Sophia and her partner are supposed to go on a cruise to spend a bit of time together and take beautiful pictures of the natural scenery. But something goes wrong, and as a result Sophia ends up going by herself. Natural Selection has a great premise, but it falls flat. I didn't get attached to the characters, I didn't really care about anyone while reading. The novel feels too short, the ending felt abrupt to me. Overall it was okay, but nothing special.

Perfect quick and cute summer novella.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
[Review date: 2024/09/06]

I’m not really sure what the point of this was but o guess it was a fun, quick little read. Easily doable in one sitting which is always a treat!

I think the authors writing style is better suited to long form stories.. The ending on this was a bit predictable and although I keep going, it was just not as good as her regular books I hope the author comes up with a new setting for her writing and continues to write great stories.

Good short story which you can be done with very quickly. Interesting scenario and a good character in Sophia.

Sophia and her partner JP are on their way to a cruise to the Galapagos islands, after a flight. JP gets a call when they are at the airport. He is tense and says there are urgent issues with respect to his son Briar (with his ex-wife Maria). JP insists that Sophia continue on the tour and click some good pictures. Sophia is taken aback and reluctantly proceeds. She meets a diverse set of people, and though not in the right frame of mind initially, she tries her best to make the most of the trip. Sophia & JP hope to marry soon. This trip gives her time to think how about their relationship has proceeded till this point.

For a story this short, the character development is good. There is some suspense, and it ends very well. A nice short read.

My rating: 3.75 / 5.

This was my first Elin Hilderbrand and I was expecting much more. The story was quick and heartwarming- I saw the vision. I just was completely distracted by the writing style. The pop culture references to things like Iron Flame and Love Island were unusual, but the use of words like sus and rizz unironically felt downright inappropriate for the serious story- targeted towards adults, mind you! I’m just not sure Hilderbrand’s writing style works for me at all.

This was a fun and quick story! I do wish it would have been a full length novel. I love Elin Hilderbrand but feel like this one the ending was so abrupt and at times very predictable. I would recommend for just a quick afternoon read though!

⭐️: 4

🐬 novella
🐬 fun setting
🐬 coming of age

I will forever be a fan of Elin’s writing. She has a way of transporting the reader directly into her story and I felt like I could see, hear and smell the Galápagos Islands. Overall, a quick palette cleaner that had me wanting more.

♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Elin Hilderbrand for the ARC of Natural Selection.

I saw Elin Hilderbrand and short story and I dove right in without even reading the description. I thought I was reading the beginning of a murder mystery, but the plot became obvious not long into the story. I got a little worried towards the end that it wasn’t going to wrap up nicely but I was pleasantly surprised. Tho the cheating trope was obvious, I loved the line about the main characters wife staying with him “because she’s unable to adapt to life without him”.

This was my first EH book, and I figured a novella was the perfect way to dive in and see if I like her writing style. While I did like her writing style, I didn't find this book to be a "romance" - quite the opposite. It would be better classified as "women's fiction ". Towards the end, she threw in very "Gen Z" words like "rizz" and "did" and it was very off brand for the rest of the book. The placement was odd and out of place.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick fun read. This is a short story that could be read in an hour or so. It was enjoyable. There is a struggle, hurt feelings but also the kindness and love of strangers. The Galápagos Islands setting make the read fun to read. I enjoyed the characters.

Natural Selections is an Amazon Originals short story by bestseller Elin Hilderbrand. New Yorker Sophia Othonos has been dating an older divorced man for the past six months and he has planned their first romantic getaway. They are about to board their flight to the Galapagos Islands for a rustic cruise when he receives a call and tells Sophia that he has to rush back to the US but wants her to go on the vacation without him.

This is a quick easy read of 50ish pages that won't take an hour to get through. It's an interesting premise and set in a beautiful location but there's only so much plot and character development than can take place in a short story. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a full-length novel or novella with a fully developed sense of place.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Just a little dash of Elin in the Galapagos! I loved the setting of this, and only wish that it was longer than a short story. I can always quickly sink into the world and characters Elin creates.

Thank you #Netgalley for the copy!

This was an easy quick short story to read in one sitting. When Sophia is enroute on a island vacation with her too good to be true boyfriend, she is on cloud nine. However, things change with one phone call. A phone call that takes her boyfriend back home for a family situation. He encourages her to stay, go on the trip for him. So she does, she connects with those on the boat with her but panics as she can't get a hold of him during her time away. What is really going on?

Perfect little story to fill some time. Hilderbrand never disappoints! I was disappointed when I came to the end!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i should have known with less than 60 pages this would be one to skip. no connections to any of her previous books, it's a short story that has no point. its just a girl that still goes on a trip when her boyfriend leaves and later finds out she's the other woman. OF COURSE SHE IS

I will religiously read anything and everthing Elin Hilderbrand writes. I liked this story but it wasn't as enthralling as her long form writing. It also felt less gossipy and lived in like her books. I found myself skimming at the end to find the happily ever after.

Elin Hilderbrand's "Natural Selection" is a quick, enjoyable escape, albeit a bit predictable. The setting -- a Galapagos Islands cruise -- is a departure from Hilderbrand's typical Nantucket reads, but a fun backdrop for the novella. The story follows Sophia, a woman who finds herself solo on a couples cruise after her boyfriend abruptly bails on their planned vacation.

However, while the story is well-written and the characters are likable, I found myself wanting a bit more depth. The plot felt a little predictable, and the resolution was perhaps a bit too tidy. Had this been a full novel, I'm confident Hilderbrand would have delivered the drama, conflict, and complexity she's known for.

Overall, "Natural Selection" is a solid choice for fans of Hilderbrand or those looking for a light, breezy read. If you're looking for a quick escape with a touch of romance and adventure, this short story is a good option. But if you're expecting a complex character-driven narrative, you might be left wanting more. "Natural Selection" is not going to blow your mind, but it's a pleasant way to spend a few hours.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

“He’s a maestro in bed with a remarkably big baton.”

Elin packed so much content into these…wow, really!?! Only 54 pages!?! No way!?

I did this one as an audiobook and loved it.

We all know from the jump the JP is a sus kinda guy, well everyone but Sophia. Sophia is happy as can be with her new boyfriend…but wait has that ever been clarified!?! He plans a trip and then receives and urgent call and things go downhill from there, or do they!?

This one has a lovely cast of characters and was very enjoyable. I definitely recommend checking it out.

Considering that this was a short story, I believe Elin Hilderbrand worked her magic for this story giving you a glimpse into the world while leaving a world of possibility that could easily be a full-length book. The natural selection theming in the main character's ability to adapt was beautifully unpacked throughout the book. The story was a bit predictable, but I think that was natural for stories in this format. However, the boyfriend's sudden leave is interesting enough to keep you reading to figure out what happened. It's a simple, easy read and I think fans of her work will enjoy this quick read.