How am I expected to move on from this book?

I went through so much emotional whiplash. I genuinely was shocked, like mouth wide open with no words type of shock. This was such a brutal read. It was also so incredibly beautiful. This had so much raw vulnerability. I absolutely loved Diana and it was so great to experience her life with her. I shed many tears and was emotionally invested with Diana and what she went through. The epilogue just really pulled at my heart strings - all I wanted was for Diana to find her little slice of paradise among the disaster zone that is the very much ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

TW/CW: self-harm (cutting), death of a parent, COVID-19 hospitalizations and related deaths

Thank you so much to Ballantine Books for the e-ARC and to Libro.fm for a gifted audiobook!

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

Unpopular opinion ahead 🥴

Let me start with saying Picoult has been one of my favorite authors for over 15 years. I love her older books and the fact that she always tackles subjects that aren’t written about often.

Having said that, her last two books have been difficult for me to get through. They are much more scientific based than I care to read about in a novel. I also think I struggled to get through this one in particular because it focused on the pandemic, and I’m obviously not at a place to read about it yet. Here’s another case where always going in blind to books bit me in the ass!

So onto the book itself. The main character, Diana, just rubbed me the wrong way the entire time. I didn’t care for her at all, which made it hard to become invested. I understand the things that happened between the characters and it felt very authentic at times, but it just made me angry.

The twist that happened made me so mad, I almost threw my kindle. Had it been a paperback, I most definitely would have launched this sucker.

Last (well, another) thing that irked me was the vocabulary used throughout that had nothing to do with science. I have an English degree, and there were multiple words that were used (unnecessarily) that I had to Google because I’ve never seen them in my life. It was obnoxious and came across as pretentious.

I’m sorry! I know a ton of people loved this one, but it just was not for me. Please still read it though if you love Picoult or want a book surrounding the early stages of the pandemic!

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the arc in exchange for my honest review ❤️

If this book doesn’t give you anxiety, then you’re not reading it right!!

This book gives me anxiety looking at it.

The book WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult is a very up-close contemporary set in current times.

It’s main plot surrounds the Covid virus. It explores a lot of its effects from an insider's perspective and is extremely intense and personal.

The twist will give you chills and leave you breathless. I wasn’t even sure I had the reader in me required to finish the second half of the book.

The actuality.

It’s a lot!! The reality…

If Jodi Picoult has a magic power, it is in her static resonance. Her voice is loud and unapologetic. I wonder when she begins to write which comes first: the opinion or the plot?

I read A SPARK OF LIGHT and was turned off by how loud the (not her) opinions were on the topic of abortion. This content might do the same to others.

I, however, appreciated the perspective, and it made me a very thankful reader. Thankful for a lot of things.

And as I start to write my New Years' resolutions this year, I will remember who is holding the pen.

I will remember that I am my own dreamcaster.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Guys, it’s your story! What will you write in your next chapter?

Have you read Jodi Picoult before?

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group #ballantine for sending this my way and to @netgalley & @prhaudio as well for all the #gifted copies!

Regardless on your thoughts on COVID-19, one thing we can all agree on is that the last two years have been hard on everyone. Loved ones were lost, jobs were cut, certain products were hard to find, and our mental health struggled. I wonder if Jodi Picoult thought we would be in a different position when her newest book WISH YOU WERE HERE published, which is today.

Jodi always has been able to tackle difficult and timely issues with a great amount of perspective and research. This well-written book is no different than her others and I was blown away by how she weaved everything together. Set in both NYC and the Galapagos Islands, this book truly captured all the fears, feelings, and actions of those on the frontline and those sheltered from this virus, especially in the first months when little was known. On a deeper level, it’s an incredible story of how humans are continually evolving and adapting to make sense of the world around us, whether it be physically or mentally. ❤️

Reading about Isabela Island, a place where scientists have learned so much about evolution and survival, was a bonus as I love traveling through books. If you have to be isolated on an island, what a great place to be!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine, and Jodi Picoult for the #gifted eARC in exchange from my honest review.

Hauntingly Beautiful
Unforgettable , Words that will stay with you through time.
What if ??What if ??
Don’t Miss !
I was given an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my review .

