Introduction
For readers who love heartfelt contemporary fiction centered around lost family, healing, and the power of forgiveness, When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal is a beautifully layered novel that will leave you emotionally full.
With lyrical prose and unforgettable characters, this Kindle Unlimited favorite is more than just a story—it’s a journey of reconnection, reckoning, and rediscovered love.
👉 Get your copy on Amazon Kindle here.
Plot Summary
Dr. Kit Bianci’s world is turned upside down when she sees a woman on the news she’s convinced is her sister—her sister who died fifteen years ago in a terrorist attack.
This sets her on a journey from California to New Zealand, where she unravels a web of secrets, trauma, and emotional scars that have kept her from healing.
As Kit confronts the truth, so does her sister Josie—now living as Mari, with a new identity, a new family, and a carefully buried past. Together, they must face the ghosts of their childhood, the lies that separated them, and the fragile hope that forgiveness can bring them back together.
Character Dynamics
Kit is strong yet emotionally closed-off, shaped by years of grief and unresolved questions. Her journey toward healing feels intimate and cathartic.
Josie/Mari is complex—a woman torn between guilt, love, and survival. Her internal conflict is the emotional core of the novel.
Their relationship—fractured, layered, and ultimately redemptive—is one of the most compelling portrayals of sisterhood in modern fiction.
Writing Style and Themes
Barbara O’Neal writes with poetic elegance. Her prose is rich, sensory, and emotionally resonant, painting vivid landscapes both physical and emotional.
Key themes explored:
- The enduring bond of sisterhood
- Grief, abandonment, and emotional trauma
- Identity, reinvention, and the courage to face the past
- Family secrets and the complexity of forgiveness
Memorable Moments
Readers will be moved by:
- Kit’s first arrival in Auckland, filled with doubt and hope
- Flashbacks to the sisters’ chaotic childhood and shared trauma
- Mari’s painful decision to reinvent her life—and the cost of it
- A raw, emotional confrontation that becomes the novel’s turning point
Reader Reactions
Fans have called this novel “hauntingly beautiful,” “powerfully redemptive,” and “impossible to forget.”
Common reactions:
- “I was crying and smiling by the end.”
- “A story about finding your way back when you thought it was too late.”
- “Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Jodi Picoult.”
Recommended For
Perfect for:
- Readers of emotional women’s fiction and family dramas
- Fans of Firefly Lane, The Things We Cannot Say, or Before We Were Strangers
- Kindle Unlimited users seeking a gripping, heartfelt story of love and healing
- Anyone craving a story that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant
Similar Reads You Might Enjoy
- Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
- The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
- The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
- The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Atmosphere and Emotional Core
From the golden beaches of California to the tranquil shores of New Zealand, the settings reflect the characters’ inner landscapes—chaotic, serene, broken, and beautiful.
The emotional core of the novel lies in its honest portrayal of grief, guilt, and the slow path toward forgiveness.
Romance and Subplots
There is a gentle, supportive romantic subplot involving Kit, offering warmth and grounding. However, the central love story is between the sisters—their love, betrayal, and reconnection.
Pacing and Structure
Told in alternating perspectives, the dual narrative structure allows readers to dive deep into both Kit’s and Mari’s experiences.
The pacing is intimate and reflective, allowing the emotional beats to fully resonate without feeling slow.
Final Verdict
When We Believed in Mermaids is a masterfully crafted novel that weaves pain and beauty into every page.
It’s a story about how people break—and how they can find their way back to each other, even after years of silence.
