I have no idea how I'm going to give my opinions on this without spoilers but I'm gonna try for y'all.

Diana and Finn are a young couple in NYC who are looking forward to a trip to the Galapagos Islands...in March of 2020. Finn is a resident at a hospital and when positive cases start to climb, he encourages Diana to take the trip alone so they don't lose the money. Diana reluctantly goes but becomes stranded when the island shuts down, leaving her at the mercy of (fortunately) sweet and helpful locals.

Aaaaand that's where I need to stop my summary. Because that's what the story is about, but that's also not what it's about. Halfway through I literally yelled an expletive out loud in my room.

Non-spoiler details: Side characters were delightful. I will never get tired of toilet paper jokes. Diana's relationship with her mother made me emotional in a good way.

I know people are more than weary of reading fiction based on the nightmare that was 2020, but if I had to dive head-first into my first one, I'm glad it was by Jodi. I swear she's the author love of my life, and she will never let me down. Her dedication to deeply researching any and all subject matter for her novels never fail to astound me. I can't wait for the public at large to read this.

WOW! This book was incredible! I have been a HUGE Jodi Picoult fan for a long time, but have kind of taken a break from her. This book was incredible! I was a bit leery about reading a book about the Pandemic since it is really not a great memory in my own mind, however, it hooked me in immediately. The story in part one was written so well. Part two was where it got harder to read, but it was written with such purpose. I loved the characters in the book, the letters and postcards that were written, and the story in general. Picoult has hit it out of the park this time. I think I read this in about 48 hours...and was sad when it was over. The author's message at the end was personal, and give a little insight into her life and how she lived, and what she valued during her isolation time. Very well written and I highly recommend it. Thank you to Random House Publishing, Jodi Picoult, and Netgalley.com for this ARC of this book in trade for my honest opinion.

This is one of the most difficult review to write, because I loved this books so much I am almost speechless. Is this the book I needed right now? Yes I think so. I feel so incredibly lucky to have managed to receive an e-galley of this wonderful work of art.

Jodi Picoult is the author of some of my favorite books, including Leaving Time and The Book of Two Ways. Wish You Were Here has topped them all I believe. It is an incredible story of love, self-discovery, and the human condition. I think we all have unique stories of what going through the pandemic was like. As a health care worker myself, I really felt such empathy for the doctors, nurses, therapists, and other caretakers in this book, as well as of course, the patients. I spent the latter half of the book alternating between crying and laughing, such is the genius of Jodi Picoult's ability to capture human emotion with words. The first half of the book was both much needed escapism (including learning a lot about the Galapagos islands and art history), but also a lens through which to examine my own life and priorities.

The characters, the story, and the general vibe of this book are all 100%. Highly, Highly Recommend. Please everyone buy and read this book.

The only thing I will say is if you are still feeling the trauma of your own pandemic experience, just know this may have to wait. BUT NOT FOREVER. If you can handle it emotionally, please, please do.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have just had a wonderful afternoon reading and finishing this book in one sitting. The backdrop of this book is NYC during spring 2020 when we were learning about COVID-19. Some of that is still uncomfortable to read. The book is, in part, about a Dr who worked in a NYC hospital during the early days of the height of the pandemic, and what medical staff and severely ill patients went through (which can be triggering and difficult to read about, especially if you have had family members go through this.)

There is another, intersecting and predominate story line to this book, about the Dr's girlfriend who has her own experiences during the Spring of 2020. This part of the story was interesting, and the twist (slight spoiler) was partly surprising, but also been well used. It should not deter anyone from reading the book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for my review. I have read all of Jodi Picoult's novels and I'm always excited to see what her newest novel is about as she is a fantastic researcher and always picks topics for her books that I can learn more about. At first when I determined that this book was about the early days of Covid, I was really unsure if I wanted to do a deep dive into a subject I felt I knew plenty about having lost my uncle to this dreadful virus, but leave it to Jodi Picoult to put her spin on the story that I found it unputdownable!

I'm going to choose to not talk specifically about the plot of this novel as there are too many places where I could spoil the story so I'm just going to say that it was a hugely compelling story. It would be perfect for book clubs because when you read it, you are going to want to talk about it. I think it may be triggering for some people who have suffered greatly during the pandemic, With that being said, I think it is a must read book!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ecopy for my Kindle.
What a great story about the outbreak of COVID-19 ,and the stories of people who went through this tragedy. The "surprise" of what was going on with the main character was page turning. The only negative aspect I have and will always have with books that continue to use profanity, there's no need to use the "gd" or "f' words.

