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  • Wish You Were Here

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Jodi Picoult
  • Narrated by: Marin Ireland
  • Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (489 ratings)

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Wish You Were Here

Written by: Jodi Picoult
Narrated by: Marin Ireland
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Publisher's Summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Small Great Things and The Book of Two Ways comes “a powerfully evocative story of resilience and the triumph of the human spirit” (Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six)

Rights sold to Netflix for adaptation as a feature film • Named one of the best books of the year by She Reads

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s an associate specialist at Sotheby’s now, but her boss has hinted at a promotion if she can close a deal with a high-profile client. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos - days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. Her luggage is lost, the Wi-Fi is nearly nonexistent, and the hotel they’d booked is shut down due to the pandemic. In fact, the whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

In the Galápagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was formed, Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself - and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different.

©2021 Random House (P)2021 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“Jodi Picoult once again proves she is the master of wading through the darkness to find the light.” (Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Malibu Rising)

Wish You Were Here is a transporting and transcendent novel about seeking out glimmers of light in the darkness, and following them wherever they lead. Jodi Picoult is that rare, one-in-a-million writer whose books both squeeze your heart and expand your mind. Her latest is wise, surprising, and utterly extraordinary.”⁠ (Emily Henry, number one New York Times best-selling author of People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read)

“In Wish You Were Here, Jodi Picoult does something brilliant, cracking open something extraordinary. I am just overwhelmed by this book. I actually finished it at three in the morning and started reading it again.” (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of With or Without You)

Editorial Review

Diana had a perfect life: a loving fiancé, a great job and a well-planned future. But when a global pandemic turns her world upside down, Diana must re-evaluate everything she thought she knew and wanted.

From Jodi Picoult, bestselling author of the beloved classic My Sister’s Keeper comes yet another heart-wrenching novel, Wish You Were Here. This New York Times bestseller is a timely and poignant tale of love and life during a pandemic’s shock, uncertainty, and upheaval. It follows the story of our main character, Diana O’Toole. A resident of New York City on the cusp of 30, Diana has it all together—an associate at Sotheby’s, she is slowly but surely conquering the ruthless art auction world while maintaining a relationship with her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident. With a birthday trip to the Galápagos Islands looming, Diana is knocked for a loop by the arrival of a mysterious, fast-spreading virus.

Finn must stay behind in the city and work, though he insists on Diana making the getaway they had planned together alone. What follows is a consequential misadventure. Diana’s luggage is lost, there is virtually no wi-fi, and with the virus escalating into a pandemic, Diana is stuck on the Galápagos Islands until quarantine restrictions are lifted.

Diana must take matters into her own hands and forge a relationship with a local family, despite their general misgivings about tourists and her. Jodi Picoult creates a tour de force adventure, capturing the resilience and jubilations of the human spirit. Told beautifully by accomplished narrator Marin Ireland, Wish You Were Here gives the listener hope in a world of unpredictability. Before its release as a Netflix original feature film adaptation, listen to the unabridged audiobook and be prepared to be swept away.

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What listeners say about Wish You Were Here

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Looking forward...

I have been looking forward to seeing how an author would handle Covid and Jodi Picoult is one of favourite authors. An absolute pleasure and an interesting listen with a great narrator.

5 people found this helpful

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Great read!

I would recommend this book to anyone. I listened to it on my 7 hour drive to be with my 90 year old dad who had been diagnosed with Covid. I enjoyed reading about people who were dealing with the things we’ve been dealing with for 2 years.
Great story and timely.
ps. Dad recovered.

4 people found this helpful

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Disappointing

I suppose the author thought they were being clever, but it seemed a shallow, jump the shark sort of trope. I was drawn in by the beginning but super disappointed as it plodded on.

1 person found this helpful

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Beautiful!

Always have enjoyed Jodi Picoult’s books but this one touched me like no other!! Living through the COVID pandemic has been unlike any personal trauma I’ve endured throughout my 79 years….Jodi’s remarks at the end are so very, very poignant!!

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engaging informative and surprising

I found myself swept up in the story and did not question its reliability. I was surprised at the turn of events and became bound up in the second story only to come back to the beginning. High marks to Jodi as always.

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Fantastic!

I really loved this book. It was great to listen to a fictional story about people in the midst of the Covid-19 experience. I would definitely recommend this book!

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not what i expected, quite thought- provoking

can't really say much because i don't want to spoil it for others but i was totally engaged in the story and loved the protagonist a lot! narrator is wonderful, so natural!

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really loves this one !

as a health care worker who worked through the pandemic this book had me in tears a couple times. loved it

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Breathtakingly thought provoking and relatable.

I LOVED this book! Without giving away the amazing twist this story takes, Jodie managed once again to reel you in to another way of thinking about your own thoughts and life. Brilliantly written and a comfort really now that we are at the tail end of Covid. Bravo 👏🏻

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A heartfelt reminder of what the world gained…

Well told and balanced with precision and respect…this story resonated with me on so many levels, a timely read as the world seems to struggle in FFWD to make up for the lost progress years of 2020-2021. A reminder to stop, take a deep breath, look around…and consider :)

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  • Susie Q
  • 2021-12-03

Amazing Jodi + excellent narration = 5+++

I have waited for this book for so long, especially after reading a descriptive summary about it months ago. Although i have not quite finished it i had to write a review to share with others how wonderful a book it is. I don't know if everyone will like it as much as I have. I really hope you all do!

