Wish You Were Here follows the life of Diana O’ Toole beginning right before the pandemic. She has her life planned out and is on track to meet her goals- and then Covid hits. Diana ends up going to the Galapagos and gets to know a young girl Beatriz and her father. Through her experiences in the Galapagos and as Covid begins to affect her life, she begins to question the life she had planned.

It’s a story we can all relate to, and brings up memories from the pandemic at it’s worst. With a twist that you won’t see coming, prepare to be shocked and ready to ask yourself big life questions like what happens when we die? What is our purpose in life? Picoult does a great job of addressing these.

My only criticism was that the first half was a little slow, but it all came together so well once I completed the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballentine Book for the opportunity to read this ARC. Publication date: 11/30/2021

Diane O’Toole and her boyfriend Finn have their lives planned out. She’s up for a promotion at Sotheby’s, he’s a surgical resident, and they have their dream vacation to Galapagos coming up, where he’ll probably propose. Then March 12 2020 gets here, and the whole world changes.

This book is set in a COVID world and it brought me straight back to the beginning stages of the pandemic and all of the emotions that came with it. But, there are also plenty of joy detailing Diane’s time on Isabella Island in the Galapagos. That plot twist, WOW! This book is about taking chances, offering forgiveness, and realizing that complication is part of being alive. This may be one of my favorite books this year!

Our main character thinks she has her life figured out. She has a plan and knows what she wants, who she is, and what her future will hold. Yet a virus (COVID-19) hits New York City, and everything is at a standstill. Her boyfriend tells her to take the vacation they had previously planned without him, so she goes and gets stranded on the island for two months.

Her life in New York is so drastically different from the one she lives in the Galagapos Islands. It’s worlds apart, and the vacation has ultimately changed our main character. Nothing will ever be the same for her now that she knows what she does.

This book is full of twists that had my jaw dropping at certain parts I won’t spoil. The pure, raw human experience we all felt during the beginning of the pandemic is entirely on display throughout the novel. Lives changed drastically for so many of us, and it’s easy to identify with the characters in this story.

I loved Jodi’s writing, world-building, and character development. I felt like I was inside the main character’s head the entire story, making it enjoyable to read. Also, the MC is not much older than me, which made it even more exciting and had me identify with her many aspects. That was one of the best parts of this story, honestly. I can get hooked to a story as long as I feel like it could have been me living it.

I’m rating this 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the overall plot of the story and how our main character grew throughout it. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves heavy character development and seeing the outcomes of their struggles.

This was my first Jodi Picoult novel, so I’m unsure if she has current events in many of her other stories. My personal preference for books is that they’re mostly fiction, or so far in the past, I don’t feel like I’m actively living it. I prefer my books be used for escapism from reality.

This was my first Jodi Picoult book and I can honestly say that it will not be my last. I enjoyed her writing style, and appreciate the research that she devoted to this book.
This is the story of Diana and Finn. They are about to go away to their dream vacation to the Galapagos when the Covid pandemic begins. Finn is a doctor and must stay to help out at the hospital. He encourages Diana to go without him explaining how busy he will be. The trip is also non-refundable so that is another reason she should just go and make the most of it. Diana leaves and is immediately stuck on the island as the world goes on lockdown. Diana's dream vacation turns into a nightmare as she becomes cut off from the outside world and Finn. She must quickly learn to rely on herself and make connections with the locals on this small island. During this time she befriends a young girl on the island. that is guarding a secret. She also takes time to reflect on her life, past and future as she waits out the pandemic.

This is a difficult book for me to review. I enjoyed it and was very invested in Diana's story. Picoult did an amazing job researching but I just had a tough time with the twist halfway through. The story takes you in a different direction that changes the entire atmosphere. Part of me wasn't ready to relive the pandemic again either so that may have something to do with it. I liked the book but I didn't love it.
3 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #WishYouWereHere

I was very nervous to read a book about COVID so soon but I was still excited because I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult. I am so glad I decided to listen to my gut and read this book because it was AMAZING. This story was incredible and had some very surprising parts that had me finishing this book a 4 am because I could not put it down. I will make sure recommend this book to recommend this book to everyone! It has been 2 days since I finished it and I cannot stop thinking about it.

I have been a longtime fan of Jodi Picoult’s books, but I wasn’t sure what to expect when Wish You Were Here came out, a novel that takes place during the onset of covid. Some say it was too soon to write this and that their feelings are too raw about covid to appreciate this book, but I really enjoyed this one. It also had the most unexpected turn, ever!

Without giving too much away, I will say that this book has love, loss, isolation, loneliness, connection, surprise, character development, grief, and character growth all amidst covid, a pandemic that has rocked our world. Highly recommend! One of my fav reads from this year!

