The way Nikki Erlick weaves storylines together is such a pleasure to read. This is a thought provoking novel about grief and healing. It follows multiple characters as they make their way to the titular Poppy Fields. It is a character-driven story where we slowly uncover the layers and secrets that make up these characters. Similar to Erlick's first novel, The Measure, this book had me thinking about it every time I had to put it down. Not because it is a thrilling page-turner, but because of the way it makes the reader reflect on their own lives and choices. Erlick has made her way onto my auto-read authors list.

The audiobook narration is excellent. There is a large cast because of how many POVs we have in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for providing a digital ARC of this audiobook!

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick 🛌🛌🛌.5

I would like to thank NetGalley, William Morrow, and HarperAudio for providing me with an advance e-galley and an advance audio-galley of this book. As always, these galley copies are provided in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on June 17, 2025.

This is my second Nikki Erlick book, and I’m noticing a pattern. The premise and the first half of her books are excellent. Then they seem to fizzle out. Or they do for me. I really thought I was going to love this book, but it wasn’t meant to be. The audio is terrific, though. Marin Ireland is my absolute favorite narrator.

“Courage was not just running toward a crisis but also recognizing when you'd seen one crisis too many.”
— Nikki Erlick, The Poppy Fields

Grief, something that we will all inevitably face at one point or another in our lifetime. It’s unavoidable. But what if the pain that follows could be avoided? What if you could lesson the 5 stages of grief or even bypass them altogether? What if you could make the choice to simply sleep through your grief? Would you do it? Even if the risk could potentially outweigh the reward. Would you still take the chance in an attempt to simply avoid experiencing the weight of your grief?

The author of The Measure, Nikki Erlick has done it again with yet another thought provoking novel that will leave your mind reeling long after you turn the final page. The Poppy Fields is a contemplative story that follows the different stories of four strangers who are all on a journey to heal from their grief. Sky, Ray, Sasha and Ava make their way across the country to the Poppy Fields, a desert in CA where they will use extended sleep therapy in an attempt to heal their heartache. In addition to the four strangers we also follow the storyline of Ellis, a driven woman on a mission to do something great with her life. Being no stranger to grief herself, she comes up with the idea to create the Poppy Fields.

Nikki Erlick’s writing style is in a league of its own. For me personally it is always equally both frustrating as it is satisfying. Her books are no easy read. For the majority of the story I feel like my head is swimming with information overload. Each chapter alternates between the character POVs that share their different storylines. With everything being introduced all at once on top of the thought provoking content my brain struggles to keep up. It takes me a while to get into Erlick’s books but then once I do I’m completely invested. In the end, I am always blown away by her ability to make all of the different pieces of the story come together seamlessly bringing everything full circle.

This book will leave you feeling all of the emotions and one that you will want to discuss with other readers making it a perfect pick for book clubs.

I listened to this on audio format and it was so well done. I highly recommend giving the audio a chance.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced audio edition of The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick.

I LOVED The Measure, her previous book. There is something so satisfying about exploring these existential hypotheticals. The Poppy Fields has some of the same book club fodder of "what would you do's" that could launch conversations for hours.

What would you do if you could go to sleep after losing a loved one, and then wake up with only a fraction of the pain. You would almost feel numb to the loss, as if this person wasn't near as important to you as they were. Would it be worth it if it meant skipping past the excruciating pain of loss?

When four unlikely strangers end up in a car together, all going to the Poppy Fields for their own unique reasons, we learn more about the purpose and controversy around them. We also learn about Ellis, the brilliant, if not somewhat misguided mastermind responsible for the month long grief comas that the Fields offer.

This is not only a good story, but a great philosophical question about the inevitability of grief, loss, and healing. It's written so well, and I loved the characters. This would be fantastic for a bookclub.

Ever since I finished reading The Measure, I have patiently been awaiting Nikki Erlick's follow-up novel! The Poppy Fields contains the same sharp writing, layered characters and surprising reveals as the Measure, but didn't quite live up the my expectations. The Poppy Fields is a place in California where people who are experiencing grief after a loss can go to “sleep away” their heartache. Ava, Ray and Sasha start off as three strangers who are brought together after being stranded in an airport and make a road trip across the county to seek different things at The Poppy Fields. Sasha has lost her fiancé, Ray his brother, and Ava is going there looking for her sister. All are hiding secrets from each other and as those secrets come to light, will they be able to make it to California together? This is a wonderfully done speculative fiction novel that really explores grief and how different people cope and process. The audio cast was phenomenal but there were just a few small things that kept it from being 5 stars.

This was my first five star read of the year. I highly recommend the audio book. This is about a place called The Poppy Fields, which is an experimental treatment center for those who are experiencing a loss. This book touches greatly about how everyone handles grief differently. It follows a few characters who are all heading to The Poppy Fields for different reasons. This has a great found family trope and it's great to learn how they are all connected.

