When We Believed in Mermaids

Sisters Kit and Josie Bianci were torn apart by a childhood trauma, with Josie presumed dead in a terrorist attack 15 years ago. When Kit spots her sister in a news report from New Zealand, she leaves her job as an ER doctor in California to search for answers. The search takes Kit to Auckland, where she must confront long-buried family secrets and her own unresolved grief. As she looks for her sister, memories surface of their unconventional upbringing in a beach town, marked by their mother's alcoholism and a series of unsettling events. The narrative alternates between Kit's present-day search and flashbacks to the sisters' complex past. The story explores their bond as siblings, their individual paths to healing, and the possibility of reconciliation. This novel examines how trauma shapes identity and the lengths people go to protect themselves from pain. Through its exploration of family bonds, memory, and forgiveness, it raises questions about whether we can truly know those closest to us.

Readers describe this as an emotional family drama that keeps them guessing. Many finished it in one or two sittings, drawn in by the mysteries and relationship dynamics. Readers appreciated: - The vivid New Zealand setting details - Complex sister relationship development - Dual timeline storytelling - Writing style that captures grief and healing Common criticisms: - Repetitive internal monologues - Romance subplot feels forced - Too many coincidences in plot - Slow pacing in middle sections One reader noted: "The beach scenes and surfing details transported me there, but the constant rehashing of past traumas became exhausting." Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (219,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (47,000+ ratings) BookBub: 4.4/5 (3,900+ ratings) Most negative reviews focus on believability issues, with several readers questioning key character decisions and plot resolutions.

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🌊 The book's plot was partially inspired by real events following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, where people were occasionally mistakenly reported as deceased. 🎨 Author Barbara O'Neal has written over 60 books under various pen names, including Barbara Samuel and Ruth Wind, winning multiple RITA awards for her work. 🏄‍♀️ The surfing culture depicted in the novel draws from the author's personal experiences living in California and her research into New Zealand's surf scene. 🩺 The medical details in the book were carefully researched through consultations with emergency room doctors to ensure accuracy in the protagonist's profession. 🎭 The book explores the psychological concept of false memories and how trauma can alter our perception of past events, a theme that has been studied extensively in psychology since the 1990s.