469 ratings | 14 reviews | avg rating:4.12

more photos (2)

Lisa’s Year In Books

Lisa’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Lisa’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Lisa’s 2025 Year in Books

Lisa Carey’s Followers (221)

Lisa’s Bookshelves

to-read (209)
currently-reading (0)
read (555)
did-not-finish (0)
audiobooks (5)
gave-up (12)
inishbofin-library (56)
kindle (4)
read-it-twice (15)
to-buy-ireland (12)
See all bookshelves »

Lisa’s Friends (106)

Justin Tate

1,183 books | 4,841 friends

Elizabeth Worthman

1,574 books | 11 friends

Billy O'Callaghan

216 books | 1,263 friends

Stephanie Medrano

910 books | 156 friends

William Bitner Jr.

27,201 books | 1,989 friends

Cynthia

18,781 books | 986 friends

David Taylor

912 books | 321 friends

Becca

710 books | 26 friends

More friends…

2026 Reading Challenge

2026

READING

CHALLENGE

Lisa Carey has read 11 of 30 books.

37%

Lisa Carey

Goodreads Author

Born

in Boston, Massachusetts , The United States

Website

http://www.lisacareybooks.com

Twitter

LisaCareyWrites

Genre

Literature & Fiction

Member Since

November 2015

edit data

Lisa Carey was born in 1970 in Boston, Massachusetts to Irish-American parents. She grew up in Brookline and later moved with her family to Hingham, Massachusetts.

She attended Boston College and received a B.A. in English and Philosophy in 1992.

Pursuing her MFA in Writing, she took a semester off and lived in Inishbofin, Ireland for six months. There, Carey began her first novel, The Mermaids Singing. This novel was her creative thesis for her MFA and she graduated from Vermont College in 1996.

For five years, Carey divided her time between Ireland and New England, where she wrote her next two novels, In the Country of the Young and Love in the Asylum.

In 2003, she married Timothy Spalding. They moved to Portland, Maine, where she finished h ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Lisa Carey questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Lisa Carey’s books

Average rating: 3.74 · 6,715 ratings · 855 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Mermaids Singing: A Haunting Irish Tale of Three Generations of Women on a Mythical Island 3.78 avg rating — 2,659 ratings — published 1998 — 28 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Stolen Child 3.59 avg rating — 1,755 ratings — published 2017 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	In the Country of the Young: A Haunting Story Where a Ghost Comforts an Artist Chained by Grief on a Maine Island 3.93 avg rating — 854 ratings — published 2000 — 18 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Love in the Asylum 3.74 avg rating — 815 ratings — published 2004 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Every Visible Thing 3.74 avg rating — 640 ratings — published 2006 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Das Lied Der Insel 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Die Insel der Morgendämmerung: Roman by Lisa Carey (Goodreads Author), Gabriela Schönberger (Translator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Das Leuchten der Inseln: Drei Romane in einem eBook: »Das Erbe der Insel« von Wendy K. Harris, »Die Insel der Morgendämmerung« von Lisa Carey und »Die ... Insel« von Rebecca Michéle by Wendy K. Harris, Lisa Carey (Goodreads Author), Rebecca Michéle 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Lisa Carey…

rss
Lisa’s Recent Updates

Lisa Carey has read Sea Wife by Amity Gaige (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 18, 2026 07:23AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Sea Wife by Amity Gaige. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Sea Wife by Amity Gaige <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey has read Heartwood by Amity Gaige (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 10, 2026 02:39PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Heartwood by Amity Gaige. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Heartwood by Amity Gaige <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey has read The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 07, 2026 01:08PM · like
Lisa Carey wants to read Because I Could Not Stop for Death (An Emily Dickinson Mystery #1) by Amanda Flower (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 28, 2026 05:42PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey finished reading Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 28, 2026 05:42PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey is currently reading Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 22, 2026 08:06PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey rated a book it was amazing One Day by David Nicholls	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 12, 2026 10:27AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of One Day by David Nicholls. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — One Day by David Nicholls <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey wants to read If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) by Gayle Forman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 07, 2026 07:29PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — If I Stay by Gayle Forman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey wants to read Independent People by Halldór Laxness	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 07, 2026 10:03AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Independent People by Halldór Laxness. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Independent People by Halldór Laxness <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lisa Carey wants to read One Day / Us / Starter For Ten / The Understudy / Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 07, 2026 09:38AM · like

More of Lisa's books…

Quotes by Lisa Carey (?)

