A review by bethreadsandnaps
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

3.75

 

3.75 ⭐️

Nikki Erlick’s sophomore, slightly sci-fi novel THE POPPY FIELDS comes after her hit debut THE MEASURE in 2022. In this novel, the author explores the concept of grief and whether “sleeping off” the grief for 1-2 months would be a viable option after losing a loved one. The risk is that there is a 25% chance of losing all feelings toward that person. 

I don’t think the premise of this novel is as strong as the premise of her debut (would you want to find out how long you’ll live?). This also takes some features of The Wizard of Oz (a “road” trip of sorts, a woman with a little dog, meeting strangers and gathering them along the way, hot air balloon, etc.). 

This is a rather slow, character-driven novel. There is a road trip, but it takes a backseat - pun intended - to the characters’ back stories. There is a found family element, and I was a bit lukewarm on it due to the suspension of disbelief required (renting a car with strangers, picking up someone several states away that was on the exact flight) and the beginnings of a romance that I didn’t buy. I think the main question of this novel will prompt some thought and discussion, and I did have an enjoyable reading experience. 

I did listen to most of this on audio. I was a bit intimidated that there were many narrators listed, but Marin Ireland does do most of the novel and is a strong narrator, per usual. There are mixed media elements, and those are where the other narrators come in, I think. There was a perfect amount of these elements, and I thought the other narrators did a good job.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow for an Advance Reader Copy, and HarperAudio for an Advance Listener Copy in exchange for an unbiased review. 

It publishes June 17, 2025.