I have loved every book from Jodi Picoult until now, Jodi's writing is still amazing, the book is well written but I didn't like the storyline and I didn't even find the characters very likeable. The thing I loved about Jodi's books was that she could give a story from all angles. Even when there seemed to be a clear right and wrong at the beginning of a story she could get you to see the world from other perspectives and show what shaped a character, what made them make "bad" decisions, this book is not written that way. There were definite political undertones and almost shaming people for living their lives during the pandemic, even though the story seems to be about realizing you only have one life to live. I also felt that although she researched and interviewed a lot of people she still seems a little detached from those of us who couldn't quarantine for a year and survive financially, those of who had to go to to the stores and go to work, in her Author's note she states that she has only left the house a handful of times in a year, most people didn't have the luxury of being able to do that. Also, if you are like me and read fiction to get away from the world or "escape", then this isn't for you....maybe in a couple years when we're hopefully out of the pandemic.

Jodi Picoult's latest novel starts in March 2020 with Diana, who works in art sales for Sotheby'sand her boyfriend Finn, a medical resident at a NYC hospital, on the verge for leaving for a vacation for Galapagos. Finn has to stay for work because Covid is just hitting the city, but encourages Diana to go anyway. Of course, she ends up stuck there, while his e-mails reporting on what is going on back home become increasingly desperate. And I'll say no more about the plot to avoid giving spoilers.

I'm a longtime reader of Jodi Picoult and have read at least 18 of her previous novels, which run the gamut from some of my all time favorites to a few disappointments and everything in between. I got an ARC of this book, out on Tuesday 11/30/21, but put off reading it because I wasn't sure if I was ready to read a Covid novel. Happy to say that I do think it was handled well, but I will warn that Covid was a significant part of the book, so if you have any sensitivity or concern about reliving the worst of Covid, definitely steer clear of this one. I did enjoy the Galapagos parts of the book more though.

I actually have quite a few more thoughts on this one but it is impossible to discuss further because I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews. So let's just say this book was not one of my most favorite Jodi Picoult books, but I did still enjoy it. 3.75 stars.

📚𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑩𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘!📚

💯Jodi Picoult has done it again. As one of my three favorite authors, she just never seems to disappoint. Her research is always impeccable and her characters are always so incredibly authentic.

❤Picoult has crafted a novel that is riveting, especially because it is so relevant to humanity as a whole right now. It deals with the Covid-19 epidemic as it first began and takes us on the painful journey through the eyes of Diana, a woman who feels like her life is on a perfect trajectory, and her boyfriend, Finn, who works on the front lines in a hospital. The transition from epidemic to pandemic was so much more visceral for me, reading about it in hindsight. And there were innumerable instances that made me cringe in recollection of the way events unfurled, specifically in New York. I teared up on several occasions, remembering what little we knew about this virus that would eventually upend our lives.

⚠️It may be too soon for some readers as it really hit home for me, despite, blessedly, not being personally affected so far. But make no mistake, Ms. Picoult is the one person who can handle this topic delicately and with tremendous grace through her genuine characters. It reminds readers of the importance of what we've learned thus far through the pandemic, specifically what matters most in life.

😭So, if you're ready to rehash Covid lock down, and are looking for a book that will elicit strong emotion, this is your ticket. And Picoult fans, I'm certain you won't be disappointed. This one cuts deep.

🙏Many thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

All of Jodi Picoult's books have a unique characteristic, but this book has an interesting twist. Taking place during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, it is timely and appropriate for this time. I highly recommend this book for fans of Jodi's books especially her newer books.

I absolutely adore Jodi Picoult, and not a single book of hers has let me down, INCLUDING THIS ONE! The amount of stress for the characters her writing gives you is just right, and this is one book you won't put down until you're finished

“Life happens when you least expect it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a blueprint in your back pocket.”

Quick Summary: Diana O’Toole goes on vacation to the Galapagos at the start of COVID-19 and gets stranded. Away from her loved ones and her home, she struggles with whether her life is really on track and realizes she may want to chart a new course for herself.

Well, this certainly wasn’t what I expected. There are things I enjoyed about Wish You Were Here and other things I didn’t. It is definitely a unique book and ended up taking a direction that I didn’t anticipate. But let me tell you, it is pretty COVID heavy.

The first half of the book was pretty slow and I drug my feet through it. I contemplated DNF-ing it but the glowing Goodreads reviews pushed me to continue. I wasn’t as enraptured by the scenes in the Galapagos as I thought I would be and I found the main character, Diana, to be hard to root for. The second half of the book was much more engaging but that’s all I can really say about it without spoiling anything.

I respect the amount of research that went into writing this book. I love the shoutouts that healthcare workers receive and the descriptions of what it was like for them during the nitty-gritty of the pandemic. It reminded me a lot of those first few months of COVID and what it was like for my fiance at the hospital. Definitely anxiety-inducing lol.

