Isola

by Allegra Goodman

A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this epic saga 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. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends her guardian’s servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when their relationship is discovered, they are brutally punished and abandoned on a small island with no hope for rescue.

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical, Book Club, Literary Fiction, France

346 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2025

About the author

Hello, Good Readers!

I have a new novel "Isola" out now. I'm excited for you to read it! You can order it here:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

"Isola" is based on the true story of a young woman who sails from France to the New World in 1542 and is marooned on an island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

My novel "Sam" is in paperback.

"Sam" is about a young girl's exuberance, wonder, and ambition as she comes of age.

Jenna Bush Hager picked "Sam" for her Today Show book club and said, "Sam is about as perfect of a coming-of-age story as I have ever read."

About me: I was born in Brooklyn, but I grew up in Honolulu where I did not have to wear shoes in school until fifth grade.

I now live in Cambridge, MA and I own boots. In addition to writing fiction, I read a lot and teach on occasion. In my free time, I swim and walk around the city.

I have four children, now getting pretty grown up. My oldest son (an economist) reads everything. My second son (a law student and grad student in political theory) reads mostly non-fiction, although I try to get him to read novels. My third son (an aspiring chemist) loves science fiction, fantasy, and history. My daughter (a user experience designer) enjoys biography and YA novels--but only if they have exceptionally beautiful covers.

I read fiction, biography, history, poetry, and books about art. I also enjoy discovering authors in translation.

When I was a seven-year-old living in Hawaii, I decided to become a novelist--but I began by writing poetry and short stories.

In high school and college I focused on short stories, and in June, 1986, I published my first in "Commentary."

My first book was a collection of short stories, "Total Immersion."

My second book, "The Family Markowitz" is a short story cycle that people tend to read as a novel.

Much of my work is about family in its many forms. I am also interested in religion, science, the threats and opportunities of technology, and the exploration of islands, real, and imaginary.

My novel, "Kaaterskill Falls" travels with a group of observant Jews to the Catskill Mountains.

"Intuition" enters a research a lab, where a young post-doc makes a discovery that excites everybody except for one skeptic--his ex-girlfriend.

A rare collection of cookbooks stars in my novel, "The Cookbook Collector."

A girl named Honor tries to save her mother in my dystopian YA novel, "The Other Side of the Island."

With Michael Prince, I have co-authored a supercool writing textbook. If you teach composition, take a look at "Speaking of Writing: a Brief Rhetoric."

If you'd like to learn more about me and about each of my books, check out my website:

http://allegragoodman.com/

Find me on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/AllegraGoodman

Or on Instagram:

@allegragoodmanwriter

And of course, you can check out the reviews I post here on Goodreads. Generally, I use my Goodreads reviews to spotlight books I love and recommend.

Reviews

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel I’ve been wrapped in a dark cloak and taken back to the 1500’s where women didn’t have a voice and decisions were made by a male in the family.

Marguerite, an orphan & heir to a fortune, discovers her uncle has squandered it away for his adventurous expedition to New France, which she has been forced to join him on. Her uncle, upon learning of her forbidden love she has found, is enraged and takes drastic steps to punish her by exiling them to a remote isle.

From woman to warrior; Surviving the rough terrain and the frigid winters; evolving from selfish to selfless. This was a transformative journey. One of loss, love, despair, overcoming adversity and finding faith.
The writing: lush.
5 ⭐️

**This was based on the historical figure of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval**

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the true life of Marguerite de la Rocque, a young woman born into nobility in the 1500’s..she became an orphan and was placed under the care of a guardian, Roberval.. a volatile man..who she doesn’t even know. He is in charge of her future.
Well, he is also a gambling man and he sells her lands and home to pay off his debts. He also makes her come on a voyage to New France with him where he believes he will find wealth.
They board the ship, she with her servant Damienne..they have a rough time on the trip but she ends up falling for Robertval’s secretary and is caught with him.
They are ordered off the ship and taken to a deserted island… mostly made of rock.
Now it is a fight for survival as they were only given limited supplies and hardly any food when they left the ship.
This part of the story was very intense… riveting…with much grief and loss.
Very beautiful writing!

Here is a review from another author:

Praise
"A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history, Isola is an immersive journey through the eyes of Marguerite de la Rocque, who redefines what makes one a woman of worth and what the difference is between having a life and truly living."
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi
Picoult
Copyright © 2024 Allegra Goodman. Site


Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the Arc!

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first favorite read of 2025!

Isola is a sweeping historical fiction tale based on the real-life tale of Marguerite de La Rocque of 15th-century France. Allegra did a brilliant job breathing new life into Marguerite’s forgotten tale and I loved how historically accurate it is. I adored following Marguerite from a noble young lady to a strong and fierce survivor. Inspiring and emotionally charged, Isola is a story that I will not forget anytime soon!

