Wish You Were Here is a book of two halves. I have read a few books now that incorporate the coronavirus pandemic into them but it isn't the main focus. This book is mostly about the pandemic and virus. It is clear that a hell of a lot of research has gone into it, both from a Galápagos point of view and covid one.

Diana is a 29 year old art assistant who works at Sotheby's in NYC and her boyfriend Finn is a surgical resident. The coronavirus pandemic has just hit but Diana doesn't expect it to be a serious thing (much like how we all felt back in early March 2020!).

The two had planned a trip to the Galápagos but Finn chooses to stay, anticipating a surge in hospital cases and urges Diana to go on without him. This first half is absolutely beautiful. Picoult writes Isabela Island so well that I could imagine myself being there and, although isolated as the island is in lockdown, it still sounds blissful.

We go into the second half and it is very covid-heavy. At the time of reading I actually ended up having to go for a covid test and England's restrictions got tighter. It feels like a very hard read even almost two years on because it's still all so real life. Finn's experiences working in a hospital at the peak of the pandemic are brilliantly written.

Despite my thoughts on it being hard to read, it is a beautiful story about self-discovery after a difficult time. One I would definitely recommend, but avoid if reading about covid or self-harm are triggering for you.

Wowwwwwwwww! This got me ….when I tell you I was completely blindsided I mean completely I honestly had NO clue ! I knew a friend of mine was also reading this so I immediately I messaged her -literally the moment I read the reveal /ah ha moment …she too was blown away and also had no idea!
I am not trying to spoil this but also need I need to say it — but maybe you are were more quick whited than myself - in the description I was all for it but had zero thought this was about covid but now going back “world shutting down around her” prob should have been a clear clue - to be honest I don’t know if I would have read it /got this knowing that because I worked allllll through the mess and tend to read to escape but now having read it and knowing what I do …I am glad it went over my head ! I believe the topic is so well researched and represented (she talked to doctors , front line workers , survivors etc and even included their stories) I honestly appreciated the time and consideration as it is a very sensitive subject! Also after reading the Acknowledgments (consider this a reminder to always read them!) I fully agree the time and stories should not be forgotten and the lessons learned need to be shared - mission accomplished! I honestly could not put this down I greatly enjoyed it and honestly appreciated her capturing the various COVID experiences and “thinkings”
I loved the characters , the lessons , the surprises and the escape - yes even though there is COVID there is an escape which (two points) is also another lesson to be gained !
Thank you so much for this story

A good read
Set during the covid pandemic
It will definitely touch your heart
A well written book
Thanks NetGalley

Jodi Picoult is one of those authors I have full confidence in - I know her books will deliver every time, and I know that once I start I won't want to put the book down. So it was with Wish You Were Here, a beautifully written novel set during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Diana is right on track for the life she has mapped out for herself when the Covid-19 pandemic hits and her comfortable world is turned on its head. Diana and her handsome surgeon boyfriend Finn are just about to head off on a long-planned holiday to the Galapagos when the first cases of coronavirus hit New York City. With all doctors needed at the hospital where Finn works, he suggests Diana go alone rather than waste the money they've spent on their once in a lifetime trip. Diana is reluctant at first, but concedes, only to find the island in a state of quarantine when she arrives.

A kindly local woman who speaks no English takes Diana in so she has somewhere to stay, but with all travel banned to or from the island and only enough signal to exchange the occasional text with Finn, Diana is completely cut off from her everyday world. When she forms a bond with a local teenager, and later with the girl's father, Diana finds herself examining everything she thought she knew about herself, her life back in New York, and everything she thought she wanted...

This is a well written novel exploring the recent pandemic through the lens of one woman, and the impact it has on her life. I can't say what I loved the most because SPOILERS, but wow did I love the twist in the tale. A gripping novel and one I will be thinking about for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic, important, inspiring book! I started reading this book and, at first, I didn't enjoy it. At almost the 50% mark, the book completely changed course and it hooked me until the last page. An incredible read! Very moving, like a harm hug in a cold day.

Jodi Picoult writes an amazing novel of love, loss, lockdown, heartbreak, pain, grief, loneliness and isolation in relation to the nightmare of Covid-19, set in the Galapágos Islands.

Diana O'Toole is in New York and is an art specialist at Sotheby's. She is convinced that Finn Colson, a surgeon at the Presbyterian hospital will propose to her on a trip to Galápagos to celebrate her 30th birthday. Her meticulously organised life is about to descend into chaos when Finn is unable to go with her as a medical emergency develops with the beginnings of the Covid virus. Diana goes alone and arrives on Galápagos as a quarantine period is beginning and a lockdown commencing. A local family helps with her isolation and loneliness.

