“Memories of the Lost” by Barbara O’Neal is my first book by this author and it will not be the last! The story is about Tillie an artist who recently lost her beloved mother. She sees a painting at her best friend’s art show that triggers memories of a place she’s never been that sets her life spinning. At the same time, while packing up her mother’s belongings she discovers a birth certificate of a child with her name who was killed in a fire. She is suddenly drawn into the web of secrets her mother kept hidden. Ms. O’Neal’s writing is absolutely magical and mysterious at the same time. The beautiful prose kept me emotionally connected to the characters, the chocolate and the reality of both joy and pain. This book is a fairytale mystery for adults that was a delight to read. I highly recommend this book to everyone and look forward to reading many more of Ms. O’Neals books.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In Memories of the Lost by Barbara O’Neal, Tillie is seeking to find footing after the death of her mother a few months earlier. While at a friend’s art showing, a painting entrances her and with the painting came the ethereal Liam. While Liam has had his own challenges of the heart to overcome which led him to becoming a well known meditation guide, there is a cosmic connection he shares with Tillie. As Tillie finalizes the sake of her mother’s property, the last box she removes from her mother’s house is a glimpse into the past that unveils secrets that leave Tillie in a free fall.

Rituals, secrets, discovering your true identity flow throughout the story. This book is like nothing I’ve ever read before. Even with all the upheaval that Tillie was experiencing, it was like the calm of Liam flowed through the reader so there was minimal anxiety at her search for answers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on July 29, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #BarbaraONeal #MemoriesoftheLost #LakeUnionPublishing

3.5 stars. Another strong woman-centered novel from reliable and prolific author Barbara O'Neal. This one features a touch of New Age woo-woo, repressed childhood memories, insta-love, the power of art, a pile of recently unearthed bones and the awesomeness of cats. As with her 2018 book, "The Art of Inheriting Secrets," O'Neal devotes a lot of real estate to the love story, to the detriment of the rest of the crowded plot. And I can't say I was a big fan of the MMC, who travels around the world teaching people how to meditate (he makes bank but feels guilty about it). But I've been following O'Neal for more than 30 years (and three pseudonyms), so I'll continue to greet her future releases with pleasure.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.

Thank you to net galley for an early copy off the is novel in exchange for an honest review.
Barbara O’’Neal is one of my very favorites.
Her books are layered with beauty, nature, food, family, tragedy, love, and challenges.
I read every book of hers and re-read it immediately to make sure I capture all the nuances and return to the world she creates .
Memories of the lost is one of her best as she continues to be a force in women’s fiction.
Tillie is a complex character, an artist suffering from grief, trauma, and memory lapses. When she meets Liam she is instantly drawn to him in ways she cannot understand.
Their intense connection and journey to the root of Tillie’s past is layered beautifully with art and spirituality, and the demands of practical life.
I loved being immersed in the culture of the art world and then in the rural seaside of England where Tillie finds more than she ever realized or could have hoped for.
A great read, beautiful love story, and testament to what the unconscious knows and protects us from.

O'Neal's books get better and better! I have loved all of her previous books, but this one is truly the topper. I didn't want it to end but yet I couldn't put it down. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity.

Tillie’s mother has just passed and she finds mysterious documents while cleaning out her house. It seems her mother had a lot to hide. Tillie goes to England to help unravel the mystery. Memories of the Lost is just the right mix of family drama, mystery and romance.

At first, I thought this was going to be a fairytale but as I kept reading a whole different story emerged. Call it faith, serendipity or coincident, but I loved the way the truth of the story evolved. I prefer faith. I love how Tillie and Liam meet and how they are connected but don't even know yet. I love how instantly they like each other and that there isn't any hidden agendas between them. I love the mystical and the mystery of the story and I love all the animals in this story, especially George. I like how all of the characters are creative and that creation help them in life. I almost wish I could find a painting that is described in the story, it sounds enriching. I love the spiritually that Liam is a part of, by being in the moment and find your center and helping Tillie when she needed it.
I just love the surprise of this story and the comfort that Tillie finds when the mystery is solved. This is just a wonderful enchanting story that will make you intrigued and happy at the same time.

I want to Thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy of this enchanting and mysterious story.

