I just can't seem to get into this book. It feels like there is some sort of disconnect between me and the story. I've been trying to read it, but it's just not holding my attention. Maybe it's the writing style, or perhaps the plot isn't engaging enough for me. Whatever the reason, I find myself constantly losing focus and having to go back and reread passages. I really want to like this book, but so far, it's just not happening. I'm hoping that as I continue reading, something will click and I'll start to enjoy it more. But for now, I'm just kind of slogging through it, waiting for that moment of inspiration to strike.

I truly relished this book right from the start, and my enjoyment persisted until the very end. In fact, I was all set to award it a full 5 stars. However, it had an ending that seemed to materialize out of thin air. I had become deeply invested in the characters, and there were numerous aspects that remained unresolved for me. I'm reluctant to disclose any spoilers, but I sincerely wish the author had dedicated more time to neatly "tie up the loose ends" rather than hastily hurrying to conclude the story. It's a bit of a letdown because the rest of the book was so engaging and had the potential to be a truly outstanding read with a more satisfying ending.

I stopped reading at Page 192.

To be honest, I just wasn't enjoying the characters or the story at all.

The characters seemed rather flat and uninteresting. They lacked depth and complexity, making it difficult for me to form any kind of emotional connection with them.

As for the story, it felt like it was going nowhere. There was no real conflict or tension to keep me engaged. The plot was moving at a snail's pace, and I found myself constantly losing interest.

I had high hopes for this book when I started it, but unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations. Maybe I'll give it another try at some point in the future, but for now, I think I'll move on to something else.

My first encounter with Picoult's work has truly been a captivating experience.

I'm completely hooked and find myself constantly reflecting on the way the story concluded.

The fact that it continues to linger in my thoughts is, without a doubt, a positive sign.

I have a profound love for books that have the power to make you think deeply.

Picoult's writing seems to have that magical quality.

It engages the mind and forces you to consider various perspectives and emotions.

The way she crafts her stories and characters is truly remarkable.

Each page turn brings new surprises and revelations.

I can't wait to explore more of her works and see where they take me.

Overall, my first foray into the world of Picoult has been an extremely enjoyable and thought-provoking one.

This is my very first non-five-star JP book. At the beginning, it was really great, captivating my attention right from the start.

However, as the story progressed, it seemed to drag on and on. It felt like it lost its momentum and became rather dull.

It wasn't until the last two chapters that it finally came back to life for me.

The story revolves around a young girl named Paige. At a tender age, she makes the decision to leave home without a word to anyone and begins to drive east. Along the way, she meets someone, falls in love, gets married, and has a baby.

But then come the struggles. She battles with her marriage, the challenges of motherhood, and life in general. She is constantly haunted by her past and the secrets she has left behind.

Her own mother had abandoned her and disappeared when she was very young. Now, Paige finds herself in a similar situation and decides to leave her baby, husband, and everything else behind once again. Her goal is to find herself, locate her mother, and discover her own place in life.

Overall, I would rate this book 3.5 stars. It had its good moments, but also had some flaws that prevented it from being a full five-star read.

3.5 STARS

Jodi Picoult enthusiasts will quickly recognize that HARVESTING THE HEART is one of her earlier works.

The narrative in this book lacks the profound depth and intense tension that are characteristic of her later novels. None of the characters truly evoke a strong sense of empathy, not even Paige, who was abandoned by her mother at the tender age of five.

However, I did feel a certain degree of sympathy for her father. Although he might not have been the ideal single parent, it was evident that he loved Paige and did his utmost to raise her after his wife and Paige's mother left.

HARVESTING THE HEART is essentially a story about the estrangements that occur within families. Family members often avoid discussing important issues or their true feelings, and as a result, they never manage to reconcile.

For instance, I couldn't fathom why Paige's father never made an effort to see her or meet her son. Similarly, during the eight years that Nicolas was estranged from his parents, it was puzzling why they never once picked up the phone to call him.

Another aspect that bothered me was Nicolas' frequent grabbing of Paige, which was never properly addressed in the story. Additionally, after Paige returned from being away for three months, Nicolas said unkind things to her.

I have a hunch that if Jodi Picoult were to pen this book in the present day, she might very well omit these particular parts.

Surprisingly, I found that I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version on Audible more than reading the physical book itself.

Overall, while HARVESTING THE HEART has its flaws, it still offers some insights into the complex dynamics of family relationships.

A story unfolds about strong women who became trapped in marriages that seemed to devour them. Each woman coped with her situation in a unique way. Paige, whose mother left or disappeared when she was just 5 years old, and Nicholas, an entitled young man with a famous mother and a father who overcame poverty, were an improbable couple. However, when a baby arrives, Paige succumbs to postpartum depression and runs away in search of her mother, leaving Nicholas to grapple with the challenges of caring for an infant while also trying to advance his career as a cardiologist.

The story is filled with the creativity of Paige as she attempts to salvage her marriage, the warm embrace of Nicholas' parents towards their grandson and Paige, and the revelations about how Paige's mother's life has unfolded since her disappearance. These elements combine to make this a page-turner that keeps the reader engaged until the very end. Written in 1993, this is truly Jodi Picoult at her finest, presenting the intricate details and intimate lives of complex characters.

Post Script. I have read recent reviews from those who did not like this book at all. Perhaps, because I belong to an older generation, I found the messiness of the characters and the details of heart transplants, as well as the doctors' feelings and their struggle with abortion in the face of church indoctrination, to be very relatable to that era. It is interesting to see how different readers can have such diverse interpretations of the same work.

This book is not one of her absolute best works, but it is still a good choice for a holiday read.

It has the ability to engage the reader and provide an enjoyable escape during those precious holiday moments.

The story might not be the most complex or deeply profound, but it has its own charm and entertainment value.

