The Poppy Fields is a novel about an experimental opportunity to help people overcome grief at no cost but you must apply and be approved to participate. The story focuses on three people through their journey to the Poppy Fields , two invited, one who was not. I almost gave up on this book as I got into the first third but kept on reading. The surprise that came at the last fourth of the book made the premise of the book even more far fetched which warranted a high 2 to low 3 rating for me.

I've rounded up to 4 stars because I know several people who will enjoy this book for the reasons that I did not! This was a character development driven book, meaning not much happens. There were a few twists thrown in, but not enough to surprise me. Overall it's a good book that makes you think about grief and how you handle it. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is an exploration of grief. It explores how grief changes us, affects us all differently, and changes our relationships with the people we care about most. What if there was a place we could go where we could sleep away our grief? Would it be worth it? Would we do it even if we knew there was a potentially devastating side effect? This book makes you think, it was absolutely engrossing from start to finish. I adored it. I also loved all of the little nods to The Wizard of Oz, that felt very nostalgic to me. I highly recommend this book! I will definitely be reading it again in the future and this story will stay with me for a very long time. Thank you NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

Rates 4.25. What an interesting novel. I enjoyed the characters as they grapple with the concept of grief and the poppy fields. I truly wished my bookclub had read this one because the discussions would’ve been interesting. What would you do when faced with tremendous grief? While not The Measure, this was a good second piece of work. I’d definitely recommend!

In this alternative reality, grief can be lessened by a sleep treatment where patients sleep in a clinic called The Poppy Fields for 1-2 months. When they wake up, their intense crippling pain is gone and they are able to resume their lives while still maintaining their fond memories. The story follows multiple POVs as the characters converge on the Fields for various reasons.

This story really drew me in. I could not stop reading it. I had to know what happened to the characters! They were all excellent POVs that lent different perspectives to the story. Several of the characters shared a car and took a road trip throughout most of the book. That was my favorite part!

The plot was actually pretty low stakes for the weighty subjects it dealt with. I kept feeling like there would be more conflict but it was really more about personal growth in each of the characters.

It contained many good thoughts about grief and how it affects different people. “Grief [is] love in its second shape.”

After devouring The Measure by Nikki Erlick a couple years ago, I needed more of her work asap. While I don't think The Poppy Fields surpassed the love I have for The Measure, it definitely was worth waiting for.

I love how her books really make you question what you would do if you were in the position that her characters are in. So not only are her books wildly entertaining, they also make me think about things I wouldn't normally think about.

I thought she did a great job of weaving together the characters and giving little nuggets of back story to make it all fit together in the end. Really well done and thought provoking.

4.5/5

This book was totally unexpected. I was pleasantly surprised by the character development and how much I enjoyed all of their stories. There were some portions of the book that felt a bit rushed and out of place, but otherwise it read well. The whole concept of sleeping is very thought provoking. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to my friends.

This was such a unique and emotional read; four strangers (plus a little dog) head to a mysterious desert center that lets people sleep through their grief. It’s weird, a little magical, and moving as each character’s past slowly unravels. That said, it was a 3.5-star read for me because the pacing dragged in places, but I still really appreciated the originality and heart behind the story.

GENRE: fiction/magical realism
VERDICT: I liked it-ish
MOOD: 🤔😔😶😌

THE POPPY FIELDS has such a unique and creative premise that pulls the reader in with its speculative "what-if" approach, similar to THE MEASURE. I admired the concept and the way technology was used to explore loss, grief and emotional closure. The writing was solid and the characters were handled with care and depth.

That said, I liked the book... but I didn’t love it. It had all the ingredients for a top tier book but something with the execution felt off?? The pacing was a bit slow, even though there were subtle twists & reveals here and there.. but about 75% of the book was the group’s journey to the Fields — and I really wasn't into this spontaneous road trip with strangers storyline. Also, I found the inclusion of an extra curricular character a bit puzzling and disjointed. What was the point of her storyline?

Still, I think The Poppy Fields will resonate with readers who appreciate stories that ask big questions about grief, memory and what we’d do for one more moment with someone we’ve lost.

