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cassiesnextchapter's review against another edition
4.0
Write My Name Across the Sky by Barbara O'Neal totally caught me by surprise!
It was a slow-burn beginning as you got to know three characters through alternating POVs… until about 25% in, and then I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! It’s a mix of family drama, lit-fic, mystery, and a bit of romance too. The neurodivergent and queer rep is done thoughtfully and respectfully. The rifts between characters feel so viscerally real - I felt hurt and angry and frustrated and hopeful too. I haven’t seen this one around much, but I hope to see it more. It definitely deserves it! GO GET YOUR COPY! I’m off to read her backlist!
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Booksparks for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
It was a slow-burn beginning as you got to know three characters through alternating POVs… until about 25% in, and then I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! It’s a mix of family drama, lit-fic, mystery, and a bit of romance too. The neurodivergent and queer rep is done thoughtfully and respectfully. The rifts between characters feel so viscerally real - I felt hurt and angry and frustrated and hopeful too. I haven’t seen this one around much, but I hope to see it more. It definitely deserves it! GO GET YOUR COPY! I’m off to read her backlist!
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Booksparks for the gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
kdurham2's review
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Gloria, a seventy-something, is an aunt and an influencer and living in a great apartment in New York City until events of her past make it into the news and she feels as though her whole life is threatened. She has asked one of her nieces to come home, Willow, who is between gigs and is ready to flee Los Angeles and regroup in New York City surrounded by family. Sam is her older half sister and she is having issues of her own as her gaming company has flatlined without a release that created any buzz and is in jeopardy to lose it all.
Gloria, a seventy-something, is an aunt and an influencer and living in a great apartment in New York City until events of her past make it into the news and she feels as though her whole life is threatened. She has asked one of her nieces to come home, Willow, who is between gigs and is ready to flee Los Angeles and regroup in New York City surrounded by family. Sam is her older half sister and she is having issues of her own as her gaming company has flatlined without a release that created any buzz and is in jeopardy to lose it all.
macrosinthemitten's review against another edition
4.0
Willow and Sam, sisters who spent most of their childhood living with their aunt Gloria when their rockstar/heroin addicted mother dies. Gloria, now I’m her 70s, lives in a fabulous brownstone in New York, reflecting on her life as a flight attendant. When her lover from the past is arrested in connection with a series of art that was stolen by the Nazis, Gloria is faced with running and abandoning all she has made in New York, or risk being captured by her connection with Isaac. Willow and Sam are also struggling with lives that aren’t quite panning out the way they had hoped or planned. When all 3 are brought together because of various circumstances, they all must look inward and decide what is truly most important. I enjoyed this book but it was different than I thought it would be. I assumed it would be more focused on the art heists during the post-war period. While it didn’t, I really liked the book even though Sam is a very unlikeable character.
brandy_reads's review against another edition
3.0
The word that came to mind for me when I finished this book was engaging. From start to finish I wanted to know where each of these women's stories would take them. You get alternating POV'S from Willow, Sam, and Gloria and I enjoyed each one. However, to describe Sam's character as prickly was a major understatement - to me, she was downright mean. I was entertained by Gloria's references to her Instagram account and keeping up engagement etc. Where this lost the mark for me was the ending. I knew the direction it was heading in, but it was just all wrapped up so quickly and easily after all the angst leading up to it... and then it went to an epilogue. I almost needed a couple chapters more in between.
Thank you @talesbysel for buddy reading this with me.
Thank you @talesbysel for buddy reading this with me.
abbilaka's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
spowers2627's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed my first book by Barbara O'Neal. When I was not reading the story, I found myself thinking about these characters and their compelling storylines. Three women, each navigating a difficult personal experience. Despite being together, these ladies are not sharing the details with the each other, highlighting the complexities of family relationships. Underneath all the struggles and hurts a love shines through and holds these three women together. I felt for each of the characters and I loved the richly detailed setting in the New York apartment with a rooftop garden. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
marisae's review
4.0
This tale of two sisters and their aunt lives up to Barbara O'Neal's name and talent. A great book which leads the reader to buy into and love the characters. A well-developed tale of relationships, drama, and love, it definitely leaves you wanting more. I thought that there could have been more to the ending, it seemed a bit abrupt. Regardless, a wonderful book for O'Neal fans and others! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.
vane_reads95's review against another edition
3.0
“My gift has always been an ability to be happy. It sounds small until you live in the world for a while.”
