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The Poppy Fields
From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit The MeasureRead with Jenna TODAY Show pick—comes a stunning speculative story of healing, self-discovery, forgiveness, and found friendship.
Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.
Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain...and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects.
On a journey to this mystical destination are four very different strangers and one little dog: Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. As they attempt to make their way from the Midwest all the way west to the Poppy Fields—where they hope to find Ellis, its brilliant, enigmatic founder—each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage.
A high-concept speculative novel about heartache, hope, and human resilience, The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions: How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?
Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.
Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain...and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects.
On a journey to this mystical destination are four very different strangers and one little dog: Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. As they attempt to make their way from the Midwest all the way west to the Poppy Fields—where they hope to find Ellis, its brilliant, enigmatic founder—each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage.
A high-concept speculative novel about heartache, hope, and human resilience, The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions: How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?
324 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2025
2673 people are currently reading
89363 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Erlick
3 books2,747 followersNikki Erlick is a writer and editor whose work has appeared on the websites of New York magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, The Huffington Post, Indagare Travel, BookTrib, and Verge Media. As a travel writer, she explored nearly a dozen countries on assignment—from rural villages in France to the arctic fjords of Norway. As a ghostwriter, she has lent her voice to CEOs, academics, and entrepreneurs. She graduated Harvard University summa cum laude and is a former editor of the Harvard Crimson. She earned a master’s degree in global thought from Columbia University. The Measure is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,349 reviews
June 13, 2025
What I love most about Nikki Erlick’s novels is just how much they open your mind to different ideas about life and the universe, and the self-reflection this leads to. In her previous novel, the question to ponder was whether you would want to know just how much time you have left before you die. As each of the characters grappled with this themselves, I found my snap decision to be different from where I ended up by the conclusion of the novel.
In The Poppy Fields, we have a different issue presented to us - what if you could lapse into a deep sleep that would stop the grieving process at the end of which you would have healed from the loss that elicited those emotions, such as death, the loss of a relationship, etc. But what if there existed a possibility of a side effect that may instead wipe your memory of your feelings towards that person completely? Would you make the choice to “sleep”?
While this obviously leads to a thoughtful, emotional reading experience, and most definitely a fantastic book club discussion, it also creates an environment for the characters to be the true focus. Each and every one is fully fleshed-out, multi-faceted, and engaging characters who feel as though they could exist off of the page. It took me a bit of time to feel connected to them, but once I was, I was all in. In fact, as I reached the 70% mark, I found myself tearing up as things became even more emotional. The theme of grief is so beautifully and realistically portrayed, and I think many who have experienced their own grief will find a lot of solace in this book.
The true standout when it comes to Erlick’s writing, however, is how she is able to drop twist by twist throughout the story, weaving them in and rebalancing things, only to throw them on their axis again with yet another twist. It is an incredible skill and one that keeps the reader glued to the page, wanting to know what next, what next.
🎧 Marin Ireland, and a whole host of others, narrate this audiobook. Need I say more? Definitely read via audio if you are a fan of the format.
Read if you like:
▪️thought provoking stories
▪️character driven
▪️emotional reads
▪️multiple POVs
▪️mystery element
▪️book club type books
Check out my IG post here!
A huge thank you to William Morrow and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
In The Poppy Fields, we have a different issue presented to us - what if you could lapse into a deep sleep that would stop the grieving process at the end of which you would have healed from the loss that elicited those emotions, such as death, the loss of a relationship, etc. But what if there existed a possibility of a side effect that may instead wipe your memory of your feelings towards that person completely? Would you make the choice to “sleep”?
While this obviously leads to a thoughtful, emotional reading experience, and most definitely a fantastic book club discussion, it also creates an environment for the characters to be the true focus. Each and every one is fully fleshed-out, multi-faceted, and engaging characters who feel as though they could exist off of the page. It took me a bit of time to feel connected to them, but once I was, I was all in. In fact, as I reached the 70% mark, I found myself tearing up as things became even more emotional. The theme of grief is so beautifully and realistically portrayed, and I think many who have experienced their own grief will find a lot of solace in this book.
The true standout when it comes to Erlick’s writing, however, is how she is able to drop twist by twist throughout the story, weaving them in and rebalancing things, only to throw them on their axis again with yet another twist. It is an incredible skill and one that keeps the reader glued to the page, wanting to know what next, what next.
🎧 Marin Ireland, and a whole host of others, narrate this audiobook. Need I say more? Definitely read via audio if you are a fan of the format.
Read if you like:
▪️thought provoking stories
▪️character driven
▪️emotional reads
▪️multiple POVs
▪️mystery element
▪️book club type books
Check out my IG post here!
A huge thank you to William Morrow and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
June 17, 2025
Q. Why have 100,000 People Chosen to Sleep for a Month?”
A. To try and heal their broken hearts. 💔
In a remote part of the California desert, lies a therapeutic center called “The Poppy Fields”. It is both experimental and controversial and free to those who are accepted after applying. Thousands of people are currently lying in unfamiliar beds, side by side, wearing identical crisp red pajamas, the sight reminiscent of the field of flowers.🌺
Most are grieving the loss of someone, some through death-some through betrayal-and most will sleep for a month. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, similar to a medically induced Coma, the majority of them will wake up feeling like the pain is finally no longer “all consuming”.
But a full 25% of all patients will suffer an irreversible side effect-the inability to ever again feel emotions toward their lost loved ones. Is not feeling the “pain” worth not remembering the “love”?
Three strangers are on their way to the “Poppy Fields” -all for different reasons. Ava, and her friendly dog P.J., a fireman named Ray, and Sasha, an occupational therapist. Along the way, they will also meet a free spirit named “Sky”.
Each believes that the “Poppy Fields” will be able to give them the closure they need-but they might only need this shared journey to give them the answers that they seek.
3.5 ⭐️
Nikki Erlick’s “The Measure” was my favorite book of 2022 so to say that I was dying to get my hands on an early copy of this book would be an understatement. It was definitely one of my MOST ANTICIPATED reads for 2025.
PERHAPS my expectations were too high after reading the many rave reviews for this book, but I found the PREMISE far more compelling than the execution. There is a LOT of thought provoking reflection on the topic of grieving (great for book club discussion) but I wasn’t connecting emotionally with these characters or their journey.
PERHAPS, it was because I recently read another work of SPECULATIVE FICTION, which also dealt with grief and it did so with a more engaging story which I preferred to this one.
Regardless, I’m rounding up for the original premise and because I didn’t feel the desire to skim, which are two factors which usually convince me to round down-even though I wasn’t as enamored with this story as many other early readers and 4 stars feels a bit generous.
A buddy read with DeAnn. Did she feel differently? Please watch for her review!
NOW AVAILABLE
Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
A. To try and heal their broken hearts. 💔
In a remote part of the California desert, lies a therapeutic center called “The Poppy Fields”. It is both experimental and controversial and free to those who are accepted after applying. Thousands of people are currently lying in unfamiliar beds, side by side, wearing identical crisp red pajamas, the sight reminiscent of the field of flowers.🌺
Most are grieving the loss of someone, some through death-some through betrayal-and most will sleep for a month. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, similar to a medically induced Coma, the majority of them will wake up feeling like the pain is finally no longer “all consuming”.
But a full 25% of all patients will suffer an irreversible side effect-the inability to ever again feel emotions toward their lost loved ones. Is not feeling the “pain” worth not remembering the “love”?
Three strangers are on their way to the “Poppy Fields” -all for different reasons. Ava, and her friendly dog P.J., a fireman named Ray, and Sasha, an occupational therapist. Along the way, they will also meet a free spirit named “Sky”.
