I'm a huge fan of The Measure and I went into the Poppy Fields expecting something similar given the theme of the book but the story fell flat and the characters didn't feel as nuanced as they did in The Measure. For The Poppy Fields, I was hoping we would get more insight into how and why people needed to go to this specific location to sleep or possibly what was happening within their minds that created this change in the grieving process. A majority of the book is mostly a road trip with a group of characters, which didn't seem like it needed as much time as it did in the book. I would have liked to see more about what was happening in the Poppy Fields or storylines of people who are dealing with the aftermath of The Poppy Fields. I'll continue to read more of Nikki Erlick in the future but I think this book was meant for a different type of reader.

When an author writes another book after the first is mindblowingly sensational, I always wonder if the next will be just as fascinating? Can they really come up with another totally unique storyline?

Nikki Erlick sure did. The topics she explores and the plot she crafts to do so are nothing short of incredible. If you could sleep to get through the hard first few weeks of grief after loss, would you? Complete strangers band together on a roadtrip to go to a facility called the Poppy Fields that allows its patients to do just that. They each have their reasons for going that make for some jaw-dropping plot twist moments.

My favorite quote is when the director explains why they named it after poppy flowers. The interviewer says they assume it’s because of its narcotic powers. Swipe to see Ellis’ response. Strength from the rubble is the theme of this book!

Readers looking for The Measure part 2 will possibly be disappointed, but I think it’s a disservice to the beauty and truth in this book to go in with that expectation. This set of characters and the range of emotions the reader gets to experience alongside them is quite the ride.

Thank you so much to @williammorrowbooks for the BEAUTIFUL #gifted copy. I’m a forever fan of Nikki Erlick!
4.75⭐️

When I first picked up The Poppy Fields, I was hooked by the premise right away. A treatment center in the desert that lets you literally sleep through grief? As someone who’s been sideswiped by loss, that idea hit me on a personal level. If I could’ve skipped even a fraction of that pain, would I have done it? I honestly don’t know - but I was curious to see how Erlick handled the question.

The story follows four strangers (and one very good dog) on their way to the Poppy Fields. Each has their own reasons for seeking this controversial healing method, and their secrets slowly come out along the journey. At the center of it all is Ellis, the enigmatic founder whose work promises hope… with a few unsettling side effects.

I’ll be honest - this isn’t a fast-paced book. There’s a lot of thinking, a lot of talking, and at times, it felt like the plot was dragging. But Erlick knows how to weave big, emotional concepts into her characters’ journeys in a way that feels intimate. Even when I was restless with the pacing, I was still drawn in by the ideas at play.

This was my first Nikki Erlick book, and while I wished for more momentum, I really enjoyed her style. She’s the kind of author I’ll come back to, because the themes she explores stick with you long after you’ve finished the book.

If you’re interested in grief, healing, and the what-ifs of bypassing heartache, The Poppy Fields is worth checking out. It’s not a page-turner, but it’s thoughtful, emotional, and unique.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Really enjoyed this one. Especially because it made me cry multiple times. I really enjoy her writing style, so engaging, and I loved the exploration of yet another difficult, interesting topic-dealing with grief. Fascinating and so human.

For a book titled The Poppy Fields the characters don't arrive at the poppy fields until 85% in. This is a road trip book of a miss-mash of characters driving across the country to the poppy fields where individuals are put in a medical induced sleep for a month or two to deal with grief. None of the characters really have an interesting enough back story to make this more than a snooze-fest.

I was initially drawn by the cover. I have not read The Measure but now intend to. The Poppy fields was beautifully written. It had me look at life differently. I could not put it down.

The Poppy Fields is a thought provoking story that leaves readers asking: would I be willing to risk remembering to get over my grief?

We follow unlikely travel companions on their quest to the Poppy Fields. Each with their own reasons for visiting, and each will learn along the way a little more about themselves.

I loved this story. The found friendships and self discovery made this whole story both thought provoking and moving.

AudioRead - Full Cast - Well Done!!

This book is shelved as a "Sci-Fi/Fantasy" story category. This is not your typical Sci Fi in my mind.

This is the story of the Poppy Fields, an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows people dealing with the loss of a loved one to sleep through their pain in a prolonged slumber. When they awaken from this sleep they will be healed. But there are some potentially shadowy side effects. The story follows 4 strangers who travel to make their way to the Poppy Fields. This was such a beautiful tale of love, loss and moving on in the most unexpected way.

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick is so unique and heartbreaking. Everyone deals with grief differently.

Nikki Erlick’s novel The Measure was one of my favorite’s and I couldn’t wait to read her newest release, The Poppy Fields.

