Set in the Sixteenth Century, the plight of females subjugated by men, is on full display. Marguerite becomes an orphan when she is still a child, leaving her uncle in charge of her estate and her finances. She is completely at the mercy of Roberval, her uncle, and his squandering of her inheritance.

As she matures, Marguerite’s situation worsens. All her land and money become forfeit. Finally, with all the estate and wealth gone, her uncle secures a job from the king of France. He is given a mandate to take colonists to New France and settle the area for the king. Now Marguerite finds herself forced to join him and shoved into a meager cabin on a vessel bound for the New World. Her faithful companion and nurse will accompany her while her uncle is joined by his male secretary. Lonely and afraid, Marguerite turns to a sympathetic ear. But then she is punished for fraternizing with the young secretary. The couple, along with the elderly nurse, are stranded on a remote island, left to fend for their very survival.

The book is based upon the real Marguerite de la Rocque and her evil uncle Roberval. The island tale is one of deprivation and survival. Marguerite was raised as a young lady and was ill-equipped for physical labor or for dealing with weather and safeguarding herself from the elements. Her strong religious beliefs could not sustain her during storms when there was no food.

Marguerite is forced to evolve in order to survive. Initially she learns skills from her nurse and her lover and later she learns to adapt to the ever-present dangers in order to protect herself from nature. Readers will be impressed with her tenacity and her growth. This is more than a tale of historical fiction; it is a story of ultimate survival against all odds – even men.

Goodman’s book will remind some readers of the survival tale The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff. It’s women versus nature, women subject to the whims of men, women demonstrating tremendous resiliency. Knowing that this is based upon a real person, makes it even more meaningful. It’s a powerful tale that will impress.

The Audiobook is read by the talented Fiona Hardingham. Her voice is the perfect complement to the sad tale of a woman abused by her guardian and buffeted by nature.

Isola by Allegra Goodman is a historical fiction novel based on the life of Marguerite de la Rocgue. Marguerite is a fifteen year old noble during the 1500's when she is orphaned and taken under the care of her guardian Roberval. Not surprisingly, Roberval is not a nice man and she steals Marguerite inheritance and forces her on a journey she did not want to take. When Marguerite falls in love with one of his secretaries, Roberval maroons them on a deserted island as punishment, Marguerite's will to survive is on the most impressive aspects of this story.

I found this story to be very interesting and well-researched, It just seemed a bit too. long. It's clear that women had little to no power during this time period and that Roberval was extremely abusive - it just seemed to take a very long time to get to any character development. Still an enjoyable read!

It was interesting to discover that the story was actually in regards to a real person who lived and survived for so long on an artic island. The story has a bit of a slow start, developing the childhood of the main character, but once it shifts to them going on the ocean it picked up. The ending was highly unexpected but very interesting.

Isola is a beautifully written 16th-century historical drama that follows Marguerite de la Rocque, an orphaned young girl growing up under the care of her nurse and the unpredictable guardianship of Roberval. Raised in near-isolation, Marguerite’s life changes when Roberval orders her to sail with him to New France— only for her to be banished to a remote island alongside the man she fell in love with, Roberval’s secretary.
This book a bit of a slowburn as we read the backstory of Marguerite's life. However, once I got going it was engaging and I found myself wanting to read and know more and see what treachery would befall Marguerite. Once the survival aspect kicks in, the story pulled me in completely. Watching Marguerite transform from to such a badass, the story is tragic and then to imagine that this came from an actual historical figure. I kept wanting to know more about her and her real-life. Allegra Goodman’s writing is detailed, atmospheric, and engaging, making the historical setting feel vivid and immersive. The author’s note was also a great addition, providing insight into the real-life Marguerite de la Rocque and the books inspiration. I would definitely recommend this book and I think that young and old readers alike will enjoy it.
Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for the audioarc to preview.

A beautifully written book based on the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque. An inspiring tale of the perseverance of an incredible woman.
Great narrator for this audio-book!

