Is 'When We Believed In Mermaids' Based On A True Story?

I recently finished reading 'When We Believed in Mermaids', and the question of whether it's based on a true story really stuck with me. While the novel isn't a direct retelling of real events, the emotional core feels incredibly authentic. Barbara O'Neal crafts a story about two sisters separated by tragedy and reunited years later under extraordinary circumstances. The setting, especially the New Zealand coastal town, is described with such vivid detail that it feels like a real place you could visit. The author mentions drawing inspiration from her own experiences with family dynamics and loss, which adds layers of realism to the fictional narrative.

The themes of identity, trauma, and redemption are handled with such raw honesty that they blur the line between fiction and reality. The sisterly bond between Kit and Josie resonates deeply, making their struggles feel genuine. O'Neal's background in psychology shines through in how she portrays memory and perception, making the characters' journeys psychologically believable. While no specific true story matches the plot exactly, the novel captures universal truths about family that make it feel real in an emotional sense. The exploration of how people reinvent themselves after trauma mirrors many real-life experiences, giving the story a grounded quality despite its dramatic twists.

'When We Believed in Mermaids' isn't technically based on a true story, but it nails the emotional truth of sibling relationships. The way Barbara O'Neal writes about Kit discovering her supposedly dead sister is alive feels startlingly real. The novel's strength lies in how it balances dramatic fiction with psychological realism. While the earthquake and witness protection elements are clearly fictional, the messy family dynamics could be ripped from anyone's life. O'Neal's depiction of memory distortion and how trauma shapes identity rings true, making the story feel authentic even when the plot goes big. The coastal settings add another layer of believability - you can practically smell the ocean air as you read.