I received The Book of Two Ways ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Jodi Picoult didn't leave me disappointed at all! After reading other reviews, I was worried it would be a bust. However, I was really pleased that it had a great story line. Despite a lot of Egyptian history, which there was a lot of, it definitely made me think about my own past and what might have been had I chosen a different path. Doesn't everyone have regrets? The main character, Dawn, made decisions in her life that left her with thoughts of what might have been. Some parts were a bit confusing and the Egyptian history was a bit overwhelming and not really needed in that amount of depth, so that is why I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5. Definitely not her best, but not her worst by any means!

When asked about my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult is always my first pick. I have loved every single book she has ever published... unfortunately, until this one. I picked this up SO excitedly, but even 100 pages in, I just hadn't connected with the characters or the story. The transitions between present day and flashbacks were jarring, and I found it very confusing to figure out where in time we were at any point. Meanwhile, other reviewers were spot on that a lot of the Egyptology read like a textbook. Normally, Picoult provides enough technical detail for context in the story and to help understand the characters' perspectives; in this book, it felt like she blended a novel with a textbook. I thought she did a much better job providing us the right level of detail with the death doula work, and perhaps even with the quantum physics (though that too could have been a little lighter), but the Egyptology was far too detailed and really detracted from the story. This felt to me like a case of trying to cram too many subjects into one book, with the result that the reader couldn't get invested in any of them fully.

I eventually got more invested in the characters, but this was by no means a book I couldn't put down (which is normally the case with Picoult's books). I was also rather disappointed in the cliffhanger ending - I see what Picoult was trying to do (allow the reader to imagine for themselves what comes next), but it felt like a huge letdown to not find out what happened. To me, the whole story had been building to one obvious conclusion, but it was disappointing and unsatisfying to not see it actually wrapped up. Overall, this was decent, but nowhere near Picoult's normally masterful storytelling that is informative and thought-provoking but also fascinating and compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of one of my favorite authors! The Book of Two Ways is a very powerful, deep story about life, love, and death. The story has shifting timelines of the protagonist, Dawn, going back to Egypt to face her first love and her former life, and then in Boston as a death doula facing her failing marriage and troubled familial relationship. There is a lot of heartbreak, sorrow, and feeling lost in this story. A lot of triggers ...

I really wanted to love this book like her others, but I could not finish it. I found myself stuck in the "there was this one time..." story flashbacks, boring conversations, and Egyptology lessons that had me more confused than interested. I usually love historical lessons in books, so perhaps it is the current climate that made this book not for me right now. It seems to be more of an escapism culture in the world of books, and this one is too real at the moment. I hope to return to it when it is published in September (I will of course buy a physical copy), but I have to DNF this book for now. I found myself experiencing a mood and reading slump while reading, and I don't want to have that relationship with this author. So, it's "TTFN" for this one. Thank you to Random House, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow!!!! Release date is September 22, 2020!!!

This one packs a punch with emotion driven themes on life, on dying and on love. A plane crash shakes Dawn, but it’s really more avoid being torn between two lives and two loves. I love the way that author Jodi Picoult weaves the stories together while allowing the reader to get to know the characters. Brian and Wyatt both have different things to offer to Dawn... and learning from some of her wisest patients just may be the best prescription for figuring out her life.

Clear, well developed characters with a simmering tension that is set to boil over.... but will it?? Alternating timelines are woven together with deep soul searching that resonates deep within me- even now after the book has been down for hours.

I love the history and the way that Egypt comes alive with the history, setting and scenes as Dawn chases after her future.

Totally enjoyed and would really recommend to my friends!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this temporary digital advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

This was almost a different kind of book that I have read from Jodi Picoult. She still is about to explore main themes like love and even regret. What I really liked about this was how she brought in Egyptology and history into the book. I never thought I would find that interesting and she really nailed it at least for me.

I can't wait for its release.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

When Dawn Edelstein survives an airplane crash it makes her reevaluate her life.
Years before she was on the track to become an archeologist in Egypt. Family circumstances causes her to abandon her dreams and a love.
After the crash she is torn between her family and the life she left behind in Egypt.
Jodi Picoult does not disappoint with this book! You will be captivated from the beginning.

I did not love this book but I am glad I read it and I did LIKE it a lot. Very heavy, very depressing material. If you are a true Jodi Picoult fan you will love it of course. If you have never read any of her books I would not suggest starting with this one. This is basically a tale of lost love, death, near death, secrets and lies and regret. As I said very good book , but a little on the depressing side.

I have always loved Jodi Picoult and I was eager to read this new book. The story is very heavy with Egyptian history which was fascinating and provided a lot of background for this story. It looks at the concept of multiple alternatives that are possibly out there in the universe. How choices lead us down paths but the alternates are still out there. Years ago Dawn made a choice that lead her life into a very different direction that she ever saw her life was going. The reader got to see how different her life may have been. It's a wonderful story about love and how love comes in different forms.
I thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy of this wonderful book.

