Wow! I loved this story. A beautifully written account of historical fiction, that happens to be based on a real character. What thrilled me is the journey from a pampered life to an existence wholly dependent on newfound skills, cunning and guts to survive. Then to take those gifts and venture to make the world a better place for those less fortunate, that story is a joy to read. Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for selecting me as a early reader.

(4.5 stars) I read Allegra Goodman’s “Sam” awhile back and liked it well enough to request her next, “Isola”, from NetGalley when it became available. Although both are coming-of-age stories, they are very different books – “Sam” is a contemporary story of a young, rock-climbing girl, and “Isola” is a historical story of a French noblewoman, left by a jealous older man to survive on an inhospitable island. “Isola” (the title comes from the Italian for “island”) is the better book. It is rich in details of the time and place (France in the 16th century), along with being a riveting account of an island survival story. Once a child of privilege, Marguerite must learn to live off the land, hunting and killing for survival, while also enduring the elements, which include brutal winters with all they bring. *possible spoiler* While she makes it back to France in one piece, Marguerite is left with almost unbearable sorrow and must face the man who sent her to almost-certain death. This is a book that kept me compulsively turning the pages. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for allowing access to this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley, Dial Press and Allegra Goodman for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Isola.
This is a beautifully written story of a young woman in the 1500’s who becomes an orphan and is placed in the care of a selfish explorer. The plot is well developed with lots of action and edge of your seat life threatening situations .
I do not have the background knowledge about the 1500’s and needed more of the setting described to fully understand some of the decisions made. I also needed more character development to feel like I was part of the story. The author did too much telling instead of showing me emotions and feelings keeping me at a distance from becoming totally immersed with the characters.
There were many references to Bible verses and religious connotations which I understand were very prevalent during this time period but I just don’t identify with their meaning or importance.
I love historical fiction but this time frame holds little interest for me. Just a personal preference for this rating and I will read more from this author.

The historical fiction version of the life of Marguerite de la Rocque. Born into nobility in the 1500's, she was orphaned and put under the care of her cousin, Roberval. Roberval is crude and rude and runs through Marguerite's fortune, after draining his own. With plans to head to "New France" Roberval forces Marguerite to accompany him.

Marguerite falls in love with Roberval's servant. Roberval is furious and leaves the couple and Marguerite's nurse on an almost inhabitable, rocky island.

This is a story of survival - from a noble to an orphan and ward. From a ship to a rocky landscape with little to assist with survival. Allegra Goodman has a way of bringing reading into the story and putting them in the center of the emotions of the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent historical novel based upon the life of a woman who was banished to am island and lived alone for years fending off bears and foraging for food. Empowering.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-ARC edition of this title in exchange for my review.

I enjoy historical fiction (especially if it's not set in WWII - there are just far too many of those!), and I enjoy books about topics or people I'm not familiar with; I find it interesting to research the people or locations a bit after the book. This was a new topic and location for me, and I enjoyed the story. I did feel a bit 'spoon fed', the author really gave a lot of details and left little to the imagination. But overall, I really enjoyed the story, and would recommend it to any other historical fiction fans.

4 stars for 'really liked it'

Often we hear of rags to riches stories. That is not Isola. This is the tale of a young girl, noble born in France. An orphan living on her estates under the protection of her guardian Roberval until she married at 15. She is cared for by her good nurse Damienne and lives with her tutor Madam D’Artois and friend Claire. Roberval is not to be trusted however as he squanders her money.
Her situation worsens when Roberval decides to take her and Damienne with him to New France, now known as Canada, in his quest for riches. This book reminded me of “The Wager” by David Grann. In it we see a fortitude and strength of character not found in ordinary people in this century. If I did not know that it and Shackelton’s “Endurance” were true stories I would not have believed them.
Isola is also based on Marguerite de Navarre, a woman from history. She was cast off onto a barren island, an Isola. Her true story must have been harrowing. The one written in these pages is harsh but admirable. I recommend it. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

This was an excellent historical fiction based on the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque in the 1500s. Marguerite was born into nobility, but was orphaned young and raised by her nurse Damienne & house staff. In her teens, her guardian, a distant cousin, sells her home to pay off his debts & she moves to his home. He then takes her on an expedition to se up a French colony in newly “discovered” Canada, during which time he leaves her, Damienne, and his personal secretary abandoned on a rocky island as punishment for an affair between Marguerite & the secretary.
I really enjoyed this book, I loved how feisty the author wrote Marguerite, especially given the time period, and I could feel her emotions during all aspects of her journeys.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Isola in exchange for my honest review.

