One of Travel + Leisure’s most anticipated books of summer 2020.
From the Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids comes a story of four generations of women grappling with family betrayals and long-buried secrets.
It’s been years since Zoe Fairchild has been to the small Devon village of her birth, but the wounds she suffered there still ache. When … but the wounds she suffered there still ache. When she learns that her old friend and grandmother’s caretaker has gone missing, Zoe and her fifteen-year-old daughter return to England to help.
Zoe dreads seeing her estranged mother, who left when Zoe was seven to travel the world. As the four generations of women reunite, the emotional pain of the past is awakened. And to complicate matters further, Zoe must also confront the ex-boyfriend she betrayed many years before.
Anxieties spike when tragedy befalls another woman in the village. As the mystery turns more sinister, new grief melds with old betrayal. Now the four Fairchild women will be tested in ways they couldn’t imagine as they contend with dangers within and without, desperate to heal themselves and their relationships with each other.
more
The Lost Girls of Devon is one of the best books that I have read lately. It is about a friend who has gone missing and about a family that is trying to repair a broken relationship with each other. It is also about the effect of our pass that trickles down through each generation.
Four generations of women deal with the pain and betrayal of the past, and their stories are heartbreaking, funny, absorbing. Lillian, Zoe, Isabel, and Poppy are all touched by the challenges and outcomes of past life decisions, and the lush Devon countryside provides a compelling backdrop to their stories.
At the age of seven Zoe was left with her grandmother in Devon by her mother, who went off for years to travel the world, & their relationship was never the same after. Resentment led to estrangement from her mother & adult Zoe now lives in New Mexico with her fifteen year old daughter. When Zoe’s grandmother informs her that her carer & Zoe’s very good friend is missing, Zoe & her daughter fly over to England to learn more. When they arrive, the grandmother is in the early stages of dementia, Zoe’s mother owns a shop in town & stops by to visit her mother frequently & Zoe’s old boyfriend is still very attractive & single again. And on top of all of this, Zoe’s friend has apparently vanished without a trace.
These women manage to make their way through some very difficult circumstances in the course of this book, which, in addition to very interesting & likeable characters, was filled with wonderful descriptions of flowers, woods, ocean and moor. Reading this book was like entering another world & it was a very welcome escape. A well written & heartwarming story of forgiveness & family & life. I strongly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author Barbara O’Neal & the publisher Lake Union Publishing, for granting my request for a free e-book in return for my honest review.
A little too predictable and syrupy for my liking
A wonderful escape to a charming Devon village lush with the sea and moors, populated with characters you’ll love. O’Neal’s rich imagery, gorgeous prose and spot-on dialogue will keep you turning pages well into the night. This is a novel of secrets, the itchy relationships of mothers and daughters, forgiveness and second chances. I can’t wait to read another by O’Neal.
A story about family betrayals and long buried secrets that is beautifully written by none other than Barbara O’Neal who wrote the best-seller, When We Believed in Mermaids.
In THE LOST GIRLS OF DEVON, O’Neal writes about four generations of the Fairchild clan who are reunited back again in not so happy circumstances. Their reunion reopens old wounds, and the ladies are faced to deal with a new issue as their childhood friend has gone missing. The story is centered on Zoe Fairchild who has been living in the States, and who now has to travel back to England to her childhood home in Devon.
I enjoyed reading about the different POVs that really showcased each of the women’s perspectives, and makes for a page turner too. The setting of the story is amazing, as the English countryside and its beauty is highlighted. The mix of family drama with some mystery element made this a poignant read for me that I enjoyed a lot.
The Lost Girls of Devon is richly written with words that flow together to produce a wonderful work of written art. O’Neal is a master at description. She transports you to places you have probably never been to by engaging all of your senses in the beautiful and flowing words she uses. You can hear the ocean waves breaking, see the brilliance of the flowers and feel the menace of the dark rolling clouds.
The real purpose of the book is multi-faceted. O’Neal deals not only with the complexity of family relationships, but also the topic of bullying and cyber bullying. The mystery in the novel explored another troubling issue of our times that I won’t give away here.
It would be hard for me to say which of the women of the four generational family was my favorite. They all had their issues, but they were all intriguing and complex. Zoe was probably my least favorite because of her rigidity–at least until the ending which showed a different side of her. Up until that point, I would have said Isabel showed the most growth during the book. Or was it Poppy? See my dilemma? Whoever you like or dislike the most, they all come together to present the reader with an incredible and beautiful story that won’t soon be forgotten.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
“The Lost Girls of Devon”
by Barbara O’Neal
Publication Date: 07/14/20
Excellent mystery! I was so engrossed and entertained reading “The Lost Girls of Devon”; putting it down was close to impossible. I loved the descriptions of the small village in England. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and the author, Barbara O’Neal really had me capturing the image. “…carpet of tiny blue flowers. They looked like they were floating…so beautiful and quiet that it made my heart hurt.” Wow! I felt like I was there in the sea of blue flowers! I enjoyed how each chapter unfolded by one of the four generations of women; from the Great-Grandmother to her Great-Granddaughter. I appreciate how the story touched on how relationships can sometimes be a difficult mess.
I loved all the characters, each being so unique. Great-Grandmother Lillian has early onset dementia, but being a successful author, she continues writing her novels. Lillian’s Granddaughter, Zoe, is a strong yet sensitive person. Along with her teenage daughter, Isabel, Zoe returns to her childhood village to find her long-time friend who has mysteriously disappeared. Isabel is a typical teenager trying to fit in, but also coping with a disturbing experience from her past. Plus, Zoe’s estranged, free-spirited Mother, Poppy, gives the story even more character.
This novel was a perfect introduction to the author, Barbara O’Neal. There is a real brilliance in her writing style. I know I will continue reading her story’s. If you are looking for a book with mystery that gives the reader the insight about family relationships, don’t hesitate to read this book.
~I am so grateful to receive an advance reader’s copy in a giveaway from the author in exchange for a honest and fair review.~
2.5 stars. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t love it either.
I thought it might focus more on the mystery of the missing friend and it might have been more interesting if it had.
The storylines of the 4 women were somewhat confusing. They definitely have a very complicated relationship. Many reviews I’ve seen describe Zoe as immature and controlling, but I think I understand her and her inability to forgive Poppy. And I don’t think that Poppy deserves to be forgiven so easily. I think Poppy’s expectations of Zoe are unrealistic. The relationship (or lack of) between the two certainly influenced all of Zoe’s other relationships.
Small issue, but sometimes the dates didn’t add up. For example, in 1991 Zoe was 11, but in 1992 she was 16. Another, earlier in the book Diana had been missing for a few weeks. Then toward the end it was only one week. Hopefully these will be corrected in the final editing.
I felt like a lot of the chapters were more of the same, no real new information and lots of descriptions about the land, the animals, and the views. I grew bored. Once I hit the 50% mark I mostly skimmed. Things did pick up about the 60% mark. Overall, not my favorite Barbara O’Neal book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.