A beautiful book involving two old friends. How that friendship changes over time as secrets creep in and misunderstandings take effect makes for a hard read at times but also a wonderful exploration of that friendship.

Beautifully written book about friendship, trauma, and chosen family.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63364022

4.5 stars

Beautiful women's fiction about two best friends/sisters of the heart. Suze is now a famous actress, but her early years were traumatic. Her father was a radical Christian extremist who kept her under lock and key. Her friendship with Phoebe, and Phoebe's grandmother, helped her survive the trauma. But, like any sisters, there are petty jealousies and squabbles that have broken but not shattered their friendship. When Suze moves back to the Pacific Northwest town where they grew up, the two must figure out how to put the past behind them and reclaim their bond.

This was my first book by Barbara O'Neal, but it won't be my last.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

This book is out now, so go buy it!

A lifeline story of friends and how complicated, difficult, but rewarding it is to have one and keep one! Happy for their wonderful memories of good times and shared emotions. Hard to read of betrayal, jealousy, time and distance. Cried a few tears!

Phoebe and Suze grew up together in coastal Oregon. Phoebe lives part time with her grandmother but during the school year she lives in a large home with her well to do parents. Suze lives in the cove full time with her preacher dad who forces her to dress strangely and beats her. When Suze is emancipated from her abusive dad, she moves in with Phoebe’s grandmother. As young girls both were envious of aspects of the other’s life. Though they seemingly told each other everything, both kept a major secret from the other. Suze is now a successful actress based in LA and Phoebe is an artist living in the same town in Oregon. When a terrorist group assaults Suze, she travels to Oregon to recover. Barbara O’Neal describes a friendship that has spanned decades. Will their secrets be revealed and drive them apart or will they stay hidden? How are their lives now that they are nearing their sixties? I enjoyed this book and thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Beautiful book cover! Unfortunately, the story was not particularly well written and extremely slow for me. I did enjoy this author’s This Place of Wonder.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Phoebe and Suze. Two friends. The story takes them from adolescence through to adulthood, a time span of 40ish years.

Though they are friends, but, more so, they are like sisters. Their relationship is complete with love, jealousy, secrets and much more. They are close and they are distant, a relationship of love and antagonism for each other. Their lives take them in different directions but they always gravitate back to each other.

I like the writing style. The story is told alternately as Then and Current, another way of saying Past and Present. As is bound to happen, past events explain the present. It is very cohesive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was well written, very realistic and a compelling read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy of the book.

An incredibly beautiful story woven together by sisterhood, secrets and true love. This book was amazing and I’m so thankful I was able to read it!

I loved that the story took place in an area I’m very familiar with. Certain scenes I could feel. I highlighted so many beautiful lines of literature.

I loved The Starfish Sisters and I highly recommend to anyone looking for a book that flows.

I've read quite a few of author Barbara O'Neals backlist titles & have a soft spot for her early work, especially those that featured quirky settings & food. Her latest, "The Starfish Sisters" is quite different from those & more in line with her later work like "Mermaids". It's a very, very character driven novel about two lifelong friends, Phoebe & Suze, and their struggles & traumas. There were times when I really struggled to connect to either MC and I found this one rather a slow burner. I also didn't care for the time-line jumps & POV switching - just too much of both, but I did like the Oregon coast setting & a few secondary characters. It's okay but not really what I was looking for. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the complimentary DRC, opinions my own

LOVED! This is one of those books you simultaneously want to devour in one sitting and slow down so it never ends.

I read and loved “When We Were Mermaids” and was eager to read another book by Barbara O’Neal. She is incredibly talented and a masterful storyteller. They way she writes about this complex world of people and emotions really resonates for me. I can’t wait to read more from her.

Thank you NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for sending this book for review consideration.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was published July 25, 2023.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this popular author even though I’ve had “When We Believed in Mermaids” on my TBR list for years.

The book sounded promising - female friendship and betrayal with the Oregon coast as the setting. I may be in the minority here but I thought this book was a mess. I was bored until the last 10% of the book where there was finally some plot revealed. I didn’t really care about either character nor all the side sub-plots.

I've read a couple of Barbara O'Neal's books in the past, and one thing I always carry away from them is the wonderful way she weaves a story together. The Starfish Sisters is told from the perspectives of the two main characters, Phoebe and Suze. One thing I really feel is important to point out is this book bounces back and forth a lot between past and present events, which could be confusing at times. (Just a little heads up for readers who might be turned off by dueling timelines). Also, if you are triggered by such topics as domestic violence and child abuse, then this might be a troubling read to get through. I personally loved all aspects of the characters and the way O'Neal fleshed them out. There were certain aspects of Phoebe and Suze's personalities that I loved - and also despised - so that alone kept me turning the pages. If you love books that deal with the complexities of relationships, then The Starfish Sisters is definitely the one for you.

The Starfish Sisters, by Barbara O'Neal, had a lot going on and I found it difficult to follow at times. While We Believe in Mermaids made me a fan of O'Neal, The Starfish Sisters was just an okay read for me. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC ebook for me to review.

Starfish sisters is a sweet book about childhood friendships & how they change overtime. I loved watching these two women reform their closeness & find love to move forward.

