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The Lost Girls of Devon
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 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.
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.
351 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2020
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18266 people want to read
About the author
Barbara O'Neal
28 books4,393 followersBarbara O'Neal is the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling writer of women's fiction. She lives in Colorado with her partner, a British endurance athlete.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,602 reviews
July 13, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review
In her latest story, Barbara O' Neal introduces us to four generations of women struggling against family betrayals and long-buried secrets. A story of mothers and daughters on the path to redemption, forgiveness, and growing into the person that you are meant to be.
At the head of the family is matriarch Lillian whose health is beginning to fail and becomes very upset when her caregiver goes missing. Her granddaughter Zoe and her great-granddaughter, Isabel return from America to help Lillian. For Zoe, she has to come to terms with the trauma of what may have happened to her best friend, face a ruined relationship, and ultimately decide if she will forgive the mother who abandoned her at age 7. Teenaged Isabel is still trying to figure out how to tell her mother of the humiliation she carries with her every day. Finally, there is Poppy, Zoe's mother who desperately wants her daughter to forgive her and allow a relationship with her granddaughter. But has Poppy really understood how her past actions have hurt the people around her?
I thought this was a heartwarming contemporary novel and I felt that each character "shared" the narration well. Although I must say Zoe was perhaps my least liked character because I felt her romance did get in the way of trying to figure out what happened to her friend and speaking with her mother. Another thing that was very confusing was how O' Neal switches from referring to Zoe's love as Cooper for the first half of the novel and then switches to his first name Sage. For a brief moment, I was lost and asking " Wait, there are two men now she is chasing now?" Hahaha!
Overall, the characters were well developed, their individual stories were intriguing and there was enough dramatic effect to keep me interested.
#TheLostGirlsofDevon #NetGalley
Publication Date 14/07/20
Goodreads review 13/07/20
In her latest story, Barbara O' Neal introduces us to four generations of women struggling against family betrayals and long-buried secrets. A story of mothers and daughters on the path to redemption, forgiveness, and growing into the person that you are meant to be.
At the head of the family is matriarch Lillian whose health is beginning to fail and becomes very upset when her caregiver goes missing. Her granddaughter Zoe and her great-granddaughter, Isabel return from America to help Lillian. For Zoe, she has to come to terms with the trauma of what may have happened to her best friend, face a ruined relationship, and ultimately decide if she will forgive the mother who abandoned her at age 7. Teenaged Isabel is still trying to figure out how to tell her mother of the humiliation she carries with her every day. Finally, there is Poppy, Zoe's mother who desperately wants her daughter to forgive her and allow a relationship with her granddaughter. But has Poppy really understood how her past actions have hurt the people around her?
I thought this was a heartwarming contemporary novel and I felt that each character "shared" the narration well. Although I must say Zoe was perhaps my least liked character because I felt her romance did get in the way of trying to figure out what happened to her friend and speaking with her mother. Another thing that was very confusing was how O' Neal switches from referring to Zoe's love as Cooper for the first half of the novel and then switches to his first name Sage. For a brief moment, I was lost and asking " Wait, there are two men now she is chasing now?" Hahaha!
Overall, the characters were well developed, their individual stories were intriguing and there was enough dramatic effect to keep me interested.
#TheLostGirlsofDevon #NetGalley
Publication Date 14/07/20
Goodreads review 13/07/20
August 3, 2020
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.
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.
November 2, 2025
“Lost girls. I’d found them everywhere, all over the world, all longing for hope, for love, for an answer to their hungers in a world that did not honor them.”
― Barbara O'Neal, The Lost Girls of Devon
I’d like to start this review by saying it might not be as long and in-depth as I’d like it to be because I’m a bit tired this evening and I’m also reading another book. But I wanted to get this down while all the details were fresh in my mind.
I liked this book. It takes place primarily in England and is told by three narrators and is about four generations of women
I would call Zoe the main protagonist, and then there’s her mother Poppy who left her when she was just a child
And then there is Zoe‘s grandmother and Zoe‘s daughter
There’s a lot of secrets from the past and a lot of pain. Zoe has never healed from her hippie mother, abandoning the family. She has a lot of resentment and justified anger.
Zoe takes her daughter to England to visit her grandmother who is getting older and a bit Frailer.
There she encounters, her mother, who has been taking care of her grandmother, releasing long-held resentments
In the meantime, there is a fifth woman, a friend of all the female family members by the name of Diane, who has up and vanished. Nobody knows where she is, it’s like she evaporated into thin air. This becomes a mystery s huge one that all the women will try to solve.
