Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal in exchange for my honest review and opinions. Loved the cover of this book and couldn't wait to read it. I love anything written with a coastal/beach theme as it's such a great escape. I really enjoyed the friendship that was shared in this book and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what was going to happen. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend that you read it the first chance you get.

Thanks to NEtgalley this is my 3rd book by this author-won't be my last. Such a wonderful raw emotional read. The changing dynamics between characters makes the reader think as well as feel as if they are going on the journey themselves.

Phoebe and Suze, once inseparable in an idyllic Oregon coastal town, shared everything until buried secrets strained their bond. Now, after decades, Suze, a traumatized actress, seeks refuge in their hometown. Phoebe, a successful artist, guards her own secrets. As her granddaughter prepares to leave for London, Phoebe must confront the return of her old friend and their unresolved past. In "The Starfish Sisters," a poignant tale of complex female friendship, the narrative delves into life's joys and sorrows, highlighting women's strength and resilience as they grapple with unspoken truths for the sake of healing and survival.

I’m such a huge fan of Barbara O’Neal! I loved her last few books and I couldn’t wait to start The Starfish Sisters! I’m loving it so far. It follows Suze and Phoebe, two women who have been best friends since they were girls and are now in their sixties. It reminds me a bit of Firefly Lane with the lifelong female friendship.

Thank you to @barbaraonealauthor for the gifted copy!

Phoebe and Suze have been best friends since they met on the beach when they were twelve. Phoebe had two distant parents; Suze had an abusive preacher father. They both adored Phoebe’s grandmother, Beryl, who showered them with the love they craved and needed.

Now Phoebe is a grandmother and an artist and Suze has returned home a famous actress, traumatized by a violent attack. After all these years, they have to face each other and the secrets they’ve kept.

When I started reading the prologue, I thought that this was going to be a story about teenage lovers reuniting, but it was so much more - and better. This was a story about friendship and family. The characters were incredibly three-dimensional. I think one of the things that has stuck with me the most was how teenage Phoebe felt so torn between her friendship with Suze and her desire to still be number one with her grandmother. She has similar mixed emotions now about her granddaughter’s love for Suze. Her mixed emotions were very natural, but something that, as adults, we never want to admit to.

I’ve enjoyed this author’s books since the first one I picked up years ago, and this one did not disappoint me. I’ve struggled to narrow down the list of themes that have stayed with me after reading this book, and they are, in no particular order, that stories about the middle and later years can still be magical; that soulmates can be friends; that friendship is a choice that requires work: and that there’s nothing more important than being there for each other.

This is a beautiful story of friendship that stands the test of time. There were parts that were hard to read about child abuse. This book was a fast read for me and kept me engaged until the end. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Suzy and Phoebe were the best of friends growing up in small town Oregon. When Phoebe's grandmother died, Suzy bought her house to give Phoebe the money to start her business. Phoebe didn't see it that way. Now Suzy is returning to recuperate from an attack outside her Hollywood home. The famous actress has nowhere else to go. As the two negotiate the murky waters of their past, they need to help each other smooth out a path to the future.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This book was lovely! The storyline was a wonderful and relatable story of friendship. The characters were very real and memorable to me. Touching story that I highly recommend

This is an amazing story of two friends, Phoebe and Suze, that meet at the age of 12. The story takes a look at their lives through time and how their friendship endures even though their lives are totally different. Their histories include loves, jealousies, heartbreaks, and disillusions. And that is the feelings that they have towards one another throughout time. But in the end their love for one another conquers all

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbara O’Neal for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

Sometimes you read a book and you enjoy it but you move on to the next never thinking of the book again. Other times you read a book and the setting or the characters stick with you for months and years and you can never stop thinking about it/them. That's where I'm at. It has been a few months since read my copy (an ARC) and I can't stop thinking about Phoebe and Suze.

Found sisters of the heart, Phoebe and Suze have been through a lot. The book flashes back to how their friendship formed and on the events that changed the trajectory of their lives. And it returns us to the present day where they are trying heal their bodies, souls, and sisterhood.

I found myself thinking of them this morning and hoping that they are still doing well, walking the beaches, making art, and eating good food.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

The coastal north western setting of this one was nice. It gave a bit of mystery while hitting some tough topics such as parental abuse and stalking. Betrayals and deep rooted friendships. It was a pretty good book although it didn’t keep my attention like I had hoped from the reviews I saw.

Once again, O’Neal hit my heart. I loved this book. So much more than I thought I would, actually. Her ability to describe the setting and her characters are always pretty spot on for me, and The Starfish Sisters was no exception

The story revolves around the deep bond between Phoebe and Suze, who met as children and formed a strong friendship that endured through the years despite challenges. Told from two perspectives and timelines, the narrative explores the complexities of female friendships, including bliss, betrayal, and heartbreak. As adults, Phoebe and Suze must confront past hurts and learn to trust each other again if they want to salvage their relationship. The story delves into themes of forgiveness, resilience, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences on adult relationships.

This book left me completely hooked on the story, I really wanted to know what happened to cause a friendship as beautiful as Phoebe and Suze's to be shaken, what secret they kept and if this friendship would be resumed. I liked the author’s sensitive writing! I highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley, Barbara O'Neal and publisher for an ARC of The Starfish Sisters.

A beautiful story depicting a enduring friendship that navigated numerous trials and tribulations. I thoroughly enjoyed (and sometimes had mixed feelings about) the individuals they evolved into over the years.

I look forward to enjoying more work from this author. Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this e-ARC. I enjoyed this novel, my first by this author. I enjoyed the story and the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O'Neal. I loved this story about friendship and learning about yourself and the coastal setting.

I’m very much a person that “watches a movie” in their head while reading a book. The way the author describes the scenery makes it so easy to picture. This book was a great, easy, fun read!

I thought this might not be for me, and I was right. But I was so drawn in by the title and cover. It’s not fair for me to say much because I don’t read this kind of book.

Phoebe and Suze have been best friends since they met on the beach when they were twelve. Two teenage girls meet on the coast of Oregon—Phoebe, who visits her grandmother each summer, a refugee of her parents difficult marriage, and Suze, who lives there year-round with her abusive, religious father. Phoebe had two distant parents; Suze had an abusive preacher father. They both adored Phoebe’s grandmother, Beryl, who showered them with the love they craved and needed. The girls are soul-mates, and one of the most rewarding things about this book was that message—family of choice and the immense power of female frienship. Phoebe is a grandmother and an artist and Suze has returned home a famous actress, traumatized by a violent attack. After all these years, they have to face each other and the secrets they’ve kept. Told in alternating timelines the book flows well. A gorgeous, perfectly woven story of a friendship of a lifetime, its demise and resurrection, The Starfish Sisters is a wonderful read. The characters were incredibly three-dimensional. I think one of the things that has stuck with me the most was how teenage Phoebe felt so torn between her friendship with Suze and her desire to still be number one with her grandmother. She has similar mixed emotions now about her granddaughter’s love for Suze. Her mixed emotions were very natural, but something that, as adults, we never want to admit. There’s a rift, of course, but Suze, now an iconic actor, returns to the coast after a brutal attack. Phoebe is there, waiting, helpful and hopeful that the closeness they once shared can be found again. An old flame, healing the scars of the past and present, and a message of hope make this book as soothing and welcome as a rainy day after a drought.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher.