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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
When I first picked up The Poppy Fields, I was hooked by the premise right away. A treatment center in the desert that lets you literally sleep through grief? As someone who’s been sideswiped by loss, that idea hit me on a personal level. If I could’ve skipped even a fraction of that pain, would I have done it? I honestly don’t know - but I was curious to see how Erlick handled the question.
The story follows four strangers (and one very good dog) on their way to the Poppy Fields. Each has their own reasons for seeking this controversial healing method, and their secrets slowly come out along the journey. At the center of it all is Ellis, the enigmatic founder whose work promises hope… with a few unsettling side effects.
I’ll be honest - this isn’t a fast-paced book. There’s a lot of thinking, a lot of talking, and at times, it felt like the plot was dragging. But Erlick knows how to weave big, emotional concepts into her characters’ journeys in a way that feels intimate. Even when I was restless with the pacing, I was still drawn in by the ideas at play.
This was my first Nikki Erlick book, and while I wished for more momentum, I really enjoyed her style. She’s the kind of author I’ll come back to, because the themes she explores stick with you long after you’ve finished the book.
If you’re interested in grief, healing, and the what-ifs of bypassing heartache, The Poppy Fields is worth checking out. It’s not a page-turner, but it’s thoughtful, emotional, and unique.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The story follows four strangers (and one very good dog) on their way to the Poppy Fields. Each has their own reasons for seeking this controversial healing method, and their secrets slowly come out along the journey. At the center of it all is Ellis, the enigmatic founder whose work promises hope… with a few unsettling side effects.
I’ll be honest - this isn’t a fast-paced book. There’s a lot of thinking, a lot of talking, and at times, it felt like the plot was dragging. But Erlick knows how to weave big, emotional concepts into her characters’ journeys in a way that feels intimate. Even when I was restless with the pacing, I was still drawn in by the ideas at play.
This was my first Nikki Erlick book, and while I wished for more momentum, I really enjoyed her style. She’s the kind of author I’ll come back to, because the themes she explores stick with you long after you’ve finished the book.
If you’re interested in grief, healing, and the what-ifs of bypassing heartache, The Poppy Fields is worth checking out. It’s not a page-turner, but it’s thoughtful, emotional, and unique.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The Poppy Fields is a "grief" treatment center in the middle of the California desert. The experimental treatment they offer allows patients to go to sleep for a month, to in essence, sleep away their grief. Most patients awaken fully healed of their terrible grief, but they must agree to the possibility of an unwanted side effect that only affects a few patients.
In the story, four strangers all find themselves on the way to The Fields for varying reasons. They decide to team up and travel there together after a storm cancels their travel plans. From here we get a strangers to found family kind of trope. I loved getting to know them all and understand their stories and grief. They all seemed to really come together to help each other out. This one really explores heartache, grief and ultimately, hope. It makes you really think about what you would do in each of their situations. I didn't read The Measure, but I feel this is in the same thought provoking vein as that one was. Would definitely make for a great book club discussion.
Thank you to @williammorrow, @harperaudio and @netgalley for this ALC copy. I loved the narration and thought it was extremely well done!
In the story, four strangers all find themselves on the way to The Fields for varying reasons. They decide to team up and travel there together after a storm cancels their travel plans. From here we get a strangers to found family kind of trope. I loved getting to know them all and understand their stories and grief. They all seemed to really come together to help each other out. This one really explores heartache, grief and ultimately, hope. It makes you really think about what you would do in each of their situations. I didn't read The Measure, but I feel this is in the same thought provoking vein as that one was. Would definitely make for a great book club discussion.
Thank you to @williammorrow, @harperaudio and @netgalley for this ALC copy. I loved the narration and thought it was extremely well done!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When I first read the synopsis of The Poppy Fields, I expected a story centered on the intriguing concept of a facility where people go to sleep—literally and metaphorically—to escape pain or confront deep emotion. I was especially curious to learn more about the scientific and emotional implications of such a place. While the book touches on this concept, particularly through the memories of the scientist who pioneered the treatment, it doesn’t dwell much on the mechanics or philosophy of the facility itself.
Instead, the novel unfolds as something else entirely: a heartfelt and intimate road trip story. After a flight is cancelled due to tornado warnings, three strangers decide—on a whim—to drive together to the desert, all bound for the same mysterious location: the poppy fields. Each of them carries a heavy burden of grief, guilt, or unresolved pain, and the book gradually unpacks these layers as they travel together.
What I found most compelling was how well Nikki Erlick captures the rawness of emotion. The stories of grief, anger, and helplessness are palpable, and at times, difficult to read—especially if you're personally experiencing loss, emotional upheaval, or even the hormonal storms of pregnancy or menopause. It’s a book that doesn’t shy away from the intensity of human emotion, and in that way, it’s really powerful.
The question that lingers is whether, after this journey together, these characters will still go through with their original plans—or if the experience has changed them, perhaps even saved them, in unexpected ways.
Overall, I enjoyed the read, even if it wasn’t what I initially expected. It's a story less about science fiction and more about human connection, emotional reckoning, and the possibility of healing in the most unlikely of places.
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No