kit and Josie‘s viewpoints the book explores the bonds of sisterhood, the pain of loss and the aftermath of disaster.

20 likes1 stack add
review
KristenDuck
post image
Pickpick

Years ago, Kit and her mother said good-bye to Kit‘s younger sister, Josie, after she died in a terrorist attack. However one day on the news, they see Josie‘s face clear as day. Could this be possible? Is Josie still out there?

Admittedly, parts of the middle were a bit slow... however I LOVED their semi-adopted brother Dylan and his impact on their lives. I also enjoyed how the story was told through the present along with multiple flashbacks.

quote
KristenDuck
post image

“I like to look at you.”

Love.

Reggie Awwww. 🥰 4y
57 likes1 comment
review
LKreads
post image
Mehso-so

#QuarantineRead 12: I didn‘t love this book. I think this is partially because the reviews gave me such high expectations. Though I did want to know what happened in the end, I didn‘t feel particularly invested in any of the characters.

review
Kboltz
post image
Mehso-so

Listened to this mermaid shmermaid book. Had to skip end chapters because the repetition of no decision making almost made my walks unbearable. I figured it all out and the added mystery had no place and was not needed. New Zealand, surfing, drugs, messed up family, lost sister found...a soap opera in too many chapters.

review
Kelsyereadsbooks
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 I loved this one. Beautiful story of two sisters reconnecting in New Zealand.

review
ItsAnotherJen
post image
Pickpick

I really liked this one!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#recommendread #kindleunlimited

Nute I like the title of this book for some unknown reason.🙂 5y
92 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
michellelav
post image
Pickpick

This book was beautifully heartbreaking. I enjoyed getting to know every character and their life stories. I cried, I laughed, and I cried again. This one really pulled at my heartstrings but I loved it the whole way through. 😭 Getting to know these two sisters was quite the experience ❤

review
Wonderwoman89
post image
Bailedbailed

Couldn‘t get into the book. I put it aside for another try later.

blurb
michellelav
post image

Listening to the tagged audiobook and see the boys taking a nap together! It took them awhile to get along so this makes me so happy! 🤗❤ @Jemmygem
#catsoflitsy

Ladygodiva7 How long was a while for your cats? 5y
michellelav @Ladygodiva7 Edward (the black cat) is my moms so he's used to everyone here. Simba is mine and he didn't know my mom before we moved into her place so he took a little longer to settle with everything. I'd say about a week of no contact, 1 week of passing by without acknowledgment and then by week 3 they 've been laying next to eachother and hangout on occasion 😂❤ 5y
Ladygodiva7 Awesome! That‘s encouraging! Thanks 5y
michellelav @Ladygodiva7 they're both 13-14 years old so I think Simba's realized Edward just wants to veg out like he does. 😂 5y
Ladygodiva7 😹😹 5y
73 likes5 comments
blurb
TheSpineView
post image
OriginalCyn620 Pretty cover! 5y
58 likes1 comment
review
Koffeejazzandbooks
post image
Mehso-so

I read “The art of inheriting secrets” and I really loved that book, i love Barbara O‘Neal‘s writing style and how descriptive she is. This book unfortunately was just...ok, this storyline just felt highly unrealistic to me

review
Thetipsyreader
post image
Pickpick

4⭐️
I really enjoyed the story. The author did a great job in weaving the past and present. If you enjoy family dramas, then I would recommend this book.

blurb
Koffeejazzandbooks
post image

Figured I‘d finish this book since it looks to be the top trending book on #kindleunlimited

review
Purrfectpages
Panpan

This book had an identity crisis. It‘s marketed as the story of a relationship between estranged sisters, but I felt like their relationship took a backseat to other things happening in the story. I mean if you wanted it to be a love story, make it a love story. If you wanted it to be a mystery, make it a mystery. Literally at one point the main character puts off finding her sister, as if that wasn‘t the point all along! Too all over the place.