Meanwhile, Zoe’s mother, Poppy struggles to find some kind of connection, but Zoe cannot let go of her anger and her pain and allow her mother back into her life.
We go back in time with poppy to see why she made the decisions that she did, and what prompted her to leave her family the way she did. The truth is much more complex and complicated than Zoe knows.
In the meantime, Zoe‘s daughter was bullied at school and has stopped attending school and gotten off social media. She’s seeing a therapist, but refuses to tell anyone what happened to her and has no memory of a lot of it.
Complicating matters is Zoe‘s ex boyfriend, whom she runs into again in her quest for answers as to what happened to her friend Diane.
As you can see, there’s a lot going on in this book. And I enjoyed reading it. I finished it in a few sittings as it’s not terribly long and the time goes by quickly.
I wouldn’t say, however, that I fell in love with this. I would say it’s a book I deeply admired, and I was also quite in awe of the writing style, which is beautifully evocative and moving.
But it’s a very slow build up and there were just so many characters. Before you even hit 20% in the book, so many people have already been introduced that I really did struggle to remember who is who and keep them in the proper context.
There are a lot of other people in the book besides the ones I mentioned.
So it was a slow burn, but I started getting more and more invested the more I read. While I will not reveal the ending, I’d say it was appropriate for this book and it was one that I felt comfortable with.
This is one of those times where I’ll reiterate that I really wish Goodreads had one to 10 star ratings. I would give This a 3.5 rating and a seven on a scale of one to 10. The problem with three ratings are they’re just kind of there and they could mean literally anything.
What it means for me is a book that I will not forget anytime soon, a book with beautiful imagery, deep, character development, and moving storylines.
I would thoroughly recommend the book, the negatives that I mentioned have nothing to do with the writing, and more to do with my own personal tastes.
SPOILERS
I am glad that many of the characters found happiness by the end of the book.
.
― Barbara O'Neal, The Lost Girls of Devon
I’d like to start this review by saying it might not be as long and in-depth as I’d like it to be because I’m a bit tired this evening and I’m also reading another book. But I wanted to get this down while all the details were fresh in my mind.
I liked this book. It takes place primarily in England and is told by three narrators and is about four generations of women
I would call Zoe the main protagonist, and then there’s her mother Poppy who left her when she was just a child
And then there is Zoe‘s grandmother and Zoe‘s daughter
There’s a lot of secrets from the past and a lot of pain. Zoe has never healed from her hippie mother, abandoning the family. She has a lot of resentment and justified anger.
Zoe takes her daughter to England to visit her grandmother who is getting older and a bit Frailer.
There she encounters, her mother, who has been taking care of her grandmother, releasing long-held resentments
In the meantime, there is a fifth woman, a friend of all the female family members by the name of Diane, who has up and vanished. Nobody knows where she is, it’s like she evaporated into thin air. This becomes a mystery s huge one that all the women will try to solve.
Meanwhile, Zoe’s mother, Poppy struggles to find some kind of connection, but Zoe cannot let go of her anger and her pain and allow her mother back into her life.
We go back in time with poppy to see why she made the decisions that she did, and what prompted her to leave her family the way she did. The truth is much more complex and complicated than Zoe knows.
In the meantime, Zoe‘s daughter was bullied at school and has stopped attending school and gotten off social media. She’s seeing a therapist, but refuses to tell anyone what happened to her and has no memory of a lot of it.
Complicating matters is Zoe‘s ex boyfriend, whom she runs into again in her quest for answers as to what happened to her friend Diane.
As you can see, there’s a lot going on in this book. And I enjoyed reading it. I finished it in a few sittings as it’s not terribly long and the time goes by quickly.
I wouldn’t say, however, that I fell in love with this. I would say it’s a book I deeply admired, and I was also quite in awe of the writing style, which is beautifully evocative and moving.
But it’s a very slow build up and there were just so many characters. Before you even hit 20% in the book, so many people have already been introduced that I really did struggle to remember who is who and keep them in the proper context.
There are a lot of other people in the book besides the ones I mentioned.
So it was a slow burn, but I started getting more and more invested the more I read. While I will not reveal the ending, I’d say it was appropriate for this book and it was one that I felt comfortable with.
This is one of those times where I’ll reiterate that I really wish Goodreads had one to 10 star ratings. I would give This a 3.5 rating and a seven on a scale of one to 10. The problem with three ratings are they’re just kind of there and they could mean literally anything.
What it means for me is a book that I will not forget anytime soon, a book with beautiful imagery, deep, character development, and moving storylines.
I would thoroughly recommend the book, the negatives that I mentioned have nothing to do with the writing, and more to do with my own personal tastes.
SPOILERS
I am glad that many of the characters found happiness by the end of the book.
.
January 10, 2023
I cannot think of another book that has such a badly represented cover for the story inside. I picked this up years ago as I thought I was getting a frivolous chick lit book about a part of the world that I fell in love several years ago when I visited my oldest stepdaughter and her family there when they were on sabatical for a year. Ironically my son-in-law was studying the diet of the Dartmoor ponies, one of the highlights of my visit. Wonderful part of the world.
Back to the story, family drama of four generations of women, the mystery of a missing friend and a whole lot more. Mostly interesting and likeable characters in a made up town of Axestowe on the Devon coast. Suffice to say, all have their issues that they are battling inclucing a mother who abandoned her daughter when she was seven, so there is a lot of healing and figuring out to be done.
A flawed but engrossing story that I enjoyed very much in the end.
Back to the story, family drama of four generations of women, the mystery of a missing friend and a whole lot more. Mostly interesting and likeable characters in a made up town of Axestowe on the Devon coast. Suffice to say, all have their issues that they are battling inclucing a mother who abandoned her daughter when she was seven, so there is a lot of healing and figuring out to be done.
A flawed but engrossing story that I enjoyed very much in the end.
August 10, 2020
I have read a couple other of this author's book and I loved those, so I expected to like this one more than I did. Unfortunately, it was just meh. It took several chapters to get all the characters and their relationships straight and I do wish that the author had focused on just two of the women instead of three. It really bugged me that people acted as though Zoe was irrational for still being angry with her mother. Her mother completely abandoned her as a child. Give her a break. I could relate to the fact that she felt like everyone was ganging up on her about it. I wish the mystery around Diana's disappearance had been a little more of a focal point, but it was too minor for my taste. I did like the ending and I was satisfied with it, but there were times when I had to force myself to keep reading because it moved so slowly.
December 11, 2020
Wow! Barbara O'Neal has done it again! I've read her two most recent books this year and they are two of the best I read! She writes very intense, emotional books and this one is no exception. Set in Devon, England, it is the story of a family of women and their relationships with each other and the other people in their lives. Great-grandmother Lillian, a brilliant writer is descending into dementia. Her daughter Poppy has returned home and is trying to mend her relationship with her mother and the daughter she deserted as a child. Zoe is dealing with her beloved grandmother's condition as well as her troubled daughter and a renewed relationship with the man she left behind years ago. And finally Isabel the daughter is dealing with a horrible incident in her life which is still a secret from her mother and getting to know the grandmother she has just met. Sounds like a lot, and it is, but Ms. O'Neal wraps everything up and does it so well. She doesn't insult the reader with easy solutions but does give hopeful endings. I would highly recommend this book but beware it is a tear-jerker.
May 24, 2020
Trying to keep these 4 women’s stories straight was tough. I was wanting to like this more than I did and I found myself struggling through the book. I did enjoy it but I felt like I wasn’t connecting to some of the characters which seemed to make me like it less. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
July 7, 2022
An excellent, absorbing read. This writer never disappoints.
August 3, 2020
Mothers and daughters. Betrayal and love. Secrets and truth. Four generations of women brought back together buy a missing woman. When Zoe‘s grandmother reaches out to let her know that her BFF Diana has gone missing Zoe knows it is time to return to England. It’s not always easy to go back home though. So she will need to face her past, a mother she has not yet been able to forgive and a past love she has not yet been able to forget. Meanwhile Zoe‘s teenage daughter Isabell is dealing with her own demons, something she has not yet been able to confide in her mother. The story is told from the perspectives of all four women: Lillian, Poppy, Zoe, and Isabell. I listen to the audiobook and I think because there were four different narrators with four unique voices and accents it really added a lot to the story. I think having the different voices really helped me keep the story straight and helped me connect with the characters easier. I enjoyed all four women’s stories, but I think I liked Zoe and Isabell The Best. Poppy was hard to understand, but I did like her growth throughout the book. My only tiny Kniggle with the book was the mystery, I don’t even know if it needed to be there other than to bring all these women together? Well now that I think about it it did tie some other stories together as well, it did a good job of moving the story forward. This was a lovely family story with a perfect ending.
This book in emojis 👩👧 🛫 🐱 🔮 🖋 🖌 ⚓️ 📱
*** Big thank you to Lake Union for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This book in emojis 👩👧 🛫 🐱 🔮 🖋 🖌 ⚓️ 📱
*** Big thank you to Lake Union for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
March 29, 2022
I enjoyed the writing style of "The Lost Girls of Devon." This was especially true with the imagery and some detailed descriptions of meals and architecture that dropped me right in the little British village of Axestowe in Devon. The stretches of writing that described the moor, the woods, the quaint and fairy-like charm of nature were definitely some of my favorite parts.
This novel follows four generations of women (although we only get three of their perspectives, really) as they work to heal past wounds, find forgiveness, and learn more about themselves.
Oh, and there are some women/girls from the village that they know that have gone missing, too. Which is honestly what I thought more of the plot would be about going in, but it's really more of a subplot and a footnote. That might be the largest part of why I feel lukewarm about this book. In the end, I felt I was pitched a story about a gripping, sinister mystery, but it was more general fiction and romance than anything else.
This is the first book I've read by Barbara O'Neal, and I've seen some other readers say that this is one of her more "meh" works, so I'm going to give her another shot later. Although I do hope her other books are edited a bit better than this one since one person's name totally changed halfway through (Isabel's past friend "Kaitlyn" became "Katrina") and less than two pages apart, one of the main characters was said to have been age 11 in the year 1991 and age 16 in 1992. Normally I don't include things like that in a review, but both instances really confused me while reading.
In the end, I thought this was a perfectly okay book. Definitely more mild and slow than what I thought I was walking into. I couldn't help feeling like there was a more interesting plot hovering in the background of the main event.
This novel follows four generations of women (although we only get three of their perspectives, really) as they work to heal past wounds, find forgiveness, and learn more about themselves.
Oh, and there are some women/girls from the village that they know that have gone missing, too. Which is honestly what I thought more of the plot would be about going in, but it's really more of a subplot and a footnote. That might be the largest part of why I feel lukewarm about this book. In the end, I felt I was pitched a story about a gripping, sinister mystery, but it was more general fiction and romance than anything else.
This is the first book I've read by Barbara O'Neal, and I've seen some other readers say that this is one of her more "meh" works, so I'm going to give her another shot later. Although I do hope her other books are edited a bit better than this one since one person's name totally changed halfway through (Isabel's past friend "Kaitlyn" became "Katrina") and less than two pages apart, one of the main characters was said to have been age 11 in the year 1991 and age 16 in 1992. Normally I don't include things like that in a review, but both instances really confused me while reading.
In the end, I thought this was a perfectly okay book. Definitely more mild and slow than what I thought I was walking into. I couldn't help feeling like there was a more interesting plot hovering in the background of the main event.
March 16, 2020
RR Rating: 3 off-balance stars
Format Ebook*, 351 pgs, pub. 7/14/2020
RR Synopsis: Four generations of women reflect on their relationships to one another, past regrets, and current desires, all amidst a missing woman storyline.
RR POV: This is my first read by O’Neal, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I found two of the primary characters very compelling but didn’t enjoy the chapters centered around the other two. Ultimately it felt like the balance of the story was just off. The subplot mystery about the whereabouts of one of their missing friends would have made a much more interesting focus in my opinion.
Recommended Readers: Women’s fiction fans who love character-driven standalone novels told from multiple points of view.
*I received an Advanced Readers Copy from #NetGalley & #LakeUnionPublishing in exchange for an honest review.
Format Ebook*, 351 pgs, pub. 7/14/2020
RR Synopsis: Four generations of women reflect on their relationships to one another, past regrets, and current desires, all amidst a missing woman storyline.
RR POV: This is my first read by O’Neal, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I found two of the primary characters very compelling but didn’t enjoy the chapters centered around the other two. Ultimately it felt like the balance of the story was just off. The subplot mystery about the whereabouts of one of their missing friends would have made a much more interesting focus in my opinion.
Recommended Readers: Women’s fiction fans who love character-driven standalone novels told from multiple points of view.
*I received an Advanced Readers Copy from #NetGalley & #LakeUnionPublishing in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2020
I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over and over... halfway through I just couldn't do it anymore. Seriously I thought midway; something, ANYTHING would happen.
August 10, 2020
I really enjoyed “When we Believed in Mermaids” by this author, probably mostly because of its accurate depiction of my homeland. This may well do the same for Devon but the story and the characters just didn’t fully grip me. It felt as if there was too much purple prose - bluebells and butterflies and goats...... Not to mention the love scenes or the psychic elements. The four generations of women were all mostly credible if somewhat outstanding in talent! However, in the background is the disappearance of a friend and an ominous feeling. All of that could have been interesting but it is all tied up flat out at the end in a way which defied real credibility. I like a character driven novel but this one did not do it for me.
December 14, 2020
A wonderful novel set in a small village on the coast of England. The story is told from the point of view of four generations of women in the same family to find out what happened to a family friend who went missing.
July 22, 2020
This was a wonderful book!
