Just when you think Elin Hilderbrand is done writing...she releases a short story! I was able to devour this in an hour and it was such a fun short stroy. I was not loving the setting, but the storyline and characters were great.

Sophia and her boyfriend are in love and talking marriage. He's divorced and has three older children. The lovebirds are going on a romantic cruise to escape snow and so that he can fulfill his dreams of photographing wildlife in the Galapagos.

At the airport he gets called away for a family emergency but he insists that she continue with the cruise. He gives her a list of the species he'd love to get photos of - and his prized camera kit.

While on the cruise, Sophia has a lot of time to think, get to know the other passengers, and to soak in the beauty of the Galapagos.

This is a quick reading short story/novella. I enjoyed reading it.

I will read anything by Elin Hilderbrand and this short story from Amazon Originals was the perfect quick read to enjoy while sitting outside, taking in the summer weather. Main character Olivia is excited for a couples cruise with her boyfriend when he bails at the last minute. She decides to go on the cruise anyway and learns some surprising things herself, her boyfriend, and the others on the cruise. Even though it's a short 54 pages, this story has Elin's signature details about settings, places, food and travel.

I would read a phone book if Elin Hilderbrand wrote it.

This was a fun story about Sophia, who left to go on a Galapagos nature cruise with her boyfriend. He abruptly leaves her at the airport for an emergency and she’s forced to go on the cruise alone.

This was such a fun quick read. I felt like so much happened in the 50ish pages of the book. I hope Elin will write more short stories in retirement. I’ll read them all!

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. I really enjoyed this short story, it moved quickly and kept me curious all the way through.

This fast, fun story had a gorgeous backdrop in the Galapagos Island, that was filled with beautiful scenery, intrigue and romance. I was happy to read about Elin's typical name-dropping brands like the blue footed booby Stubbs & Wooten loafers! While I would obviously have loved a full length story, I'll enjoy getting my Elin Hilderbrand snippets where I can!

This short story was packed full of heartbreak, romance, and it was more or less a story about hope and growth. I loved it and I couldn’t put it down!

The beginning felt like the set up for a thriller, however it fell short completely. While the twist had a surprising aspect, it was simply not enough to feel worth the last 30 pages.

This book was so much fun to read. Well this short story. I really enjoy Elin Hilderbrand and her way of making you the watcher of some serious domestic drama. I really love that drama, the who is sleeping with who, and someone is doing this behind someone else's back. That sort of drama is so entertaining to read about.

Well she does it again. And this time in a quick, fun read while Sophia is on vacation to the Galapagos islands. So if you need a short trip without traveling, and you only have 45 min to an hour to get a quick read in. Definitely pick up this one.

I love Elin's short stories. They always have a point and a lighthearted beach feel at the same time. this was no different. Sophie has been dating a man for 6 months and quickly on you can see where this is going. On her trip she meets some folks and makes some life choices. If you are looking for a brief interlude before choosing your next book, this is a great choice.

I haven't posted on Instagram yet but will this week.

If you're in the mood for a quick, fun read, "Natural Selection" by Elin Hilderbrand is a solid pick!

As usual, Hilderbrand drops her main character into a vacation setting — this time, a cruise around the Galápagos Islands. But things take a turn when her boyfriend bails last minute, leaving her to enjoy the trip solo. As she mingles with the other passengers and tries to wrap her head around why her guy flaked, she realizes she's perfectly capable of handling whatever comes her way.

It's light, it's entertaining, and it’ll give you all the vacation vibes without having to leave your couch!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an advanced readers copy in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

I loved this short story from Elin Hilderbrand. Set in the Gelapago, on a 'eh' boat, after her boyfriend suddenly left her at the airport, you know the FMC is going to go through some self discovery and of course discover something that readers can kind of see coming. I kind of wish this had been fleshed out to a full length novel. The characters were likeable and entertaining, with a bit of humor. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Short stories are hard to write and this one really never got going before it ended. A trip to the Galapagos could be made more interesting, but the duplicity of a boyfriend and his stranded girlfriend never really engendered interest.

I have read most of Elin Hilderbrand’s books and have enjoyed most of them but this latest short story (only 54 pages) was a huge disappointment! I really didn’t like any of the characters and didn’t care for the story even though it took place in the Galapagos Islands which I’ve never been to. Not my cup of tea.

