Jodi Picoult has written a very timely novel set in NYC during the early aughts of the COVID-19 pandemic that consumed us beginning in March 2020. That being said, this book may not be for everyone, as it deals with the very real feelings of fear, stress, mental exhaustion, confusion, and anxiety that many of us, especially the hundreds of front line workers, dealt with over the course of those first few months. No one knew what the virus was, no one knew how to fight it, no one knew how to save those put on ventilators. Every treatment was a shot in the dark with the hopes that it might make a difference.

On the verge of turning 30, Diana's life is on track. She's an associate specialist at Sotheby's and about to close a deal that will hopefully garner her a promotion. She has a long term boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident at a prominent NYC hospital. They are so in sync that they know exactly how their life together will play out, from the number of kids to pets to their perfect future house in Westchester County. They have an upcoming trip to the Galápagos Islands where she knows Finn will propose and she will say yes.

Then COVID patients take over the hospitals and Finn must stay to take care of anyone coming in. Yet he insists that Diana go on the trip because no one knows how bad it's about to get. Upon arriving in the Galåpagos, the island is shut down and put into quarantine, with no one allowed in or out. The hotel Diana was supposed to stay at is closed, but an elderly local takes pity on Diana and lets her stay in an apartment attached to her home. With spotty internet service, Diana receives e-mails from Finn about the ever worsening situation in New York with no way to let him know she is okay and managing. Knowing little Spanish, Diana befriends a few locals who help her discover the mysteries of the islands and a different side of herself, one that might not be ready to settle down into what she thought was her perfect life.

I went into this book not knowing much about it. It was hard to read at points because the effects of COVID are still real and ever present. The pandemic is not over but has gotten much better since it took over every aspect of our lives almost two years ago. The author captures the raw emotions of what many people went through and she was diligent in her research as to how the situation began to unfold in NYC. At times, it felt like the author was trying to push her personal feelings and thoughts about COVID onto the reader with Diana as a cover. At one point, Diana mentions social distancing and keeping six feet apart, which I don't think was an idea/concept that the media was urging people to do in the first few weeks of the pandemic. Overall, this is a decent book but definitely not a book to read as an escape from every day life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Wish You Were Here was nothing at all like I was expecting. It took so many twists and turns and had me feeling every single emotion. I didn’t know if I would really like to read a book about Covid-19, especially when we are still dealing with Covid constantly, but I am so glad I read this book. Jodi Picoult truly wrote such a masterpiece about Covid-19 and the lockdown that happened throughout the entire world. This was an absolutely riveting read, that really shows you what medical staff were dealing with and still are dealing with because of Covid.

The main character. Diana, lives in New York with her boyfriend who is a doctor. She has planned her life out and is on track to get a promotion at her job and she believes her boyfriend will propose to her on their trip to the Galapagos. The night before their trip, Finn says he won’t be able to go because Covid is getting worse and all doctors are needed. He tells Diana that she should still go and enjoy the trip, she can’t believe he would say that but decides to go. Once arriving to Galapagos, things take a turn. Almost immediately the island shuts down, no going in or out, and every shop and hotel is closed. She has no cell reception or wifi to reach Finn and doesn’t know anyone. Diana does find a family who is willing to let her stay with them and she starts to understand the island and become close to the family. Despite being by herself and without Finn, she is having a good time. She is also really starting to rethink her planned life and if that is what she really wants.

While Diana is stranded in the Galapagos she writes letters to Finn, and Finn emails her what is going on in New York City. Reading the emails from Finn had me very emotional because of what he as a front line worker was dealing with every day. How he was watching patient after patient die because of Covid, but yet the president wouldn’t even wear a mask. It was heart breaking to read those emails, because we are still dealing with Covid. I couldn’t imagine going through that and being alone because Diana is not with him.

I will say that Picoult does one of the best twists I have ever read in any book, I can’t reveal what it is but it made my jaw drop. I don’t think I will ever forget this book and even now just thinking about how beautiful this book was, but also devastating has me feeling every emotion. I think Picoult really did her research and wrote a book that will stay with everyone. This was not an easy read and did an emotional toll on me, but I would highly recommend it.