Kboltz Exactly!!! 4y
36 likes1 comment
blurb
Purrfectpages
post image

March‘s Book Club read!

JennyM Looking forward to your thoughts ...it was cheap on Amazon Aus the other day and I nearly bought 5y
CoffeeAndABook I just recently read & thoroughly enjoyed this!! Have a good time with it. 🧜🏻‍♀️🧜🏻‍♀️ 5y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Ssnyder
Pickpick

This book was the break I needed from all my thrillers and psychological thrillers. It was sweet and enduring. It still had some mystery to it. It really liked it more than I thought I would.

review
BeckyandBooks
post image
Pickpick

I really enjoyed parts of this book, and others just seems to drag on. There was definitely a lot going on throughout. I loved the beach settings, especially the parts set in New Zealand.

45 likes1 stack add
blurb
BeckyandBooks
post image

1. When We Believed In Mermaids
2. Everything I Never Told You
3. 35+ books. Less spending on books, and more from the library

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

58 likes1 stack add
review
kstadt929
post image
Mehso-so

It kept my attention, but was a little slow at times and not the best book I‘ve ever read ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is why I have come to love audiobooks on my kindle because I can get things done while I listen to the story!

blurb
margreads
post image

Reading this for a Facebook readalong but really struggling to not read ahead of the schedule

#readalong

11 likes1 stack add
review
intothehallofbooks
post image
Pickpick

Kit finds out that her sister Josie didn‘t actually die in a terrorist attack fifteen years ago like everyone thought, so she sets out to track her down. The story takes its time unrolling, but that‘s because there is backstory all throughout. I liked these characters and the New Zealand setting a lot, and the story kept my interest all the way through. I‘ll read more from this author; this was my first of hers.

review
shejustlovesbooks
post image
Panpan

🌟🌟
I was on the struggle-bus for this entire book. I know a lot of people said they almost bailed, but then loved it. I stuck with it and was just disappointed.
I didn't connect with characters and their choices didn't make sense to me. The murder mystery seemed completely out of place in the story as well.
You can check out my entire review on my blog at shejustlovesbooks.com
For now, it's time to move on to that next great book!

review
Sjoanns
post image
Pickpick

It wasn‘t what I was expecting, but it was still a great book. I thought it would focus more on the mystery of finding a sister thought to be dead, but rather it chronicles the events of the childhood of sisters through their very different eyes and the impact of the past on their current lives.

blurb
BetseyAnd
post image

review
kathleck
Pickpick

Loved this book and will follow this author. If you love Elizabeth Berg books, you will love this book too.

review
baes
post image
Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars

This book was sooo slow the first half. I almost gave up on it because it wasn‘t moving at all, and there‘s so much that was unnecessary. A little over halfway it began to pick-up and I started to enjoy it. Not an amazing book by any means, but I liked it.

review
I_Like_Big_Books
post image
Pickpick

4.5/5 ⭐️

Great story. Sisters...Trauma...Love...Family...Mystery... I can see this one made into a movie.

66 likes2 stack adds
blurb
mcipher
post image

When you love a book and the author likes your review on Goodreads and you swoon. 🥰
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2859249804

blurb
mcipher
post image

Afternoon plans... I didn‘t finish out #BFCR2 as strong as I‘d have liked, but I‘m still happy with what I accomplished. I have definitely been walking more and looking for ways to get in extra steps, and I‘ve practiced yoga every day which is awesome - I tend to skip a couple days most weeks. I finished 3 books and I‘m in the middle of a couple of good ones (tagged book is ♥️ so far!). I hope all of #teamlitnfit had a fabulous last week!

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌 A fantastic week! 🎉 5y
twohectobooks Mine has been pretty great! Thanks cap‘n 😉 5y
okthislooksbad Finishing is more important than finishing strong, I think. At least that's what I've told myself throughout, and I'm sticking with it. Well done! 💃 5y
kspenmoll Sounds like a good week! 5y
60 likes1 stack add5 comments