Each believes that the “Poppy Fields” will be able to give them the closure they need-but they might only need this shared journey to give them the answers that they seek.
3.5 ⭐️
Nikki Erlick’s “The Measure” was my favorite book of 2022 so to say that I was dying to get my hands on an early copy of this book would be an understatement. It was definitely one of my MOST ANTICIPATED reads for 2025.
PERHAPS my expectations were too high after reading the many rave reviews for this book, but I found the PREMISE far more compelling than the execution. There is a LOT of thought provoking reflection on the topic of grieving (great for book club discussion) but I wasn’t connecting emotionally with these characters or their journey.
PERHAPS, it was because I recently read another work of SPECULATIVE FICTION, which also dealt with grief and it did so with a more engaging story which I preferred to this one.
Regardless, I’m rounding up for the original premise and because I didn’t feel the desire to skim, which are two factors which usually convince me to round down-even though I wasn’t as enamored with this story as many other early readers and 4 stars feels a bit generous.
A buddy read with DeAnn. Did she feel differently? Please watch for her review!
NOW AVAILABLE
Thank You to William Morrow for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.
August 27, 2025
Grief is a sensitive, deeply personal, and often triggering subject. Everyone experiences it differently, and the process is sacred, painful, and unique to each individual. While it’s said that grief has five stages, some people never move past the second or third, unable to find closure or a way to move forward.
Poppy Fields explores this profound question: What if you had the chance to sleep for one or two months in a specialized facility and, upon waking, no longer felt crushed under the weight of your grief? What if you could finally breathe without feeling like glass shards were stabbing your heart with every inhale—moving on without wearing your pain like an invisible scar? Would you take that chance, or would you still cling to your grief, even as it slowly eroded your sense of self?
Ellis, the enigmatic, fiercely dedicated founder of this remote treatment center in the California desert, believes she is helping people process their pain. The facility, an innovative yet highly controversial institution, was never about financial gain—she personally selects each candidate through a rigorous application and interview process, shaping the program based on her own life experiences. But her work is not without its critics. Protesters challenge the ethics of the treatment, and some former patients report an unsettling side effect: a small percentage emerge emotionally numb, detached from their past and memories, stripped of sentimentality.
Ellis’s sister, Ava, resents her for prioritizing this work over family. Determined to confront Ellis, Ava embarks on a journey to the facility, only to be rerouted by a natural disaster. Along the way, she finds herself traveling with two strangers—Sasha, a young Korean occupational therapist who was on the verge of becoming a runaway bride, and Ray, a firefighter grieving the loss of his brother Johnny, who underwent the treatment and came back… different. Convinced something sinister is happening behind closed doors, Ray is determined to uncover the truth. They are later joined by Sky, an adventurous 18-year-old taking a gap year, as their paths converge on the facility.
What awaits them when they arrive? Will they find the closure they seek, or uncover something far more unsettling? Most importantly, if given the chance to heal simply by closing your eyes and disconnecting from the world for two months—would you take it?
Overall, this is a thought-provoking, deeply moving, and philosophical journey with well-developed characters and unforgettable emotional depth. A compelling exploration of grief, healing, and identity, this book will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to move forward while holding onto the past.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with this incredible digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Poppy Fields explores this profound question: What if you had the chance to sleep for one or two months in a specialized facility and, upon waking, no longer felt crushed under the weight of your grief? What if you could finally breathe without feeling like glass shards were stabbing your heart with every inhale—moving on without wearing your pain like an invisible scar? Would you take that chance, or would you still cling to your grief, even as it slowly eroded your sense of self?
Ellis, the enigmatic, fiercely dedicated founder of this remote treatment center in the California desert, believes she is helping people process their pain. The facility, an innovative yet highly controversial institution, was never about financial gain—she personally selects each candidate through a rigorous application and interview process, shaping the program based on her own life experiences. But her work is not without its critics. Protesters challenge the ethics of the treatment, and some former patients report an unsettling side effect: a small percentage emerge emotionally numb, detached from their past and memories, stripped of sentimentality.
Ellis’s sister, Ava, resents her for prioritizing this work over family. Determined to confront Ellis, Ava embarks on a journey to the facility, only to be rerouted by a natural disaster. Along the way, she finds herself traveling with two strangers—Sasha, a young Korean occupational therapist who was on the verge of becoming a runaway bride, and Ray, a firefighter grieving the loss of his brother Johnny, who underwent the treatment and came back… different. Convinced something sinister is happening behind closed doors, Ray is determined to uncover the truth. They are later joined by Sky, an adventurous 18-year-old taking a gap year, as their paths converge on the facility.
What awaits them when they arrive? Will they find the closure they seek, or uncover something far more unsettling? Most importantly, if given the chance to heal simply by closing your eyes and disconnecting from the world for two months—would you take it?
Overall, this is a thought-provoking, deeply moving, and philosophical journey with well-developed characters and unforgettable emotional depth. A compelling exploration of grief, healing, and identity, this book will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to move forward while holding onto the past.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with this incredible digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
July 16, 2025
Nikki Erlick is a Master of the Speculative Fiction Premise...
The Poppy Fields has an original and creative premise with an out-of-the-box dynamic that encompasses what-if situations, allowing readers to ponder grief. It is intense in all the right places and offers life and substance to the struggles of loss...
With that said, several aspects of this story fell short for me..
An emotional connection with the main characters, which I look forward to in every book, didn't happen until well into the story. The one character I fully connected with was a secondary character who surfaced near the end of the book. She was full of life and memories to share, and worthy of a story of her own.
The main characters' backstories unfolded too slowly, causing the story to drag, feel repetitive, and lengthy. At times, it felt as though reaching the Poppy Fields had become secondary, and the story had lost its focus.
This was an immersion read; the audiobook features a multicasting narration with Marin Ireland as the primary narrator. Her voicing and recounting of the story were seamless and uplifting.
The Poppy Fields has a unique premise that drew me in. It's a story I liked, but I didn't love it, and I was expecting a better execution overall. I'm glad Nikki Erlick has a strong following, and many positive reviews and high ratings for this book. I look forward to more of her work in the future!
3.25⭐
Thank you to William Morrow, HarperAudio, and Nikki Erlick for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The Poppy Fields has an original and creative premise with an out-of-the-box dynamic that encompasses what-if situations, allowing readers to ponder grief. It is intense in all the right places and offers life and substance to the struggles of loss...
With that said, several aspects of this story fell short for me..
An emotional connection with the main characters, which I look forward to in every book, didn't happen until well into the story. The one character I fully connected with was a secondary character who surfaced near the end of the book. She was full of life and memories to share, and worthy of a story of her own.
The main characters' backstories unfolded too slowly, causing the story to drag, feel repetitive, and lengthy. At times, it felt as though reaching the Poppy Fields had become secondary, and the story had lost its focus.
This was an immersion read; the audiobook features a multicasting narration with Marin Ireland as the primary narrator. Her voicing and recounting of the story were seamless and uplifting.
The Poppy Fields has a unique premise that drew me in. It's a story I liked, but I didn't love it, and I was expecting a better execution overall. I'm glad Nikki Erlick has a strong following, and many positive reviews and high ratings for this book. I look forward to more of her work in the future!
3.25⭐
Thank you to William Morrow, HarperAudio, and Nikki Erlick for the gifted DRC and ALC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
April 6, 2025
Everyone grieves differently. Isn't that something we’ve all heard?