Isola is an amazing true story about survival and who are you when your back is up against a wall. Marguerite was being raised as an upper class child in France. She’s an orphan with a guardian who squanders all of her money. She’s forced to go with him on a journey to New France (Canada). Then, he strands Marguerite, her lover and companion in arctic wilderness. Marguerite’s bravery, resourcefulness and strength are so inspiring. She faces loss after loss and she keeps pushing on. This story shows the strength of women no matter the time period or the obstacles. I received this audiobook as an ARC from NetGalley.

What an interesting perspective on th 16th century female plight. I enjoyed this story and the characters as told through the perspective of a strong-willed female. Very well written and an enlightening perspective.

This was normal the book for me. Considering the rave reviews, I may have given it some more time, but the pacing was slow, and I wasn't a fan of the narration.

I felt transported to the time and place of this book in the mid 1500s! This is a time period I haven't read of much and life was so different! Marguerite is a character that I loved, she was strong and yet just a child navigating life without her wealthy parents. Her new guardian has taken her money and made her travel to New France (now Canada). He is unpredictable with his moods and the power he exerts. When Marguerite is caught with his secretary they are both abandoned on an island. This book put me through so many emotions but it is beautifully written. I didn't know what to expect when I started this book, but I loved it! I am so glad that I took the time to listen to this amazing story! The audiobook narrator is fantastic and her calm voice and English accent were perfect for the story!

Stranded on a remote island in the ( New France) Canadian wilderness, French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque, struggles to survive for two years. Goodman’s historical novel Isola, is set in the 16 th Century and based on true events. Born of nobility and orphaned at an early age, Marguerite’s guardian Roberval leases and then sells all her lands, squandering her dowry and inheritance on his voyages, gambling and numerous ventures. This bleak outlook is surmounted by Marguerites’ strength of character and determination to survive insurmountable odds. Life during the Middle Ages was a struggle, especially for women who were nothing more than chattel. Goodman weaves a riveting coming of age tale that is sure to inspire and mesmerize readers.
Highly recommended.

"Isola" by Allegra Goodman was an emotional journey filled with tragedy, despair, loneliness, pain, and hope for love. Fiona Hardingham did a stellar job of bringing this audiobook to life - I could not stop listening to the story of young heiress Marguerite as she becomes an orphan, handed over to a guardian who only wants her fortune and spends it as he chooses. As they travel to New France, Marguerite, lonely and isolated, develops a romantic relationship with a servant on the ship. When her guardian finds out, he exiles the couple and her nurse to an island desolate of human life where no one will ever find them. At the mercy of the elements, the wildlife, and the hopelessness of being condemned from the world, Marguerite and her companions will need to draw from inner strength to survive.

Based on a true story, Goodman brought this novel to life with her smooth prose and vivid descriptions. I was hooked on this story from the beginning and needed to know what Marguerite's fate would be. Between the writing and the narration, I felt every emotion Marguerite experienced throughout the book; I was right there with her pain and suffering, a true testament to the skill of both author and narrator.. "Isola" was truly gripping and I highly recommend!

Isola

One hell of a story of unfairness, loneliness, death, corruption, primitive survival, strength, struggle, resilience, and fortitude. I do not like the story as it’s one that is so bleak and painful to read - however- it is a story that deserves to be told and known - especially since it’s based on a true story. The once regal woman marooned alone fighting polar bears in total isolation with no hope of rescue for 2 years and her return to civilization. The writing is beautiful and story is rich but painful. I gave it a 4 because of it being so painful to read and wishing it would end - however, the author captured every bleak moment so well and if unhappy stories and unhappy endings but true nonetheless are your thing - then you’ll enjoy this.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and I wanted to say that the narrator did an amazing job making this book come to life. Allegra Goodman wrote this beautifully, and I loved every minute of it. I thought the characters, especially Marguerite and Augustus, were so well written. The writing was so descriptive that I felt as if I could have been there with her when she was marooned. I cried along with her with the crushing losses that she endured, and I soared with the triumphs that she made. This book was an epic novel based on a true story that moved me deep inside. The theme of faith was so prevalent, and it gave so much to the story. How can you keep your faith when you lose so much....then gaining it when you understand more about the basis of faith. I can't help but sing the praises of this book! I can't wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this to the history/historical fiction readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Penguin Random House Audio, and Allegra Goodman

“Isola” by Allegra Goodman is an amazing audiobook that transports you to a different time and place. The story follows a young woman’s incredible journey of strength and survival in unimaginable hardship. The excellent narration and detailed descriptions create a vivid and immersive setting, making you feel like you’re right there with the characters. Highly recommend.

