“The Poppy Fields” by Nikki Erlick is the sophomore novel by the author of “The Measure” which is one of the best books I have ever read.

This book deals with the difficult subject of loss and the process of dealing with heartbreak and grief. We are taken on a journey with multiple characters who are all on a road trip to reach the Poppy Fields, a controversial treatment facility where you sleep through your loss and wake up healed. Each character gives intense insight into their personal reasons for seeking this type of treatment. Of course, there are possible consequences for this therapy which force them to self evaluate their grief, and the choice to use this experimental treatment.

The concept of this novel hooked me instantly but I never became attached to any of the characters so it became a slow read for me. However, I do think the book will be emotionally resonant to many people and therefore a great pick for book clubs.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved The Poppy Fields. In both this book and its predecessor, The Measure, Nikki Erlick crafts a deeply thought provoking storyline. After being left in awe and deeply moved by The Measure, I really wondered how and if Erlick could live up to the standard she created in her debut. The very short answer is yes. Both books are technically speculative fiction, but the beauty of it is that Erlick takes one single idea that stretches the bounds of reality and then explores the repercussions of it being actuality. In The Measure it was everyone receiving a string once they reached a certain birthday, that gave them a general idea of how much longer they would have to live. In The Poppy Fields, she explores the possibility of being able to be put into a longer term sleep to help process the grief of losing a loved one-with a one in four chance that when you wake up you won’t feel anything at all about the person you lost. This premise hit me on a very personal level after losing my mom to cancer in my early twenties. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever been through in my life, and I can completely understand the people who pursue this option in the story to manage their overwhelming grief. The story follows five people with their own perspectives on the technology and its benefits and consequences. Ellis, the founder of the Poppy Fields, who did so with good intentions but is caught up in her need for validation. Ava, a young woman who’s happily a homebody but has grown increasingly distant after the death of her grandmother from her sister who’s at the center. Ray, whose brother Johnny went to the center after experiencing a traumatic event and then died of an unrelated medical event shortly after. Sasha, who questioned her upcoming nuptials only to have her fiancé be killed by a drunk driver at his bachelor party. And Sky, who after experiencing a traumatic incident in high school decides she needs to take advantage of the best years of her life to really live life to the fullest. When their flight to California gets cancelled, Ava, Sasha and Ray end up carpooling together to get to the Poppy Fields. Admittedly I couldn’t see how Sky fit in with the other four characters the book centers around. But as the other three make their way across the country, the ability to step away from familiar surroundings and share their struggles with strangers that are dealing with similar circumstances allows them to process their grief in ways they may have never been able to. When they run into Sky and take her along for part of their journey she helps crystallize the steps each of the three needs to find strength and closure. Perhaps one of the most beautiful things Erlick does in this story is show that people can successfully manage their grief without such an extreme solution. Perhaps one of the most thoughtful things Erlick does is remind readers that if you chose a sleep to solve your own struggles, that you could end up making the struggle even worse for your other loved ones that are trying to process the same grief-and are now doing it without you. There’s just so much to unpack here, but it’s done in such a thoughtful way. Like her first book, this one will stick with me for a long time. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is a captivating exploration of grief, healing and restoration. I found it to be deeply moving with excellent character development and profound depth. The author is very skilled at weaving multiple points of view into a narrative with a mystery to solve and a question to answer. A great book I will be recommending.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

i’m not sure if The Measure gave me unrealistically high expectations for Nikki Erlick’s second book, but I was super disappointed with this one. The Poppy Fields are a center where patients go to sleep for 1-2 months to overcome and heal from their grief. We follow 4 strangers on their road trip cross country, each looking for something different out of it. I feel like I was expecting a much more thought provoking novel? I was not excited to pick it up… it was kind of boring honestly. I felt like the character development was missing and didn’t feel connected to any of them. Maybe others who have not read The Measure might enjoy this more, but i’m having a really hard time not comparing the two and The Poppy Fields just don’t measure up at all.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was good, but I think the general consensus will end up being that it doesn't quite live up to her debut (unfortunately you just can't not compare books in this way). Sophomore novels are always tough and even so this one is actually quite good. It's a little softer and a little more plotless. I don't think it will get the same amount of success and raving but I am still definitely looking forward to whatever Erlick gives us in the future. I think it's definitely worth the read, especially if you loved The Measure, but be prepared for a different tone and feeling in this story.

The Poppy Fields is a facility where people go to sleep for 4-8 weeks as treatment for grief. After being open for 3 years, they’ve treated over 100,000 patients. Unfortunately, 25% of patients wake up with “the side effect,” which is indifference toward the person they were grieving.

I went into this one with very high expectations, having loved Erlick’s previous book, The Measure, but I had a hard time connecting with this one. I cannot fathom being a patient at The Poppy Fields, which may be because I am fortunate enough to not have experienced overwhelming grief like the characters in this story. For that, I will count myself blessed. The side effect sounds awful—I cannot imagine forgetting the love and memories I have of those close to me who have passed away. Sharing those memories is what keeps their presence alive, and to me, it’s not only helpful for dealing with initial grief but also for getting through each subsequent day.