Sadly, I’m sure everyone has experienced grief in one form or another. The loss of a loved one or close friend. Perhaps the sudden end of a relationship, or the unconscionable new custom of ghosting. That unbearable pain that drops you to your knees, questioning if you will ever heal?
Did you ever wish there was a quicker way to heal beyond conventional therapy? Since we don’t have a magic pill, the next best thing just might be The Poppy Fields.
Simply put, The Poppy Fields is a place to heal. Where those fortunate enough to be accepted into the program go to find peace with their loss.
They are “sleeping” for a month, maybe two, as professionals (and medications) help them put their grief in a place where they can at last move forward. And of course, there are risks involved. One in four have a side effect that leaves them emotionally void, waking to a feeling of indifference for their loss and loved one. Worth the risk? That’s up to you to decide. Think hard about it.
Four strangers embark on a journey to The Poppy Fields. Each with their own personal heartache. Their paths will cross and their time together will reshape their lives forever.
Nikki Erlick’s debut The Measure was a book that stayed with me for a very long time. So when I had the opportunity to read her latest I couldn’t pick it up fast enough! And Wow! What a story of love, loss, grief and healing!
I just love how this author weaves her storyline that has a hint of science-fiction but still contains such thought provoking depth that you are instantly a part of it. Can’t imagine what she will come up with next! But I’ll be the first in line!
Thank you to William Morrow via Edelweiss
Sadly, I’m sure everyone has experienced grief in one form or another. The loss of a loved one or close friend. Perhaps the sudden end of a relationship, or the unconscionable new custom of ghosting. That unbearable pain that drops you to your knees, questioning if you will ever heal?
Did you ever wish there was a quicker way to heal beyond conventional therapy? Since we don’t have a magic pill, the next best thing just might be The Poppy Fields.
Simply put, The Poppy Fields is a place to heal. Where those fortunate enough to be accepted into the program go to find peace with their loss.
They are “sleeping” for a month, maybe two, as professionals (and medications) help them put their grief in a place where they can at last move forward. And of course, there are risks involved. One in four have a side effect that leaves them emotionally void, waking to a feeling of indifference for their loss and loved one. Worth the risk? That’s up to you to decide. Think hard about it.
Four strangers embark on a journey to The Poppy Fields. Each with their own personal heartache. Their paths will cross and their time together will reshape their lives forever.
Nikki Erlick’s debut The Measure was a book that stayed with me for a very long time. So when I had the opportunity to read her latest I couldn’t pick it up fast enough! And Wow! What a story of love, loss, grief and healing!
I just love how this author weaves her storyline that has a hint of science-fiction but still contains such thought provoking depth that you are instantly a part of it. Can’t imagine what she will come up with next! But I’ll be the first in line!
Thank you to William Morrow via Edelweiss
August 1, 2025
OMG! I did not think that I would ever finish this book. I should have put this long, boring book in the DNF pile- but I am stubborn. So stubborn, that I like to finish what I start, and so stubborn that I actually thought that this book just might get better. Spoiler alert- IT DOESN’T! This is a book about absolutely nothing!!! For me, this book was a total waste of time, and I am so sorry that I read it.
Let me start off by saying that the synopsis is a bit misleading. I thought this was a story that took place in the Poppy Fields, since that is where the individuals who were suffering from loss and grief went to sleep through their pain. WRONG!! This is a story of four strangers who meet up and travel to the California desert together to get to the Poppy Fields. These four strangers travel together through the whole book, and never arrive to the Poppy Fields until the very end of the book. Like seriously!!!
We have Ava and her dog, PJ. Then we have Sasha, Ray and Sky. I did not connect with any of these characters, and each character was so boring 🥱. We then had Ellis who ran the Poppy Fields. I think Ellis’s story was supposed to be a big, emotional twist in the story. But guess what? It was another snooze fest 😴
I really enjoyed “The Measure” by this author, but after reading this book I think I might be done with this author. This book did nothing for me, it was not my cup of tea at all, and I can’t say that I would ever recommend this.
(1.5 stars).
Let me start off by saying that the synopsis is a bit misleading. I thought this was a story that took place in the Poppy Fields, since that is where the individuals who were suffering from loss and grief went to sleep through their pain. WRONG!! This is a story of four strangers who meet up and travel to the California desert together to get to the Poppy Fields. These four strangers travel together through the whole book, and never arrive to the Poppy Fields until the very end of the book. Like seriously!!!
We have Ava and her dog, PJ. Then we have Sasha, Ray and Sky. I did not connect with any of these characters, and each character was so boring 🥱. We then had Ellis who ran the Poppy Fields. I think Ellis’s story was supposed to be a big, emotional twist in the story. But guess what? It was another snooze fest 😴
I really enjoyed “The Measure” by this author, but after reading this book I think I might be done with this author. This book did nothing for me, it was not my cup of tea at all, and I can’t say that I would ever recommend this.
(1.5 stars).
May 26, 2025
May 26, 2025 Audio version Review:
The audio of this book was simply amazing! The Narrators did a fantastic job at bringing this book to life! I reread this digital book with the audiobook and I highly recommend doing both! It was entertaining, enjoyable, engaging and conversational! I give this audiobook 5/5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Narrators Marin Ireland; Dan Bittner; Stacey Glemboski; Graham Halstead; Mia Barron; Callie Dalton; Janina Edwards; Shawn K. Jain; Christian Barillas; Jason Culp, author Nikki Erlick and HarperAudio Adult for this early copy of the audio version of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2025:
I just received an arc for the audio version of this book & will be listening to it and writing my review on it as well.
────୨ৎ────
May 16, 2025:
Book Review:
This novel was a roller coaster ride of emotions. It is extremely thought provoking and reflective. It flowed well, had a clear thesis and was beautifully written. It has multiple point of views, with all of the main characters in the story having a strong character development. It has lovable characters that just draws you into their lives and what happened to them individually. I found it to be engaging, thematically structured and memorable. The way this author writes this book is just amazing and unique. Even though this is a book of fantasy fiction, it felt really realistic to me. I felt that the minor characters stood out to me as well. This centers around the theme of processing guilt and healing. Furthermore, it explores how different people go through loss and trauma. Don’t let this beautiful cover fool you, this book is very deep! Overall, I give this 4 out of 5 stars
“The Poppy Fields” follows four different strangers and a little dog. They travel into the poppy fields to seek comfort and connection. The poppy fields is a facility that gives people a chance to heal and find hope after a devastating trauma they experienced .
I think anyone that is looking for a deep emotional book to read would enjoy this one! It does remind me of the poppy fields in the “Wizard of Oz” movie. However, this book is unique in its own way. Content warnings include death, child death and grief.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Nikki Erlick and William Morrow for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on June 17, 2025!
The audio of this book was simply amazing! The Narrators did a fantastic job at bringing this book to life! I reread this digital book with the audiobook and I highly recommend doing both! It was entertaining, enjoyable, engaging and conversational! I give this audiobook 5/5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Narrators Marin Ireland; Dan Bittner; Stacey Glemboski; Graham Halstead; Mia Barron; Callie Dalton; Janina Edwards; Shawn K. Jain; Christian Barillas; Jason Culp, author Nikki Erlick and HarperAudio Adult for this early copy of the audio version of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2025:
I just received an arc for the audio version of this book & will be listening to it and writing my review on it as well.
