What an awesome treat! A Jodi Picoult book to savor and reflect post quarantine. Picoult has managed to give voice to how a lot of us felt while in the throes of the pandemic. The medical emails were spot on and intense. The Galapagos descriptions gave this reader such vivid descriptions that I’ve just added it to my travel bucket list. I really needed this unexpected surprise from Jodi Picoult!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review a book by one of my favorite authors! When I was invited to read this one I had no idea what it was about and I just dove right into it not knowing the plot takes place during the Covid pandemic. While I was reading this I had mixed feelings because as of right now we are not yet completely done with Covid even though restrictions have eased up. I just was not ready to read a book with Covid in it just yet. I totally agree that she needed to write about it and preserve history in her fictional way, but it really just is too soon and some parts did feel rushed. However, her book was great and as usual contained some great wisdom. Diana and Finn are supposed to go on vacation in the Galapagos. When Covid hits she still goes, but Finn has to stay behind because he is a doctor. The BIG twist at 60% really saved the book in my opinion so JUST KEEP READING!

Diana and Finn are young New Yorkers, each growing in their own careers, and expecting an engagement and marriage in the near future. A trip to the Galapagos islands seems like the perfect place for that engagement to happen, but then this virus starts to grow and raise concerns. Finn suggests that Diana go on without her as he isn't able to leave his work at the hospital. Diana gets to the island just to see the last charter boat back to the mainland. She stays and finds herself exploring not only the island and new culture, but getting to know the people there better, and also exploring and getting to know herself and her life better too.

When I saw this book was about Covid, I was a little hesitant, but it is presented and woven into the story in a very effective manner. I appreciated that this story also shared more of the experiences of some of the healthcare workers whose lives were turned upside down by the covid virus.

This book has some significant twists and unexpected events, that made me exclaim out loud while i was reading!

The first half of "Wish You Were Here" is pretty formulaic. Diana is in art sales at Sotheby's, and she has her life planned out to the nth degree. This includes hospital resident Finn, and they are about to embark on a trip to the Galapagos when Finn is called back to the hospital to deal with an outbreak of this novel coronavirus. He convinces her to go on her own, which she does, and, of course, gets stranded there when the world closes down.

It's hard to remember time when we knew so little about what was about to smack us down that a doctor could advise his fiancee to take a vacation to a remote foreign island while he tended to the dying. The island has spotty internet, so their communications are sporadic and confusing. Islanders take pity on Diana and help her survive, especially a teenage girl and later, her father. The pandemic is going full blast, so . . .

And then, "Wish You Were Here" becomes a different, much more interesting story. No spoilers from me, but the novel delves into the subconscious, what happens to people's minds when they are unconscious and their bodies are battling to survive. Where do those dreams and thoughts come from? Diana's mother was always emotionally absent, but will her advanced Alzheimer's allow another version of herself to push through?

I see that a lot of reviewers didn't like "The Book of Two Ways," which I adored. Picault's exploration of the life to death transition and how two cultures do their best to explain it was riveting to me. What I liked about this new novel is her exploration of these issues, the question of what is real and what is not, and the balance that is so delicate that it took an unheard of virus to make us aware.

~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and the timeliness of the topic. I've read several other books by Picoult, and this one is similar in that it's highly readable and there's typically a "twist". It depicts the anxiety and fear of the unknown that we all experienced, especially at the beginning of COVID. I'll continue to read more by Picoult in the future!

I know that Jodi Picoult is a Princeton grad, but I believe she is the only alumna who consistently writes "ripped from the headlines" novels" that go on to become best sellers and popular films. And she manages to do it in record time. The Book of Two Ways was published within the past year and suddenly, she presents Wish You Were Here, another sure-to-be best seller.

Considering how quickly this book followed her last, it is surprisingly timely and gripping. I couldn't stop reading and finished it in one day. Wish you were here begins in the earliest days of the pandemic when
Diana O'Toole, Sotheby's impressionist art maven has to take a vacation for two to the Galapagos alone because her boyfriend Finn, a surgery resident in New York's Columbia Presbyterian hospital is unable to join her due to the rapid influx of Covid patients..

She arrives, sans luggage (isn't it always lost?), on the island of Isabela, with almost nothing. She doesn't speak Spanish and has only the clothes she's wearing and a bathing suit. Picoult's writing and her way with a phrase will enchant you from the beginning. I hesitate to say more so as not to distract from a novel you simply must read. You will learn a lot about Covid, Alzheimer's, art and photography and biology. You will finish the book with a deep sigh of satisfaction and await her next novel. (Soon?) Go, Jodi! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this early chance to read. All opinions are my own and unsolicited.

There isn’t a whole lot that I can say about this book without ruining the twist that I didn’t see coming, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. it was a way of paying homage to the last year that we all went through and also lessons learned from this past year. Well done Jodi!!!

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Jodi Picoult wrote a pandemic novel. How do you feel about that is how you feel about it. If that’s not something you’re into, just let it be. However, going into it with an open mind, it was better than expected. I was expecting a 3.5, but the writing had a fair degree of unexpected humor that made it a full 4.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Jodi Picoult has an amazing ability to write books about the latest hot topics. This one is no different. The day before Diana and her soon to be fiancé is to fly to a bucket list trip to the Galapagos, the first cases of Corona has hit NYC. Finn, being a doctor has to stay behind while Diana goes on their nonrefundable trip. Once she arrives, the island shuts down, she is stranded and no place to stay. With spotty WIFI, she can't tell Finn that she has arrived and now stuck. Finn working 40+ straight hours in the Covid ICU instead of the surgical ward is dealing with his own stresses. Then....a huge twist half way through the book that took me by complete surprise. This book was so very good. It told the reality of the pandemic and how hard hit the front line workers were, not to mention a compete shut down of most destinations. No politics written, just truths. Read it! #wishyouwerehere #jodipicoult #nov2021

One of the most heart breaking books Ive read. For me this put a human face to different people during this pandemic. Absolutely incredible

I mean, its Jodi Picoult. Once again, she nails it. This time, with Covid, still happening for so many. Her "world in world' here is ....... amazing. My knee jerk was REALLY? Bobby from Dallas??? But, she turned it into SOOOOOOO much more. Thank you Jodi, you did it again.

