Isola Audiobook By Allegra Goodman cover art

Isola

A Novel

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Isola

By: Allegra Goodman
Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Allegra Goodman
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About this listen

REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • “A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history.”—Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name

“A new generation of survival story . . . an extraordinary book that reads like a thriller, written with the care of the most delicate psychological and historical fiction.”—Vogue (Best of 2025 Preview)

A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this “lushly painted” (People) historical epic of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam.

Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. That journey takes a unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island.

Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed.

Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival.

*This audiobook contains a PDF with a map and recommendations for further reading from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Allegra Goodman (P)2025 Random House Audio
Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Renaissance Sagas Women's Fiction France Island

Critic reviews

“Lushly painted . . . a perfect read for cozying up by a roaring fire—and feeling thankful you’re not the sixteenth-century heroine the story is based on.”—People, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025”

“Allegra Goodman’s latest novel is a feminist castaway tale about love, faith, and self-actualization.”Time, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025”

“Blazing action on each page—Marguerite’s shrewd deploying of tactics for her own salvation—reminds readers to place our money on the power of human female ingenuity.”—The Washington Post

What listeners say about Isola

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Engaging and Thoughtful

This is a great work of historical fiction. It brings to life the era of exploration and plight, with a strong heroine who endures many hardships. This book was lovingly researched and written. Highly recommend!

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Loved the story

Well researched, written, and narrated. Epic story with great characters. I highly recommend to all.

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Strong and Bold and Real

I love that this story is about a real person from the mid 1500s and that the author brought her to life so beautifully.

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Completely Captivating

I could not stop listening to this compelling story of resilience. The writing was exquisite!

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Loved it

Days after listening to this book, I’m still thinking about it. The courage of this young woman is amazing. Her self growth and how she conquered so many obstacles is inspiring. The story also shows the tragic lives of most females in that era.

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“A Captivating Tale of Strength and Resilience”

Isola captivates with a strong, courageous protagonist and immersive storytelling. A compelling journey of resilience, adventure, and personal growth.

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A Common Story Rarely Told

This novel may challenge your ability to be patient. As a woman of the 21st century, I found it hard not to binge this book. I needed to know the ending, because the beginning and middle parts were so maddening.

Perhaps the modern woman could survive living alone on deserted island as Marguerite did. However, I wonder if we could survive the injustice of having no agency or voice as Marguerite did. Her resilience, patience and innate curiosity are inspiring.

The heart of this story is common throughout human existence. Multitudes before us lived lives full of injustice, hardship, and unbearable loss that could have been avoided if only they had been born to a higher station. It's unfortunate that few accounts of humans who survived and overcame 'life-station-induced' injustice were not documented.

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Fantastic!

Excellent novel. Beautiful story, high caliber writing, and impeccable narration! The plot was so engaging and I couldn’t stop reading. One of my favourite books in a long time. Loved it!

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Isola

This was so well written. The story really comes alive for you. You could relate so intimately with the main character’s plight.

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Finished it in one weekend!

This story is based off a “true” story. Such a good read. You feel all the emotions this young girl experiences through out the story!

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