It’s no secret that I am a massive Jodi Picoult fan, I love her books and it just so happens we share the same birthday. Some might say I’m biased but I’d challenge anyone to tell me this book didn’t impact them in some way. For me Jodi produced another knock out novel that will stay with me for some time.

We meet Diane, someone who has her life on track – or so she thinks – a job she loves, a partner she also loves, she has plans for the future and a clear idea of where she’s heading. And then the pandemic hits and everything changed. She became stranded in the Galapagos whilst her partner Finn is stuck in New York working as a doctor on the front lines in a major New York hospital. To top it off they’re cut off from each other, receiving sporadic emails and sending postcards. These opposing worlds summed up the divide we were all facing in some way, with some people fighting on the front lines and the rest of us looking in helplessly. Diane goes through the same grief we all did, losing special events we were looking forward to, being unable to fulfil plans and being left feeling bereft and pretty lost. Her experiences on the island, the people she meets, the isolation from loved ones, the heartbreak and the hope she feels, all guide her through figuring out what she’s going to do next and more importantly who she is now. All while being quarantined on an island where she doesn’t know the language and is relying of the kindness of strangers. This beautifully mirrored the experience of so many of us: we were all lost in an unknown world.

As usual Jodi throws in so many twists and turns. There’s multi-layered characters and plot lines twisted perfectly together. As always Jodi has researched this novel extensively and that’s seen in the level of detail she includes (which is pretty miraculous given we were all in lockdown!). This novel is told through the lens of Diane, punctuated by emails from Finn that just heightened the fractious nature of their situation and how extreme this pandemic had become. The emails were perfectly times, along with the character development to create suspense and a dense tapestry of a novel. There was always something happening, or another emotion playing out, always something that kept me wanting to read more and more.

The pandemic shattered our sense of who we were, leaving us lost in the abyss while chaos raged in the outside world. We lost who we were, our plans, our goals, our direction. It left us questioning what we wanted for ourselves and from the world around us. It left us questioning what mattered. And it took many us a long time to find our way back – which wasn’t always to the place we started at. This pandemic has irrevocably changed many of our lives and Jodi depicts this perfectly in this story. I’ve heard many people say this is the book we didn’t know we needed, and I can honestly say it was. It was validating, eye opening, reassuring, it helped me make sense of the last couple of years and I felt heard as a result of Jodi’s masterful, powerful writing. I couldn’t recommend it more.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC (apologies for the delay in sharing, ill-health happened).

This was the first book I’d read set in Covid times. It was great, with a good twist and also interesting information about the frontline workers. Would recommend

Jodi Picoult is back with another great read. She never disappoints. It was wonderful to read such a current book, while we’re still in the grips of the misfortune that befell Diana. It’s a very thought provoking read, one that leads us towards reassessing our priorities and values, about second chances and being thankful for what we have in life. The grass is not always greener as we sometimes suspect. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, one which will prove to be timeless as future generations wonder about the changes and restrictions suffered by those who survived the Covid 19 pandemic.

I found this quite a slow burner for me but I’m glad I carried on reading.

If you’ve been affected by the COVID pandemic, I think it will be a difficult read.

Shamefully, I’ve never read any Jodi Picoult books before and I know I will pick some books up now.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book still haunts me; but in a good way. Not even sure where or how to start reviewing this book, because it literally felt like a punch in my already sensitive gut. To say that this book was incredible and that it was impecably written, would be the understatement of the year. This book is very raw, is very brutal, in the sense that its core subkect - Covid-19 - it's still so fresh for everyone, that it must have taken a lot for the author - the always exceptional Jodi Picoult - to write this.

Being amongst the first thousands of people who contracted the virus, back at the beginning of the lockdown (in late March of 2020), reading this book was very triggering but at the same time I felt such an empathy for what the main character went through, as I had a similar experience (not quite as intense tho), that it made me relate to everything she felt.

By the mid-point of reading this, I had no clue what was happening, but when things started making more sense, after the halfway point, I completely understand the author's choices and how she had to go down that route the way she did. By the time I finished reading this, I needed to lay down and take a big breath and mourn all over again for the last two years of this global pandemic and give myself a big pat for somehow coming out fighting, bruises and all.

Thank you so so much to the publisher for approving me for an early read of this incredible book in exchange for an honest review.

Working as a nurse on the frontline. I wasn't sure if I could read this book as I knew it dealt with Covid.However I love Jodi's books and started reading.It was a great read and not to sad when dealing with the reality of covid.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

After previously enjoying books by Jodi Picoult I had high expectations from this book - unfortunately I found myself very disappointed. This book has very mixed reviews, but for me it just wasn't enjoyable - I almost feel like I have read a different book. Picoult has used the pandemic as the theme in this book - with two very different halves it felt like this book had been put together in a rush.

Rating 3/5

Diana is happy with her life, she has a job that she loves and she is living with her boyfriend and they are planning a trip to the Galapagos. Her boyfriend Finn is a doctor at the hospital and jas heard that the virus is coming to New York so he tells Diana to go on the holiday by herself. When she gets to the island they immediately go into lockdown and she is not able to get home all she wants is to be back home with Finn.

I have read a couple of books that feature a pandemic but only a couple that have been written since COVID. I think this really captures the fear that was at the start of the pandemic when no one really knew what was going on. There was something that happened in this book that was really unexpected to me. I was a little hesitant going into this as the last release from this author (The Book Of Two Ways) I really did not enjoy and I was nervous that I wasn't going to enjoy this one particularly when I realised that it was about COVID. However, this was really well written and I was sucked into the story.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and would recommend checking it out.