The more you read, the more you will Iove this new book. The last third was fascinating, heart wrenching and very real. Kudos to the author for finding such a very unique but honest way of showing just how this horrible pandemic has disrupted lives all over the world, usually drastically rerouting everything, every family, healthcare workers and even people in remote places far from "civilization". Excellent first person research behind this novel--be sure to read the author's comments at the end!

Realistic Fiction. The initial onset of the COVID pandemic has just begun. Diana becomes separated from her live-in boyfriend and doc intern, Finn. She ends up stranded in the Galápagos Islands after travel halts while Finn begins "living" in the hospital as patient numbers rise exponentially. With sporadic (to no) cell service and internet, Diana lives each day reevaluating her relationships (work, parent, boyfriend, self) and exploring Isabela Island's hidden beauties. Her primary companions are Abuela, a young girl and father, and her worries about returning to any type of normalcy -- if there is that.
Just WOW! I'm a fan of all Picoult novels-- this one is no exception-- beautifully written. Definitely exposes all the tragedies of the pandemic with a large focus on isolation, loss, and love.

Another great book by Jodie Picoult! It's a heartwarming story about struggling to find your way through times of difficulty. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I loved this book! Where to start without giving away the plot twist? DIana O'Toole has her life planned out. She hopes to be engaged to her surgeon boyfriend by age 30, have two children, a dog and house in the suburbs by 35. But then Covid strikes. A long planned trip to the Galapagos for both of them now becomes a solo journey for DIana as Finn must stay back and deal the pandemic which is decimating New York City. Diana arrives in paradise with no luggage, to find the island is shutting down. Instead of heading back to the mainland she stays, and meets a family who helps her find her true self. As with all of Picoult's books it is meticulously researched, and the details of Covid are heartbreaking.

Solid 4/5. In some ways this book is pure Jodi Picoult and the way she tackles relationships here reminds me of some of he older works including My Sisters Keeper and Leaving Time. I loved how she explored the concept of what is real and what is perceived as real and how flurry that line can be at times. This is my first, of what I’m sure will be many, COVID novel and I’m happy my first was with this author whom I’ve been reading for many years. The second half of the book is ‘better’ than the first half, mainly because the first half just isn’t very believable. Now for the not so good. This book is full of cliches. New Yorkers too busy rushing around their day to notice beauty around them. Locals on Galapagos have a love hate relationship with their tourists. Young professional climbing the work ladder with a plan for every step of her life. She of course has the obligatory gay best friend. And sentences like this “in the grand scheme of things losing dollars is nothing compared to losing time”. Ugh. Several minor characters who are just caricatures - the warm and welcoming grandma, the handsome mysterious loner on the island who she can’t stand at first, the teenager in turmoil, the tough motivating physical therapist. I could go on. And the woman selling her art who is so thinly veiled as Yoko Ono really grated on me, going so far as to name her Kitomi Ito. To be honest, the best part of this book is the fact that it so much better than her last one. It feels like Jodi Picoult is back with this one. It would make a great book club choice because there is a lot to talk about. ***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.***

Wish you were here is a book about the real coronavirus pandemic with a fictional characters’ life changing experience. This book felt real and raw to me since my family and I had contracted the virus. I also had a family member working as a health care worker during this time. It’s hard to talk about the book without giving spoilers, but the pandemic was and is still life altering and has changed the way people viewed the life they were living and what really mattered in their lives. The characters’ experiences touched me deeply and I will remember this book long after reading it.

Jodi Picoult never ceases to amaze me with her creations of fiction woven around real world happenings whether it be crises or family events. This book will shock you once again as only she can as she weaves COVID and the devastating effects it had on so many lives and families and enlightens readers about the side effects of the virus with ventilators and dreams. While rooting for Diana and Finn, I silently cheered for Gabriel and Beatriz as well. There is just enough romance to keep it interesting, while the pandemic is chronicled hitting on all aspects of society. Thanks so much for the net galley.

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of @jodipicoult #WishYouWereHere and it was even more brilliant than I could have dreamed.

Heart-wrenching but hopeful - we’ve been through the ringer the past year with COVID, and Wish You Were Here gives a voice to so many - healthcare workers, people who had family with COVID or had it themselves, tourism industries and tourists, and every day life that changed forever.

I love the idea of multi-verses/alternate realities/alternate lives (and in The Book of Two Ways) - really makes you think twice about life as we know it.

Thank you @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

#jodipicoult #netgalley #fiction #booklover #bookreviews #whatimreading #whatiread

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult, takes us to the terrifying days of Covid in a fictional, yet realistic first hand life account. Sometimes moving too slowly for me, but always tugging at my heart.
Where we were all trying to do our best to stay save, keep ourselves mentally strong and just get through the days.
Where the lives of the patients in fevered dreams, kept the doctors and nurses working 36 hour shifts.
Our families left in nursing homes were at the mercy of others that we had to believe were taking the best care of them, but we ourselves, we’re not allowed in to touch or hug them.
This book is the hell and back of Covid.
Well done, Jodi Picoult!