The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

I would like to thank Harper360 and Random Things Tours for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher - Harper360

Published - Out Now

Price - £18.99 hardback £10.99 ebook

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 in this emotional book club read. 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 literary fiction voyage.

I’d be lying that there have not been times in my life when I just wish I could close my eyes and when I opened them everything would be better. It is often very dodging to prices our issues at the same time dealing with them. Is there any magic wand we could use and should we? That’s the fascinating premise behind Nikki Erlick’s novel The Poppy Fields a group of strangers bond and find themselves drawn to the latest miracle cure that may actually work but other secrets lie in wait.

In California a new treatment has begun for those in the most pain. The Poppy Fields offers to those it selects a pioneering induced sleep lasting weeks when it ends most patients report they feel much better about the issues that have dominated their lives. On their way there are three strangers Ava, Ray, Sky and Sasha all from different parts of the country but a delayed flight brings them together as they realise they are all heading to the Poppy Fields but only as they talk do they realise all have very personal reasons for going.

Reader expectation is always fascinating to me, I immediately go looking for the catch be that evil scientists or dangerous treatment. This is slightly more a morality tale with a speculative element. Erlick sets up and then gently shared the cast’s secrets and hidden connections to the Poppy Fields. Elegantly constructed it was in many ways refreshing that while there are some ethical issues Erlick seems more interested in the split between switching off your from your stressors to tackling them head on. Often achieved by some pen portraits of various clients of the Fields explaining their cases. You may find as you progress that you feel empathy more than harsh judgement and I think that is the key message of the story.

I do feel though there is a cast of problems rather than fully fledged characters, a lot get lives shared in exposition rather than perhaps the more organic steeling I prefer but the secret connections to the fields are revealed in surprising ways.

A gentle story with a kind heart that I think raises list of potential questions for the reader that I think some people may enjoy. I just needed a little more grit to fully connect with it