Short stories are hard to write and this one really never got going before it ended. A trip to the Galapagos could be made more interesting, but the duplicity of a boyfriend and his stranded girlfriend never really engendered interest.

I have read most of Elin Hilderbrand’s books and have enjoyed most of them but this latest short story (only 54 pages) was a huge disappointment! I really didn’t like any of the characters and didn’t care for the story even though it took place in the Galapagos Islands which I’ve never been to. Not my cup of tea.

I was able to get an Arc of this through First Reads by Amazon Prime and through NetGalley.

The book starts off with the female main characters boyfriend leaving her at the airport to run to the aid of his trouble son. She is left to visit the Galapagos Island by herself and promises to take pictures for her boyfriend. Time passes and she hears nothing from him. She ends up stalking his children’s social media and things are not as they seem.

Would I recommend this, not really. It had the potential to be really good but it fell short.

A romantic vacation to the Galapagos turns into a tour for one. Sophia Othonos ' boyfriend cancels at the last minute after a shattering phone call. Left stranded at the airport, JP encourages Sophia to take photos to commemorate the trip.

Feeling abandoned while worried about JP, Sophia realizes this isn't a luxury cruise but a scenic tour. Forced to confront the solo situation, she makes friends with strangers. Putting aside the blocking and radio silence, Hildebrand plays with the titled concept that only the strongest survive. Will Sophia survive this trip or will this holiday turn into a sinking ship?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #NaturalSelection in exchange for an honest. JP's silence left me paging through the short story to discover the truth. Was he in trouble, leaving Sophia handing or running from the law.? As Sophia's mind races trying to make sense of the situation, readers are engaged to discover the truth.

A very predictable story of a woman stranded by her boyfriend/fiance at the airport and is left to go on a trip by herself. How the main character could not predict this situation is beyond belief.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for gifting me a digital ARC of this short story by the one-and-only Elin Hilderbrand. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Sophia and her boyfriend, JP, are headed for a getaway to the Galápagos Islands when JP receives a call that he must return home immediately. JP had been married before and has 3 children with whom he is still very involved. JP insists that Sophia go on the trip alone. Now she's alone on a trip meant for couples and must decide who she wants and where she should be.

Elin has once again written a story with compelling characters, in situations that make them and the reader think. Plus, it takes place in a beautiful setting with amazing descriptions of nature. The other characters on the cruise with Sophia are fully fleshed out, even in this short story. You can picture everyone! A good story of finding yourself.

In this short yet reflective story, Sophia Othonos embarks on what was meant to be a romantic getaway to the Galápagos Islands with her boyfriend, only to find herself alone after he bails at the last minute. Following the heart break she embarks on a journey of self-discovery while navigating the wild beauty of the islands.

We follow her as she reassesses her relationship, identity, and what she deisres out of life. The story is an exploration of personal growth, one that all of us go through at some point in our life. This theme makes the story very relatable and accessible, specially for middle aged audiences.

The story begins with Sophie being is excited about her relationship and a possible future with her boyfriend. However, as the trip unfolds and she is left to her own devices, Sophia begins to question the foundation of her relationship and whether it is truly what she wants.

Throughout her journey, Sophia’s character is developed through her interactions with the other passengers on the cruise. These new friendships, along with the tranquil beauty of the islands help her to reevaluate her life choices and recognize that the person she needs to fall in love with is herself. A point the we all could appriciate and use in our own lives.

Pros:

Vivid Imagery: The author’s descriptions of the Galápagos Islands are beautiful and immersive, there is a clear picture of the islands in our minds as we read through it.

Relatable Protagonist: Sophia’s journey of self-discovery is relatable and will resonate with readers who have faced similar life challenges.

Emotional Resonance: The story effectively conveys the emotions of loneliness, self-doubt, and eventual empowerment.

Cons:

Predictable Plot: The story’s trajectory is somewhat conventional, and easy to anticipate the twists and turns.

Brief Narrative: One of the pitfalls of a short story is that it leaves the readers wanting for more, often ending the tale with many unanswered questions.

Conclusion

This is a short, reflective story that explores themes of self-discovery and personal growth against the stunning backdrop of the Galápagos Islands. While the plot may be predictable, the amazing sceneray and its vivid description make this a memorable read.

