This was a good read. I really enjoyed the story. It really got me to think of if I would ever want to sleep at the Poppy Fields. I know how painful it is when you lose someone. I think that sometimes it helps to live with the grief. I liked these characters and I loved how they mentioned Nikki Erlick's first book, The Measure. I would recommend for anyone looking for a good story.

I really appreciated the way this story explored grief, honest, layered, and deeply human. The audiobook narrator brought this story to life beautifully. The pacing felt uneven at times, which made it hard to stay fully engaged, but the emotional depth carried it through. 3.25

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperAudio for the advanced audiobook version of this book. I really enjoyed "The Measure" and the synopsis of this book had me intrigued. I could not have loved this book anymore! Great premise, characters and overall story. There was so much to unpack and digest from the characters and it kept me wanting more every time I was able to hit play. Well done!

Nikki Erlick has solidified herself as an instant-read. She does a phenomenal job of showing how grief can take different shapes, and it really struck a chord with me. Erlick's prose is so beautiful, and many of the lines will stick with me. I'm so glad that The Poppy Fields lived up to my expectations after reading The Measure.

I love the way Erlick weaves the story of these strangers together. Like The Measure, I had to stop what I was doing several times when a connection or reveal was made because I was knocked out by it (even when I saw the connection coming).

Would I sleep in the fields? Probably not, but the story made me ask myself the question several times and I completely understand why someone would choose to sleep there.

Regarding the narration, I was sad when I saw that Julia Whelan wasn't narrating this one after she narrated The Measure, but this narrator did just as good of a job. I also love the additional narrators in the news reports. It's a very well-produced audiobook.

Another phenomenal read from Nickki Erlick!

So, as I’m reading this one, I’m thinking….this is the author of ‘The Measure’, right? and yes, it absolutely is!! And she even mentions it IN THE BOOK! Hysterical, and kudos to you!!! [And, may I add that I read a lot, and I clearly remember that book!!!)

So, we open up at an airport. And multiple people are sharing their lives… as well as their part of the story. And while they are all there, preparing to board, the news of a hurricane passing through the area comes about… and all flights have been AT BEST, delayed.

So as the characters are beginning to explore other options to get where they are going, well, a Godwink appears! (If you haven’t read any of THESE books, please look them up! Also phenomenal and beautiful!) As the car rentals run out of cars, one very outspoken woman speaks up and asks if anyone who was ABLE to get a rental might be heading towards California?? And that she and her friend will split the driving, and gas with them… and so, a whole new avenue opens up with this crew now!

And it goes on…and on. And I’m going to 🛑🛑 STOP right here! 🛑🛑

Just know that the basis of the whole story revolves around a bright woman who initiated a ‘sleep mode’ kind of thingy that helps those who are grieving to HEAL! And isn’t that just amazing??? and wouldn’t we all like to actually have something like this for real? …. Or, would we??
“
#ThePoppyFields by #NikkiErlick and narrated Beautifully by a FULL CAST including: #MarinIreland; #DanBittner; #StaceyGlemboski; #GrahamHalstead; #MiaBarron; #CallieDalton; #JaninaEdwards; #ShawnKJain; #ChristianBarillas and #JasonCulp.

*** THIS ONE HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! *** LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON JUNE 17, 2025!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperAdultAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Title: The Poppy Fields
Author: Nikki Erlick
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Marin Island, Dan Bittner, Stacey Glemboski, Mia Brown, Callie Dalton, Janina Edwards, Shawn K. Jain, Christian Barillas, and Jason Colp
Publisher: Harper Audio Adult/ Harper Audio/ William Marrow
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages 320


What if there were a cure for the broken-hearted?

Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.

An experimental and controversial treatment center located in a remote area in the California Mojavi desert helps allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain.
The sleep is for a prolong period of time. After patients awake from their sleep they are healed.

Story is very character based as the patients share grief the discovery healing as well as friendship.

I read Nikki Erlick’s "The Measure" back in June 2022.
I really am not a big Sci-Fi person nor do I always follow “Read with Jenna’ but I do love audiobook performer Julia Whelan so was willing to give it a try.
“The Measure” was great” I could not put it down”.
SO here I am three years later.

However, this story is entirely difference.
I loved that there were multiple performers. Only the narrator dominated the story with the characters have a very minor part.
I believe this story will find the right readers unfortunately it wasn’t a story I loved.

Want to thank NetGalley and William Marrow / Harper Audio Adult/Harper Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date Scheduled for June 17, 2025.

A fascinating concept: survivors of traumatic loss are put to sleep, in a coma-like state, for months to heal from their grief. Of course, this is controversial, and comes with a strong possibility of an unwanted side effect. We follow the stories of an unlikely group thrown together to travel to California to visit The Poppy Fields facility, each for their own reasons, as well as Ellis, the founder of The Poppy Fields.