*The Poppy Fields* is a thought-provoking, deeply emotional novel that examines grief, healing, and the lengths people will go to escape their pain. Set in a surreal desert landscape with an experimental treatment center at its heart, the story follows four strangers and a dog as they embark on a journey toward healing. With rich character development and a hauntingly unique premise, the novel invites readers to explore the complexities of loss and the unexpected ways we search for closure. The narration is good as well!

The Poppy Fields Nikki Erlick is a phenomenal writer. I loved The Measure, so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of her newest work. The thing about Erlick is that her writing is going to make you contemplate your place in the world and the quality of your relationships. This is set against the backdrop of an intriguing "what if" question. For The Poppy Fields, readers are left to grapple with if they would choose to sleep away their grief.

Many thanks to the author, narrators, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was a really unique idea and different from anything I have read in a long time. The plot was one that was very thought provoking. What if you could go to The Poppy Fields and "sleep" for a month or two under supervision to help you get through trauma or grief? When you wake up, the memories are still there, but the emotions surrounding the memory have been weakened. But be aware, there is a 1 in 4 chance of having the "side effect." The story follows the lives of 4 strangers and their cross country journey to The Poppy Fields, each for their own reasons. Through sharing their stories, the group of strangers find family, hope, and healing among each other, despite the secrets they are carrying. I was able to read and also listen to the audio. The full cast really brought the story to life!

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Audio and William Morrow for the ARC and ALC!

Thank you to William Morrow, Nikki Erlick, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of The Poppy Fields. All opinions are my own.
Summary: The Poppy Fields is a treatment center where those that are grieving can go to sleep through their grief. In this story, four strangers embark on an adventure to get to the The Poppy Fields and the bond that they form and experiences that they share along they way start to heal each of them unexpectantly.

Reflection: “Grief is love in its second shape”. May is always a very hard month for me. I lost my mom six years ago during the month of May, her birthday is in May, and of course Mother’s Day… so reading a book focus on grief and overcoming it was very personal and very timely. It certainly made me think about grief and knowing it never ends… would I consider a stay at The Poppy Fields? What about the possible side effects? What is the best way to heal? Lots of self-reflection!

This story is a tale of life not at The Poppy Fields, but the journey that Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky (along with Ava’s little dog PJ) take to get there. Nikki Erlick does a great job of developing the characters and developing their connections to one another. They are each holding secrets and insecurities that come into play during the three-day journey. They share their own struggles with grief and why, ultimately, they are looking for answers of one kind or another at The Poppy Fields. I enjoyed this character rich, emotionally charged book and couldn’t wait to see how it all came together at the end. I also loved the description of poppy flowers at the end and why this was a perfect title for this book!

Publishes on June 17, 2025

Nikki Erlick’s sophomore novel, “The Poppy Fields” does not disappoint! Just like “The Measure”, Erlick masterfully weaves her characters' storylines. The four main characters Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Skye are thrown together during their travels to The Poppy Fields, to escape their grief but instead form an inspiring bond. Along the way, they share stories of their loss and come to realize no two people can experience grief the same way but empathy and understanding can help them navigate the difficult journey together.

Erlick's creative use of media reports sprinkled throughout the story helps build this alternate world while demonstrating both sides of the controversial Poppy Fields. While society pressures the characters to pretend everything is fine it also criticizes their choice to visit the Poppy Fields as an easy escape.

This book will leave you wanting to discuss with friends and is perfect for any book club.

Thank you to Harper Audio via NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this one and WOW. Welcome to The Poppy Fields, where there's hope for even the most battered hearts to heal. In a remote stretch of the California desert, there is an experimental treatment center that allows those of us suffering from the heartache of loss and grief to sleep through their pain...and they can be healed. If that doesn't sound appealing - you haven't suffered a loss that you can never get back. I have to admit this concept was so enticing to me after the loss of my brother. Listening to the stories and the experiences and the why of everyone who goes to sleep at the poppy fields was so unbelievably relatable. It definitely brought up some big emotions for me.

Along this journey we meet, Ava her dog PJ, Ray, Sasha and Sky as they attempt to travel from the Midwest to the Poppy Fields in California, where they hope to find Ellis, it's enigmatic founder, each for their own reasons that unfold as the story is told. The questions and the thoughts that this book provoke are so real and profound and we seem to go along a healing journey with each of our characters. It was great! The beginning, with the set up of everything, was a little slow, which was the reason for the rating. Otherwise, I was interesting to see how far each person was willing to go in order to heal from their own grief and loss.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperAudio Adult, Harper Audio and Nikki Erlick for the Advanced Listener Copy of The Poppy Fields. The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick is set for publication 17 June 2025.

