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When We Believed in Mermaids  By  cover art

When We Believed in Mermaids

By: Barbara O'Neal
Narrated by: Sarah Naughton, Katherine Littrell
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Publisher's summary

An Amazon Charts, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best seller

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 15 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.

©2019 Barbara Samuel (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What listeners say about When We Believed in Mermaids

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Hard to get past one of the narrators

Like others have reviewed... it is very hard to get past one of the narrator’s pronunciation of some words. Did no one else listen to this before it was sent off to the public? I really hate to be harsh - it’s not the fault of the narrator because she should have been corrected or not hired in the first place. Many words with the letter “i” in it are pronounced as “u”. “Hands on her hUps”, “kUds”, “nUpples”, etc. It’s very distracting. I’ve only just started listening, but I felt the need to share.

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114 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What took me so long to purchase this book!?

I loved it. I've always been a fan of Barara O'Neal...I'm not sure why it took me until 2024 to purchase and listen to this book. The material highlighted just how deep dysfunction can run in a family...and how possible it is to heal. Good stuff. I rarely cry when listening, but I did cry a couple of times during this audible book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

When We Believed in Mermaids

What a beautiful and touching story, filled with so many emotions that can be related to, definitely a tissue box must be close. If you wanting a heartfelt story to read/listen to, this book is a must! Really enjoyed it. The narration was perfect.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved, Loved, Loved this book!

Tender memories of joy and light amidst brokenness, the tethering of souls along the way, love, romance, resilience & triumph…this book has it all! ♥️

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great read,loved the book and couldn’t quit listening!

Loved the story and the characters! This book is one you put down!
The narrators were great!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • AJ
  • 05-17-20

Heartfelt Story

Wow!! Amazing story line. Loved how all the characters come together in the end. Story of love, forgiveness, and resiliency.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

Such a well crafted story that is woven through time. Such relatable characters. I am going to share this book with my sister.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful characters

This is not a light romance but a joy filled one. For life challenges spring us towards joy!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Read

loved this book! Recommend highly. you want be disappointed . characters are great!
love love love

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely story

Admittedly fairly unrealistic, but still a lovely and well-written story about recovering from tragedy and disfunction, and finding love and forgiveness. Just the right length and story development. Excellent reader-will be looking for more of her narrations.

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