In an isolated area of California, an experimental treatment center offers patients the opportunity to escape their grief through sleep and hopefully process the pain on an excelerated timeline. But only, if they are willing to accept the side effects. The story follows four characters as they travel from the Midwest to this location, each for their own reasons and each with their own secrets.

Erlick’s portrayal of grief and loss and how technology could address this human phenomena is a fascinating premise. I loved the way the characters connect and grow throughout the story. While the subject is heavy, the overall feeling of hope gives the novel an optimistic and upbeat feeling.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader’s copy.

Such a unique concept and wonderful look on how non linear grief is. Overall, it was a little slow and boring, but the larger themes were intriguing.

hanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
This along with the Measure are thought-provoking, honest, and touching. I appreciated the gentle touch she uses to handle such heavy material.
Solid 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed thinking about the what ifs and hows in the experiment of “sleeping” to grieve. I think the characters in the book felt a little one dimensional but I appreciated the different world views and experiences of each of them.
Overall a good quick read - great for discussion or a book club.

🎁 📚 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓟𝓸𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓕𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭𝓼 📚🎁
3.75/5 🌟

Nikki Erlick’s debut, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞, was a fascinating 5⭐ read for me, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of her follow-up, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬.

This novel centers on a controversial retreat in California where those burdened by immense grief can undergo a deep, restorative sleep—and awaken with the jagged edges of their sorrow blunted. The center, the brainchild of Ellis (imagine Elizabeth Holmes with integrity), has drawn global attention for its promise of healing as well as the unintended side effects it produces.

The story begins when three strangers—Ava, Sasha, and Ray—are forced into a road trip from the Kansas City airport due to a storm. Each is traveling to The Poppy Fields for very different reasons. Later, they’re joined by Sky, a free-spirited 18-year-old striking out on her own. I loved watching the bonds form between Ray, Sasha, and Ava as they revealed the truths that brought them west; Sky felt somewhat extraneous to the narrative.

The novel explores themes of loss, love, family, grief, and forgiveness, with touches of the same magical realism I so enjoyed in The Measure. While the concept and characters didn’t resonate with me quite as strongly this time, Erlick excels at speculative fiction—offering bold, thought-provoking “what ifs” that linger long after the final page. Here, she asks: What price would you pay to ease excruciating grief?

With its intriguing premise, emotional core, and a few well-placed twists, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬 was an engaging read and Look forward to Erlick’s next endeavor.

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the opportunity to read this ARC! 🌺

#biblophile #stephsalwaysreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreviews #arcbookreview #tbrlist #whatshouldireadnext #5🌟reads #netgalley

Nikki Erlick has such a beautiful way with words. This, along with her other book, left me thinking. I LOVE when books make me think.

I can't say I liked this as much as The Measure, but, it was still utterly amazing. I felt attached to all the characters (except Ellis maybe) and I absolutely loved the road trip vibes. I will continue to read works from this author.

I loved the questions of grief & exploring of what matters most in this speculative fiction. I enjoyed seeing so many different responses to the option to sleep through the worst of your grief. While the different perspectives were interesting, I did struggle to feel connected to the characters as much as I think I might have if we'd been going deeper with fewer points of view. It made the twists a little less exciting, as I didn't feel as connected to the characters they were happening to. Even so, I still enjoyed this book and found it thought provoking.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚Rating*ੈ✩‧₊˚
DNF 10%

💭 Thoughts-

-ˋˏ✄┈┈Honestly, I was just confused and could not get into this. It has been sitting on my Kindle shelf for so long that I just can’t with it anymore because I do not think I will ever be able to get into this. So, I’m just going to give it a nice little soft dnf.

Let me start by saying The Measure is one of my all time favorite books so it was going to be tough to go into this one without expectations. I really tried but in the end I've just truly read too many books about grief this year. I think when I need this story it will be there waiting for me but right not it's just a not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a well written and thought provoking book. I loved the unique premise and how the story was told through several people. I enjoyed the road trip theme and how we were able to get to know and understand everyone better. Grief touched them all in different ways and yet they all had the same goal in mind.

The interviews and articles were a nice touch and a fun way to get more info on the Poppy Fields themselves.

It's definitely a character driven book, which isn't my go to but the intriguing plot held everything together nicely.

Overall such a unique and enjoyable read.

The Poppy Fields is an incredible book about love,loss,and finding your self among grief. If you love a book about found family that also includes a good roadtrip the book hits all the marks.

Completely fascinating premise. I was so hooked on the idea of this book before I even started. It told a great story but was pretty slow all throughout. There are a bunch of characters and I never felt like we really got to the meat of any of their stories. The journey was long and slow and the pay off didn’t make up for it. The plot was intriguing and had some beautiful moments. Definitely a book that would garner much conversation.

I received an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are mine alone.