One of the last times I read a Jodi Picoult book was when I was recovering from chemo and it was My Sister's Keeper. This was not a very good idea mostly bc she had captured a lot of what being sick and isolated felt like and seeing that on the page was a way for me to try and articulate what it was like for me. So, I shouldnt be surprised that her current book, taking place in NYC during COVID was a lot like traveling back in time, a time that feels 20 years ago and also so recent. I found myself also wishing I had spent part of last year somewhere like Galapagos, instead of the four walls of my apartment. The book is vivid and the characters live on the page. You'll learn alot about Art History. There's a mention of Schitts Creek (I will not say in what context) and Id like to believe Ted did inspire (maybe subliminally) the Galapago joke (read to see where). Plus our collective trauma and Tiger King. The book moves along and is well done; if you're ready for a book about finding yourself among the dumpster fire that was 2020, this book does it justice. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Jodi Picoult has done it once again. I've never been able to get enough of her books and this one proved no different.

SPOILER ALERT


I'm always looking out for that classic Jodi twist, however, I never expected it to come in the middle of the book. Learning that the Galapagos was a COVID dream had my jaw on the floor. And learning where Diana went from there kept me glued to the pages.

This is Jodi at her best, and needs to be read by everyone

Jodi does it again! Could not put this book down! I read it in two days. Definite read for everyone!

Diana O’Toole has her life all planned out. She is an art assistant at Sotheby’s and hoping a deal with a high profile client will lead to a big promotion. She and her surgeon boyfriend Finn are almost engaged and planning a romantic getaway to the Galápagos Islands to celebrate her 30th birthday. But then a virus strikes New York and Finn is unable to leave town. He urges Diana to go as the trip is not refundable and it would be a shame to lose all the money. Diana goes but the trip turns into a nightmare almost immediately. Her luggage is lost, no wi-fi and the entire island is under quarantine with no way for her to leave, Her fate is in the hands of a local family who provide her a place to stay and food. She befriends the daughter and realizes that she is struggling with a secret. She also finds herself having feelings for the father and loving the life on the island, suddenly she questions her life in New York and the choices she has made for her life.

Then the plot changes and a different story emerges that reflects the tragedy of the pandemic and the effects it has on the body and mind of its victims.

Thanks to Jodi Picoult and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine

Jodi Picoult has done it again. Mesmerizing story of what could be in today's pandemic. It could happen to any of us and how would we handle it? Must read.

This is philosophical, metal psychical and psychological novel about how human lives evolve, how they change, how adapt in new normal but mostly it’s about how to stay alive and protect our sanity when all hell breaks loose?

This book centers on Diana, who, at 29 years old, is living a steady and organized life that was going exactly as she planned it. Lo and behold, COVID hits and disrupts the vacation she had planned with her boyfriend, Finn, where she expected him to propose. Finn insists she goes anyway, as he is a doctor and will be working nonstop due to the pandemic. Diana embarks to the Galápagos Islands on her own, where she goes on an unexpected journey of self reflection and re-examining what she is looking for out of life.

Reading about COVID felt too soon but was actually really interesting, as I could picture what it would be like to read this book 25 years from now and be transported back to this crazy time in our history. I found Diana herself to be well characterized- she felt human and real throughout the story. There’s always a twist in a Picoult book and when it comes, it was wholly unexpected and took the rest of the story to another level. There was no one in this book that I couldn’t relate to in one way or another.

After an interminable time of social isolation, many people are just now cautiously venturing out in public places amid fear of re-infection due to the coronavirus. Jodi Picoult's latest book, "Wish You Were Here" is a very relevant piece exploring the physical and mental effects of the pandemic on the unfortunate victims and their loved ones. An author of Picoult's calibre was able to expertly handle the anxiety and trepidation felt during the last 15 months while expertly weaving in a story with fictional characters.

Diana is an associate specialist at Sotheby's in New York with her career on the rise and a future going according to plan. She is living with her boyfriend, Finn, a resident in the surgery department at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Diana and Finn are suppose to go on a two week vacation to the Galapagos Islands but Finn has to back out due to rising coronavirus cases in the emergency room. He insists that Diana goes without him since they can't get their trip refunded. So Diana reluctantly goes by herself.

