Perhaps my expectations were too high after reading some stellar books from this author in the past, or perhaps I was just not in the right mood, but this book was mostly just okay for me.

It is the story of three women: Willow is a folk singer/musician struggling to find a place for herself in the world of music and direction for her life. Samantha is her sister, a video game designer whose company is struggling since she and her long term partner Asher split after a big fight. Their aunt Gloria is a retired flight attendant who took care of the girls after their famous musician mother died of an overdose. As the three each struggle to overcome their personal issues, an older hidden secret of Gloria's threatens to come to light and she might have to make a life-altering decision.

I didn't really connect with any of the characters and overall I didn't find any of the storylines particularly resonant or memorable. Part of the problem was that with three major storylines we never got any depth from any of them, they didn't come close to the emotion of When We Believed in Mermaids . O'Neal does know how to write captivating stories of sisters, and the confrontation between Willow and Sam toward the end of the book gave a small glimpse at what I was hoping for the entire time.

This was a pleasant read, just nothing I will probably remember a month from now.

The latest novel from bestselling author Barbara O’Neal weaves the stories of three women: 70-something Instagram influencer Gloria and her two nieces: struggling musician, Willow, and video game creator, Sam. When someone from Gloria’s past gets arrested for art forgery and theft, Gloria finds herself facing prison or a life on the run. Her nieces have their own troubles: Willow’s back from LA after a failed album and is tired of living in her late-mother’s rock-star shadow. Sam, on the brink of losing her video game company and estranged from best friend and former co-worker, Asher, struggles to keep her anger from overflowing onto those she loves. When Sam ends up in the hospital, the three of them must face up to past hurts and regrets if their futures are to involve each other. O’Neal threads together a compelling tale with the three viewpoints, treating readers to her usual delicious prose and accurate insight into human nature.

THOUGHTS: Overall this was an enjoyable read, but the depth of character and beautiful writing definitely outshines the plot itself, which I found slightly lacking. The pacing seemed a little off, and some of the backstory felt repetitive. That said, Barbara O’Neal is a great writer and her hard work is evident in everything she writes. It’s difficult to pull off three-dimensional characters the way she does. If you’re looking for a rich character-driven novel with relationship drama and good writing, this is a great pick.

I tried to read this book, but found it was the wrong book for me, unfortunately. I have never read anything by this author before and perhaps I should try another one of her books...we'll see. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm just here for Gloria, a retired TWA flight attendant "trained in the midsixties, when girls still had to quit when they turned thirty-two or married or gained too much weight." Now in her 70s, she's an Instagram influencer. She raised her sister's daughters after a tragically early death; these motherless girls have issues. While they have their issues, Gloria is connected with an art thief and counterfeiter.

This is my first read by this author; she knows how to tell a story. It wraps up a little ham-and-cheesy for me, but I enjoyed this overall. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Powerful and Uplifting
This is the most amazing story! I did not want to put it down for any reason. The plot is done so well that it reaches out and sucks you in. All of the characters are real persons in the book; flaws and attributes for all. The ending is supremely satisfying, but I still wanted more. This was the best kind of Women's fiction. I will certainly be reading more of the author's work.
I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Former flight attendant and current Instagram influencer Gloria's perfect life is about to come crashing down. Her former lover and partner in some shady art deals has been arrested by Interpol and she could soon be up to her neck in trouble. As if that is not enough, her two nieces are both undergoing personal crises of their own and she may not be able to be around to help them.
Willow, a talented musician ends up in Gloria's NYC apartment with only the clothes on her back and a bag of stuff. Her latest relationship tanked after her debut music album flopped. Samantha is struggling with the imminent loss of her gaming company after her life long friend and partner has left the company and pretty much her life as well.
The three women have a complicated relationship mostly due to the girl's mother Billie who was a famous singer whose life ended badly ( think Janis Joplin). Gloria had to step in and become the mother to her sister's children. As Gloria plans how she will get through her own difficulties, she also is trying to provide support and encouragement to her nieces without letting them know what is going on. All three women have to examine their relationship with each other and the their loved ones. Going back to their relationship with Billie and seeing how it has set the pattern for their emotional health or non health is scary but necessary if they are to have any future happiness.
This is a beautifully written story about love and loss, unfulfilled needs, and how easy it is to let love turn toxic if you aren't careful.

