Mini Review: Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

4****

I was so hesitant about this book, borrowing it once from the library then returning it unread, then deciding to give the audiobook a try instead. The reviews were promising and I generally like Picoult, and yet I was pretty sure I wasn't ready for a book that was heavy on pandemic story-lines. I will say, I probably should have gone with my gut and waited a bit longer to read this, because, despite being vaccinated and boosted and living in a city which always took Covid precautions seriously, it was not an easy read. In large part this was because one of the characters is a NYC resident, which my own sister was as well during the height of the pandemic, and which felt a little too close to home. That being said, Picoult handled the issues she tackled with care, compassion and thoughtfulness and I cannot really think how she could have done it better. It was bold of her to choose this plot, and I cannot but commend her efforts. There was something a little predictable about parts of the story, yes, but all in all, it held my attention from start to finish and I liked how Picoult makes it pretty obvious where she stands in a time where taking a stance is more important than ever. If you feel ready to read something with a Pandemic plot, I can certainly recommend this, but if you are on the fence, I say wait a while longer.

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