It can keep you occupied and entertained as you relax on the beach, by the pool, or in the comfort of your own home.

Even though it may not reach the heights of her very best creations, it still manages to offer a pleasant and engaging reading experience that is perfect for a holiday.

So, if you're looking for something light and enjoyable to read during your holiday, this book could be a great option.

Jodi Picoult's latest work is truly her worst.

The characters she presents are extremely dull and predictable. There's the pretentious, unemotional, and wealthy doctor, and the confused, artsy, and vulnerable little girl. In contrast, all the characters in her other novels are so unique, strong, and someone you don't encounter every day, making you eager to meet them. However, the characters in this book lack imagination.

Moreover, the plot is highly foreseeable. I persevered through the entire book, anticipating the crazy plot twists that she is renowned for. But there was nothing. It unfolded exactly as expected. I also missed her typical storylines involving a legal battle or some debilitating disease. She is so adept at researching these aspects, yet this book could have been easily written with minimal research.

*Spoiler alert*** The fight at the end with Nicholas seemed to drag on for numerous pages, which was completely unnecessary. And her strange breakdown at the end was just odd. How could she not remember any of that night? Granted, she was having an anxiety attack, but it's simply not possible to forget what you did in the next 5 hours after that.

In conclusion, don't bother reading this book. Instead, go for any of her other novels because those are still amazing.

I am an absolute die-hard Jodi Picoult fan. Among all of her remarkable works, "Harvesting The Heart" holds a special place as one of my absolute favorites.

Jodi Picoult has an extraordinary talent for delving deep into the intricate personality traits of each and every character. She doesn't shy away from exploring both the good qualities and the flaws that make them human.

Her writing is so vivid and engaging that it allows readers to truly understand and empathize with the characters on a profound level. "Harvesting The Heart" is a captivating story that will draw you in from the very first page and keep you hooked until the end.

If you haven't read this book yet, I highly recommend that you do. It is an excellent read that will leave you with a lasting impression and a newfound appreciation for Jodi Picoult's writing skills.

OK, I didn't completely detest this Jodi Picoult novel. However, I truly couldn't fathom how she managed to lose the plot so effectively in the final quarter of the book.

Nicholas and Paige had a happy marriage - until Paige discovered she was pregnant. She was overcome with a jumble of emotions, feeling an urge to flee or have a miscarriage. This was related to the fact that her mother had abandoned her and her father when she was 18. It also harked back to an abortion Paige had with her first ex. The conflicting feelings and suppressed emotions grew until Paige started to distance herself from Nicholas, their unborn child, and their marriage.

Paige soon gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Max. Her emotions then exploded into uncertainty, shame over her feelings about the abortion (known only to her and her ex, the father), and her mother's abandonment. Paige suddenly began to realize this when Nicholas, her husband and the head of cardiac care, spent more and more time away while she struggled with the initial "challenges" of new motherhood. The book does touch on postpartum depression to some extent, but it's overshadowed by the mother abandonment issues, which seem to take center stage throughout.

Paige tried to tell Nicholas and reach out for help, but he was obsessed with his career and didn't think it was something that would persist (a common syndrome among many new fathers who don't understand the depth of their wives' postpartum difficulties) and believed it would just "go away". Finally, after three months, Paige snapped and told Nicholas she was leaving. She embarked on a search for her mother, hiring a private detective and finding her living on a horse farm in the South. Paige spent several months with her mother, getting to know her and finally confronting her about her betrayal.

Upon doing this, Paige suddenly realized how much she missed her son and her marriage. She returned home to an angry Nicholas, who threatened to not only take Max away but also file for divorce. Paige didn't give in easily. Nicholas' parents, who had shunned Paige since she and Nicholas got engaged and throughout the marriage, had mellowed with age and as new grandparents, took her in and tried to help.

Basically, to cut to the chase - after all the soul-searching, Max had a close encounter with death, and Nicholas and Paige reconnected - but only on a physical and pseudo-understanding level. The book ends with no clear resolution to their marriage, to her mom's role in her life, to anything. You find out what happens to their child, there's an awkward conversation, and that's it. It's very open-ended. That part of the book really was a letdown, no joke. You care so much about these characters and their family unit, and then suddenly, it's all gone. Disappointing conclusion.

As much as I have a penchant for Jodi Picoult's books, this particular one was far from being among my favorites. In fact, it could very well be my least favorite of all her literary works. I must admit that I did have an appreciation for her vivid descriptions of people, places, and events. However, at times, it felt as if she took it a step too far. She seemed to drone on and on about past events in the characters' lives or offer rather peculiar descriptions of places they had once visited or experiences they had endured.

The story revolves around a young woman who flees her home in Chicago and finds herself in Cambridge. There, she takes up a job as a waitress and meets an older medical resident whom she marries shortly thereafter. Her mother abandoned her when she was just four years old, and this fact keeps resurfacing throughout the book. The main character, Paige, is irritatingly fixated on this (I suppose I might be too, but really, this is fiction!). Eventually, she abandons her infant son and husband to search for her mother. She stays away for a couple of months and then is bewildered when her husband doesn't greet her return with open arms. Her husband, Nicholas, is an arrogant, snobbish surgical doctor whom she constantly attempts to impress.

A significant portion of the book is filled with Paige's tiresome tales of growing up without a mother or Nicholas' stories of his privileged life. After Paige returns, Nicholas contemplates divorcing her, and this intention is further strengthened when their son falls ill. Just as the reader is beginning to think that the two of them might resolve their differences and work on their marriage, the book abruptly ends. I do like the open-ended nature of the conclusion, but I just wish that it could have been resolved to a greater extent (and perhaps a few hundred pages earlier!).

If you're inclined to read a Picoult book, I would recommend sticking to her more recent offerings. They are truly worth the read!