Isola by Alexandra Goodman is a gripping, cinematic, fever dream piece of historical fiction set in the 16th-century, that tells the story of orphaned French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque. Born into privilege and largely oblivious to those who serve her, she falls victim to her cousin and unscrupulous guardian, who mortgages and eventually sells her property in order to finance his exploration and quest for riches along with power and glory in the new world. After leaving her in reduced circumstances during his early expeditions, he eventually forces her to accompany him on a voyage from France to Canada. When she discovers a kindred spirit in his secretary Auguste during the long sea journey, her guardian is incensed and retaliates by abandoning the pair, along with Marguerite’s loyal nurse Damienne on an uninhabited island. The account of their determination to survive is well told and almost beggars belief. Once the secretary and Damienne die and Marguerite is left to fend for herself, the already engaging story becomes a page turner. The protagonist finds strength, courage and resolve to survive. She is eventually rescued by Basque sailors, returns to France and with the Queen’s blessing, can establish a school for girls and thwart her misanthropic guardian once and for all. The telling is heavy on Catholicism which may be off putting for some readers and I suspect that Goodman exaggerates some of Marguerite’s exploits – particularly her encounters with polar bears. Nevertheless, she adheres to the historical records where they exist and tells the story of a brave and unusual woman.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for this review.

Allegra Goodman tells the story of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, a real 16th century French noblewoman, in this epic tale of love, faith and survival. This bildungsroman captures the essence of the times in exquisite prose, all the while remaining highly readable. I could not turn the pages fast enough.

The novel starts when Marguerite is a child, where we see the world from her sheltered point of view. She is orphaned nobility, living in a chateau, relying on the love of her motherly servant Damienne whose religious devotion is a central theme. There are signs of Marguerite’s burgeoning independent personality, but Damienne tries to keep her in her place, because she knows what the world can do to women.

When Marguerite’s guardian needs money, he rents out the chateau and thus begin the changes to Marguerite’s life. As she grows, she starts to understand how the world really works, that her gender makes her the property of men, a pawn in a very dangerous game that will take her to the ends of the known world.

Goodman must have done so much research to bring this story to life. I found myself googling many things because I was unfamiliar with French history (sorry, the Tudors have taken up too much space in my head). The sense of place, character development, the visceral descriptions of everything from a desolate island to the most elegant rooms in a chateau, made this extremely cinematic (I want a mini-series please). There are a few slower parts to the plot, and there is a lot of religion, which is to be expected in the 16th century. Don’t let that stop you. The 1500s come to life in this exciting female-centric historical fiction based on a long-lost true story. Read it. Read it. Read it.

Isola is a historical fiction novel set in the mid 16th Century France, based on the true story of Marguerite de La Rocque, a young and wealthy orphan, who is grossly misused by her "cousin" and guardian, Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval. He is an explorer and privateer, favored by the French crown, but often in debt. He sells her land and all her holdings to fund his own life, and eventually forces her to accompany him on his journey to New France (Quebec). While on the voyage, Marguerite and Roberval's young secretary, Auguste, become enamored, raising the wrath of Roberval. As they approach land, Roberval has Marguerite, Auguste, and Marguerite's nurse Damienne marooned on a barren island. How they live and survive together on this island takes up most of the back half of this novel.
The writing of this novel was lovely, and very well researched. As Marguerite grows up, she struggles against her upbringing, having to suppress her own natural inclination towards being "spirited" and behaving in a way that defies the expectations of her nurse and her well-bred teacher. This character development was definitely true to the expectations of ladylike behavior for the time period. Marguerite struggles against the expectations even on the island, when her very survival requires her to take on hunting and fishing. The time she and her companions spend on the island the most engrossing part of the book. The lead up to the sea voyage dragged a bit for me, but it was worth it for the depiction of the voyage and eventual marooning on the island, as they work together to attempt to survive. Of course, tragedy strikes while on the island, and the novel wraps up rather quickly as Marguerite eventually makes her way off the island and back to France. The ending was the part that left me the most unsatisfied as it wraps up rather quickly. But all that said, this story of survival and personal growth kept me immersed and keen to finish.
Thank you to Random House, The Dial Press, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Based on a true story, Marguerite, a young, wealthy orphan with vast holdings, is the ward of a mercenary and unscrupulous guardian, Jean Francois de la Roque de Roberval. Roberval is an adventurer privateer with the high regard of the King of Navarre. Mostly absent through her childhood, Roberval has progressively squandered all her money so he takes her, only 16, on his venture to discover the new and unknown world of northeastern Canada. While on the voyage, and with his own propriety, misguided affections for Marguerite, he is enraged when he discovers her love for his secretary. Thus, he punishes her, Auguste, and Damienne, her lifelong nurse to a remote, rocky, uninhabited island or isola in that area. There they battle the elements and barren land to fight for their survival with only their wits, resourcefulness and faith to sustain them.

