Stephanie Sullivan: Review

September 10, 2025

TITLE: Isola (audiobook)

RATING: ★★★★

Summary (from Goodreads): 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. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends her guardian’s servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when their relationship is discovered, they are brutally punished and abandoned on a small island with no hope for rescue.

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.

REVIEW: Such a beautiful but heart-wrenching story. To know that it’s inspired by the real struggles of a real person who survived such an ordeal makes it even more incredible. I can’t imagine what it must have been like being stranded on a desolate island for two years. Marguerite is such an admirable woman, and what an unforgettable experience it was to witness her spiritual, physical, and mental growth throughout this story. This was my first time reading Allegra Goodman’s work, and her writing is magnificent. And what can I say about one of my favorite narrators, Fiona Hardingham? She is absolutely amazing. Through Allegra’s flawless writing and Fiona’s impeccable narration, I felt it all - the joy, the heartache, the happiness, the loss…but above all else, the hope and the will to survive. I would highly recommend Isola to everyone.