EXCERPT: Sophia expects her spirits will lift once she sees the boat; she has her phone at the ready - she promised Perce pictures, and she supposes she'll send them to JP too - but when she sees the Dorado, it's like expecting a pair of Louboutins for your birthday and receiving Crocs. The Dorado is, by far, the smallest boat in any of the slips, the runt of the litter. Still, Sophia holds out hope. It could be a jewel box, beautifully appointed on the inside, a floating boutique hotel. She remembers all the amenities JP listed as they lay in her bed the morning they booked the trip: sundeck, air-conditioned salons, full complimentary bar.
She should have looked more closely at the pictures.

ABOUT 'NATURAL SELECTION': When her boyfriend bails at the last minute, a New York woman embarks on their couples’ cruise alone to find that maybe the person she was supposed to fall in love with was herself.

After a string of bad dates and no prospects, Sophia Othonos has finally hit the jackpot: an actual nice guy. When he suggests a romantic getaway, she’s sure they’re about to take the next step toward their future. A rustic cruise to the Galápagos Islands isn’t exactly her idea of a vacation, but Sophia is ready for anything…until her boyfriend has to cancel.

Now she’s all alone on a trip that was meant for two. Sophia finds herself at a crossroads about who she is, what she wants, and whether her relationship is really everything she thought. But if she’s going to suffer an identity crisis, at least she gets to do it amid the unexpected majesty of nature.

Eight days of wild, unobstructed beauty are enough to make anyone reevaluate their life. These islands are all about adapting to your surroundings—and change just might be what Sophia needs most of all.

MY THOUGHTS: A coming of age/finding herself short story that worked well for me.

It's quite obvious from the start what sort of man JP is, and he is no loss to the story. I liked that Sophia is challenged by this trip to a place she would never have chosen on her own, and by the task that JP sets her in his absence.

We all need time on our own. We all need to learn to live with ourselves, to know ourselves, before we can learn to live with someone else. That is what this trip provides for Sophie. She learns a lot about herself and picks up some new skills along the way. There are some amusing encounters with other passengers on the trip to keep the story flowing nicely.

Short and entertaining.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#NaturalSelection #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Elin Hilderbrand is the proud mother of three, a dedicated Peloton rider, an aspiring book influencer, and an enthusiastic at-home cook. She is also a grateful nine-year breast cancer survivor.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Original Stories via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

3.5 stars! This was a light, enjoyable read. I could definitely see myself reading one of Elin's books on vacation by a pool. They feel gossip-y which is a really interesting way to approach a story. I picked up the red flags from the beginning but it didn't make the book any less fun. I love how she makes every character feel well-rounded with a back story and a personality. This is my first introduction to Elin Hilderbrand and I will definitely be picking up another book!

Short stories and novellas are always a tough one for me. However, Natural Selection was a good read tucked into a small package. It felt satisfying and I thought that the main character, Sophia felt well-developed considering the brief time we got to spend with her.

I do think that the star of the story might have been the setting - - the descriptions of the scenery and the overall theme of the book really spoke to me. Since Sophia has to find herself after thinking that she was leaving for a couple's trip with her boyfriend only to be left to go on her own at the last minute, she has to "adapt" and she ends up discovering a great deal about herself along the way.

I recommend this for a short, quick read that makes you think if you look deeper than the surface of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a very quick read that I was interested in from the beginning. I was invested in finding out about what happened to JP. I feel like there were details about some of the characters and the trip and then all of a sudden we learn about JP… the end. It felt very rushed.

So many little gems packed into one story! I only wish it would have been longer. I think we can all relate to a situation of heartbreak and needing time or heal and reflect only to realize what you thought you wanted maybe isn’t really what you thought.

