Awesome Jodi Picoult novel set in the early stages of the Covid pandemic. Diana and Finn were set to go to the Galapagos Islands when Covid shut down the world. Finn stays back in New York, as he is a doctor, and Diana goes to the island by herself, not knowing that all is shut down there also. The Galapagos is famous for Darwins' survival of the fittest. She has adventures with people that she meets there. But does she? She wakes up and finds out that she has been on a breathing machine, thanks to Covid. But she feels that she was really in the Galapagos.

A great story about an aspect of the Covid pandemic that no one really has heard about. As I was reading the first part of the story, I thought about Gray's Anatomy where Meredith is on the beach and sees her love ones that had died. Maybe part of Covid is the alternative universe that people go to.

Wish You Were Here is another great, timely Jodi Picoult novel.

Was it OMG amazing, can't put it down, best book of the year? No. But it was perfectly pleasant and a good read between commitment books.

Wish You Were Here is written from the perspective of a young woman who has survived Covid and who entered an alternate reality while intubated. She survives, but everything she thought she knew about life and living is turned upside down. The book is an interesting, fictional, examination of whether it’s possible to live two different lives at the same time and what might happen when you make life choices that change the trajectory of your life forever.

This is a well-written and engrossing read. Although deep subjects and emotions are at the heart of the story, I found the characters somewhat flat and two-dimensional, almost stereotypes.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

Let me start by saying - I am a HUGE fan of Jodi Picoult. However, this book felt depressing, preachy, and a bit too soon since we are still living through big waves of Covid. It hits too close to home, and tries too hard to recreate a feeling I would rather not feel right now. Maybe 5-10 years from now this book would have been better - a bit more distanced perspective.

I read this book awhile back with the We Book and We Brunch Book club. I thought I reviewed this one but I guess I didn't.

I absolutely loved this story. The author had me thinking that the whole trip happened and it blew my mind.

The idea that someone could enter a dream state like this during covid is crazy but I can definitely see how it could happen.

The mind is a magical powerful thing.

(Content warning: COVID/pandemic and discussion/description of self-harm. If you are sensitive to these topics. read with care.) I was definitely wary of reading a book about the pandemic while we are still in the pandemic, but Picoult did a pretty good job at not traumatizing her reader with this story. She shares narratives both from the perspective of someone who is working on the front lines and someone who is not, and I think she gave an accurate representation of the emotional turmoil that a lot of us felt on both sides of that line. This novel tickled my travel bug and made me want to visit the Galapagos Islands or anywhere that is beautiful and remote. There was a huge twist about 60% through this book that caught me completely off guard. It was shocking but was also a great way for her to take this story off the road we thought it was traveling on. As always, she ends the story with me wanting another chapter or two. I know she leaves it up to our imagination, but I'd love to know where she'd take it if she had to add a few more pages. I think this would be a great beach read because once I started this one, I didn't want to put it down. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Jodi Picoult does it again - grabs you in from the first chapter and leaves you wanting more. The characters were so well developed. While the current topic of Covid may make some hesitate reading this is a story that should not be missed. Be sure to read the authors notes for more insight. A good book club discussion title.

Trigger warning: depending on your relationship with Covid this book may trigger some feelings.

I think this book made such and impact to me because I read it during my second bout with Covid, while I was one of the blessed to have a mild case I was still effected, as was everyone in the whole world. Picoult did a fantastic job of taking us through the pandemic and the slow build to what would become the greatest shock…in both book and our lives. This book takes an unexpected turn and a shocking twist unlike any I have read in a some time. The writing was descriptive and beautiful and held my attention throughout the entire plot. The characters were built well and held their arc through and through. I highly recommend this contemporary fiction to all readers.

Wow! This book really surprised me and totally turned into something other then what I thought it would be. It really makes you examine what is important in life. I do have to say that reading a story so deeply revolving around COVID, when we are still in the midst of it, was rough at times, but every part had a meaning and reason behind it. Be sure to read the Author’s note at the end!

A story about a world that goes into quarantine after a virus hits - sounds familiar... But what if you are alone on a dream vacation, the island shuts down and you have no way to get home? And then you wake up. What's real? What's not? What life lessons are learned when you're forced to reevaluated everything that you know.

