Isola: Reese's Book Club
By Allegra Goodman
- Release Date: 2025-02-04
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history.”—Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name
“A new generation of survival story . . . an extraordinary book that reads like a thriller, written with the care of the most delicate psychological and historical fiction.”—Vogue (Best of 2025 Preview)
A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this “lushly painted” (People) historical epic of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam.
LONGLISTED FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY IN PARIS BOOK AWARD
Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. That journey takes a unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island.
Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed.
Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival.
Reviews
It was OK
3By LizzieFLA3Not a bad read, just different. Slow to develop but inspirational for women in the end. Liked that it is based on a true story.Riveting
5By Jan 222I was swept up from the beginning and couldn’t stop reading. Such a great adventure! The characters were realistic. I will definitely recommend it to my friends and read more of her books.Fabulous
5By GwylliamThis book was hard to put down. It was a thriller in so many ways and so well written.Inspiring. Beautifully written
5By sacred heart galFascinating subject matter. An historical character in unique circumstances. Something truly unique. Based in a true story no one has ever heard of. Well written. Gripping. Wonderful.Too dark for me.
1By What a gem!Horrible, depressing story. I forced myself to keep going, hoping for a bright light to end all this darkness, but gave up 3/4 of the way through- wish I had stopped reading sooner!Appreciated a great read.
5By Priscilla B. D.I stayed with Goodman as she wove her story and filled out her characters and really enjoyed reading Isola. Living on a deserted island with the details the author conjured painted a beautiful picture of the island. The emotions were so intense. Thank you. PBDIsola
4By YayaNetskiInteresting historical fiction book . Main character is a young French woman of nobility who parents have died and left her and her inheritance in the care of an unscrupulous cousin. After leasing out her property, he takes her on a voyage to the New France Canada. They follow Cartiers vessels. She falls in love with an of aboard the ship . The cruel cousin abandons them on an island. She is forced into a life she never expected. Good read containing lots of adventures.Leib
4By Dogcat@1Good, maybe likely historical fiction or fully fabricated to time, great idea of St Lawrence Seaway and survivalNew favorite.
5By Olivia232Loved this story. Definitely one of my new all time favorites.Lacks emotion
3By Crashes immediatelyWhile the story is dramatic, the language and style mute the drama to a flat retelling.Good writing, less than new or stellar story
2By juliusaIt read well, I can at that. But the story is not a new theme, even if based on a real incident, and while it has its perilous moments on the island, it doesn’t reach out to delve into the characters very well. Not a high recommendation , I know, but if truly interested get from a library. Don’t waste your money.The story draws you in
5By Roberta8924It draws you in and keeps you there, so intriguing is the story of a woman surviving.Isola
5By you are purposely annoyingThis story was mesmerizing! From start to finish a historical tale was written to enchant its reader, bating each page until the story was complete. Every Reese recommendation is a joy! Read this novel and rejoice the triumph of good vs evil’s end. Thank you!