I enjoy Elin Hilderbrand books. This is a shorter book than many of her writings. It is also a reoccurring theme but she does give it a diffrrent slant.When her boyfriend bails at the last minute, a New York woman embarks on their couples’ cruise alone to find that maybe the person she was supposed to fall in love with was herself.
After a string of bad dates and no prospects, Sophia Othonos has finally hit the jackpot: an actual nice guy. When he suggests a romantic getaway, she’s sure they’re about to take the next step toward their future. A rustic cruise to the Galápagos Islands isn’t exactly her idea of a vacation, but Sophia is ready for anything…until her boyfriend has to cancel.
Now she’s all alone on a trip that was meant for two. Sophia finds herself at a crossroads about who she is, what she wants, and whether her relationship is really everything she thought. But if she’s going to suffer an identity crisis, at least she gets to do it amid the unexpected majesty of nature.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!

I requested this book because I've read a lot of Elin Hilderbrand books prior to this and have always enjoyed them. This was ejnoyable, I'm definitely more of a sucker for her Nantucket books, but I enjoyed this one too. Very light book for a beach read.

Great read just like Hilderbrand’s previous books. This book kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand. This book has all the hallmarks of a classic Hilderbrand novel—family drama, beautiful Nantucket scenery, and characters you can’t help but get invested in. The story explores relationships, regrets, and second chances in a way that feels both relatable and compelling. Hilderbrand’s writing is as immersive as ever, making it easy to sink into the world she creates. While some twists were a little predictable, I still found myself turning the pages, eager to see how it all played out. If you love a good character-driven novel with heart, this one’s worth picking up!

This story is a masterclass in writing a novella. I had just finished Swan Song when I read this and It made me very nostalgic. I hope that this book means that she's not finished writing beach novels. I loved the way that his story ended and thought that the twist was very well written. as per usual, Hilderbrand draws characters so completely that you can actually see them.

i loved this story and wished it was longer! it was the perfect book to read inbetween others. the ending was abrupt and felt like this needed to be fleshed out a bit more. there was zero plot? i still enjoyed it!

This one didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but it was a quick and enjoyable read. It’s a light, introspective story. While brief and somewhat predictable, Hilderbrand’s signature storytelling still shines.

A perfect bite sized version of one of her full novels. Elin Hilderbrand always has a way with atmosphere— hee descriptions are famously beautiful and make you want to drop everything and head to the coast. And her characters are so complex, messy, human.

Meh. As a big fan of Elin Hilderbrand novels, I was curious what her short story would give. It was a predictable story of self discovery when our lead is left on a vacation she didn't want by her boyfriend, who ends up having a wife. She continues on the cruise alone and we all know the rest. Finds herself.

This was a good, quick read. It gave me a lot to think about. Humans need to be adaptable. Especially single women. Good story.

This novella was delightful and enlightening. A quick read about Sophia left to go on a solo cruise. I loved the characters she meets and her self discovery. A charming story with meaningful lessons for all.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I wasn’t sure what to expect when starting this book, but Sophia’s self-discovery journey really captivated me. An easy and lighthearted read that won’t be my last from Hilderbrand.

In this short story by Hilderbrand, Sophia is left at the airport by her boyfriend on her way to a romantic getaway to the Galapagos Islands. Sophia decides to take the trip herself and meets an interesting group of travelers. Most importantly, she gets the time for reflection by taking this trip alone. Being a novella, the characters weren't as developed as needed to really connect with them, but this was a good way to pass a short time.

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is the most adaptable to change". Elin as always draws you in with her well developed characters and this story, although short and sweet, does not disappoint.

Sophia suddenly finds herself alone on a trip to the Galapagos Islands even though she was supposed to go on this adventure with her boyfriend of 6 months. She has to learn to adapt to the trip not being as luxurious as she thought it would be and also being alone. There are a few life lessons sprinkled in this book that not only apply to Sophia but can also apply to the reader.

I gave this short story 3 solid stars. Thank you Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Natural Selection" is a delightful and uplifting read. Hilderbrand's engaging writing style and the captivating setting make this a perfect choice for a quick and enjoyable escape.