A review by grimalkintoes
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

challenging 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

4.5

I was hesitant to pick this book up, despite the glowing reviews from colleagues, because I was unsure if I was ready to read fiction about something that has been so very real for our collective consciousness. I picked it up regardless of these personal fears and dove straight in. What I found was a story rich with the shared thread(s) of pain, heartbreak, grief, loneliness and isolation that we all experienced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, some that we continue to experience. It left me feeling raw, exposed.

I have not read Jodi Picoult since her novel Nineteen Minutes, and I am pleased that this was the book that brought me back. Many aspects of Diana's story resonated with me, particularly the theme of change, starting over. I'll be ruminating on Wish You Were Here for months to come. 

 “You cannot trust perception. Falling, at first, feels like flying.” 

Read if you enjoy: fiction-based-on-fact, relationship fiction, intricately plotted storylines, and reflective tone.