This is as much a treatise on grief and medical consent as it is a near future dystopian roadtrip novel. I enjoyed the character growth and multimedia components, which added complexity without being overwhelming. A good mix of fun, suspense, and insight into human behavior, with vibes almost like Severance (praise Kier)

4.5 ⭐️!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy!

The Measure was one of my favorite books of 2023 and I requested this as soon as I saw it! This was equally as poignant, important, and beautiful.

The Poppy Fields is equal parts inspiring, devastating, and uplifting. I read this right after my grandpa passed away and the message really hit home.

This is my first Nikki Erlick book but it won't be my last. The Poppy Fields is a facility, where the bereft can seek solace and healing but it's not without it's controversy. This story weaves together the journeys of 3 people who, for various reasons, are attempting to gain entry to the Poppy Fields and a teenage tag along who's ready to embark on the great, big adventure that is life.

Grief is subjective and that holds true for the characters. As their individual reasons for wanting to visit the Poppy Fields are revealed, we get a deeper understanding of the many and varied ways grief can touch a person. Each character's story is equal measures heartbreaking and inspiring and when the book was over, I wasn't ready to leave them.

The Measure is one of my favorite books. So, I was thrilled to see Nikki Erlick was releasing The Poppy Fields. What if your grief was all consuming and you had the chance to go to The Poppy Fields? You would sleep for a month or two and wake up with memories of your loss with less emotional stress. What if there were possible side effects that would erase all of your emotion related to that grief? Would you still opt for the chance to start living again? Loved the premise of this book. The key characters, gathered together by chance, were each struggling with grief or had secrets of their own. They end up traveling together to the Poppy Fields for different reasons. As they travel across the country, they begin to share their reasons for going to The Poppy Fields. During this road trip, they discover they are connected to each other and the common link is The Poppy Fields. While I liked this book (4.5 stars rounded up), it did not captivate me as well as The Measure (a solid 5 stars). Perhaps it was not fair to expect The Poppy Fields to meet the high bar set by The Measure. Still, I enjoyed this book and look forward to other works by this amazing author. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Poppy Fields is a story of a scientist who comes up with the innovative idea to create a facility where people who are suffering from grief/trauma can come to heal by being put to sleep for 4-8 weeks. When I first read the synopsis of this book, I was immediately enthralled by this concept and couldn't wait to read it. Having just finished the book, I can honestly say that it fulfilled all my expectations and more...I thoroughly loved the character development throughout the book and how their lives were somehow intertwined together with another character. There were some unexpected twists that added even more depth to the stories of each character and gave a new impression of who they really were and their motivation for the decisions they made. I really appreciated how things came together in the end as I wasn't left wondering what came next. This book would be an amazing book club book as I would love to hear and discuss other readers' perceptions of the book and if/why they would choose to be a patient at the Poppy Fields.

What if you could sleep away your grief?

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick is a haunting and hopeful speculative novel about four strangers who travel across the country to a mysterious desert clinic—where you can enter a long sleep to heal from loss.

Each character is broken in their own way—Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky—and as they head toward this strange place called The Poppy Fields, their lives slowly begin to intertwine.

It’s emotional, thought-provoking, and asks: what would you do to let go of pain?

If you loved The Measure or anything that mixes grief with a touch of the surreal—this is your next read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins publishing for granting my “wish” to read this ARC.

I was a huge fan of Erkick’s novel, The Measure. I loved the premise and couldn’t wait to see what else she had cooked up.

The Poppy Field explores grief. What if you could fall asleep and wake up hurting less? Hundreds of thousand of applicants bade applied to do just this. The story follows 4 people with different stories, grief, losses, and pain on their way to the Poppy Fields for all different reasons.

The concept of sleeping for 4-8 weeks is controversial. There are many opinions surrounding the premise of the novel. However, I feel it lacked tension and layers within the characters that could have been so much more powerful. I had high hopes to open my heart to the characters, but the feelings were lacking. Wanting more conflict and raw emotion from them. (Especially Sky)

I wanted to love this one, perhaps my expectations with loving The Measure were too high.