This is the first book of Barbara O'Neal's that didn't just absolutely fling me into nirvana from page one. I'm sorry to say that I didn't connect with the characters, and the mysticism was a little much. But other loved it, so I'll maybe take another run at it in a few months and reconsider my rating.

Wow. Barbara O’Neal is one of my favorite writers. And her new book did not disappoint. Tillie is an artist, getting ready for her next show, her art is different like something out of the hobbit. When she sees people on the street she also sees them as an animal , and she incorporates both into her painting. On her way to her best friend’s art show in the rain she help’s a lady who in return gives her a stone. Tillie goes to the exhibit where she sees a small painting that triggers a migraine and maybe some memories. She gets sick from the migraine and a very nice and handsome man comes to her rescue and helps her home. I don’t want to give anything away, I will just say from here she starts on a very magical journey. Wonderful book. Memories Of The Lost-Five stars. Thank you NetGalley for sharing a copy with me. All opinions expressed are my own.

Memories of the Lost was such a calm and soothing book that at times I felt like I was participating in the meditation Liam was so famous for leading. The writing was poetic and easy to read, and the story was so perfectly paced that I didn’t feel bored or rushed for a second. As Tillie began to piece together the truth of her past and fate wove her and Liam together, there was a sense of coming home.

There were a lot of broken characters who had struggled with addiction, depression, and loss, and I appreciated the care the author took in representing them. While all had been through a lot, they found enough hope to pull them through their darknesses.

I also loved the way this book came full circle. Whether you believe in fate or love at first sight or not, you can’t deny how well both were crafted and intricately woven into this story. By the time I reached the end of the book my heart felt so full and I wanted to experience it all again!

If you’re looking for a calming book with broken pasts, emotional journeys, and mended hearts, I highly recommend you read this one when it’s released on July 30th!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Tillie hasn't been the same the last few months. When she sees a painting, she feels drawn to it. This was a good book.

Memories of the Lost is a fairy tale, a love story and a mystery all rolled into one. It's a very clever tale of loss and memories and how sometimes, those memories are just waiting in a box for you to let them out.
Tillie, an artist in New York, has recently lost her mother and is feeling adrift in the world. Attending an art show for a friend of hers, she sees a painting that sends her spinning - it's of a place she's never been and yet she knows it in her bones. At the same time, she meets Liam, a visiting meditation teacher, and they feel a connection that seems fated.

Tillie finds herself more and more confused by dreams she's having, triggered by the painting, and then discovers conflicting paperwork while cleaning out her mother's house. She is drawn to finding out what secrets her mother hid from her and, at the same time, figure out her connection to Liam.

I've never read any of Barbara O'Neal's work before and it's quite magical. I loved the fairy tale aspects and how the prologue tied the story up so well. It's beautifully written and I will definitely seek out more of her work.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this free digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Great fan of Barbara O'Neal and this story does not disappoint. Little romance, little mystery, great writing. Add in some old folklore and you have a great read.

I really enjoyed this book until the ending. Tillie sees a painting in an art gallery that instantly gives her a migraine and starts a series of fugue states. That same night she meets Liam and the two of them have many surprising coincidences and feel they’ve known each other forever. Something is happening to Tillie and clues lead her to solve the mystery of her life.
Great characters and an interesting plot that wouldn’t let me put the book down but the ending was so abrupt and rushed and didn’t answer many of the novels questions that it really took away from my overall enjoyment of the book. We don’t know what happens with Liam’s work situation, do they move, what happens next and so on.

I knew when I finished the first page of this book that I would need to put life on hold because I was going to need to just sit and read and breathe this book until I finished the last page and that’s exactly what I did. Sometimes late into the night, one night it was pretty much all night until I finished it and then I had to have a good cry to get all of that delicious emotion out so I could rest. Whew! What a beautiful, glorious story. It filled up my whole body with its delicious descriptions of art, and chocolate, and beautiful places and the most glorious characters.

As only this author can do, she created a world to live in that will be on my mind and in my heart for years to come. I can’t describe the feelings that she always gives rise to in her books. There’s something mysterious and magical in the places she creates, the art and food she describes and the people that inhabit her stories. They fill up a place in my soul that longs for the beauties of this world and her books have created such happiness for me.

This book immediately spoke to my soul, from the minute that Tillie and Liam stepped into the scene I was captured and kept captive until I turned the last page.