Very interesting book, how to girl's name. P h o a b e And SUZE. We're best friends until things start to fall apart when they got older. Susan's father was a very demanding person and used to beat his daughter because he ran a church. Probe would come down From portland to visit her grandmother. S UZE would go over to probe's grandmother. Because it was like a refuge from all the craziness.. She also stayed in a In a hippie house for a while as well. Phoebe. It was very unhappy of important because her parents used to always fight.. She liked coming down to see her grandmother, and she made friends with s u z e. Things started to change when it's S u z e became friends with boy named J o e l.. SUZE. Said they were just friends. Pro had a crush on. I like how Talk in the present and then go back the letters they wrote to each other. Whenever younger. Things turned out very different from these two women. PHOQ. It's going to be an artist and she went up to Seattle. She got married and. Add a child Active. They got divorced and she came back to the coast. SUZE became an actress. To get through it Throughout times in her life. Joel was also very important part of her life as well. And you'll find out later in the book. How this all came like a big circle together. When they were younger, they were always together, but actually got older. That drifted apart, but somehow we managed to get back together at the end of the book.

I loved the previous book, When We Were Mermaids, and loved the title of that one, and this one. The cover is beautiful. This is a book about early friendships, those who know us best, and sometimes the hurts we cause for one another. Two friends grew up as close as sisters, but they drifted apart. When one of them is attacked, she returns to the area they grew up. There is still an element of distrust and keeping secrets from one another, but they learn to put some of this aside and reclaim some of their lost time. I liked the book a great deal.
Thank you for Lake Union Publishing, Net Galley and the author for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Barbara O'Neal's "The Starfish Sisters" is a poignant and heartwarming story of family, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. This novel invites readers into a world where three sisters embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing, and where the lessons of the past shape their futures in unexpected ways.

The story revolves around three sisters, each with their own unique struggles and dreams. O'Neal's ability to craft distinct and relatable characters is remarkable. Readers will find themselves drawn to each sister, empathizing with their individual challenges, and celebrating their triumphs.

At its core, "The Starfish Sisters" is a story about the enduring strength of family ties. The sisters, who have been separated for years, come together under challenging circumstances, and their journey toward reconciliation is both heartrending and heartwarming. O'Neal explores the complexities of family dynamics, forgiveness, and the power of love to heal old wounds.

The setting of the story, a coastal town with its own share of secrets and mysteries, adds depth. O'Neal's vivid descriptions and immersive storytelling bring the town and its inhabitants to life, creating a rich backdrop for the sisters' journey of self-discovery.

Each sister faces her own set of obstacles, from shattered dreams to broken relationships, but they find the strength within themselves to persevere. The novel emphasizes the importance of resilience as a means to overcome life's challenges and emerge stronger.

"The Starfish Sisters" is also a celebration of second chances and the belief in the possibility of new beginnings. The sisters' willingness to take risks and make changes in their lives serves as an inspiring reminder that it's never too late to pursue one's dreams and find happiness.

Barbara O'Neal's writing is lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into the emotions and experiences of the characters. Her storytelling is moving and uplifting, making it easy to become emotionally invested in the sisters' journeys.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Suze and Phoebe have been friends for decades. They met on the beach of the Oregon coastal town where Suze lived with her abusive preacher father and where Phoebe was visiting her paternal grandmother Beryl for the holidays. Now in their later years, they have a lifetime of history behind them, and not all of it good. Suze is a famous actress and Phoebe a well known artist and illustrator. They have both had success in some parts of their lives but not others. But it’s time to find peace with themselves and each other.

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This beautiful and haunting story has all the ingredients of another wonderful creation from author Barbara O’Neal. Intertwined families, good and bad choices, life happening in its own way, as it does. There is a haunting backdrop of the rugged coast, a Frank Lloyd Wright property and lost loves being rediscovered. It’s a great read ❤️

Read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher
My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
Pub Date 1 Sep 2023

I have enjoyed many of the author’s books over the past few years, especially those that explore food-themed storylines. Unfortunately, her latest offerings have been hit-or-miss for me. “This Place of Wonder” was a thoroughly enjoyable read, while “Write My Name Across the Sky” was a disappointment. “The Starfish Sisters” falls into the latter category.

Phoebe and Suze met in childhood, and while they lived in different cities, developed an enduring friendship into adulthood. Each in her own way was an outcast with their peer groups providing a bond that cemented their connection. Phoebe’s grandmother’s home became the common ground for their adventures, but also sowed the seeds of unspoken conflict between the two.

The storyline is told by alternating between Phoebe’s and Suze’s perspectives as well as shifting back and forth between the past and the current time. This style, coupled with a slow pace, made this a challenging read to embrace.

I liked how the book title related to both the “haystack” rock formations on the Oregon coast as well as the relationship between Phoebe and Suze, which was complex in nature. Both kept secrets from each other, but Suze’s motivation was out of compassion for Phoebe’s feelings. Phoebe, on the other hand, withheld hers through jealousy and spite with far more serious ramifications. In fact, Phoebe may have been a nurturing grandmother, but she was, what today would be termed, a toxic friend.

Overall, this novel explores the significant social issues of teen pregnancy, child abuse, and domestic violence, revealing the resiliency of the human spirit to survive and even thrive following such trauma. The author always excels at revealing the complexities of relationships and in this regard the book is a success. However, overall, it was a slow read that left me wanting a more streamlined storyline with fewer subplots that lacked depth.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads and Amazon accounts.

Phoebe and Suze use to be sisters. Over the years, secrets had them drift apart. A violent act against Suze had her returning to their small coastal town in Oregon. Can their friendship, sisterhood go back to the earlier times? A great story about women, family, and friendships. As always Barbara O'Neal writes an emotional story that most can relate to.