Wish You Were Here

 

Diana is an art specialist for Sotheby’s.  Her boyfriend, Finn, is a surgical resident. Their life is planned- marriage, 2 kids, house in the suburbs. She anticipates that he’ll propose on an upcoming trip to the Galápagos Islands. The COVID-19 virus has hit and it’s horrible in NYC. Finn works night and day and Diana loses a big client jeopardizing her promotion. The country goes on lockdown.  What happens with the trip to Galápagos Islands?  Does Diana go alone? Without giving details, it is life-changing. 

When I first received this book to review, I wasn’t excited about a book about COVID. Being a nurse, it’s too real. We all have COVID fatigue and would just rather forget it and be done. But, this book is about so much more than COVID. The characters are like so many that spend their life working for “things” only to find out that that’s not what’s important in life. How often do we settle?  How often are we in relationships that don’t bring us joy?  This book really gets down to what’s important in life. As usual, Jodi Picoult does not disappoint.  

Flying Angels

 

Audrey and Lizzie lived lives of privilege.  Audrey wanted for nothing materially, loved her family, but was lonely after her father and brother died. She enters nursing school knowing she will care for her mother as her dementia progresses. She meets her best friend Lizzie in nursing school.  Lizzie is from a wealthy East Coast family.  She doesn't quite fit the mold and doesn't feel like she fits in with her family.  She's not interested in all the trappings of wealth.  They are appalled when she chooses a career in nursing.  After graduation, Lizzie works as a nurse and Audrey cares for her mother.  The war breaks out, Audrey's brother enlists and perishes in Pearl Harbor.  Audrey's mother dies and both Audrey and Lizzie enlist in the flying nurse corps.  They are stationed in England and join a troop of other nurses and health care professionals that retrieve those injured at the front line.  They are called the Flying Angels.

This is yet another Danielle Steel novel that does not disappoint.  The story of Audrey, Lizzie and the friends they make during the war is the real story.  It's a story of friendship, war, resilience and love.