August 21, 2020
Four generations of women come together when a woman linked to them goes missing. Lillian, the ailing matriarch of the family, knows this may be the last chance for her to see forgiveness in her family. For Zoe it is a return to the place she calls home; to her grandmother, to the unhealed feelings of abandonment, to the past she left behind. Isabel, Zoe's daughter, is hopeful this is her chance to heal and find the courage to face what she's been too ashamed to tell her mom. Finally, there's Poppy, she's returned home and made peace with her mother, but she desperately wants to know her daughter and granddaughter too. As the four grapple with the idea that their friend could be gone forever, old hurts, secrets, and betrayals float to the surface.
The Lost Girls of Devon is a beautiful work of contemporary fiction, I so loved reading the story from the women's' perspectives. Barbara O'Neal gave them distinct voices and experiences, at times their individual stories overlapped allowing the reader to understand it from every side. Lillian is a force of a woman, her chapters were difficult to read, her illness is very apparent and I truly felt like I was watching her memory slip away. Poppy's chapters are just as descriptive as you would expect of a local witch, filled with pretty words and emotions. While she was ultimately my least favorite character, I highlighted more from her pages than any other. Zoe's story is one of forgiveness, self-discovery, and love. Her perspective holds a significant amount of internal angst as she works through returning to the place that holds all her best and worst memories. I enjoyed the romance O'Neal gave her, I felt like she needed something good. Isabel's perspective is just heartbreaking, she's so young and has been tormented in a way no one should experience. Coming to the village for an extended stay feels like a fresh start for her and I loved watching her work through her experience and her emotions. She's such an independent, young character and I found I liked her quite a bit.
I really enjoyed this multi-generational novel, it had just the right amount of mixed plots to keep me intrigued and the four narratives gave it depth. Romance, mystery, angst, suspense, and just a bit of humor made The Lost Girls of Devon a fantastic read for me.
ARC provided.
The Lost Girls of Devon is a beautiful work of contemporary fiction, I so loved reading the story from the women's' perspectives. Barbara O'Neal gave them distinct voices and experiences, at times their individual stories overlapped allowing the reader to understand it from every side. Lillian is a force of a woman, her chapters were difficult to read, her illness is very apparent and I truly felt like I was watching her memory slip away. Poppy's chapters are just as descriptive as you would expect of a local witch, filled with pretty words and emotions. While she was ultimately my least favorite character, I highlighted more from her pages than any other. Zoe's story is one of forgiveness, self-discovery, and love. Her perspective holds a significant amount of internal angst as she works through returning to the place that holds all her best and worst memories. I enjoyed the romance O'Neal gave her, I felt like she needed something good. Isabel's perspective is just heartbreaking, she's so young and has been tormented in a way no one should experience. Coming to the village for an extended stay feels like a fresh start for her and I loved watching her work through her experience and her emotions. She's such an independent, young character and I found I liked her quite a bit.
I really enjoyed this multi-generational novel, it had just the right amount of mixed plots to keep me intrigued and the four narratives gave it depth. Romance, mystery, angst, suspense, and just a bit of humor made The Lost Girls of Devon a fantastic read for me.
ARC provided.
July 19, 2020
Family drama and mystery hit the right spot. When Zoë came to know her friend had disappeared, she packed her bags and came to her family home in Devon to search for her while avoiding the mother who had abandoned her years ago.
My first book by this author, I was transported to a new land with the rolling vibrant discussions. Told in multiple POV, I got to know the characters and their situations. It was quite a surprise and delightful read
My first book by this author, I was transported to a new land with the rolling vibrant discussions. Told in multiple POV, I got to know the characters and their situations. It was quite a surprise and delightful read
June 27, 2021
5/5 Stars
It's somewhat rare for me to give a book 5 stars. I usually save it for classics that I've loved, or the occasional book that just hits me the right way. Well this one did just that. For me it was a perfect blend of characters and mystery combined with a romance and family relationships that actually seemed real. One element that really got me was the setting, it seemed like it was a character all its own. I fell in love with the English seaside village. There were a few inconsistencies I noticed in the first few chapters (ex. Zoe mentions a memory of being in the garden as a little girl with her grandma, playing with dolls, then a few chapters later she says she never liked playing with dolls.) These kinds if things usually bother me but they only occurred early on. I also liked that not everything was wrapped up with a neat little bow, just like in the real world not everything is perfect. There was still alot of work to be done. This was a wonderful story and one I would not only recommend but one I think I might reread in the future.
