Reading in Between the Wines book review #114/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: Wish You Were Here
Author: Jodi Picoult
Available now!!!

Sipping thoughts: I am a huge psychological thriller reader and rarely detour from them. However, I don’t think anyone can go wrong with a Picoult book, which is typically Women’s Fiction. This book was released right after the surge of covid in 2020/2021. This book takes us into the world, of which Diana is trying to navigate how it is to try and be safe and be in a relationship with a frontline doctor. This book will cause you to suspend reality, explore your goals and future, and evaluate whether the anchor in your life is grounding you (holding you back) or keeping you grounded.

Cheers and thank you, @RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine and @Netgalley, for an advanced copy of @WishYouWereHere.

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"Wish You Were Here" by Jodi Picoult is a captivating and timely novel that beautifully weaves together themes of love, loss, and resilience amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. I particularly enjoyed the depth of the characters and the intricate relationships that unfold throughout the story. Picoult’s signature storytelling shines as she captures both the heartache and hope that come with difficult choices. The twist adds an unexpected layer, keeping readers engaged and prompting reflection on our own experiences during these challenging times. Overall, "Wish You Were Here" is a compelling read that resonates long after the final page, showcasing Picoult’s talent for tackling relevant issues with grace and empathy.

Wish You Were Here is a thought-provoking novel that skillfully explores love, identity, and the unexpected turns life can take, all against the backdrop of the pandemic. Known for her ability to tackle complex issues with emotional depth, Picoult once again delivers a compelling story that feels both timely and timeless.

One of the most striking aspects of *Wish You Were Here* is its emotional exploration of the pandemic’s impact. Picoult doesn’t shy away from addressing the profound sense of isolation, uncertainty, and grief that so many experienced during this time, but she also finds moments of beauty and connection in unexpected places.

The novel takes some unexpected twists, which add layers of intrigue and depth to the story. Picoult masterfully handles these plot turns, keeping me on my toes while still maintaining the emotional core of the novel. The surprise elements enrich the narrative, making it a multifaceted exploration of love, loss, and the courage to rethink one’s future.

When I first received this, for me it was too close to pandemic to read, Jodi Picoult is like an old friend where no matter how long it’s been since you have read her, you look forward to an extra long good visit. Wish You Were Here is that very thing. In the Galápagos Islands, Diana is cut off from all communication with her modern day life and love. As she adapts she finds her self changing. For most of us pandemic time was our own Galapagos and we too changed both as individuals and the culture of our communities. I’m glad I waited to read this as my perspective is different than it would have been at the time.
She has given us new titles to read since this and I will always recommend Jodi!

As the COVID pandemic begins in March, 2020, Finn is a surgeon in a New York hospital. He encourages his girlfriend, Diane, to go on their planned trip to Galapagos without him. He knows that he will be needed at the hospital. As soon as Diane reaches the vacation destination, she finds herself trapped there as lockdown begins. Meanwhile, Finn is overwhelmed with the devastating effects that COVID is having on the patients he sees in the hospital.
Wish You Were Here gives us a look at how much was lost, in so many ways, because of the pandemic.
I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#wishyouwerehere
#jodipicoult
#covid19
#netgalley

Wish You Were Here was a pandemic-based, COVID novel. This has put me off in the past, so once I realized where Picoult was taking us, I wasn't sure I would want to continue. I'm glad I did though. The journey that Diana experiences far exceeded my expectations. The emotional connection I felt to her and the people on the island was intense. I felt invested in the story and finding out what would end up happening.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

I LOVE every one of Jodi Picoults books. I think that she is amazing both for the average reader, as well as a book club reader. Being a book club leader I am looking forward to reading this with my group. I was fully surprised by the endish part of the book, which shows what an amazing writer Picoult is. I look forward to reading any and all books she writes!!!

I enjoyed this read but definitely not the COVID parts, it just brings those feelings I dislike. The twists were good and would definitely recommend it to a friend.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult is a perfect fit for readers who appreciate thought-provoking, emotionally charged stories that explore the complexities of human relationships, personal growth, and the transformative power of travel and self-discovery, especially those who enjoy literary fiction with a strong focus on character development and introspection.

Thank you so much Oebguin and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

I really could not get past covid parts. Even 2-4 years later, it just isn’t the right time to bring it up for me

I tried really hard with this one. I really did. Unfortunately, it did not work for me. It would be rude and a disservice to rate this as I know several others really enjoyed it.

It is not for me and I had to DNF (did not finish) for reading reasons. I could not connect with the plot of the characters at all. I did not and could not force myself to read it as I picked it up and put it down several times, but could not get into the book.

I appreciate the opportunity, but it is not going to be one I will recommend going forward.

Thank you again for my gifted copy.

I wasn’t sure about this one because I knew the heavy topic would be Covid- sometimes that can be too daunting to read when you want to escape with a book. Although the overall arc was a covid scenario, that wasn’t the main theme of the book. It’s more of a what if story and honestly I walked away wanting to add the Galápagos Islands to my travel list! This was a thought provoking book that will stay with me a long time.

I had high hopes for this book, as I do with any Jodi Picoult. While I wish she would return to her courtroom dramas, I'll still read anything she puts out. This one had a Sliding Doors vibe and I admit there was a twist I didn't at all see coming. I really love that Jodi can still surprise me, this many books in!

This was a wonderful book! It takes place in the very early days of Covid, when we knew next to nothing about the virus.
I tried reading it early on, but it was too soon!
Diana O’Toole and her boyfriend Finn, are set to go on vacation to the Galápagos Islands when Covid hits NYC. Her boyfriend stays behind to help take care of patients and the community. As Diana arrives to Galapagos, they’re shutting down everything.
It was a great insight into the toll that Covid took on medical professionals and what Covid was like in remote parts of the world.

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

The TWIST! Wow Jodi Picoult hits it out of the park every time. This book left my jaw dropped. Some may think it's too soon for a March 2020 book but this was done so well.

Really interesting read - and I did not see the huge twist in the middle coming (also it's refreshing to have a twist in the dead middle of the book instead of all the way at the end). It does have a pandemic/covid storyline, but I still enjoyed immensely.

Really great book I have had so much reading this and getting to know these lovable characters will definitely continue to read books by this author

I love Jodi Picoult's books. Her writing makes feel as if I'm watching the story take place among people I know and care about. And I always know that a some point, I'm going to cry because she has hit a heartbreaking point right on the head. There's usually a turning point at which time the character will open their eyes and SEE what's around them. But her stories are never the same. The characters, the communities and the life lessons all change with every book. The first Jodi Picoult book I read was MY SISTER'S KEEPER and I've been a fan ever since, reading every title I can find. There are so many reviews already written about this book that you don't need me to tell you what the book is about. But the story will make you feel emotions that you'd never expect from a book. Read the book, just make sure you have tissues.

"Wish You Were Here" by Jodi Picoult is like a snapshot of our pandemic era, telling the story of Diana O'Toole who gets stuck on her dream vacation thanks to the pandemic. Picoult's storytelling is top-notch, and she explores themes like isolation, self-discovery, and finding meaning. It's a bit of a surprise package, with an emotional punch that makes you think. In these times when life's taken an unexpected turn, this book is like a flashlight in the dark, reminding us to hold on to hope. It's a must-read that'll stick with you, even after you've turned the last page.

I like how she dealt with the pandemic and how isolating it felt. It was a bit predictable, but the characters were engaging and the story was fast-paced and interesting.