The Starfish Sisters Summary, Characters and Themes
The Starfish Sisters by Barbara O’Neal is a heart-stirring tale of friendship, healing, and the power of forgiveness.
Set on the rugged, misty coast of Oregon, it follows lifelong best friends Phoebe and Suze as they reunite after years of estrangement. The story explores the deep emotional undercurrents of their shared past—childhood summers, family trauma, hidden betrayals—and how those old wounds still shape them as adults. With lyrical prose and richly drawn characters, the novel invites readers into an intimate journey of memory, grief, and reconciliation, proving that sometimes, love and truth can survive even the fiercest storms.
Summary
Phoebe and Suze were once inseparable, bonded by childhood summers on the Oregon coast and the safety they found at Phoebe’s grandmother Beryl’s house. Now, decades later, the two women are reunited—but not by choice.
Suze, physically and emotionally battered from a violent hate crime and the recent loss of her partner Dmitri to COVID, returns to her secluded hilltop home to heal. The house, once a dream from their youth, was discovered together and eventually purchased by Suze.
Phoebe, who manages the property and lives nearby, feels both protective and resentful. Their shared past is steeped in love and hurt, and years of silence have only deepened the rift between them.
As Suze watches Phoebe from the window of her modern Frank Lloyd Wright-style retreat, she’s overwhelmed by guilt and the unspoken truths that drove them apart. Phoebe, meanwhile, buries herself in art and caretaking, her every move shadowed by memories of Beryl and the complicated tangle of her relationship with Suze.
The coastal town of Blue Cove—windswept, mystical, and filled with familiar touchstones from their youth—acts almost like a character itself, constantly stirring old ghosts and unanswered questions.
Through alternating chapters, the story unfolds in both present-day reflections and fragments from their past: secret letters, childhood diary entries, and pivotal events from the 1970s.
We learn that Suze’s childhood was marked by a rigid and abusive father, a preacher who imposed brutal punishments and stifled her spirit. She found solace in Phoebe’s world, where Beryl offered kindness and creative freedom.
During those summers, the girls dreamed big, fell in and out of crushes, and confided everything in each other. Their bond was unshakable—until it wasn’t.
The rupture in their friendship stems from a heartbreaking deception. As teenagers, Suze and Joel, a sweet, artistic boy from school, fell in love. When Suze became pregnant, she was sent away to a home for unwed mothers.
Joel wrote to her, offering support and love, but Phoebe—fearful, overwhelmed, and convinced she was protecting her friend—intercepted and kept the letter from Suze. Suze never knew Joel wanted to be there for her.
Instead, she assumed he’d abandoned her, and her baby was given up for adoption. That single choice by Phoebe altered the course of all their lives.
As adults, both women are burdened by the fallout of that lost connection. Joel eventually reappears in town, stirring painful memories and unresolved emotions. Phoebe, wracked with guilt, writes Suze a full confession.
The letter is a turning point—raw, vulnerable, and honest. Suze, still healing from her physical trauma and loss, is emotionally gutted by the revelations. But there’s a slow thawing. With time, conversation, and space for truth, Suze and Phoebe begin to stitch the pieces back together.
Phoebe’s granddaughter Jasmine becomes a bridge between the two women—curious, intuitive, and a symbol of the next generation unburdened by old pain. Together, they explore tide pools and revisit childhood haunts, evoking the metaphor that gives the novel its title: like starfish, capable of regenerating even after profound injury, they, too, can heal.
In the final chapters, the long-awaited confrontation arrives. Suze confronts Phoebe, emotions flaring, but ultimately they both take responsibility for their actions and inactions.
There is no easy resolution, but there is grace. In the closing moments at the tide pools, the women stand side by side—older, wiser, scarred, but still standing. The “Starfish Sisters” have returned not to what they were, but to something even more resilient: a friendship rebuilt, grounded in truth, and forged by time.
