Dearly Beloved,

We are gathered here today to mourn the death of civility. Of all the many losses we have experienced in this pandemic, this is one of the most glaring. Maybe you have noticed rudeness blooming in everyday situations as we move out of lockdown and into a socialized world again. Opinions are not just shared, they are now trumpeted, and if they flaunt science or facts, so what? It is as if the pandemic has given some the belief that their innermost thoughts are not just worthy of being aired… they are credos everyone else must be subjected to.

As an author, I have a public presence. I know that part of the gig is hearing criticism about my writing. That’s cool. I’m old enough to know that not every book will please every person. I also know how hard I work on each novel, and have a deep sense of pride in that. Part of my job is being on social media. I get to interact with my readers personally and that is awesome 99% of the time.

Then there is the other one percent. Those are the folks who reply to a benign post “Wish You Were Here: coming 11/30!” with a variant of: “I sure hope it’s better than your last book because I couldn’t get through that one.” Or see my new profile pic and respond: “Nice pic. Your writing has gone downhill ever since My Sister’s Keeper.”

Are these readers entitled to their opinions? Sure! They might even use their own social media accounts to air them. But tagging me, or posting on my own social media makes me wonder…why? What do you hope to get out of that? Do you expect me to agree with you? Having a negative opinion is one thing; believing that the person you’re criticizing must hear it is another. Imagine walking up to a stranger on the street and saying, “Is that your baby? I think she is really ugly. Just my own opinion, of course! Bye!”

Remember the good old days, when if you didn’t have something nice to say you didn’t say anything at all?

We are told as authors never to comment on bad reviews; critics (and readers) are entitled to their thoughts. But I also know that even when I dislike a book as a reader, I can usually find something positive to say about it in a public forum and I keep the criticisms to myself. I recognize the time and energy that went into that product, even if it wasn’t my cup of tea. If I don’t like a book, it may not be the fault of the writer at all. It may be something I wasn’t in the mood to read at that moment.

I realize that I’m breaking my own rules. I’m complaining in public. I’m sending you a newsletter of my thoughts right NOW, for goodness’ sake. But you signed up to receive this newsletter, which suggests maybe you were interested in hearing what I say. I just want to remind you that there is a way to be heard, and also to be civil. Kindness is currency. Before you post, think of who will read it, and if it will lift them up…or drag them down.

I’m not a fragile flower. I can take criticism. But there is a difference between measured, constructive feedback and snark for the sake of being snarky. I urge you to not hit that reply button without asking yourself, “How would I feel if someone dropped into my feed and said this about me?” Honestly, this past year has been crappy enough. We could all use a little less mean, and a little more joy. 

XO,
Jodi

Preorder Wish You Were Here from a participating local bookseller and you’ll receive a signed copy! I’m thrilled to partner with and help support independent bookstores across the country for this special offer.

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 Galapagos—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 Galapagos Islands, where Darwin’s theory of 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.

Available in the US and Canada on 11/30/21
Available in the UK, Australia and NZ on 11/25/21

The NEW paperback edition is now available for purchase! It includes a Q&A with Jodi and Jojo Moyes, plus an excerpt from Wish You Were Here!

Everything changes in a single moment for Dawn Edelstein. She's on a plane when the flight attendant makes an announcement: prepare for a crash landing. She braces herself as thoughts flash through her mind. The shocking thing is, the thoughts are not of her husband, but a man she last saw fifteen years ago: Wyatt Armstrong.

Dawn, miraculously, survives the crash, but so do all the doubts that have suddenly been raised. She has led a good life. Back in Boston, there is her husband, Brian, her beloved daughter, and her work as a death doula, where she helps ease the transition between life and death for patients in hospice.

But somewhere in Egypt is Wyatt Armstrong, who works as an archaeologist unearthing ancient burial sites, a job she once studied for, but was forced to abandon when life suddenly intervened. And now, when it seems that fate is offering her second chances, she is not as sure of the choice she once made.

On sale in US/CA: 9/7/21
On sale now in the UK.
Ask Jodi: Answers To Your Questions 

Q: What are you listening to?
JP: Reverie — Ben Platt’s new album.

Q: What are you reading?
JP: Hilma Wolitzer’s gorgeous short story, “The Last Story in a Long Marriage," Julie Anne Long’s I’m Only Wicked with You, Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, and Hannah Whitten’s upcoming For the Throne.

Q: What are you watching?
JP: White Lotus, Nine Perfect Strangers, Coda, and Bachelor in Paradise.

This quote from Wish You Were Here? (On sale in the US and Canada on 11/30, and available in the UK, Australia, and NZ on 11/25).
 

One of the best books I’ve ever read (The Book of Two Ways)! It has stayed with me. Great work Jodi!

Order your paperback copy of international #1 bestseller, A Spark of Light, which includes a Q&A with Jodi and book club discussion questions.

I loved it (The Book of Two Ways). Loved the notes at the end. Loved knowing about the professor and about your son. Loved it. You are the best at challenging the reader, and never ever writing formulaic plots. I never know what to expect. Thank you.

The paperback edition includes a reading group guide plus a Q&A with author Celeste Ng!

Congratulations to Anne, this month's free signed book winner.

Each month, one person will be chosen from my newsletter subscribers or Facebook fans as a winner of a free signed edition of my latest book.

Just pre-ordered (Wish You Were Here)! I'm so excited for a signed copy. You have been my favorite author since I was 14 and read House Rules. 

AP News
 
Saint Louis Post-Dispatch
“Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult • Picoult has a knack with timely subjects, and in her 27th novel, a couple's trip to the Galapagos is upended by a new virus. While her doctor boyfriend must cancel to work in a hospital, Diana is stuck on the islands during what might be an evolutionary experience.”
 
Screen Rant
“In October 2019, it was reported King was attached to star as Wren in A Spark of Light (via Deadline), based on the novel of the same name by Jodi Picoult. Described as a Dog Day Afternoon in a women's health clinic, King's character is the daughter of a hostage negotiator who is called to the scene only to discover her daughter is trapped inside with the gunman. When King's first-look deal with Netflix was announced in July, it was also revealed that not only is King attached to headline, she's also set to produce the limited series for Hulu and Sony Pictures TV.”
 
Psyche Central
“‘Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.’ — Jodi Picoult, Sing You Home“