When I saw that Midge had a new novel, Floreana, coming out this December—you can preorder the ebook here for only $5.99—and it was set in the Galapagos, one of my top bucket list locations, I immediately requested an ARC from the publisher. Once again, I was full of “anticipatory glee” as Russel would say, but this time, I feared the typical sophomore novel disappointment. Well, dear readers, the miraculous Midge Raymond has done it again. Floreana has everything I’d come to expect in her writing, such as a vividly drawn setting that draws me in and makes me feel I have visited the place, and a deeply felt and viscerally experienced story, with human characters who come to life on the page. Her books always feature animals, too—penguins again, lucky for me.

This new novel takes place in two timelines; it’s the story of two women living on an island in the Galapagos one hundred years apart. The women have come to not only leave behind certain things, but also to search for something missing in their lives. There’s a certain amount of mystery in the book, but as always the author is most interested in—pardon the cliche—the mysteries of the human heart. And, as in My Last Continent the story contains dire warnings about human-caused climate change, plus some clear information about what we’re doing dreadfully wrong, to date. But don’t worry, this is no soapbox book, the novel’s twin plots are engrossing and compelling and the pertinent natural history facts are easily absorbed.

Floreana tells the story of two women drawn to live in the Galapagos islands. Each has their own motives for reaching the island and each battle the challenges and realities of womanhood in the context of the people around you, as well as what it means to start a new in a world barely touched by others. Floreana flows easily and has solid character development. The book is an easy and quick read with moments of insight and mild (very mild) romance.

Thank you to Little A for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

There isn’t much media out there about “the Galapagos Affair,” but years ago I was lucky enough to watch the documentary made about the island and it’s fateful events. When I saw the title of this book I was hooked, and knew that I’d be in for a good read based on the source material alone.

That held true. The sections of this book that concern Dore’s life roughly follow the people and events of her own biographical account, with additional details and speculation. It’s a more salacious, more vivid version than the one she herself presented.

What was less successful was the alternate story of Mallory, the penguin researcher with the turbulent past. While there was plenty of drama in her story; old flames, recovered journals, penguins, I just didn’t find her story compelling. In some ways I didn’t feel like the discovery of the journals (the link between the two stories) was a strong enough story that I could fully embrace that story line. Rather than feeling like an equal partnership with the Dore storyline, it felt like a B plot.

The other thing worth mentioning is that the book’s plot is very highly back-loaded. There’s so much exposition and you have to bushwhack through 200 or so pages before the action really starts to pick up. While the drama and secrets at the end of the book are pretty interesting, especially in the Dore storyline, it is not a book for the impatient.

Overall, I do believe it’s a good read that capitalizes on an already very interesting story. There’s also a very nice conservation messaging about endangered species and invasive animals that’s an inoffensive side idea.

While there were moments I enjoyed, this book ultimately didn't leave a lasting impression on me. It started off slow, which made it hard to get into initially. The characters, unfortunately, felt a bit stereotypical, and one of the main characters, Dore, came across as whiny and annoying.

Despite these issues, the plot had potential and certain parts of the story, especially the middle, were quite engaging. However, I feel the plot could have been more concise; a lot of the beginning and ending seemed to drag on unnecessarily.

Overall, the book was okay but perhaps not entirely for me. It had its moments, but it wasn't as memorable as I had hoped. Readers who enjoy a more leisurely pace and don't mind some stereotypical character traits might still find it worth their time.

I love it when a book finds you, bringing you a story you can't believe you didn't already know, and delights you that you know it now. I devoured this dual timeline set in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Historical Fiction bringing a new twist to an old mystery while tying in a modern tale in the same setting.

The author did an excellent job as the voice of Dore, capturing the essence of what its like to leave your home for an exotic land and the many vacillating feelings and odd experiences that occur along the way.

The modern tale was also full of interesting facts about the penguin population in the Galapagos and the effects of humanity on the habitats without being overly doom and gloom on the climate. I did struggle with the modern timeline and character Mallory who was annoyingly selfish and out of touch with herself, when the story turns and you begin to understand why she is so detached, I softened to her a little.

Both timelines keep a fast pace with many interesting turns along the way. I will recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and to all my friends and family that have or have dreamed of immigrating to Ecuador.

I’m a fan of dual-period novels, science, wildlife, all-things epistolary, and history, so this book was right up my alley. I mean… Penguins! Right? Who doesn’t love them? They turned out to be the perfect metaphor for families and mothering.

Raymond does an admirable job of creating parallels between these two women’s lives, and there was a surprise that I didn’t see coming until about two paragraphs before the reveal (I appreciate this, even though the surprise was what finally kicked off the current-day character’s momentum, which took a wee bit to get to). Even so, I was enamored by the wildlife and penguin facts – and moved by the crisis that humans have created on the planet. These aspects were handled with a light touch - and the book was really about the characters - but they really spoke to me.