# Jodi Picoult is one of my favorites. When I finished # Wish You We're Here l raced to ask for her next novel. I hope you will feel the same.
Description:
Diana is perfectly on track. She's an associate specialist with Sotheby's. She's not yet engaged, but feels boyfriend Finn, a surgical resident, is about to on their romantic getaway. Then a virus that felt world's away has appeared, on the eve of their departure. He tells her she should still go........

Thank you for the advance copy,
#Netgalley, # Jodi Picoult, and # Random House-#Ballantine

Don't even get me started on this one! Ripped heartstrings all around, Jodi Picoult does it again! I thought maybe a COVID-inspired book was a little too close to home, but I really enjoyed this one. There's too much plot to explain without spoilers, so just do yourself a favor and read this one! Thank you Netgalley!

DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

I am a big Jodi Picoult fan but this book struck me in a way that few others have. It was such a timely and original story and touched on so many facets directly affecting people and society during the pandemic. I found the ending to be really surprising and unexpected. I highly recommend this to fans of Jodi Picoult and also those that have not previously read her work.

I wasn't sure I was ready to read a COVID book, but I would honestly read Jodi Picoult's laundry list - so naturally, when this arrived, I had to dive in immediately. This is such a unique and powerful book and told in a way that only Picoult could - and done so with her mastery of every story she writes. My one regret was devouring it too fast and now, I must wait for a new book from my favorite author!

I loved this book - I think obviously the pandemic can be a triggering subject but this was done really well. I like that she experiences this whole other life that ultimately leads her down a new path where as her old path would make her unhappy. She healed her relationship with her mother and ended her relationship with her boyfriend, where on some level she knew she wasnt satisfied. It is crazy to think about all the things that happened to her that she experienced that were not real were an actual COVID symptom and people truly experienced other worlds while they were going through the illness.
I will say about 1/3 of the way in i was sitting there thinking, i know where this is going and then when she woke up I was like, well i did not see that coming at all.

I enjoyed this book for the most part as it is extremely current during the COVID pandemic and what is happening in other parts of the world. The beginning of the book dragged somewhat as the main character ends up going on a trip alone to the Galapagos Island rather than with her boyfriend as planned. When the lockdown is imposed, Diana is then stuck on the island unable to go home and having very little to do. As the story unfolds, Diana befriends some locals and begins to question the direction her life as take and where she is heading as well. The writing is good and the tale interesting but the story just didn't reel me in like several of her other books. I am glad I read it though! Thanks so much for the ARC!!!

Jodi Picoult is known for writing strong stories about controversial social themes, like racism, abortion, and school shootings. This time she sets her sights on the global Covid pandemic. She captures the panic and isolation that we all experienced in spring 2020, when every day brought new revelations about the virus that upended the world and forced us to shift into isolation. No one knew what to expect from day to day. Picoult does a good job of documenting the experience, including the medical horror stories that had all of us living in fear.

But, at the heart of it, this book is also a story about self-discovery. Diana is an art curator in a long-term relationship with Finn, a medical resident. They are about to embark on a vacation to the Galapagos when Covid strikes and forces Finn to cancel his travel plans. Diana goes on the trip without Finn, only to find herself trapped on the island with no connection to the outside world and no way to get home. While on her journey, she gets involved with some of the local residents. I won't say what happens after that, but true to form, Picould provides a strong twist that forces Diana to reexamine everything she thought she knew.

Picoult is one of the strongest contemporary writers of her generation. She can be heavy-handed and sentimental at times, but she never fails to write a thought-provoking story with intelligent characters and strong descriptions. I look forward to her next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my opinions.

a book about the pandemic that I just… wasn’t quite ready to read. The first half was quite slow & while the second half picked up I found I just didn’t care for the characters (or the constant art history descriptions). Read with caution as it can be triggering.

Jodi Picoult knows how to write a story to make you squirm. This book was chalk full of 2020 trauma. As a healthcare worker, it was very difficult to read at times. The 60% mark turned the whole story on its head. Overall it was good. I’m sure I’ll be thinking of it for a long time. I wasn’t a fan of the ending and wished she’d have tied it up differently, Then again, that’s not exactly what Jodi is know for.