I have not had covid but had an limb amputation after developing a severe antibiotic-resistant infection. I was in a medically induced coma for 3 weeks, in the ICU for 2, and had rehab for another 2 weeks. My dreams were not light but very dark. That Jodi chose to write about this subject and Covid 19 has been very helpful. She is my all time favorite author and that's saying a lot since I am 66 and a voracious reader.

I can not recommend this book highly enough. I am going to go back and read it again, and probably again later. Jodi's books always take one thing and focus in and then out, looking at a subject from this perspective and than that. I have learned so much from reading her books, and this book is the same and more. Other authors I read just don't accomplish this, not even close.

Read this book! It is just so darn good! I hope that you enjoy it just ss much. ☺

70 people found this helpful

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  • Lara
  • 2021-12-08

Don’t waste a credit on this!

I bought this book & hated it so quickly I didn’t even make it through the first few chapters. It’s just so basic & cheesy. She also clearly has never been around a doctor, or didn’t do enough research. It’s just so cliche. I hate that I wasted a credit on it.

53 people found this helpful

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  • Jojo Monsoon
  • 2021-12-02

Outstanding!

This book! It wasn’t what I expected at all but I’m so thankful for it.
The story was so well presented and didn’t take the predictable route. The main character’s experience is something I’ve witnessed first hand and Jodi’s research was spot on. I’d love to write more but I can’t without spoilers. Anyway, such a great book! Thank you!

46 people found this helpful

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  • MANDIE
  • 2021-12-02

COVID

I'm a huge fan of her work, however, I read to escape reality and this wasn't the chance. great book, great writing as usual.... but just disappointing

37 people found this helpful

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  • Megan V.
  • 2021-12-01

Love me some Jodi!

I preordered this book in audible, didn’t hesitate to start it, and listened to it all day at work. Very good! Way different than I expected so I take back my rolled eyes lol. Love Jodi so much and after last year’s book that I shockingly didn’t like at all I’m so thankful for this book. WARNING there are AVENGERS/MCU spoilers inside!!!!!

33 people found this helpful

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  • Artista Squirrelista
  • 2021-12-01

Save your money

I’m a huge Jodi Picoult fan and this book is bad. It’s so boring there is literally no plot. Seriously disappointed.

27 people found this helpful

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  • Elizabeth
  • 2021-12-04

loved loved loved this book Jodi never disappoints

was probably the best novel I have listened to in years I loved every minute of it

21 people found this helpful

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  • Bobbie Cutsinger
  • 2021-12-13

Disappointing

I am a Cancer patient with 7 & 15 yr old children. Due to the pandemic, I was forced to spend 5 months in a hospital without them. I did not appreciate her opinions nor trying to escape in a book that was just as depressing as she claims we shouldn’t be. It was a cliche of the pandemic and darn it, I wish I had known so I wouldn’t have wasted my precious time listening to what she imagines it has been like.

20 people found this helpful

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  • Lynn Dodge
  • 2021-12-05

One of the best books Jodi has written!

There are so many pieces of this book that has really hit home for me!

18 people found this helpful

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  • Kelly
  • 2021-12-30

Ignore the negatives…sigh

What a beautiful book! Now I’m not going to do a synopsis I’m going to counter the untruths that have been told here.
Trump is mentioned ONE TIME. Its barely even negative it is not integral part of the book but a passing comment that’s all.
There is no angry-Trump agenda in this book so please do not believe the lies.
Second, there is a gay person that exists in the story ( gasp) just as they exist in real life. apparently that makes the book “ liberal agenda” How dare they be included in a story! That’s literally the level of hate being shown. Sigh… the reviews that are hating this book are pure hatred and it’s tragic that we have diminished artists and forced them to choose or be sabotaged.
Audible probably won’t publish this but it is incredibly dishonest and unfair to an author to not be truthful about the contents of their book. I am countering the hatred toward the author which i should be allowed to do.
Please do not let this hateful politically sensitive reviewers ruin a great read.
Congrats to Jodi for including so much information that i learned a lot and i thought i already knew it all. lol. I learned so much about the Galapagos Islands and I also learned much medical info I thought I knew and just how horrible these almost two years have been. The suffering that has been made political, been mocked even, the medical people that have been treated like trash for saving lives.
I’m ashamed as I read these hateful opinions of what we have become. I’m ashamed when I read mean nasty reviews from ppl who think they are actually moral ppl. I’m deeply ashamed that we have grown into a culture of anti-truth anti -science and anti- kindness.
This book is full of kindness and heart. I’m sorry that kindness is now political but that’s where we are.
We’ve lost our way. I want to think books like this remind us that we have heart and souls not just political ideologies. I want to think we are more than how we vote. Apparently not too some people.
I loved every minute of it and think this is Ms. Piccolt’s best work. It was well researched and if the truth offends then maybe they should think hard about who they have become as human beings.
For those that simply didn’t like the book that’s your right …a book is subjective art after all. But, if you came here just to sabotage an author you have already lost your morality, your soul and truth no longer matters to you.

16 people found this helpful