Every character in this story is richly developed, layered, and compelling—so much so that they feel like real people living beyond the page. It took me a little while to connect with them, but once I did, I was completely invested. By the time I hit the 60% mark, I was tearing up as the emotional weight of the story deepened. The portrayal of grief is both authentic and deeply moving, offering comfort to anyone who has faced their own loss.

What truly sets Erlick’s writing apart, though, is her masterful use of twists. She unveils them gradually, reshaping the story and shifting the reader’s understanding again and again. It’s a remarkable talent that keeps you turning pages, constantly eager to uncover what’s next.

Another beautifully contemplative story! I really admire Nikki’s unique, outside-the-box approach to storytelling—it always brings something fresh and thought-provoking. My only complaint? It was too short!

I don't normally gravitate towards speculative fiction, but the premise of The Poppy Fields—four strangers road trip to a controversial grief treatment center—drew me in. One of the better books I've read where really nothing happens. The narrative focuses largely on the characters as they travel together; we learn their backstories and what is bringing them to the Poppy Fields. While the storyline at times felt a bit slow, I enjoyed learning how the characters' stories tied together throughout the book. I recommend The Poppy Fields to those interested in speculative fiction and character-driven stories. Nikki Erlick presents a compelling premise that leaves us pondering life's challenges and the ways we cope with loss. A final thought - the narrators did a fantastic job! I hope to hear more from them!

i really enjoyed this one, mostly. it really held my attention, i wanted to know what would happen, i felt all the feelings, i thought all the deep thoughts, i laughed and cried a little too...... and then that ending was kind of lacklustre. i don't know what i was expecting, but i was honestly a little disappointed.

4 strangers end up together on a road trip to the Poppy Fields where people sleep to get over their grief. These strangers all have different reasons for traveling to this place and they each discover things about themselves and their loved ones along the way.

Things I liked:
- likable characters with backstories that were enjoyable
- a road trip vibe
- a lovable dog
- interesting realizations about life events and relationships

Things that didn't work for me:
- nothing

Nikki Erlich's The Poppy Fields introduces an intriguing premise: a specialized facility designed to help people process grief through a unique sleeping experience. The story follows Ava, Sasha, and Ray on their individual journeys to these Californian fields, each driven by their own reasons. While the core concepts within the book were undeniably thought-provoking, I found the narrative pacing to be quite slow. Nothing truly compelled me to return to the story, and its consistent lack of momentum, even on audio, made it a bit of a wade

I ADORED The Measure by Erlick, so I was overjoyed to receive both an audio and physical ARC of her newest, The Poppy Fields. I found this premise, like The Measure, SO unique. Erlick's writing is utterly captivating and different than anything else I have ever read. While I loved this storyline and idea, the plot was a BIT underwhelming, which was the reason for my 4 star rating. There wasn't anything I did not like, in particular, I think I just expected it to pack a little more punch. I will, however, recommend to my audience! Full review coming soon on IG.

Trite. A surface-level exploration of dealing with interesting issues like grief, recovery, family, and memory. This book has nothing new or interesting to day beyond its scifi premise.

I listened to the audiobook thanks to Libro.fm, NetGalley, and the publisher. I normally don't like an audiobook with a cast of characters, but it worked really well in this book. It wasn't distracting or difficult to figure out who was speaking, since most everything was performed by the main narrator.

Nikki Erlick has a compelling writing style that keeps the reader engaged even in small moments. She's got a terrific grasp on language and the writing, steeped in research and rich in character developing moments, never feel unwieldy, even with a rather high-concept story. That being said, I did not manage to connect with the characters in this particular novel, who felt relatively detached to me, even as they warmed up to each other on their journey.

Unfortunately, I did not think this novel was nearly as good as The Measure. I loved the growing relationship between the canary riders and how they were each dealing with their own struggles with the poppy fields. However, I felt like the road trip portion of the book wasn't nearly as interesting as what happened once they made it to the poppy fields. I was hoping for more about that part.

I enjoyed it for the most part, but was not the biggest fan overall of the story or characters. I think there was a lot going on with the characters, yet not enough; everything was surface-leveled. I wasn’t curious beyond that.

The Measure was probably one of my favorite books of last year that I read, so of course I had to get my hands on Nikki Erlick's newest novel as soon as I heard about it.

If you could sleep for a month to erase your grief, would you?

