I've been reading Picoult's books since I was 12. This is definitely one of my favorites. It shines a light on a hot button issue with grace and ease. As always the characters could easily be real people. Her deep research into every topic she tackles comes through.

I will start off by saying that I do not like books that start at end and work backwards. Knowing the ending renders the characters almost stereotypical. I love Jodi Picoult and her past work but sorry to say this one disappoints. I will look forward to next book hoping this one is an aberration.

Another great read from Jodi Picoult. A compelling story for book club discussions and the topic was covered in a way that can promote ideas for discussion for both sides.

Jodi Picoult has always written about current, difficult issues. This time she tackles both public shootings and abortion, as characters intersect wildly on one traumatic day in their lives. The characters are rich and the topic is timely, in more ways than one.

I'm a huge fan of Jodi Picoult's work, so there's no surprise that I really enjoyed this book. Picoult's methods of bringing current events and situations to light through her fiction is phenomenal. A Spark of Light was a powerful and moving read. The subject of women's rights is not an easy one to tackle, but this book does so wonderfully.

Set at a women's health clinic, the Center, as it's called, is a place where women go for help. For medical treatment. For support. And yes, for abortions.

The characters, each with their own history, their own losses, their own grief, pain, heartache, and their own love. We meet each of them and as we do find ourselves learning more about the events that led them to the Center. The events that led them to cross paths. Unexpected. Joyful. Devastating.

I can tell you more - but I'm not sure I should. I'm certain that fans of Ms. Picoult's writing style will enjoy this book. So, if you're a fan? You should go get yourself a copy.

Emotionally charged, and brilliantly researched - if a little distantly narrated.
Jodi Picoult is a powerhouse author - I will read everything she writes. This novel tackles the very divisive issue of abortion but I thought it was done so with so much care and research that I think it's a valuable book to have read. If your book club is up for it, I would definitely say there is much for discussion. I greatly appreciated this novel.

Oh the twists, you got me again Jodi Picoult. This was a long one. A book that essentially worked its way back to the start. It's a hard one to read. Especially if you have strong beliefs. But, it's necessary. You never know what a person is going through or has gone through. Jodi will make you think. Maybe not change your mind, but think.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. Here is my review:

I am still pondering this book. The story was timely and compelling, told in a way that was sometimes confusing. The book starts at the end of a very bad day and goes backward, hour by hour, to tell the characters' stories and what brought them to this women's clinic on this day.

The clinic in Jackson, Mississippi is the only abortion provider remaining in the state, so it is constantly busy with women and girls coming from all over the state. With a 24-hour waiting period between the initial consultation and the actual procedure, there are people there in different stages and for different reasons. The main character's daughter, for instance, is there is there for birth control pills, although why she chose that clinic for that reason is incomprehensible. It would seem her doctor could have provided the same service.

There is a second side story that makes little sense until the very end, although I thought I figured it out, and I did. And the long, preachy author's note was totally unnecessary.

On the whole, an OK story, ripped from today's headlines, but too one-sided for my taste.

While I enjoyed this book, it was a bit difficult for me to get into. Abortion is a tough topic and I think both sides were represented (although not exactly equally). There was a lot of information and research done to write this and I appreciate the time and effort that went into that. Overall, I I think the most important theme is this book revolves around relationships and the extent a parent would go for their child. Not my favorite of hers, but still a worthwhile read!

This book is another perfect example of an author I respect and previously enjoyed, writing a book about a highly relevant and emotional topic that I'm drawn to, but still managing, against all odds, to leave me wanting.

To be fair, I'm not a Jodi Picoult fan the way so many are, in that I've only read one of her books - Small Great Things. However, I did love that book and the way she studied the subject matter from many different angles. It was tough material, and I have a lot of respect for the way she approached it. Which is why I follow her on Twitter and have great admiration for her.

While I acknowledge that she addressed the subject matter with the same kind of respect, thoughtfulness, and open-mindedness, showing both sides of the story, something fell flat for me. The approach of starting out in the middle of the action is interesting, but didn't really work for me. I understand why it seemed like a viable tactic, unraveling each person's story by moving backwards instead of forwards, but it took all the energy out of the plot, and I found it disconnecting.

