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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
leahrreads's review against another edition
I couldn't finish, I read a few chapters and honestly found it boring and rambling and found myself skipping ahead. The "twist" in my opinion ruins the story for me.
The content of certain things were bothersome to me. Not sure I'm ready to go back and re-live Pandemic-era life.
The main character was also boring, shallow, and came across privileged. Maybe she changes towards the end but I wouldn't know, I couldn't finish it.
The content of certain things were bothersome to me. Not sure I'm ready to go back and re-live Pandemic-era life.
The main character was also boring, shallow, and came across privileged. Maybe she changes towards the end but I wouldn't know, I couldn't finish it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
_david_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I think I'm just not a fan of books in which the covid pandemic plays a big role. Nearly everyone currently alive has lived through it and witnessed its horrors or conspired that it wasn't that bad, but this book will not convince them otherwise. The plot twist was well written, but I still didn't like the story after. If you do not like the first half of the book, you will not enjoy the second.
To me personally, the main character was very self-centered and spoiled. A big theme in the book is that she "evolved" on the island to fit in better. She barely did though. She just got lucky with some villagers. The only moments I enjoyed was her making art with Belize, but the rest of the book made my eyes roll.
I think there was still a big clash of what the main character and I find important in life. I would have done the exact opposite of each choise she made in the end, except for perhaps the career choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Medical content, Dementia, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility, Vomit, War, and Classism
cveeders's review against another edition
challenging
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? No
3.75
I struggled a bit with this book, both to get into it and to accept certain parts of it. I was able to call plot points before they happened: Beatriz being gay, Diane cheating on Finn although I didn't see the big twist coming. It was also hard to sympathize with Diane at places, though cool to look back through the first part knowing what happens in the second. Not a favorite of Picoult's work but not the worst either
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Self harm
evelynritzi's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
I love just about anything Jodie Picoult writes and this is no exception. She has a way of taking current issues and topics and examining them from such interesting POVs. I can’t believe how quickly she wrote this book and how well-researched it was. And the TWIST! I almost threw the book across the room.
Highly recommended this one! 💜
Highly recommended this one! 💜
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm, Dementia, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
jennipea382's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol
tiffanymmf's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
mollylulu04's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
astoriareader's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
SYNOPSIS:
- It is March 2020. Diana finds herself alone in the Galápagos Islands, and she ends up being stuck there for an extended amount of time due to covid restrictions. Finn, her boyfriend and a surgical resident, is back home in New York City, and he is treating covid patients.
- Diana has always had a plan for her life, and with this unexpected bump in the road & time for new perspective, she re-evaluates her life & the direction it’s headed.
MY THOUGHTS
- Picoult is, as always, a great storyteller. This one has some unexpected turns, and I enjoyed the writing style. She also clearly researched all aspects of covid & incorporates in throughout the story.
- I went in blind with this book, and I didn’t actually realize it involved covid. For anyone with loved ones that passed from covid or triggers surrounding covid, this is one to skip.
- I was a little disappointed with the twist, but that is a personal preference.
- Overall, it’s a good book, but not my favorite one by Picoult.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars. covid heavy in plot. story about figuring out what to do with your life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
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