I adored these characters, but I especially loved living as Kit, a ER doctor and a surfer, who is a total badass loner who lives her life on her own terms–or so she thinks. It was just a lot of fun to be Kit for the better part of the year. Authors are influenced by their characters, and she led me to stand up straight and look the world in the eye. I also loved taking a big risk and taking some big steps forward in my writing. It must have happened to me a hundred times in the first year, especially because we never found a body. Impossible, given the circumstances. Also impossible that she survived. Not for her the ordinary demise of a fiery car accident or a leap off a bridge, though she threatened those often enough. In the case of Boomer Lit, the central theme is not aging. It is about making a success of your Second Adulthood! Authors Moggach and Begley are classic exponents of the genre. This novel has garnered positive responses from critics and readers alike. It has been lauded for its compelling narrative, well-drawn characters, and deeply emotional themes. The plot twists and turns have also been appreciated for keeping readers engaged till the end. The Setting

The tone was so confused. O'Neal should have made up her mind – was she depicting a romantic vision of two sisters torn apart by time and reconnecting in a peaceful re-imagination of their childhood home by the sea? Or was she writing a tragic and gritty story of two traumatised adults looking for closure? Because she failed at both. What was not so good? The story idea starts off with a bang. Once Kit gets to New Zealand, rather than marching forward to find her sister, she gets caught in a love affair with Javier, a rather cardboard character who says little but touches Kit in variously well-described ways. The relationship seems a sideshow (one of those curves on Lombard Street) to the overall novel and gets in the way in the first third of the book. Maybe it’s someone for Kit to interact with during the scenes where she would have been alone. Javier is a singer/guitarist star of some sort who only seems to have to perform if he wants to and is hanging around New Zealand for no apparent purpose other than to show up in scenes in this book. Mari Edwards is living a wonderful life with her husband and children in New Zealand. But she has a dark past that has now shown up on her doorstep, and she is willing to do anything not to lose everything she has – even though eventually she will need to face her demons. Josie thrived on drama the way my parents did. She had both my father’s enormous personality and my mother’s beauty, though in Josie, the combination became something extraordinary. Unique. I can’t count the number of times people drew and photographed and painted her, men and women, and how often they fell in love. I always thought she would be a movie star.

When we are young, we believe in the impossible. It is built into us. And as we grow older, the childhood glasses come off and we are faced with harsh realities and painful truths. When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal tells us of two sisters torn apart by years of tragedy and loss – shifting viewpoint from one girl to the other throughout the novel – coming together as a truly beautiful story. Certain parts are very difficult to get through (a young girl is sexually assaulted on more than one occasion) but this is one that is definitely worth reading. Boomer Lit, boomer novels, short stories, memoirs and more are here: a new genre. Let's talk about it! In this comprehensive look into When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel by Barbara O'Neal , you'll gain insight with this essential resource as a guide to aid your discussions. Be prepared to lead with the following:

First sentence, "My sister had been dead for fifteen years when I see her on the TV news." I was like, "Yes!" I knew then I was in for a story. When boomers reached their teens in the 1960s Boomer Lit, boomer novels, short stories, memoirs and more are here: a new genre. Let's talk about it! I enjoyed this summer themed book! I love the title and all the nostalgia of a childhood spent on the beach. The family drama is at times dysfunctional as children learn to cope with a promiscuous mom and alcoholic. It does dive into a romance which is fast-paced. As all families suffer tragedies and loss, this one does too. Three, Kit as an adult is often an uninteresting character to me. Four, the romance between Kit and Javier seems out of place and took up time that should have been dedicated to the family drama. Not to mention, the fact that romance is part of how to show Kit is all healed is a problematic trope. I would have given her close friends to start with it; it doesn't seem like she has any. 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.If you’re a fan of emotional, character-driven narratives with richly drawn characters and a plot that keeps you hooked till the end, “When We Believed in Mermaids” is a must-read. This novel is a perfect choice for book clubs, as it offers plenty of material for discussion. Final Thoughts