At less than 50 pages, this short story is somehow still packed with well-developed characters, plotting and emotion. In a beautifully descriptive tour of the Galapagos Islands [that sells the vacation destination as well as any travel brochure], Sophia goes on an emotional journey of upheaval, growth and healing. While it does not break new ground, it is relatable in its emotional highs and lows, and the lack of a tidy wrap-up feels realistic.

This is a beautiful, heartwarming story from a master story-teller. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC (which was released on September 1st, 2024).

‘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.” - Darwin.

When Sophia Othonos is surprisingly dumped by her fiancé JP twelve minutes before boarding their flight to the Galapagos Islands and a luxury cruise, she agrees to travel alone, keeping JP’s camera with her to take pictures of the wildlife he wanted most to see. Not surprisingly, this is not a luxury cruise. Sophia’s disappointment leads to interest in both her fellow passengers and the unique wildlife found on these volcanic islands. JP is long forgotten before the end of this trip and the beginning of Sophia’s new life.

In 50 pages, Elin Hilderbrand creates a story just as satisfying as her Nantucket or St. John novels. I hope she will come out of retirement in the future, 50 pages at a time. 5 stars. What else?

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and Elon Hilderbrand for this ARC.

A lot of story is packed into a short amount of pages. If you are a fan of the author and have 30-60 mins to spare, this is an enjoyable read. I was expecting a romance and this is not one, but rather a story of self-discovery.

5/5 stars! I thoroughly enjoyed this short story and couldn’t put it down. I finished reading it in one sitting. I have read most of Elin Hilderands books and this one did not disappoint. This short story is released September 1st, 2024. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories, Netgalley and Elin Hilderband for the opportunity to read this short story.

This short story is available through KindlePlus, but I got my copy for free from NetGalley. Amazon Originals are very often good stories by well known authors, and this one is no exception. It tells the story of Sophia who, somewhat reluctantly, goes on a trip to the Galapagos Islands with her boyfriend, but her boy friend leaves her at the airport. While this story is not full of surprises, it is full of growth and the sub-characters are surprisingly well developed, given the brevity of the book. I recommend.

For a novella, this wasn’t so bad!

Sophia and JP book a trip to “get away” when JP gets called back home due to an incident with his son (from his ex wife).

Sophia goes on the trip to the Galápagos by herself where she befriends her fellow companions on the boat and adapts to her situation despite JP ghosting her.

I liked how the book referenced Natural Selection multiple times and how parallels with the FMCs situation.

It was a quick story that made me wonder what’s going on and still had me like “damn” at the end.

First Elin Hilderbrand read and can’t wait to read more!

Does Elin ever write anything not worth reading? The answer is “no” and this short story in no different! A quick little beach read to help you say “goodbye” to summer. Written in Hilderbrand’s signature style, “Natural Selection” will have you wishing for a boat cruise & a Mai Tai!

I've never read this author and thought this short story would be a good way to get a feel of her storytelling, and I wasn't wrong. It isn't an earth-shattering surprise as I feel you know almost from the get-go, but I enjoyed the tie-in from nature and Darwin. It has me looking at my own life just a little bit differently, and that says something about such a short story.

The descriptions of the wildlife are what make this a nice read. Sophia was a likable character making the best of an unfortunate change of plans when her boyfriend sends her on a vacation by herself. The story was predictable, but a nice read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Natural Selection. Great short story. Looking forward to more from Elin Hilderbrand.

I love Ms Hilderbrand’s novels but found this one predictable and wasn’t able to connect with Sophia as a character and there were so many side characters that no one stuck out to me.

Given that this was a short story, there wasn’t more than a little bit of character evolution, but I think I would have enjoyed reading more about Sophia in a novella as opposed to a short; as short as it is, it was too busy.

Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me on a few levels.

Other readers may love it, but it wasn’t for me.



Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the DRC

I have not read any Elin Hilderbrand before and thought a novella might be a good way to see if she is for me. I thought this story was just okay. I wished there was more introspection and female empowerment, it just felt really surface level and I didn't feel any real connection to the main character. I did enjoy the writing style and the pacing, and the dialogue between character so I think I will give Elin Hilderbrand novels a try! I think novellas can be really challenging to write since they are so concise, there was just something important missing. I didn't really leave knowing exactly what this story was supposed to convey.

A Riveting Tale of Adaptation and Deception

*lNatural 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.