Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by 30, done having kids by 35, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. 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 Galapagos, days before her 30th 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. In the Galapagos Islands, 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.
With Jodi Picoult, if you know her writing (and she’s written a lot), what you expect is what you get. She is a master at taking a topic and examining it from every possible angle, no doubt she does a copious amount of research. Her books have become mildly formulaic and predictable; nevertheless, she is also known for a jaw-dropping twist in the tale. In this one the twist is so significant that it felt like a cheap trick at first. But as I read on, it just morphed into another topic that was also quite interesting to explore until the ending…don’t get me started on that…
The topic is the Covid-19 pandemic. Is it too soon for that? In some ways it might be, especially if you don’t care to become immersed in a story that we’ve actually been reluctantly living for the last couple of years, or if you’ve lost a loved one to the coronavirus. But it was interesting to see how far the science and our knowledge has come and how our understanding of the virus has developed.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
One of the interesting aspects of reading this first (for me) pandemic book was the reminder of all we’ve been through: wiping down groceries, leaving mail outside for 2 weeks, shortages of random household products, first responders in every country being asked to save the world. I’m still processing the ‘twist’ and would love to understand how rooted in actual or even anecdotal experience it is.
I haven’t recommended the book yet because it does seem too soon, like pushing on tender skin. I did immediately open your site to read your review though because I wanted a ‘check in’ of someone else’s reaction, and of course you didn’t disappoint. Thank you.
Thanks for your comment. Totally felt the same Nancy. When I think about how I washed my groceries I want to cringe, but we’ve learned so much since then. I wonder how many other ‘pandemic’ books will be published in the next while.
Hey Jo: Another book I read while killing time in Korea last November as Michael worked. I was fully engrossed in it and couldn’t believe the twist. What I found very interesting was how much I had forgotten the horrible deaths worldwide and how each city – esp NY where the story took place – had dealt with the rapid deaths. As I read it, Jodi brought back to mind the trauma we world went through…which I clearly pushed to the back of my mind… GREAT read!
Totally agree with the book bringing back all the ‘feels’ of the pandemic. Not sure I loved the twist but I do always enjoy Picoult’s work. Starting her latest one now which I am looking forward to: Mad Honey!
I enjoyed Mad Honey too Jo…learnt A LOT about bees, and opened a new door for me on understanding the subject of transgender…. and yes – I love Jodi’s books. I can’t get over how writers thoroughly research their stuff!