Like Nikki Erlick's previous book, The Measure, The Poppy Fields poses some intriguing moral and philosophical questions for the reader to ponder. I really enjoyed the different characters and each of their unique stories, as well as the unlikely bonds made by these disparate people. They also encountered some interesting people on their journey (the elderly honeymooners! ❤️).

The narration of this audiobook is top notch. Marin Ireland is one of my favorite narrators, and she didn't disappoint in this story. She, as well as the other narrators, did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.

A heartfelt thank you to Harper Audio for a gifted copy of this audiobook through #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Expected U.S. publication date is June 17, 2025.

They all wore crimson red pajamas looking just like a field of poppies.

The audio is perfect! The Poppy Fields will be sparking so many BookClub discussions. It's very introspective, well paced, and I binged it in two days. I enjoyed this one far more than her previous book, The Measure. Just as in The Measure, Nikki Erlick gives us
a full cast of characters in a speculative fiction novel. What if there actually is a place like this? Would you go for help too?

You’ll be following a group of friends’ journey to find The Poppy Fields. A controversial, experimental facility where people go to sleep, are monitored 24/7 for generally a month, and when awakened they are healed from grief. However, results are not guaranteed. The facility has gained in its popularity with a constant waitlist so much so that, more centers are needed. They come to realize the value of healing. Something that will give you emotional moderation, to feel happy and whole again. Giving the reader introspect into how each person deals with different types of grief. Not just death. Grieving a relationship? Needing some emotional recovery. Learning to adjust to life without what was lost. Helping to process and accept that loss.

Phenomenal narration. The way the cast portrays the characters’ emotions are well done. I could tell a definitive separation of characters. Clear enunciation was onboard and vocal pacing of the story is on point. I couldn’t pick up on any irritating speaking styles. I felt it was a very clean, well done performance.

Special thanks to William Morrow Harper Audio via NetGalley for providing this audiobook to read and review.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AHZSHJQKD2LR43B3K7G53BQTJKHQ/ref=cm_cr_srp_ma_gw_tr

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/168550668?shelf=read&sort=date_updated&order=d

https://www.instagram.com/tayafagan?igsh=YnNrZG4zNG9uaDlo&utm_source=qr

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick is a wonderful sophomore effort, with a similar feel to her first book, The Measure, and a more positive, uplifting message. I was nervous when starting this novel, as I absolutely loved The Measure, and I often find an author's next book a little disappointing. I need not have worried, as The Poppy Fields will make you think about what level of grief is too much and what risks are worth taking to heal sorrow, simultaneously with telling a found-family road trip story that will warm your heart and make you believe in the healing power of love.

The characters in this novel are so well developed and relatable, I loved seeing the friendship develop between Ava, Ray, Sasha and Sky as they learned more about each other and themselves. I found it interesting the different relationship each had with the Poppy Fields organization, and the opposing points of view that each had and how those perspectives changed as they got to know each other as they traveled. There are humorous moments as well as heartbreaking ones, be prepared to laugh and cry.

The writing style is similar to other novels that I have loved, as the reader learns more about each character in small bits and things all fall together as the book wraps up with a number of Ah-ha moments. Readers who enjoyed Erlick's previous novel or Anxious People by Fredrik Backman will enjoy this style of novel.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by a cast primarily led by Marin Ireland who reads the vast majority of the novel. Interviews with various individuals who have slept at the fields are interspersed with the story of the travelers and Ellis, revealing the philosophy of the organization as well as the backstories of the main characters. These are read by other voice actors in the audio version serving as an effective transition. I highly recommend the audio version, Ireland's voice is so soothing and versatile, she is absolutely perfect for this story.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperAudio, and William Morrow for the digital and audio ARCs of The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick. The opinions in this review are my own.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.</i>

5 stars

Wow - Nikki Erlick knocks it out of the park again. She poses questions in both of her books that are so intriguing and stick with you for the long haul. I love that her writing pushes the borders of reality without being too far fetched. She’s a must read for me.

The Poppy Fields is the kind of novel that lingers in the space between grief and healing.

The premise alone felt like a deep, aching question whispered to your soul: what if you could sleep away your heartbreak? What if you could hit pause on your pain and wake up when you were ready to feel again?

The writing is lyrical and atmospheric, gently guiding you through a world where grief is not erased but suspended. It shows us that healing isn’t linear, it’s a process, and sometimes we need stillness before we can move forward.

Tropes/Themes:
*Grief and healing
*Family Reconciliation
*Found meaning
*Reflective and Emotional journeys

Thank you to William Morrow, Harper Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Poppy Fields is an alternative place out west that has the potential to heal you from the inside. A group of strangers from the Midwest get together and head that way. Will they make it there? Will they be healed from what plagues them if they do? The full cast of narrators makes this audiobook better than expected. It feels as though you are really there. This book shows the human experience of grief, disappointment, etc. A thought provoking read for sure. If you like The Measure, do not miss this one.

I really enjoyed this! I loved the found family aspect and the contemplations and discussions on grief, life, love, and family. It definitely had a less urgent feel to the writing, but still felt very similar style-wise to The Measure, which I also loved!!