Heartbreaking look at our new COVID world

I always forget just how much I enjoy Jodi Picoult's writing until I get in the middle of another of her books. And this one is a winner all around.

Diana O'Toole works at Sotheby's in New York City as an associate specialist for their art auctions. Her long-time boyfriend Finn is a surgical resident and they are set to go on a vacation to the Galapagos Islands when the COVID epidemic hits and Finn urges Diana to go by herself since he will be working long hours because of the virus. Well, the best laid plans...

This is an extremely well written book about the early days of the COVID epidemic in New York and the tireless efforts of the health care workers there and the devastation not only to those people that got COVID but those that treated it.

There's a great twist in the book that I was not expecting and, like all Picoult's books, this one really makes you think about all manner of subjects, from endangered species to COVID to more.

I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

I found Wish You Were Here to be a well-written novel. Ms. Picoult definitely researched Covid-19 and the Galapagos a great deal. Honestly, I have been steering away from any books that deal with Covid as I primarily read to escape. However, I'm glad I gave this one a chance. It was a well-done, though-provoking storyline based in the reality that we've all been dealing with over a year and a half now. With that as the backdrop, we follow the main character as she undergoes serious soul searching.

This novel deals follows main character, Diana O'Toole as she is coasting through life with her boyfriend, surgical resident, Finn. They are scheduled to leave for the Galapagos Islands right as Covid hits New York City hard. Needless to say, Finn can't leave the hospital, but tells Diana she should still go. He assures her it will make him feel better to know she is safe and away from the virus in that remote area. What seems to be an ideal getaway turns into chaos when Diana finds herself on the Island under lockdown and spotty internet service. She is literally cut off from home and only receives sporadic communications.

This book really delves into Diana's emotions, doubts and guilt as she has time in the Galapagos to really think about her relationships at home. Not only her relationship with Finn, but also her rocky relationship with her mother. It gives her time to understand better what things are most important and to live her life more by this model. The experience is life-changing for her in more ways than one.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I wasn't sure about another COVID book, but this one was very different. It started a little slow for me, but once I got to part 2, I couldn't put it down. I have friends that lived in NYC during the pandemic, so Finn's emails were very real by their account. It's hard to write about Diana without giving anything away and spoling this for anyone else, but I loved her adventures!

Picoult's books can be a hit or miss for me--but this one was definitely a hit! She is a fantastic writer, and this book is no exception. I was sucked in from the beginning and I could NOT put this book down--I had to know what happened. Last year I was wary of reading books related to the current pandemic, but this year I've appreciated how it is working its way into books--and Picoult delivered this one perfectly. EVERYONE should read this book. This will be a perfect book for future generations to read to understand life during this time. It is definitely on my top reads of 2021 list!

Jodi Picoult is one of my very favorite authors and I cannot put into words how excited I was to receive this book! I have read almost every single book of hers and even though her last couple books were just ok for me, I was really hopeful for this book!
Diana thinks she has her life all planned out. She is advancing in her job, she thinks her boyfriend (a surgical resident) is going to propose soon, and she’s about to leave on a dream vacation with him to the Galapagos. But then a virus appears and invades the city and whole world. Her boyfriend encourages her to still go on vacation while he stays home to help in the hospital. The story goes on from here, each person stuck where they are living in two completely different worlds.
Some people may wonder if it’s too soon to read a book about the covid pandemic. I’m a nurse and live this every day, but I was all in. I’ll be honest, the first half of the book was slow for me. I felt like it was repetitive and kind of boring and I didn’t really understand where the story was going and it was kind of a cliche story line. BUT THEN about half way through, it all changed for me. It now made complete sense and I was able to see why she did what she did in the first half. I love, love, loved this book and I loved the characters and the real ness of emotions during the pandemic. I encourage you that if you want to stop reading during the first half, KEEP GOING! This book was so good and I still think about it. I highly recommend it!

Thank you #netgalley and #penguinrandomhouse for an advanced copy of #wishyouwerehere in exchange for my honest review.

I was a bit anxious to read a book that took me back to the beginning of the pandemic. I went ahead & did it & am glad I did, I found the story to be interesting & rich in detail, I feel like the author did thorough research on the subject in order to give the topic its due. The characters were people I felt like I knew by the end of the story, I highly recommend reading this book if you are ok with reliving some of the darker aspects of Covid.

Yes! This is the Jodi Picoult I love! I've been a fan of hers since picking up The Pact over 15 years ago, but have admittedly found her books to be hit or miss. It seems that when they "hit", they really hit and are wonderful, but when they miss the mark for me, they really miss. I'm happy to say this was one I really enjoyed.