It's somewhat rare for me to give a book 5 stars. I usually save it for classics that I've loved, or the occasional book that just hits me the right way. Well this one did just that. For me it was a perfect blend of characters and mystery combined with a romance and family relationships that actually seemed real. One element that really got me was the setting, it seemed like it was a character all its own. I fell in love with the English seaside village. There were a few inconsistencies I noticed in the first few chapters (ex. Zoe mentions a memory of being in the garden as a little girl with her grandma, playing with dolls, then a few chapters later she says she never liked playing with dolls.) These kinds if things usually bother me but they only occurred early on. I also liked that not everything was wrapped up with a neat little bow, just like in the real world not everything is perfect. There was still alot of work to be done. This was a wonderful story and one I would not only recommend but one I think I might reread in the future.
August 3, 2020
What a wonderful trip to Devon I took in the midst of a pandemic. Seriously, no one paints pictures with words better than Ms. O'Neal, so I literally feel as if I just spent several weeks in the gorgeous (fictional) town of Axetowe, walking the moors and visiting Poppy in The Kitchen Witch. It's a tough book to talk about without giving away spoilers, so all I can say is that I felt the pain, love, and anxiety of all four women in this story--even the ones I wanted to strangle for most of it (looking at you, Poppy). Ms. O'Neal takes her time with each one as they slowly come to understand how their actions have impacted others, and how they need to learn to be vulnerable again. They mystery, while interesting, took a backseat to the development of the familial relationships (which I loved). I highly recommend this one, but keep a box of tissues handy.
August 4, 2020
I appear to be grossly in the minority here; however, The Lost Girls of Devon did not impress me.
We are introduced to four generations of women, all who are highly unlikable and incredibly one dimensional.
What bothered me most was Zoe (a now 40 year old mother of a teen) and her obsession with the "love of her life", her ex with who she parted ways her first semester of college. Some small plot hole here and there. The reactions to Isa's trauma when its finally exposed.
Sadly, for me this lacked all the charm and heart of When We Were Mermaids. Everyone else appear to love it so far - check it out, maybe you will too!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for a review.
We are introduced to four generations of women, all who are highly unlikable and incredibly one dimensional.
What bothered me most was Zoe (a now 40 year old mother of a teen) and her obsession with the "love of her life", her ex with who she parted ways her first semester of college. Some small plot hole here and there. The reactions to Isa's trauma when its finally exposed.
Sadly, for me this lacked all the charm and heart of When We Were Mermaids. Everyone else appear to love it so far - check it out, maybe you will too!
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for a review.
April 11, 2021
O'Neal knows how to hold back a secret. Lovely setting and creepy mystery happening all wrapped up in a family drama.
September 25, 2022
Like any good tale, this novel is a lot of things. It's about family. About healing. About second chance romance.
It feels a bit dichotomous: Not quite British, not fully American. Which makes sense, I guess, as the characters are a mix of both, as is the author's family.
Enjoyable. Good. Not especially memorable, however. But still worth a read, especially for those who enjoy stories about family.
It feels a bit dichotomous: Not quite British, not fully American. Which makes sense, I guess, as the characters are a mix of both, as is the author's family.
Enjoyable. Good. Not especially memorable, however. But still worth a read, especially for those who enjoy stories about family.
January 6, 2021
Another great book by Barbara O’Neal. It takes place mostly in Devon, UK with flashbacks to Santa Fe New Mexico. The story spans over many decades, but mostly in the present time.
The main characters are mostly women of different generations of the same family. The exceptions are Sage who is the life long friend of Zoe’s, Diana, the girl that is missing.
There is so much more to this novel than looking for the girls that are missing in Devon, it also is a second chance book of love and of relationships between generations of women.
I recommend this book for all mother’s and daughters, especially those that are struggling with the teenage syndrome that we all go through.
I read this with Kindle Unlimited, but am currently offering a FREE Kindle E-Book edition in our Group Snag A Read For Free. If you would like to join our group, be sure to Snag Your Read For Free.
The main characters are mostly women of different generations of the same family. The exceptions are Sage who is the life long friend of Zoe’s, Diana, the girl that is missing.
There is so much more to this novel than looking for the girls that are missing in Devon, it also is a second chance book of love and of relationships between generations of women.
I recommend this book for all mother’s and daughters, especially those that are struggling with the teenage syndrome that we all go through.
I read this with Kindle Unlimited, but am currently offering a FREE Kindle E-Book edition in our Group Snag A Read For Free. If you would like to join our group, be sure to Snag Your Read For Free.
July 17, 2020
Zoe Fairchild is living in Santa Fe with her 15 year old daughter Isabel, when she gets a call that her childhood best friend Diana has disappeared. So, Zoe and Isabel pack their bags and travel to Zoe's childhood home town on the Devon sea coast of England. The small village is scenic with thatch roofed buildings and quaint shops and gets lots of tourists. It also holds many memories for Zoe, some happier than others. She remembers running around with her best friends Diana and Sage.
