When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal is a Women’s Contemporary Fiction between two sisters and the secrets between them.

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“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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This is a story of the love between two sisters. Told between their POVs, we are thrown into the crazy reality that after fifteen years of mourning and grief, her long-lost sister may actually be alive..

So she begins the journey to find her, and from there, we discover their dark pasts and the events leading to her disappearance.

I think this was a great, cozy Adult Contemporary. There was a lot more mystery than I thought there was going to be, and I it really helped to set the tone for her trip to Europe.

Love and trust take a big part in the relationship between the sisters, and their pasts may be a little triggering for some readers due to the neglectful household they grew up in. The author does a great job in conveying their emotions and experiences through the writing.

I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. This would be a great end-of-summer story surrounding surfing, sisters, and honesty.

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Published: 16 July 2019

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Genre: Adult Women’s Fiction / Mystery

Pages: 352

How I Read It: ARC from TLC Book Tours

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*Disclaimer: I requested a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All of my book reviews contain my honest opinion only and are not influenced in any way.*

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Check out other Bloggers’ thoughts through the Official Blog Tour Schedule:

Monday, July 15th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Monday, July 15th: @simplykelina

Tuesday, July 16th: Kendra Loves Books

Wednesday, July 17th: Reading Reality

Thursday, July 18th: Literary Quicksand

Monday, July 22nd: Palmer’s Page Turners

Tuesday, July 23rd: Erica Robyn Reads

Thursday, July 25th: Jathan & Heather

Friday, July 26th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Monday, July 29th: Sincerely Karen Jo – author guest post

Wednesday, July 31st: Cheryl’s Book Nook and @beastreader

Thursday, August 1st: Amy’s Book-et List

Friday, August 2nd: Not in Jersey

Friday, August 2nd: Lori’s Reading Corner – author guest post

Monday, August 5th: Broken Teepee

Wednesday, August 7th: Girl Who Reads

Thursday, August 8th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Friday, August 9th: Kahakai Kitchen

Monday, August 12th: Openly Bookish

Tuesday, August 13th: Treestand Book Reviews

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