I find Jodi Picoult's novels a bit hit and miss. I really love some, while others just leave me a bit flat.

Unfortunately this book is one that left me a bit flat. I didn't realise this book was so heavily based around COVID-19. I personally think its a bit too soon to be writing about. I didn't enjoy this aspect.
I found the book to be incredibly slow in pace, and I struggled to get through the first 50% of the book. After 50% there is the 'big twist' that everyone is talking about in their reviews.
I was shocked by this revelation, but I don't think it was done in good taste. I didn't like the fact that COVID was used as a plot devise as appose to something a bit more deep and meaningful.

Overall, I found this book to be very slow and think it was too soon for me to be reading about the pandemic.

Hmm, this is a tough one to review.

In the end, I liked what [author:Jodi Picoult|7128] did with [book:Wish You Were Here|57700040]. I like that she took it in, let's say, unexpected directions, and explored a subject I knew very little about. I did not predict the way this story would unfold. Which is good.

That being said, I found the first half of this book very slow. Diana finds herself alone in the Galápagos islands, her boyfriend thousands of miles away fighting to save people from COVID in the emergency room, when the island is put on lockdown. With no way to get home, Diana wanders around being a bit of an ignorant tourist, meeting the locals, and trying to find a way to feed herself.

Diana becomes involved in the lives of local businessman, Gabriel, and his daughter, Beatriz. Through these new friendships and interactions, she begins to question what she had thought she wanted from her life, to question the path she is on and whether it is the right one. This goes on for more than half of the book (192 pages in the e-arc). I was not enamoured by it.

As I said earlier, though, the book does go on to take some interesting turns. It's unfortunate that what I liked about the book would reveal too much, so I can only really talk about my complaints here.

It's rewarding for the patient reader.

'Wish You Were Here' by Jodi Picoult opens in March 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Diana is a woman who has clear goals: climbing the career ladder, marriage by 30, kids by 35, and a house in the suburbs. However, her longed for trip to the Galapagos Islands is sent awry by the virus, and she is forced to view herself from new angles.

For me, the use of the pandemic as a framing device was too soon. I also found Picoult's use of a Yoko Ono like character at the start of the novel a bit lazy. Finally I really didn't warm to Diana's character, meaning that I was irritated by her decisions (e.g. staying on the island just to look more laid back than she is). All in all, this wasn't a novel for me.

this was not a bad read indeed! i've read books from Jodi Picoult a long while ago and this author really doesn't disappoint. this was a decent book of hers but i wouldn't say it's my favorite even though i'm sure it has its crowd. enjoyed this one!

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll start off by saying that I’m a big Jodi Picoult fan & I’ve practically read every one of her books! (Hit me up if you want any recommendations!) …So as you can imagine I was really excited to be given the opportunity to have an arc of this book.
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Having read JPs previous books you get the hang of how she plots them & you just know how they are going to make you feel. She has this habit of making you think - what would you do?!
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This book is set during the Covid Pandemic & in my opinion I think it was handled well. That being said if you’d like to chat about any triggers I’m happy to help.

Things I loved:
🏝The storyline - I mean it helps that we’ve all experienced the pandemic. It made the story relatable & I didn’t feel like there were any cheap shots to dramatise the situation further
🏝JP is known for doing her research & doing it well! In her more recent books I felt like it was just too much however this one wasn’t. It was concise & had a clear message.
🏝The journey Diana goes on with her mother - heartbreaking but lovely

Things I struggled with:
🏝Diana as a character wasn’t incredibly likeable & she made some questionable decisions throughout the book that I struggled with
🏝I don’t want to give anything away as I think you’re best going in blind but I felt like I’ve been cheated out of closure on some of the characters (once you’ve read it, that will make sense!)

I was apprehensive to read this one as her last two books have let me down a little. However, I enjoyed this one so much more! I’m glad I picked this up & for those of you that love JP books, you shouldn’t be disappointed!

As usual, Jodi Picoult has created something that resonates on a deeply personal level with so many readers. This story follows Diana, a successful and ambitious young woman as she embarks on her once in a lifetime holidays alone after her boyfriend has to stay at the hospital he works due to the growing covid-19 pandemic. She was sure this was the trip he would finally propose on, that she could get onto the next phase of her life, but life doesn't always go to plan.

And this trip definitely won't. Her hotel isn't open, she can't speak a word of Spanish, she can't find a single ATM, she's lost her suitcase and the Island is about to go into Quarantine. So now it's time for a journey she definitely won't forget ... whether she wants to or not.

This story not only respectfully manages to reference the pandemic that caused the entire world to pause but offer a thoughtful journey of reflection along the way. From Dianas quiet isolation to her boyfriend Finns' breaking point at the hospital, we see very different journeys through the same crisis.

A story about life, about change, and survival - this raw and emotional tale leaves the reader in a state of questioning and wondering.

Although I can't even say for sure that I enjoyed reading this, but I felt every word.

This being a book about COVID, I was dubious going in. But this was really reflective of some of Jodi's older works which are some of my favourites, which I loved.