4.5 stars rounded up - really enjoyed this book! First, loved how the rag tag group of characters all fit together and developed/grew throughout. Second, I loved all the connections and call backs of details throughout the book, and enjoyed the short chapters (I find these much easier to pay attention to). This book was very thoughtfully layered and pieced together, which I found very satisfying.
Lastly, the ending was painfully sweet. Was definitely in my feels over how each of the characters processed their grief. It showed how much of an individual journey it is.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this!

Nikki Erlick’s sophomore novel, “The Poppy Fields,” is a work of speculative fiction set in the near future that explores the question: “How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?”

Thirty-five-year-old Marie “Ellis” Jones is determined to change the world. With the help of her scientific research, she develops a psychotherapy-based sleep treatment center called The Poppy Fields, located in a remote California desert town. There, patients suffering from profound grief can apply to undergo a medically induced sleep coma for four to eight weeks. Upon waking, their grief is significantly lessened and more manageable. However, like all treatments, this one has side effects. For 25% of patients, the therapy results in emotional moderation: a dulling of all emotional responses, including the loss of any meaningful connection to the deceased.

The novel follows four strangers brought together by a delayed flight caused by a tornado. Stranded at an airport, they rent a car and begin a road trip to California. Among them is Ray, a firefighter whose brother Johnny died from an aneurysm after returning from The Poppy Fields; Ray seeks answers about the treatment’s role in his brother’s death. Twenty-nine-year-old Sasha, an occupational therapist, is grappling with guilt over pre-wedding doubts after the sudden loss of her fiancé, Dean. Ava, a thirty-one-year-old children’s book illustrator, travels with her dog PJ to reconnect with her sister Emmy, who is currently at The Poppy Fields. Their estrangement began after the death of their grandmother, the woman who raised them. Finally, there is Sky, a teenage hitchhiker and recent high school graduate, whose curiosity about life prompts the others to open up about their reasons for seeking healing.

Erlick’s novel poignantly examines the human urge to escape grief, raising compelling ethical questions about the nature of pain, memory, and emotional resilience. Through characters like a mother who, after her treatment, becomes emotionally detached from her family, Erlick forces readers to consider whether the promise of relief is worth the cost of emotional disconnection.
However, as with her debut novel “The Measure,” Erlick’s ambition may exceed her execution. While she attempts to weave themes of grief, family estrangement, moral philosophy, and social ethics, several narrative threads remain underdeveloped. Ellis’s creation of the treatment, for example, lacks depth. Readers are expected to accept the science behind the therapy without sufficient worldbuilding or explanation, which makes the dystopian premise feel incomplete.

The plot itself feels padded rather than purposeful. Scenes involving weather disruptions, driving lessons, a flat tire, and other diversions prolong the group’s journey without offering thematic development. These elements feel more like narrative devices to meet a word count than organic storytelling. Additionally, the novel’s ending leans too heavily into sentimentality: conflicts are neatly resolved, emotional wounds are healed, and a potential cure for the treatment’s side effect is introduced. This tidy conclusion undercuts the story’s emotional stakes and the gravity of its central dilemma.

The Poppy Fields will likely spark engaging book club discussions, particularly around its ethical questions and depiction of grief. Yet while its themes are powerful, its characters are unlikely to leave a lasting impression.

Three strangers stranded at an airport in Kansas realize they all are headed to the Poppy Fields, a controversial new treatment facility where the grieving can sleep away their heartache. The trio embark on a road trip where they share their stories and explain why they each are choosing to head to the fields.

Having read and LOVED Erlick's debut The Measure, I was beyond excited to learn the author had written another book. The premise fascinated me and I was pulled in to the story and these characters immediately. I'm a huge fan of books like this where characters are intertwined and storylines overlap. This was more light than heavy and more hopeful than hopeless. While I enjoyed The Measure a bit more, I'm still a huge fan of this author and the stories she creates.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review in exchange for my honest review.

The Poppy Fields presents an interesting take on navigating grief. The idea of sleeping for a month or two to lesson the intensity of one's pain actually does make some sense. Many people DO want to sleep when they are going through loss or depression, is this so far-fetched? This book gives us the story of several characters' grief and how they handle it. We see brotherly loss, spousal loss, and work-based loss. The only downside to the treatment? An odd detachment from the one lost, as if they never had any meaning to them at all. This poses a different question - is it worth the sleep if you lose the love? Even though the story had some draggy portions, it was a solid read. This is the only book I've read from this author, and I did enjoy it.

After reading and only sort of liking Nikki Erlich's Tge Measure, and now reading and disliking The Poppy Fields, I think this author just isn't for me.

I loved so much about this book! The concept was another well executed one by Nikki Erlick just like The Measure. This one would be an incredible book club pick since the discussion would be so fun! (just like her last one)

Would you go to the facility? Would you not? Character growth and did they each make the right decision?

Highly recommend for your next book club book!

What if you could sleep through your grief? Ellis has created such a place in an isolated area in California called the Poppy Field. People who have experienced grief can apply for a spot in the Poppy Fields where you sleep for 1-2 months and wake up having passed through the most intense feelings Of sadness. Unfortunately, there is a side effect for a minority of sleepers. Four people meet en route to the Poppy Fields (all for different purposes) and much of the story revolves around this mismatched group of people’s roadtrip on their way to the fields.

I really enjoyed the last book I read by the author, The Measure, and while I didn’t like this one quite as much, I appreciated the concept and just like the Measure, it was clever and made you think. This is the year of the literary road trip, I feel like I’ve taken a few (thankfully just via books since I hate sitting in cars) and each has its own unique flavor. In the end, I really liked the basis for the storyline, I just didn’t love the story as much (it was a little slow for me) - or maybe one too many roadtrip novels this year.

3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC to review

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I had a hard time getting into the book, it might just not have been the right time in my life to read this book. I will try again at a later date, I love Erlick’s writing and greatly enjoyed The Measure. I do wish that there was more detail given about the Poppy Field. Maybe more description was given later in the book that I didn’t get to, but I think it might of helped set up the world earlier on and helped keep my attention.

the story of this book is one so original and captivating, it's hard not to give it a high review. enough to where i'm forgiving it for the parts where our wires were crossed and the pacing muddy or times the character relationship didn't really make sense. in all, i'm here for it.

Thank you net Galli and the publisher for early access to this book. First of all, I loved her previous book so I was so excited to read this one! The cover and printed edges are everything. This book really made me think and I love that. I definitely recommend this book.

The Poppy Fields 🌺🌷🌻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Shoutout to NetGalley for that early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. I am forever thankful and happy I got to experience this book.

I feel like this book was made for me in this time of my life. I’ve dealt with so much grief these past 3 years that I related so much to this book and story line. I loved Nikki’s book The Measure, which I read last year around the same time, that I was so excited for her next book.

The first question asked is: How far are humans willing to go for love and heartbreak? And I can tell you right now, the feeling of giving love and being loved is greater than any other feeling. But with great love comes great heartbreak where there will always remain a hole in one’s heart. As much as I wish I could endure the love of my father and grandmother in another form, it’s just not possible and I truly believe could never live up to the love that was engraved into me at birth for the two of them. But what would you do to heal that heartbreak?

“There is only one reason anyone would sleep at the poppy fields. Love. Love makes people do wild things, things they can’t understand, things they might have sworn they would never, ever do. So, were they ever to lose that love, I imagine they might do just about anything. But here’s the thing: they haven’t lost that love. They’ve lost the physical, the visible, the tangible layer of love, but not the love itself. The love itself endures. The love itself is baked into our memories….but the love itself is fragile and it put at risk by the sleep”

Ugh this story was gut wrenching, raw and full of emotion. For anyone going through grief, because it will happen, read this book! The characters that Nikki interweaves is so critical to the paths of their storylines and the realization of whether or not they go through with the experiment of sleep.

I would give anything to be able to read this again as if it was the first time, but I know this book will live with me for years to come.