Nikki Erlick’s The Poppy Fields presents a thought-provoking premise: what if you could sleep through your grief and wake up healed? Set in a secluded facility in the California desert, the novel follows a group of strangers drawn to this experimental treatment, each with their own reasons for seeking or questioning relief.

Erlick excels at crafting a narrative that explores both sides of the choice without judgment. The novel doesn’t dictate whether healing this way is right or wrong; instead, it allows its characters and readers to sit with the complexity of grief and the different ways people process loss. The multi-perspective storytelling deepens the emotional stakes, making the novel compelling, though at times the pacing drags.

While The Poppy Fields may not hit as hard as The Measure, it still succeeds as an introspective, emotionally resonant read. Erlick’s ability to blend speculative elements with deeply human questions makes this a great pick for book clubs and fans of reflective fiction.

Where to start? At first the blurb drew me in, sort of reminding me of the movie avatar. However it’s nothing like that at all ofcourse, but everything it delivers is sooo much MORE than I ever could have expected especially since it was a slow starter.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick is on my list of all time favorite reads, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Poppy Fields. Three strangers, all heading toward The Poppy Fields, a kind of sleep therapy for the grieving, decide to drive to the Fields together when their flight is cancelled. Each has their own reason for wanting to visit the Fields and each has secrets they're keeping from the others.

While I don't think it lives up to The Measure, the Poppy Fields is a slow, intricate, heartwarming tale about regret, love, life, and death. Definitely not to be missed.

I don’t know that my review will appropriately convey my feelings toward this book- but I’ll do my best.

The Poppy Fields is a medical-experimental facility in California that puts patients to sleep, for one to two months, to help them acclimate and process their grief. Ellis, the founder of the fields, has discovered a way to heal grief thru sleep. But at what cost? Some people wake up completely detached from their loved one.

While we get the chance to explore the fields from Ellis’ POV, we also get to road trip our way to California and the Poppy Fields with four people- Ava, Sasha, Ray and Sky. Ava’s sister is at fields, Sasha is a rejected applicant who is determined to have a spot to sleep, and Ray is looking for answers on a personal vendetta to avenge his brother- his brother died of an unrelated aneurism after going to the fields. Sky is a young hitchhiker with a deep excitement for life, only along for the ride.

We get an inner look at the complexities of grief and loss, and the heart ache that comes along with it. The price of grief is love- and if we erase our grief, do we erase our love? Does losing that love cause us to lose part of who we are/were? After all- grief makes us survivors. And as someone who suffered a deep loss within the last two years, I can attest to how beautifully Nikki writes on grief and love and the price of which we pay.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in trade for an honest review. What a pleasure.

I really liked the concept of this one, however it didn’t end up playing out well. I wasn’t invested in any of the characters stories. Even though there were a lot of stories about the characters, I felt like no character development was actually happening, they all lacked depth. Around 80% into the book, I did get more into it, then the plot started to take over and get interesting, but if this book wasn’t written by Erlick, I may not have finished it.

A well-done sophomore novel with a fascinating concept. This one definitely had a similar tone to The Measure in the sense that it makes the reader think, What would I do if this were to happen in real life? There were a few twists that were unexpected, as well as a few that I predicted due to the breadcrumbs that Erlick was feeding us. I was hoping for a little more from the ending, but it was an overall great read.

I read this book as a digital ARC, supplemented with the ALC audiobook, both from NetGalley.

The Poppy Fields follows Ava, Ray, and Sasha as they travel across the country to the Poppy Fields, a new and controversial treatment center designed to help people sleep away their all-consuming feelings of grief. Each person is traveling to the center for different reasons and each is dealing with a different form of grief. Is there a correct way to grieve? Is it an emotion that people need to experience in order to be human? These are the questions explored in this novel.

It took me a long time to connect with the events and characters of this book. In particular, the scientist that created the Fields, Ellis, was difficult to empathize with until the last section of the book. I think this was intentional, but it was jarring how much her character seemed to change so abruptly.