I partially enjoyed “When we were Mermaids” and I felt like it had their ups and downs so I wanted to give Barbara O’nelle another chance with this book. Unfortunately, I kept falling asleep and having to start again the audiobook more than 4 times :/
Samantha and Willow are half-sisters whose mother was a famous singer. Their mother lived a short life due to heroin, Samantha and Willow were raised by their aunt Gloria. Now adults, Samantha and Willow struggle with relationships and careers. They both also seem to bump heads a lot as each believes the other sister is better, reveling some jealousy between them. The conflict arises when Gloria’s past begins to hunt her, facing serious legal consequences.
I’m always appreciative of multiple POV’s and this story was written in 3 POVs. I did notice that Samantha is portrayed as being very smart, yet the story doesn’t really support those facts, she mostly comes off as mean, shallow and envious.
This is my first time giving listening to an audiobook so this might be why I didn’t enjoy it as much? This does not mean I will stop listening to audiobooks from now on lol
When I hit the 30% mark I was totally dragging myself to finish it. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters at all either, perhaps this story will be best for those who are into music/art/gaming/coding.
If you enjoy sister-conflict stories and family secrets, then I recommend you this book.
I partially enjoyed “When we were Mermaids” and I felt like it had their ups and downs so I wanted to give Barbara O’nelle another chance with this book. Unfortunately, I kept falling asleep and having to start again the audiobook more than 4 times :/
Samantha and Willow are half-sisters whose mother was a famous singer. Their mother lived a short life due to heroin, Samantha and Willow were raised by their aunt Gloria. Now adults, Samantha and Willow struggle with relationships and careers. They both also seem to bump heads a lot as each believes the other sister is better, reveling some jealousy between them. The conflict arises when Gloria’s past begins to hunt her, facing serious legal consequences.
I’m always appreciative of multiple POV’s and this story was written in 3 POVs. I did notice that Samantha is portrayed as being very smart, yet the story doesn’t really support those facts, she mostly comes off as mean, shallow and envious.
This is my first time giving listening to an audiobook so this might be why I didn’t enjoy it as much? This does not mean I will stop listening to audiobooks from now on lol
When I hit the 30% mark I was totally dragging myself to finish it. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters at all either, perhaps this story will be best for those who are into music/art/gaming/coding.
If you enjoy sister-conflict stories and family secrets, then I recommend you this book.
k_murray1018's review against another edition
5.0
This is my second from this author and I loved it so so much!
notinjersey's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed the previous book I read by this author (When We Believed in Mermaids) so I was excited to read her newest release. Like in Mermaids, Write My Name focused on a pair of sisters – actually two pairs of sisters as Gloria is the sister of Billie, who was Willow and Sam’s mom. All three women are still grieving the loss of Billie and coping with their current lives in their own ways.
While Gloria is an Instagram influencer for older women, Willow is a singer and songwriter and Sam is a game designer and each use their creativity to express themselves. When Sam gets sick and Gloria has to face her past crime involvement, the three women bond together in new ways.
I found this book to be unique and different than most books I have read recently. While each woman has a romance in the book, it is not romance focused and is more about getting through life as an individual and a family. I thought the descriptions of the art, music, and video games were well done and I enjoyed this book overall.
While Gloria is an Instagram influencer for older women, Willow is a singer and songwriter and Sam is a game designer and each use their creativity to express themselves. When Sam gets sick and Gloria has to face her past crime involvement, the three women bond together in new ways.
I found this book to be unique and different than most books I have read recently. While each woman has a romance in the book, it is not romance focused and is more about getting through life as an individual and a family. I thought the descriptions of the art, music, and video games were well done and I enjoyed this book overall.