Natural Selection: A Short Story

4 4 out of 5 stars | 34,755 ratings

Price: 1.74

Last update: 12-24-2024


About this item

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.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Alex Curtis
    5.0 out of 5 stars surprisingly Good. A Realistic Heartwarming story.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2024
    I’m not sure how I got this book, possibly from Prime First Reads or some promotion. But I was sitting on a plane looking for a new book that I had downloaded on my kindle and decided to read this because it was short. I went in with zero expectations and was incredibly surprised with what I found.

    I think this is labeled as a coming of age novel, and that’s a good way to describe it. Sophia, the main character is in a long term relationship that she expects is turning to marriage. Her boyfriend surprises her with a grand trip to the Galapagos. But this wasn’t her dream, it was her boyfriends. As they are boarding their flight, her boyfriend takes a phone call and has to leave, forcing Sophia to take the trip by herself.

    The next part of the book explores that feeling of being alone and feeling the need to tie yourself to someone, uncomfortable with being single. Unable to enjoy the trip as a result. She meets many people and develops those vacation friends that we have all had. The people you are so close to for a week and then never talk to again. Sophia spends the first part of the trip as if she’s vacationing on behalf of her boyfriend. But over time she adapts and starts vacationing for herself.

    The book is best in its nuance, not in its primary storyline. The emotions that Sophia felt throughout the trip were incredibly relatable. There were several things she thought that mirror those embarrassing thoughts I’ve had about people, that I’d been too embarrassed to ever admit or say aloud.

    The story actually kept me going and had really solid pacing. There were no dull points. If anything it moved a little too fast.

    The story takes an interesting turn at the end. Not in the predictable sense either. What I love is that Sophia ends up in an emotional state where she questions things that happened earlier. But the readers are going through that same betrayal as we were given the same information that Sophia was. So it really pulls you into Sophia’s thoughts and makes it even more relatable.

    The final story does tie back to the original title in interesting ways and there are some nice quotable elements at the end.

    This is a book that I’d probably never have picked up and read except under these unique circumstances but I find myself very glad that I did end up reading it. What a delightful and relatable and realistic short story.
  • Cassandra H
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Tale of Adaptation and Deception
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2024
    *Natural Selection* is an exhilarating and fast-paced short story that captures the essence of human resilience and adaptability. The story follows Sophia, a charming New Yorker, who finds herself entangled with JP, a Midwestern executive whose promises of love quickly unravel. The novel’s sharp observations and dynamic characters make it a compelling read.

    Sophia’s journey is both heart-wrenching and enlightening. As she arrives in the Galapagos on a trip originally intended for herself and JP,she navigates the complexities of her relationship with JP, and she learns the hard truths about trust and adaptability. The recurring theme—“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, and it is not the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change”—is brilliantly interwoven throughout the narrative. This idea resonates deeply as Sophia faces the shocking revelation of JP's deceit and the reality of his life back home.

    The narrative explores the contrast between Sophia’s adaptability and JP's inability to evolve. Sophia’s initial naïveté gives way to a poignant realization of her own strength and the necessity of change. The encounters with her shipmates add layers of complexity and highlight the struggles inherent in relationships where adaptation is not an option.

    The book’s ending, where Sophia snaps a stunning photograph of a dolphin midair—a symbol of her own personal growth and transformation—is both metaphorically and visually striking. It’s a testament to the story’s powerful message about embracing change and learning from one’s experiences.

    With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, *Natural Selection* is a must-read for anyone interested in a story about love, betrayal, and personal evolution. It’s a narrative that will stay with you long after the last page, reminding you that survival and success often hinge on our ability to adapt.
    Customer image
    Cassandra H
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Tale of Adaptation and Deception
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2024
    *Natural Selection* is an exhilarating and fast-paced short story that captures the essence of human resilience and adaptability. The story follows Sophia, a charming New Yorker, who finds herself entangled with JP, a Midwestern executive whose promises of love quickly unravel. The novel’s sharp observations and dynamic characters make it a compelling read.

    Sophia’s journey is both heart-wrenching and enlightening. As she arrives in the Galapagos on a trip originally intended for herself and JP,she navigates the complexities of her relationship with JP, and she learns the hard truths about trust and adaptability. The recurring theme—“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, and it is not the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change”—is brilliantly interwoven throughout the narrative. This idea resonates deeply as Sophia faces the shocking revelation of JP's deceit and the reality of his life back home.

    The narrative explores the contrast between Sophia’s adaptability and JP's inability to evolve. Sophia’s initial naïveté gives way to a poignant realization of her own strength and the necessity of change. The encounters with her shipmates add layers of complexity and highlight the struggles inherent in relationships where adaptation is not an option.

    The book’s ending, where Sophia snaps a stunning photograph of a dolphin midair—a symbol of her own personal growth and transformation—is both metaphorically and visually striking. It’s a testament to the story’s powerful message about embracing change and learning from one’s experiences.

    With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, *Natural Selection* is a must-read for anyone interested in a story about love, betrayal, and personal evolution. It’s a narrative that will stay with you long after the last page, reminding you that survival and success often hinge on our ability to adapt.
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  • Annie Stein
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quick, fun read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2024
    In Natural Selection, Sophia is preparing to go on a Galápagos Islands cruise with JP, her boyfriend of six months, when he receives a mysterious phone call as they are boarding the flight. He says he has to go, one of his kids needs him, but insists that Sophia should go on the trip and take pictures for him. As Sophia heads out on her journey, she tries to put JP's odd behavior behind her and enjoy her time, but she quickly finds that she is unable to get back into contact with him.

    I was intrigued by the mystery of what happened with JP, but it was unfortunately about what you would expect. Sophia kept referring to herself as a millennial and she used some slang and made pop culture references that are certain to date the story. That being said, Hilderbrand writes interesting characters and the story was very readable. Fans of her work should pick this up, as it is a quick, fun read.
  • Bethany C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Short Story, Captured Throughout
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    Great easy read, was looking for something to catch my attention quick and it did. Enjoyed the story line, upbeat and kept my attention. Great read.
  • William I. Dube
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fast Fun Read: Written a bit like a screenplay BDV
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024
    PROS: This is an easy reader book with characters and easy to follow story line. Book is a nice fun distraction about survival and natural selection of the human species a bit like a parable from the bible, but more entertaining. Promoted as a short story and delivered as a short story.

    CON: While the author was creative with the story throughout the book I would think of a bit more creative ending to the book. The central character adapted and learned new skills the I was hoping would have been used for a more productive ending.

    This book is a great distraction. Not sure what age would be appropriate, so I'd recommend this for an adult not a child. Read the book on first reads, but this was the type of fictional distraction book that I was looking for. Yes I would buy this for current kindle pricing. Also I would recommend it for anyone looking for a bit of distraction from everyday life. BDV

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