Erlick always comes up with amazing premises that open your mind to different ideas about life and how, if you tweak one thing, society would change or react and the domino effect it would cause. The way Erlick is able to weave so many elements within her writing is amazing. I loved the road trip aspect of this story and how you find out how each character is connected through their experience.

There is a lot of thought provoking content surrounding the topic of grief and how it's never the same for each person. This book would be a great selection for a book club discussion. I am wholeheartedly looking forward to her next book!

Thank you to HarperAudio for this advanced audio copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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!

The writing was engaging and wonderful however this was not what I expected the book to be, based on the book description.
This wasn't a mystery or thriller it was instead a family drama and found family and dealing with grief.
At times it seemed to lull but had sweet moments too.

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. The narration was done well and did make me feel more submersed in the story.

4.5/5

The Measure is one of my all-time favorite books. The Poppy Fields fell a bit short of expectations. I think I expected the same amount of self-reflection to evolve as The Measurement elicited. With The Poppy Fields, I didn't find this happened. In this novel, the Fields are a facility where one who is experiencing profound grief can go to recover. The treatment is free-subsidized by donors, and has helped thousands of approved applicants. The problem is, in 1/4 or so of all cases, the patient is left apathetic, not just healed, and this loss of even caring is problematic. I really expected this premise to make me consider whether or not I would attempt to undergo this therapy. Instead, I found the book to be a bit hollow and just not as well done as her first novel. A solid book, though, nonetheless.

This speculative gem has one of the most quietly devastating premises of the summer if not the year: What if you could sleep through your grief—literally? In a near-future world where people enter “poppy fields” to escape emotional pain, The Poppy Fields explores the tension between numbing and healing, remembering and moving on. Dreamy, dystopian, and deeply human. Perfect for fans of Goodbye for Now by Laurie Frankel or Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. Unforgettable in all the best ways!!!!!!!

The Poppy Fields presents a thought-provoking and original concept: a treatment center where people suffering from the heartache of loss can choose to sleep through their grief. While the procedure offers relief, it also comes with a controversial side effect.

Nikki Erlick does a strong job of exploring this premise through a cast of dynamic, well-developed characters from diverse backgrounds. Each of their stories adds depth to the narrative and invites readers to reflect on what they might do if faced with a similar choice. As the plot unfolds, new layers are revealed about both the individuals and the facility itself, which kept me engaged from start to finish. There were even a few twists I didn't see coming!

The narration was really well done and I think elevated my experience of this story. All of the narrators suited their role and did a great job.

Overall, The Poppy Fields is a unique and emotionally resonant novel that blends speculative fiction with intimate, human storytelling. It left me thinking long after I finished.

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

2.5/5 stars

This had so much potential. The premise is really intriguing, and I was excited to dive in, but unfortunately it ended up feeling slow and a bit underwhelming. The first half reads more like a character study, but I never felt fully connected to anyone.

It turns into more of a reflective road trip with a lot of flashbacks, but not much depth. I kept waiting for something bigger to happen. That said, it is contemplative and does explore heavy themes like grief, loss, and the meaning of life. What kept me listening was the curiosity to see how things would turn out for the characters.

The narrator did a good job. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the audiobook ARC.

Not bad, just not my favorite. I’d still give this author another try.

This speculative fiction tale was different than I expected, but in a good way! I thought the premise of this book was super interesting but I wish there had been a bit more focus on the ethical issues and created more tension in the plot.

After falling in love with Nikki Erlick’s debut The Measure, I couldn’t wait to dive into The Poppy Fields—and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advance audiobook copy.
Nikki has a remarkable gift for crafting thought-provoking, emotionally resonant stories rooted in unique concepts. In The Poppy Fields, she explores the complex terrain of grief through a speculative lens: what if we could sleep through the hardest parts of mourning? What if we had the option to take several weeks to rest, and wake up without the crushing weight of grief?
It’s a bold and delicate topic—grief is intensely personal, both in what we feel and how we process it. I appreciated the use of multiple perspectives throughout the novel, as well as the incorporation of fictional interviews from those who turned to the poppy fields for relief. One particularly haunting twist is the potential side effect some experience: waking up emotionally detached from the person they lost.
The premise felt part science fiction, part near-future possibility—and entirely captivating. Erlick doesn’t just offer an intriguing “what if,” she dives deep into the emotional and ethical layers behind it.
This was a deeply moving, imaginative, and unforgettable read. I can’t wait to see what Nikki Erlick writes next—but in the meantime, I highly recommend The Poppy Fields to everyone.