Isola

A Novel

By: Allegra Goodman

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Allegra Goodman

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • “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

“A new generation of survival story . . . an extraordinary book that reads like a thriller, written with the care of the most delicate psychological and historical fiction.”—Vogue (Best of 2025 Preview)

A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this “lushly painted” (People) historical epic of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam.

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. That journey takes a unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island.

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.

©2025 Allegra Goodman (P)2025 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Lushly painted . . . a perfect read for cozying up by a roaring fire—and feeling thankful you’re not the sixteenth-century heroine the story is based on.”—People, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025”

“Allegra Goodman’s latest novel is a feminist castaway tale about love, faith, and self-actualization.”—Time, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025”

“Blazing action on each page—Marguerite’s shrewd deploying of tactics for her own salvation—reminds readers to place our money on the power of human female ingenuity.”—The Washington Post

Magical and marooned

I loved this book so much I didn’t want it to end. It reminded me a little of my childhood favorite “island of the blue dolphins” and yet so different. Great read. Great narration, I couldn’t recommend it more

Long journey, great story

I didn’t think I’d enjoy this historical novel, set in a time so long ago. But I found myself not wanting to stop reading (listening!) each chapter.

A Girl who dared to live

Historical Fiction that is so well written I yelled at the author several times, saying no, no way. The Story of a girl who grows into a women shaped by her harsh experiences yet still manages to love.

Spellbinding!

Was captivated from the onset with this book and consider it one of my top ten favorite reads. Very much appreciate the narrator’s pleasing tone and expression. She had me mesmerized.

Wonderful story, incredible writing, and masterfully read

I didn’t want this story to end. I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful writing and I am thankful I purchased the audiobook which was read aloud perfectly! Although there seems to be limited historical documentation about the characters the author created a wonderful story

Historical reference for an unbelievable story

The story was amazing- albeit a bit slow. Without all of the details an accurate picture cannot be made. However those details are many. Seeing that I could not skip ahead without skipping valuable insight and the written tapestry depicting the era- I decided on playing the book at 1.3x and that did the trick. Alas I am a product of the modern era reading about an era where time moved much more slowly. It’s not the books fault- the fault was mine. In short- this book should be required reading for any historian educating themselves on this period. Very well done!

Fabulous

Listened in two days because I was so intrigued by the story and its characters. Loved every minute of it. Wonderful narration- I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an excellent period piece.

Historical fiction based on a true story

It doesn’t get any better. Fiction based on a true story. Excellent writing and a great creative approach to an amazing adventure. I loved this book. It was just exciting -and creative.

Beautiful story of survival and resilience

The historical accuracy and the beautiful prose read. Her spiritual strength was admirable and noteworthy.

The adventure and spirit quest

This book turned out to be a surprise. For the first part, I thought it was a chic book and almost quit listening. But as I went further into the book, it got more and more interesting. I put it somewhere between an adventure tale, and a spiritual journey. Terrific book.