I really enjoyed this book. The author had a nice flow with authenticity in the dialogue during the 1400s. It was heartbreaking, but also inspirational that she was able to adapt and prevail with her tenacity and faith. An inspirational book with very good character development. I highly recommend this read, which is quick because it’s so engaging. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

When I saw a new title by Allegra Goodman on the NetGalley shelves, I immediately requested it without glancing at the subject, so much is my adoration of the author (see my review of her last title, "Sam"). Much was my surprise to begin in 16th-century France, in the thoughts of a bougie, self-absorbed, shallow girl who must submit to her enigmatic guardian's cruel whims and is gradually forced from home, community, and eventually country. An island herself before she even reaches the island in New France on which she'd be marooned, her emotional journey is a familiar story of how hardship and loss can prompt a more virtuous mindset of compassion, humbleness, and gratitude. But the astonishing part (other than it being based on a true story) was how beautifully the author voices this transformation and centers it in the ordinary yet exquisite natural landscape of desolation. Thank you to The Dial Press, Random House, and NetGalley for the early read!

An interesting book that felt a little flat at times. I liked the prose and reading about this woman though something was missing and the story could have been maybe more edited.

“Isola” is a historical fiction novel by Allegra Goodman. This book tells the story of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, who was a French noblewoman of the 1500s. Her parents died when Marguerite was young and her estate was overseen by a cousin, who squandered Marguerite’s wealth on his own follies. After Marguerite’s wealth was lost, the cousin decided to start colonies in French Canada (today Quebec) - in hopes to gain more monies for himself. Marguerite and her long-time nurse accompany the cousin - but before getting there, they along with a member of the cousin’s staff, are deposited on an island … and must fight to survive. I found the idea of this book fascinating - both from a historical viewpoint (wealth being taken away by a male protector from a young female is something that just will always annoy me) and also from a storytelling viewpoint. I found the pacing of this book a bit too slow for my taste - things took a while to establish, though I understand why the author decided to do that. I cannot say that I really liked all the characters in this book (would it even be possible to like the cousin?), but it was an interesting and enjoyable read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this interesting historical fiction book based on Marguerite de la Rocque. Her journey was fascinating and the writing was very compelling. Highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this one, however 1) I wish I hadn't read the full synopsis. It gives away a big part of the book, but that portion doesn't happen until almost halfway through. 2) I also wish I had known the book was based on a true story at the beginning. I had no idea. I usually don't like historical fiction or books written in past time periods, but this one hit different. Maybe it was the writing that I really enjoyed. It was very different from Sam, but great writing for both.

Isola by Allegra Goodman is the story of an orphaned noblewoman in the 1500's. Marguerite de la Roque de Roberval suffers the fate that can befall those who lack the societal privileges that would allow them to control their destiny. She is dependent on the good will of her guardian. When that fails her, she must figure out how to survive. This is a story of courage and survival. Parts of the novel highlight the struggles of the protagonist against nature while other parts focus on her struggles to survive within the society into which she was born. This contradistinction gives texture and depth to the novel. Goodman's writing is deft and well researched. Marguerite lives within her time, even as her experience cause her to question the assumptions inherent to her epoch. This historical novel is set firmly within the beliefs of the sixteenth century, which gives the reader space to draw their own conclusions from the parallels between the worlds that Marguerite must navigate to survive and the social and natural challenges we face today. Thanks to NetGalley and to Random House for providing this Advanced Readers Copy and allowing me the opportunity to review this book prior to publication.

Allegra Goodman knows how to tell a story. In "Isola," Goodman brings us a freshly embroidered look at the life of Marguerite de La Rocque, a real-life French noblewoman who came of age in the 1500s. Marguerite, orphaned at an early age, seems destined for a comfortable life until her cruel and greedy guardian gambles away her fortune. She ends up on a ship destined for the New World, where romance as well as tremendous hardships await. This project is entirely unlike other Goodman novels I've read, but what this book has in common with "Sam" and "The Cookbook Collector" is a commitment to telling stories of women's lives that ring true. Her characters come alive on the page, and you will find yourself caught up in the drama of the high seas and Renaissance nobility.

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful story. Even better finding out it was based on a true story! A tale of a young girl, who grows into a woman, finding that at every turn life seems to be taking something from her. It isn’t until life takes absolutely everything does she find it within herself to pull herself up and change her life.

Only critiques I believe I would add is that it felt as if the main character was the only developed character, and all the others were just props to her development. I am alllll about character driven stories so I wish there was a bit more there, even though they are supporting characters. The pacing also had its slow parts, which was also a struggle.

Overall though, it was a historical fiction that I enjoyed and was a pretty easy read!