My Rating: ❤️❤️.5

Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to the author and Netgalley.

General Thoughts: I wanted to love this one. I've heard such good things about this author, and so when I got the opportunity to read this one, I jumped on it. I don't typically read short stories, but I've enjoyed quite a few. I've also studied short stories. I know what makes a good short story.

This one didn't have those components in my mind. It felt very predictable and also I was never drawn in. I thought the book didn't really feel like it had any sort of conclusion or anything that really was that exciting as a plot. I didn't feel like the writing style matched the story type. A younger girl dating an older man gets abandoned and goes on a trip by herself and takes photos. [spoiler tag hidden comment] The older man actually is married and she is the other woman, which she realizes on trip. She then realizes he's not for her and will continue to be the failure in the family. (end hide spoiler)] That's pretty much it. That's the plot. Not a lot to it. I didn't hate it, but yeah didn't like this either.

Spice Meter: 💞 No spice.

You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.

I am so saddened but this is my least favorite Elin Hildebrand. Short stories can be tough for me because they always feel so rushed. This didn't so much feel rushed as it did feel super character heavy. So many characters and so much talk about the characters and less of a plot. I don't know it just didn't satisfy. The ending wrapped up nicely. I really really loved how she wrapped the story up I just wish the guts of the story had more substance.

Very short short story. Usually I love all of this authors books, but this felt like it was pieces pulled out of a full story and thrown into this short story. Not enough of a story to get anyone to enjoy it.

I will read anything Elin writes but this one was just too short to enjoy. There wasn’t enough time to care about the characters and I actually kind of disliked the main character Sophia. 🤨
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My favorite parts of an Elin book are being submersed in the setting, for example her Nantucket and St. John books. I love reading about the local food and drinks and bars and restaurants. We didn’t get that here; other than some animals and hiking and the drab setting of the boat.
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And spoiler below…..
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Girl OF COURSE HE WAS MARRIED 🙄🙄🙄🙄🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩 It was so obvious.
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So this was not my fave 🫣 but I always appreciate the opportunity to read and review on NetGalley!

Beautifully written, witty and too short! I need to read more by this author. What should I read next?

While summer may be drawing to a close, Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand will bring you back into vacation mode. This short story takes place during a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Sophia was supposed to go with her boyfriend who cannot make the trip at the last moment. Although she's disappointed and curious about why he cannot go, she decides to make the best of it and try to enjoy this trip. She discovers the beauty of the Islands and the beauty of being by herself.

When I saw this short story was up for grabs, I requested it, not thinking that I would get it. I was excited to learn that I received the opportunity to read it as I have enjoyed her short stories and novellas in the past.

This short story is a quick read, but the characters feel fully developed and intriguing. There's a lot of insight in a small amount of pages, and I truly think this could have been expanded into an entire novel if the author chose to do so. It gave me hope that while she may have exhausted her ideas for Nantucket but that she has plenty for many other places. I respect her decision to retire, but should she have committed to a sabbatical instead?

Just like the cover, the scenery is described so beautifully. In fact, one passage described it so well that I could feel the water and waves lapping at the shore. I've never been interested in going to the Galapagos Islands, but this made the trip sound delightful. It's a great end to the summer, whether you've had your fill of the ocean or any other body of water. If you get the opportunity to read it, go for it.

This was an easy to read short story. This would have made a great novel with more about the Galápagos Islands.

Great short story! A must read for Elin Hilderbrand fans. I enjoyed the descriptions of all the wildlife, too.

I’ve been hearing so much about Elin Hilderbrand on BookTok that I decided to finally give one of her books a go. This novella turned out to be a refreshing little break from my usual reads. It’s light, straightforward, and perfect if you’re looking to switch gears or just want something easy to enjoy.

The title really captures the essence of the story, and the way it touches on themes of adaptation and change adds a nice layer to the overall narrative.

This was a quick read and a great short story.
Sophia and her boyfriend JP are about to embark on a romantic getaway to the Galapagos Islands when he gets a call at the airport. He tells her his son Beau has had an incident and he can't go on the trip, but that she should go anyway and take lots of pictures with his camera. Sophia is devastated but decides to make the most of the trip anyway... she meets new friends, sees the amazing wildlife, and never hears from JP. If you like short stories, the ending was perfect IMO.

3.5/5

Sophia, along with her boyfriend, is set to sail on a rustic cruise to the Galápagos Islands. A last minute emergency leads to a solo trip. What she finds on this cruise, is so much more than she ever expected.

I’m hit or miss with Ms. Hilderbrand’s books. This is a short story, easily read in one sitting. Even though I didn’t find the storyline surprising or held any shocking twists, I enjoyed the characters and the story as a whole. It was empowering to see Sophia find her voice and realize her worth. The setting was a welcome change. This was a fun read in between heavier reads.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Great premise, but falls flat for me. I think this could have done better as a full length novel so we know more about the characters and backstory. Overall, a quick palate cleanser story. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Elin Hildebrand book and what a pleasant surprise. For a short story the author did a great job of weaving an interesting story with reasonably fleshed out characters, considering the page count. While the ending was somewhat predictable. The story was more about the journey than the destination. A great quick read, that has endeared me to prioritize the authors other works.

A great quick short story! Love Elon’s story and this one takes us to the Galápagos Islands. Sophia feels she has met the love of her life JP and they are taking a trip down to the islands for his work as a photographer. He gets a phone call as the plane is boarding and has to leave due to family issue at home. This felt like it would be such a great lead up for some crazy thriller! Sophia takes the trip as JP told her too and makes some friends along the way! I need more to this story! It reminded me of her paradise series.

A good short story from Elin Hilderbrand. Love and deceit follow Sophia on her vacation. She meets new friends that try to help her through a difficult time. A nice quick read.

This was a cute little story with a twist that I wasn’t expecting. It went really fast and while it was already considered a short story, I would have liked it to be longer and have more details about the relationship prior to this vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC! *Natural Selection* by Elin Hilderbrand is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that delves into themes of family dynamics and personal choices. Hilderbrand's storytelling is engaging, with a well-paced narrative that keeps readers invested in the characters' journeys. The novel’s exploration of complex relationships and moral dilemmas adds depth to the plot, making it both intriguing and emotionally resonant. While some storylines may feel familiar, the author’s skillful writing and nuanced character portrayals provide a fresh take on these themes. Overall, it's a compelling read that offers both entertainment and reflection.

Cute fun quick story! Elin never disappoints. Never want her books to end!!! Can’t wait to read more

Loved this latest release by Elin Hilderbrand! 5 stars for story, character development and ending! My only criticism is that I wished this was a full novel vs short story. Thank you for advance read!

Nice little short story, I just love them! The story, however, was not really my cup of tea.. But the writing is beautiful, and I will definitely read more books from this author!