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saara_ilona_muu's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
life_full_ofbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.5
I have been excited about reading this book since it came out nearly three years ago but I know had I read it back then I wouldn’t have liked it as much as I did. This book takes place during the Covid pandemic and lockdown so if that’s a topic that’s still difficult for you this is one to skip.
Diana O’Toole is on the track she planned out for herself years ago. At nearly 30 she is well on her way to getting her promotion at Sotheby’s, she knows Finn, her boyfriend, will be proposing within the next two weeks, and she’s getting ready to take the vacation of a lifetime to the Galapagos with Finn. The one thing that’s happening that isn’t part of her plan is a worldwide pandemic. Because Finn is a resident at New York Presbyterian he isn’t able to go, but he encourages Diana to go without him. Against her better judgement she does and ends up stranded on Isabela Island with no luggage, no money, and not knowing the language. After a few weeks she starts to acclimate to life on the island and begins questioning if her life plan is still the plan she wants to follow when she’s finally able to go home.
Jodi Picoult is an auto-read author for me. I find I enjoy her more current books even though I’ve come to expect the famous Picoult Twist. I tried really hard not to allow my brain to speculate the twist before it came, but I couldn’t help it. Because of that the twist wasn’t a gasping surprise for me. Despite that I really loved this book. The description of Isabela Island was so detailed I felt like I was there snorkeling, hiking, and swimming right next to Diana. The Galápagos Islands have been on my Bucket List as a place I’d love to visit but probably won’t get to and I’ve now moved it to the Places I Need to Go category.
I know being 3 years out from the end of the hardest parts of Covid is still hard for some people, but I loved Finn’s recounting of his days as a doctor on the frontlines of the pandemic. It wasn’t easy to read since everything he talked about really happened but it was more eye opening than just watching interviews on the news.
I love how Ms. Picoult used the writing of this book as a form of therapy for herself. I wish I had thought of that since the lockdown and Covid Pandemic in general really messed with my mental health and writing probably would have been more helpful than binging The Tiger King and eating my weight in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (well not really, but it was close!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
mr_ryancowboy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Infidelity
bertrandlm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Pandemic/Epidemic
readandbreathe's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Dementia, and Pandemic/Epidemic
emilyrhoads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is excellent BUT it is incredibly triggering. Especially if you lost anyone to COVID. It was tough but I powered through it because I wanted to see the ending. Worth a read if you feel like you’ve worked through some of your COVID trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
allisonleslie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
OMG that ending. It ended on a cliffhanger that I want to be continued.. but also I love that it was left to the reader to decide what it meant.
I started this book because Jodi told me to on TikTok, and knew nothing about it when I started it. I soon realized it takes place during the pandemic of 2020 and the way it was written absolutely drew me back into the time of quarantine, isolation, and the unknown.
The plot twist threw me for a loop but I loved this entire story and how everything played out. There hasn’t been a Jodi Picoult book yet that I haven’t loved.
I started this book because Jodi told me to on TikTok, and knew nothing about it when I started it. I soon realized it takes place during the pandemic of 2020 and the way it was written absolutely drew me back into the time of quarantine, isolation, and the unknown.
The plot twist threw me for a loop but I loved this entire story and how everything played out. There hasn’t been a Jodi Picoult book yet that I haven’t loved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
carlytenille's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
pinkrain718's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Before picking up this book I had DNFed two books in a row. That's unheard of for me! My library hold came in so this became the next book on my list. I didn't remember what it was about and jumped in. This is the pandemic book I didn't know I needed. Reading this book in 2024, years after the emergency shut down due to Covid 19 I sometimes forget how absolutely scary, lonely, and traumatizing that time was for me. This book allowed me to process those emotions and reflect on my own experiences as I relived the pandemic through the eyes of Diana and Finn. This book was un-put-down-able (is that even a word?) for me. For some this book will be very triggering but for others I think it's the book we didn't know we needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
coffeekitaab's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Writing this in 2024, it is so strange to have relived Covid-19 through this book. A nostalgia when reading about how life generally, the way we lived it - even if we did not contract the virus itself - and the varying attitudes around the virus around the world, the medical staff who saved us, the loved ones we lost - it was a definite struggle and very difficult to carry on at times (only because of Picoult being a favourite author did I persevere). As always, this one packed a punch. There is a description towards the end, describing life during covid and how it felt everyone was holding their breath - a desperate need for a gasp - which no one released which felt/feels very true in hindsight. I'm not sure if reading this 2-3 years ago would have changed the experience I had today (and in what sense that would be) but in a way, I am glad it has been catalogued by Picoult. It is so easy to forget the time the world shutdown, especially as we are creatures of nature, rushing back to the slog and race of working life, trains now running and borders are now open, the time you spend an hour working overtime is an hour lost spending time with loved ones - the small print should always be highlighted - remember what matters. My love for JP continues to grow with each book I read. Please do check trigger warnings before picking this up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic