When We Believed in Mermaids
Ratings15
Average rating3.8
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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Barbara O'Neal has been my favourite author for many years, with her early Barbara Samuel books on my keeper shelf, so it was utterly lovely to read this book and be transported back to her days of lush, poignant, evocative storytelling.
As the story unfolds, we learn many dark secrets of the Bianci family and discover what drove sisters Kit and Mari to be the people they are today.
I absolutely loved every nuance, every page, every wonderful description.
Not many books make me cry, this one did.
Devoured it in 2 scorching hot Melbourne days.
You're Going To Want To Read This Somewhere Where You Can Cry. Wow. This is a tragic tale, all around. It is primarily about two sisters and the scars they share - and the lengths they will both go to try to overcome them. Amazing story, solid mystery (though some of it becomes obvious earlier than the actual reveal). This one will grabs you with the first line, has you tearing up a bit early on... and then can have full on water works through the last quarter to third or so of the tale. Light and airy, this aint - but it is one of the better, more intense dramas I've read this year. A remarkable contrast to O'Neal's 2018 book The Art of Inheriting Secrets. Very much recommended.
4.5 stars - I can easily see why this has made it onto lots of “must read” lists - it's the perfect blend of escapist tale (exotic New Zealand), family secrets (boy, what an engaging and fascinating back story these sisters have) and romance. Well written, true emotional resonance, touching family saga, hell of an initial hook. What stopped it from being five stars for me was the fact that both sisters were fabulously beautiful and both their love interests were not only drop-dead gorgeous, but wealthy and famous as well. I like my characters a bit more true-to-life but I do understand the appeal. The ending was perfect.