I didn't think of enjoy reading a book that in based in New York during Covid, but I should have doubted the author.

I am not completely sure that I am ready to read about the covid pandemic while we are still in it, but I gave this one a shot.

I like the premise, especially as it is something that pre-kids could have happened to me. When Diana left for Ecudor, I wondered if I would have done the same. I was so happy that our big vacation wasn't til June-and obviously got cancelled.

I thought the emails were unrealistic (as someone who communicated by email to more than one boyfriend-these did not seem to be like anything a male would write, especially more than once) but they made more sense halfway through.

I did not see the twist coming.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult in exchange for my honest review.***

*Possible vague spoilers

Writing a spoiler free review for WISH YOU WERE HERE is extremely difficult, because I can’t talk about the whys without discussing part two, so I tagged the review on Goodreads so people can avoid my review if they want.

3.5 STARS

Sometimes the start of COVID-19, when we didn’t know what we didn’t know, seems a lifetime ago. WISH YOU WERE HERE begins at the beginning of the pandemic, when NYC only had nineteen cases. Diana’s almost-fiancé, Finn, a surgical resident, can’t take their planned vacation to the Galapagos, though he urges Diana to go alone. Once in South America, the area shuts down and Diana develops relationships including with a man.

SPOILER

Except Diana never went on vacation, she was in a medically induced coma with COVID. Her entire trip and the relationships were dreams/hallucinations though they feel very real to Diana. Because I’m a psychologist, I know more about hallucinations and psychosis than most readers. I understand that the mind creates this sights, sounds and smells from experiences, memories, desires, fears and people. Diana was missing a lot in her life from her mom’s abandonment so she was ripe for addressing those pieces in a fantasy world.

Picoult creates complex characters with flaws that don’t always make them likable. I’ve read all her books and can’t think of a main character I liked less than Diana. Intellectually, I felt empathy for her and understood her, but those thoughts never reached me emotionally. To be fair, I’ve been around a lot of ill people and their caregivers during the pandemic, though not ill with COVID and my empathy was with Finn, her closest loved one. People don’t always understand the suffering of those watching their favorite person on the brink of death.

WISH YOU WERE HERE is, as are all Picoult’s books, beautifully written and complex. I’m not sure everyone will want to read a book with so much COVID in the plot. Jodi Picoult is the only writer who could interest with a pandemic story. In many ways WISH YOU WERE HERE is reminiscent of my favorite Picoult books, the older ones like MY SISTER’S KEEPER, THE PACT and NINETEEN MINUTES, straight forward stories without an educational component.

I believe WISH YOU WERE HERE is a better book than my enjoyment of it. I hope people find this book, even if they’re reluctant to read a story with a COVID component. The parts I didn’t enjoy were unique to me more than flaws in the story.

Hard book to write a non-spoilery review, but I'll give it a whirl.

For me, this was a pretty great, timely book (which I liked much more than Picout's last one). It's a 4.5 for me.

While we are indeed still in the pandemic, this book does a great job of capturing the early history of that pandemic's arrival in America.It quickly brought back all of those deep feelings and does a great job of painting a picture of how odd, sudden, alarming, and scary that time was. I also learned some FASCINATING stuff about Covid from this book...that I can't talk about with anyone who hasn't read it. (Which sucks, cause I'm dying to chat about it.)

My beef with some of Picoult's books is that they can start to feel book report-y in tone. She is clearly a crackerjack researcher, but (as was the case with Egyptology) can sometimes can go so far down the rabbit hole in explaining stuff to you, that it becomes a bit of a slog to read.

This wasn't a factor in this book as much because we all went though a common experience in Covid. Yes, you may learn more than maybe you wanted to know about Toulouse-Lautrec or iguanas in this book, but it really didn't bother me. In the context of the story, that info felt appropriate.

I can't really say much more than that. Overall, I thought this book was a winner (and holy moly does this woman write books fast.) I felt a wee little bit like the last quarter of the book dragged. But that was more of a personal, artistic quibble (Picoult exploring an idea for her conclusion that I was less jazzed about than where I thought she was going) than a true fault of the book.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult blew me away. You had me at a book of the art market and New York and it turned into so much more. I was relieving the pandemic here in New York and Jodi Picoult did an amazing job telling it and teaching us so much more. She is such a superb story teller and this book is just above and beyond!