When I started this book and realized it was going to have a Covid focus, I was a little concerned. Living in a world with Covid day in and day out, I haven't quite felt ready for it in my books, television and movies. I use reading as an escape, and I'd be happy to never hear the "C" word again. That said, this book surprised me and kept me engaged throughout. It was one of those books that kept me up too late at night because I didn't want to put it down.

One thing I really love about Jodi Picoult is the level of research she puts into her books. That was no exception with this one, but don't take that to mean that this was boring. It really gave the reader an inside look of what it's been like to work in the medical field since March 2020. I knew it wasn't easy, and of course you hear on the news how bad things are, but this book really puts the reader in the shoes of a resident/doctor and what that experience has been like. It gave me an even further appreciation for medical workers than I already had.

Probably the only thing I didn't like was the decision to include a character in the book that was clearly based on Yoko Ono, but went by a completely different name. That character's story very closely mirrored the story of Yoko and John, and I felt that it was a really weird thing to include in the book. I wasn't sure why the author chose to base that character on Yoko and had hoped it would be explained in the author's note, but it was not.

I'd love to say more about the book but don't want to give away any spoilers. But please check it out, especially if you are a Jodi Picoult fan!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the e-arc of this book.

This book turned me upside down because I really wasn’t expecting the shifts in the plot and the emotions it would evoke for me.

Jodi Picoult is brilliant at taking a current event (pandemic) and making you really think through it. How it affects you and the long lingering effects. While this one is different than her other ones, the storytelling is the same.

This book grabbed hold of me and sucked me in. Diana and her boyfriend, Finn, are planning a trip to the Galapagos and are set to leave NYC right as Covid hits. Finn tells her to go, which she does, and she finds herself stuck when the borders close.
Diana has to draw on physical, mental, and emotional strength she didn't know she had, as she tries to navigate getting her basic human needs met in a country that has shut down and where she doesn't speak the language. Add on her worries about her physician boyfriend toiling in a hotbed of a relatively unknown deadly virus, and her struggles with communicating with him. As time passes and she builds relationships, Diana starts to question her life circumstances and her future goals.
So many layers in this book and rich characters. I loved her explorations of the Galapagos, and seeing how she grew through her experiences.
The book is based in the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and includes some graphic discussion of this who contracted the virus.

I haven’t read a Jodi Picoult book in years.
I received this #ARC and finished it with just a few days to spare before publication day!
Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouseBallantine for allowing me to read this amazing book!

Diane and her boyfriend Finn have a trip all planned out.
They are going to the Galapagos and Diana is pretty sure Finn is going to propose on this trip.
But then the pandemic comes.
Finn, a surgical resident in NYC, is called into work, but encourages Diana to step out of her comfort zone and take the trip on her own.
Little does she know, that this trip, is one that will change her life forever.

Okay. This book. There are so many things I want to say about it.
It made me laugh. It made me cry.
It was an extremely emotional read for me.
It took place in New York during the pandemic, back when New York was the epicenter of the entire world for cases.
Picoult honestly captured exactly what it felt like to live in this state during that time.
It was a little hard, emotionally, to read through some of the emails that Finn would send Diana about how the hospitals were during the first wave.
But serious kudos to Picoult on her medical research because it was pretty spot on.
There was a huge plot twist that I 100% did NOT see coming.
It was quite shocking.
I absolutely loved this book.
It’s still fairly soon (for me) to read about pandemic stories without getting emotional, but this story also let me escape.
It brought me to the Galapagos. Her descriptions made me feel like I was there.
It honestly was a breath of fresh air.
Picoult’s books are usually super heavy and tackle really uncomfortable issues.
This one did as well, but when I finished this book… I honestly felt lighter.
She tackles all the important and heart breaking emotions and issues that span this time period, but she also leaves the reader with a sense of hope, a sense of peace.

This book has MANY trigger warnings, but when you are ready to read a book about the pandemic, I highly recommend this one.

I’ve been reading Jodi Picoult books for years & was was excited to dive into this story. This is the story of Diana that unfolds amidst the pandemic. It’s also a story about resilience, courage and perspective. As headlines again dominate with rising global rates and a new variant, this story and these themes ring true for many.

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House for the advance reader copy.

3.5 stars

This is the story of how a girl who loves intense thriller and horror books ended up reading a romance novel…

Well, this book isn’t about that, but that’s my story. I read this synopsis and wanted to check it out for the pandemic lean, and for some reason I also thought it was a suspense novel about being trapped on an island. About a third of the way through, I double-checked and saw that this is listed under chick-lit and romance genres. I kept wondering where the suspense was, until I realized my mistake!

