Book review: Natural Selection

Elin Hilderbrand books are a summer staple for me, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this short story. NATURAL SELECTION is set in the scenic Galápagos Islands and I loved the descriptions of the nature and animals. Quite a bit was packed into this story but I was able to devour it in one sitting and loved the mystery throughout and the twist at the end. Hilderbrand’s stories usually have some juicy twists and this one was no different!

3.5*
A quick, easy read only at 54 pages.
My first Elin- a good short story and a good way to get into Elin’s books!

3 stars. This is a fun, quick and easy to read short story, and I liked that it was set in a non-Elin standard location (Nantucket). I enjoyed the FMC and side charcters, but I would have liked more complexity and depth to them. The finale seemed abrupt and I could have read another 30 pages. But it is a great book for a little palette cleanser between other books!

thank you to netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This short story by Hilderbrand pulls you right in from the beginning. Did I kind of feel like I might’ve known where it was going? Sure. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the journey!! I also loved that even though it was short she still included an epilogue!! I love a good epilogue!

SYNOPSIS
- Sophia is headed to the Galapagos Island by herself. She was meant to come with JP, her boyfriend of six months, but he left abruptly with no real explanation.
- While she explores the island, she also reconsiders her relationship.

MY THOUGHTS
- Short story.
- Writing is good.
- Entertaining, but not a lot happens & not very deep characters.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️short story. fine for a quick read, but mehhh overall.

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This is out now.

A short story that left me wanting more. I am used to the authors more drawn out stories and enjoy them. This one felt like a rough draft to me. Maybe short stories just aren't for me as many others really liked the book.

Thanks to netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for the arc.

This was a fun little book. There is a beautiful setting while a character is trying to figure out where her significant other is. Though I guessed where this story would go, I was surprised by the connections to the island/title. The character growth was fantastic for such a short story. I would recommend to Elin fans!

A couples trip to the Galapagos Islands turns into a solo excursion when Sophia's boyfriend has to cancel. Allowing her the opportunity for self-discovery in a truly remarkable setting. As a short story, it was good. A little predictable. I had hoped it would have some intrigue, but not the case. It could have easily been adapted into a full novel, but was good for what it was.

This could have been a full length novel and I would have still been shocked at the end. I really enjoyed this story! Just a taste of the Elin Holderbrand we know and love.

Sophia and her "nice" boyfriend are spending a week in the Galapagos but at the airport he is called away and she goes alone. There were the usual quirky characters and for such a short book (50 pages) I thought Sophia was a well-developed character. I found the story a bit predictable but still found it enjoyable and loved the descriptions of the wild life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Original for providing me with a digital copy.

I WANT MORE!!! For whatever reason Elin Hilderbrand decided to make this a short story, but I fully believe it could have been a full length novel. Reviewing it as a short story, though, I loved the story, the characters and the setting. I thought the ending could have been a little longer, but still thought it was great!

This was an easy short read. This was not a favorite story from this author but entertaining.
Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

Elin Hilderbrand brings her signature storytelling to *Natural Selection, a novel that expertly combines emotional depth with gripping drama. The characters are richly developed, each navigating complex personal dilemmas that pull at your heartstrings. The story touches on family, relationships, and self-discovery, with Hilderbrand's vivid descriptions making the setting come alive. While the pacing slows in some parts, the overall narrative remains compelling and engaging. It’s a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel that showcases Hilderbrand’s talent for creating relatable, flawed characters in life-changing situations. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Natural Selection
Elin Hilderbrand

🌟🌟🌟

This book started out like it could be a thriller…. But sadly nothing more than I thought it was infidelity. The trip had great imagery of the Galapagos! Overall it was a good fast short story! Thank you @netgalley for my e copy!

I found this short story a little hard to get into and the twist was predictable, but the end message was nice. It was my first taste of Elin Hilderbrand's writing and while I know lots of people love her books her storytelling might not be my cup of tea. 3.5 stars.

This novella was just okay. It really seemed like more of an outline for a story, I just felt there was a lot missing and it was very abrupt. And honestly, not very exciting subject content or likeable characters at all. It just left a lot to be desired.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Series for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Elin Hilderbrand brings back her magic in this short novella that focuses on a woman who is trying to discover herself. In her normal style, Elin brings you into a story that is relatable and fun. As a novella, this is a short read but makes me want to read more about her novels that take place in Nantucket.

ARC Review
It was fine. If you enjoy nature/island life, etc. you'll probably like the imagery in this novella. As for the plot itself, it was just mediocre.

3.75 stars.

I think this book about a woman named Sophia, who is set to sail off to the Galapagos Islands with her significant other, but plans change literally at the boarding gate, and ends up going alone, could be a much longer book if written.

The islands itself are described succinctly - I need to go at some point before I die. The characters, if developed would have been fun to know.

I did find the ending a little bit abrupt, maybe could have used five more pages? But other than that, hope we find out more about Sophia if Elin decides to write another book.

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories Kindle Edition and author Elin Hilderbrand for this ARC.

Publishing date: 9/1/24

This was my first Elin Hilderbrand book and I definitely will read more as this was just a teaser. I liked this short story okay but feel it just ended, I would have liked more. I can’t write too much without giving spoilers but what happens next with Sophia?

I did feel that it was a little obvious of what was going on, maybe I’ve just read too many books with this theme? Overall, cute story you can read in one sitting but would have liked more.