Wow....this story knocked me off my feet and it took me a while to process this in order to write a more objective review. If you have been a long-time reader of Jodi Picoult then you have been on a longtime emotional journey with her. I have always been a fan and her books were some that I would wait anxiously to be released. The last few releases have been hit or miss for me. Where The Book of Two Ways felt preachy to me, Wish You Were Here was the opposite. Picoult took the difficult topic of life at the beginning of the pandemic and spun a story with unexpected twists and turns that drew you in. I will state before I get started on my full review, that if you are still not in a place to process a book describing the pandemic through multiple lenses you might want to put this on a TBR shelf for down the road, but I thought she did an excellent job of conveying the topic in an insightful way.

This story follows Diana O'Toole, a woman with her life on the perfect track. At 30, she is climbing the professional ladder as an art dealer and set to be engaged to her surgeon fiance, Finn, with plans to move to a New York City suburb in the near future.

Right before a trip to the Galapagos Islands, where she is sure he will pop the question, she hears difficult news. Covid 19 has struck New York City and it's all hands on deck at the hospital where he works. She decides to continue on the trip alone but soon finds herself trapped in a country that goes into total lockdown, where she doesn't speak the language, without luggage or a place to stay....no flights in or out. She connects with a local family and is forced to move completely out of her comfort zone. Though lonely and isolated from her own life in New York, her time on the island causes her to reexamine her job, her relationships, and her life as she knows it. On the island that is the foundation for Darwin's theories on evolution, Diana goes on an emotional journey to rediscover what really matters in life.

Without giving away any spoilers, I will say woven into the narrative is one whopper of a twist that will keep you turning the pages until the very end. I find that very few books completely take me by surprise and this will be one I will continue to think about for a long time. It is heartbreaking and emotional and will speak to all of us who felt called to reexamine our lives and what was important in the face of the pandemic. It would make a perfect book club read to spur a lot of discussion about a timely and relevant topic. If you have been disenchanted with the hard-hitting topics and tone of Jodi Picoult in her last few novels, I feel like this is the redemption you have been waiting for.

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Jodi Picoult for another win! I thoroughly enjoyed this one and, as always, learned a little too – about art. Art appreciation is not my cup of tea, but it plays a part in this book and I actually found myself fully interested in learning it. This is also the first book I’ve read in which COVID plays a part in the storyline, a pretty big part. I felt it was done well, without taking over the story. Even though there was sickness, death, and quarantine issues throughout, there was also romance and self-reflection to balance it out. I definitely recommend this one – it would make a great gift for a reader while celebrating the holidays.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of the book to read and review. These are my honest, personal opinions..

It is March 13, 2020 in New York City. Diana O’Toole is building her career at Sotheby’s. Her boyfriend Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose. The couple is going on vacation to the Galápagos Islands. Life is right on track. That is until the mysterious coronavirus starts to cause shutdowns and concerns that require Finn to stay home as his hospital needs all medical personnel to be ready for an expected onslaught of infected patients. Diana decides to go on the vacation alone. When she arrives, the islands go on lockdown and she is stuck. But stuck in paradise. While Finn is dealing with the unimaginable horror of a rapidly spreading virus, Diana is introduced to incredible beauty and meets people who cause her to take a fresh look at her life. “It’s almost as if I had to stop running in order to see myself clearly, and what I see is a person who’s been driving toward a goal for so long she can’t remember why she set it in the first place.”

Wish You Were Here brings the reader into the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and no one felt the strain and sense of the unknown more than healthcare workers. It’s a strong story that is told from Diana’s point-of-view. She goes through a tough journey that changes her. I was a bit hesitant to read a book that brings all the emotions of this crisis to the surface. Especially since we’re still living through it. So it might be too soon for some but for me it was a powerful, worthwhile read from an excellent storyteller.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Jodi Picoult brings us a very timely tale of Diana and Finn, about to take a two week vacation to some exotic, faraway paradise, when the COVID-19 pandemic hits. Since Finn is in healthcare, he cannot just dash away, so Diana makes the tough decision to go away on her own.

