Publication Date September 15, 2026
In 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021 I read and reviewed Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things, Spark of Light, The Book of Two Ways, and Wish You Were Here…and each one earned five stars (with two or three getting my “You HAVE to read this book”). I also noted in every review that “when a friend and former library co-worker basically sniffed her disapproval when I told her I liked Jodi Picoult’s books, our friendship was changed forever.” Having worked for several years in public libraries, I always tried not to be judgmental of people’s reading preferences, or when I found out that someone thought Danielle Steel wrote great literature to negatively impact my opinion of them. But really, I don’t get it. I know Ms. Picoult is writing for a mass market – and sometimes her resolutions might be just a bit too neat for snooty readers. But I’ll admit right up front, I am a sucker for a well-plotted story that makes me think about a social issue or two along the way.
That’s kind of how I think about Jodi Picoult: writes a great storyline and brings in some thought-provoking social issue(s) along the way. One of my favorite authors, for many years. Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley, I had the gift of a copy of Ms. Picoult’s latest, Hollow Bones, in exchange for this honest review.
A friend said, “But don’t Picoult’s books ALWAYS get five stars from you?” Which made me think…and I’m not sure, but I do know that several of her books have just knocked me out (in a good way). This one is no exception!
The protagonist is Molly Fitzgerald, who was two months old on 9/11. On that day, her mother had an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. When she became an adult, she became the person in charge during emergencies when her successful career put her in charge of Rhode Island’s Department for Emergency Preparedness. SHe and her police polygraph expert name Jesse The book skillfully includes various perspectives and timelines as it explores a multitude of topics, including Mother-Daughter angst/relationships, Emergency preparedness scenarios, family dynamics, female friendships, and more. WARNING: If you are someone who might be “triggered” by emotionally charged stories, stories about postpartum difficulties, or just books that make you cry, tread lightly. But it is terrific, as expected. Thank you Jodi Picoult! Five stars.NOTE: The first paragraph above is from an earlier review. And I wasn’t wild about the resolution…but it’s JP, so it is still five stars!