This short story by Hilderbrand pulls you right in from the beginning. Did I kind of feel like I might’ve known where it was going? Sure. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the journey!! I also loved that even though it was short she still included an epilogue!! I love a good epilogue!

This was a fun little audiobook that I listened to while cooking dinner. I love this narrator. Her pacing and tone when telling Elin's stories is spot on. I liked the connection to the title and the growth of the character in the short story. I would recommend to Elin fans!

Elin Hilderbrand brings her signature storytelling to *Natural Selection, a novel that expertly combines emotional depth with gripping drama. The characters are richly developed, each navigating complex personal dilemmas that pull at your heartstrings. The story touches on family, relationships, and self-discovery, with Hilderbrand's vivid descriptions making the setting come alive. While the pacing slows in some parts, the overall narrative remains compelling and engaging. It’s a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel that showcases Hilderbrand’s talent for creating relatable, flawed characters in life-changing situations. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this short story! Great concept about a young women realizing her worth on a beautiful cruise to see some rare wildlife. She was supposed to go with her boyfriend, but he had “family issues” arise just before…. Short & insightful.

Thank you to the publisher and author for this advanced copy.

When Sophia and JP get ready to take off on an eight-day excursion via boat (full of sightseeing and tropical wildlife), the last thing that comes other of them expect is for JP to suddenly get called away and for Sophia to take the trip solo.
Sophia doesn’t hear from JP after his abrupt departure, which leaves her wracking her brain for what on earth could possibly be going on.
Little does she know … she is in for the shock of a lifetime.

As a fan of Hilderbrand's escapist novels full of idyllic settings and immense wealth and beauty, I always look forward to her new releases. This one works to pass the time while doing household chores or on a drive, with little investment on the reader's part, either financially, since it's an Amazon freebie, or emotionally, since it's so short. But it feels like it involved very little investment on the writer's behalf as well. I think the short story is truly an art form-- one which gives an author the ability to experiment, to perhaps explore beyond their comfort zone or test out whether their fans will go on an unexpected journey with them. Natural Selection starts out with a tone and premise that feels like we're being set up for a domestic thriller. Obviously Sophia's boyfriend was going to be married, but there must be more to it than that. What was the real reason he had to return home so abruptly? Why would he send her on a cruise to the Galapagos by herself? Why did he leave her his camera? Was Sophia going to be framed for something? Was he trying to get her out of the way, and did he intend to have her harmed? The author seemed to be setting us up for some real intrigue... But then nothing really materializes. It all fizzles out, with the result being that this ends up being a journey for Sophia to take stock of her life and 'find herself'. Which, I'm all about stories of self discovery, but I think if that was going to be the entire point, Sophia needed to have been a more likable (or at least interesting) character.

A nice, but very predictable short about a woman and her too-good-to-be-true boyfriend heading to the Galapagos Islands.

I'm not a fan of short stories because, many times, you're forced to immerse yourself in a situation, create an emotional connection with the protagonist and form opinions on orbital characters without knowing anything about them. Sadly, that was the case here.

I've never not loved an Elin Hildebrand book. I adore her writing, the way she sets up a story, the plot lines she creates. I'm a fan to say the least. But there just wasn't room for her to shine here. I do think this could have worked as a novel but in this form, it lacked the usual Hildebrand luster.

On a positive note, Erin Bennett did a great job with narration.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Erin Bennett

A short story from one of my favorite authors!

This was a quick & easy read if you need to simply escape life for an hour. I would have easily eaten this book up if was written as a full length novel.
Loved the vacay vibes. This story had the normal humor I’ve come to love from Elin and relatable characters.
Narration was fantastic!

Thank you Netgalley for this ALC, in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my the setting steals the show. The Galapagos Islands jump off the page. It's a place I've always dreamed of visiting and listening to this story increased those yearns. The tranquility jumps off the page.

I am not usually a fan of short stories because it is hard to have both a plot and to know the character. The author does the best she can with the restrictions. While I didn't dislike Sophia, I didn't really connect with her either. It seemed a little obvious where the story was headed and that made me question her judgement.