Sorry Netgalley, I cannot finish this book, it is just not my cup of tea. I could not get into all the Egyptology info. Frankly reading about her life as a death dula was depressing. I have read several of her books and loved Small Great Things but this one just wasn’t for me

Many think of Jodi Picoult’s books as ‘Women’s Literature.’ And, perhaps that’s what she started out writing back in the early 1990s; however, her last several books have upended that perspective and have become a powerhouse of social issues for our society as a whole. While I’ve always enjoyed her books—The Pact was my gateway book into her writing; I give a copy of 19 Minutes to every new teacher I work with; I cried throughout Leaving Time; and raged throughout my readings of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light— The Book of Two Ways has left me breathless and in awe of what great modern literature really can be.

Stepping away from the large social issues of the day—she focuses on what is and what could have been. Brilliantly researched (this book could be a required text for courses covering Egyptology, Physics, Social Work, Psychology, and Modern Literature), Picoult’s nuanced story of Dawn Edelstein allows the reader to contemplate the seemingly minor considerations, concessions, and compromises one makes in everyday life that ultimately lead one very far from one’s dreams, passions, and desires. The story moves slowly and between the two paths Dawn chooses from after miraculously surviving a plane crash and told against the backdrop of end-of-life reflections. The reader experiences the Great Love Story pitted against the minutia of daily life that seemingly grinds us all down through very real, flawed and dynamic characters.

In the hands of any other author, the conflict between the two choices Dawn has could be trite and ordinary; however, with Picoult’s brilliant writing (and research), the reader not only enjoys the two story pathways as they unfold, but also is encouraged to examine his/her own experiences and reflect upon choices and compromises made. In this narrative, Picoult asks very directly ‘What gives your life meaning?’ and then answers with the thought-provoking comment of ‘There’s really no such thing as a right or wrong choice. We don’t make decisions. Our decisions make us.’ She illustrates this though carefully constructed characters who react to and grow from Dawn’s choices throughout the novel—both in the past and in the present.

I highly recommend this this book to all readers with the caution that this book isn’t one to be devoured quickly, but rather slowly savored. As with her other books, once I finished, I needed to re-read it again to fully appreciate the craft with which she writes, and pick up on the seemingly minor events, characters, and phrasings that truly make the book more thoughtful and delightful than I initially realized and these small story threads create a more complete tapestry from which to reflect upon. This will be one of those books that stick with me for a long time to come as I reflect upon my own life and the choices I’ve made along the way.

Full Disclosure: I was given a free PDF Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Book of Two Ways via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

I was actually quite disappointed with this one. I have loved every book I've ever read by Jodi Picoult.. but this book was more like a nonfiction text book on archeology. I typically like this type of plot, but this was way too jam packed with archeology info and it just made it super slow. I wasn't a fan of it.

I was kind of worried when I started this book. I had to make myself slog though the Egyptian history lesson in the beginning, I felt like it was just too much. Josi Picoult always does her research for her novels, it just felt different this time.

Once I got through that part, I was in love. I liked the way it went back and forth from Boston to Egypt. It was a book that taught you about life and death. That sometimes past decisions can haunt you. That it is ok to put yourself first.

I already have this pre-ordered and I'm looking forward to receiving the finished copy.

I loved it but I need the answer!!! This book hits you hard and doesn't let go. Sliding Doors meets The Mummy.

Wife, devoted mother, and death doula Dawn Edelstein is on a plane as it crashes. As the place is going down, Dawn’s life diverges into two ways. In one life, she goes back to Boston to her husband Brian, her daughter Meret, and her career as a death doula. In another life, she goes to Egypt; she had been studying to get her doctorate in Egyptology and had to unexpectedly leave, so now she goes back to tie up her loose ends. One of those loose ends is Wyatt, the handsome boy that she had competed with while she was a student, and also fought an attraction to. She abandoned him all those years ago and now she’s back; can he forgive her and let her work with him again?
Realistic fiction with a touch of whimsy, Picoult’s new book is divergent from any work of hers before. It will lead readers to contemplate important life questions, and question their own major life choices.

First off I love Jodi Picoult. This was a hard one for me. The subject manner was not one I enjoyed nor do I believe in. Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy

Dawn Edelstein is content with her life. She loves her husband, Brian, and their teenage daughter. Dawn is a death doula, helping others move from life to death with care and respect. A part of her misses the life she had in Egypt before her mother died. As she goes about her life, a part of her heart is still amid the ancient burial sites and Wyatt, the man she left behind.