Characters
Phoebe
Phoebe is an artist and a caretaker, deeply connected to the land and the legacy of her grandmother, Beryl. Throughout the novel, Phoebe’s identity is shaped by her role as a nurturer, a woman who is often torn between caring for others and addressing her own emotional needs.
Her bond with Suze, her childhood best friend, is central to her story, yet it is fraught with unresolved tension. Phoebe’s feelings toward Suze are complex, rooted in deep love and a simultaneous sense of betrayal.
This conflict stems from both personal and familial history, particularly the death of her grandmother, which left her feeling abandoned by Suze, who had her own demons to deal with. Phoebe is haunted by the guilt of keeping a crucial letter from Suze—one that could have changed the trajectory of Suze’s life and their friendship.
As the story unfolds, Phoebe grapples with her own role in the emotional rift between them. She balances the deep desire to heal and reconnect with the weight of old wounds.
Suze
Suze’s character is marked by layers of trauma, particularly stemming from an abusive and controlling father, a chaotic upbringing, and a life filled with emotional scars. Suze’s journey is one of healing, as she attempts to reconcile the person she is now with the troubled past she carries.
Returning to Oregon after being physically attacked by a hate group, she is not only recovering from her injuries but also confronting the deep emotional wounds she has buried for years. Her return to the Oregon coast is symbolic of a return to herself, though it’s fraught with hesitation and guilt.
Suze’s character is complex in her silence—she is burdened with secrets, particularly about her relationship with Joel, her lost love, and the child she had under circumstances that were never fully disclosed to Phoebe. She struggles to find the right moment to confess her truths, yet it is her vulnerability and need for forgiveness that makes her character resonate.
As the novel progresses, Suze is forced to reconcile with the past, with Phoebe, and with herself. All while carrying the weight of her unspoken history.
Joel
Joel plays a critical yet somewhat peripheral role in the emotional arc of both Phoebe and Suze. His presence in the story serves as a catalyst for the unraveling of hidden truths.
Joel and Suze were in love as teenagers, but their relationship was interrupted by a series of unfortunate circumstances—most notably Phoebe’s decision to hide the letter that could have kept them together. Joel’s return to the story, as a man now grappling with his own life and losses, forces Suze to confront the depth of her unhealed wounds.
The rekindling of something fragile between Joel and Suze in the later chapters represents not only the possibility of healing for Suze but also the reawakening of a part of herself she had long buried. Joel symbolizes the love and connection Suze once had but lost, and his return challenges both women to confront their past and the choices they made.
Jasmine
Jasmine, Phoebe’s granddaughter, offers a sense of renewal and hope in the midst of the novel’s heavy emotional landscape. While Phoebe and Suze are mired in their pasts, Jasmine represents the potential for new beginnings.
Her innocence, curiosity, and unwavering love for her grandmother provide a counterpoint to the trauma and secrets that weigh down the older characters. Jasmine’s interactions with Phoebe—particularly their explorations of the tide pools—serve as symbolic moments of healing and renewal, reflecting the growth and understanding that is possible even in the most painful of circumstances.
Through Jasmine, the novel hints at the possibility of generational healing. It suggests that the future holds promise for those who are willing to confront their past and make peace with it.
Themes
The Long-Reaching Impact of Childhood Trauma and Its Influence on Adult Identity
A central theme in The Starfish Sisters is the enduring impact of childhood trauma, which significantly shapes the characters’ emotional lives as adults. Suze’s past, dominated by her abusive father and the psychological scars from a troubled childhood, casts a long shadow over her life. These early experiences of control, pain, and the lack of maternal warmth inform much of her internal struggles, especially as she navigates her adulthood.
This trauma isn’t merely something Suze can leave behind; it’s intricately woven into her sense of self, her relationships, and her reactions to the world around her. Phoebe, too, is not untouched by her own childhood experiences. While her memories are tinted by more nurturing influences like her grandmother Beryl, her deep connection to Suze also compels her to reckon with the unhealed wounds that persist from their youth.
