When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel

Loved it! We'll written characters, good pace and unexpected twists.

When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal is an emotional and immersive novel that explores the complexities of family relationships, long-buried secrets, and personal healing. From the very first page, I was drawn in by O’Neal’s lyrical writing and the depth of the characters. The story follows two sisters whose lives have taken very different paths, and the mystery of a long-lost sibling brings them together in unexpected ways. O’Neal does an excellent job of balancing the past and present, slowly unraveling the secrets that have shaped the characters’ lives. The way the author handles the themes of grief, forgiveness, and reconnection makes the novel resonate on an emotional level. One of the highlights of this book is its vivid settings—whether in the sun-soaked beaches of New Zealand or the flashbacks to California, O’Neal’s descriptions are lush and transportive, adding to the overall atmosphere of the story. The plot moves at a steady pace, allowing the characters’ development to take center stage, which made their journeys feel authentic and relatable. For readers who enjoy stories about family dynamics, emotional growth, and a touch of mystery, When We Believed in Mermaids is a wonderful choice. It’s a poignant, heartwarming novel that leaves a lasting impression.

“When We Believed in Mermaids an emotionally-charged story that explores the complexity of relationships, forgiveness and love opens when Kit Bianci journeys to Auckland, New Zealand to find her sister Josie Bianci thought dead for fifteen years. In her search, memories of the past surface not only reawakening the trauma of her childhood; their closeness to the lost teenage boy who adopted their family; but also of the love between the sisters until an incident changed Josie. With vivid description of Santa Cruz’s beaches where the sisters learned to surf to picturesque New Zealand where after fifteen years the sisters reunite the plot ignites with an emotional mix of grief, loss and anger. Well-written and flowing from the first page to the last, the story is told from both Kit and Josie’s perspectives as they each remember their lack of parental guidance; Dylan’s love and conscience care; the aftermath of a violent earthquake; and a train explosion that changed a life. Yet intertwined with the lies, grief and sadness in the sisters’ past there is a well of love between Josie (aka Mari Edwards)and her husband Simon as well the sparks that fly with Kit’s and Javier’s romance. Bringing the story to life are compelling and complex personalities like the clever and grounded doctor, Kit Bianci; beautiful, vulnerable Josie Bianci who pretended to die to be able to live again; the caring but broken Dylan; the talented and empathetic Javier; and the wealthy, loving Simon. I thoroughly enjoyed “When We Believed in Mermaids” a novel you can’t put down until finished.

End went down hill

This is a big, emotional and encompassing book. It’s the kind of story that you settle into and feel like you’ve traveled somewhere afterward. Reading it is like embarking on a harrowing journey that is also deeply satisfying. It begins when Kit sees her sister on TV. This would be somewhat unremarkable, except that her sister, Josie, has been presumed dead for over a decade. Impulsively, Kit goes to New Zealand, certain that her long-lost sister is somehow, inexplicably there, and very-much alive. The bulk of the story is Kit’s search and the aftermath. O’Neal does an excellent job of weaving together the present and the past, interspersed with vivid flashbacks of the sister’s chaotic childhood, both magical wonder and staggering neglect. The reader sees disturbing snapshots of abuse, betrayal, drugs and violence. These elements indelibly shape the women that they will later become, asking how much do the events and experiences of life determine our identity and destiny? There is so much to like about this enveloping tale. Strong characters, a believable sibling bond and complicated relationship dynamics, all set against a lush backdrop of sunlight, weather, ocean and sky. There is romance as well, though it seemed too earnest and over-the-top, at times. Beyond that, this is a generous open-hearted book about love, forgiveness and human frailty.