This beautifully written tale highlights historically how little control women have had over their own lives and how men were solely responsible for deciding a woman’s life.

I listened to the audiobook version which was narrated by Fiona Hardingham who did an amazing job! If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend reading the author's note. It details where Allegra Goodman first learned of Marguerite de La Rocque and how she drew inspiration for the story.

Isola by Allegra Goodman was published on February 4, 2025 so it's available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!

[Kezia Duah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a slow burn that I honestly can understand anyone who’d call it boring. That said, I ended up really liking this book. It was a pretty fascinating story to me.

Sure, it’s labeled as historical fiction, but I still find it hard to neatly box this story into one genre. It’s definitely more than just a “historical tale.” Marguerite’s story was actually kind of wild. She went through so much, most of which she absolutely didn’t deserve. And I was totally drawn in by how all of that shaped her into a strong, resilient woman.

I did have to push through a bit at the beginning. For example, the romance that kicks off all the major events felt a little flat to me. It lacked the intensity that could’ve made the story more painful and gripping. I wish more of the fictionalized parts of the historical fiction had matched the drama of the real events. But that’s okay! I’m still glad I stuck with it, because the last 50% was captivating. Things just kept getting sadder and crazier.

Like most good historical fiction, I walked away having learned about someone I’d never even heard of before. And that’s the best part!

[JanB · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m an outlier once again. I found this a boring slog,

This book is based on the extraordinary true story of the French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque.
Everything you need to know about her harrowing story can be found here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margu...

If you want a fictionalized overwrought account of her story you will find it in this novel.

I have an issue with fiction based upon real people so I should have known to not pick this book up. But the hype roped me in. The angst and drama were OTT.

I much prefer non-fiction of people who walked this earth. For me, no fiction could compare with their real stories, so this story is not for me. My mistake!

[Simone James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so, so much. I feel like I lived a whole other life, which is the best of what a novel can do for a reader. The audiobook is incredible. Highly recommend it!

[Marialyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story to be very slow and brooding. I did appreciate the background the author set up, the period when women were just vassals for men to use and abuse.

Marguerite, a wealthy, or a least soon to be a wealthy heiress, a girl of the sixteenth century, finds herself in dire straights when her father dies and a devious guardian uses her fortune to finance his own future. When she is taken on a voyage to New France with her guardian's secretary, she falls in love with him and as revenge, the guardian leaves them, plus one loyal servant on a deserted island.

It becomes a life and death struggle as the trio braves the weather, the hunt for food, and survival at its most basic. There is so much tragedy in Marguerite's life, but she finds as time passes the will to live, to survive in harsh situations that she was certainly not born for.

What really was a fine story, became bogged down by the telling. I wish it had moved faster but I imagine creating a story from someone's real life experience, and possibly adding enhanced details might have spoiled the telling

At any rate, it was a good story but one that I found myself wondering when it would end.

[Dona's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished Reading!

Pre-Read Notes:

Fell in love with the cover and went in blind. What a wonderful story, this moody coming-of-age drama turned out to be!

Final Review:

"...Don’t be a fool.” I thought, I am not a fool. I am not a small fool for my age. I gazed upon the cabinet and thought, If I am small, give me this small thing. Let me play with it and keep my own treasures inside, my ruby and my pearls, my necklace, and my little scissors. Give it to me for my chamber! This was my unspoken wish[....] p16

Review summary and recommendations:

I'm pretty sure this book is going to end up on my top ten for 2025. This is a strong historical fiction novel in the style of Brönte's Jane Eyre crossed with Voltaire's Candide. The story takes place in the sixteenth century. The protagonist, Marguerite, is a fierce survivor from beginning to end. She's the kind of protagonist I enjoy rooting for because she is so vulnerable, and yet brave.

There's nothing tricky or experimental about this novel. It's not clever in that way, but I consider this one of the book's strengths.

I recommend this book to fans of the classics and modern literary fiction. Fans of Jane Eyre will truly enjoy this one.

I feared he would rebuke me because I was a woman and my prayers were weak. p233

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I like the characterization of the main character's nurse. She unexpected and complicated, the perfect metaphor for the conflicting mores of their time and place.

2. I love sibling rivalry as a source of story conflict. I admired her for reading silently. I coveted her quick hands and marveled at her self-effacement. “It is nothing ,” she would say of her own needlework and music-making, and then I was jealous of her modesty. I envied her in everything, but what I envied most was Claire’s good mother. p19

3. I like that the main character is *just* unlikable enough, as an over-priveleged little kid who is still easy to root for. *edit This character develops

4.“You are Reason,” I told Claire. “And your mother will be Rectitude. And Damienne can be Justice.” “Then who will you be?” Claire asked. She smiled at my answer. “None of those, so I must be the authoress.” p29 Nice little touches of meta.

