Isola

by: Allegra Goodman

Goodreads description:

Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends her guardian’s servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when their relationship is discovered, they are brutally punished and abandoned on a small island with no hope for rescue.

Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed.

Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival.

Helen says: 🤓🤓🤓 3/4

This was great historical fiction based on the real life experience of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval. Click here to take a deeper dive. It took half of the book to get to the meat of the story, but then it took off and was a wild ride. This was an incredible survival story! I couldn’t put it down.

Holly says: 🤓🤓🤓🤓

I really liked this book. Marguerite was one tough and resourceful girl, and her story is very well-told. I am not quite sure about the “privilege” of being born “into privilege” in the 16th century, especially for Marguerite, except that without a few gold coins, I suppose Marguerite would not have survived at all. Her creepy guardian takes the cake – despicably awful. Historical fiction is not my favorite genre, but I highly recommend this one. A little reminiscent of The Marriage Portrait.

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