“A girl is there. Dressed in a dirty rag of a dress, turning to look at him with the large, gold eyes that have studied everything from the rafters. Her hair in the overhead light appears dark for an instant, then when she shifts, fair. She is there in vivid detail, down to a mustache of beaded water above her generous mouth. A dead girl, looking more real and more alive than anyone he has ever seen.

She is not the girl—Oisin knows this with an instant, wrenching disappointment—whom he has been waiting for.”
― Lisa Carey, In the Country of the Young: A Haunting Story Where a Ghost Comforts an Artist Chained by Grief on a Maine Island

5 likes

“your life is what you make of it, with God’s grace, the good and the bad.”
― Lisa Carey, The Mermaids Singing: A Haunting Irish Tale of Three Generations of Women on a Mythical Island

0 likes

“...returns to the warmth of the bed, the resented comfort of sleep.”
― Lisa Carey, The Mermaids Singing: A Haunting Irish Tale of Three Generations of Women on a Mythical Island

0 likes

See all Lisa Carey's quotes »

Polls

March BoTM: Theme: Book set in Ireland or Book Written by an Irish Author- 1st poll!!

Top 5 books move onto the 2nd poll!

Brooklyn

by Colm Tóibín

12 votes, 19.4%

Frog Music

by Emma Donoghue

8 votes, 12.9%

Ellis Island

by Kate Kerrigan

7 votes, 11.3%

Darkfever

by Karen Marie Moning

7 votes, 11.3%

Those Faraday Girls

by Monica McInerney

6 votes, 9.7%

The Mermaids Singing

by Lisa Carey

5 votes, 8.1%

Haunted Ground

by Erin Hart

4 votes, 6.5%

TransAtlantic

by Colum McCann

4 votes, 6.5%

An Irish Country Doctor

by Patrick Taylor

4 votes, 6.5%

The Book of Tomorrow

by Cecelia Ahern

4 votes, 6.5%

Echoes of Lies

by Jo Bannister

1 vote, 1.6%

62 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: Winter Challenge 2010-2011 Completed Tasks (do not delete any posts)	2578	1113	Feb 28, 2011 09:05PM
Pick-a-Shelf: Lyn (Readinghearts) Scattershelves 2017	2	11	Dec 15, 2016 10:37PM
Pick-a-Shelf: 2017 - 02 Magical Realism - Reviews	31	43	Mar 01, 2017 06:38PM
Vaginal Fantasy B...: Mermaids	39	436	Aug 28, 2017 05:47AM
Around the World ...: Maine	16	409	Dec 28, 2018 02:09PM

More…

Lisa’s Friend Comments

No comments have been added yet.

Lisa’s Year In Books

Lisa Carey’s Followers (221)

Lisa’s Bookshelves

Lisa’s Friends (106)

2026 Reading Challenge

Lisa Carey

Goodreads Author

Learn moreAsk the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine EditionsLisa Carey’s books

rssLisa’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Sea Wife by Amity Gaige

See a Problem?

Preview — Heartwood by Amity Gaige

See a Problem?

Preview — Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Amanda Flower

See a Problem?

Preview — Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

See a Problem?

Preview — Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

See a Problem?

Preview — One Day by David Nicholls

See a Problem?

Preview — If I Stay by Gayle Forman

See a Problem?

Preview — Independent People by Halldór Laxness

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Lisa’s Friend Comments

Learn more
Ask the Author

Combine Editions
Lisa Carey’s books

rss
Lisa’s Recent Updates