5. They talked of silver mines and diamonds and birds flying in an iridescent cloud, their faces blue, their plumage ruby, gold , and green— spirits so swift that they belonged to paradise, not earth. The navigator told of blossoms floating in the air and clear oceans filled with pearls, the wonders of the Spice Islands, blessed with every flower, fruit, and vine. Like Eden, these islands knew no frost. It was always summer, and trees never stopped bearing. p60 Beautiful descriptive writing of fantasy worlds inside a fantasy story. Nice meta that doesn't feel forced.

6. This is giving Charlotte Brönte's Jane Eyre. But still original. Good coming-of-age stuff.

7. Few romance tropes capture my attention, and one of those is forbidden love! This book has lots of it! He belonged to his master, as did I. When the secretary looked at me, when he spoke gently, when he took my arm, when he confided in me— those were moments so sweet and dangerous I had kept them secret almost from myself. Love— or admiration— must be silent. “You cannot say you love me.” p107

8. Once the setting changes, the story becomes riveting with new story tensions! You really get to see what these characters are made of in the second half of the book.

Rating: 🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝 /5 desert islands
Recommend? definitely!
Finished: Jan 18 '25
Format: accessible digital, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🕰 historical fiction
💜 Jane Eyre
🙍🏻‍♀️ girl's coming of age
📜 literary fiction
🌊 sea stories

Thank you to the author Allegra Goodman, publishers The Dial Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of ISOLA. All views are mine.
---------------

[Melanie (lemonyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for everyone. Please read my thoughts below to determine if it’s right for you.

Isola requires you to adapt to what Fran Lebowitz said, "A book is not supposed to be a mirror. It's supposed to be a door." This isn’t necessary for all books, but it’s a perspective needed for this one.

Planting ourselves in 16th century France is, frankly, an alien society. Medicine, geography, politics, society, technology, religion and science were miles away from what we are accustomed to today. But this womans story deserves to be heard and I applaud the author for presenting a truly historical woman who had to endure remarkable trials.

The book begins when Margueritte is a child, and we take some time to grow with her. Life takes a turn, and she finds herself deserted on an Island for falling in love with the wrong man. The rest of the book is how she suffers, survives and transforms. You’ll have to read the book to see how it ends.

The writing immediately captured me, and I found myself constantly writing down quotes. This was impressive, considering I did the Audiobook. This played in my mind like a movie. I felt transported to France and the atmosphere was beautifully done.

THOUGHTS:
Most of the criticisms on this book is that its slow in certain parts. I agree. A lot of people will struggle with the pace, and it makes sense. I didn’t mind the slower sections because of the lovely writing and this foreign world was fascinating to me.

God and religion are heavily woven through this story and for some people, that will be a deterrent. However, its essential to the plot, considering colonization is in full swing and Christianity/Catholicism is largely weaponized. Her spiritual journey felt genuine for a woman at this time.

The only critique I have is that the romance felt too abrupt and needed more build up. But since this is historical fiction and not historical romance, I didn’t let this influence my rating.

This book is incredibly devastating. Lucky for me, that’s what I like. There is hope in the end, But I have many friends who wouldn’t enjoy the sad parts and may even DNF it.

OVERALL:
A remarkable story about a woman who I will never forget.

I would recommend going into this blind unless you have specific triggers. You will spoil the entire book if you look up too much. Even the synopsis is pushing it. Also, don’t look up her life online until you finish the book.

CONTENT: violence and death.
ROMANCE: Some kissing, very vague open door, barely descriptive intimate scene.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written, if heartbreaking story of a young girl, Marguerite, born into nobility in the 1500’s, who is orphaned early on. She is placed under the care of her cousin, Roberval, who becomes her guardian, and who has already managed to go through all what fortune he had, and then helps himself to the fortunes her parents had left to her, as well as selling her property, in order to relieve himself of his debts. Once he has accessed all that she was left by her parents, he is determined to force her to go with him on his planned voyage to New France. She has little choice.

During the voyage, Marguerite is befriended by his servant, although it isn’t very long before they become more than friends. It also isn’t very long before their relationship is apparent to Roberval, and so Roberval leaves the two of them marooned, along with Marguerite’s nurse, Damienne.

They are then forced to do whatever they can find to make it through the days and nights ahead. They have little when they arrive there, and less as the days, weeks and months go by. But Marguerite is determined that they will survive, and she spends her days looking for ways to continue living, in hopes someone will eventually rescue them.


Pub Date: 21 Jan 2025


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing - Random House / The Dial Press

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isola is a beautifully written 16th-century historical drama that follows Marguerite de la Rocque, an orphaned young girl growing up under the care of her nurse and the unpredictable guardianship of Roberval. Raised in near-isolation, Marguerite’s life changes when Roberval orders her to sail with him to New France— only for her to be banished to a remote island alongside the man she fell in love with, Roberval’s secretary.