I liked the way Erlick discussed grief and the “humane” way to feel and deal with that strong emotion, this wasn’t as much of a page-turner as her other novel, “The Measure”. I think Erlick definitely went out in a limb and took risks with the topic of this novel, especially since grief can be such an intense and unique emotion for people. I found several great quotes throughout the book that resonated with me, but I’m not sure this is a book that I would want to return to again and again, if that makes sense. The subject matter and characters in “The Measure” will ultimately be where I choose to spend my time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for an advanced copy of this novel.

You know Nikki will always leave you with a book that makes you think outside the box. This one did not disappoint.

Absolutely loved the audio, multiple narrators. Beautiful!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Measure was such a though-provoking book that stuck with me. I had high hopes for anything else by Erlick. Although I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did The Measure, it is nevertheless a wonderful, though-provoking story about navigating grief. All of the characters are multilayered (aren't all people?!) and the timeline was easy to follow. As the drama unfolds, a little more explanation comes for each character, and the reader understands very little is as black and white as we might hope.

Add this to your TBR this year!

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

"The Poppy Fields" unpacks and makes you sit with grief, stages of grief, and the love that surrounds us when we have lose in our life. Nikki Erlick intertwined the loss and resiliency with a new-age and scientific and mild dystopian approach to how others can deal with grief. Through screening, entering a program patients who are admitted to the Poppy Fields sleep program for 1-2 months and rejuvenate their senses to cope with significant loss and trauma in life.

I think that this is the piece that will resound most with readers- loss and dealing with the loss of those we love, hold dear, and learning to cope with putting pieces together in our own lives afterwards. The Poppy Fields was filled with sad, yet moments of happy and still joy evoking in road tripping across America, hot air ballooning, falling in love, and how each character has a different life walked and love that surrounds them.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Nikki Erlick, and William Morrow for granting my ARC wish!

First, what I did like: Nikki Erlick writes beautifully about grief and the lasting nature of love. There are several beautiful passages that I highlighted and read several times. In addition, the book’s premise is fascinating: a facility that allows thousands of people to sleep for several weeks while working through the worst of their grief? This excited me with its sci-fi possibilities: it sounded like there would be plenty of creepy things that could go wrong. However, the story itself didn’t pull me in whatsoever.

I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight, and unfortunately, I didn’t connect with any of them. There was such a big cast that once their connections began popping up, I had to go back to check names and stories. And none of the connections really hit me in the heart, the way they did in The Measure.

If this had not been an ARC, I would likely have DNFed THE POPPY FIELDS. I kept going, however, because I wanted to give it a chance and I remembered that the best part of Erlick’s debut novel, The Measure, came at the end. Unfortunately, there was no redeeming ending for this one.

I will definitely still check out anything Erlick writes in the future based on the strength of The Measure but this was a miss for me. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an early digital ARC of THE POPPY FIELDS in exchange for my honest feedback.

Another winner from Nikki Erlick! Her debut novel, The Measure, is the first book I recommend to others. I’m so happy that she delivered another well written, thought-provoking book with The Poppy Fields. That said, this book is completely different than her first. The focus is more on the characters and their journey, with the controversy of the Poppy Fields being a supporting plot line. Be ready for great twists and fun nods to Wizard of Oz throughout.

Book clubs will want to keep this on their radars. Out in June!

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to @netgalley, @harperaudio and @nikkierlick for the opportunity to read and listen to this ARC for an honest review.

The Poppy Fields had narrators that definitely developed the characters appropriately, making you feel like you are with them, the author's writing does that too, it's a beautiful marrying of the two.

Grief is a road trip.

From the author of the wild hit The Measure, comes a new book with the main topic of grief and how we deal with it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy. All opinions here expressed are my own.
The Poppy Field is not something out of the Wizard of Oz, but there is a nod to this classic, as it is where people go to receive “treatment” for their grief: a two month sleep-off where they arise with their grief gone. The caveat is there is a chance of a side effect.
The story focuses on multiple characters dealing with their grief and how they will choose to deal with it, but on the way they go through some self discovery.
It’s well crafted and there is surely a lot to discuss in a book club.
I would recommend it to patrons and I am sure everyone who read the Measure will gobble this whole.
3*

4 stars

From the author of The Measure comes a new story of grief, loss, and found family. Three people are brought together after a huge storm damages the airport they were in, waiting for flights to the same California location. Three strangers end up sharing the last available rental car to get to their destinations. While it's not immediately clear, they are all headed to the same mysterious clinic in the California desert called The Poppy Fields. This clinic claims that it's sleep treatment can get you through the worst of the grief process, where you sleep for up to two months and awake to emotional healing. Each of the three travelers has their own reason for going to The Poppy Fields. As they travel, they become closer and closer, sharing their stories of family, love, and loss, revealing secrets and vulnerabilities, and ultimately..... well, no spoilers.