I originally gave this 4 stars (which was really a 3.5 rounded up because Goodreads), but now that a few months have passed, I find I like it even less. A meh feeling = 3 stars in my book, and this was definitely a solid 3 stars. If you're a big Picoult fan, I'm sure you'll read it whether I recommend it or not. ;) If you haven't read her before, I'd still give her a go, I'd just start somewhere else.

Wow! This book was intense! Jodi Picoult never misses her mark! This book is really what you call a page turner! Can not wait for this movie or just another Jodi Picoult book in general!

Jodi Picoult tackles hot topics w/ her unique style...giving the reader many voices and viewpoints from her complex characterization and story line. A deep novel covering today's subject matter.

Confession: I have never read a Jodi Picoult book before. Picoult has written 23 novels and I have never read a single one of them. And why is that, you may ask? They don't fall in any of the genres I tend to steer away from. They are books written to make readers think and we all know how much I like that in a book. Here's why: they are "issue" books. It's been my impression that Picoult's books are very much like the latest episode of Law and Order, story lines that are ripped from the headlines. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly fine with books addressing current issues. I just don't want it to feel like the writer is churning out books with no other intent other than to write about that issue. . NPR even did a segment about the way Picoult turns "tough topics into best-sellers." In that segment, NPR suggested that Picoult writes what might be called "ethical or moral fiction." I like that a lot better. They also pointed out that Picoult's novels tend to be written around families. Which brought me back to feeling like they might be formulaic.

But the thing is, this one is about a subject that I'm extremely interested in and have a fair bit of knowledge about so it seemed like it might be the right time to see what Picoult could do, how she might present an issue to readers.

And I was impressed.

This is not just a book that pits pro-choice against pro-life forces. Picoult has characters who are utilizing all of the services these clinics provide, she explores the many reasons a woman might choose abortion, and the ways that today's more restrictive laws actually make abortion more dangerous. She also gives, what felt like to me, fair voice to the pro-life characters. More importantly, she explored the ways that people can feel more than one way about the issue.

I'm not sure I've ever read a book that reads entirely backwards and sometimes it could drag as we moved further away from the day's action. But in writing the book in this way, Picoult is able to gradually expose the characters motives and relationships in a way I really enjoyed. And while you might think that this ends the book when everything was sunny and peaceful, Picoult has held back a couple of big surprises.

Will I pick up another Picoult? Probably. Maybe even the book she wrote before this one, Great Small Things, which tackles prejudice, race, and justice, all issues I'm very interested in as well.

Another interesting and poignant novel from Jodi Picoult. I love how she creates environments and characters that feel so alive and interesting to read that you don’t want to put it down. That’s how this book is, you can’t stop reading!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this for my own personal opinion.

I loved this book from start to finish. It hit on a few things that I believe are so important. I think all the things the women in this story will hit home with someone. From abortion to adoption to birth control. There is something in here for anyone and I hope this makes people understand how important women’s health really is. It’s our bodies let us choose.

I had to give this a big 5 stars and have loved and enjoyed other books by this wonderful author. Thank you for this copy. I highly recommend it to every woman. A great read.

A difficult read but an important one. Jodi Picoult addresses the abortion debate in her latest read.

A girl who needs birth control. A woman with cancer. An undercover anti-abortion advocate. A women who grew up in the foster system. All these women are waiting in the Women’s Center for services.

What happens next is terrifying and heartbreaking. .

Netgalley ARC.

For me this book had me all over the place. Abortion is a tough subject and doing it well is almost impossible. Jodi Picoult, did a pretty darn good job. I enjoyed the read but not recommend to sensitive individuals. I like how it started off backwards so meeting the individuals was almost a done deal. I also enjoyed doing it from a hostage situation.

This was a good read but the format of telling the story in reverse order was somewhat confusing. And I had several questions at the end about what happened to some characters. This would be an excellent book for a book club to discuss. It is well written and lends itself to discussion.

Master storyteller Jodi Picoult tackles tough issues through the thoughts and feelings of both sides of a woman's right to choose, in A Spark of Light. When a shooter takes a family planning center hostage, lives will forever be changed. Told counter-chronologically, readers will dive into the action and aftermath, only to have the dramatic events revealed as slowly as pulling off a band-aid.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a reader I was somewhat challenged by the layout. The story is told in reverse, so I found myself going back to the beginning several times to remember details. Jodi Picoult's extensive research on a current topic always brings light to the many sides of a tough subject. She challenges readers to move beyond predetermined ideas and to open their minds to new insight on difficult issues.