While not one of my favorite listens, I was entertained from start to finish. Erin Bennett brings Sophia and her journey to life and brought me into the story feeling the setting around me,

well, well, well...
this was my first Elin Hilderbrand and I think that was a mistake.
Somehow, I didn't catch that this was a short story/novella (not sure which it was).
From the very beginning of this story, I knew right away what the "twist" would be and was bored out of my mind until it was exposed.
Not for me.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy of Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand!

2.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

Sophia and her boyfriend of six months are headed for their first romantic getaway, but when he gets a phone call before boarding the plane she is left to go by herself under mysterious situation.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this short story. Sophia is about to embark on a trip to the Galapagos with her boyfriend of 6 months, when he gets a call from his ex-wife necessitating his return home for a family emergency. He insists Sophia continue on with the trip. Sophia is less than thrilled with the accommodations and activities planned on this eco-adventure, but soon comes to enjoy the company of her fellow travelers, and the scenic beauty. After many days of no communication from her boyfriend, she receives a call, and finds out he was not the person she thought he was. This is not usually my favorite genre, but this short story was like a satisfying snack; it hit just right.

the setup…
Sophia Othonos finally has a man in her life that loves her and is someone she respects and admires. When J.P. Satterwhite proposes that they go on a romantic getaway and then chooses a cruise to the Galápagos Islands, Sophia finds the location underwhelming but is just happy they’re going on an eight-day trip together. But minutes before they’re ready to board their flight, he gets an emergency call at the gate and has to rush home to his son in Oklahoma. She has no choice but to continue the trip alone.

the heart of the story…
I was a bit skeptical of JP from the onset. He’s older, divorced with two children and works in New York during the week and returns home to Oklahoma on the weekend. Maybe I’m just cynical but an emergency call at the gate? My expectations were low but Sophia having eight days to reflect not only about the relationship but herself was worth the alone time. Being able to step back and look at the lives of those around you, including not only family and friends but the other passengers on that cruise, and then take measure of your own was worth the abandonment.

the narration…
The author narrates her own story and here it made such a difference as this is a nuanced one that required care and delicacy. She led me where I needed to go.

the bottom line…
For a short story, it delivered an important and powerful message. While the cruise ship was “rustic” and the amenities on par with a budget motel, there were aspects of the setting and island nature that connected Sophie with its simplicity and beauty. There was a pivotal moment that reset her path and just felt right and serendipitous. Loved the insights and the ending. 3.5 stars

“Natural Selection” is a fun quick ‘short-story’ about a couple who are going on vacation together.

For some reason I was expecting to read a thriller but it turns out this is more of a domestic drama with some enjoyable character growth and development.

The audiobook was a fun way to pass the afternoon and not too long that you have to worry about investing a lot of time for.

Thank you to Elin Hilderbrand for the audiobook.

Publish date - September 1 2024

This was a really nice surprise, as I have not found most of these Amazon original short stories to be very good even if I usually like the author’s work.

Elin Hilderbrand’s Natural Selection, by contrast, was both more enjoyable and of better quality than what we’ve typically gotten from Amazon in this project.

This is probably my favorite of Elin’s of what I’ve read so far of her work, and thus I was a little bit sad that this wasn’t a full length novel. That said, Hilderbrand did so well here with what many short story authors miss on, which is atmosphere and sense of place.

This has very well rendered setting, Elin’s signature likable and intriguing characters, and a solidly done plot that cleverly connects to the setting and the idea of evolution, which is of course very apropos of a novel set largely in the Galapagos.

A fun and quick read that provides a much fuller reader experience than most short stories.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (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.

I will read anything Elin Hilderbrand writes and I was so excited to see a new short story available!

However this was just not necessary. I strongly believe she should have finished with her last book instead of cranking out one more. I’m not gonna tell you what this is about because it will give the whole story away but I will tell you we get the typical drama and mystery from Elin but a very quick and (in my opinion) unfinished ending.

The narrator was SUPERB and I really hope to hear again on more stories!

I really, really enjoyed this short story! I haven’t read a short story in years; so I didn’t really know what to expect. But from Elin Hilderbrand, I knew it had to be good and I was not disappointed! I LOVED the ending!