I adore author Barbara O’Neal and have read quite a bit of her back-list and loved them all, so was very excited to read her latest work, “Write My Name Across the Sky”. I also enjoy multi-generational family stories and found this novel of a retired flight-attendant Gloria and her two nieces, Sam and Willow completely engrossing and engaging. Each of the characters has life issues that are extremely urgent, and each must learn to trust and rely on the others as they deal with them. Highly recommend to those who like family dramas, especially those set in NYC. My sincere thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary e-ARC which did not influence my review.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. That is what each of these characters does in this book. Each woman has her own trials and tribulations and all have an issue with trust, at least with each other.

Gloria hasn't let life slow her down, even when her sister dies and she takes charge of her nieces, Willow and Samantha (Sam). She raises them in an apartment in New York that sounds amazing. Thankfully, it was purchased and not a rental..can you even imagine the cost? Gloria has traveled the world as a flight attendant and still has gatherings with those that she started with at the airline. Those are the kinds of friends to have, the ones that stick by you through thick and thin. Gloria is about to find that out when her past comes to light and she has to come clean about some of her actions that involve these friends. Art forgery and theft is nothing to sneeze at but there is more to the story.

Willow is a talented musician and she inherited that talent from her mother, a world-famous singer. I think that Willow isn't as confident in herself and her talents and it takes a journey home to realize that maybe she does have what it takes once she grounds herself. I enjoy her interactions with Josiah and how he brings out the best in her, especially when it comes to her music. I know this is fiction, but anyone that can create music is amazing to me.

Sam is also a whizkid when it comes to gaming. She and her friend, Asher, wrote a game when they were teenagers that made them millionaires. However, an incident causes them to part ways and Sam's business is floundering, so much that she is considering getting an outside investor. You know what happens when that occurs, nothing good. However, an illness might bring Sam to realize what she has lost or is on the verge of losing before it is too late.

These three women have grit but are also vulnerable in one way or another. Despite their differences in the past, they can come together to support one another and move forward with life. I liked all of these characters and could understand why they were reserved with one another at times. Even the best of relationships need work and can flounder when not tended. Because of their flawed relationships, I think many could relate to one of them in one form or fashion.

Overall, we enjoyed this book and give it 5 paws up. I will be seeking out some of her other works to enjoy.

This was my first reading of Barbara O’Neal’s work but it won’t be my last! Sam and Willow are the adult daughters of Billie, a singer who died of an overdose when they were young. Billie’s sister, Gloria, stepped in after Billie’s death. and raised the girls. Sam is a video game developer with problems in both her business and personal life. Willow has a floundering career in music and has returned to NYC to housesit for Gloria who has a major longstanding problem of her own. O’Neal develops likable, complex characters who are each forced to face her own issues and resolve hard feelings from their pasts. This was a cozy, happy read and I thoroughly recommend it. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

WRITE MY NAME ACROSS THE SKY by Barbara O'Neal shares the story of two sisters and the aunt who raised them after the death of their successful, famous punk/rock performer mother. Now adults, the sisters struggle to connect in the present while honoring the past that brought them to where they are, helping their aunt face the consequences of a long-hidden enterprise. From the first page, this novel was a mesmerizing, total immersion -- keeping me up way too late. I loved every minute of the memories, the love, the creation of art, and how we care for one another -- the characters were full-bodied, lusty wonderful people that I want to know in real life. Beautiful writing and a gripping story--a novel doesn't get any better than this. Terrific read any time of the year, but particularly great in the summer! I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.