Nikki Erlick knocks it out of the park again with a story full of unique characters, their struggles, and a question of moral dilemma as the theme. The concept of sleep to overcome grief is fascinating, and Erlick tackles this immense scientific hypothesis on a personal level. I was invested in all the characters' stories, and I liked seeing the different reactions to the sleep from a variety of people. The book is very realistic to how an experiment like this would play out in our world.

Thank you so much to William Morrow for the gifted ARC!

Title: The Poppy Fields
Author: Nikki Erlick
Pub Date: June 17,. 2025

I love how original this idea was! A poppy field where those who are mourning the loss of a loved one can go and sleep for a month(ish) and wake up with less grief? How does she come up with these things? Truly amazing concept!

It wasn't just the concept that was unique, but all of the individual characters and their journeys as well! We watch as four people join together to take the long trip together to the poppy fields. Their reasons for wanting to visit the poppy fields are as different as can be, but they all have more in common than meets the eye.

The ending of this story really touched me. The way everything was tied together was impressive!

I think this is going to be a big hit for magical realism fans!

A book like no other!! Another solid read by Erlick! The characters - I simply did not want their stories to end! The thought provoking take on grief made me reflect and wonder in a different way than other books that tackle grief have. The concept was unique and the audio was delightful!

The Measure was one of my favorite books of 2022, so The Poppy Fields was a highly anticipated release for me. Nikki Erlich definitely has a formula: propose an unbelievable yet relatable concept (finding out how long your life will be by opening a box, or in this case, going to a place where you can sleep away your grief), insert a varied cast of characters for the reader to follow their decision making, and in turn, make the reader question what they themselves would do if they found themself in these scenarios. I can't fully put my finger on why the first formula worked successfully and the second didn't, but I am going to try.

The Poppy Fields is a place you can go soon after losing someone you love to death or the end of a relationship. You can sleep for 4-8 weeks and when you wake up you are, in a sense, healed. You will still miss the person greatly, you'll remember them, you'll love them, but it'll hurt less. The catch is, for about 25% of sleepers, their feelings become more neutral. Nobody wants that. We follow different characters who are traveling to The Poppy Fields for various reasons and unfortunately for me, they road trip there together, and you know how I feel about road trips books.

I couldn't buy into any of the main characters nor their circumstances. They felt gimmicky and built on plot rather than substance. They didn't have me reflecting on loss despite losing my favorite person in the world just 2 months ago. How is that even possible? What DID do that for me was the multi media aspect of this book. The applications we get to read of people applying to sleep, the podcast transcripts, THAT got me. That made me think.

I'll be so curious to hear what other readers' think of this. Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read this ahead of its June 17th publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an ARC for an honest review. 🩷

What a beautiful sophomore novel for the author, whose debut novel was one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time.

This novel asks: If you were offered a tangible way to heal your grief, would you?

I think the heart of this story was incredible. It was moving, poignant, and very relatable to so many that have and are moving through grief—not just a person, but of an identity, a belief, a way of life.

The characters we meet in here—Ellis, Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky—are multifaceted and all have their own reasons for wanting to move through the waves of grief and sorrow.

Sky was by far my favorite and she inspired me to want to make the most out of my life.

The pacing was a bit slow and the exposition, to me, drowned out the dialogue in a large majority of the story, but the heart of the story was meaningful.

I think the ideal reader for this novel will feel like they have a companion in their grief journey. I am so glad that stories like this exist and that tackle complex experiences that we all face. 🩷

The premise of this book is so interesting and I'd love to discuss it in a book club as it just brings up so many ethical - and emotional - questions. I loved the road trip setting with the flashbacks to flush out the more detailed narratives of the primary and secondary characters, and the characters and their stories of loss were so relatable.

I think for me it would have been 5 stars, but toward the end I felt like it got really preachy, in a way it absolutely didn't need to be as the book had already SHOWN the moral the reader was being presented with, and spelling it out annoys a reader (or, this reader!).

