Book Review: "The Poppy Fields" by Nikki Erlick

Nikki Erlick’s last book, The Measure, was one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in some time. So needless to say, when my book club picked this to read, I was pretty excited.

How do we truly heal from pain? That’s the question at the core of the book. Everyone’s grief looks different, and all too often, we seek a quick fix. But it’s not always that easy.

In a remote stretch of the California desert, a controversial center called The Poppy Fields promises a place to sleep through your sorrow and wake up healed. The center, however, is extremely selective about who they accept.

Four strangers find themselves on a journey to this mysterious facility: Sasha, an occupational therapist; Ray, a firefighter; Ava, a book illustrator traveling with her dog; and Skye, a free spirit. Each has their own reason for wanting to meet the center’s brilliant founder, Ellis—but as secrets from their pasts emerge, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways.

I enjoyed the camaraderie of the four strangers and I found Ellis to be an intriguing character. However, the pacing of the book was sooo slow, and none of the travelers’ secrets were particularly surprising. This was definitely a case in which the concept was great but the execution wasn’t. Onto the next!