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allisonleslie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
OMG that ending. It ended on a cliffhanger that I want to be continued.. but also I love that it was left to the reader to decide what it meant.
I started this book because Jodi told me to on TikTok, and knew nothing about it when I started it. I soon realized it takes place during the pandemic of 2020 and the way it was written absolutely drew me back into the time of quarantine, isolation, and the unknown.
The plot twist threw me for a loop but I loved this entire story and how everything played out. There hasn’t been a Jodi Picoult book yet that I haven’t loved.
I started this book because Jodi told me to on TikTok, and knew nothing about it when I started it. I soon realized it takes place during the pandemic of 2020 and the way it was written absolutely drew me back into the time of quarantine, isolation, and the unknown.
The plot twist threw me for a loop but I loved this entire story and how everything played out. There hasn’t been a Jodi Picoult book yet that I haven’t loved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Medical content, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
carlytenille's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Dementia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Mental illness, and Self harm
pinkrain718's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Before picking up this book I had DNFed two books in a row. That's unheard of for me! My library hold came in so this became the next book on my list. I didn't remember what it was about and jumped in. This is the pandemic book I didn't know I needed. Reading this book in 2024, years after the emergency shut down due to Covid 19 I sometimes forget how absolutely scary, lonely, and traumatizing that time was for me. This book allowed me to process those emotions and reflect on my own experiences as I relived the pandemic through the eyes of Diana and Finn. This book was un-put-down-able (is that even a word?) for me. For some this book will be very triggering but for others I think it's the book we didn't know we needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
coffeekitaab's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Writing this in 2024, it is so strange to have relived Covid-19 through this book. A nostalgia when reading about how life generally, the way we lived it - even if we did not contract the virus itself - and the varying attitudes around the virus around the world, the medical staff who saved us, the loved ones we lost - it was a definite struggle and very difficult to carry on at times (only because of Picoult being a favourite author did I persevere). As always, this one packed a punch. There is a description towards the end, describing life during covid and how it felt everyone was holding their breath - a desperate need for a gasp - which no one released which felt/feels very true in hindsight. I'm not sure if reading this 2-3 years ago would have changed the experience I had today (and in what sense that would be) but in a way, I am glad it has been catalogued by Picoult. It is so easy to forget the time the world shutdown, especially as we are creatures of nature, rushing back to the slog and race of working life, trains now running and borders are now open, the time you spend an hour working overtime is an hour lost spending time with loved ones - the small print should always be highlighted - remember what matters. My love for JP continues to grow with each book I read. Please do check trigger warnings before picking this up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic
thatsssorachael's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Pandemic/Epidemic
hay_keasling5's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Suicidal thoughts
leahrreads's review
I couldn't finish, I read a few chapters and honestly found it boring and rambling and found myself skipping ahead. The "twist" in my opinion ruins the story for me.
The content of certain things were bothersome to me. Not sure I'm ready to go back and re-live Pandemic-era life.
The main character was also boring, shallow, and came across privileged. Maybe she changes towards the end but I wouldn't know, I couldn't finish it.
The content of certain things were bothersome to me. Not sure I'm ready to go back and re-live Pandemic-era life.
The main character was also boring, shallow, and came across privileged. Maybe she changes towards the end but I wouldn't know, I couldn't finish it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Self harm
_david_'s review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I think I'm just not a fan of books in which the covid pandemic plays a big role. Nearly everyone currently alive has lived through it and witnessed its horrors or conspired that it wasn't that bad, but this book will not convince them otherwise. The plot twist was well written, but I still didn't like the story after. If you do not like the first half of the book, you will not enjoy the second.
To me personally, the main character was very self-centered and spoiled. A big theme in the book is that she "evolved" on the island to fit in better. She barely did though. She just got lucky with some villagers. The only moments I enjoyed was her making art with Belize, but the rest of the book made my eyes roll.
I think there was still a big clash of what the main character and I find important in life. I would have done the exact opposite of each choise she made in the end, except for perhaps the career choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Pandemic/Epidemic, Dementia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Sexual content, Outing, Alcoholism, Blood, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Addiction, Terminal illness, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: War, Infertility, Classism, and Vomit
emmmillly's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Death
cveeders's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I struggled a bit with this book, both to get into it and to accept certain parts of it. I was able to call plot points before they happened: Beatriz being gay, Diane cheating on Finn although I didn't see the big twist coming. It was also hard to sympathize with Diane at places, though cool to look back through the first part knowing what happens in the second. Not a favorite of Picoult's work but not the worst either
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Self harm