Allegra Goodman’s Isola is a breathtaking novel of survival, resilience, and love, inspired by the real-life story of Marguerite de la Rocque. Marguerite, a young French noblewoman orphaned at three and at the mercy of her ruthless guardian, captivated me from the moment I met her. Her journey—from privilege to abandonment on a remote island—unfolds in vivid, gripping prose.

Marguerite’s transformation makes this novel shine. Once pampered and naïve, she is thrust into an unforgiving world where nature becomes both her adversary and her teacher. Her love for Auguste, her guardian’s secretary, is passionate and defiant, but their affair seals their fate. Betrayed and marooned in the harsh Canadian wilderness, Marguerite faces unimaginable loss. Yet she endures. Her journey is heartbreaking yet empowering, her survival a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Goodman’s writing is lush and atmospheric, transporting readers from the grandeur of 16th-century France to the brutal isolation of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Every detail—the icy winds, the desolation, the flicker of hope—feels real. The villain, Roberval, is chilling in his cruelty, making Marguerite’s fight for survival even more enthralling.

This novel is historical fiction at its finest—an epic tale of greed, betrayal, and strength. If you love immersive storytelling, rich character development, and tales of fierce, unforgettable women, Isola is a must-read. It exceeded my expectations in every way. Absolutely brilliant!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for complimentary review copies of the ebook and audiobook. The opinions are my own.

Allegra Goodman has done it again. Following up on the success of 2023's Sam, Isola is a completely new and fresh take.

In Isola, we travel to North America (New France) in the 1600s. Marguerite has been orphaned and her uncle takes control of her and her fortune. Brought across the ocean, Marguerite has few she is close to and draws nearer to the guardian her uncle has assigned. When their relationship takes an unexpected turn, everything in Marguerite's life unravels.

This book is both tender and thrilling. You are desperate to keep reading to find out what happens. I loved the way Goodman wrote the story, drawing the reader along in the same fear and confusion that Marguerite was experiencing.

The narration in this story was excellent! I really felt in the midst of Marguerite's experience and the pacing of the narration was superb.

I received the completed audiobook via NetGalley. This was a long but riveting historical take on one girl’s journey from her home to a seemingly barren island. There are a lot of tense moments throughout the story (will our MC survive?) but the pacing helps keeps the momentum going. A 2025 historical take that those who are interested in learning more about unfamiliar but real people are going to enjoy even though this is a large novel

The perfect title for patrons who love historical fiction and survival stories. I was riveted and I found Fiona Hardingham to be the perfect narrator for this story. I highly recommend this audiobook for library purchase.

This was my first book by this authort and I immediately added Sam to my TBR. This story was beautiffuly told and I had an incredibly hard time putting it down. I listened to it in one sitting!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my review.

Allegra Goodman is a fantastic author in the sense of she writes beautifully. However, there are other issues.

"Where is the chase and how do we cut to it?" I mumbled to myself as I increased the speed on the audiobook yet again. Instead, at the HALFWAY mark the plot point of being left on the island, which is the cornerstone of the description, occurred. The first 50% of the book is the life of a sheltered French noblewoman who does not leave her house and garden for most of it. There are tons of prayers and psalms. It was excruciating because I kept wanting to know how to cut to the chase.

Even once they were stranded on the island, there were so many details and so little action. The small amount of action in the book is packed into brief snips. Some heavy editing could have still given the reader, or listener as I was, just as much of sense of the banality of life in the 16th century for an isolated French noblewoman without spending half of an entire book on it!

Perhaps I am not the intended audience for this book, despite the fact that the description and the haunting cover sold me. Finishing this was a slog and my hatred of the first half really ruined my enjoyment of the good parts. However, it was well written and it certainly has an audience that will enjoy it. I am not the right audience, but hopefully someone who doesn't mind my critiques will love it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Audio for the DLC. All opinions are my own.