Isola: A Novel

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 1,160 ratings

Price: 19.69

Last update: 03-03-2025


About this item

A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this breathtaking saga, an epic story of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam

“A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history.”—Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name

“What a gift this novel is: vast, lush, feminist, and brilliantly crafted. Allegra Goodman is one of our finest writers.”—Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful

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

*This audiobook contains a PDF with a map and recommendations for further reading from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

  • J. Sunday
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rich in 16th century history
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025
    This book is admirably written and absorbing from the start. It follows the remarkable adventures of Marguerite de la Rocque from the 16th century.

    Marguerite’s mother died in childbirth; her father was killed a three years later while fighting for the King of Pavia. And now she depended on her distant cousin, Roberval, as her guardian. He was in a position to raise her in good conscience. However, he made decisions for his own welfare and cashed in on her valuable estate.

    Roberval should have been setting her up with an honorable man to marry. But he used her wealth for his own benefit. Then, he demanded for her to travel with him on a ship from LaRochelle, France to the Saint Lawrence River in Canada. What kind of man makes a young woman take a dangerous trip like this? She was resentful; she knew it wouldn’t be easy.

    The story is rich with its history, vivid setting and contrast of the rich and poor worlds. The reader can easily get lost in the words of Marguerite’s love affair and journey where she was always asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to keep her safe. She was brave and resourceful with her teachings as she realized that life was “as short as a blade of grass.”

    At the end, the author provided readers with a list of reference books for those interested along with historical notes and her personal inspiration for writing this story. Her last book, “Sam” was also about a survivor and now readers can be enthralled with how these two strong women prevailed. Marguerite lived to tell her story and Allegra Goodman brought it to our attention.
  • Mah Jongg Mama
    4.0 out of 5 stars An Unknown Heroine
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025
    This is an historical fiction novel inspired by the life of Marguerite, who lived in sixteenth-century France. She was an orphaned child of noble birth who lived a pampered life of privilege while her guardian squandered her inheritance. When she became an adult, he forced her to travel with him on an exploratory expedition to New France (Canada). On the journey, Marguerite and the guardian's male secretary formed a relationship. Jealous, the guardian punished both of them by abandoning them on a small uninhabited island where they would surely perish.

    The story of Marguerite's survival as she becomes a strong, self-sufficient woman is rich with detail and full of emotion. I could not put this book down. Thank you, Random House and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this amazing story about an unknown heroine.
  • Aliya Miah
    5.0 out of 5 stars ♥️
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025
    Stranded: A Gutsy Tale of Survival & Love ♥️

    I just devoured this epic story of Marguerite, a feisty noblewoman from the 1500s. Her life takes a drastic turn when she's orphaned and handed over to her shady cousin, Roberval. This guy's got a serious case of entitlement, and he's determined to bleed Marguerite's inheritance dry.
    As Roberval's debts pile up, he drags Marguerite on a disastrous voyage to New France. But amidst all the chaos, Marguerite finds an unexpected ally (and love interest!) in Roberval's servant. Their romance is short-lived, though, as Roberval catches wind of it and maroons them on a deserted island.
    Talk about a worst-case scenario! Marguerite's stuck with limited supplies, no rescue in sight, and a whole lot of uncertainty. But this chick's got grit, and she's determined to survive against all odds.
    What I loved about this story is how Marguerite refuses to give up, even when things seem impossible. Her resilience is infectious, and I found myself rooting for her from start to finish.♥️
    The historical context of the story added an extra layer of depth, and I appreciated the author's attention to detail. From the clothing to the customs, everything felt authentic and immersive.
    The romance between Marguerite and the servant was sweet and tender, and I loved how it blossomed in the midst of all the chaos. It was a beautiful reminder that even in the darkest times, there's always hope for love and connection.
    If you're in the mood for a historical fiction tale that's equal parts survival story, romance, and adventure, then this book is a must-read. ????
  • Kelly J. Pramberger
    3.0 out of 5 stars Wanted More
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025
    I wanted more of her first book vs what this was. I couldn’t get into it!
  • CS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Set in the 1500's, A Lovely, if Somehwat Heartbreaking Story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025
    This was a beautifully written, if heartbreaking story of a young girl, Marguerite, born into nobility in the 1500’s, who is orphaned early on. She is placed under the care of her cousin, Roberval, who becomes her guardian, and who has already managed to go through all what fortune he had, and then helps himself to the fortunes her parents had left to her, as well as selling her property, in order to relieve himself of his debts. Once he has accessed all that she was left by her parents, he is determined to force her to go with him on his planned voyage to New France. She has little choice.

    During the voyage, Marguerite is befriended by his servant, although it isn’t very long before they become more than friends. It also isn’t very long before their relationship is apparent to Roberval, and so Roberval leaves the two of them marooned, along with Marguerite’s nurse, Damienne.

    They are then forced to do whatever they can find to make it through the days and nights ahead. They have little when they arrive there, and less as the days, weeks and months go by. But Marguerite is determined that they will survive, and she spends her days looking for ways to continue living, in hopes someone will eventually rescue them.

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