This is another beautiful book by Nikki Erlick that I will be thinking about for YEARS to come. I loved The Measure and her unique approach to ethical decisions. In this book she explores grief and how it looks differently for so many people. Those with broken hearts choose to go and sleep at the Poppy Fields to help them heal and move past their trauma. But they often leave behind spouses, children, parents, and friends who are left to heal on their own. Erlick creates complicated characters that you can't help but root for. I loved Ava and could relate to her feelings of being the younger sister left behind. I felt for Ray and the struggles he dealt with working on the front lines as a fireman. And Sasha's compassion for those around her while hiding her own guilt was something so many of us can understand. All in all it was an excellent book that I enjoyed listening to. Thanks to Net Galley for this advanced audio copy!

This would be the BEST book club book. So many fabulous topics. Nikki did an absolutely phenomenal job with these characters. I felt their grief. Their pain. Their desire to make the pain stop. I loved how everyone was connected after a chance meeting in an airport. I loved how, even in their pain, they were able to help each other. I want more though ... what is next for them. Really, really good book. I can't recommend this book enough. Really thought provoking. I liked this book more than The Measure, which I enjoyed.

Thank you HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for this advanced audiobook. Fabulous book!

This is such a hard book to review because I suspect that it’ll be polarizing between readers.

On one hand it’s unique, fresh and a perfect book for a book club to choose. Lending to conversations about science and people’s trust when they’re grieving.

And for the same reasons it could lend to readers who find it icky or uncomfortable with the ideas or thoughts being presented.

I mean, it’s beyond clever: the idea of sleeping through your problems or a cure for grief. The author has found a niche market of uncomfortable, thought-provoking books that leave a reader thinking about it long after the last page is read.

I’ll genre categorize this by saying it’s speculative, dystopian and yet contemporary? A genre blend with Lit Fic simmering underneath.

FYI before picking it up. There are multiple storylines and snapshots about how these characters are grieving and why they ended up at “the poppy fields”. It’s necessary to dig out the reason why the owner even created this lab.

One more thing, it was a bit long. Didn’t need to be quite as long but I’m still glad I read it.

This is the first Nikki Erlick book I have read, and I really enjoyed it. It's a story of loss, grief, and mourning but the way Erlick presents these emotional concepts is reflective instead of sad. I loved the characters and would highly recommend it for all. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my opinions.

3.5*
I love Erlick's plots. She makes you question. Would you chose to go to sleep in the very controversial
Poppy Fields to get over your grief? The caveat being there is a potential for losing your emotional connection to whom you are grieving?
I enjoyed the cast. I did find the story a bit meandering in the middle, but it had a satisfying ending.

This book was fantastic. The audiobook was amazing. I love the found family in this book and the themes of love and loss. Highly recommend.

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, though it wasn’t quite a five-star read for me. Like many novels with ensemble casts, there was at least one POV that didn’t fully resonate, but Ellis’s chapters stood out as my favorite. I also loved the inclusion of mixed media—it added depth and kept the narrative engaging.

I was hesitant going in. As someone who struggles with stories about grief, I worried this might be emotionally overwhelming. Thankfully, the author handled those themes with a lot of care and compassion, making the experience far more thoughtful than heavy.

The audiobook is excellent. Marin Ireland narrates the majority, and she brings such nuance and presence to the story. She’s one of my favorite narrators (she also voices Leave the World Behind), and her performance here really elevated the listening experience.

If you enjoyed The Measure, I think you’ll appreciate this one too. It shares a similar structure, emotional arc, and tone.

My biggest issue was with the cover. While I understand the thematic link to The Measure, I found The Poppy Fields cover visually underwhelming and overly simplistic. I hope future editions consider a redesign that reflects the book’s nuance more effectively.

Overall, this is a compelling and worthwhile read—rich in character, perspective, and insight, with a few surprising twists I didn’t see coming (especially since it’s not a mystery or thriller). Definitely worth picking up.

I wanted to love this book so badly but unfortunately i didnt. i was so excited that i got an arc for this audiobook because i loved this authors first book.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick was one of my top reads last year, so I was SO excited for a chance to read The Poppy Fields!

The Poppy Fields are a scientific center where those dealing with grief after a loss can go for treatment. They are placed in a medically induced sleep and by the end of a month or two of treatment, their grief should be much more manageable. It’s controversial to say the least, especially because there is a potentially devastating side effect that could make you apathetic towards the person you were grieving to begin with. The book follows multiple people associated with the Poppy Fields, including the scientist that created the treatment, her sister, a person hoping to sleep at the Poppy Fields, and a person who knows someone who received the treatment.