It's not often that I lose myself in a book like I did with Write My Name Across the Sky. The story combined just the right amount of family drama, suspense and emotion for my tastes. The use of alternating voices made me feel like I was right there in New York City observing and rooting for sisters Willow and Sam and Aunt Gloria who had pretty much raised them after their mother's death. Gloria brought to mind my own cousin who had also made airline stewardess her lifelong career. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Barbara O'Neal's latest novel. I look forward to reading many more!

An un-put-downable read! I devoured this book in a day. It’s so much more than a book about two sisters who are night and day. It’s about chasing dreams, failing, living large, making mistakes, forgiveness, and yes, love on many levels. Beautifully written, engaging, and relatable. I’ve become a huge fan of Barbara O’Neil’s over the past year and look forward to what comes next!

This is the story of three women - Sam, Willow & Gloria. Gloria Rose is the 74 year-old aunt of Sam & Willow, and when she was much younger, she was in love with an art forger. Now, she lives on the Upper West Side in a beautiful loft with a rooftop garden, tending her flowers, and is an instagram influencer. Sam is the older sister and she owns a video game company that is in trouble. She has been resentful of Willow since she was born, so they have always had a prickly relationship. In fact, most relationships with Sam are prickly. Willow is a singer who has always been overshadowed by their notorious singer-songwriter mother, who had the fame that Willow has always craved.
The book is told is in alternating parts between the three women. At first, I had a little trouble keeping their storylines straight, until they started intersecting. Once I was able to, the book was very enjoyable.

4 stars

Write My Name Across the Sky by Barbara O’Neal is a warm novel about three women, closely related, and their journeys through their family history, individual histories, and personal growth.
Set in present day New York City, the story is told from 3 POVs. Gloria is a retired flight attendant with rich experiences and strong ties to her adult nieces, whom she has raised.
Samantha is a video game designer who is struggling with business and personal crises. And Willow is a musician and younger sister with a lagging career and dip in self-confidence.
The story nicely winds through the various crises and situations in which these women find themselves, past and present. It nicely illuminates their relationships with others, and among themselves, and explores the complicated family dynamics and intrinsic bonds they have forged from shared DNA and their relationships over the years.
I enjoyed this family saga and applaud the author’s ability to explore the delicate balances in female relationships in a warm, thoughtful manner.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

This story follows the lives of three women: Gloria (70-something) and her two nieces Sam and Willow (both in their thirties). All three women have their own personal demons and challenges to overcome including a potential FBI investigation, a bad break-up and the collapse of a business. Told from alternating perspectives this is a fairly pacey read.

Initially, I was captivated by Gloria's story - the idea of a long ago love, an art forgery and the impact on her present life was really interesting. The problem was, this was far too often interrupted by the other two stories, which really didn't have much going for them.

As characters, I felt all three were grossly under developed, which is saying something given how much page space was given to each of them. Whilst there was some introspection on certain issues it was more like "Why do I do that?", "Oh, that's why I do that", "Oh look, I'm doing it again".

None of the three story lines really went anywhere, until a neat resolution at the end, which actually, was a bit hammy and a total anti-climax. Equally, I struggled with the style of writing - there was a lot of repetition, especially over physical character traits (there's only so often you need to be told someone is dainty like a bird, or has wild untamed hair). I'll be honest, I actually thought this was the work of a debut novelist.

By no means was this a "bad" book - it was enjoyable enough, easy to read (some personal frustrations aside) but it just didn't have any grit to it, and left me feeling a bit meh.

Now I know this is not a debut novel, I'd definitely check out some more of the author's work, perhaps this was a bit of a damp squib (we're all entitled to them).

This is not my normal type of read. I’m a hard core thriller lover and appreciate that this made it on my radar.

Willow and Sam’s Mom died when they were young and their Aunt Gloria stepped in to raise them. Gloria chose a career as a flight attendant over settling down with a family. Willow is a musician that hasn’t quite fulfilled her potential, while Sam built an app company that is now struggling.