Everything changes in a split second when Dawn survives a deadly plane crash. She is given the choice to fly anyplace in the world. Will she go home to her family, or go back to Egypt to find the life and man she loved so deeply. Dawn does not know if Wyatt is still in Egypt, but she feels the pull of her earlier life. Conversely, her daughter is everything to her so she cannot imagine life without her. Either way she must make a choice that will hurt someone she loves.

The ancient Book of Two Ways is estimated to be 400,000 years old. Per the Smithsonian website, archaeologists found the illustrated stories in Egypt on a fairly recently unearthed sarcophagus dating back to 2010 BC. It illustrates two ways for the dead to make their way to the afterlife by land or by sea. Life is full of choices; we make them every day. Much like the ancient Egyptians, Dawn must choose a path that may or may not be the life she wants in the end. Life holds no guarantees.

I loved this book. The relationships of the characters and situations they find themselves in are multilayered and interesting. Each chapter pulls the reader further into the lives of Dawn, Brian, Wyatt and the choices all of them make. As with all of Jodi Picoult books, the end was not what I expected, but was perfect and satisfying.

Picoult is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, and for good reason. This prolific author creates characters and stories like no other I have read. The depth and diverse topics she tackles are informative and often spark my interest to find out more about the subject matter discussed.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2020 Laura Hartman

Dawn is a death doula in Boston who is sent overseas to carry out the last request of a dying client. On her way home her plane crashes and as she is confronting death her thoughts do not go to her husband, they go to "the one that got away". After her miraculous survival she is given a new plane ticket to go anywhere she wants to go. Should she choose Boston and return to her family, or Egypt to try and find her lost love?

I had a tough time rating this book. Picoult is an author that I look forward to reading. The second half of this book was better for me than the first half. You can tell Picoult did her research on Egypt. The beginning of the book almost felt like I was back in college taking my Egyptian Art History course. So. Much. Information. It was confusing to me and I felt like it could have been narrowed down a bit. Towards the second half I was more invested in the characters and felt like I knew them a little bit better. The story started to come together and I loved how it all wrapped up in the end. I had a love/hate relationship with Dawn and still don't know whether or not I liked her! She seemed too selfish at times. This was a good book and I would recommend it, it just wasn't my favorite Picoult book.

In The Book of Two Ways, Dawn reaches a point in her life where she questions her life choices. Should she now live her life differently or continue on with her life as it is. That is a question that is never easy to answer. Jodi Picoult took great care in explaining Egyptian hieroglyphs and other Ancient Egyptian customs, which I found fascinating! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for an ARC copy for my honest review. 4 out of 5 stars!

The beginning of this book was loke reading a text book. Once you get pass the first couple chapters it gets better. There is a twist but it was not hard to figure out. Not one of her best but glad I read it.

I had a difficult time rating this book. I was given advanced access from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I had just finished reading Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult and loved it, so I was excited to read another one of her books.

I was immediately drawn in by the characters and the story line. At the beginning of the story, the main character, Dawn, is married with a teenage daughter. Her current job is being a death doula (which is someone who helps with whatever a client might need as they are approaching the end of their life and is different from hospice in that Dawn does not provide medical care but is a resource for helping the client and the client's family process what is going on, taking care of practical details, even sitting with the client as they pass away if that is their wish). However, before she was married, Dawn was on track to get her doctorate in Egyptology. While doing research in Egypt, she is informed her mother is deathly ill. She quickly returns home, leaving a man she is in love with. Once her mother passes away finds that she is the legal guardian for her younger brother. This sets her life on a different path where she marries a man she met while her mother was in hospice care and gets a master's degree in social work to help others who are dealing with the passing of a loved one. Dawn wonders what life would have been like if she had pursued her original plan.

Interestingly enough, this is the second book I have read recently that refers to the possibility of parallel universes, and this concept does enter into Dawn's thoughts and the decisions she makes.

Things I loved about this book...I really cared about the characters and wanted to know what happened to them. I found the information on Egyptology fascinating. I read the entire book in a day!

If you don't want spoilers, stop reading the review here. However, I need to share this in order to explain why I found rating this book difficult.

***SPOILER***
I really did love this book all the way up until the very last sentence. At the end of the story, Dawn finds herself with a very difficult decision. Either choice she makes will have consequences. However, in the end, we never get to know what she chose to do. While I can appreciate that leaving her choice unanswered in the story fits the fact that neither choice was clearly the "right" one, it was very frustrating to me to have been so invested in the characters to not have that question answered. It's like reading a teen novel with a love triangle and never getting to know who the main character chooses to be with. That made me want to give this book a much lower rating. However, I decided that having enjoyed the majority of the book as much as I did (literally up until the last sentence) I would give it a more favorable rating, but it will definitely affect how much I want to recommend this one to others.