The Poppy Fields, Nikki Erlick (Review by Kristin Kurek)

Queen Elizabeth II famously stated, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

But, is grief worth it?  That’s what The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick seeks to answer.

Four strangers, Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky, set out on a cross-country journey together after their plane is grounded. Their destination is an experimental facility in which a grieving person can sleep for one to two months and wake up with lessened grief. Too good to be true? Perhaps. In rare cases, patients awaken with complete apathy for the person that they were previously grieving. Ellis, the brilliant founder of the Poppy Fields, has to defend her life’s work and deal with the questions surrounding the morality of her work. Each character experiences grief differently and questions if their sadness is something to be cured. Is grief a worthwhile side-effect of love? How much grief is too much grief? At what point is sadness a problem to be remedied?

I was completely captivated by The Poppy Fields. Nikki Erlick weaves a profound story with lyrical writing and richly developed characters. The reader cannot help but be immersed in each character’s individual journeys. I found myself personally involved with each moral quandary that the characters battled. I was intellectually and emotionally challenged in the best way. I found myself questioning at what points I would remove grief from my life if given the opportunity. And, if grief can be mitigated, is the depth of love impacted? Wow! I cannot stop thinking about this hauntingly beautiful book!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves thought-provoking storytelling through well-developed characters. 5 stars!!!