We are thrown into the perils of international travel during a pandemic as well as some joys of paradise with Diana. Intermittently, we are given a glimpse into the day of life of a healthcare professional during these harrowing times.

However, the story takes an unexpected turn (no spoilers here....you'll just have to read and find out for yourself) and Diana is faced with some life changing situations and questions. Whether we are meant to be scared, horrified, or just down right sad, this story takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions that may be hard to swallow.

The story is beautifully written, however, I could have done without some political opinions that were "assumed" in the text. Let's have a fiction story about real events without throwing in opinions too much. My goal for reading is to escape the madness that is Social Media and News Outlets these days.

I will admit, Jodi Picoult does not disappoint. Definitely worth the read. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read. This review showcases my opinions only.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

My thoughts: I’m going to struggle with this review. As I struggled with the whole book. I will say right off the bat that if you’re still dealing with any covid-related trauma, you might want to pass on this one for a bit. I didn’t realize I was still holding onto anything, but boy oh boy, did this book bring it out. By the end I was ugly crying so badly that my cat came to comfort me and my phone didn’t recognize my face. So just be warned.

Also be warned that this will be a long review, because I have a lot to unpack here.

I was an essential worker. I worked in a grocery store, and probably saw the beginnings of the pandemic better than anyone. That first day in late February, maybe super early in March, when we ran out of toilet paper, and then we ran out of cat food, and then canned fruit, I knew we were in trouble. But no one listened. When I begged to be allowed to wear a mask, I was told that they didn’t want to cause a panic (everyone was already panicking). I remember when people were buying us candy bars and thanking us for coming to work, and I remember when it changed to them yelling because we were out of whatever product they needed, or being called names because we asked them to social distance. I left that job, finally, the day that some woman called me a nazi for asking her to stay behind a red line on the floor.

I also remember getting my first vaccine. And then my second. And then my third. And wondering why, of all people, I got to make it that far when so many others didn’t?

I’m immunocompromised. I was fully prepared to get sick and end up on a vent. And once you get put on a vent, you usually don’t come off. What made me so special that I survived, despite being in contact with so many people every day?

This book asks that same exact question. There is no answer.

I’m fully aware that this book may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I’m also aware of why that is. I don’t expect everyone to love it. But I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Diana is an art specialist for Sotheby’s. Her boyfriend, Finn, is a surgical resident. Their life is planned- marriage, 2 kids, house in the suburbs. She anticipates that he’ll propose on an upcoming trip to the Galápagos Islands. The COVID-19 virus has hit and it’s horrible in NYC. Finn works night and day and Diana loses a big client jeopardizing her promotion. The country goes on lockdown. What happens with the trip to Galápagos Islands? Does Diana go alone? Without giving details, it is life-changing.

When I first received this book to review, I wasn’t excited about a book about COVID. Being a nurse, it’s too real. We all have COVID fatigue and would just rather forget it and be done. But, this book is about so much more than COVID. The characters are like so many that spend their life working for “things” only to find out that that’s not what’s important in life. How often do we settle? How often are we in relationships that don’t bring us joy? This book really gets down to what’s important in life. As usual, Jodi Picoult does not disappoint.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have mixed feelings about this book. This is the first novel I've read by this author, and although I enjoyed the writing style, I was a little disappointed by a few of the choices made. I specifically am doubting the benefit of the twist in the middle of this novel, as well as the decision to leave the novel open ended. I personally felt there were questions left unanswered, and I was hoping the ending would provide me more clarity. That being said, I can certainly appreciate the amount of research that was required to write this story.

I think it's important to note that this book is not for everyone, specifically because the story is set within the COVID pandemic. We've all had our own experiences during this pandemic, and this novel could be very triggering for readers. As a person who worked in the hospital during the COVID pandemic, there were several aspects of this novel that felt very personal, and certainly challenging to read at times. Please take this into consideration prior to reading Wish You Were Here.

I was super hesitant to read a book about the beginning of the pandemic and a from a front line healthcare workers point of view. It is still all so raw and real and I didn’t know if I wanted to live through that again, but I am so glad I did. I haven’t read any of Jodi Picoults recent books, but I had devoured her back list for years and this book had such a different tone to it.

Diana finds herself alone on the Galapagos after her boyfriend has to cancel his trip due to being a resident at the hospital in NYC. Once she arrives, she finds out the island is shut down and she is stuck there without a place to stay (or her luggage)! She meets a woman who lets her stay in her basement where Diana quickly becomes friends with Gabriel and his daughter Beatriz. I loved all of the imagery in this book, I felt like I was right there with Diana exploring the island and learning how to live without modern technologies.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so very much to the Author, Jodi Picoult, the publishing company Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for an early read for my honest review.

I wasn't sure how I would feel about reading a book centered around the pandemic and Covid-19, however it's Jodi Picoult and I never miss reading one of her books. To say this was a book that kept me filled with emotions is an understatement.

The book centers around a young couple from New York; Finn, a resident doctor at the nearby hospital, and Diana, an art specialist. They had the dream vacation planned to the Galapagos, however Finn is stuck at the hospital with the Covid 19 outbreak, but he insists that Diana go by herself.

Diana barely makes it to the island before everything in the world gets shut down. Throughout the book, there is some pulling away by both Diana and Finn and the plot twist that Jodi Picoult throws in the book is so very thought provoking.

As always Jodi Picoult does tons of research and her writing is spot on. Thank you so very much...I truly enjoyed this one, and couldn't get through it fast enough. 5 stars from me!!

I had so many emotions while reading this book which it has been a while since a book has done that for me so that alone gives it 5 stars. The trauma from the pandemic is still very fresh and this may not be best suited for people who aren't ready to read about the issues that came with it, but it is a Jodi Picoult book that I would recommend.

It’s been many years since I’ve reads Jodi Picoult book but when I was in high school I went through a stint where I read ALL of her work. I went into this book completely blind and it left me with so many mixed emotions.
I don’t know if I had been asked would I have been ready to enjoy a book that vividly takes place in a COVID world, but Picoult created this world masterfully. There were only some moments that triggered some panic but for the most part she still allowed for escapism to occur.

I was really loving the first half of the book and then when the twist happens (no spoilers) I was like ehhhhhhh???? It didn’t ring true. It left a weird taste. It started getting too informative and less entertaining. I’m not sure what it was. I missed the Galapagos.

Anyway, I still gave this book three stars because it was entertaining even though I felt out of rhythm with it on the last half.

Buy it. Just buy it now and save yourself the FOMO. I loved it so much I wanted a signed copy (I never order signed copies), and I’m hoping it’ll be a BOTM pick so I can have it branded from them too😂

LESS THAN A WEEK! SIX DAYS before my absolute favorite read of 2021 is released for the world to enjoy and I’m over here vibrating in my socks like a Furbie you can’t shut off (remember those horrible, haunted little turds?)

WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult
Anyway, let’s talk. Let’s talk about Jodi Picoult and this freaking MASTERPIECE she wrote- Wish You Were Here.
It’s heavy, ya’ll. It’s really (truly!) heavy in the most amazing, heartfelt and earth-shattering way.

I’m not going to tell you that it’s not going to break you.
I’m not going to tell you that it won’t hit dangerously close to home.
I won’t tell you that it’s not centered around COVID-19.
If I told you those things, I would be lying.

Jodi brings us a moving and poignant novel delving into the rich and raw emotions that reverberated through the world surrounding the Pandemic. In doing that, she whisks us away to the gorgeous Islands of the Galapagos where Diana and her fiancé were set to take a trip- when the virus hits. He urges her to go on this bucket list trip without him, while he stays behind on the front-lines as a Surgical Resident at the hospital.