I think my favorite part of this book was the way it was written. I loved all the separate stories and perspectives and how each different side story ended up being related in some way. I thought the way it all came together in the end was really satisfying! And it made me think deeply about life, grief, and the human condition, just like The Measure did. The story was very character-driven (which I love), but I just never quite connected to the characters in the same way I did with the characters in Erlick’s last book. For that reason, I thought the first half of The Poppy Fields showed a lot of promise because of the interesting premise, but the second half lost a little momentum for me.

I did absolutely love the audiobook narration and am so glad I got a chance to listen to this one! I adored Marin Ireland when she narrated the Beartown series, so I was thrilled to see she was the narrator for the Poppy Fields as well. I could listen to her voice all day!

4 stars — a moving, emotional read

Okay, The Poppy Fields really took me by surprise in the best way. The concept is honestly wild—in a good way. Imagine a place where you can literally sleep through your grief. Not like a nap... like, scientifically-induced hibernation until you’re ready to face life again. That’s what this mysterious center in the California desert offers, and four strangers (plus a very cute dog) show up hoping to hit pause on their pain.

Each character has their own heartbreak—some stories hit harder than others—but I found myself emotionally invested in all of them. Their stories are woven together beautifully, and even though they start out as strangers, the way they connect by the end is both believable and heartwarming.

What I really appreciated is that this book doesn’t just chase a cool sci-fi idea. It really dives into what grief looks like and how people deal with loss so differently. And it asks some pretty deep questions: Would you skip the worst days of your life if you could? Is healing always better than escaping?

The pacing lagged just a bit in the middle for me, and I wished there had been more detail about the treatment center itself—it was such a fascinating idea, and I wanted to understand it more. But honestly, that didn’t take away from the impact of the story overall.

If you liked The Measure, you’ll feel right at home here—same kind of thought-provoking, speculative fiction with lots of heart. It's emotional, sometimes sad, sometimes hopeful, and totally worth the read.

Ellis, a scientist, has developed a groundbreaking treatment for grief called the Poppy Fields—a place where people are temporarily put to sleep to help them heal from loss. As the treatment gains popularity, Ellis faces tough choices about its future and expansion.
Meanwhile, three strangers meet at a car rental after their flights were cancelled due to bad weather and they set off on a road trip to California, each drawn to the Poppy Fields for different reasons, but united by a shared hope for healing.

I loved how the characters stories were woven together and different perspectives of each person dealing with grief. It really makes you stop and think, would I do that if it was a real thing?

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to friends.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for this arc audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: June 17, 2025

Nikki Erlick does it again! After The Measure being one of my very favorite books, I was nervous for her sophomore novel. The Poppy Fields feels similar, yet fresh- a character driven story with people who feel all too real whose stories intertwine through the story. What Erlick does best is make you think… would you choose to sleep if suffering from a great loss? This would be an excellent book for book clubs! I also loved the variety of media used in the book as well as the road trip aspect. I listened to this on audio and thought the narration was excellent. 4.5 stars.

The Poppy Fields has to be one of the most unique books I have read in quite some time!! This one felt like a whole mix of genres. We get bits of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery, a touch of romance, a twist or two...and one common theme tying it all together: grief.

I am a big fan of The Measure & was so excited to get my hands on this one! The two books are so different so I can't compare the two, but I will say I was expecting the ending to pack a bigger punch. There are so many different stories being told along the way that I did get confused a couple of times. But at the same time I loved each time the different character's paths crossed and new layers were revealed. Their stories, and especially their grief, wove themselves into my heart along the way. When the last page was read I was left wanting more!

•Multiple POV
•Large cast of characters
•Thought provoking
•Speculative fiction
•Character driven

Thank you to Harper Audio & NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Publishing June 17th.
4 stars.

Another incredibly thought-provoking read from Nikki Erlick. The characters all have incredible arcs and are genuine to the human experience given the science-fiction element. Perfect for book clubs.

This was a beautiful book. A fascinating journey through the different ways people deal with grief. A creative idea on the authors part. The book is well read by all of the narrators. A really great listen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook eARC of "The Poppy Fields" by Nikki Erlick. I really enjoy the main narrator, Marin Ireland and I loved the author's debut book, "The Measure" so I knew I need to request this one.

"The Poppy Fields" is a thought-provoking story about grief and how people deal with it. In this story, people can apply to go to the Poppy Fields for the sleep and awake with no grief. However, there is an unspecified potential side effect. We follow 5 different people effected by or drawn to the Poppy Fields in this story. I loved how their stories were separate, but connected. I think the characters story arcs were good explorations of grief and allows the reader to reflect on how people heal after loss. I think many readers and listeners will love this book!