Each character takes a turn narrating their intertwined story of secrets, struggles and family. I was drawn into the rich characters, both their present and their past. Each of the characters are going through a difficult moment in their life and are afraid to lean on each other.

It was an emotional read at times. I always appreciate an author that can stir up my emotions. I shed a tear or two by being drawn into the characters and their trials, tribulations and triumphs. This book will stay with me for a while.

I highly recommend this for the deep rich characters and compelling storyline.

I was swept away by Barbara O'Neal's story of the Rose women, Gloria and her nieces Sam and Willow, two generations trying to do their best by each other while grappling with regrets and hurt from the past.

Gloria is a seventy-something influencer who lived a glamorous life as a flight attendant before giving it up to take in her nieces when her rock star sister died of an overdose. Now grown women, Sam, a brilliant video game designer, is on the verge of losing her company and the man who's always been there for her because of her abandonment issues, and her half-sister Willow, a violin prodigy, is lost after another bad break up and the failure of her first album. When the love of Gloria's life is arrested for art theft and forgery, she knows it's only a matter of time before the FBI shows up on her doorstep but with her nieces' lives in shambles, she has to decide whether to flee and save herself or stay and save them.

Told through alternating POVs, it's hard not to root for this unconventional family to land on its feet. I loved the intrigue around the art forgeries, Gloria's band of former flight attendant besties (I want to have lunch at the Russian Tea Room every week when I'm her age!), Sam's relationship with her best friend Asher and Willow's new friendship with fellow musician Josiah. But most of all, I was sucked in by the relatable dynamic between three women all pursuing their dreams. They're not always nice to one another but they learn and they grow throughout the novel in realistic ways.

This was so close to a five star read for me but I thought the ending tied up a bit too quickly and I didn't love the epilogue. But don't let that deter you - I highly recommend you pick up 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗠𝗬 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗞𝗬 when it releases tomorrow. It's an intimate look at a family at a crossroads that I couldn't put it down.

4.5 stars

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a copy to review.

A beautifully written enjoyable read. . The first for me by this author. I really enjoyed the plot, which i thought was very original and also the characters were very believable. My only concern was the description of Sam’s bacterial meningitis, as I am sure this is a disease that can affect your memory and yet she did not seem to have this problem. However it was a satisfying read and i will look out for more.

I loved When We Believed in Mermaids and the cover of this new book by Barbara O'Neal instantly caught my eye!! Her writing is so captivating and I immensely enjoy her ability to tell a story. I devoured Write My Name Across the Sky and loved reading it. It's hard to classify the genre of this book as anything other than straight contemporary fiction although there is a smidge of romance, a smidge of a historical storyline, and some suspenseful plot points. It is utterly and completely readable and I told my book bestie that I'd recommend this as an ideal vacation type of read because it absorbed my attention entirely and left me with a smile on my face -- what more can you ask of a book!?

I loved these characters, though one of them (intentionally) took a bit to warm up to - but Willow and Gloria in particular were so lovable. Music & comfort food & art are some of the themes throughout this book that really reflects on family & childhood and how that affects one's life as an adult. 4.5/5 stars

Can't recommend this one enough! Thank you to Lake Union & Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

My first book by this author, I quite enjoyed it. A tale of three strong-willed women faced with choices that will change the direction of their lives. Gloria Rose is a retired flight attendant who has become an Instagram influencer, showing the world that being in your seventies doesn't mean you are done living. But when her former lover has been arrested for art forgery, Gloria is worried that her involvement decades earlier will come to light and she will lose the life she loves. Unable to face the possibility of jail, she plans to run, but can she leave the nieces she has cared for since her sister died 25 years ago? Willow is a talented musician who has returned to NYC to live with her aunt after her first album has flopped and her boyfriend has unceremoniously thrown her out of his home. Willow's sister, Sam, is a prodigy game designer with abandonment and anger management issues that are sending her life spiraling. Each is so focused on independence and success that they risk losing out on the happiness that life has to offer them. Well written with layered, engaging characters and a smooth-flowing plot.