This is multi-layered, the characters are stellar and feel so authentic, and whilst it's not a comfortable read I found it a page-turner. Emotionally it's very weighty and also poignant, offering the reader many an opportunity to dwell on their own situations. I think many readers will appreciate this novel.

A special thank you to Hodder & Stoughton, Jodi Picoult, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Diana's life is coming together nicely, good job, lovely partner, good friends, and a romantic trip to the Galapagos - what could possibly go wrong. Ah, that will be the global pandemic - Diana's partner suggests she goes ahead on what turns out to be the last flight in or out. So Diana is stuck in an admittedly idyllic setting, but without anything or anybody with her. Its a journey of self acceptance and discovery, in a typically Jodi Picoult way. Well worth a read.

As always Jodi Picoult writes excellent stories. Her narrative is always rich in description so you can easily imagine being in the scene. I really would like to see The Galapagos and all its wonders, having read this.
What set this book apart for me was that the topic was so current and offered an intriguing insight into the pandemic and how it affected people globally. The characters were amazing and interesting.
I was absolutely hooked on the fantastic story and could not put it down. Some excellent twists in the story to keep me even more intrigued.
One of the best Jodi Picoult books I have read in ages. Reading this book felt like going on a journey with someone.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

This is Jodi Picoult at her absolute best, and my book of the year. Having not enjoyed her Egyptian one as much as her others, I was a bit trepidous about starting this one, but I needn't have worried. I was almost immediately sucked in to the most incredible story, set in the time of Covid. Ms Picoult has certainly done her research and her insights are shockingly accurate.

Diane and her surgeon boyfriend have planned a holiday to the Galapagos Islands where she is sure he is going to propose. However Covid strikes and he is needed in the hospital, but urges Diane to go anyway, and stay safe. Diane gets on the last ferry to the Island and once there is stranded. The Hotel she is due to stay in is closed. Diane finds herself at the mercy of the locals, and soon forms attachments, and is accepted as an Islander. However there are some plot twists that you won't see coming!

This is a fantastic story, superbly told, with cleverly crafted and very believable characters, set against a beautiful backdrop. In contrast the issues surrounding Covid are shockingly accurate, and really make you think.

Altogether a brilliant novel, and I'd give it many more than 5 stars if I could.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4368901400

Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors, although I don't love all of her books. I do love the way she always writes about 'gritty' topics.

This is based around the Covid pandemic and did not disappoint.

A moving story

I have to admit this Wish You Were Here was for me one of the most anticipating books of 2021. And honestly, it did not disappoint.

I know writing about COVID is tricky. But as always, Picoult came prepared - you can easily see all the research she made about the aspects of this disease. From patients, to health care workers, all the way to the ways life changed for all of us during the last two years.

She tackles the topic from many different angles. And while I was ok with reading it, it should be noted that it could still be a big trigger warning to a lot of people.

Its hard to write about this book without giving anything away. It is not perfect and there were things I minded while reading it. But Picoult reads my mind and thats why I cannot but love her. She questions about things I always question myself and makes me self-reflect a lot. And thats the reason she will always have a special place on my bookshelves.

P.S. I loved the authors note in the end and her message to all of us, so if youre reading the book, dont miss that part out.

Outstanding. Just brilliant as with all Jodi Picoult’s novels.I will be gifting the as Christmas presents this year,

I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult so it was an absolute honour to be able to read this arc.
I loved this book!! I found it a little slow to begin with but I knew it would get better! I loved the big twist in the middle!!!! And the end drove me mad (in a good way)
The book was so poignant and moving, and the first I have read of its kind about the pandemic. Picoult writes in such a wonderful way. Beautiful book.

I’ve read most of Jodi Picoult’s novels and enjoyed them but have found her latest books a bit hit and miss. Even so I was excited to read Wish You Were Here and I’m so pleased to say that I loved it, it’s her best book in a while! Wish You Were Here follows Diana who is busy at work in an art gallery and is about to embark on a holiday of a lifetime to the Galapagos Islands with her boyfriend. But then Covid hits and he has to stay behind as he’s a doctor. She goes on her own and as she gets there the island is locking down so she is trapped there. I loved the descriptions of the island and the relationships Diana forms while there. I don’t want to say much more because I’m anxious to avoid any spoilers but this novel takes the reader on an unexpected journey through isolation and longing and I loved it. There is so much I want to say but I can’t… just trust me and read this one, it’s so good!