When Zoe was just seven, her mother Poppy left Zoe to live with her grandmother, Lillian, in an old manor house. Poppy took off for India and didn't return for over a decade, leaving Zoe feeling abandoned and bitter.
Now, Zoe and Isabel are living with Lillian, while Zoe tries to avoid Poppy and look into what happened to Diana. There are many tensions and things left unsaid between the 4 generations of Fairchild women. They all try to work their way through it while also trying to figure out what is going on in town.
This novel was a good mix of family drama and mystery. The chapters alternated between the perspective of the 4 lead female characters. The village itself was charming and I could totally picture it in my head after my visit last year to some English villages (though I didn't get to Devon). It made me want to go back to the English countryside. So, good character development and a scenic charming atmosphere made this a satisfying read for me.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When Zoe was just seven, her mother Poppy left Zoe to live with her grandmother, Lillian, in an old manor house. Poppy took off for India and didn't return for over a decade, leaving Zoe feeling abandoned and bitter.
Now, Zoe and Isabel are living with Lillian, while Zoe tries to avoid Poppy and look into what happened to Diana. There are many tensions and things left unsaid between the 4 generations of Fairchild women. They all try to work their way through it while also trying to figure out what is going on in town.
This novel was a good mix of family drama and mystery. The chapters alternated between the perspective of the 4 lead female characters. The village itself was charming and I could totally picture it in my head after my visit last year to some English villages (though I didn't get to Devon). It made me want to go back to the English countryside. So, good character development and a scenic charming atmosphere made this a satisfying read for me.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2020
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and TLC Book Tours for gifting me a copy of THE LOST GIRLS OF DEVON by Barbara O’Neal.
While this story is placed under the mystery genre, I believe that it’s best suited for women’s fiction. There was the overall mystery surrounding the disappearance of Zoe’s best friend, Diane, but to me, that was not the main plot of the storyline. In reality, this book focused on a family that has spent years holding back the truth from one another.
Four generations of women, Lillian, Poppy, Zoe, and Isabel; each woman carried with them a bit of their past or their future that they were scared to come to terms with- from lost memories, child abandonment, and an act of such terrible violation. (Trigger warning: sexual assault and sex trafficking).
What made THE LOST GIRLS OF DEVON so fascinating to me was how each chapter alternating between the four Fairchild women and offered a different glimpse into each of the lives and the secrets that had been harboring for all of these years.
I did enjoy the air of mystery to this story but I didn’t find it to be the sole focus as the synopsis implied. I, also, think that the mystery as to what was happening in Devon was wrapped up a little too quickly. But, overall, I always enjoy a book with a mystery as I find I, too, am trying to solve what was happening.
THE LOST GIRLS OF DEVON will be published on July 14, 2020, and is available for pre-order now!
While this story is placed under the mystery genre, I believe that it’s best suited for women’s fiction. There was the overall mystery surrounding the disappearance of Zoe’s best friend, Diane, but to me, that was not the main plot of the storyline. In reality, this book focused on a family that has spent years holding back the truth from one another.
Four generations of women, Lillian, Poppy, Zoe, and Isabel; each woman carried with them a bit of their past or their future that they were scared to come to terms with- from lost memories, child abandonment, and an act of such terrible violation. (Trigger warning: sexual assault and sex trafficking).
What made THE LOST GIRLS OF DEVON so fascinating to me was how each chapter alternating between the four Fairchild women and offered a different glimpse into each of the lives and the secrets that had been harboring for all of these years.
I did enjoy the air of mystery to this story but I didn’t find it to be the sole focus as the synopsis implied. I, also, think that the mystery as to what was happening in Devon was wrapped up a little too quickly. But, overall, I always enjoy a book with a mystery as I find I, too, am trying to solve what was happening.
THE LOST GIRLS OF DEVON will be published on July 14, 2020, and is available for pre-order now!
June 14, 2020
The Lost Girls of Devon is an intimate story of four generations of women as they work their way though loss and betrayal. All of the women are wonderfully portrayed—none of them perfect, all with regrets and mistakes, but with a passion to love and connect.
March 10, 2021
It was hard to keep the characters straight until I was well into this book. It is about a family of four generations of women in a small village in Devon looking for a missing friend. The second half was better. I liked it but I think I was just expecting more.
September 22, 2023
This was just okay. The characters were interesting, the mystery was sort of silly….meh. I did love the location, which was the English coast. But overall, forgettable.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
April 6, 2020
5 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 01 July 2020 .