For me, Wish You Were Here was just ok. But read some other reviews because I think I’m in the minority here. This is the second pandemic novel I read this month and I much preferred Doctors and Friends by Kimmery Martin.

I recommend this for people ready to take a dive into some COVID fiction.

I was excited to come across a new release that specifically took place during the tumultuous early days of COVID. Then, I almost DNFed this book around the 45% mark. If you have read this, you understand why it's somewhat entertaining that I almost didn't get to the halfway point...

It was getting repetitive and dull but I ended up continuing out of a morbid curiosity about what could *possibly* take up another 55% of this book, not because I actually cared what was going to happen, if that makes sense. Then I was through for a loop. A huge loop. But only briefly... it pretty quickly settled back into mundanity. I think I'm probably done with Jodi Picoult. This was my second of her books and even though I enjoy some aspects of her writing I was left wanting both times.

When I first started to read this book, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to finish it. Being a New Yorker and having the spent days which led up to the lockdown foolishly traipsing around the city and attending a Broadway show, I feared the book would hit too close to home and trigger too many unresolved fears and feelings. But since I love Jodi Picoult's books, I knew I had to try to keep going. And man, was I glad that I did! This was a beautiful story with wonderful characters. And the twist had me gasping out loud. And the shock at the twist remained with me for weeks after I turned the last page. It was so brilliant and unexpected... I totally see myself reading this book for a second time...

It’s publication day for Jodi Picoult’s latest novel, Wish You Were Here. As I just finished the story, I’m going to try my best to sum up my feelings, but first - some warnings.

1) When you read the synopsis, it sounds intriguing - a girl leaves New York at the start of the pandemic for a vacation without her doctor boyfriend and has to learn to become a local of the Galápagos Islands while the world closes down. This is true for 61% of the book. Then a twist happens and it’s most definitely not about that anymore. Sort of. Kind of.
2) This is a COVID story. It’s Jodi Picoult - she does not do anything half hearted. She researches the subject she is writing about and will tell you every good, bad and weird detail there is. This book brings us back to the scary days of wiping down everything and not knowing what’s to come. Of losing our jobs, our homes, and struggling with our new reality. It discusses about being intubated - if you have been touched by a COVID case or death that is hard to think about, you may want to wait on this read.

With those triggers in mind, I thought I would be ok to read this. But I wasn’t. I pushed through because of receiving the ARC and wanting to post a review, but COVID is too fresh for me. Reading about wiping off food and what healthcare workers were going through is difficult enough on a good day. For my reading entertainment? I just couldn’t get into it.

The twist? Genius. Discussing the twist? That felt a bit tiresome. It is an interesting thing but it felt like too much detail.

I was also very surprised at how cavalier Picoult’s character Diana was for COVID safety that were never really addressed. Finn would get mad at her but then 30 seconds later it was like it never happened. Ummm. What?

I don’t know if I would rate this higher if I read it say in 5 years from now. For that reason I will give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Excuse me while I go read a holiday story now.

I have to admit when I first received the email inviting me to read this book, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to. I didn’t know that I wanted to read a book about Covid. Reading is my escape and I didn’t want to read something that we’re currently living.

But you guys! This is so much more than a book about Covid. It was so beautifully written and I’m just in awe of the amount of research that must have gone into it. Not only for the Covid aspect, but the art history, and the information on the Galapagos.

Sorry! I’ve gotten ahead of myself. This book is about Diana and Finn. Diana is an art specialist and Finn is a doctor. They have their future perfectly mapped out. Careers, marriage, kids. And up next, a dream trip to the Galapagos. Just before they’re to leave the virus hits NYC and Finn is forced to stay, but tells Diana to go on without him.

This story is so multi-layered. It’s about second chances, human resilience, and living life, though not necessarily the one you had planned. I love that this story has a touch of magic to it and a twist I didn’t see coming!

If you were on the fence about picking this one up, I encourage you to do so!

✨𝐑 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈 𝐄 𝐖✨

𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐝𝐢 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐭

Happy pub day 🙌🏼 I’ve always been a huge fan of Jodi Picoult so I was very interested to read her new novel that took place right at the beginning of the pandemic. I’ve seen very mixed reviews of this book so far, but I truly think every reader will have a different experience reading this book based on how the pandemic impacted you personally & how it continues to impact you today.

👍🏼: I really enjoyed the “escape” vibes as part of the book is set in the Galapagos. I enjoyed the overall tone of hope & self-discovery, balanced with loss and grief. I definitely appreciated the research that clearly went into writing this novel about the hospital/rehab setting and each profession as well.