I was able to get an Arc of this through First Reads by Amazon Prime and through NetGalley.

The book starts off with the female main characters boyfriend leaving her at the airport to run to the aid of his trouble son. She is left to visit the Galapagos Island by herself and promises to take pictures for her boyfriend. Time passes and she hears nothing from him. She ends up stalking his children’s social media and things are not as they seem.

Would I recommend this, not really. It had the potential to be really good but it fell short.

A romantic vacation to the Galapagos turns into a tour for one. Sophia Othonos ' boyfriend cancels at the last minute after a shattering phone call. Left stranded at the airport, JP encourages Sophia to take photos to commemorate the trip.

Feeling abandoned while worried about JP, Sophia realizes this isn't a luxury cruise but a scenic tour. Forced to confront the solo situation, she makes friends with strangers. Putting aside the blocking and radio silence, Hildebrand plays with the titled concept that only the strongest survive. Will Sophia survive this trip or will this holiday turn into a sinking ship?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #NaturalSelection in exchange for an honest. JP's silence left me paging through the short story to discover the truth. Was he in trouble, leaving Sophia handing or running from the law.? As Sophia's mind races trying to make sense of the situation, readers are engaged to discover the truth.

A very predictable story of a woman stranded by her boyfriend/fiance at the airport and is left to go on a trip by herself. How the main character could not predict this situation is beyond belief.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for gifting me a digital ARC of this short story by the one-and-only Elin Hilderbrand. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Sophia and her boyfriend, JP, are headed for a getaway to the Galápagos Islands when JP receives a call that he must return home immediately. JP had been married before and has 3 children with whom he is still very involved. JP insists that Sophia go on the trip alone. Now she's alone on a trip meant for couples and must decide who she wants and where she should be.

Elin has once again written a story with compelling characters, in situations that make them and the reader think. Plus, it takes place in a beautiful setting with amazing descriptions of nature. The other characters on the cruise with Sophia are fully fleshed out, even in this short story. You can picture everyone! A good story of finding yourself.

In this short yet reflective story, Sophia Othonos embarks on what was meant to be a romantic getaway to the Galápagos Islands with her boyfriend, only to find herself alone after he bails at the last minute. Following the heart break she embarks on a journey of self-discovery while navigating the wild beauty of the islands.

We follow her as she reassesses her relationship, identity, and what she deisres out of life. The story is an exploration of personal growth, one that all of us go through at some point in our life. This theme makes the story very relatable and accessible, specially for middle aged audiences.

The story begins with Sophie being is excited about her relationship and a possible future with her boyfriend. However, as the trip unfolds and she is left to her own devices, Sophia begins to question the foundation of her relationship and whether it is truly what she wants.

Throughout her journey, Sophia’s character is developed through her interactions with the other passengers on the cruise. These new friendships, along with the tranquil beauty of the islands help her to reevaluate her life choices and recognize that the person she needs to fall in love with is herself. A point the we all could appriciate and use in our own lives.

Pros:

Vivid Imagery: The author’s descriptions of the Galápagos Islands are beautiful and immersive, there is a clear picture of the islands in our minds as we read through it.

Relatable Protagonist: Sophia’s journey of self-discovery is relatable and will resonate with readers who have faced similar life challenges.

Emotional Resonance: The story effectively conveys the emotions of loneliness, self-doubt, and eventual empowerment.

Cons:

Predictable Plot: The story’s trajectory is somewhat conventional, and easy to anticipate the twists and turns.

Brief Narrative: One of the pitfalls of a short story is that it leaves the readers wanting for more, often ending the tale with many unanswered questions.

Conclusion

This is a short, reflective story that explores themes of self-discovery and personal growth against the stunning backdrop of the Galápagos Islands. While the plot may be predictable, the amazing sceneray and its vivid description make this a memorable read.

At less than 50 pages, this short story is somehow still packed with well-developed characters, plotting and emotion. In a beautifully descriptive tour of the Galapagos Islands [that sells the vacation destination as well as any travel brochure], Sophia goes on an emotional journey of upheaval, growth and healing. While it does not break new ground, it is relatable in its emotional highs and lows, and the lack of a tidy wrap-up feels realistic.

This is a beautiful, heartwarming story from a master story-teller. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC (which was released on September 1st, 2024).