────୨ৎ────
May 16, 2025:
Book Review:
This novel was a roller coaster ride of emotions. It is extremely thought provoking and reflective. It flowed well, had a clear thesis and was beautifully written. It has multiple point of views, with all of the main characters in the story having a strong character development. It has lovable characters that just draws you into their lives and what happened to them individually. I found it to be engaging, thematically structured and memorable. The way this author writes this book is just amazing and unique. Even though this is a book of fantasy fiction, it felt really realistic to me. I felt that the minor characters stood out to me as well. This centers around the theme of processing guilt and healing. Furthermore, it explores how different people go through loss and trauma. Don’t let this beautiful cover fool you, this book is very deep! Overall, I give this 4 out of 5 stars
“The Poppy Fields” follows four different strangers and a little dog. They travel into the poppy fields to seek comfort and connection. The poppy fields is a facility that gives people a chance to heal and find hope after a devastating trauma they experienced .
I think anyone that is looking for a deep emotional book to read would enjoy this one! It does remind me of the poppy fields in the “Wizard of Oz” movie. However, this book is unique in its own way. Content warnings include death, child death and grief.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Nikki Erlick and William Morrow for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on June 17, 2025!
May 27, 2025
i’m obsessed with Nikki Erlick’s creativity and mind 👏🏼💭✨ she is so creative and THE POPPY FIELDS was another book that will make ya think, feel and just sit with the story 🩷
4.5 rounded to 5 for GR! i’d change a few things but overall, this was such a goodie.
THE MEASURE is one of my all-time fave books and THE POPPY FIELDS was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases. it’s just so creative—what if you could go into an induced sleep (think: a coma) and when you wake up, your grief is gone? you’re no longer hurting and you feel so much better. would you do it? what if you learned 25% of people wake up and feel nothing at all—not even happy, peaceful nostalgic memories of the person you lost? would you still do it?
THE POPPY FIELDS covers this topic and let me just say it’s fascinating. THE MEASURE was another book written in a similar fashion that makes you take the book chapter by chapter and really sit and think. as someone who reads ALOT, these are the books i’m loving more and more.
i didn’t expect this book to go where it did (the road trip of it all), but found that to be a fun way to explore the story and see how so many different people experience and cope with grief. there were a fun few twists along the way and i loved how the author weaved so many characters together.
🎧 the audiobook of this is a must—it’s not technically a full cast, but it has multiple narrators and formats (think: newspaper articles, interviews, etc) that give a different perspective of the treatment and i thought that was super creative. the main narrator is Marin Ireland who is fab!
*this will make for a GREAT book club pick! so much to discuss and debate and see what others would do if given the same situation.
one note—this is much more lit fic and almost science fiction vs magical realism like THE MEASURE. not bad but just interesting to note the differences. the one thing is change is following a character or two after the treatment vs the roadtrip before the treatment. i also didn’t really get the point of Sky 🤔
also THE MEASURE crossover!!!!!!!!!! did ya catch it?!
i’ll always read whatever she writes! her sophomore novel was worth the wait 🌸
thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for the gifted ARC & ALC! this is out 6/17
one of my fave quotes:
“If we sleep, if we suffer the side effect, if we are no longer shaped by the people we love, who are we?“
4.5 rounded to 5 for GR! i’d change a few things but overall, this was such a goodie.
THE MEASURE is one of my all-time fave books and THE POPPY FIELDS was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases. it’s just so creative—what if you could go into an induced sleep (think: a coma) and when you wake up, your grief is gone? you’re no longer hurting and you feel so much better. would you do it? what if you learned 25% of people wake up and feel nothing at all—not even happy, peaceful nostalgic memories of the person you lost? would you still do it?
THE POPPY FIELDS covers this topic and let me just say it’s fascinating. THE MEASURE was another book written in a similar fashion that makes you take the book chapter by chapter and really sit and think. as someone who reads ALOT, these are the books i’m loving more and more.
i didn’t expect this book to go where it did (the road trip of it all), but found that to be a fun way to explore the story and see how so many different people experience and cope with grief. there were a fun few twists along the way and i loved how the author weaved so many characters together.
🎧 the audiobook of this is a must—it’s not technically a full cast, but it has multiple narrators and formats (think: newspaper articles, interviews, etc) that give a different perspective of the treatment and i thought that was super creative. the main narrator is Marin Ireland who is fab!
*this will make for a GREAT book club pick! so much to discuss and debate and see what others would do if given the same situation.
one note—this is much more lit fic and almost science fiction vs magical realism like THE MEASURE. not bad but just interesting to note the differences. the one thing is change is following a character or two after the treatment vs the roadtrip before the treatment. i also didn’t really get the point of Sky 🤔
also THE MEASURE crossover!!!!!!!!!! did ya catch it?!
i’ll always read whatever she writes! her sophomore novel was worth the wait 🌸
thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for the gifted ARC & ALC! this is out 6/17
one of my fave quotes:
“If we sleep, if we suffer the side effect, if we are no longer shaped by the people we love, who are we?“
June 17, 2025
—— 𝟑.𝟓 ☆ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬. 🌺
📖┆𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢 𝐄𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤
🏷️┆𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝔽𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
📆┆𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟝/𝟚𝟚/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟝/𝟚𝟠/𝟚𝟝
📋┆𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions: How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?” 」
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★½
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟷𝟹 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴛᴀᴄᴏꜱ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ 🌮
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 📻 ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ꜱʟᴜᴍʙᴇʀ ♪ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴛʟᴇꜱ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ʏᴇꜱ; ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴄʟᴜʙ
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🌺 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
🌺 ʀᴏᴀᴅᴛʀɪᴘ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
🌺 ᴇᴛʜɪᴄᴀʟ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴜꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ
🌺 ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxɪᴛɪᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ɢʀɪᴇꜰ
🌺 ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴠᴏᴋɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ
🌺 ᴀꜱᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴ “ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜰ”
⚠️TW: death, child death, grief
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• If there was somewhere you could go to sleep away the pain after losing someone, would you do it? Sounds simple enough, right? Who wants to be in pain? But there’s a catch… when you wake up, you might experience a side effect of the treatment: no longer caring about or loving that person anymore at all. Feeling indifference towards them. Is that something you would worth risking?
• The Poppy Fields had all the makings of being a 5 star read. Interesting premise, wonderful writing, well developed characters. However, I could not get with the slow pacing. I found myself bored reading about a whole lot of.. well to be honest, nothing. 75% of the book nothing really happened; we just followed Ava, Ray, Sasha, & Sky on their journey to the fields. Speaking of the fourth character, Sky, I don’t know know why she was on this journey with them. Her story didn’t match up with any of the others’. She felt like a fill in character. I would’ve preferred if we had just stuck to the three; Ava, Ray, & Sasha.
• Even though I found myself a bit bored, I still enjoyed the concept. As someone who has lost two very important in her life, the topic of grief is something that will always hit home for me. It is something I’ve learned I will always struggle with it, but it is books like this that make your feelings of grief feel seen & makes you realize that you’re not alone on this somewhat lonely journey.
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
♡ Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Be on the lookout for The Poppy Fields, hitting shelves on June 17th 2025!
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.