I have to thank NetGalley, William Morrow, and Harper Audio as I was granted access to both a digital ARC and the audiobook, and that is SO perfect for me as I love to go back and forth between the two (though so many reader friends are aghast at this method!). The narration was really great and switched between different voices, which I think worked well. I didn't love the voice for Sky as I don't think she was quite that vapid, but other than that, I enjoyed the audio narration and think they brought the story to life in a vivid way.

An easy 5 stars. I’ll be recommending this book & audiobook to everyone. I love how the author comes at the theme of grief from all angles. This would be a perfect book club pick as the theme is highly relatable & the storytelling invites empathy and compassion. Will definitely pre-order a copy.
Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC

I loved this book!! The characters were all likable and complicated. I especially love how they all intertwine. The author really makes you think and contemplate life and grief. Additionally, I love all of the little nods to The Wizard of Oz throughout the story.

The Poppy Fields is a beautifully written and deeply reflective novel about grief, healing, and human connection. The unique premise feels both tender and timely. While the pacing lags in a few spots, the emotional payoff and thoughtful exploration of loss make it well worth the read.

"The Poppy Fields" by Nikki Erlick is a poignant tale of hope and resilience in the face of adversity, offering a heartfelt exploration of life’s challenges and the beauty that often emerges from them. Erlick is a remarkably gifted writer, and, much like her previous work, “The Measure,” I found myself pausing repeatedly to reread passages that resonated deeply with me. I especially love the way she weaves together the characters’ stories in a manner that feels entirely natural and never forced, creating a seamless tapestry of interconnected lives. Erlick’s storytelling is not only captivating but also profoundly inspiring, leaving readers with a renewed appreciation for life’s fleeting moments. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a thought-provoking literary escape!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, HarperCollins, for sharing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Not as powerful or emotional of a read as The Measure was for me. The Measure was so good that I found myself waiting for some big ah-ha moment with The Poppy Fields, but that’s not really what the book was trying to do. With that said, it was definitely just as thought-provoking and I loved the poignant exploration of grief and life after loss. The Poppy Fields will be an excellent book club pick! It begs for discussion.

I really enjoy Elrick’s writing style and look forward to seeing what speculative novel she comes out with next.

I absolutely LOVED The Measure, so when I saw Nikki Erlick was coming out with a new book it quickly became one of my most anticipated reads of 2025.

One thing is clear about Erlick, she knows how to write a book that makes you think.

The Poppy Fields is a place where people can go after suffering a loss, with the hopes of alleviating some of their pain by being placed into a medically induced sleep. The idea is that when the person wakes up, they start to feel better. However, one of the side effects is that you may wake up and be incapable of ever feeling emotions for your lost loved ones.

This book takes us on the journey with four random strangers, who meet by chance and find out they are all on their way to the same place or with the same hope for freedom.

I loved the premise behind this book. I think it makes for a good book club discussion. Unfortunately, it just didn't pack the same punch as The Measure.

It felt a little discombobulated and for me, it lacked emotional depth and read way too long.

To be fair, I think it would have been almost impossible for this book to top The Measure. It will remain one of my favorite books of all time. So, even though this wasn't my favorite Nikki Erlick book, she will remain an auto buy author for me.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

"The Measure" is my absolute favorite book in the entire world, so The Poppy Fields had a LOT to live up to. And while I really did enjoy it and will absolutely be recommending it to every reader I know, I didn't find that it had captured the magic and the intensity that The Measure. So reader, be warned before you go in, an open mind is key here.

Loosely inspired by The Wizard of Oz, it follows strangers who are all traversing the country to a not-so-secret facility called the Poppy Fields, where people can sleep away their grief for weeks or months at a time. Everyone has a different reason for going; to find a loved one, to find answers, for themselves.

It's a really beautiful trip through humanity and what we are willing to risk and do for the people we love. With Erlick's signature twist and surprise connections totally present, this is a great read.