As the novel progresses, the emotional reverberations of these childhood events become clear—both women must come to terms with their past in order to fully understand who they have become as adults. This theme underscores how early life experiences, particularly those steeped in pain, can shape one’s emotional landscape in profound ways.
Betrayal, Healing, and Reconciliation Being a Complicated Nature of Friendship
The complicated bond between Phoebe and Suze is a profound exploration of the nature of friendship, particularly how it can evolve and endure through deep betrayal, emotional injury, and eventual healing. The years of silence and estrangement between the two women, after the death of Phoebe’s grandmother and Suze’s unresolved guilt and grief, highlight the fragile nature of human connections.
Phoebe’s decision to withhold the letter from Joel—the one that could have changed the course of Suze’s life—is a pivotal betrayal that sets the stage for the breakdown of their once-deep friendship. However, the novel also emphasizes the capacity for healing and the potential for reconciliation when both individuals are willing to confront their past mistakes.
The exploration of their friendship is not simply about the hurts they’ve caused each other, but about the complexities of love, loyalty, and forgiveness. As they slowly rebuild their relationship, both women confront their fears, vulnerabilities, and unspoken truths, learning that reconciliation is a messy but necessary path toward healing.
The Role of Secrets in Shaping Relationships and Personal Growth
A recurring theme throughout The Starfish Sisters is the role that secrets play in shaping relationships and influencing personal growth. From the very beginning of the novel, both Phoebe and Suze carry heavy secrets that prevent them from fully engaging with each other. For Suze, the secrets involve the trauma of her past—especially her secret pregnancy and the child she had to give up, believing it to be the result of a failed romance.
Phoebe, on the other hand, holds the secret of the letter that could have altered the course of Suze’s life, keeping it from her out of a misguided sense of protection. These secrets, while initially hidden, eventually come to the surface, forcing both women to confront the truth of their actions and decisions.
The revelation of these secrets is pivotal for their emotional growth and for the evolution of their relationship. It serves as a reminder that while secrets may protect individuals in the short term, they also create barriers to intimacy and understanding. Ultimately, the process of uncovering and confronting these secrets becomes crucial to the characters’ ability to heal and evolve.
The Symbolism of the Oregon Coast
The Oregon coast, with its dramatic cliffs, tide pools, and vast stretches of beach, serves as a powerful symbol in the novel. It is not merely a backdrop to the story but an active participant in the emotional journeys of Phoebe and Suze. For Suze, the coast offers solace and a sense of connection to her past, particularly to her grandmother Beryl, whose memory is intimately tied to the landscape.
The natural world, with its cycles of ebb and flow, mirrors Suze’s own healing process—her need to retreat, reflect, and ultimately embrace change. For Phoebe, the coast is a place of emotional reckoning. As she prepares to face the unresolved tensions with Suze, the coast offers moments of stillness that allow her to reflect on her own role in their estrangement.
The tide pools, specifically, represent the possibility of new beginnings and deep emotional connections—both with the natural world and with the people they love. The landscape, therefore, is not just a setting but a living symbol of renewal, transformation, and the slow, sometimes painful process of healing.
Generational Relationships and the Influence of Motherhood and Grandmotherhood
A subtle yet significant theme in The Starfish Sisters is the exploration of generational relationships, particularly the roles of mothers and grandmothers. Phoebe’s reflections on her own experiences as a mother and grandmother reveal the ways in which these roles shape identity and emotional growth. Her relationship with her granddaughter Jasmine is portrayed as one of mutual affection and grounding, providing a stark contrast to the more complicated and fraught relationship she had with her own mother.
Through the lens of motherhood and grandmotherhood, the novel explores the transmission of love, pain, and personal history across generations. Phoebe’s experiences with Beryl also shed light on the ways in which maternal figures can provide both stability and conflict, acting as anchors in times of emotional turmoil.
This generational lens underscores the novel’s broader exploration of healing, as Phoebe seeks to repair not just her friendship with Suze but also to understand her own place within the web of family and love that stretches across time.