❝𝑷𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒓𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒃𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑰𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒃𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍?❞
📖┆𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢 𝐄𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤
🏷️┆𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝔽𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟
📆┆𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟝/𝟚𝟚/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟝/𝟚𝟠/𝟚𝟝
📋┆𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “The Poppy Fields explores the path of grief and healing, a journey at once profoundly universal and unique to every person, posing the questions: How do we heal in the wake of great loss? And how far are we willing to go in order to be healed?” 」
❝"𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆," 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. "𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒕, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖."❞
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★½
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟷𝟹 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴛᴀᴄᴏꜱ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ 🌮
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 📻 ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ꜱʟᴜᴍʙᴇʀ ♪ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴛʟᴇꜱ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ʏᴇꜱ; ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴄʟᴜʙ
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🌺 ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
🌺 ʀᴏᴀᴅᴛʀɪᴘ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
🌺 ᴇᴛʜɪᴄᴀʟ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴜꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ
🌺 ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxɪᴛɪᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ɢʀɪᴇꜰ
🌺 ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴠᴏᴋɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ
🌺 ᴀꜱᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴ “ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜰ”
⚠️TW: death, child death, grief
❝𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 ... 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕... 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏. 𝑭𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒂𝒅.❞
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
💬┆𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• If there was somewhere you could go to sleep away the pain after losing someone, would you do it? Sounds simple enough, right? Who wants to be in pain? But there’s a catch… when you wake up, you might experience a side effect of the treatment: no longer caring about or loving that person anymore at all. Feeling indifference towards them. Is that something you would worth risking?
• The Poppy Fields had all the makings of being a 5 star read. Interesting premise, wonderful writing, well developed characters. However, I could not get with the slow pacing. I found myself bored reading about a whole lot of.. well to be honest, nothing. 75% of the book nothing really happened; we just followed Ava, Ray, Sasha, & Sky on their journey to the fields. Speaking of the fourth character, Sky, I don’t know know why she was on this journey with them. Her story didn’t match up with any of the others’. She felt like a fill in character. I would’ve preferred if we had just stuck to the three; Ava, Ray, & Sasha.
• Even though I found myself a bit bored, I still enjoyed the concept. As someone who has lost two very important in her life, the topic of grief is something that will always hit home for me. It is something I’ve learned I will always struggle with it, but it is books like this that make your feelings of grief feel seen & makes you realize that you’re not alone on this somewhat lonely journey.
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
❝𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒚, 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒑 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔, 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒅, 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎, 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆.❞
♡ Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Be on the lookout for The Poppy Fields, hitting shelves on June 17th 2025!
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.
❝𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒖𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔. 𝑰𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑, 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕, 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 ...𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞?❞
March 10, 2025
Another contemplative story! I love Nikki’s out of the box thinking in her storytelling. My only critique is it wasn’t long enough! I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters.
April 23, 2025
How do you mend a broken heart
How do you stop the rain from falling down?
Perhaps there is a place for you to rid yourself of a heart broken through loss? There is a place in the desert of California that can provide healing through sleep. Sounds amazing and something we might consider if we are among those that no matter how much time has passed find ourselves in inconsolable .
Ellis, the brilliant woman who created the Poppy Field is the destination for four travelers, Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. They bond together and as they travel we learn of their sorrows, their hopes for the fields, and the secrets that may deter them from what they seek.
There are so many thought provoking concepts in this story and it is one that you will continue to ponder after the last word is read. Would you go there if you could, if this imagined place was available, if what they promised could be yours?
The Poppy is a flower that is ever so resilient. It was the first flower to grow after the devastation of the war and so the center seems aptly named. Can people come back after a devastating loss, the loss of a child, husband, wife, parents, brothers, sisters etc. or do our memories of our lost loved ones become something we wish to hold onto throughout our lives?
How do you stop the rain from falling down?
Perhaps there is a place for you to rid yourself of a heart broken through loss? There is a place in the desert of California that can provide healing through sleep. Sounds amazing and something we might consider if we are among those that no matter how much time has passed find ourselves in inconsolable .
Ellis, the brilliant woman who created the Poppy Field is the destination for four travelers, Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. They bond together and as they travel we learn of their sorrows, their hopes for the fields, and the secrets that may deter them from what they seek.
There are so many thought provoking concepts in this story and it is one that you will continue to ponder after the last word is read. Would you go there if you could, if this imagined place was available, if what they promised could be yours?
The Poppy is a flower that is ever so resilient. It was the first flower to grow after the devastation of the war and so the center seems aptly named. Can people come back after a devastating loss, the loss of a child, husband, wife, parents, brothers, sisters etc. or do our memories of our lost loved ones become something we wish to hold onto throughout our lives?
June 6, 2025
“Life has found a way to survive, even when the world makes it damn near impossible.”
The Poppy Fields is my first Goodreads Giveaway win, so of course I wanted to love it and deliver a glowing review. Excitement filled me when I received my first ARC in the mail. I may have even squealed a bit. God, I love the feel and smell of a brand new book. It's intoxicating. "The Poppy Fields" is an experimental and controversial treatment center designed to help those struggling with the heartache of loss by allowing them to sleep through their pain. This unique concept is what reeled me in. The execution of the story, however, fell flat for me. Perhaps I am not the right audience. Much thanks and appreciation to Goodreads, the author Nikki Erlick, and Harper Collins Publishers for this Advance Reader’s Edition. I finally won a book!
“I found myself staring at a poster on my wall, a scene from The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy asleep among the poppies... and I conjured the mysterious Poppy Fields, the setting of this novel. Like the beloved Wizard of Oz, this novel is a journey in which four strangers-and one little dog-find themselves unexpectedly thrown together, each with their own motivations for making the voyage.” -Nikki Erlick
The Poppy Fields is my first Goodreads Giveaway win, so of course I wanted to love it and deliver a glowing review. Excitement filled me when I received my first ARC in the mail. I may have even squealed a bit. God, I love the feel and smell of a brand new book. It's intoxicating. "The Poppy Fields" is an experimental and controversial treatment center designed to help those struggling with the heartache of loss by allowing them to sleep through their pain. This unique concept is what reeled me in. The execution of the story, however, fell flat for me. Perhaps I am not the right audience. Much thanks and appreciation to Goodreads, the author Nikki Erlick, and Harper Collins Publishers for this Advance Reader’s Edition. I finally won a book!
“I found myself staring at a poster on my wall, a scene from The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy asleep among the poppies... and I conjured the mysterious Poppy Fields, the setting of this novel. Like the beloved Wizard of Oz, this novel is a journey in which four strangers-and one little dog-find themselves unexpectedly thrown together, each with their own motivations for making the voyage.” -Nikki Erlick
June 28, 2025
3.5⭐
Though this was a thought-provoking story with an intriguing premise, it just didn't hold my interest. I enjoyed this author's previous book The Measure more than this one.
This work of contemporary speculative fiction revolves around a treatment center called the Poppy Fields that is set in the southern California desert to help people who are struggling with loss. These people want to escape the pain of loss and the grief that goes with it. The treatment center puts them into something similar to a medically induced coma to sleep for one to two months. Hopefully, the participants will wake up feeling better and more refreshed. However, some patients suffer from an unusual side effect. (No spoiler here.) Is this a truly qualified treatment plan or is it more of a risky experiment?
Three individuals who are on their way to the Poppy Fields for different reasons join up to rent a car and travel together to California when their flights are cancelled in Kansas. The bulk of the story is all about their journey and what brought them to that point. The narrative tended to drag at times for me, and I felt that the character development was somewhat weak. Nonetheless, these character's adventurous ride to the Poppy Fields turns out to be introspective, revealing, and life changing for them. For me it was rather blah.
This book may appeal more to readers who love character-driven novels about life's choices. In addition to The Measure, this also reminded me of the novel Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty.
Though this was a thought-provoking story with an intriguing premise, it just didn't hold my interest. I enjoyed this author's previous book The Measure more than this one.
This work of contemporary speculative fiction revolves around a treatment center called the Poppy Fields that is set in the southern California desert to help people who are struggling with loss. These people want to escape the pain of loss and the grief that goes with it. The treatment center puts them into something similar to a medically induced coma to sleep for one to two months. Hopefully, the participants will wake up feeling better and more refreshed. However, some patients suffer from an unusual side effect. (No spoiler here.) Is this a truly qualified treatment plan or is it more of a risky experiment?
Three individuals who are on their way to the Poppy Fields for different reasons join up to rent a car and travel together to California when their flights are cancelled in Kansas. The bulk of the story is all about their journey and what brought them to that point. The narrative tended to drag at times for me, and I felt that the character development was somewhat weak. Nonetheless, these character's adventurous ride to the Poppy Fields turns out to be introspective, revealing, and life changing for them. For me it was rather blah.
This book may appeal more to readers who love character-driven novels about life's choices. In addition to The Measure, this also reminded me of the novel Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty.
July 2, 2025
Beautiful writing and I liked the characters and the surreal plot. It also had themes to ponder, like if we really want to escape from grief.
July 11, 2025
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Grief is never just grief. It can be fear or anger. Grief can also be guilt. The question we will ask ourselves would always be the same: How much was my fault? You’re always wondering if there was something that you could have done differently. Wouldn’t it be easier if there was actually a treatment for grief? Would you do it?
In The Poppy Fields, there is a therapeutic facility in California that caters to the bereaved. It’s free for anyone who is a candidate and with high success rates, everyone wants to be accepted. The candidates are put into a coma-like state for up to 8 weeks where they sleep through their sorrow. However, this treatment can come at a cost. The true question is if one can accept it?
Four strangers cross paths on their way to this destination. Each is going through something heartbreaking & looking for answers. They slowly become threads in each other’s healing. Their journey is like a slow paced road trip with slow breaks, turns and slowed time.
Erlicks’ originality is very impressive. She wrote a perfect, thought provoking book for book clubs and people who have experienced loss, grief and healing after trauma. It was so well written that it had me wondering what I would choose. In the end, I don’t think I would have chosen to go through the treatment even-though it sounds like a life changing & saving experience.
After having read “The Measure” recently, I knew this would be a hit just by its cover. Although it’s not a 5-star read for me, I think she delivered a very relatable & character driven, speculative tale with so much room for understanding how one battles and processes hardships, let’s downs, and passing moments.
In The Poppy Fields, there is a therapeutic facility in California that caters to the bereaved. It’s free for anyone who is a candidate and with high success rates, everyone wants to be accepted. The candidates are put into a coma-like state for up to 8 weeks where they sleep through their sorrow. However, this treatment can come at a cost. The true question is if one can accept it?
Four strangers cross paths on their way to this destination. Each is going through something heartbreaking & looking for answers. They slowly become threads in each other’s healing. Their journey is like a slow paced road trip with slow breaks, turns and slowed time.
Erlicks’ originality is very impressive. She wrote a perfect, thought provoking book for book clubs and people who have experienced loss, grief and healing after trauma. It was so well written that it had me wondering what I would choose. In the end, I don’t think I would have chosen to go through the treatment even-though it sounds like a life changing & saving experience.
After having read “The Measure” recently, I knew this would be a hit just by its cover. Although it’s not a 5-star read for me, I think she delivered a very relatable & character driven, speculative tale with so much room for understanding how one battles and processes hardships, let’s downs, and passing moments.
July 17, 2025
The Measure is one of my favorite books of all time. With that said, I had very high hopes for The Poppy Fields and it absolutely delivered. To read a Nikki Erlick book is the equivalent of opening a door in your mind you never knew existed. She is brilliant. Coming up with these speculative types of stories takes a certain kind of creativity, it's nuanced and Nikki does it like no other.
The Poppy Fields follow five characters all of which are interconnected in someway and have different feelings towards the treatment. The fields itself are actually a therapeutic center that people suffering from loss can go to and sleep away their grief. Generally, sleepers wake up feeling better, able to move forward with their lives. However, 20% of people wake up with a side effect that makes them lose their feelings of the love they once had for the person they were mourning.
There are many things that had caught my attention through out the read but I'm going to stick to only two topics in an attempt to NOT have this review turn into a short story.
Ellis, the creator of the fields, struggles to keep the treatment free of charge and under her care as the remaining members of the board want to expand and monetize. Books can and should talk about important things going on in our country and the rising costs of pharmaceuticals due to corporate greed is one of them. Now, I'm not sure if this is something that the author wanted to dive into but it's how I interpreted it. Ellis is passionate, undeniably brilliant and cares deeply about her patients, about doing enough. It makes me wonder how many other innovators are there that wanted to make the world a better place but are steamrolled by corporations despite their efforts to create for good.
This book comes down to one question. Would you trade the love you had for someone in exchange for peace after they're gone? The tricky part is you also lose the connection to that love. It's the centuries old question, would you rather have loved and lost or never have loved at all?
Love and loss are two sides of the same coin and what Nikki Erlick does is examine it from every angle with grace and an understanding that only comes from experiencing a great loss from an even greater love. Relationships are complicated. Feelings and people are complicated. The way one person processes grief is completely different from how another person does. What's the same? The love we carry. It's always there changing shape and form as it's needed. That's the beauty of this book, it captures love in its truest greatest capacity.
The Poppy Fields is thought provoking and emotionally stirring. It explores the human condition, its tendencies and the deep impact of love. I feel changed. Altered in someway for the better. A captivating story of growth through destruction, a reawakening. It's the book you will never forget.
Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Poppy Fields follow five characters all of which are interconnected in someway and have different feelings towards the treatment. The fields itself are actually a therapeutic center that people suffering from loss can go to and sleep away their grief. Generally, sleepers wake up feeling better, able to move forward with their lives. However, 20% of people wake up with a side effect that makes them lose their feelings of the love they once had for the person they were mourning.
There are many things that had caught my attention through out the read but I'm going to stick to only two topics in an attempt to NOT have this review turn into a short story.
Ellis, the creator of the fields, struggles to keep the treatment free of charge and under her care as the remaining members of the board want to expand and monetize. Books can and should talk about important things going on in our country and the rising costs of pharmaceuticals due to corporate greed is one of them. Now, I'm not sure if this is something that the author wanted to dive into but it's how I interpreted it. Ellis is passionate, undeniably brilliant and cares deeply about her patients, about doing enough. It makes me wonder how many other innovators are there that wanted to make the world a better place but are steamrolled by corporations despite their efforts to create for good.
This book comes down to one question. Would you trade the love you had for someone in exchange for peace after they're gone? The tricky part is you also lose the connection to that love. It's the centuries old question, would you rather have loved and lost or never have loved at all?
Love and loss are two sides of the same coin and what Nikki Erlick does is examine it from every angle with grace and an understanding that only comes from experiencing a great loss from an even greater love. Relationships are complicated. Feelings and people are complicated. The way one person processes grief is completely different from how another person does. What's the same? The love we carry. It's always there changing shape and form as it's needed. That's the beauty of this book, it captures love in its truest greatest capacity.
The Poppy Fields is thought provoking and emotionally stirring. It explores the human condition, its tendencies and the deep impact of love. I feel changed. Altered in someway for the better. A captivating story of growth through destruction, a reawakening. It's the book you will never forget.
Thank you NetGalley & William Morrow for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2025
The Poppy Fields has to be one of the most unique books I have read in quite some time!! This one felt like a whole mix of genres. We get bits of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery, a touch of romance, a twist or two...and one common theme tying it all together: grief.
I am a big fan of The Measure & was so excited to get my hands on this one! The two books are so different so I can't compare the two, but I will say I was expecting the ending to pack a bigger punch. There are so many different stories being told along the way that I did get confused a couple of times. But at the same time I loved each time the different character's paths crossed and new layers were revealed. Our main characters, and their journeys through grief, deeply wove themselves into my heart along the way. That last chapter definitely left wanting more!