I really haven't enjoy a Jodi Picoult book in a couple of years. The last book of hers that I read and loved was called "Small Great Things" which was a novel about race and racism, and I loved it so much that, I still think about that book today and how it changed my way of thinking. After that her books just seemed to let go. I couldn't get interested in the story line, and at times it felt like she was preaching her beliefs at the reader instead of presenting both sides and letting you think about how you felt. Her older novels did that very thing...she would give you both sides of a situation and let you stew in your thoughts about it. And make you want to talk with other people about their thoughts. Finally this book, Wish You Were Here, brought back the author I used to love to read and devour the story in two days. I was hooked from the beginning. Maybe it's because COVID has affected so many of us this last year that it made it seem more relevant or maybe she just finally wrote another great novel. Once I started this book I couldn't stop. Torn between two worlds, getting a chance to start fresh, having so much and yet feeling so lonely. Great job JP!

This book took my breath away, making me terrified, scared, shaking me to the core: I’m overwhelmed because of dealing with complex feelings at the same time: sadness, amusement, excitement, stress, worry,anxiousness…

It’s another Sliding Doors theme: where you could be and what kind of situations you may deal with if you make different choices about your life in the middle of pandemic.

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?

Diane O’Toole, associate assistant at Sotheby’s, living with her surgical resident boyfriend Finn in NYC, mapped out her entire life with him: the house they live, the children they have, the bucket list trips they go, the retirement plans etc.

Nearly four years they saved up for Galapagos trip they planned: this is the best time for Diane because legendary Kitomi Ito ( quiet twin of Yoko Ono) decided to postpone the auction of the famous Toulouse - Lautrec painting she owned because of uprising of contagious virus. This auction of masterpiece could bring the promotion to Diane, she’s working so hard for.

But she is still keeping her hopes up: because she found a ring is hidden inside Finn’s socks. This means he’s planning to propose on their vacation and she’s going to say: yes! She’s gonna celebrate her 30th birthday as an engaged woman.

Well, when they made plans, God laughed and eventually Finn admits: it’s all hands on deck at the hospital: the COVID cases start to hit NYC faster than they imagine. So he offers her to go alone and interestingly she accepts!

But as soon as she gets off the plane she realizes her baggage is missing and that’s not the only predicament she has to face. When she gets off the ferry to walk to her hotel, she realizes her hotel is closed and for two weeks the entire island is shut down for quarantine.

Thankfully a local woman provides her a house to stay, leaving traditional food at her kitchen. But Diane gets herself trapped in an island without knowing the langue islanders talk, failing to obey the curfew times, dealing with the hostile manners of a mysterious, charismatic man and her cash is about to run out at this place which doesn’t have any ATM machines. Did I also tell you there’s no proper internet connection! She starts writing postcards to communicate with Finn but the post office is also close. How will she send them?

But her fate crosses with this charismatic mysterious man and his daughter which probably change her entire vision and perspective about the island!

I’m not giving more spoilers! But i can only say that in the middle of the book, I dropped my e-reader and I screamed WTH!

After shocking, jaw dropping revelation later, thankfully we didn’t have a bumpy ride. The emotional approach of the story and fair- satisfying ending made me smile a lot. I think I can give 10 stars for the heartfelt, earth shattering ending! It’s like last epic scene of remarkable movie!

This book realistically tells us the terrifying and ugly face of COVID- 19. Especially Finn’s emails draw dark, compelling, horrifying and also honest depictions about how the entire medical professionals are fighting against the lethal disease. It makes you remind of respecting them so deeply! They are the real heroes who saved our lives and gave us hope to hold on for so long!

Jodi Picoult is amazing storyteller: reflecting the dark face of tragedy we’ve been confronting nearly 1 and half years. She also depicted the perfect pictures of Galapagos. She told us a story of a girl who planned everything to choose different path from her mother she resented for abandoning her. But she also told how to open our hearts and forgive each other to be free from our resentments.

I extremely loved this book so much ! I think this is one of the best works of the author. I liked Dante ( Tenth Circle is her another book focused on Dante’s Inferno), Tiger King ( I agree she is guilty), Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by natural selection references!

