36 ratings | 31 reviews | avg rating:4.14

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Victoria Costello

Goodreads Author

Born

in New York City, The United States

Website

https://www.victoriacostelloauthor.com

Genre

Novels, Memoir, Psychological and Metaphysical F

Influences

Marilynne Robinson, Louise Erdrich, Ruth Ozeki, Eowyn Ivy, Rudy Ruiz, ...more

Member Since

December 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/victoriacostello

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I'm an author and life-writing teacher living in Ashland, Oregon. I've published six books of nonfiction, including a memoir, A Lethal Inheritance. My debut novel, Orchid Child, published in June/2023 by Liminal Books, won the top prize for General Fiction and Cross-Genre Fiction in the 2023 American Book Fest Awards. Set in NYC and West Ireland over the course of the 20th century, Orchid Child asks the question, how far would you go to heal the past? My answer is this enchanted family saga that blends mystery, history, magic realism, and romance to map intergenerational trauma and its healing in one Irish American family. Along the way, Orchid Child explores the intersection of ancient Celtic mysticism and 21st century neurodiversity.

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Victoria Costello’s books

Average rating: 3.81 · 441 ratings · 123 reviews · 11 distinct works • Similar authors

	A Lethal Inheritance: A Mother Uncovers the Science behind Three Generations of Mental Illness 3.63 avg rating — 225 ratings — published 2012 — 4 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
	Orchid Child 4.12 avg rating — 122 ratings — published 2023 — 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
	The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Memoir: Expert Guidance on Crafting Your Most Meaningful Story 3.77 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2011 — 7 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 Complete Idiot's Guide to Child and Adolescent Psychology by Jack C. Westman, Victoria Costello (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2011 — 5 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 Everything Parent's Guide to Children with OCD: Professional, reassuring advice for raising a happy, well-adjusted child by Stephen Martin (Goodreads Author), Victoria Costello (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2008 — 11 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
	Rein In Your Brain: From Impulsivity to Thoughtful Living in Recovery by Cynthia Moreno Tuohy (Goodreads Author), Victoria Costello (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 16 ratings — published 2013 — 8 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 Everything Guide to a Happy Marriage: Expert advice and information for a happy life together by Stephen Martin (Goodreads Author), Victoria Costello (Goodreads Author) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2009 — 7 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 Complete Idiot's Guide to the Chemistry of Love by Maryanne Fisher, Victoria Costello (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 2.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2010 — 6 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
	A Lethal Inheritance: A Mother Uncovers the Science Behind Three Generations of Mental Illness by Victoria Costello (Goodreads Author), Terrie E. Moffitt Ph.D. (Foreword) 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
	Lethal Inheritance: A Mother Uncovers the Science Behind Three Generations of Mental Illness. 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 Victoria Costello…

9 posts
Victoria Costello's Blog

Fiction Awards for ORCHID CHILD

I'm pleased to share that ORCHID CHILD has received the top prizes for GENERAL FICTION and CROSS-GENRE FICTION from the American Book Fest Awards. Woo-hoo! Thanks to Goodreads reviewers for helping create word of mouth on my debut novel.

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Published on November 06, 2023 07:49

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Victoria is Currently Reading

Victoria Costello is currently reading

The Correspondent

by Virginia Evans (Goodreads Author)

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Sep 06, 2025 11:54AM

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If You Love It, Let It Kill You: A Novel

by Hannah Pittard (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 25, 2025 09:42AM

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The Blind Assassin

by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 10, 2025 04:36PM

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Victoria Costello is now friends with Patrick Tony
Nov 02, 2025 04:27PM · like
Victoria Costello is currently reading The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Fiction, Readers' Favorite Debut Novel, Readers' Favorite Audiobook	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
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Victoria Costello finished reading The End We Start From by Megan Hunter (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
Jul 27, 2025 05:53PM · like
Victoria Costello is currently reading If You Love It, Let It Kill You: A Novel by Hannah Pittard (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
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Victoria Costello is currently reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (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
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Victoria Costello is now following Gianaclis's reviews
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Victoria Costello is currently reading Moon San Miguel de Allende: With Guanajuato & Queretaro: Art & Architecture, Local Flavors & Festivals, Day Trips (Moon Latin America & Caribbean Travel Guide) by Julie Meade	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
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Victoria Costello is currently reading Why We Left An Anthology of American Women Expats by Janet Blaser (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
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Victoria Costello entered a giveaway Three Keys by Laura Pritchett (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
Mar 26, 2024 07:38AM · like · see giveaway
Victoria Costello liked Dipankar Bhadra's review of Orchid Child: ""Orchid Child" is a captivating story about love, family, and the supernatural. The main character, Kate, moves to Ireland with her troubled nephew Teague to start a new study. They face challenges and mysteries in the town of Ballymore, with a conne" Read more of this review »
Mar 26, 2024 07:37AM · see review

More of Victoria's books…

Quotes by Victoria Costello (?)

“The dead want what they want. Even an ocean away, there was no denying them.”
― Victoria Costello, Orchid Child

tags: ancestry, death, folklore, inspirational, ireland, neurodiversity

0 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Crazy Challenge C...: How Many Pages? 2013	365	263	Sep 28, 2014 10:01AM
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Crazy Challenge C...: On Broadway / Musicals Challenge	205	173	Nov 02, 2019 09:49PM
Crazy Challenge C...: Crazy Spell -it-out-Genre Challenge	647	316	Feb 03, 2025 01:21PM

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Victoria’s Quotes

“Understanding the Way of Story as a sacred pattern and a living event. Story can reveal a spiritual path and or the way to healing. Stories become the foundation of health, peacebuilding and vision. Learning to listen, to recognize, to understand and attend the teachings and revelations of the Stories we have been given to live guides us toward the 5th world. Our individual stories, when carefully attended, can reveal each person’s particular path of healing and transformation. Even illness is a story that can lead us to our own and to community healing. Learning to recognize the Story that we or another is living can be a worthy life work.”
― Deena Metzger

tags: memoir, spirituality

13 likes

“The dead want what they want. Even an ocean away, there was no denying them.”
― Victoria Costello, Orchid Child

tags: ancestry, death, folklore, inspirational, ireland, neurodiversity

0 likes