There was a great mystery, and while it was at the heart of the story, it really took a back seat to the characters, their goodness and the light they brought into my soul, I fell in love with them with every page.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of romance and magical stories that transport you to a world you never want to leave and will continue to think about and want to revisit for years to come. This is my favorite book of the year, no doubt

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own

Five stars from me after reading Memories of the Lost by Barbara O' Neal, a story of losing family and finding family. Tillie's melding memories cause her headaches and an inner turmoil. Then she meets the beautiful Liam, a motivational speaker who has become tired of who's he has been projected to be. Between the two of them they end up finding joy, family and themselves.
I find Barbara O'Neal has a lyrical way with words telling her stories without being to wordy. She is a long time favorite of mine and Memories of the Lost did not disappoint.
My thanks to #NetGalley for an opportunity to early read Memories of the Lost in return for a fair and honest review.

This novel is about memories, how they affect us, how a smell or seeing something can bring those memories to the surface. Tillie Morrisey is an artist, while attending a friend’s art show, she sees a painting which leaves her confused, dazed and unsure. Seeing her in distress, Liam helps Tillie and a bond is created which feels so natural to both of them, it doesn’t seem real. When Tillie finds a birth certificate while cleaning out her Mother’s home, she can’t understand nor comprehend the ramifications. As Tillie begins to become more confused, lose pockets of time and starts seeing visions, she begins to question everything she knows. With the help of Liam, Tillie will begin a journey that will bring her joy and sorrow wrapped up together.

I can’t say enough about how I enjoy Barbara O’Neal books and this latest book is no exception. Barbara is one of the few gifted authors where the reader feels what a character is dealing with, her writing style lets the reader understand the pain, the grief, the joy and the happiness the character is feeling. I read her books quickly as I want to devour each page and find out what happens. Then I slowly reread the book so I can slide into the drama of the book. Barbara O’Neal is a pleasure to read and I look forward to each new book. Well done once again.

'Memories of the Lost' whisked me off on an enchanting adventure right from the start. The story begins when Tillie stumbles upon a mysterious painting in a gallery, triggering a journey that unearths forgotten memories and family secrets.

O'Neal's writing paints a vivid picture of Tillie's world, giving it a fairy-tale like quality, especially her descriptions of Tillie's painting and the artwork she discovers.

The story is told through the eyes of Tillie and Liam, which I found really refreshing. It was great to see things from both perspectives. Tillie brought a dreamy, artistic vibe, while Liam offered a more down-to-earth viewpoint.

This book was an awesome mix of romance and mystery that kept me glued to the page.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me the opportunity to read this advance copy.

I can’t remember the last time I was so engrossed in a novel.
O’Neal is a master of her craft, seamlessly breathing life into her words.
With beautiful prose, compelling characters, swoon-worthy romance and a mystery that keeps you guessing, this book is everything a reader could want.
One of my favorite things about this novel is its beautifully haunting fairytale undertones.

This story is told in multiple pov’s and is centered around our FMC, Tillie.

At the opening night of her best friend’s art show in New York, Tillie finds herself drawn to a painting in the back by another artist. The crushing sense of familiarity in the painting leaves her faint and unsteady. As a handsome stranger comes to help they build an instant connection. But, seeing that painting has triggered something in Tillie, memories of a life she never had, lost time and fugue states.
Tillie is desperate to find out what’s happening. As she’s packing away her late mother’s boxes, she finds a document that upends her life and leads her and this handsome stranger on a search for the truth. What was her mother hiding? And how will she find out the truth?

This story weaves a beautiful tale of love, loss and family.

My only complaint is that I didn’t feel like things were completely wrapped up by the end of the book.

Perfect for fans of Kristen Hannah, Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Kate Morton

You’ll love this book if you enjoy themes of
-Mysteries
-Family Secrets
-Romance
-Amnesia
-Multiple POV’s
-Spirituality
-Art
-Dark Fairytale Vibes

Thank you so much NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed absolutely EVERYTHING about this beautiful novel- the sensual descriptions of nature and emotions and relationships, the love story, the family ties, and the mystery about Tillie's identity that kept me turning pages quickly. I also loved the fact that Liam is a meditation teacher who is in touch with himself- his thoughts and feelings. His inner journey throughout the book was as interesting to me as Tillie's journey.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.