What follows is a mesmerizing story that will capture your heart and your mind. Amid the beauty of the Galapagos Islands, Diana starts to question what she really wants out of her life. Things that had once seemed so important, now appear inconsequential. Diana wonders how she will be able to assimilate into her old life once travel restrictions are lifted and she is able to return to the United States.

The second half of this book is totally unexpected, but a haunting reminder of the devastating effects of the pandemic. Jodi Picoult is a master at her craft which is evident in this gripping and powerful story. This is a potent reminder of our current history, which we are all navigating together.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wish You Were Here is a story of choices - Diana O'Toole is an up and coming mover and shaker in the art world at Sotheby's - and just landed the auction of the century. Her life is moving according to plan, and the next step will be her engagement to her surgical resident boyfriend, Finn. Diana feels a proposal will be coming on their vacation to the Galápagos Islands - she has even found the box in Finn's drawer.
What Diana doesn't know is that Finn will come home that night from his hospital in NYC and drop that bomb that Covid-19 is here, and there will be no trip for him. He encourages her to go on her own, and she finds herself stranded on an island paradise, where she meets a new man, his daughter, and begins to question her life choices. There is a major plot twist I don't want to reveal, because it is essential to the story - but it keeps you reading and wondering what Diana will do. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an Advanced Reader copy.

Part fantasy part reality. An interesting and titillating read. One of the great author's if out time has done the incredible again.
A story of love and loss. Or is it?
I was totally emersed in the story line and greatly surprised at the ending. A fabulous book.

Diana is an art specialist buying expensive art for Sotheby’s. Her boyfriend, Finn, is an emergency physician at a hospital. They have purchased tickets for a much-needed vacation to the Galapagos. Covid is just beginning in New York City and Finn’s attending physician declares all doctors are needed and discourages his vacation. Diana believes Finn thinks she should go by herself. When Diana arrives at her destination, her hotel has closed due to Covid and there is no returning ferry. She is reunited with a teen from the ferry and Diana ends up staying in Beatriz’s grandmother’s apartment kept her for son Gabriel, Beatriz’s father. Diana is isolated on the island with plenty of time to think about her life and what she really wants to do with it. Meanwhile, she receives messages from Finn, telling her how much he misses her and what his life is like with Covid patients. Finn’s fear and helpless feelings add to his desperation and exhaustion. This book really looks at the importance in trying to understand oneself, being honest with others, and being strong enough to realize how experiences in life make you a different person. Great book, includes lots of research on Covid, and gives the reader a lot to think about.

I wasn’t looking forward to reading any Covid-related fiction, but figured hey it’s Jodi Picoult, so... Wish You Were Here is well-researched and peppered with interesting factoids. But ultimately, the whole Covid-theme was just too soon for me, and the unexpected twist of an ending was very disappointing.

Wish You Were Here is Picoult's look at the COVID pandemic. As she usually does, she makes the reader think about issues while reading. And as the pandemic did for most of us, questions such as "what is really important"? "Am I really in the right career?" or "Is the plan for my life really the right one?" are looked at by the main character.

An enjoyable, compelling read that will have readers turning the page to see what happens next.

In Wish You Were Here the reader is introduced to Diana O’Toole and Dr. Finn Colson, both residents of New York during the COVID pandemic. The story begins at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 when New York had only nineteen reported cases.
Diana’s character detailed a design for her future, but what she didn’t factor into her plans was this pandemic and being in the Galapagos without Finn.
When Diana’s not exploring the island she’s talking about art. I knew going into this book that art was a theme to the storyline I just didn’t realize how much I wouldn’t care about art. She works for an auction house helping people sell their art collections. I found myself skimming through the art scenes focusing on the scenes where Diana spent time on the island. Diana’s a foreigner in another part of the world during a pandemic. She’s at a disadvantage with her limited Spanish words leaving her vulnerable and scared.


