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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was about to give this book a lower rating, but it was actually the author’s note that made me pause and reflect and give it an average score. I’ll give more details below (with a spoiler alert), but what I can say is — I think those who like to dive into or are amazed with how the brain works will find this the most fascinating. More thoughts below but with a spoiler alert:
I love the twists that Jodi puts in her books, and this is another one I wasn’t expecting— and I didn’t like it. I was loving where the book was going. And then it came back to present tense and I will be honest that I got bored. That being said, I liked the ending and the message— actually, the complete message given in the author’s note is what hit home and had me give this a 3. However, I will be honest, it’s like the story could have been told in half of the pages. The brain and what it does to protect us (or what it thinks it needs to do) fascinates me, but I thought there was too much fluff.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Lesbophobia
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
When I was younger, Jodi Picoult was my favorite author. Now, I find that her books (I think unintentionally) read as young-adult. This one was felt really slow and I had a hard time getting hooked. The only thing that kept me going was my morbid interest in revisiting early COVID and what the world felt like at the time. This is one thing I think Picoult really captured well. It felt like reading what my own journal entries may have been at the time.
I do appreciate that Picoult consistently researches her settings and cultures. However, some of the details feel burdensome as a reader.
I do appreciate that Picoult consistently researches her settings and cultures. However, some of the details feel burdensome as a reader.
It’s publication day for Jodi Picoult’s latest novel, Wish You Were Here. As I just finished the story, I’m going to try my best to sum up my feelings, but first - some warnings.
1) When you read the synopsis, it sounds intriguing - a girl leaves New York at the start of the pandemic for a vacation without her doctor boyfriend and has to learn to become a local of the Galápagos Islands while the world closes down. This is true for 61% of the book. Then a twist happens and it’s most definitely not about that anymore. Sort of. Kind of.
2) This is a COVID story. It’s Jodi Picoult - she does not do anything half hearted. She researches the subject she is writing about and will tell you every good, bad and weird detail there is. This book brings us back to the scary days of wiping down everything and not knowing what’s to come. Of losing our jobs, our homes, and struggling with our new reality. It discusses about being intubated - if you have been touched by a COVID case or death that is hard to think about, you may want to wait on this read.
With those triggers in mind, I thought I would be ok to read this. But I wasn’t. I pushed through because of receiving the ARC and wanting to post a review, but COVID is too fresh for me. Reading about wiping off food and what healthcare workers were going through is difficult enough on a good day. For my reading entertainment? I just couldn’t get into it.
The twist? Genius. Discussing the twist? That felt a bit tiresome. It is an interesting thing but it felt like too much detail.
I was also very surprised at how cavalier Picoult’s character Diana was for COVID safety that were never really addressed. Finn would get mad at her but then 30 seconds later it was like it never happened. Ummm. What?
I don’t know if I would rate this higher if I read it say in 5 years from now. For that reason I will give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Excuse me while I go read a holiday story now.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy for review via NetGalley!
1) When you read the synopsis, it sounds intriguing - a girl leaves New York at the start of the pandemic for a vacation without her doctor boyfriend and has to learn to become a local of the Galápagos Islands while the world closes down. This is true for 61% of the book. Then a twist happens and it’s most definitely not about that anymore. Sort of. Kind of.
2) This is a COVID story. It’s Jodi Picoult - she does not do anything half hearted. She researches the subject she is writing about and will tell you every good, bad and weird detail there is. This book brings us back to the scary days of wiping down everything and not knowing what’s to come. Of losing our jobs, our homes, and struggling with our new reality. It discusses about being intubated - if you have been touched by a COVID case or death that is hard to think about, you may want to wait on this read.
With those triggers in mind, I thought I would be ok to read this. But I wasn’t. I pushed through because of receiving the ARC and wanting to post a review, but COVID is too fresh for me. Reading about wiping off food and what healthcare workers were going through is difficult enough on a good day. For my reading entertainment? I just couldn’t get into it.
The twist? Genius. Discussing the twist? That felt a bit tiresome. It is an interesting thing but it felt like too much detail.
I was also very surprised at how cavalier Picoult’s character Diana was for COVID safety that were never really addressed. Finn would get mad at her but then 30 seconds later it was like it never happened. Ummm. What?
I don’t know if I would rate this higher if I read it say in 5 years from now. For that reason I will give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Excuse me while I go read a holiday story now.
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy for review via NetGalley!
4.5 excellent audio. Make sure you read past 1/2 way and suggest listening/reading authors note.
Very well written.
Very well written.
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
Jodi Picoult keeps improving with every novel. "Wish You were Here" revisits the early months of the Covid 19 Pandemic, both in New York City as well as its impact around the world. Through her main protagonist, Diana, she evokes the chaos, the uncertainty, and the fear that accompanied this haunting time in our recent past. I highly recommend this one!
I've been avoiding writing a review for fear of not finding the right words. It's been over 2 months since I've read it and I keep thinking about it. It's one of those books you wish you could read again. This is my first Jodi Picoult book.
I believe it resonated with me so deeply after the last three years, I hadn't expected the emotional journey I would go on (I didn't read much about it before picking it up). It starts off a bit slow where you are left wondering when things will get interesting but eventually it does and then I could not put it down.
I was very drawn into Diana's story, and on the surface it did seem she had a great trajectory in her life and she had it figured out. I will admit I was a bit annoyed when she questioned certain parts of her life but as the story goes on, more and more is uncovered and the pieces start to make sense.
It was emotional, frustrating at times, confusing, and eye-opening about experiences I had not personally had. Like other reviewers I cannot share much without giving it away, but if you're looking for an emotional rollercoaster of a novel with heart that touches on family, complex relationships, and the sheer power of the human mind then this is the one.
I believe it resonated with me so deeply after the last three years, I hadn't expected the emotional journey I would go on (I didn't read much about it before picking it up). It starts off a bit slow where you are left wondering when things will get interesting but eventually it does and then I could not put it down.
I was very drawn into Diana's story, and on the surface it did seem she had a great trajectory in her life and she had it figured out. I will admit I was a bit annoyed when she questioned certain parts of her life but as the story goes on, more and more is uncovered and the pieces start to make sense.
It was emotional, frustrating at times, confusing, and eye-opening about experiences I had not personally had. Like other reviewers I cannot share much without giving it away, but if you're looking for an emotional rollercoaster of a novel with heart that touches on family, complex relationships, and the sheer power of the human mind then this is the one.