The huge moment that happens towards the end is flawlessly executed, and saved the book for me. The ending wasn't at all what I expected in the best possible way. The descriptions of the Galapagos Islands are wonderfully immersive, and I was keen to pick this up and discover where it was heading.

However, I wasn't a fan at all of the MC. I don't mind unlikeable characters, but Diana was self-entered and constantly used weak excuses to justify her horrible behaviour which just made her a bit insufferable.

Beatriz and Finn were definitely my favourite characters - both were absolute sweethearts!

If you don't mind talk of COVID, this is one I would definitely recommend.

I never repeat the blurb. Having read this author's earlier books, I found this one interesting but somewhat upsetting for personal reasons. Recommended strongly if you're an anti vaxxer and Covid deniers, of which I am NEITHER. Quite the opposite.

I did finish this book but it was a toil and I didn't particularly enjoy it although I am sure some people will love it. I must say I haven't enjoyed her latest few novels as much as her older ones and I am presuming it is her new style of writing.

I think I will probably stop reading books now from this author so I feel that from me, personally, I cannot recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Wish You Were Here - Jodie Picoult

𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧. 𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐛𝐲'𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐥á𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧, 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞.
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬.
𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐥á𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 - 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞. 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞.
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 . . .

Just Wow! with a capital WOW!
This story was so much more than I thought it would be. It is so compelling, hugely emotive and powerful. I felt a connection I didn’t think I would to the characters, especially Diana and Beatriz.
Diana, distanced as she is from her relationship with Finn, has time to think and ruminate on its strengths and flaws. She is stripped of all the trappings of her normal life, leaving only herself. She begins to see herself clearly, and to her, everything is much more real than it has been for a long time.

‘𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.’

This part of the story really resonated with my experience of the pandemic, being isolated, I noticed nature and I looked after myself - although I had my family with me - we felt that this time was special and we enjoyed it, untainted as we were at that stage by the shadow of Covid.
As Diana doubts her feelings and her future, the connection to the now is strong, I looked at my life and what I wanted to change and have done it.

‘𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝.’

I was totally absorbed in part one of this story, I believed it, I wanted it and then…

‘𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞, 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞-𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.’

Well, then bam! The story becomes something else, OMG what a huge twist, I was totally unprepared for this and it was brilliantly done, no you’re crying….!!

‘𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞,’ 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬, ‘𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞.’

Simply put, this book blew me away, so much to think about, especially now. This will be on my big fat top book of the year list, just sublime!

✩✩✩✩✩

I'm a massive Jodi Picoult fan, but I must admit I did struggle a bit with this one. Maybe because the whole pandemic thing is one that we are all still living with. The "twist" in the middle is where the book lost me and I feel I would have enjoyed the book more if the first half had carried on.

When the pandemic began, what feels like so long ago now! I stated that I had no desire to read anything concerning the coronavirus pandemic. If any author could make me change my mind on that, it would be the fantastic Jodi Picoult.

This is a wonderful story and superbly written. This is unique and completely relatable to the current climate in which we are all living. This is a poignant read, which has really made me reflect on the beginning of the pandemic.

I love the characters in this book, as with all of picoult’s characters they are superbly written and easy to relate to as real people. I cannot say too much about the almighty twist that Picoult weaves effortlessly into the narrative of this book. It would give away too much of a spoiler but this has kept me hooked.

This is a book that will transport you right back to isolation and keep you gripped. As always, Picoult has written an emotional and thoughtful novel filled with themes all readers will be able to relate to.

Despite being reluctant to read a book with Covid present, this has been a book I have raced through and I have to admire Picoult for writing this while we are all living through the pandemic that is taking place.

I have many of Jodi’s books prior to this one and the standard just keeps getting better and better. This is definitely a book I will be recommending.

A must for the TBR.

Wow.
Please pardon the Covid-related pun, but this was simply breathtaking.
I am a HUGE fan of Jodi Picoult, she is my most well read author, and I have only ever DNF'd two of her previous novels. Her ability to craft a novel around some of the most controversial topics the world has to offer continues to astound me. When I heard this was a book about Covid, I was apprehensive, expecting to read about face masks and hand washing. I couldn't have been more wrong.
This review is difficult to write, purely because I doubt I can do it justice. Picoult has written a novel that is moving, powerful, and painfully brutal about living in a pandemic hand how it has changed the world.
The beauty surely comes from the setting, the Galapagos islands were described so articulately, I felt as if I was there. The urge to Google never left me throughout the book, but I am fascinated by the revelations Picoult weaved through the plot.
And now we come onto the plot. Gripping, tender and 'gasp out loud' moments that threw me off kilter. I loved Diana, and her story is one that will resonate with me for many months to come, of that I am certain. I adored it and the book hangover had already arrived by the time I was reading the epilogue.
I have found my new favourite Jodi Picoult novel.

A favourite author of mine who didn’t disappoint. Set in the Covid pandemic this is an emotional and thoughtful read. I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting.