I still don’t really know what to say other than W.O.W. I haven’t had words on a page transport me to another time, another life, another land in FOREVER- but Jodi FREAKING DID IT. I had such conflicting emotions for the relationships between the characters, my heart-strings pulling me in every different direction.
Following Diana as she explores the culture, the flora & fauna and befriending the inhabitants of the island- it was intoxicating. It was real. The prose was poetic, the characters multi-layered and genuine- so relatable, the atmosphere picturesque and breathtaking and I couldn’t get enough.

This is ultimately a story of how we (as humans) adapt and shape the course of our lives (and the lives around us) from the situations and experiences we go through. We persevere. We overcome. We are resilient. Jodie weaves an underlying narrative about familial love, loss, obligation and forgiveness. Do we cause the same hurt in someone who has hurt us, or do we choose to forgive and make the most of the time we have left?
As always, the research done to tactfully and skillfully write this novel was superb. Picoult not only gives us an astounding, roller-coaster of a story- it’s also fused with authentic analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic that brought the world to its knees.

Jodi, my jaw is still on the floor. Thank you for this, thank you for writing something so beautiful (and controversial) surrounding something so horrible. Thank you for the care and research you did to make this impactful. I know there will be people who won’t read this initially because it’s just too soon for them- and that’s OK- but those of us who are ready to heal, to persevere and to overcome- a very, truly and sincere…thank you.
And to Netgalley and Ballantine books for the advanced copy- I’m beyond grateful.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House—Ballantine for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

As COVID starts to hit New York, Diana finds herself taking her dream vacation in the Galapagos alone while her doctor boyfriend stays behind—only to find herself stranded there when the island locks down.

I have to admit, this isn’t the kind of book I would usually pick up, both because of the plot and because reading a book featuring COVID takes away from that escapism I want out of reading a bit. But I’ve only heard great things about Jodi Picoult’s writing, so when the chance to read this came around, I figured what the heck.

There are no words. I loved this book. I never wanted to put it down. Picoult’s writing is just stunning, and her storytelling blew my mind. I’ve highlighted honestly an obscene amount of passages because everything in this book was beautifully done. I gave myself the night to formulate my thoughts before writing this review, and honestly, I still don’t have any. My mind is blown.

Diana was the perfect narrator, and I’m sure her experiences will be relatable to many people going through this pandemic. All of the side characters were so endearing and felt so real—Gabriel and Beatriz grabbed my attention immediately. I wanted to know more about everything Diana did and about everyone around her; none of the descriptions of the Galapagos or her daily routines ever felt tedious to me.

Picoult takes serious and painful topics and handles them with grace. Finn’s emails as he deals with the pandemic from the front lines in New York convey such desperation and exhaustion that it really enhanced my perspective of the pandemic, especially as we slowly begin to move out of it. Diana’s guilt, in turn, at not being there for him hit hard. In the latter half of the book, Diana’s struggles against her own body and against the world as she searched desperately for satisfying answers hooked me in and had me rooting for her and hurting for her in turn.

I expected this plot to be predictable, and maybe in some ways it was, but I still found myself gasping and, okay, losing my mind at the major plot twist. I still found myself wondering what would happen next. Everything built so smoothly that anything I found predictable just felt satisfying when it occurred.

For a book I wasn’t sure I would like, I’m happy to say this turned out to be one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I will definitely be picking up more of Jodi Picoult’s books.

I adored this book. I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult and her work, but this one will stick with me for a long time.

One of the first "pandemic books" to be released, this was both written in takes place in the pandemic that we are slowly climbing out of. For the first third of the book, I had some questions, but then, there is a plot turn so epic you will want to go back and start from the beginning again.

Only Picoult can write something based in medical science, but still make it seem like a fairy tale.

Have you ever dreamed a dream that felt so real, that you wake up thinking you’re still where you were In the dream?