I was so excited to read this book after having loved The Measure. This story contains similar themes of loss and grief involving loss by death as well as by abandonment. The side characters were my favorites, including 18 year-old free spirit Sky and Ava's little dog PJ, however I didn't end up feeling attached to anyone. For me, this felt very on-the-nose and quite heavy handed when it came to the way grief is perceived and the messages to appreciate life and love while you have it and the healing power of time. This wasn't a book for me, however I can see this being very popular with readers that are looking for this type of uplifting messaging.

The chapters were short which kept the pace moving, the characters were well written, and the messaging was clear.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If given the opportunity would you go to The Poppy Fields?

I think the idea behind this treatment is the most interesting part of the book. The concept of “sleeping away” your grief is one that makes you really think. Especially when you throw in the potential “side effect”. Ultimately I don’t think I would but then again I haven’t had very many monumental losses in my life which I’m very grateful for.

The characters and their arc honestly fell a little flat for me. I don’t feel like I ever really connected with any of them, maybe because the POV rotated too much or quickly? Or I didn’t feel enough depth behind them?

I think this book is a great one for a book club not exactly for the characters or the story but for the concept. It was a good book for sure but I think what it brings most is conversation.

Thank you NetGalley and Williams Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy.

3.5 stars

Nikki Erlich likes to ask big questions in her novels. After reading THE MEASURE (Would you want to know when you were going to die?), I was intrigued to read THE POPPY FIELDS. Three strangers find themselves roadtripping to California to get to the poppy fields, an experimental treatment where patients suffering through grief can sleep away the worst of the pain. Along the way, each person in the car--Ray, Ava, and Sasha--must confront their own losses and decide whether the poppy fields is the place they will actually find what they need to move forward.

If I hadn't known, I would've thought THE POPPY FIELDS was Erlick's debut novel. THE MEASURE felt very assured and nuanced in the ways that each character approached the idea of whether they wanted to know when they would die. This novel felt less solidly put together. The question of what someone might do to move through grief is an interesting one and each of the characters brought a different perspective, but the plot elements of the book felt softer in their construction. Still a good read and worth picking up.

The Poppy Fields is out June 17, 2025

I really really enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of THE MEASURE, this will be a win for you! The audio was well-done with beloved Marin Ireland and other narrators sprinkled in.

This will be a perfect option for book clubs with a lot to discuss and ruminate on. Similarly to THE MEASURE it will leave you with a question of what you'd choose if you were in this *semi* dystopian novel.

Part of me wishes we got even deeper with each character but there were too many to get too deep. I liked how they all connected and enjoyed the fast pace. I think this will be well liked!

I enjoyed this one. The story was engaging- though not what I was expecting. Most of the story is about their journey TO the Poppy Fields and not as much about their particular experiences at the Poppy Fields. I loved reading about each characters journey and how they grew through it. Wish it was a bit longer though!

Having loved Nikki Erlick’s first book The Measure, I was so excited to learn that she wrote a new one. The Poppy Fields is a controversial treatment center in California, where people with intense grief can apply to be put to sleep for a month or more, while their bodies supposedly process their grief while unconscious.

Obviously this brings up a lot of issues for everyone involved, and while it seems to work for most people, some wake up with unexpected side effects.

The story follows a few characters, seemingly with nothing in common, who are headed to the center, either for themselves or for a loved one. It’s a touching story of our shared humanity - no matter who we are, we will all have to deal with grieving at some point.

The Poppy Fields is obviously a reference to a scene in the Wizard of Oz and there are a few more nods to the story throughout, which I loved.

I still think about The Measure sometimes and I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. The Poppy Fields published on June 17th.