This book is a lovely read - a thought-provoking meditation on the different ways women navigate ambition and love. WRITE MY NAME ACROSS THE SKY is the story of two generations of sisters (with flashbacks to a third). Each sister has considerable talent and a unique sense of what they want from their lives and from the world. I ADORED these characters and was happy to see them remain true to who they were even as they faced growing tensions in the area they were less gifted in: relationships. This is a story of deep family losses and betrayals, and a spot-on depiction of the heartbreak when a sibling turns their back on you. Each of these characters wrestles with the false belief that they are alone in the world, and I really admired how the author built each character arc to satisfying (but not sugar coated) conclusions. A wonderful read I’d recommend highly for anyone who loves family sagas, music (two of the characters are musicians), and/or glimpses of happily ever after.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I had just finished Barbara O’Neal’s “When We Believed in Mermaids” when I saw a chance to read and review her newest novel. Ms. O’Neal is a master at creating lovable (yet realistic) characters and putting them in glorious settings.

“Write My Name Across the Sky” focuses on two sisters, Samantha (“Sam”),who is a game designer ,and Willow, the younger sister, a violinist. The sisters were raised by their aunt, Gloria, a former TWA flight attendant. Their mother, Billie, a musician, died of a drug overdose when the sisters were still children. Sam is struggling with her first love (her gaming business) as it loses its footing at the same time a romantic interlude with her childhood best friend (and former business partner) leaves her wondering why she closed herself off from what could come next. Meanwhile, Willow returns to New York City from Los Angeles after her first album flopped. Gloria welcomes Willow’s return to the beautiful New York apartment she raised the girls in just as she fears she may have to flee the country because of choices she made with her former lover when she was her nieces’ age.

Told in the alternate point-of-view of these three strong women, I found that this novel has a wonderful heart. What especially appealed to me was the novel’s focus on women supporting other women and sisterhood. Billie and Gloria pursed their dreams, but at some costs, just as Sam and Willow are doing now. Sam and Willow’s relationship is tenuous as best, but also highly realistic. You don’t care as much as whether Sam and Willow will find love as you hope the two women will forge a stronger bond. I know nothing about gaming, art forgery or composing music, but the way the author wrote about these things through her characters’ perspectives made me a fast learner. I had a hard time letting go of these characters (and that apartment) at the novel’s sweet ending. Four and a half stars.

My thanks to Barbara O’Neal, the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read and review this novel.

Just a wonderful book. A story about family and how the past influences the people we become. Write My Name Across the Sky is the story of two generations of women, a family who has whethered a tumultuous past and is facing a present day crisis. Barbara O'Neal has written another story with rich characters and an interesting story line.

Barbara O’Neal writes beautifully, her characters are well developed and story lines intertwine seamlessly. I lose track of time when I read her books and Write My Name Across the Sky is no different. This is a story about family, the bonds of sisterhood and ultimately how three independent women are stronger together than apart. Willow, the younger sister is a truly talented musician, pixie-like and so eager to win her sister’s love. Her music is her world, much to her undoing at times but she also loves to nurture and take care of others. Sam, the older sister who is statuesque and has a beautifully gifted brain. A developer of video games, she has brains but feels ugly, odd and is full of resentment toward everyone especially Willow. Gloria, the auntie who swooped in and took care of the girls when their mother, a beautifully talented but unavailable musician died. Gloria has lived a glamorous life as a TWA flight attendant, traveling to exotic locales, having adventures, romantic flings and all that life entails. Now settled in NYC, she is still glamorous and an influencer. However, one past adventure is coming back to haunt not only her but others as well. This story will draw you in, you will feel Willow’s hurt and uncertainty, Sam’s anger and inability to ask for help, Gloria’s fear and protectiveness of her nieces; and how ultimately the resolve of each woman to determine their own path while staying together as a family. Pull up a comfy seat, you’re going be a while!

This is a sister story about misconceptions about each other and how jealousy makes us say the wrong things to each other when we really just want to be loving sisters. I loved Willow and how she saw color while she played and how she loved to play to the plants knowing they loved it. I loved the aunt Gloria and her former adventurous life, I wish she still had a hand in transporting art. Her life reminded my of the movie,"To Catch a Thief." Finally, I understand Samantha's acerbic nature because I recognize it in myself for the same reason, but she kept pushing away people especially the one person she loved but couldn't help keeping him at arms length until it was almost to late. With all that was going on I thought there might be a sequel but there isn't and although everything ended up great the ending wasn't as strong as the story.

I want to Thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this advance copy of this novel

I recently read the author’s story “When we believed in Mermaids” and was totally absorbed. This new book of Barbara O’Neal’s had echoes of the earlier book in the themes and also the way I totally couldn’t put it down!