•Multiple POV
•Large cast of characters
•Thought provoking
•Speculative fiction
•Character driven
Thank you to Harper Audio & NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook and William Morrow for granting my wish of an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Publishing June 17th.
4 stars
I am a big fan of The Measure & was so excited to get my hands on this one! The two books are so different so I can't compare the two, but I will say I was expecting the ending to pack a bigger punch. There are so many different stories being told along the way that I did get confused a couple of times. But at the same time I loved each time the different character's paths crossed and new layers were revealed. Our main characters, and their journeys through grief, deeply wove themselves into my heart along the way. That last chapter definitely left wanting more!
•Multiple POV
•Large cast of characters
•Thought provoking
•Speculative fiction
•Character driven
Thank you to Harper Audio & NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook and William Morrow for granting my wish of an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Publishing June 17th.
4 stars
June 18, 2025
4.25 stars
"A stunning speculative story of healing, self-discovery, forgiveness, and found friendship.
What if there were a cure for the broken-hearted?
Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.
Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain...and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects."
This is a brilliant look at love, loss, and grief. Erlick's writing is masterful with beautiful, philosophical prose. Her character development of four strangers who become fast friends on a road trip is excellent and a nod to The Wizard of Oz. The characters are all fully fleshed out. I loved the characters, and Erlick's insights on love and loss are a beautiful work of genius. The comparison of poppies to human resilience is also groundbreaking - pun intended! This book will provide for a fantastic discussion as a book club pick. I did want to emotionally connect with the characters more. That said, this is another important thought-provoking read from the brilliant Nikki Erlick.
Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Nikki Erlick for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
"A stunning speculative story of healing, self-discovery, forgiveness, and found friendship.
What if there were a cure for the broken-hearted?
Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal.
Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of loss to sleep through their pain...and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects."
This is a brilliant look at love, loss, and grief. Erlick's writing is masterful with beautiful, philosophical prose. Her character development of four strangers who become fast friends on a road trip is excellent and a nod to The Wizard of Oz. The characters are all fully fleshed out. I loved the characters, and Erlick's insights on love and loss are a beautiful work of genius. The comparison of poppies to human resilience is also groundbreaking - pun intended! This book will provide for a fantastic discussion as a book club pick. I did want to emotionally connect with the characters more. That said, this is another important thought-provoking read from the brilliant Nikki Erlick.
Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Nikki Erlick for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
August 1, 2025
The Poppy Fields by NIkki Erlick was disappointing. The Measure was such a fantastic book based on an interesting concept. I found myself comparing the two and it just didn’t measure up. A fun note: The Measure was referenced in this book.
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June 17, 2025
dnf at 12%
2 ⭐
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
15+
(I won't be writing content warning for this book bc I feel like I don't know enough abt it 😭✨)
OVERVIEW
This just wasn't for me.
I really wanted to like this, and I was so excited to read it, but I just wasn't absorbed.
This is definitely just a me thing tho, that's why I'm not giving this 1 star.
Maybe I'll find it in me to try this book again sometime in the future? Maybe I'll actually like it?
Who knows?
But until then, this is going onto my dnf shelf and staying there
pre-read
who’s gonna cry over her feedback ratio?
🙋♀️
PUT. THAT. DOWN.
🧍♀️
better.
2 ⭐
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
15+
(I won't be writing content warning for this book bc I feel like I don't know enough abt it 😭✨)
OVERVIEW
This just wasn't for me.
I really wanted to like this, and I was so excited to read it, but I just wasn't absorbed.
This is definitely just a me thing tho, that's why I'm not giving this 1 star.
Maybe I'll find it in me to try this book again sometime in the future? Maybe I'll actually like it?
Who knows?
But until then, this is going onto my dnf shelf and staying there
pre-read
who’s gonna cry over her feedback ratio?
🙋♀️
PUT. THAT. DOWN.
🧍♀️
better.
March 24, 2025
Such an interesting premise for a book - what if you could “sleep” for 4-8 weeks under medical supervision to help you through a horrible period of grief or trauma so that you wake up preserving the memory but with a weakened emotional force?
Grief hits everyone - some harder than others and some need help. Ellis has formed a company that helps people thru their grief by putting them to sleep while their brain works thru the emotional stuff.
Absolutely loved the concept of this book. But it did get a bit long and repeated itself a bit too much.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nikki Erick (loved her first book The Measure) and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Grief hits everyone - some harder than others and some need help. Ellis has formed a company that helps people thru their grief by putting them to sleep while their brain works thru the emotional stuff.
Absolutely loved the concept of this book. But it did get a bit long and repeated itself a bit too much.
Thank you to NetGalley, Nikki Erick (loved her first book The Measure) and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 10, 2025
After loving The Measure, Nikki Erlick’s debut and one of my favorite reads in 2022, I was excited to read her new book, The Poppy Fields. While I didn’t like quite it as much as The Measure, I still enjoyed it and at about 300 pages with consistently short chapters, found it to be a quick read.
The Poppy Fields is a story about grief. A few strangers find themselves stranded in the Kansas City airport after their flight to California is canceled due to bad weather. They decide to road trip together and learn while they all have the same destination, The Poppy Fields, they have different purposes for making the trip. I liked the characters, although I found one a bit annoying compared to the rest. I felt for the grief they were each going through.
The Poppy Fields is a story of grief, memory, friendship, healing, and hope. I didn’t know anything about poppies before reading this, and learned a little bit about their history as a flower and how the featured place and title of this story came to be — 3.5 stars
The Poppy Fields is a story about grief. A few strangers find themselves stranded in the Kansas City airport after their flight to California is canceled due to bad weather. They decide to road trip together and learn while they all have the same destination, The Poppy Fields, they have different purposes for making the trip. I liked the characters, although I found one a bit annoying compared to the rest. I felt for the grief they were each going through.
The Poppy Fields is a story of grief, memory, friendship, healing, and hope. I didn’t know anything about poppies before reading this, and learned a little bit about their history as a flower and how the featured place and title of this story came to be — 3.5 stars
July 25, 2025
3-1/2 stars!
The Poppy Fields is about strangers on a road trip together. The characters seem to be very different but they end up being thrown together because they are basically all heading in the same direction, which is the controversial Poppy Fields. The Poppy Fields is a place where people go to undergo “treatment” to help deal with grief. Applicants must be accepted in order to receive this controversial treatment. We get to know the characters on the road trip as well as the founder of the treatment.
Is there really a better way to heal from and process our grief? 🤔 Would be nice but sounds too easy!
Nikki Erlick has created an interesting premise here - one that makes us ponder loss and healing.
The Poppy Fields is about strangers on a road trip together. The characters seem to be very different but they end up being thrown together because they are basically all heading in the same direction, which is the controversial Poppy Fields. The Poppy Fields is a place where people go to undergo “treatment” to help deal with grief. Applicants must be accepted in order to receive this controversial treatment. We get to know the characters on the road trip as well as the founder of the treatment.
Is there really a better way to heal from and process our grief? 🤔 Would be nice but sounds too easy!
Nikki Erlick has created an interesting premise here - one that makes us ponder loss and healing.
June 5, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Poppy Fields, by Nikki Erlick, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In California their is a treatment center, like no other, people can sleep their way through grief, with side affects of course. I think one of the problems of the world today, is people want the easy way, grief is a process, different for everybody. but losing somebody we love is the price we pay for love. I would not go to this center, I have a very fresh grief, an unexpected death of a very close loved one, and I still would not go. grief and healing is part of lifes journey.
