Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - J'aimerai tant que tu sois là

Reading about COVID while the pandemic limps on will not be for everyone. But as someone who’s career in theatre completely halted for two years, I found this pandemic book introspective and thought provoking.

Diana is on track in her life: her career, relationship and goals are all on the timeline she set out for herself. Then COVID hits and her plans are derailed. She ends up in the Galápagos Islands alone, as her boyfriend has to stay and fight the pandemic as a frontline worker instead of going on their romantic vacation. Diana is now alone and isolated as this virus ravaged the world and it sets her on a journey of self-discovery.

I’ve never read Picoult before (shocking I know!) and I really loved her writing style, character depth and exploration. This book and the themes tackled will stay with me for awhile. I can’t wait to read more by this emotionally resonant author! If you’ve read this, please DM me- all I want is to discuss some aspects of this book, particularly what was in her author’s note, but I don’t want to spoil anything here!

⚠️Trigger Warning: COVID, Death of a Parent, Dementia, Self-Mutilation, Infidelity

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kimveach's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Like the best of her books, the author looks at separation during the beginning of the Covid pandemic with so many insights. I loved the characters, the setting, and the plot. You can't ask for much more than that.

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asealey925's review against another edition

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Ridiculous plot twist.

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soobooksalot's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"I decided I'm not listening to the news anymore, because I'm basically living it."
Yup, basically.
I've seen mixed reviews for Jodi Picoult's newest, some being put off by it taking place during Covid as we are still living it.
Personally I found Wish You Were Here a timely look at the past two years, with the perspective of how things have evolved.
It truly reads like fiction.
Besides knowing it deals with Covid, I recommend to go in blind. There are a lot of interesting turns in this one, I really couldn't put it down. It's emotional, to be sure.
I'm a bit torn on the medical elements - generally accurate information, but as someone who has worked in healthcare through Covid, it feels insistent at times.
The patient and healthcare worker experiences though - backed by fear, frustration, isolation and guilt - are solidly depicted.
Every reader will experience this book through their own pandemic lens.

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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

Jodi never disappoints. I know this and yet I am always surprised by the amount of research and attention to detail she uses when creating new books. Wish You Were Here is a beautiful and devastating story about life during the time of COVID. It made me feel all the things. It reminded me that even though many of the people in my life have moved on and no longer fear COVID, that there are other people in the world who are just as afraid as I am. Also, the twist in this book — will make you angry. Like, so, so angry. But the book still ends well. It’s worth the pain.

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