Such a beautiful story of two sisters, Samantha a game designer and Willow, the younger sister a violinist. Both are haunted in different ways by the legacy of their late mother, a rock star musician who died from a heroine overdose when the girls were young. They were brought up by their aunt Gloria, a former air hostess.

The story is set in New York and the apartment that their mother Billie bought at the height of her success. One thing I love about this story is that apartment feels like a character in the story, holding Gloria and the sisters after Billie is no longer around.

The story captures a point in time where things are really difficult for all three of the characters, but they are forced to rely on each other and deal with past emotional barriers. I loved this story!

When I requested this book from Netgalley, I was not expecting to fall in love with it as much as I have. Barbara O'Neal has crafted such a beautiful, interesting story that I needed to read right now. I will definitely be picking up some of her other reads soon!

This story features three strong, independent women at different stages in their lives who are facing very different issues. Their circumstances reunite the three women and force them to reconcile with their shared past traumas. I loved reading about Gloria, the enigmatic, 70-something year-old social media influencer with a past in illegal art trading and the kind of love story that makes you believe in love again. She is truly an icon. We can't sleep on her two nieces though--Willow, a singer/songwriter searching for her breakout album, and Sam, a genius video game developer who started her own company with her best friend in high school who is smashing through the glass ceiling.

Every woman needs to read this, I have no words.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the e-ARC.

This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and I will be seeking out more! I enjoyed being in the character’s lives. The sisters relationship reminds me a bit of me and my sister because our personalities are so different and we fight a lot. This book helped me think about how things have been from her perspective. This was a comforting read for me.

Thank you to Barbara O’Neal, Lake Union Publishing, and Net Galley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book "Write My Name Across the Sky" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I thought this book was okay. The characters were good but I didn't feel the story connected. There was just too much going on. It would have been better with just one or two story lines. It really was too much to take in. The end was wrapped up too nicely. Nothing exciting really.

Write My Name Across the Sky by Barbara O'Neal - I did not enjoy this book and admittedly skipped most of the last half. Independently the characters were somewhat interesting.  Together they just didn't connect. Thank you Net Galley for the chance to read this book.

Write My Name Across the Sky was a quickly became a page turner. Set in NYC, this book covers a story from three different point of views. Gloria, is a retired TWA flight attendant, bold, charismatic, and an Instagram influencer in her 70s. Willow is her wispy niece, that was born with a deep rooted love and need for music. After her life in LA didn't pan out, she's moving back to her childhood home with nothing but a bag of possessions and big decisions about what to do with her life. Sam is her older half-sister, who after finding early success in the digital game making arena, has a company that's on the verge of collapse and friendships that are already there. These three stories become increasingly more complicated as an international art forger is caught in Europe with ties to Gloria, an unexpected sickness strikes, and strained relationships are put under even more pressure. Overall, great characters and a story that pulls the reader in.

It took me a little while to find flow with the different narratives. At first I'd find myself jarred at the end of a chapter, not ready to change to a different point of view. However, the story pulled me in quickly. When I had to set it down I found myself waiting in anticipation to when I could sit and read more. I truly enjoyed!

Thank you to NetGalley, Barbara O'Neal, and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of Write My Name Across the Sky in exchange for an honest review.

Write My a name Across the Sky by Barbara O’Neal was so enjoyable! The characters are quirky with struggles and I liked them all. The two half sisters are relatable. The ending could not have been any better as well. This makes for a great beach read. And I highly recommend it. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC,

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
First time reading this author a a totally fantastic book I very much enjoyed and can highly recommend

When I saw that Barbara O’Neal had a new book coming out, I immediately requested to read it. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. Her characters are engrossing and so real.

The book is about 2 sisters, Sam (Samantha) and Willow and their aunt, who for the most part raised them, Gloria. The story takes place with alternating points of view and each of these interesting women tell their side of their story. Willow is a musician who has come home to Manhattan, to the apartment where her aunt lives. The apartment belongs to the two sisters and was a legacy that was left to them by their famous mother. Willow’s passion is her music and that passion is reignited when fellow musician and professor Josiah walks into her life. Sam is prickly, can sometimes be mean but with a good heart underneath it all. She seems to drive away the people she cares about most with her sharp tongue. Her video gaming business is in trouble. If she could only get an original idea out there. When her life-long friend Asher was her partner, everything went smoothly but since he’s not speaking to her and left the business, Sam just can’t create the magic that she once could with Asher by her side. Gloria is the 74 year old aunt. She’s a former flight attendant that has travelled extensively. She’s glamorous and worldly but in a little bit of trouble as the FBI seems to be looking into a forgery and stolen paintings case that her former lover was the mastermind behind. Gloria had a bit of hand in moving the paintings. The story takes place over the course of a few days as everything comes together to give us a great pace and keep us wondering what will become of Sam, Willow but especially Gloria.

This was really such an enjoyable book with likable characters (mostly), I came around to one of them after a little while and I’m sure this was the aim all along. I shed a tear or two as well which always means that I’ve been touched by the words written and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this great story in advance for my honest review.

A tale of family while in different stages of their lives they need each other more than ever. Just when you think you’re all alone, you aren’t.

This tale of two sisters and their aunt lives up to Barbara O'Neal's name and talent. A great book which leads the reader to buy into and love the characters. A well-developed tale of relationships, drama, and love, it definitely leaves you wanting more. I thought that there could have been more to the ending, it seemed a bit abrupt. Regardless, a wonderful book for O'Neal fans and others! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an advance copy of Barbara O’Neal’s latest novel, Write My Name Across the Sky, in exchange for an honest review.

#WriteMyNameAcrosstheSky is a beautifully written, albeit “Hallmarkian,” fiction novel about three women who are in different stages of their lives and struggling with their own personal issues. The majority of the story is set in New York City and takes place over a span of several weeks (although really years by the time the reader reaches the epilogue).

The book is written in first person, which is usually a perspective I abhor, but the author manages to make the characters’ voices distinct enough that it works very well here. It is also clear that the author conducted research on certain topics to make sure that each character’s passions in life stood out. For example, Willow is a musician, so her passages reference musical works and song compositions.

Additionally, the theme of feminism is apparent, but it is more of an undercurrent and will not take away from the story for any readers who are trying to avoid social issues at this time. In other words, unlike other novels, it is easy to tune out.

Basically, if you like feel good stories and engaging characters, then this is a great escapist read. The novel has a bit of everything in it, including romance, some family drama, and a little bit of intrigue.

P.S. Let me know in the comments how you felt about the characters. Willow was my favorite, but Gloria had the best storyline. As always, happy reading!

Definitely not my favorite of hers. One character was completely unlikeable. The thief plot wasn't that interesting, and definitely, not a fan of you are my true love when we're together, but when we're not it's okay to see others. The third character had potential but she didn't feel fleshed out.

I have loved every book Barbara O'Neal / Barbara Samuel / Ruth Wind has ever written, and this one starts strong. Write My Name is about three amazing women who are at critical junctures in their lives. Gloria is a seventy-year-old Instagram influencer who stepped in to mother the girls when their famous rock star mother overdosed. Samantha is the highly sensitive genius game developer whose out of control temper and tongue eviscerate relationships. Willow is the daughter who inherited her mother's voice, loves life, and takes care of people, but doesn't know how to stand up for herself.

Gloria's such a rich character, I could read a whole novel just about her. She's a former TWA "stewardess" from the glamorous world of international travel when women were typically kept home. She never married, preferring instead her jet-setting life. Based in NYC, she developed lifetime friendships with other stewardesses who share her memories into old age. Although Gloria enjoyed the benefits of being young, spectacularly beautiful, and sophisticated, falling in and out of beds as she chose during her travels, there was one man she fell in love with. She hasn't heard from him in decades, yet never forgot him. Then, suddenly, he reaches out to her. Facing life in prison, his crimes threaten to take her down, too.

Sam's game development business is on the ropes, and with extreme abandonment issues from her difficult childhood, she lashes out at everyone who loves her. Now she's facing business failure and estrangement. A lone wolf who alienates the people she desperately needs, Sam has must learn to trust love.

Willow loses herself in every relationship she has. With her ethereal vocal gifts, she can be a great success, but first she has to learn to stand up for herself.

O'Neal is a genius writer. Others can't compare. But in this attempt at a masterwork, she didn't quite deliver on promises that were so huge, maybe it was impossible. The end wraps up too quickly. I would have liked to read more about Sam's new character (hinted to be based on Willow!), Willow's finding her power--and love. And the possibility of Gloria's new life, in her seventies, with the sexy Israeli artist. But that would have taken another hundred pages. Maybe it's too much to ask. Still, a great read.

Write My Name Across the Sky was fantastic! I absolutely loved When We Believed in Mermaids and was so pleasantly surprised that Barbara O’Neal hit this one out of the park too!

This is a really heartfelt story of 3 unique women all at a particularly challenging time in their lives. Gloria Rose is living a fun, exciting life in New York when she suddenly finds herself living in fear as choices from her youth start to resurface. Willow and Sam were raised by their Aunt Gloria when their rockstar mother overdosed, they find themselves both dealing with career crises and broken hearts and need each other more than ever despite their complicated relationship. How will these 3 women reconcile everything they are facing and work through their complex past?

Thanks to #NetGalley, Barbara O’Neal, and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of #WriteMyNameAcrosstheSky in exchange for an honest review.