This is a steady read set during the beginning of the Covid Pandemic. Diana has her life all mapped out, married by 30, kids by 35. She's all set to go on a long planned for holiday to the Galapagas Islands with boyfriend Finn when Covid strikes and Finn tells her to go alone as he will be needed to work at the hospital. But as soon as she arrives the islands are placed in lockdown and she is no longer a tourist but a temporary resident. Only able to communicate with Finn with sporadic emails the despair and devastation he is facing at the hospital is all too apparent.
There are many vivid descriptions of the Galapagas islands, the stunning scenery and the animals and people Diana meets. Then the book takes a twist and I almost found myself blind sided by it. The agony of the pandemic takes over and here Jodi has really done her research well by talking to Doctors and nurses who worked during Covid. It is a testament to their strength and resilience that many of us would struggle to work through.
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Two of my favourite books from the past decade have been by Jodi Picoult - 'The Storyteller' and 'Small Great Things'. When I was chosen to read @jodipicolut's upcoming new book 'Wish You Were Here' I was beyond thrilled. Having read over a hundred fictional books since the start of the pandemic, none have mentioned Covid directly which is, when you think about it, quite strange. The pandemic has been so life-changing for everyone but, as the poem states, even though we've all been in the same storm, we have not all been in the same boat. Covid has been an equaliser and we are very much still living through it.

@jodipicoult's book has the same profound resonance where news footage comes to life in the characterisation of Finn, a resident doctor at an NYC hospital and his girlfriend Diana. Planning to visit the Galápagos Islands to get away from it all proves tricky when the pandemic hits. Finn stays in NYC to deal with the constant onslaught of Covid patients arriving at the hospital each day. Diana leaves Finn, travelling solo to Galápagos and immersing herself in the beauty of nature; swimming with sea lions, making friends with locals and even being bitten by a penguin. This is a far cry from the emails she receives from Finn (sporadically, given the terrible WiFi) where he recounts the horrors of dealing with Covid; bodies piling up and temporary morgues set up on the street. We all know about such horrors from media coverage but Picoult writes about this with sincerity and humanity.

Switching between past and present tense, Diana enlightens us on her life pre-pandemic as an art specialist with Southebys; lusting after sealing the deal on a Toulouse-Lautrec and also her life as the daughter of a largely absent mother and now dementia sufferer, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Hannah O'Toole.

No spoilers are given here but safe to say that this is a life-affirming, heart-warming and utterly devastating read. In her acknowledgments Picoult proves (if it were not already obvious) the extent to which she researched this, from the beauty of the Galápagos Islands to the distress of witnessing Covid and the devastation of Finn along with the rest of humanity. I cannot thank @jodipidoult, @NetGalley and @hodderbooks enough for access to a book which will stay with me for a long time.

#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed #instareads #currentlyreading #bookchat #bookish #autumnreading #books #readersofinstagram #wishyouwerehere #jodipicoult #pandemic #galapagos

It took a while for me to psych myself up to start reading this. Jodie Picoult has always been a favourite of mine and I knew the sooner I started it, the sooner it would end.
I was right. As is often the case with her books I was utterly gripped from the get go and raced through the story.
It is quite something to read about the beginnings of the covid pandemic with such recent memories of it, and yet, as I read I could feel myself saying “oh yes- I forgot about that” almost as if we have globally blocked out some of the more painful parts of living through the pandemic.
I won’t let any spoilers slip through but needless to say there is a massive twist that I did not see coming, and that this is a story written with such detail and care, as well as sympathy for all those health care workers who have been through an unimaginable time. I know it was good because whilst reading it I told everyone I spoke to about what was happening in the story!
Would absolutely encourage you to read it yourself- what a treat it was to be one of the first.

what can I say? Jodi did again an amazing novel! As a Jodi fan, I was super excited to read her new book. At this point I think is no longer a question if Jodi can write a book or the writing style etc it is more about which story she decided to bring to us now! And this one is kinda different from her usual not evolving multiple POVs, court scenes etc but I still love it! The plot is very well constructed, with one plot element that can be controversial and put some readers sad/mad about it but if the reader continues to read the story sees that it makes total sense. This book makes you reflect on what you may have been through in the last almost 2 years. I think for later generations will stand as an example of what happened to a lot of people during this period.

I link my video review here: https://youtu.be/aVvZaMToPRc which i go into more detail and thoughts on this novel but I say it again Jodi did it again!

Wish you were here is such an emotional read. While Covid plays a huge part in the book, it's worth reading it because it gives so much of the true nuances of life in these times.

So many beautiful setting descriptions for the Galápagos Islands and such a heartbreaking story overall. It takes about Diana and Finn, a beautiful couple that have to go through so much while in lockdown and in the frontline of it all. Survival, loneliness, grief and, more than anything, human experiences and emotionalism.

It might be hard for some to read it but it's really with the time. The first half of the story is set in Galapagos and I could really see why the author is such a beloved storyteller.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley

COVID alert - remember all of those weird dreams that everyone had at the start of lockdown - well Jodi took those and wrote a book. This is an interesting take on the effect of the pandemic on relationships, values and lives. I don't want to give the game away but there is a massive twist - a really, really good one!
Whilst we are still stuck in our own countries it was lovely to travel to the Galapagos with the book and dream a little of freedom and other cultures.
A top read - it is COVIDy, but not too gloomy.