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alikat10_05's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm
k83's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I miss the days of Picoult books being moral dilemmas. Mercy, The Pact, My Sisters Keeper, Keeping Faith.... This was very much fluff fiction, with a tokenistic jump to mental health and lgb characters. Maybe that's a reflection on publication decisions in a world of book banning, rather than picoults own choices.
Beatriz coming out is an non event, but there's no focus on her worries about it. Just her self harm, which is nothing more than a vehicle for Diana to be a saviour. Similary Rodney is a walking stereotype, given no depth or development. He exists only as comic relief from Finn's drama. His experience of lock down isn't described at all, when it would have made sense to at least skim over a "normal" experience rather than the beleaguered doctor and covid patient experience. He doesn't even express real concern for Diana's disappearance.
Doesn't actually chronical the covid-experiece at all. It's an okay read, not one I'll reread.
Doesn't actually chronical the covid-experiece at all. It's an okay read, not one I'll reread.
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Death of parent, and Abandonment
dianashadel's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Good book, well written, but subject matter stressed me out. Felt too soon for COVID, especially with the recent rise in cases and having a newborn at home.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
stephmcoakley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Classism, Death of parent, Dementia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
wshawl36's review against another edition
i literally lost the book. i wanted to finish it and hopefully i can find it again and finish it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
abicaro17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Diana is a complex and reflective character. Despite doing some choice things throughout the book, her reflection and inner turmoil creates a space to forgive some of her poor decisions. Given that this book basically reflects current and still changing events, it was well written and clearly well researched. It flows with facts and anecdotes from real life experiences. It was a beautiful (if not slightly triggering) book about a fictional person experiencing the trauma of current events.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Confinement, Dementia, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
claudiashelf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
4.25
Everything in this book feels so real just because the story pertained to COVID-19 which happened a couple of years ago. This book is divided into two parts and I consciously say that Part One of this story seems so tedious, and I just enjoyed it in the second part. Also, even tho this story is quite enjoyable and very well-written and made me realise how the pandemic has changed people’s lives drastically when it happens in two years, even until this moment COVID-19 is still there living with us.
Furthermore, I can notice that the author has done the research for this book because there are so many details about how medical professionals deal with and face the fight with Covid patients and the author has explained everything about hospital resources or has been stretched to crisis level in every detail. That gave me new insight.
Furthermore, I can notice that the author has done the research for this book because there are so many details about how medical professionals deal with and face the fight with Covid patients and the author has explained everything about hospital resources or has been stretched to crisis level in every detail. That gave me new insight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, and Self harm
gracekennedy134's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Good travel read, and unexpectedly, a read I just enjoyed in general!
I was quickly surprised to realize that this book was set during the start of COVID and was initially apprehensive to how it would be portrayed.
Half of the book is set during Diana's trip to the Galápagos Islands without her doctor boyfriend, Finn, just as the pandemic is starting, and her subsequent entrapment there due to the world shutting down. The relationships she builds with a few islanders and with herself were enjoyable and going as expected, but then the book takes a sudden plot twist that I did not expect. It was a very jarring and slightly ridiculous, but I think that was intentional and mirrored those same feelings of shock and disbelief that we experienced actually living through the pandemic. To not say too much more, pre- / post-plot twist were both equally interesting and addicting!
I was quickly surprised to realize that this book was set during the start of COVID and was initially apprehensive to how it would be portrayed.
Half of the book is set during Diana's trip to the Galápagos Islands without her doctor boyfriend, Finn, just as the pandemic is starting, and her subsequent entrapment there due to the world shutting down. The relationships she builds with a few islanders and with herself were enjoyable and going as expected, but then the book takes a sudden plot twist that I did not expect. It was a very jarring and slightly ridiculous, but I think that was intentional and mirrored those same feelings of shock and disbelief that we experienced actually living through the pandemic. To not say too much more, pre- / post-plot twist were both equally interesting and addicting!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
zwin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I considered bailing on this one, but came to appreciate the author’s research and creativity in capturing the pandemic through this novel. Yet, I found a lot to be frustrated in as a reader - I thought the main character was unlikeable and hard to deeply connect to, and the plots tied up too neatly, Hallmark style. This was my first time reading Picoult, and despite the moments of cringe I plan to read more from her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness
britnidudley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Dementia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Self harm