"Because they each have been told, over and over, that the only way out of a hardship is through. But nobody ever told them that they had to stay awake. "

In a remote part of California, there's a facility that can make you forget the pain of grief. Forget the pain of heartache, of loss, of feeling. After you sleep at the Poppy Fields, you wake up able to continue without the grief, but there can be side effects. We follow four strangers on their journey to the Poppy Fields. We learn their stories and how the Poppy Fields affect them.

What if we could cure a broken heart? Mend people back together after tragedy so they can seamlessly transition back to a "normal life?" What role does grief play in our life? How does it shape us? What if we can't cope with it? The Poppy Fields is everything I love in a book. Speculative fiction at its finest - it's not too deep, just layered enough to get me thinking. Our cast of loveable, broken characters were perfectly unperfect. Just living their routine lives, but abruptly stunted by loss.

This book made me cry at losses I haven't even experienced. If I am inconsolable at just the thought, what if it actually happened? If I could, would I choose to sleep? At what cost? Would risk the side effects for relief? I admire when a book makes me think like this. And of course, I applaud the name of the novel against the topic of the book. The poppy - a drought-resistant, self-seeding, ever adaptable flower. Able to thrive in the neglected, unlivable areas. Juxtaposed against the treatment and how grief hits us. I just really appreciated it. Erlick's second novel is just as though-provoking as her first. I highly recommend this book.

People will be impacted differently by this book based on how recently they've dealt with a loss and where they are on their own journey through grief. I could see myself reading this again and feeling differently about it. I've dealt with a lot of loss and I enjoyed considering the questions Erlick poses in this novel.

I listened to the audiobook and the full cast narration was excellent.

I'll be recommending this to just about everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

4.5 Stars. This audiobook has a full cast of narrators led by Marin Ireland and it is a fantastic book to listen to! I liked the variety of characters and their different perspectives. The premise of the The Poppy Fields fascinated me and I liked how it all came together with the characters Ray, Sasha and Ava as they make their way to the Poppy Fields. Each one has a unique back story that includes grief and loss but also healing and love in the book. Nikki Erlick has become a must read author for me! Thank you Harper Audio for the opportunity to listen to this though provoking and enjoyable book that will be out in June 2025

A great read from Nikki Erlick -- if you loved THE MEASURE, you'll enjoy this one too! It was slightly sinister and was definitely more about the journey than the destination.

Another thought-provoking premise from Nikki Erlick! The Poppy Fields is a place where grieving people can go to fast forward through their grief by sleeping for 1-2 months. The story unfolds through alternating chapters about the fields- interactions between staff, expansion plans, current and former patients and their applications and interviews, public reaction to the fields- and a trio of travelers (plus one cute dog) who band together after weather grounds their flight to drive cross-country to reach the Fields. The audio narration was well-done with multiple narrators and provided an enjoyable listening experience. The plot was unique and the slow unfolding of the characters and their connections kept me listening! Highly recommend!

The Poppy Fields
Nikki Erlick
Audiobook published by HarperAudio
Publication June 17,2025

The Poppy Fields takes you through the grief of multiple characters that were brought together by a travel mishap. It is story about processing grief and a facility called The Poppy Fields, which gives individuals the option to sleep through some of the toughest times of their life. To not feel the gut-wrenching devastation of having to go through their day to day lives with an immense feeling of loss and emotions. This option is not without its risks, so choose wisely.

I found this ALC to be well narrated and overall enjoyed the concept of the story.
Thank you for the opportunity to review this ALC.

This book dives into the grief of several strangers and it really makes you think. If you had unbearable grief would you choose to sleep for over four weeks to finally make it go away? Even if there was a small chance of a side effect? I think this book was so well written and had me wondering what exactly I would choose if I were in their same positions. I loved all of the characters and their stories. The audiobook narrators were amazing and I highly recommend listening to the audio version as well!

This same author wrote The Measure which I also loved so I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Harper Audio for my ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review.

What an interesting concept, the ability to sleep away grief. Initially I thought, who wouldn’t want to participate in this? You’re able to go to sleep and your grief gets processed and when you wake up you can move forward with your life. But what if you just lost the ability to remember any of the emotions associated with that person, not just grief? Would you still risk it?
This was really good. A somewhat mundane story that dives deeper into relationships. What it means to love and lose. The guilt that may be felt by surviving. Very thought provoking & beautiful. I also enjoy the style of writing and the way it deals with heavier topics. I noticed a hallmark of Erlick’s writing is to have sad and happy emotion provoking situations but there is one pivotal point or event that really tugs on your heart and I really like this way of writing.
Can’t wait to get a physical copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this arc in exchange for my review.