I am very curious about those who have experienced profound grief: would they want to go to The Poppy Fields, knowing the risk of the side effect? This would be great book club selection!

This unique and thought-provoking book publishes 6/17. Thanks @netgalley for the advanced copy.

I was a huge fan of The Measure when it came out, and I literally jumped for joy when I saw that Nikki Erlick had written a second novel. I absolutely loved The Poppy Fields. Erlick did an amazing job tying together parts of the story. It was un-put-down-able. I cannot wait to recommend this book / audio to patrons who I think will love it as much as I did. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

I wanted to love this one a lot more than I did. The concept was so unique and I wish it took a different approach. Following two or three characters and their lives after the poppy fields, both characters with and without the side effect would have been so interesting. This book was 95% traveling to the poppy fields, and somehow 5% at the poppy fields.

Grief is love's shadow. It wouldn't exist at all if love wasn't there first. So, if there were a way to sleep away the most painful of emotions and memories, would you? Would you be ok with apathy rather than pain? In The Poppy Fields, there is a special treatment center located in the California Desert that allows such a thing...but not without the risk of consequences.

I really loved this author's previous novel, The Measure, and recommend that one all the time. Erlick excels on shining light on the humanity of her characters and how we are all connected through the sheer fragility of life. This book is an intimate examination of grief and the way it shows up for various people.

Ultimately, The Poppy Fields, is a story of healing and resilience, and examines how people process heartbreak. It made me think on certain concepts long after I finished reading it. This book is on the slow and heavier side, but I wanted to discover more about each of the various characters and how their fates would evolve so I stuck with it.

If you enjoy books that explore deep topics and open your mind, and you like storylines of recovery and found friendships, then this is one to keep your eye on.

Despite the lulls and slow pace, the writing and certain concepts in the book were really good. This book is perfect for fans of authors like Ann Napolitano or Ann Patchett (hmm both Anns and both great authors). Now literary fiction lovers have a Nikki to add to the list and shake things up.

3.75 ⭐️

Nikki Erlick’s sophomore, slightly sci-fi novel THE POPPY FIELDS comes after her hit debut THE MEASURE in 2022. In this novel, the author explores the concept of grief and whether “sleeping off” the grief for 1-2 months would be a viable option after losing a loved one. The risk is that there is a 25% chance of losing all feelings toward that person.

I don’t think the premise of this novel is as strong as the premise of her debut (would you want to find out how long you’ll live?). This also takes some features of The Wizard of Oz (a “road” trip of sorts, a woman with a little dog, meeting strangers and gathering them along the way, hot air balloon, etc.).

This is a rather slow, character-driven novel. There is a road trip, but it takes a backseat - pun intended - to the characters’ back stories. There is a found family element, and I was a bit lukewarm on it due to the suspension of disbelief required (renting a car with strangers, picking up someone several states away that was on the exact flight) and the beginnings of a romance that I didn’t buy. I think the main question of this novel will prompt some thought and discussion, and I did have an enjoyable reading experience.

I did listen to most of this on audio. I was a bit intimidated that there were many narrators listed, but Marin Ireland does do most of the novel and is a strong narrator, per usual. There are mixed media elements, and those are where the other narrators come in, I think. There was a perfect amount of these elements, and I thought the other narrators did a good job.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow for an Advance Reader Copy, and HarperAudio for an Advance Listener Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

It publishes June 17, 2025.

This book opens with a crisis at an airport in Missouri resulting in the connection formed between a small group of strangers. Its themes include grief, loss, healing and connection. I have always found it interesting how people form friendships and connect as strangers. The read is slow and the twist is not shocking but the characters are relatable and likable. The study is interesting and I thought it would focus more on that aspect but was not disappointed with the pov. I should have read the blurb! I would like to read more about the side effect - which I find fascinating- and hope we see more from this author!
Thank you NetGalley for sharing this ARC with me and introducing me to a new author.

Posted to Goodreads and Facebook

3.5 stars.. A lot to think about in this one! I needed more from the characters in this one, I didn’t feel as connected to them as I would have liked. But I enjoyed the premise and Nikki is a great storyteller.

I find the Poppy Fields to be a novel that is very hard to describe. Its a road trip novel. Its a book about grief, and a speculative fiction novel, a story about sibling love and guilt, and like the authors previous novel, The Measure, it promotes self reflection and will probably be another winner for book clubs, although this one is more character driven.

Our story starts out with our four protagonists at a Midwest airport trying to fly to LAX with three of them trying to get to the controversial Poppy Fields, where people go to sleep away their grief after a significant loss. Each of them have their own reasons for going there, which are gradually revealed throughout the book. At the Kansas airport, however, there is a tornado, which cancels flights, and ends up putting three of our four characters into a rental car on a road trip to the Poppy Fields, allowing us to learn about each one as they learn about each other.

I enjoyed going on the journey with these characters, both the external road trip and their internal grief journey of self reflection and growth, and it did leave to some self reflection of my own. I really liked the addition of Sky, our fourth character who added some much needed lightness and levity to both the group and the story. I also enjoyed the Wizard of Oz references, with the four characters and the little dog and the tornado in Kansas, as well as the road trip to the Poppy Fields and what happens there. It is not a main part of the story, but it is there and it was fun for me to find the parallels.


Thank you to net galley and William Morrow books for the e galley in exchange for an honest review.

Nikki Erlick’s The Poppy Fields presents a thought-provoking premise: what if you could sleep through your grief and wake up healed? Set in a secluded facility in the California desert, the novel follows a group of strangers drawn to this experimental treatment, each with their own reasons for seeking or questioning relief.

Erlick excels at crafting a narrative that explores both sides of the choice without judgment. The novel doesn’t dictate whether healing this way is right or wrong; instead, it allows its characters and readers to sit with the complexity of grief and the different ways people process loss. The multi-perspective storytelling deepens the emotional stakes, making the novel compelling, though at times the pacing drags.

While The Poppy Fields may not hit as hard as The Measure, it still succeeds as an introspective, emotionally resonant read. Erlick’s ability to blend speculative elements with deeply human questions makes this a great pick for book clubs and fans of reflective fiction.

Where to start? At first the blurb drew me in, sort of reminding me of the movie avatar. However it’s nothing like that at all ofcourse, but everything it delivers is sooo much MORE than I ever could have expected especially since it was a slow starter.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick is on my list of all time favorite reads, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Poppy Fields. Three strangers, all heading toward The Poppy Fields, a kind of sleep therapy for the grieving, decide to drive to the Fields together when their flight is cancelled. Each has their own reason for wanting to visit the Fields and each has secrets they're keeping from the others.

While I don't think it lives up to The Measure, the Poppy Fields is a slow, intricate, heartwarming tale about regret, love, life, and death. Definitely not to be missed.

I don’t know that my review will appropriately convey my feelings toward this book- but I’ll do my best.

The Poppy Fields is a medical-experimental facility in California that puts patients to sleep, for one to two months, to help them acclimate and process their grief. Ellis, the founder of the fields, has discovered a way to heal grief thru sleep. But at what cost? Some people wake up completely detached from their loved one.

While we get the chance to explore the fields from Ellis’ POV, we also get to road trip our way to California and the Poppy Fields with four people- Ava, Sasha, Ray and Sky. Ava’s sister is at fields, Sasha is a rejected applicant who is determined to have a spot to sleep, and Ray is looking for answers on a personal vendetta to avenge his brother- his brother died of an unrelated aneurism after going to the fields. Sky is a young hitchhiker with a deep excitement for life, only along for the ride.

We get an inner look at the complexities of grief and loss, and the heart ache that comes along with it. The price of grief is love- and if we erase our grief, do we erase our love? Does losing that love cause us to lose part of who we are/were? After all- grief makes us survivors. And as someone who suffered a deep loss within the last two years, I can attest to how beautifully Nikki writes on grief and love and the price of which we pay.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in trade for an honest review. What a pleasure.

I really liked the concept of this one, however it didn’t end up playing out well. I wasn’t invested in any of the characters stories. Even though there were a lot of stories about the characters, I felt like no character development was actually happening, they all lacked depth. Around 80% into the book, I did get more into it, then the plot started to take over and get interesting, but if this book wasn’t written by Erlick, I may not have finished it.

A well-done sophomore novel with a fascinating concept. This one definitely had a similar tone to The Measure in the sense that it makes the reader think, What would I do if this were to happen in real life? There were a few twists that were unexpected, as well as a few that I predicted due to the breadcrumbs that Erlick was feeding us. I was hoping for a little more from the ending, but it was an overall great read.

I read this book as a digital ARC, supplemented with the ALC audiobook, both from NetGalley.

The Poppy Fields follows Ava, Ray, and Sasha as they travel across the country to the Poppy Fields, a new and controversial treatment center designed to help people sleep away their all-consuming feelings of grief. Each person is traveling to the center for different reasons and each is dealing with a different form of grief. Is there a correct way to grieve? Is it an emotion that people need to experience in order to be human? These are the questions explored in this novel.

It took me a long time to connect with the events and characters of this book. In particular, the scientist that created the Fields, Ellis, was difficult to empathize with until the last section of the book. I think this was intentional, but it was jarring how much her character seemed to change so abruptly.

I liked the way Erlick discussed grief and the “humane” way to feel and deal with that strong emotion, this wasn’t as much of a page-turner as her other novel, “The Measure”. I think Erlick definitely went out in a limb and took risks with the topic of this novel, especially since grief can be such an intense and unique emotion for people. I found several great quotes throughout the book that resonated with me, but I’m not sure this is a book that I would want to return to again and again, if that makes sense. The subject matter and characters in “The Measure” will ultimately be where I choose to spend my time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for an advanced copy of this novel.