The Fields dives into a subject I don’t often read about: grief. It follows three strangers who find themselves at the airport and have to rent a car which the dub the Canary to make their way to California and find the Poppy Fields facility. Along the way they pick up another traveler. It also follows Ellis, who is the brains behind the sleep facility.

This is a very character-driven story and the author did a wonderful job writing distinct characters and interweaving their stories. If you liked The Measure you’ll surely enjoy this one, too!

This is a thought-provoking book. If given the choice, would you choose to “sleep away” your grief?

So great! I read it in less than a day. I loved the interwoven plots and subtle nods. The characters kept me invested in their stories.

Nikki Erlick has proven to be a master of the ‘what if’ concept and this novel is no exception. Beautifully explores topics of grief, loss and pain as well as how we deal with those experiences in our lives. The intertwining of lives and relationships along the journey were well written and developed but the plot line left me wanting a bit more activity. That said, this is classic Erlick and less about the plot and more about the thought/thinking which I can find no fault with.

I loved The Measure, so this was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. Beautiful and thought provoking. It explores themes of love and grief and hope, and much like my experience reading Erlick’s first book, I found myself tearing up frequently. I loved the journey we take with the many characters in this story.

And as someone who is also obsessed with the television show Severance right now, this book is thematically a perfect companion read.

Thank you to Nikki Erlick, William Morrow, and NetGalley for my advanced. I cannot wait to tell everyone I know to read it.

"The Poppy Fields" is a novel that takes readers on an emotional journey through grief and healing. The story begins with three strangers on the same path - to the Poppy Fields facility in California, where you chose to sleep while grieving. The story’s conclusion was both satisfying and thought-provoking - the paradox between taking away the pain surrounding grief, and then being absent from those that need your support.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins, for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.75/5 stars. Really enjoyed this ARC. This is an important take on grief. It felt a little less impactful than The Measure and a bit too long.

Huge, huge thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the chance to read this one! This was one of my very anticipated reads for this year and it didn’t disappoint!! This book, much like her last one The Measure, makes you think! This book was so well written and enjoyable. I loved the multiple, intertwined story lines of the characters! Highly recommend!

Oh my gosh!!! I was soooo excited when I saw that this book will be coming out this year and couldn’t wait to read it!! Absolute masterpiece!! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this book!

After devouring THE MEASURE earlier this year, there was no doubt in my mind that I needed to get my hands on THE POPPY FIELDS immediately, so thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for making that possible!

While THE MEASURE still triumphs as my favorite Nikki Erlick book so far, THE POPPY FIELDS was another captivating story that makes the reader ponder how they would choose to handle the situation detailed in this book. If you were struck with grief, would you try to sleep it away? That's where the characters find themselves within this new book, some of whom have decided this experiment could be right for them and others who are just trying to find answers.

I loved the motley crew that develops as a result, which worked very well in THE MEASURE as well. The found friendship, family forgiveness, and self-healing contained within this story will be one that lasts with me for a long time.

There was so much to this book, the characters were deeply written. I loved the journey through the emotional depths. I wasn't ready for it to end. I felt attached to the characters and the story. Very thought provoking. Highly recommend.

This was such a good book. I love the idea of the poppy fields. I also loved that the characters all had different reasons to be heading to them. Learning why each person wanted to be there makes you realize you're not alone. I loved the fact that it was a journey for each one with different results. This was just a good reminder of our loss and grief and how we all heal differently. Overall a great story.

I was so excited to read this after loving this author's debut, the Measure. This did not disappoint, I loved it. I loved the found family aspects, the examination of grief, the cool science aspect. It was all great. It doesn't beat the Measure for me, but a very close second. I will pick up anything this author writes in the future.

Ahhh this was so good. I absolutely LOVED The Measure and The Poppy Fields was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. It did not disappoint. It dealt with grief and life and I really enjoyed the themes of the book.

A very stunning book being a special deluxe edition in limited print. The story is what matters to me though and it's spectacular. I enjoyed reading about this special magical field of poppy flowers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The poppy fields is about grief and how we deal with it. If you erase the grief will you erase the love that goes with it. It was a different take on grief and love. The poppy fields even add a slight sci fi element to me.

I loved The Measure, and I loved this book just as much! It was such a different, beautiful, and thought-provoking story. Highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book knowing the premise, and was still blown away by the phenomenal writing. The depth of emotion you can feel from the characters. And also the authors ability to focus on about 5 main characters and be able to feel things from their view points. So many things to discuss and would be an amazing book club book. I will be choosing it for my local book club when it is released in June.

The Poppy Fields is a character-driven novel about grief, and the stakes we are willing to endure to cope. We follow five primary characters: Ava, Ray, Sasha, Sky, and Ellis, as they all have some connection to grief and/or the highly controversial Poppy Fields, a medical treatment facility where patients opt in to a coma-like sleep for periods of time in order to be relieved of their grief. As we learn about our characters' respective backstories, this story evolves into a "it's not always the destination, but sometimes the journey and people we meet along the way' storyline.

One of the things that Erlick does extremely well is the characterization of each character. I recall enjoying her characterization in The Measure, and that strength shows through again here. While each of our characters are bonded in their journey and exploration of grief, each character is unique and has a strong voice that sets them apart from one another. I felt like I could see myself sitting in the car as they made their long roadtrip, and at times was listening to them describe their stories. I also found that, despite this novel taking place largely in two primary locations: the car on the roadtrip, and the Poppy Fields facility, I found this story to be a digestible and quick read, which is particularly helpful in a novel that explores grief and pain. Further, I liked that Erlick incorporated different forms of grief: death, longing, grief of what could be, and vicarious trauma grief, and more. This incorporation invites readers in, and helps us see parts of ourselves in one or more of the main characters, and helps stick to the novel's core point that grief can look and feel different for all of us, and coping can and should look different for different people, even if we don't always understand it. The plot twists that showed us how each character is in some way connected to one person or another were also fun, and kept me engaged and curious to see how our five seemingly different characters' worlds connect. I also appreciated the small easter egg nod to The Measure!

There are two primary areas that did not work as well for me. First, while I felt that I understood our characters' stories and grief, I often felt like I couldn't connect with them. I think this is largely a personal element, because I can certainly see how other readers may deeply connect with one or multiple of our characters. Second, at times, I didn't always love the quick switching of POV in chapters. Again, this is largely preferential because I can see why Erlick did so, but as a character-driven novel, I often want a little more separation on page between our POVs to fully feel the impact of what that character is saying and feeling.

This novel is deep in feeling, and I think, if it finds readers in the right moments of their own grief, it could provide some levity, relatability, and perspective in their own healing processes. Pick this novel up on June 17, 2025!

Another absolutely beautiful novel by Nikki Erlick! Grief is not the same for any individual . If you love big you grieve big. The question is would you want to to chance forgetting that love from sleeping in the poppy fields! A story of love, loss , forgiveness and friendship! I will cherish this book for a long time! Thank you William morrow for the early read!

The Poopy Fields might be one to pick up in print. A great story within a beautiful book would look great on your shelves.