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When we believed in mermaids by Barbara…
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When we believed in mermaids (edition 2019)

by Barbara O'Neal

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8024027,947 (3.79)12
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.… (more)
Member:mb22
Title:When we believed in mermaids
Authors:Barbara O'Neal
Info:Seattle : Lake Union Publishing, [2019]
Collections:Your library
Rating:****
Tags:None

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When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O'Neal

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» See also 12 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 40 (next | show all)
A very well-written, easy-paced read that keeps the reader engaged. I would recommend this book, Barbara O'Neal has done a good job and has a good read here.

SPOILER ALERT - or maybe this is more of a personal reveal - I think Ms. O'Neal was a fly on the wall regarding my lost sibling. A subject few, if any in my circle know about even decades after the fact, but one that shaped my life as a young adult - the effects of a missing sibling presumed to be dead.

Unlike the protagonist, Kit, and while I appreciate this book was not intended to be a true account or hard-hitting for that matter, learning the sibling you thought for years dead is not only alive and thriving, but had conveniently just decided to hide from their grieving family for years, is far more a punch in the gut and unfathomable than in this softball pitch. That harsh statement aside, Ms. O'Neal broached the subject superbly and gave this reader much to think about in her real life.

If you read this book and have experienced this type of personal "loss," be prepared to have far more questions than answers and to be left with a pit in your stomach. In that regard also, Ms. O'Neal nailed it. Nicely done. ( )
  LyndaWolters1 | Apr 3, 2024 |
An okay book about sister?s of a sister believed to be dead, but has reinvented herself. She is now clean, sober and a wife and mother with a new name. The sister finds where her sister is and must come to terms with the deception that sister has created and how it effects the mother and sister she left behind. Goodreads: 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 newsJosie 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.
  bentstoker | Jan 26, 2024 |
DNF @ 16% - I dunno, I just found I didn't care about the characters. And things were purposely written vaguely "to make you wonder" I guess. I would have liked the characters to be introduced properly - like what happened to Dylan, or her parents? Might revisit this one in the future, but a DNF for now.
  filemanager | Nov 29, 2023 |
I've had this audiobook for a long time and finally got to listen to it. Although, not perfect, it certainly kept me listening. ( )
  Dianekeenoy | Oct 2, 2023 |
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I had a little bit of a hard time connecting with these characters (maybe because I was reading it during midterm week and was distracted?!). While I didn't mind picking it up at the end of the day I also didn't find myself thinking about it during the day as I do with books that truly captivate me. And then everything magically gets wrapped up in the last couple of pages and everything is happy. There was so much build-up in so many arcs and then it almost seemed like the author didn't know how to end it so it was just done, it was a little odd. It was a good read overall though. ( )
  Fatula | Sep 28, 2023 |
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» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
O'Neal, Barbaraprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Littrell, KatherineNarratormain authorsome editionsconfirmed
Naughton, SarahNarratormain authorsome editionsconfirmed
Audio, BrilliancePublishersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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For Neal, who holds the center no matter the storm.
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My sister has been dead for nearly fifteen years when I see her on the tv news.
Quotations
"But if you are patient, the circle turns, and then there is happiness all around, everything good, everyone happy." He flings a hand out, palm up, as if scattering glitter. "My friend, he just forgot that happiness is part of living too."
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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.

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