These quotes in particular:

”Animals are so perfect,” I said with a sigh. “Why do we humans just seem to mess it all up?”

I consider all that has changed over the last hundred or so years – the tortoises are back, the penguins disappearing, the cats reappearing – and yet there is one species that has not died out or evolved. For better or for worse, we humans are exactly the same.

I think I connected to this novel because I shared with present-day character, Mallory, the same frustration and sentiments about humans and their relationship to the Earth and how we continue to get it wrong. And I shared with the historic character, Dore, her love of wildlife and her musings about them. I also enjoyed reading about both women’s introspective quests to find their own strength. Readers of women’s historical fiction and women’s fiction will gobble this up. It’s a quick read.

3.5 rounded up. It was fascinating to learn that much of this story was based on historic fact regarding real people and events unfolding on Floreana Island, off the Galápagos Archipelago.

This is quite a lovely read with great and quite unique approach on the historical element; a great setting, ambience with stunning landscapes descriptions; characters easy to empathise with; a dual timeline, and...well, penguins!
The romance part of story was my least favourite, but the drama, the adventure and the murder mystery made up for it.
Highly recommend it to historical fiction and nature lover readers.

Floreana is a dual POV historical fiction novel that I recently read, and I found this book to be so interesting! We follow two women, Dore in the late 1920s - early 1930s and Mallory in present day, on Floreana Island in the Galapagos. Both women have their own secrets and travel to the island to escape the troubles of their everyday lives, but trouble follows them. This was a total cover read for me, but I ended up enjoying the drama and rated it 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟!

This book does have some mystery elements but is much more focused on the historical side- with certain characters, like Dore Strauch, who wrote Satan Came to Eden, Margret Wittmer, who wrote Floreana (1960), the Baroness and her men friends, and Friedrich Ritter, being real people the past. The mystery lies in what happened to some of them in real life, as murders have never been proven, but speculated in this novel. 🏝️🐧🐢🔪

This book publishes on January 7, 2025!

Pick it up if you like:
• historical fiction
• penguins in island settings
• murder mysteries

Thank you so much to @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Being pulled into the world of Floreana was both comforting and disturbing at the same time. Raymond's descriptions of the island brought the land to life—quite literally as Floreana acts as the third protagonist of the story. I enjoyed the explorations of ecological colonialism in both the past and the present, the ideas of humans using the natural world as a prop to further their own material successes. Balancing the narrative between two correlated perspectives throughout time helped cement this theme, really driving home the idea that humans will come and go but nature will forever persevere, Since the primary focus was on the two main protagonists, Mallory and Dore, I found it difficult to connect with the other surrounding characters, which ultimately diminished the bonds the two woman formed with those around them. The reveal towards the end of Mallory's secret from back home was very impacted and contributed a lot to her character development. Overall, the two interwoven stories of Mallory and Dore demand the attention of any reader interested in dissecting concepts of conservation, feminine identity, and mysterious historical secrets.

This is a historical fiction read set in the galapagos islands. I thought it sounded so cool but unfortunately it just didn't keep my attention, but if you read the description and it intrigues you, definitely try and pick it up.
DNF at 60%
Thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I love novels with converging histories, and this one is exceptionally well done. The chapters weave between contemporary Galapagos Island penguin rescuer Mallory, returned to the island after experiencing some ... personal troubles ... and a woman named Dore who kept a journal on the island 100 years earlier. Fascinating environmental study, and moral quandaries abound. This one is definitely worth a read.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley & Little A Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found on Goodreads.

Historical fiction is rarely my jam, but I decided to take a chance on this novel due to the setting. And I am SO glad I did. Floreana tells the story of two women exploring Floreana Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, only they exist nearly 100 years apart.

Mallory returns to Floreana in present day to jump back into the penguin research she abandoned abruptly almost ten years prior. Although she doesn't want to admit it, she is running from her problems back in Boston that keep weighing her down. She hopes that being back in the place that inspired her all those years ago will help her find her passion again.

Dore arrives to Floreana in 1929 with her "husband" after being promised a new start to life following their affair. When they arrive, they are the only ones settling on this desolate island. And while they can appreciate its beauty, the harsh ecosystem and lack of materials makes the adjustment to their new world all the more difficult.

This novel is written in a split timeline, which offers beautiful insight to Floreana that allows us to understand both Mallory and Dore better. We begin to see that, although nearly 100 years apart, their paths and personal stories align much more than they would ever expect.

The setting is gorgeously described, and as someone who has a deep love for marine life, I absolutely loved Mallory's scientific focus. I appreciated how the beauty of Floreana was conveyed from both Mallory and Dore's point of view. This story was magical, and I can't wait to recommend it to others.