In this fascinating new book from Jodi Picoult, our main character, Diana, travels to the Galápagos Islands and experiences life during the beginning of covid, when things immediately shut down. She and her boyfriend, Finn we’re supposed to go together but, he’s a doctor and of course, cannot take the trip with her. She gets involved with a family and has an Abuela helping to take care of her and then suddenly, she’s drowning… Or is she?

I really, really enjoyed this read. I loved the descriptions of the places in the Galápagos Islands and the people. I enjoyed the story and the writing. It truly is a great read and I highly recommend it! This will be available next week (Nov 30), so please do yourselves a favor and preorder or put it on your lists!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you to Random House, NetGalley and the author for this review copy!

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult is a story about the unexpectedness of life and finding what you didn’t know you wanted. Diana O’Toole was the track to her perfect life. She would be married by 30 and have her children by 35, then they would move to the New York suburbs. Of course, she will climb the professional ladder in the cutthroat world of art auctions. She is an associate specialist at Sotheby’s and certainly on her way to a promotion, if she could just close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged yet but she’s certain that her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is close to proposing. Probably on their vacation getaway to the Galapagos. But when the COVID-19 hits New York City and on the eve of their departure, Finn announces that it's all hands on deck at the hospital. He can’t leave but there’s no reason Diana can’t go. Why waste their non refundable trip? So, she goes. Immediately, the trip goes south and she finds herself on lockdown on the island. Slowly, she connects with a local family. As Darwin formed his theory of evolution by natural selection in the Galapagos Islands, Diana finds herself examining herself and wonders if she will be the same person when she gets home?
After I read Ms. Picoult’s latest release, The Book of Two Ways, I was hesitant to read Wish You Were Here. But I decided to give her another chance as she is usually good for an emotional, thought provoking story. Unfortunately, Wish You Were Here fell flat for me. There was no emotional impact. I understand where the author was going with the thought provoking idea of personal evolutions. I didn’t feel any connection to Diana and her story development was predictable. I didn’t care for her high profile client, Kitomi Ito and her husband Sam, which was a very barely-disguised copy of Yoko Ono and John Lennon. I didn’t enjoy the political digs and while the author makes no effort to hide her political stance in any of her books, I felt the political digs were overly done. Overall, Wish You Were Here isn’t the Jodi Picoult story I am used to or expected. Although I should have listened to my hesitation after my experience with The Book of Two Ways. As with most of her books, there is a twist that “you shouldn’t see coming” but this one really angered me and soured the book even more for me. I feel writing about COVID while we are still living in the pandemic was a bad move.

Wish You Were Here will be available November 30, 2021 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook.

This book..... I read it so fast. Which is ironic because that is how the last almost two years have gone....

This book begins at the beginning of our new world- COVID. It was very strange reading about it from the beginning. I worked in a hospital everyday. I was in the ICU when we had our very first COVID patient admitted. I think had two days off and came back and we had 5 full ICUs of just COVID patients. Life did NOT slow down for me. I dont remember taking a break at all. Didnt get a chance to watch or read the news. I did not know what existed outside of the hospital..... Reading this book made me understand the realness that was out there. Working as a medical provider, I stopped being able to be there for a patient. I couldnt laugh with them or their family members. They couldnt see my smile behind my PPE. I stopped being present for patients. i had to do everything I could to make sure they had what they needed from me to survive. That was all I had for them. This book made me realize how tough it was for a patient (even though I saw them everyday).

I love this book. i love it. It is a beautiful story about love and loss. The Author's note at the end really got me choked up. Because it is absolutely true. COVID taught us how to slow down, and think about whats important. At least it taught me that. I no longer work in a hospital. What is the point? I stopped "caring" for people and became a robot. Now, I work, but i have the mental capacity to love my family and spend time with them. Thats a weird thing to say, but it is true for me.

COVID has killed so many people, but like Diana (in the book), it opened my eyes to a new world, one that I want to live in and enjoy.

I loved this newest Jodi Picoult book!!!!!!! It is a highly insightful look into how the Corona Virus has affected everyone's lives. It is a delightful fiction that was a joy to read. I highly recommend this book