This is one of the books you want to reread at different parts and timelines of your life. Annie’s inner journey will stay in your mind forever and eventually it will encourage you to start your inner journey to find out what you want to do with one and precious life of yours!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group / Ballantine Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for review. There are not words to describe this book. It is of the times...It is fantastically written, unbelievable, at times, and unique. It was difficult to read because of the topic, the Pandemic. This author has written the first book about this subject-that I have read...it will be out in a few months...Some may avoid reading it, as it is different. It is serious...surprising...about how we have lived this past year...and are living. Truthfully, I can't put into words what I experienced reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine (my favorite pub Ever) and Author for this outstanding novel!

Wish You Were Here by Jodi was a great story!
Picoult has an amazing ability to write and keep the reader intrigued!
Real coronavirus pandemic with a fictional characters...... I'm here for it!
This is a well-written novel with strong characters. Was a joy to read.
I don't want to give much away other than read this amazing book. You won't be sorry!
I simply couldn't turn my head away from my screen.

Again thanks for the amazing opportunity to read and review for an honest review.
I will post to my Goodreads, Bookstagram and Facebook accounts closer to pub date!

Written at just the right time. Jodi Picoult has taken the covid pandemic and turned it into what could be a memoir. She addresses the viewpoints of the drs and nurses as seen through several people, but mainly through her partners eyes. She examines the effect covid, being on a ventilator and ha it all effected her, mentally, physically and emotionally. She comes to see how her views of life and happiness have changed and no longer fit into a life plan she had.

The author has made this novel so realistic in all aspects of Diana’s journey and those she meets along the way and those who were around her priest to her covid diagnosis. She also address the effect isolation and quarantine and other aspects of the pandemic have had I so many.

Jodi Picoult has taken the covid pandemic and brought forth so much that is very realistic (if not some areas that may be true). She has written strong characters who bring out the deepest parts of the pandemic from several points of view and doesn’’t miss a beat or any aspect the pandemic has had on many.

Rating: 4.9
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult is a great fiction that is quite unique and kept me interested throughout.

This book is much more then a romance novel or a novel about COVID19. It is about finding oneself, questioning the fundamental aspects of life: who we are, who we want to be, what matters, what is love, where is home, and how do we want to get there?

These questions, and many more, are what Diana grapples with while isolated on what was supposed to be a joint vacation with her boyfriend Finn, but what ends up being a moment of clarity and awakening while on the Galapagos Islands.

While preserving the twists, turns, and surprises, I will say no more as the novel continues on in ways I was not expecting, and will forever remember. Let me just say it will bring out plenty of emotions and will stay with you long after you finish.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Ballantine Books/Random House for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

The very best fiction helps us process our world in ways we are not yet able to do for ourselves. Author Jodi Picoult is a master at turning mirrors in different directions and sending prisms of light back at readers, always illuminating our worlds in ways we hadn’t seen before. WISH YOU WERE HERE is just such a novel and very timely. I offer no secrets about the book; I refuse to ruin it. I read it quickly because I couldn’t put it down. A 29 year old woman whose life is planned out is faced with going on her vacation on the eve of the Pandemic or losing all the money they paid for it. Her physician boyfriend is on emergency room rotation. They live in New York. Obviously, it was hard to predict what to do before COVID began. It’s still hard to predict what to do. The book is excellent. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I'll be honest: I wasn't sure I was ready to read a novel about the pandemic quite yet. But I quickly found that I'm ALWAYS ready to read anything Jodi Picoult feels compelled to write—and I tearfully turned the final pages of this book filled with gratitude that she chose this topic, these characters, this time. There is so much here that deserves to be chronicled, and yet in Picoult's insightful, thoughtful hands, the 2020 landscape isn't just familiar ground, but a foundation for something new: One character's soul search for what really matters, what we really want out of life, and how clarity can come even—perhaps especially—in the midst of life-altering chaos. What a treat to receive a Netgalley copy ahead of publication: Do not seek spoilers, do not ask questions, just add this to your must read list for fall.

Diana is about to turn 30 and she is finally going to land the promotion she has been working for. She and her boyfriend,Finn, a surgical resident, are going on a long planned trip to the Galapagos.
Suddenly Finn is stuck in the hospital helping with a virus that has the city on alert. He persuades Diana to go on the trip without him.
Upon landing Diana is faced with no hotel and no internet. She feels very isolated. The island is in quarantine. There is no way out.
Diana meets a troubled teenage girl on the island and with her help she is able to explore the island and herself.
Diana is learning that everything is not what it seems. Will she come home the same person? Wanting the same things that were so important.
Readers of Jodi Picoult will not be disappointed in this unique account of the pandemic.