The Book of Two Ways: A stunning novel about life, death and missed opportunities

I enjoyed this story. I have loved all of her books. This one turns a page for Picoult (pun intended) where she really deeply researches Egyptology and that could be off-putting for some readers. A good love story if I recall correctly. Great quality book and arrived in perfect condition. Mad Honey is another must read!!

This book felt like a departure for Picoult. The writing is thought-provoking, as always, but it encompasses a wider range of subjects, woven carefully together, with adventure, Egyptian history and physics added to the mix. At its heart, this is a love story. The ambiguous ending may frustrate some readers, but how it ends, depends on how the reader interprets the tale and the message. Dawn is studying to be an Egyptologist. She meets Wyatt, who shares her passion for ancient history and the afterlife. They are initially rivals, but predictably, they are drawn into a fiery relationship. Yet, when Dawn’s mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she abruptly leaves Wyatt and her career dreams in the desert, and returns to Boston to care for her ailing parent and younger brother. While in hospice with her mother, Dawn is consumed with grief. She is drawn to the steady, calm assurance of Brian, a man she meets there, who is also caring for a relative. Reeling from the eventual death of her mother and the stress of raising her sibling alone, Dawn again turns to Brian for solace, and they drift into a partnership that is solidified when Dawn finds that she’s pregnant. At this point, the book veered into implausibility for me. Wyatt is supposedly her soulmate, but she flees Egypt when tragedy strikes, and makes no move to contact him. Then, sadness sends her inexplicably into a tepid relationship with a reliable man, whose greatest asset appears to be his proximity. Fifteen years pass and a comfortable marriage with Brian is built, but Dawn still thinks of Wyatt. She has become a “death doula” in the ensuing years, assisting others with their end-of-life care. She meets Win, a dying woman who has a devoted husband, Felix, but she too, longs for a former love, Thane. She entrusts Dawn with the task of delivering a letter to Thane, but Dawn bails, deciding that the letter will only disrupt Thane’s life, despite a promise to Win on her deathbed. At critical junctures, Dawn flees or freezes, making decisions that profoundly impact others lives.Yet, two men continue to vie for her affections, despite her confusion and indecisiveness. When unexpected events bring Wyatt and Dawn together again, she must choose between the past and the present. The book raises many interesting questions about life, love, death and making choices. A compelling and satisfying read.

When Dawn learns that her plane is about to crash and her Life is going to end in a few seconds & in that instant the only thought that crosses her mind in her moment of death is not God but her best past(her love with Wyatt) before she goes into coma & forms the very essence of the story " The book of two ways" and which nevertheless holds most of the readers with excitement to complete the book. A powerful Love story between Wyatt & Dawn(Olive) & not to forget Brian too( A sort of Love triangle) with indepth information about Egyptology,Ancient history ,hieroglyphics mummies etc. Though the Egyptology, the history,the depiction of pictures etc perhaps may intrest an historian or a research scholar but as a reader I felt distracted and got bored at times too.I also see as much a merit in Brian as a husband as I see in Wyatt as a lover. Moreover that Dawn & Brian lived for 15 long years along with their loving daughter Meerat& to imagine the relationship ending as a couple is somewhat hard to take and more so when one learns that Brian is not the biological father pales the real impact of love between Dawn ,& Wyatt.On the whole the novel didn't inspire me as much as " Small Great Things" where you endup with a "Feel Good" factor though I am awestruck with admiration their for the minute details the writer has put their into the book.

Jodi Picoult’s The Book of Two Ways is an ambitious, thought-provoking novel that intertwines love, loss, and the haunting question of “what if?” Framed around the life of Dawn Edelstein—a death doula and former Egyptologist—the story navigates two parallel paths: one where Dawn remains with her husband and daughter in Boston, and one where she returns to her past in Egypt and the man she left behind, Wyatt Armstrong. The novel shines when it explores the emotional and philosophical weight of life’s choices. It poses profound questions about fate, identity, and the roads not taken, offering readers a chance to reflect on their own lives. The historical and mythological context surrounding Egyptian burial practices and The Book of Two Ways—the first known map of the afterlife—is fascinating and layered, though at times heavy with academic exposition. However, while the themes are rich and the structure unique, Dawn as a character may test the reader’s patience. Her tendency to act self-centeredly, seemingly expecting the world and the two men in her life to revolve around her indecision, can be frustrating. Her inner turmoil is real, but her actions sometimes lack awareness or empathy, especially when it comes to the people who depend on her, including her daughter. It can also be jarring how little regard she seems to have for the emotional stakes of others—treating pivotal relationships like experiments in an existential journey. Despite these flaws, The Book of Two Ways remains a compelling read. It's a novel that’s more about questions than answers, and its strength lies in that introspective uncertainty. For those interested in love stories entangled with intellectual and spiritual depth—and who don’t mind a protagonist who makes questionable decisions—this book offers a unique and multilayered reading experience.

This is a very hard read! I am a big fan of Jodi Picoult but this book was more like a non-fiction book about Egypt. The academic research is intense and meticulous but if I had wanted to read about Egypt and the history of tombs, I would not have picked a Jodi Picoult novel! The actual story of Dawn and her two loves - her husband Brian and the love of her life, Wyatt - gets bogged down by too much Egyptology detailed research! Picoult is an incredible writer but I found this book too long-winded and, in parts, totally boring.