I wasn’t sure about this one because I knew the heavy topic would be Covid- sometimes that can be too daunting to read when you want to escape with a book. Although the overall arc was a covid scenario, that wasn’t the main theme of the book. It’s more of a what if story and honestly I walked away wanting to add the Galápagos Islands to my travel list! This was a thought provoking book that will stay with me a long time.

I had high hopes for this book, as I do with any Jodi Picoult. While I wish she would return to her courtroom dramas, I'll still read anything she puts out. This one had a Sliding Doors vibe and I admit there was a twist I didn't at all see coming. I really love that Jodi can still surprise me, this many books in!

This was a wonderful book! It takes place in the very early days of Covid, when we knew next to nothing about the virus.
I tried reading it early on, but it was too soon!
Diana O’Toole and her boyfriend Finn, are set to go on vacation to the Galápagos Islands when Covid hits NYC. Her boyfriend stays behind to help take care of patients and the community. As Diana arrives to Galapagos, they’re shutting down everything.
It was a great insight into the toll that Covid took on medical professionals and what Covid was like in remote parts of the world.

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 an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. 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.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

The TWIST! Wow Jodi Picoult hits it out of the park every time. This book left my jaw dropped. Some may think it's too soon for a March 2020 book but this was done so well.

Really interesting read - and I did not see the huge twist in the middle coming (also it's refreshing to have a twist in the dead middle of the book instead of all the way at the end). It does have a pandemic/covid storyline, but I still enjoyed immensely.

Really great book I have had so much reading this and getting to know these lovable characters will definitely continue to read books by this author

I love Jodi Picoult's books. Her writing makes feel as if I'm watching the story take place among people I know and care about. And I always know that a some point, I'm going to cry because she has hit a heartbreaking point right on the head. There's usually a turning point at which time the character will open their eyes and SEE what's around them. But her stories are never the same. The characters, the communities and the life lessons all change with every book. The first Jodi Picoult book I read was MY SISTER'S KEEPER and I've been a fan ever since, reading every title I can find. There are so many reviews already written about this book that you don't need me to tell you what the book is about. But the story will make you feel emotions that you'd never expect from a book. Read the book, just make sure you have tissues.

"Wish You Were Here" by Jodi Picoult is like a snapshot of our pandemic era, telling the story of Diana O'Toole who gets stuck on her dream vacation thanks to the pandemic. Picoult's storytelling is top-notch, and she explores themes like isolation, self-discovery, and finding meaning. It's a bit of a surprise package, with an emotional punch that makes you think. In these times when life's taken an unexpected turn, this book is like a flashlight in the dark, reminding us to hold on to hope. It's a must-read that'll stick with you, even after you've turned the last page.

I like how she dealt with the pandemic and how isolating it felt. It was a bit predictable, but the characters were engaging and the story was fast-paced and interesting.

“There are two ways of looking at walls. Either they are built to keep people you fear out or they are built to keep people you love in. Either way, you create a divide.”

What I loved:
• I love that Jodi didn’t even initially plan to write this book but the pandemic and isolating inspired this story
• although this book can be tough to read at times, Jodi really made this story into something that people around the world can resonate with
• the vividly brought-to-life beautiful scenery of the Galapagos islands
• very thought-provoking
• as with any Jodi’s books, a gut-wrenching twist awaits you

What I didn’t love:
• unlikeable mc

I had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the first 1/2 and getting to know Diana and what she wanted out of life. Once the plot twist happens I kind of disconnected from the story. Definitely not one of my favorites from Picoult.

Sorry for the delay! I was this in 2021 and somehow never left a review. Not sure how that got overlooked. The story was a surprise twist and not at all what was expected. Highly recommend! Another winner for Jodi Picoult!

Jodi Picoult, is one of those authors that you know will put out an amazing book. This was was no exception. Her books are always so easy to read, and you will not want to put this one down!

Wow this book really spun me in a few circles. The central character Diana is about to go to the Galapagos islands but then COVID begins shutting everything down. She has the opportunity to leave the city and go the trip but this will mean her doctor fiance has to stay back. Then the story really takes off when Diana decides to go on the trip with the expectation of meeting back with her fiance soon. I'll stop there and not risk spoiling the story but that's when the real adventure begins.
I love how original this book was, unlike anything else I have read in quite awhile. I loved the exotic location as well as the fascinating cast of characters. And there were even a few twists that came along I did not expect.
While is book could be catergorized as romance I feel it was much more, capturing some of the fear of the early COVID pandemic definitely added some grit to the story. A very solid read and not easy to forget. 4/5 stars
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If a book could capture the feeling that Americans went through the during the beginning of 2020 this book would be it!

This is going to be a polarizing book—and there’s not much I can say without spoiling a VERY big reveal—but I fell squarely on the side of it being a masterpiece. I absolutely loved it. So we’ll-written, unique, and unputdownable.

I was beyond looking forward to this book, but unfortunately this is one of my biggest disappointing reads so far this year..

I never really felt connected with the main character- I was annoyed with her for most of the book.

The "twist" towards the ends was surprising...and not in a good way at all.
Ruined it for me actually.

This wont be my last read by Jodi Picoult, I really do enjoy her writing, But this one completely missed the mark.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ebook in exchange for a honest review.

This book was not my favorite, mostly because of the COVID-19 portion. Maybe I read it at the wrong time. While I enjoy books that incorporate pandemics into the storytelling, this felt like more of a plot device. I enjoy Picoult's other work, but this was not for me.

This book was beautiful. In Picoult’s usual style, it had a great reveal about 60% through that completely changed the direction of the story. I loved the luscious descriptions of the Galapagos, the developing relationships, and the brutal truth of what Covid was like.

As always happens with a Picoult book, I felt emotionally pulled in so many directions. I loved this book!