A review by brooke_review
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
4.0
Many moons ago, Jodi Picoult’s books helped me transition from reading children’s and young adult literature to reading novels written for adults. If you’re familiar with her work, you know that Picoult takes a current event or hot button topic and spins a compelling tale around it. As a young adult, her books pulled me in and grabbed at my heart and mind in a way no other novels had ever done before. I eagerly read everything by Jodi that I could get my hands on and couldn’t wait for her to publish her next book (luckily, in my early 20s, I had her entire backlist to explore.) While I have since moved on to other authors that I can’t get enough of, I am always sure to check out Jodi’s latest novels when I want to read something thought-provoking, yet entertaining at the same time.
Which brings us to Picoult’s newest novel, Wish You Were Here, which is about, you guessed it, the COVID-19 pandemic (because what else?!) I know that some readers are burnt out on the pandemic and don’t want traces of it popping up in their entertainment. However, I also know that there are readers like myself who are interested in a fictional take on this life-altering virus. I personally will read any fictionalized account of real events because, 1) it helps me learn more about the factual side of things, 2) it allows me connect with and relate to characters who may be experiencing something similar, or completely different from myself, and 3) I find real life made fake to be highly entertaining. What type of reader you are will determine whether or not you should read Jodi’s latest novel. If you are one of those who loves books based on current events, then keep reading!
Wish You Were Here follows Sotheby’s associate Diana O’Toole as she travels to the Galapagos as the COVID-19 situation becomes dire back at home. What was supposed to be a romantic getaway for herself and her surgeon boyfriend Finn has turned into a solo trip because Finn has to stay behind at the hospital to help with the pandemic. Little does Diana know that the Galapagos are about to shut down on quarantine, like much of the rest of the world, and she is going to find herself stuck on this beautiful, yet mysterious island almost entirely alone except for a few locals. In the quiet weeks that follow, Diana will learn much about herself amidst the peace and solitude that the Galapagos provides. Will this “new normal” that Diana creates for herself gel with her life back home or will she be forever changed?
As Picoult states in her Author’s Note at the end of this story, everyone knows where they were when the world shut down in 2020. What would you do if the place you were was a remote island with little to no contact with the outside world? Because all of us have lived through this pandemic and we have a shared experience, everyone can relate to Wish You Were Here in some form or another. While you read this story, you will remember where you were when COVID overtook our lives, and you will consider Diana’s situation - how would things have been different for you if you were traveling when quarantine went into place? Picoult has written a timely, thought-provoking, and resounding tale that will stick with readers through the pandemic and hopefully beyond.
COVID-19 aside, another aspect of Jodi’s books that I really enjoy is how she exposes readers to a variety of jobs, lifestyles, and places in her novels. I always learn something new when I read her works. In the case of Wish You Were Here, I discovered the world of Sotheby’s and art auctions. I thoroughly enjoyed the passages of this novel where Diana describes her work at Sotheby’s and I feel like I have a much firmer grasp on this industry after reading this story. It’s always a plus in my book when I find myself Googling information that I find in a novel - with Wish You Were Here, that would be not only art pieces mentioned, but places and faces of the Galapagos as well. Picoult’s books are truly as educational as they are entertaining.
Now for the bad - there were some parts of the book that moved rather slowly with lots of dialogue and little plot development. I found my attention waning during these sections of the novel, but once you have read the entirety of the book, you will understand why they are there. When I was in the midst of it, however, I couldn’t see the forest for the trees and had to push myself through until the pace picked up. It is helpful to know, before reading, that there will be slow parts, but that they do serve a purpose.
Wish You Were Here is a book for today, a book for tomorrow. It is one of a billion stories to be told about the virus that changed life as we knew it. If you have ever felt like a stranger in a strange land during this time of COVID, you may quite enjoy the intriguing story at the hear of Wish You Were Here.
Which brings us to Picoult’s newest novel, Wish You Were Here, which is about, you guessed it, the COVID-19 pandemic (because what else?!) I know that some readers are burnt out on the pandemic and don’t want traces of it popping up in their entertainment. However, I also know that there are readers like myself who are interested in a fictional take on this life-altering virus. I personally will read any fictionalized account of real events because, 1) it helps me learn more about the factual side of things, 2) it allows me connect with and relate to characters who may be experiencing something similar, or completely different from myself, and 3) I find real life made fake to be highly entertaining. What type of reader you are will determine whether or not you should read Jodi’s latest novel. If you are one of those who loves books based on current events, then keep reading!
Wish You Were Here follows Sotheby’s associate Diana O’Toole as she travels to the Galapagos as the COVID-19 situation becomes dire back at home. What was supposed to be a romantic getaway for herself and her surgeon boyfriend Finn has turned into a solo trip because Finn has to stay behind at the hospital to help with the pandemic. Little does Diana know that the Galapagos are about to shut down on quarantine, like much of the rest of the world, and she is going to find herself stuck on this beautiful, yet mysterious island almost entirely alone except for a few locals. In the quiet weeks that follow, Diana will learn much about herself amidst the peace and solitude that the Galapagos provides. Will this “new normal” that Diana creates for herself gel with her life back home or will she be forever changed?
As Picoult states in her Author’s Note at the end of this story, everyone knows where they were when the world shut down in 2020. What would you do if the place you were was a remote island with little to no contact with the outside world? Because all of us have lived through this pandemic and we have a shared experience, everyone can relate to Wish You Were Here in some form or another. While you read this story, you will remember where you were when COVID overtook our lives, and you will consider Diana’s situation - how would things have been different for you if you were traveling when quarantine went into place? Picoult has written a timely, thought-provoking, and resounding tale that will stick with readers through the pandemic and hopefully beyond.
COVID-19 aside, another aspect of Jodi’s books that I really enjoy is how she exposes readers to a variety of jobs, lifestyles, and places in her novels. I always learn something new when I read her works. In the case of Wish You Were Here, I discovered the world of Sotheby’s and art auctions. I thoroughly enjoyed the passages of this novel where Diana describes her work at Sotheby’s and I feel like I have a much firmer grasp on this industry after reading this story. It’s always a plus in my book when I find myself Googling information that I find in a novel - with Wish You Were Here, that would be not only art pieces mentioned, but places and faces of the Galapagos as well. Picoult’s books are truly as educational as they are entertaining.
Now for the bad - there were some parts of the book that moved rather slowly with lots of dialogue and little plot development. I found my attention waning during these sections of the novel, but once you have read the entirety of the book, you will understand why they are there. When I was in the midst of it, however, I couldn’t see the forest for the trees and had to push myself through until the pace picked up. It is helpful to know, before reading, that there will be slow parts, but that they do serve a purpose.
Wish You Were Here is a book for today, a book for tomorrow. It is one of a billion stories to be told about the virus that changed life as we knew it. If you have ever felt like a stranger in a strange land during this time of COVID, you may quite enjoy the intriguing story at the hear of Wish You Were Here.