A thought provoking, deep story that presents a question and follows several characters through the answer. At it's core, The Poppy Fields is about grief, and about how everyone experiences grief differently, even when grieving the same person.

Somewhere off the grid is a treatment facility called The Poppy Fields. It is for those going through a grieving process, mostly those who have lost a loved one. There are also those that now have a disability- a skilled surgeon who can no longer perform surgery, and more than one person who has been betrayed and divorce. But the vast majority are those that go through a screening process only to be put into a deep sleep that lasts a month or two.

When the sleepers awake, they feel different- usually better- they have lived through and skipped through the gut wrenching part of the grieving process.

They are not without their detractors- there are people who protest their choice.

We follow several characters- Sasha, who lost her fiance and was rejected by The Poppy Fields, Ray, a firefighter whose brother chose the treatment after mourning a boy on his shift as an EMT. Also we meet Ada, who is traveling there to find her sister, and her dog PJ. It is great there is a dog in this because it can be heavy and depressing at times, and honestly the book just needs a dog.

I was fortunate enough to be able to read an E-ARC of this title at the same time as the audiobook. I like to use audio and then go back to the text and scan through to see if there are any important plot points I missed while listening to audio (there always are, no matter how attentive I am to audiobooks!)

What I liked- this is a deep and moving story, I liked every single one of the characters. I love that with Nikki Erilick's stories, you learn things as time goes by, there are plot elements revealed every so often and short chapters that will have your pages turning. I loved this, even more than her first novel, The Measure.

This book is great for book clubs, if your book club is good about being personal and transparent, because at its core, this is about how people grieve differently. Some people want to numb out the grief, others need to sit in it. Some people use unhealthy coping strategies. There is no "one size fits all," and the treatment center is not portrayed as perfect nor as evil. It is a choice some people make, and that has repercussions in their lives. There is also a "side effect" that affects 25% of the sleepers, which I won't reveal, but it adds an element to people's choice to enter The Poppy Fields.

This book can be heavy at times, and you may not be up for a book about grief, so bear this in mind. But I found the book to be extremely readable, accessible and has extraordinary pacing. It is a road trip that occurs when strangers are brought together by a travel disruption and is a journey for each of them within their cross country journey.

The Poppy Fields is going to be one of the best Speculative Fiction books of 2025.

Audiobook review- this book has a lot of characters and also many narrators. I found the performances to be top-notch. On audio it can be difficult to follow so many characters as well as time jumps and interspersed with interview transcripts and magazine article clips. It can be a bit confusing to follow on audio, I would suggest a piece of scratch paper with character names. As mentioned I was able to read along with audio which is a luxury for those with ADHD or other learning challenges. I did enjoy the audio and would highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Audio and William Morrow for the E-ARC and ALC. Book will be published June 17, 2025.

I was a huge fan of Nikki Erlick's "The Measure," and while I enjoyed "The Poppy Fields," it didn't hit me with the same punch as her earlier work. I like how the characters were tied in together and how each brought a unique perspective to the overall conflict. This is definitely an emotional one and will get you thinking about mental health and the way it's talked about and treated.
The narrators did a great job. It wasn't what I expected with a multi-narrator book; I figured each character would have their own voice. However, there is one prime narrator telling the story with the characters and the other narrators do other snippets (interviews and such) between chapters. I think this helps to break up the heaviness of the main story.
I'd recommend for those who are fans of Nikki Erlick and enjoy a good emotional read.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Audio for an ARC of the audiobook for The Poppy Fields. This story was incredibly sweet, interesting, and really opened my mind up to the way I think of grief and healing. Are we doing our lost loved ones a disservice if we do not feel the pain of their loss in full? Would escaping the initial shock of their loss in a sleep somehow be cheating ourselves and those around us ? Or should everyone be allowed their own path through grief regardless of what it looks like ? These are just a couple of the questions Nikki Erlick poses throughout the novel. While the concept is big, the story itself is a simple tale of people who are a little bit lost and wondering what their next step should be - and the way the people we meet along the journey can change us.

I initially found the story a little bit slow to get into but once I did I couldn't stop. I cried once or twice and really enjoyed the ride.

Narrators- 10/10

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Another great one from Nikki Erlick- If you haven't read The Measure- stop reading tis review right now and go read The Measure.

This was quite an interesting concept. How to deal with grief..... sleep your way "healed"? Awesome. great characters!


What if there were a cure for the broken-hearted?

Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.

Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain...and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects.

On a journey to this mystical destination are four very different strangers and one little dog: Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. As they attempt to make their way from the Midwest all the way to the Poppy Fields—where they hope to find Ellis, its brilliant, enigmatic founder—each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage.

A high-concept speculative novel about heartache, hope, and human resilience, The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions: How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?