👎🏼: There was a major twist mid-book that actually made me feel quite deflated & sad 😂 I’m not sure if that was the purpose, but it definitely was shocking! I also felt some anxiety being immersed back into the beginning of the pandemic with all the fear and unknowns.

Overall, I enjoyed this unique story but am not sure I would recommend to everyone. As I said, I truly think each reader will experience this book differently, but it’s definitely worth a shot!

Thanks to @netgalley @randomhouse for the e-ARC (out today!) 🙌🏼

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

.
There are portions of the book that really drag. It’s not a long book but it felt long. The emails about Covid were difficult to get through. It still feels too soon to revisit those early days of the virus for me.

What I really liked about the book, though, were the parts about the main character, Diana, and her relationship with her mother. Those sections felt the most real to me, the most touching. I also really liked the ideas about second chances and the discussions surrounding art.

If I gave half stars, this would probably be 3.5 stars. But since I don’t, I’ll give this 4.

The backdrop for this unusual book is the Covid pandemic. And the story spares no words regarding the suffering involved from having the virus, so that alone may be a game-changer for you. Plus, political thoughts are subtly tucked into this twisty story, and for me, that’s not okay. When I read fiction I want to leave politics WAY behind me.

To say this book fell short for me is putting it mildly.

It’s March 2020 in New York City and the story revolves around Diana O’Toole, an associate specialist with Sotheby’s, whose best friend is Rodney. But Covid is about to sink its teeth into her personal life, and her job is about to take an unexpected dive.

Diana’s boyfriend, Finn, is a surgeon and she is disappointed that due to this new virus outbreak he won’t be able to go with her on their trip to the Galápagos Islands. She is sure he plans to propose to her, but with her boyfriend busy at the hospital will she go on this trip without him?

My Concerns
This story felt a bit all over the place. And for those who have suffered through Covid or lost loved ones, this will hit close to home with vivid details.

When I finally got to the last page and closed the book I had to say,

-It wasn’t a memoir
-It wasn’t a get-away-from-reality book
-It felt depressing
-At times it felt like a researched textbook with a plethora of details
-It wasn’t a page-turner or a book I cared to finish, yet curiosity forced me to
-Was the point that Covid can tamper with relationships?
-Is it meant to be a subtle political statement? Nah, too vague.
-We should analyze life more deeply?

Who knows? But the twist in the story really didn’t warrant the ending, or how confusing the book was.

This book has some good reviews, but to me, it’s a mystery why?

Final Thoughts
I loved the character, Rodney. I like the book cover. It was unique.

I hate not to recommend a book. But even though the writing is good, I just can’t get behind this one.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC ebook to review. All thoughts are completely my own.

I have to admit, when I first saw the premise of this book I wasn't sold. Reading about a pandemic? After living through one? It seemed like the last thing I wanted to do. Thankfully, I decided to read it anyway and I'm so glad I did!

Diana O'Toole has the perfectly planned life—up until a new virus disrupts the schedule. When her boyfriend, a surgical resident, has to stay behind to help on the eve of their romantic getaway, she reluctantly travels to the Galápagos alone. Upon arrival, she finds herself stranded as the islands enter quarantine. Plans out the window, she adapts and slowly begins examining her choices, her life, and herself.

It started out a bit slow, but it sort of crept up on me. The first half of the book is beautiful and emotional and felt like a hug for my soul. The main character's thoughts and feelings really resonated with me. I loved every bit of the journey she was on, as well as the little snippets of the past in the form of everyday life. I think Picoult nailed some of the most difficult and contradictory feelings of the pandemic. I also really loved the various relationships and experiences on the island. The characters were all vibrant, even those who only appeared for a sentence or a page.

True to style, there was a twist. And I have to say, this one is what knocked it down a peg for me. I don't want to say much to avoid spoilers, but I was disappointed with the turn of things. That being said, I did love what eventually came out of it, so I can't be too frustrated. The ending was just as beautiful as the first half.

If you're even considering it, definitely give this one a go.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for granting my wish for an arc through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am in awe of how good this book was. I will warn you, I didn’t realize how much I felt triggered by the descriptions of the early days of the pandemic. Luckily, Picoult did a great job in interspersing descriptions of NYC through the eyes of a doctor but not having it be the focus of the book.

The book focuses on Diana, an NYC art auction associate who is ready to land the promotion to her dream job and has a loving doctor and soon to be fiancé. They are planning to travel to the Galápagos Islands right when Covid hits. Her boyfriend must stay behind, but she goes to the isolated island by herself. When she arrives, everything is shut down. Things don’t go as planned. There she discovers something new about herself.

This was a beautiful story and I can’t recommend it enough!