Wish You Were Here: a completely gripping, unputdownable novel from bestselling author of Mad Honey

This book is unlike many others I’ve read. The backdrop of art and historical references are my favorite elements. A true story of self discovery and revelation, told in a fascinating way. Great read!

Jodi Picoult is known for taking current events and making them into interesting and intimate stories. In this book, she covers the Covid pandemic. Diana works at Sotheby's in acquisitions, while her boyfriend Finn is a resident doctor at an NYC hospital. They've planned a trip to the Galapagos Islands when a few cases of Covid hit the city. Finn has to stay but urges Diana to take the non-refundable trip. She arrives only to find she's stranded there on Isabela Island with iffy wi-fi and everything closed down, including her hotel. She's taken in by a lovely lady who only speaks Spanish while Diana doesn't, and the first half of the book is Diana reevaluating her life as she struggles to keep in touch with Finn while acclimating to island life. Then there's a huge twist, but no spoilers. Diana and Finn have been perfect for each other, long-term planners and A-types, so life on the island alone with lost luggage and little money is a big adjustment for Diana. At the same time, she gets periodic emails from Finn describing the progress of the pandemic in his hospital. Most of this is familiar information if you paid attention during the worst of Covid, but it still hits hard, especially contrasted with Diana's hiking and swimming days. The twist halfway through the book changes everything and almost turns this into a different but still interesting story. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Galapagos and, in a different way, the compelling stories of the pandemic. Some political commentary won't please every reader, but I found it factual and well-researched. A very thought-provoking book.

Wish You Were Here is a beautifully written book with vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was right there in the scenes—or even watching a movie version unfold. The author did a wonderful job developing the characters, making them feel real and relatable. I found the storyline about COVID especially engaging. It was interesting to see the medical side of the pandemic portrayed in such detail. As an RN, I had chosen to stay home with my kids when their schools closed, so I didn’t experience the medical side of COVID firsthand until I later worked as a substitute nurse in our local school district. Reading this book gave me a deeper perspective on what was happening in that world during that time. I highly recommend this book—it’s not only well written, but it also offers a moving and thought-provoking look at life during COVID.

WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult is moving and thought-provoking story that has stayed on my mind for a long time after turning the final page. It takes a brutally realistic look at the horrifying health crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic but with a stunning twist I never saw coming. Diana O’Toole is, so far, perfectly on track for her carefully planned life. Nearing age thirty, she is steadily climbing the ladder in the art auction world and she is sure that her surgical resident boyfriend, Finn, is planning to propose on their upcoming getaway to the Galápagos. One the eve of their trip, Finn is forced to cancel because the outbreak of Covid-19 in New York requires all hospital staff to be on hand. He insists she go without him, which she reluctantly does. But as Diana arrives on the island, everything goes into lockdown and she is stranded there alone until the borders reopen. Not knowing the language, having no internet service and with her hotel now closed, she is fortunate to be taken in by a local family. As she interacts with the family members, Diana embarks on a journey of self-discovery, examining her relationships and her choices in life. We also hear from Finn through his emails to Diana. As the pandemic worsens, Finn describes in gut-wrenching detail the horror that health care workers are facing on the front lines. His communications become dark and full of despair as the tragedy and trauma of those early days unfolds. The emotional anguish of both Diana and Finn is palpable on the page. Although it was hard to read a novel with the pandemic theme while it is still going on, this is an insightful and well-researched book and I highly recommend it.

My first read of 2023 and a fresh plot with a completely new and different twist. Left me wanting for more when the narration ended. A 5star rating from me.

Over the many years that I have read Ms Picoults` books, there have of course, been some I’ve liked, some I haven’t , some I’ve been indifferent to and some that age just too damn good for words. Wish you were here falls into the final category. It is an impressive manuscript, made even more exceptional, by the subject matter that she has tackled. Our main characters, Dianna and Finn are a couple. Finn is a surgical resident in a NY hospital and Dianna works as an art specialist at Sotheby’s. When covid enters the world stage, little do our couple realise how it may inhabit and disrupt their lives. A planned holiday about to start is disrupted as all Drs are ordered to remain at work. Dianna and Finn discuss whether they cancel it or whether she still goes. Whether she gets out of NY and stays away from what is speculated to be the pandemic epicentre. No more plot. No spoilers. As we sit here, 2 years into the pandemic, it must be acknowledged that it was a brave book to write. You could always say a risky book to write. As a widow from 2019, an ex-registered nurse myself, and someone who nursed my mum through to her passing in 2021, Ms Picoult, boy did you get this book right. Thank you so much for taking your time with your research. My husband was in icu several times during the last years of his life and your writing of ICU a patients and effects from their stay….he suffered those too. I could relate to that. As a registered nurse, I can say that your writing of how nurses work from day to day is beautifully done. I noted the subtle humour that came in through some nurses comments. Again highly relatable. I was that nurse, but am not anymore. Your care in writing about dementia was beautifully done, allowing for the disease to be demonstrated through the exquisiteness of the person underneath. This book was going to be controversial for some people and I think that is perceived in the Goodreads reviews. - Some find it “hard to read”. - Some who have lost someone to C-19 may find it a hard read. - Others have said it is “too heavy, not a light read”. - Others have said that there is not enough drama. From my point of view, I’m a writer and a reader…. - This was fact with a fiction story overlay. Those in the world who have trouble seeing how covid can play out, would benefit from reading this book. It describes everything the world has experienced, but shares it through the eyes of a 29 year old fictional woman. - This book is a life changer book. Anyone that reads it, should sit up and take stock and realise how short life is. Put the phone/tablet down and look at what’s around you. - Readers should take stock of life and “be happy with what you have”. There is a saying “the secret to having it all, is knowing you already do” The underlying message for me in this book…..realise who you are. Sometimes the person or event that is in front of you, that you think is the right thing for you…..may not be.

Meraviglioso

Good

Me ha gustado mucho, es una mezcla de drama y amor basada en la época actual, con un ambiente exótico que hace que sea perfecta para leer en tus vacaciones de verano. Enseguida empatizas con la protagonista y quieres saber más y más.