Still, I was already a third of the way through it, I’d committed to reviewing it for NetGalley, and it wasn’t bad, so I kept on going. I’m glad I did; this definitely isn’t a vapid, cutesy romance novel. There actually was some mystery, a little bit of philosophy, science and fantasy, and it was a frank recounting of the year 2020.

Diana and her resident doctor boyfriend, Finn, are about to head on a trip to the Galápagos Islands, where she envisions him proposing to her. March has just begun, and there are random reports about a new virus, but this was at the “wash your hands and don’t touch your face” phase of the pandemic.

Over 48 hours, that all changes as New York City is put on lockdown and her boyfriend is starting to see more Covid cases at the hospital. They’ve already paid for two weeks of paradise, she’s already taken time off work at her job with the auction house Sotheby’s, but Finn’s hospital needs him to help with the rising number of cases, so he tells her to go on without him.

Long story short, she ends up getting there right as the island closes - not just the borders, but the hotel they booked is closed, markets are closed, and the entire place is a ghost town. There is horrible WiFi, and Finn is the one who speaks Spanish, so she doesn’t have any way of communicating. Straight up, she’s pretty screwed and wishing she had stayed home.

When she can finally get her phone to connect, she gets emails from Finn that make her think maybe being stranded on a remote island was for the best. Those emails remind the reader, in chronological order, how the beginning of Covid in America panned out. It starts with a few patients, then how doctors have no PPE, then how they start throwing all kinds of drugs and treatments in but the refrigerated trucks are filling with bodies as people escape the city. It really takes you back to last year, and if you’re still reeling from that, it could be difficult or cathartic, depending on how you relate.

Then the entire book changes, personally I think for the better, when everything Diana knows changes. It’s a big twist that I wasn’t expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. That’s when it gets more mysterious, and has the reader wondering what is real and what isn’t before the philosophically vague ending.

While I normally wouldn’t pick up a “chick-lit” or romance book, I’m glad that I misinterpreted the synopsis for this one and got to give it a chance. The only word I can think of for this book (aside from the pandemic bits) is pretty. It had pretty writing that takes you to a pretty place, with pretty-on-the-inside characters. It wasn’t gooey or cheesy - that’s how I like my pizza, not my books - it was just a nice read.

My big annoyance: don’t tell a story about John Lennon, The Beatles and Yoko Ono without using real names. That was odd, and perhaps will change before the book comes out this week (I’ve been holding onto this ARC for awhile). I’m giving this four stars because despite it being a book I wouldn’t normally read, I really enjoyed it and my brain probably enjoyed the break from darkness.

(Thank you to Random House - Ballentine, Jodi Picoult, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

Diana and Finn have Big Plans. Then COVID changes everything. My mother used to cite an expression: “Man plans and God laughs.” Jodi Picoult has written perhaps the first novel to explore COVID and its impact on people’s lives (or certainly one of the first). It brought back vivid memories of those horrible early days when the world was just learning what COVID was and how to treat it, how overwhelmed health care professionals were and how confused everyone was - do we have to sanitize our grocery packages, do we have to quarantine our mail, etc. So for a lot of readers, this book may be “too much, too soon.” But there are other important themes here as well - love, family, how we spend our lives. I found the sections about the Galapagos Islands to be the most interesting sections of the book, but the main character, Diana, just didn’t resonate that much with me and I found it easy to put down the book - it wasn’t a “page turner” for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Jodi Picoult opens Wish You Were Here in mid-March 2020 New York City as her main character Diana travels to work and recalls her childhood experience painting a corner of the Grand Central Terminal ceiling her father was then restoring. It is Friday the thirteenth as she navigates the subway system to the famed Sotheby’s auction house, noticing how quiet the city is after announcement of the first nineteen cases of COVID-19 to have hit NYC.

When Diana’s boyfriend Finn, a resident physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital, is required to attend COVID patients rather than go on the couple's planned trip to the Galapagos Islands where Diana is sure he intends to propose, he encourages her to go alone. They cannot change their reservations, so it only makes sense for her to be able to enjoy the trip she has been researching in travel guides. Upon her arrival on Isabela, the island shuts down, stranding Diana among strangers in a small town where businesses, including the hotel where she had a reservation, have just closed.

How will Diana manage alone where she does not speak the language? How will her experiences there change her life?

If you enjoy novels with sudden twists and turns, you will love the journey Jodi Picoult takes you on in Wish You Were Here. Do not miss the Author’s Note in the back of the book. In fact, you may want to read it first.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House Publishing Group for an advance reader copy of this recommended and timely new novel.