March 29, 2025
Nikki Erlick is officially 2 for 2! It’s impossible to mention Erlick without bringing up the brilliance of The Measure and I am delighted to discover that The Poppy Fields holds the same amount of substance and dare I say, an even better addition to her works. Erlick is a master of coming up with unique, well rounded, and substantial stories while executing the idea with precision.
We follow multiple characters who all have some sort of relation to a new treatment at The Poppy Fields and we get the pleasure of fleshing out their individual responses, behaviours, and points of view. But don’t worry, this isn’t philosophizing the moral ambiguity of a treatment as radical as The Poppy Fields, but it does hit on the reasons as to why people would want to risk something so monumental. We see the calamities of human failure and our society as a whole and how it could push one already teetering on the edge.
I was so pleasantly surprised by so many aspects of this book from the little Wizard of Oz nods to the interweaving of multifaceted characters of all ages and genders. So many characters were linked in ways I had never expected and the poignant nature of Erlick’s honed talent and skill really pushed a brilliant idea to a genius piece of work. It’s safe to say that I was interested in Erlick before, but I also think she outdid herself from The Measure and I am now truly enamored.
I feel privileged to have gotten an ARC, but can I just say, June is looking GOOD for books.
We follow multiple characters who all have some sort of relation to a new treatment at The Poppy Fields and we get the pleasure of fleshing out their individual responses, behaviours, and points of view. But don’t worry, this isn’t philosophizing the moral ambiguity of a treatment as radical as The Poppy Fields, but it does hit on the reasons as to why people would want to risk something so monumental. We see the calamities of human failure and our society as a whole and how it could push one already teetering on the edge.
I was so pleasantly surprised by so many aspects of this book from the little Wizard of Oz nods to the interweaving of multifaceted characters of all ages and genders. So many characters were linked in ways I had never expected and the poignant nature of Erlick’s honed talent and skill really pushed a brilliant idea to a genius piece of work. It’s safe to say that I was interested in Erlick before, but I also think she outdid herself from The Measure and I am now truly enamored.
I feel privileged to have gotten an ARC, but can I just say, June is looking GOOD for books.
July 14, 2025
The premise of this novel was entirely unique. Unfortunately, it had a strong start but a rushed ending. The reader follows four strangers on a road trip to the elusive Poppy Fields treatment center. The Fields provides hope for those who have suffered an indescribable loss—sleep for a month, and your heartbreak will be healed. Maybe I did not understand the treatment's potential side effect, "emotional moderation," well enough, but it did not make an impact on me. I loved reading about how the author drew inspiration for this novel from The Wizard of Oz, though. I think it will be worth it for me to check out her debut, The Measure.
July 1, 2025
LOVED!!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 3, 2025
I’m spilling all the tea on The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick, a thought-provoking, speculative novel that grips your heart and refuses to let go. 💔🥹 If you’re searching for a powerful blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and raw emotion, you may want to keep reading! 🌌💫
Setting the Stage 🎭 Imagine a tranquil escape tucked away in the California desert, where hope flourishes amidst the scorching sands. 🌵☀️ The Poppy Fields is an experimental treatment center designed to help those suffering from heartache heal by letting them sleep through their pain. Sounds intriguing, right? 💤✨ But beware, because this rejuvenating slumber may have mysterious side effects!
The journey to this enigmatic sanctuary follows four quirky strangers—Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky—alongside their adorable companion, PJ the pup! 🐶❤️ Each character carries their own heavy burdens, and as they navigate their way west, the struggles from their past threaten to derail their quest for healing.
A Read That Hits Home 💖 This book explores deep themes of grief, resilience, and the quest for healing—topics that resonate universally. 😢💪 The Poppy Fields had me asking myself profound questions like, “How far would I go to heal from my own losses?” The emotional journey was nothing short of powerful! 💥🌈
🔊 Speaking of powerful, I was blown away by the stacked narration team! 🎤 With talented voice actors like Marin Ireland and Dan Bittner, the audiobook experience was immersive and captivating. 🌌🎧 I highly recommend earmarking this for your next listen!
Why 4 Stars? ⭐⭐⭐⭐ While I found the writing and execution absolutely mesmerizing, I did feel that the clarity regarding the point of view in each chapter could have been a bit sharper. 🤔 At times, it took a moment to orient myself as to whose thoughts I was diving into. 😅 The story is told in third person, which is not my personal favorite, but I can see how this style lends itself nicely to the book's overall theme.
I would have loved clearer chapter identifiers based on each character's POV. That little tweak could have transformed the experience from great to spectacular! 🌠✨
Final Thoughts 💭 If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and ponder your own journey through grief, The Poppy Fields is calling your name! 📖❤️ I guarantee you’ll find it difficult not to shed a few tears along the way, so make sure to have a box of tissues handy! 💧🧻 Mark your calendars for the release date—August 12, 2025—because you won’t want to miss this one!
So, grab a comfy blanket, prepare for an emotional ride, and get ready to explore the depths of heartache and hope in this unforgettable novel! 💖🌼✨
Happy reading! 📚😊✨
Setting the Stage 🎭 Imagine a tranquil escape tucked away in the California desert, where hope flourishes amidst the scorching sands. 🌵☀️ The Poppy Fields is an experimental treatment center designed to help those suffering from heartache heal by letting them sleep through their pain. Sounds intriguing, right? 💤✨ But beware, because this rejuvenating slumber may have mysterious side effects!
The journey to this enigmatic sanctuary follows four quirky strangers—Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky—alongside their adorable companion, PJ the pup! 🐶❤️ Each character carries their own heavy burdens, and as they navigate their way west, the struggles from their past threaten to derail their quest for healing.
A Read That Hits Home 💖 This book explores deep themes of grief, resilience, and the quest for healing—topics that resonate universally. 😢💪 The Poppy Fields had me asking myself profound questions like, “How far would I go to heal from my own losses?” The emotional journey was nothing short of powerful! 💥🌈
🔊 Speaking of powerful, I was blown away by the stacked narration team! 🎤 With talented voice actors like Marin Ireland and Dan Bittner, the audiobook experience was immersive and captivating. 🌌🎧 I highly recommend earmarking this for your next listen!
Why 4 Stars? ⭐⭐⭐⭐ While I found the writing and execution absolutely mesmerizing, I did feel that the clarity regarding the point of view in each chapter could have been a bit sharper. 🤔 At times, it took a moment to orient myself as to whose thoughts I was diving into. 😅 The story is told in third person, which is not my personal favorite, but I can see how this style lends itself nicely to the book's overall theme.
I would have loved clearer chapter identifiers based on each character's POV. That little tweak could have transformed the experience from great to spectacular! 🌠✨
Final Thoughts 💭 If you’re looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and ponder your own journey through grief, The Poppy Fields is calling your name! 📖❤️ I guarantee you’ll find it difficult not to shed a few tears along the way, so make sure to have a box of tissues handy! 💧🧻 Mark your calendars for the release date—August 12, 2025—because you won’t want to miss this one!
So, grab a comfy blanket, prepare for an emotional ride, and get ready to explore the depths of heartache and hope in this unforgettable novel! 💖🌼✨
Happy reading! 📚😊✨
June 30, 2025
No need to visit The Poppy Fields. Just read this book - it will put you to sleep! 😬
I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and wasn’t fully prepared for a road trip type of plotline. Just not enough going on to move the story forward.
I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and wasn’t fully prepared for a road trip type of plotline. Just not enough going on to move the story forward.
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