When We Believed in Mermaids - Barbara O'Neal - A Short Summary & Review

 When We Believed in Mermaids - Barbara O'Neal - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

A sister searches New Zealand for the surfer Jose Bianci.

A short summary:

When We Believed in Mermaids begins with a shock: a woman believed to have died years earlier is spotted on television, alive and well, worlds away from home. Her sister, unable to ignore what she’s seen, follows the trail to New Zealand in search of the truth behind Josey Bianci’s disappearance.

What unfolds is both a physical journey and an emotional reckoning. As past family wounds resurface, the story explores grief, resilience, and the complicated bonds between sisters shaped by loss, abandonment, and love that never quite goes away.

My favorite quote from the book:

"A girl without a mother who protects her is a girl at the mercy of the world."

- Barbara O'Neal, When We Believed in Mermaids

Questions to ponder while reading:

Have you ever done something you were ashamed of?

How present were your parents?

My review of the book:

This is a fun, emotionally driven family drama that leans into healing and connection. At its core, it’s a story about recovery, particularly from dysfunctional parenting, and how siblings often become one another’s lifelines when parents fail to protect.

Barbara O’Neal excels at atmosphere, and the New Zealand setting adds a sense of openness and possibility that mirrors the characters’ inner journeys. The emotional beats are engaging, and the sisterly bond is drawn with warmth and sincerity.

That said, the ending leans toward sentimentality. Some resolutions come together a bit too neatly, giving the conclusion a slightly cheesy feel. Still, for readers who enjoy hopeful closure, this will likely land as comforting rather than contrived.

When We Believed in Mermaids is an accessible, heartfelt read, ideal for those who enjoy family-centered stories about loss, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to believe someone you love might still be out there.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

✨ #TakeTheBackRoads

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