I have to admit that I requested this book because it was written by Jodi Picoult - I did not read the synopsis that would have told me it was set in the time of the Covid Pandemic. I admit I would not have requested it!!
Having said that it was, as always, well written. I am not sure I was ready to read about this pandemic from the point of view of a doctor, to learn just how few people survived being put on ventilators.
Yet this story does have positive outlooks and Jodi Picoult's research, as always, is very informative. Add to this the fact that near death experiences change the importance one places on life.
No-one can be left untouched by this tale which we are all still living.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Jodi Picoult/Hodder & Stoughton for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve followed this author for a long time, and she’s definitely had some hits and misses over the years, but she’s on form with this one.

In her latest offering, Picoult tackles the Covid-19 crisis head on. I’m sure there’s lots of readers who will find this a bit too soon – I did on some occasions myself. But, on the other hand, this story is so timely that it works perfectly to read it right now, with the pandemic still fresh in our minds and still present in the world.

Diana is a planner and, pre-pandemic, her life is right on track. She’s a successful art consultant on the cusp of a big sale and promotion, and she’s sure her Doctor boyfriend Finn is going to propose on their trip to the Galapagos. It’s on their bucket list, they’ve been saving for this holiday for years, but then the pandemic strikes. Finn urges her to get out of New York, escape the worst of it and take the holiday they had planned together alone.

Of course, she gets stuck in paradise while the world is falling apart. And, whilst all the tourist attractions are closed, she learns to live like a local. She befriends a local family and forges relationships. She learns to embrace the simple life, going on adventures and discovering the natural beauty of her new temporary home. As always, the author does a gorgeous job of bringing something I knew little about to life through Diana’s exploration of the Island, from the beautiful nature to the different way of living.

But then, around 50% through the book, comes the mother of all twists. The global pandemic that has been a backdrop during Diana’s time on the island suddenly takes centre stage in an unforgettable way. And it completely turns everything on its head.

In this novel, Picoult explores so many aspects of the pandemic, from the brutality of working on the frontline in hospitals at the beginning to the feelings of isolation, grieving life as we knew it and questioning our reality.

“When we can’t plan – when we can’t find those patterns that make sense – we lose the skeleton of life. And no one can remain upright without that.”

I don’t think those of us who were just staying home and staying safe at this time can ever truly understand how tough this time was for those on the frontline, but the parts of the story written from Finn’s point of view do something to bring this home.

There’s a whole lot rolled into this little book. It’s an unique look at some of the more unusual impacts of the pandemic, a beautiful exploration of an exotic island and much more. But, at its heart this story is a heartfelt look at people, relationships and a woman finding her way in a world which is irrevocably changed.

Another amazing read from Jodi Picoult. Definitely my favourite book from her so far. Jodi is at the top of my favourite authors list! Brilliant.

For the synopsis I refer you to the book blurb, I don’t restate it in my reviews.

I struggled initially with this book for several reasons. For the first half set in the Galápagos Islands I hoped for a little more scenery and culture imagery than there was, and I failed to engage well with the story and the main character (who I remained unconnected to throughout). Additionally it affected me on a personal level after a difficult period in my life, which meant I could only read it in small amounts which didn’t help. Disappearing off online to see if others struggled too I learned there was a major twist at around 50% and kept going.

The twist? Well I won’t spoil it, but it really, REALLY annoyed me. As I’d worked my way slowly there, I felt I’d wasted my time invested so far. But again I persevered as the book continually gets 5 star ratings on Netgalley prepublication.

Ultimately I’m glad I did. I still disliked the main character. But Jodi’s writing and insights into the pandemic, and it’s effects in oh so many different ways on people (in the US) won me over. She deals quite delicately with loss, suffering, nursing homes, front line health workers, doctors, and the relationships within. I would love to give 5 stars but stop short due to my struggles. However I ended the book wholeheartedly happy I’d read it and would recommend it to others. .


Trigger warnings:
Death/dying
Covid Pandemic
Loss of a parent
Self harm
Coma experience

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an interesting storyline and so well written! It blew my mind and had me a little annoyed at times but i had to put my trust in the author and her process and it paid off. Diana finds herself alone on the vacation of a lifetime as Covid begins it march across New York and her boyfriend Finn is on the frontlines. But her vacation turns into more than she ever could have imagined as friendships begin to flourish and she almost feels native. I don't want to say anything else except you will love it and cherish it and hopefully enjoy her journey as much as I did. Everything happens for a reason and Diana has one heck of a road to travel!

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

Diana is stranded in the Galapagos at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic and unable to return to her normal life in New York where she is an art history expert at Sotherbys and about to get engaged to doctor boyfriend Finn.

Wow!!! What a book - no spoilers but what a journey! Amazingly this is the first Jodi Picoult book I've read and I read A LOT! What a fantastic writer - fabulous characters, plot twists and turns, really interesting background on lots of subjects woven into the story. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.