One island, two women, two timelines, and a love for animals.
'Floreana' is a tale about loneliness, grief, motherhood, and the desire to love and be loved. It reimagines the infamous events of 1929 in the Galapagos Islands, known as 'murder in paradise', involving a German doctor and his mistress who sought to escape civilization by creating their own version of paradise on a deserted island. The story focuses on the settlers, the Rittmans and the Wittmers, and the mysterious Baroness who arrives with two lovers, treating everyone like servants and complicating their lives.
The narrative unfolds through different points of view: Dore grapples with isolation on the island, separated from her family with minimal human interaction and emotionally neglected by her partner, finding solace only in caring for animals. Mallory returns to Floreana in the present day for penguin conservation after previously leaving to start a family.
The book poses thought-provoking questions about meeting expectations and the fear of disappointing others. What does it truly take to understand someone. It also delves into animal conservation, exploring the contrasts between selfless dedication and selfish exploitation.
I have no comments about the writing style or pace. Perhaps the only issue is the imbalance of the chapters. We see much more of Dore's character throughout the book, which gives her more depth, making it easier for us to empathize with her. In contrast, Mallory's chapters are very short and focused on routine activities, merely describing what she does. It feels like two of Mallory's chapters equal one of Dore's. As a result, it was difficult not only to get to know Mallory but also to sympathize with her, which is a shame because her character is intriguing.

Thank you Netgallery and the publishers for the ARC. I can't wait to hear what others think about it!
3.5/5 ⭐

I was really excited for this one going in and it was a definite let down. The first half of the book was such a slog to get through and I really only enjoyed Dore's parts of the story. Mallory was so boring to me up until the reveal of why she was running away from her life. I feel like so many heavy topics were only briefly touched on and could have given the book a lot more depth if they were delved into. Because of this, I didn't really feel connected to anyone in the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I choose this novel for its cover and description. It is an engaging read, with themes of romance, love, motherhood, and an unsolved mystery. Recommended for readers of historical fiction, romance, and adventure. Thanks to NetCalley and the publisher for the ARC.

#Floreana
#NetGalley

3.5 stars rounded up -- a very interesting historical fiction read set on the Galápagos Islands!

In 1929, Dore moves to the island from Germany with a man that is not her husband. She thinks this is an escape from her suffocating marriage and her despair over not being able to have children, but Frederich quickly becomes a different man on the island, leaving her feeling more isolated than ever.

Nearly one hundred years later, Mallory is a scientist returning to the island and her former mentor/lover Gavin. She is circumspect about her real reasons for returning, and is quickly enthralled by the discovery of Dore's personal journals and the previously untold account of the earliest settlers of the Galápagos Islands.

A really interesting novel based on some true events -- I only wish we had a bit more of the penguins!! But loved the discussions about ecological sustainability and the role of humans to help protect vulnerable species and habitats.

Thank you to NetGalley + the publisher for this ARC!

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and this is a great example of why that is.

Floreana is a split-perspective/timeline novel set on Floreana Island in the Galapagos. Mallory returns to help build nests to revive a vulnerable penguin population and by chance discovers hidden journals written by Dore Strauch, a woman who moved to this then-remote island with her companion back in 1929.

Sometimes I fantasize about "living off the grid," but it remains just that--a fantasy, because I have no real skills that would ensure my survival. This provides a hint of what that might be like (and it's definitely not sunshine + rainbows). There are some truly detestable characters in here, and a few reveals I didn't necessarily see coming.

I was surprised to find out that much of this was actually based on something that happened in real life! The author did an amazing job reimagining what may have happened, and I loved the immersive and vivid imagery. It's a hauntingly beautiful tale of self-discovery + the emotional journeys of two different women's lives, a century apart from one another.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc! Although I typically don't lean towards historical fiction, the intriguing description, cover and title of this book piqued my interest, and I'm happy that I decided to give it a chance. This captivating novel will appeal to both fans of historical fiction and those who enjoy romance and stories of self-discovery. It skillfully intertwines themes of love, secrets, and deception across two timelines, all against the breathtaking backdrop of the Galápagos Islands. A gem I highly recommend!

There's something magical about stepping into different times and seeing the world through the eyes of people from the past.

I read this everywhere—during meals, on walks, anytime I could. I just couldn't put it down.

The story is about the strange history of Floreana Island in the Galapagos. It starts with Friedrich Ritter, a German doctor who arrived with his companion Dore Strauch (there's some saucy backstory here), who had multiple sclerosis. Together, they built a successful garden and thrived on the island - but Friedrich turned out to be a bit of a douchebag, IMO.

Floreana is best known for the mysterious disappearances that happened in the 1930s, especially that of an Austrian baroness who arrived shortly after the Wittmers. The baroness was a bit of a hoot in this book - I found myself scoffing at her antics, often.

Loved this so much!

Really impressive and immersive writing. Felt like a really good to read by the pool for the summer.