This is my first read where an author wrote about the pandemic from the standpoint of traveling to an island during shutdown. I wondered how long it would take before someone took advantage of the pandemic. Jodi didn’t miss a beat. She mentioned everything just the way I remembered it. No matter where you were in the world this pandemic hit us all.

Just remember while reading that Jodi likes to surprise her readers. What I conjured in my mind was so off base from the way Jodi turned this story around. What I like about Jodi’s writing style is how the twists and turns come out of nowhere. They are subtle and always unexpected. I got so caught up in the information that the twist came as a pleasant surprise.
Jodi uses her books as a forum to express her personal opinions. In this case with Wish You Were Here she chose to include the pandemic and art as her means of expressing the concept about Diana’s character. Jodi set out to chronicle the pandemic which she did. In doing that she redefined an experience I hadn’t imagined during this pandemic. Not only did Jodi recapture all the positive and negative moments she designed an interesting twist that was unexpected yet very fascinating. She took a tragic situation and turned it around with an interesting spin giving new life to Diana’s character.
Jodi Picoult is the author of twenty-five novels. This is my fourth read by her. I’m nowhere close to the 25 novel mark. I’m not sure if I’ll read the rest of her books, depends on my mood. One thing I’ve learned about Jodi is that I like half of her concept. The half where it focuses solely on the character without the informative backstory. Some of her research while very thoroughal is too much to handle and process. For me it’s where I get bored.
Typically you can expect a controversial topic when reading one of Jodi Picoult’s book, but I wouldn’t reference this concept as controversial.

This is a very timely new book from Jodi Picoult. We've all spent the better part of the last year and a half struggling with the invasion of COVID and everything that comes with it. Most media that has come out in the last year has ignored the pandemic altogether, pretending it doesn't exist. However, this book looks it in the face and tells the story of one woman's personal journey of self-discovery during these unprecedented times.

Diana is in the prime of her life, on the cusp of a career explosion and starting a family of her own. The one day in March 2020, things slowly start to change in the world, and eventually in her life. Her big art deal, almost guaranteeing her a promotion, falls through due to COVID uncertainty. Her doctor boyfriend (the one with a ring hidden in his underwear drawer), has to back out of their once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos trip at the last minute, also due to COVID. So with her world shaking around her, what else is there to do but go on a trip to Ecuador alone. We see the new world of pandemic times closing in before her flight even leaves the airport.

In the first half, I thought this was just another Jodi Picoult "paint-by-the-numbers with the issue of the moment", especially in the dispatches from the hospital where Diana's boyfriend is working around the clock during the early days of the pandemic. But whoa. The second half flipped that all on its head and brought new life to this story. Overall, a fantastic summer read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This creative fictional story brings us a powerful account of the horrors of Covid during the pandemic of 2020. It wasn't that long ago and already, many of us have moved on and forgotten the days of being glued to the TV news reports with medical professionals scrambling to save their patients. This book makes us remember.

Many of us don't want to remember. We want those days to be behind us. But the author makes it clear that we can't learn from the past unless we take a closer look and she gets us hooked with a love story.

The book starts with a romance between Diana who sells art with Sotheby's and her boyfriend Finn, who is a resident at a NYC hospital. The couple is excited as they are just about ready to depart for their planned trip to the Galapagos. But there's a problem. Finn can't leave. Every ICU bed is being filled with Covid patients and he needs to stay to help. He tells Diana to go without him which she does.

She gets to a place called Isabella which explodes with beauty. Yet, there are hardships. The airline lost her luggage. She can't speak but a few words of the language. Her hotel is closed even though they have paid in advance. In fact, everything is closed and she has no phone signal or a way to go back at this point. She has no choice but to figure out how to manage on her own with a few US dollars and toothbrush in her backpack. Someone says, "Maybe having all the boats and tours suspended for a few weeks isn't a bad thing. Maybe it gives Mother Nature a moment to breathe."

Diana who has planned every day of her life is now on her own. She thought this would never happen. She finds a place to stay and in the meantime, she is able to pick up some online messages from Finn but can't return any. And then half way through the book, something happens - a real twist like no other.