This book was phenomenal. I don’t even know where to start to review it. Just a wonderful story from start to finish of four generations of women. Zoe is the mom of Isabel. Isabel has had some sort of tragic bullying episode in high school that has traumatized her and prevented her from going back to school. Zoe is divorced from Martin, a musician, and estranged from Poppy, her mother. Zoe and Isabel live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Zoe’s father raises sheep and is an artistic weaver.
Poppy is a free spirited woman who runs a shop in the town of Axestowe on the Devon coast. Poppy grew up in Devon and fell in love rather young. She raised Zoe in a commune in Devon along with several other children, Sage & Diana. When Zoe was seven, Poppy left to chase her dreams in India, saying she’d be back in a month. Zoe was left with her grandmother Lillian, a prolific mystery author, in a grand old estate in Devon.
Each of these four women has had both tragedy and triumph in their lives. From Lillian’s late in life career as a novelist, Poppy’s successful Kitchen Witch shop, Zoe’s career and motherhood, and Isa’s ability to write. Yet there is also tragedy in each of their lives that holds them back from being all they can be. O’Neal so successfully captures these women as whole and real and imperfect. Zoe smothers Isabel because her own mother didn’t. Poppy ran off to chase her dreams because her mother didn’t. And so the cycle continues.
Enough good things cannot be said about this novel. I loved it so much that I might have to read it again and again. The sign of a well-written and well-cherished piece of work. There is the human factor, the mystery, romance and reality all rolled into one amazing piece of writing. Definitely a must-read!!!
This book was phenomenal. I don’t even know where to start to review it. Just a wonderful story from start to finish of four generations of women. Zoe is the mom of Isabel. Isabel has had some sort of tragic bullying episode in high school that has traumatized her and prevented her from going back to school. Zoe is divorced from Martin, a musician, and estranged from Poppy, her mother. Zoe and Isabel live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Zoe’s father raises sheep and is an artistic weaver.
Poppy is a free spirited woman who runs a shop in the town of Axestowe on the Devon coast. Poppy grew up in Devon and fell in love rather young. She raised Zoe in a commune in Devon along with several other children, Sage & Diana. When Zoe was seven, Poppy left to chase her dreams in India, saying she’d be back in a month. Zoe was left with her grandmother Lillian, a prolific mystery author, in a grand old estate in Devon.
Each of these four women has had both tragedy and triumph in their lives. From Lillian’s late in life career as a novelist, Poppy’s successful Kitchen Witch shop, Zoe’s career and motherhood, and Isa’s ability to write. Yet there is also tragedy in each of their lives that holds them back from being all they can be. O’Neal so successfully captures these women as whole and real and imperfect. Zoe smothers Isabel because her own mother didn’t. Poppy ran off to chase her dreams because her mother didn’t. And so the cycle continues.
Enough good things cannot be said about this novel. I loved it so much that I might have to read it again and again. The sign of a well-written and well-cherished piece of work. There is the human factor, the mystery, romance and reality all rolled into one amazing piece of writing. Definitely a must-read!!!
June 25, 2020
This book was hard for me to rate. I enjoyed most of the book until the mystery behind Diana's disappearance was finally solved. Zoe travels to England to see her grandmother and help find her missing friend. It felt like Diana was such a minor part of the book, even though her disappearance was the center of the story. The whole point of the book was to find out what happened to her. That happens near the end and felt rushed. I have so many questions. How did she discover what was happening? What did she do? I wouldn't describe the book as a mystery at all. It's about family relationships, love, forgiveness, friendship and so much more. I didn't love the characters, but I also didn't hate them. Zoe has so much hatred for her mother and wants everyone who is her friend or family to have nothing to do with Poppy. Maybe she would have know what was happening to Diana if she would have kept taking with her. Instead she was mad at her for talking and being friendly with Poppy. Lillian and Poppy turned out to be better grandmothers than they were mothers. Would Isabel really be able to bring her cat over without it being quarantined? I can't believe they can't find any pictures or videos that were posted online about Isabel. Once it's on the Internet, it's pretty hard to completely erase any trace of it.
Recommend giving the book a try. The description of the scenery was beautiful. The forest with the bluebells was magical. I wanted to be walking on the moors with Sage/Cooper and see the ponies. I LOVED "When We Believed in Mermaids" and "The Art of Inheriting Secrets," so I definitely look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Recommend giving the book a try. The description of the scenery was beautiful. The forest with the bluebells was magical. I wanted to be walking on the moors with Sage/Cooper and see the ponies. I LOVED "When We Believed in Mermaids" and "The Art of Inheriting Secrets," so I definitely look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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