Isola

By Allegra Goodman

Book Overview

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.

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593730089
• ISBN13: 9780593730089
• Release Date: February 2025
• Publisher: Dial Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A rich, gorgeous and lush book that is full of despair.

I found this to be a very compelling and beautiful read. The dialogue of Goodman’s 16th century characters is pure pleasure to read. There is a delicacy and formality that makes for such rich prose. As a reader it certainly makes me appreciate the status of being a woman of the 21st century. At times I found it hard to listen to Marguerite’s halting and obviously restricted responses when addressed by her guardian who is a puritanical and villainous character. However, those were the times. Women of even the aristocracy had to be so careful, subservient and mindful of the men in their lives. The story is somewhat suspenseful yet very frustrating and is based on real characters and events of France in the mid to late 16th century. Marguerite’s survival on a small island off the mainland of New France is fascinating and tragic. This young woman is forced to take charge and overcome many obstacles such as weather, starvation and wild animals. This is an incredible book. Bravo Allegra Goodman!

Good Historical Novel

A unique story that is even more compelling when, after reading the author's notes, you are told it is based on true-life historical events. Unfortunately I found the style of writing to be disenchanting. I didn't feel connected to the characters and they came off as a bit wooden. Even when some really traumatic events occur it seemed more like I was reading a newspaper article about an event and I wasn't able to empathize. However, for the story and historical accuracy I think it would be a good choice for a book club discussion.