This is above 5 stars. Jodi Picoult did an incredible amount of research with patients and the medical staff to bring us a glimpse on what it was like during the peak of the pandemic. Yet, there's more. She shows the connection we have with love, feelings of grief, mysteries of the brain, complexities for those who are gay and an inside look at the art world. It's cleverly written with a strong story that folds all the pieces together like a brilliant piece of art that captures the imagination. We all lived through this time. Can it change who we are? Yes, maybe.

My thanks to Jodi Picoult, Ballantine Books and NetGallery for allowing me to read this advanced copy expected to be released on November 30, 2021.

It’s early 2020 and Covid is beginning to menace New York City. Diana, an associate at Sotheby’s and her partner Finn, a surgical resident, are about to leave for a long planned trip to the Galapagos Islands. She’s sure a proposal is part of Finn’s plans. The night before they are to leave, all hospital time off is cancelled. Finn tells Diana to take the trip of their dreams alone. She does. She arrives in the Galapagos only to find the island is closing for two weeks because of Covid. She rashly decides to stay. What happens next, in New York and the Galapagos Islands, will change her life.

That’s all that can be said without spoilers. Read this book. It’s the most beautiful, haunting story that will make you think about what is really important in life. The characters, especially Diana, Gabriel and Beatriz, are unforgettable. This is Jodi Picoult at her best. Look forward to seeing it at the top of the best seller list. All the stars in the sky or 5 because that’s all I can give.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Jodi Picoult for this ARC.

This is a beautiful book. One of my favorites by Jodi. She hit another one out of the park. I. Can't wait to read this one again and again

Jodi Picoult seems to be a gushing fountain of great consciousness raising stories. This one was timely and informative. I couldn’t put it down. Jodi is such a good mediator of differing opinions. I’m sure we are political polar opposites, but she certainly can perfectly represent both sides of an argument. This book may become like a reference book for the future of our generations’ unique pandemic experiences. I completely enjoyed every page and will recommend this work to many. Thank you for the opportunity of an early read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Ballantine Books and mosty to Jodi Picoult for this E-copy of Wish You Were Here. To Start, Iwould give this book .more than 5 stars if I could. What a courageous project to take on. Covid has affected everyone and for many, it's not over. Jodi took it on with the story of one woman and managed to include honest and human perspectives of our health care heros, those isolated in hospitals and nursing homes and the uncertainty, loss and fear, we all experienced. All this without politics. I am so glad she wrote this book and thankful that I had the chance to read it. The book was expertly researched and beautifully human.
Diana, and her partner Finn are New Yoirkers with big dreams for their future together; marriage, children, a house in the burbs. Timing can be the devil and the Covid Pandemic hits as they are ready for a needed vacation at the Golapegos Islands. Leave it to Jodi Picoult to give her readers and outstanding tour and experience of this primitive volcanic island, full of wildlife and raw nature, as Diana discovers it... This beautifully written book with characters that can only be described as real was a fast page turner. I would absolutly recommend this book and am so thankful to have read it. I Wish You Were Here truly reflected the experiences, emotions, anxiety and how it changed us. . Most importantly, it gives reason to hope.

I've been a long time reader of Jodi Picoult. Some efforts I love, others not so much. However you feel about this author, you can be damn sure she's done her research.

Is this a book about Covid? Yes. Are we tired of talking about this awful experience? Yes. But, having a good writer help us experience a medical staff's anguish and fatigue is worth our attention.

There is certainly more to the story than a rehash of the disease. I read interesting explanations of how different species, including humans, adapt to their environment. I was amazed to learn stories of coma patients who have lucid dreams in which they experience a totally different life. I related to Diana's loneliness and the sense of loss we all felt during the pandemic.

You can make lists and plan your life to the nth degree, but there's always going to be a curveball or two thrown your way. Life changes, and we must change with it. Diana's road to self-discovery was an adventurous and worthwhile ride.

Thanks NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the opportunity to read and review.