In The Poppy Fields, Nikki Erlick tells a powerful story about how people face grief, loss, and the difficult choices that come with them. The novel follows several characters whose lives are forever changed by a sudden tragedy, and through their journeys, we see the many ways people cope—with denial, anger, love, and even hope.

Erlick gives us a wide range of perspectives, each one showing a different side of human emotion and resilience. It’s heartbreaking at times, but also deeply moving and honest.

Poppyfields is a thoughtful, emotional read that explores what it means to survive, to heal, and to move forward.

The Poppy Fields is a unique speculative fiction focusing on grief and how we handle it. If you lost someone you loved and you could sleep away the pain in 4-8 weeks, would you do it? If you knew you there was a potentially life altering side effect, would you still do it? This book follows Ray, Ava, Sasha, and Sky on their personal journeys of grief and self discovery. While we watch their own journeys unfold, Nikki Erlick offers up lots of opportunity for the reader to reflect on themselves, their own experiences with grief, and what they are looking for in life. I think this would be a great book club pick because it offers up lots of opportunity for discussion.

However, I struggled to get into this story. The first half of the book I spent mostly feeling bored. It wasn't until the second half of the story that I felt my connection to the characters really developed. By the end, I felt very touched and particularly satisfied with the conclusions of Ray and Sasha's stories. I also really enjoyed the mixed media component talking about the Poppy Fields because it opened up lots of perspectives and insights into the controversial treatment. I ended up really liking this book, I just wish it didn't take so long for me to feel that way.

I did really enjoy the audiobook and recommend that as a way to get more immersed into the story. The narrators did an amazing job!

5/5 audiobook. 3/5 story. 4/5 overall.

Thank you to HarperAudio Adult and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

The Poppy Fields review will be posted on my TikTok @alireadsanywhere after it's release date!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the novel and the audiobook.
___
I enjoyed this a lot. There were some Wizard of Oz moments. This novel is a deep exploration of grief and the means to which some would go to cope or forget. The audiobook was stellar.

Publishing June 17

I see Goodreads has this book in recommended Sci Fi and want to assure y'all that the science is nearly inconsequential to the story, and minimally explained.

I feel that Erlick did an exceptional job of triggering remembered experiences of grief in the reader while not really belaboring the specific causes of it for her characters (meaning that it doesn't go into any graphic detail about death). Still, be aware that this book is all about feelings of loss, emptiness, and depression. I also want to emphasize that this book didn't offer judgment on those suffering from grief who did sleep, who chose not to sleep, who chose medication instead, etc etc.

And I guess that's about all that I think you need to know going in. I believe this book will be experienced differently based on the reader's own life, and I found it to be superb perhaps because it pressed into painful places.

The narration was perfection.

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Nikki Erlick brings us another thought-provoking twist on life in her sophomore novel, The Poppy Fields. A deep look at grief and what one will do to heal, the novel follows four strangers and a dog, all on their way to The Poppy Fields, a controversial facility claiming to heal grief. Each individual has a unique background and reason for seeking out the fields. Erlick weaves a story of slow reveals as we get to know the characters and their motivations. I really enjoyed the journey.

The Poppy Fields would make a good book club pick to spark meaningful discussion.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by a full cast: Marin Ireland; Dan Bittner; Stacey Glemboski; Graham Halstead; Mia Barron; Callie Dalton; Janina Edwards; Shawn K. Jain; Christian Barillas; Jason Culp.

Special thanks to HarperAudio for the audio ARC via NetGalley.

The Poppy Fields refers to a controversial treatment where participants sleep for a number of months to heal from their grief. Four strangers converge when their flights to the Fields are canceled due to a tornado and they become road trip buddies to make it halfway across the country to the place where 'the sleep' happens. We meet Ava, Sasha, Ray, and PJ the dog whose journeys together in a yellow car called the canary, and they learn a lot about each other and themselves as the miles roll by.

Author Erlick uses beautiful prose and imagery to evoke a touching story about loss, love and life. Through memories we learn of past events and tragedies that affect, not just the travelers, but Ellis the creator of the poppy fields herself. Grief is a language that binds all together though the journeys look quite different.

I listened to this as an audiobook and if you have the opportunity to do the same, you should absolutely take it. It features a cast stacked with talent that are able to create unique characters and help evoke even more feelings that the eloquent words do on they own (and trust me they bring on all of the feels). A superb story and storytelling experience. Five stars.

I received this advance audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

3.5ish stars. How do you cope when you lose a loved one or suffer a loss in equal measure? In Erlick’s new book, you sleep. In the middle of the desert, on an application basis, you can sleep - for free, if selected - and wake up a month or two later free from constant sorrow and back to a healthy “normal.” Unless you suffer the side effect…

It’s sci fi, but it’s not too far of a mental leap to imagine this type of clinic treatment for grief actually existing.

This story follows a road trip journey of a handful of strangers seeking the poppy fields for their own reasons but forging special bonds along the way.