Diana's got it sorted. She's a certainty for promotion at Sothebys, she's living with a doctor, Finn, who she's sure is about to propose on their upcoming holiday in the Galapagos. But all her plans didn't include a global pandemic. Finn has to stay in New York but persuades her to take the holiday. Bur once there worldwide borders slam shut leaving Diana stranded alone. A local family soon come to her rescue, and soon her whole perspective on her planned future changes.

This is a hard one to review. Because it's good....and then POW it's very good and actually a wee bit scary. But it's impossible to say why without spoiling the book. I can say that I suggest not reading this while suffering the effects of Covid. I just wish someone had given me that advice! Despite it feeding my hypochondria I really did enjoy this and would heartily recommend anyone, even those sick of hearing about Covid to grab a copy of this fantastic novel.

Although I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult this was not a favourite for me, definitely not one of her best books. It was a little bit of a slow burner for me but I'm glad I stuck with it. An enjoyable read but perhaps I would have enjoyed it more in a couple of years time as its too soon after the pandemic for me. Definitely worth a read for all he Picoult fans.

Thank you Netgalley.

What a book! What a read! This review will give nothing away that would take away the enjoyment of another of this book. It needs to be read and savoured. Such an original perspective on recent history. Hooked from the start and not disappointed throughout. Fantastic read.

Thank you Netgalley

I've already read several books that incorporated the Covid pandemic and/or the lockdowns, but only in passing or it acted as a catalyst for a story twist (e.g. two people are suddenly forced to spend time together because they are put under quarantine together). Jodi Picoult is the first one (on my reading list) who not only describes the things that went along with Covid, but also focuses on the medical aspect in the first place. And even though we all lived through those first weeks, where everything about Covid was unknown and scary, it is still quite shocking to read Finns reports from the hospital.
On the other hand we have Diana all alone in the Galapagos, having a very extraordinary vacation. For many people, a prolonged vacation in the sun sounds like a really great idea. But I'm not sure if I would have liked to trade places with Diana at that time.

Since I don't want to spoil anything, only thing I can say: there is a big story twist that I didn't see coming. And it felt like reading a whole different book afterwards. Like 2-in-1 actually.
While I enjoyed the first part more, the whole book is very worth the read!
Only the very obvious reference to Yoko Ono was a bit too much, Picoult is a great enough writer to invent a singular character.

I have to admit I have avoided fiction about the pandemic on the whole, books are my escape and I don’t want to be reminded of reality, but I have to admit I am glad I did Jodi’s storytelling swept me along and that twist blindsided me. This is a novel about choices, and isn’t just about the pandemic and it’s affects. Overall I definitely recommend this even though it did take me back to the early days of uncertainty and anxiety

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This took me a couple of goes to get into, but once I did I was gripped and read it right through.
New Yorker Diana is on track with her plan for a perfect life. She has a great job and a great boyfriend, and it looks like he might propose on their holiday of a lifetime to the Galapagos. But that's all before Covid.
Like many readers, in March 2020 Diana's plans are thrown into disarray as her doctor boyfriend Finn is facing ever busier wards and suggests she goes to the Galapagos without him.
In a Sliding Doors moment, we then follow Diana as she get to the Galapagos, minus most of her luggage, only for the island she is staying on to lock down. With all ferries and flights cancelled, all she can do is improvise. Unused to time without plans Diana is adrift until she gets to know some of the locals - teenager Beatriz, her father and her Abuela. Time on the island rolls on slowly and Diana finds a new pace of life and starts to question her packed New York lifestyle and carefully planned life.
The last third of the book takes a dramatic and unexpected turn, throwing all that Diana has experienced up in the air again. It's impossible to describe without spoiling the plot, but it really does take the book to another level, exploring things we have all come through during the pandemic and delving deep into the covid experience while at the same time allowing Diana to progress, improving her personal relationships and developing a plan for her life that rings more truly with what she wants and who she is.

This was a really good read, very moving and hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Another hard to put down book by a wonderful author. Breathtaking and thought-provoking, this book will draw you in and keep you hooked. Highly recommended!

Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors for a reason. She never lets me down. This story has such a plot twist, I honestly wasn't expecting it to go this way... but I loved it. Totally recommend it. Thanks for the ARC.

4.5 stars
I loved the style of writing and thought the the concept was interesting, the twist was brilliant and really took me by surprise. I did think it was a bit of a slow starter but worth getting through the first couple of chapters because the way it unfolded was profound.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

WARNING: this book does discuss the pandemic, COVID-19, and if those topics are something you want to stay away from, then I wouldn’t recommend this book! But if you are looking for a read that discusses the time we’ve lived through, then this is a story I’d say you should keep an eye out for!

This was an interesting read with a great premise!

Art specialist Diana is about to fly to the Galapagos with her surgeon boyfriend, Finn, when the pandemic strikes New York. Persuaded to go on her own, she is then stranded on one of the islands and unable to get home.

Not everything is as it seems, however...

This was a complicated story, weaving together a narrative of love, separation, ambition, fear, resilience, family relationships, and how much we think we know the people closest to us.

It took a little while to get going with the story. I became more invested in the book after the mid-point when the author dropped in a curveball that completely changed the direction of travel. It made no sense and then complete sense. After that, I whizzed through the rest of the book.

The story is poignant but ultimately life-affirming. The struggles of those on both sides - patients and frontline medical staff - dealing with Covid and its aftermath are eloquently voiced, but it is only one strand of the narrative.

Jodi Picoult isn't an author I had read before, but will definitely look for more of her books from now on.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Hodder & Stoughton, in return for an honest appraisal.