The first half of the book is slower, focused on Marguerite’s lonely upbringing and the dangerous 8-week journey overseas. We learn of Roberval’s changing moods and power over Marguerite. He makes for an unlikely villain—not outwardly sinister at first, but deeply self-serving. His betrayal of Marguerite, from selling off her inheritance for his own gain to cruelly exiling her as punishment for falling in love, adds to the intrigue and tension to the story. I was on edge, waiting to see just how far his ruthlessness would go.

Once the survival aspect kicks in, the story pulled me in completely. Watching Marguerite transform from a sheltered noble child into a fiercely determined fighter was one of the most compelling parts of the novel. Allegra Goodman’s writing is detailed, atmospheric, and engaging, making the historical setting feel vivid and immersive.

The author’s note was also a great addition, providing insight into the real-life Marguerite de la Rocque and Goodman’s inspiration for telling her story. While this was my first book by her, Sam has been on my radar for a while, and after reading Isola, I’m even more excited to pick it up.

Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my review.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I have seen nothing but positive reviews for this book, and I have to say, objectively it isn't bad. The writing and the atmosphere are both great. But I'm rating from a perspective of personal enjoyment, and I'm sorry, but I was just so bored. There's a lot of religious jargon as well, scripture quoting and whatnot. While I completely agree that this is realistic to the time period, I really don't enjoy reading that type of thing over and over basically from start to end.

I also never really connected with the characters. I thought maybe the romance would help save the book for me when I got to it (doesn't really start up until 50% through) but it didn't. If anything it was just brief. He died super suddenly, and his interactions with the FMC were mostly just scenes described in passing. Auguste felt like a basic side character to me. I was more attached to Damienne, the nurse. I didn't even know when the FMC and Auguste started being intimate because to my recollection the author didn't mention it happening on page or off in fact when Marguerite suddenly says to herself that she's with child I was like huh?

[Lori Keeton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a surprise – in a good way! I was not expecting the writing and the story to be so good and so smoothly and exquisitely written. So much of modern historical fiction falls flat or focuses on one aspect of a person’s life. It can also get bogged down with modern influence and you miss all of the excellent historical influences – the reason you wanted to read the book in the first place. This book is none of that and I was so pleasantly happy to read a modern historical fiction that felt true and realistic. Well done to the author, Allegra Goodman!

Now, this book totally immerses you in 1500’s France. It is based on the true life story of a noble woman named Marguerite de la Rocque. Marguerite’s story is shocking because it is based on reality. She is orphaned yet she is heir to a fortune. Her guardian, Roberval, is in charge of her care, of overseeing her estate and her future. However, when he sells her lands and squanders her fortune on an adventure to New France commissioned by the King, Marguerite’s life becomes one that she would have never imagined. She is forced to follow him on the voyage. When Roberval learns of her secret love affair with his secretary, he abandons them on an island, along with her servant, Damienne, to fend for themselves. They are exiles from all that they know and all that they understand. Now they must find a way to live in the wild on an island of granite with nothing but what they bring with them. This is an intense story of survival and transformation. This is a beautiful story of redemption and faith.

Cast together, we might sing and laugh and kiss just as we pleased, and we enjoyed the paradox that bound us. Imprisoned, we were also free.

In my experience, God’s work was unexpected. His grace required interpreting. Wild thoughts, but I was wild. Ideas unbecoming—but what had I become? I, myself, was now an island, solitary. Brambles and five-petalled flowers were my garden. Rocks my furniture. Ocean waves my lessons. Sadness overwhelmed me and sank back. Then, like the tide, joy crept in on me again.

I highly recommend this!

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Isola”, by Allegra Goodman

4 fascinating stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I confess that I have been avoiding Reese’s recommendations, lately, as I had too many disappointing experiences, but because this one is a historical fiction (my favourite genre), plus the beautiful cover, it got my full attention. The synopsis also had some influence.
And what a nice surprise, indeed.
The writing was excellent and the storytelling was very absorbing.
The author’s imagination was fascinating.
The story was based on the real-life of Marguerite de La Rocque. As a young high-born woman she sails from France to the New World in 1542 and, against her will, is sent to an isolated island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Canada (then known as New France) with her lover and a maid.
It is a story of survival and resilience, with some heartbreaking moments.
As it is a work of fiction, I do not know how much the story is accurate or how believable some events are, so I read it as if I was reading a tale. My only curiosity was how big those trunks were (the wine and gun powder seemed to last forever).
Anyways… I really enjoyed it, but it took me some time to sympathize with the main character, who in the beginning seemed to complain too much about money. I need to mention that I didn’t feel transported to that era, like some other readers did, otherwise I would have rated it 5 stars. Perhaps because the language felt too modern.
As for the description of the island, it could match any other isolated island in the world, where snow storms and bears are common.
For animal lovers, be aware that hunting is part of the story and some details may be upsetting for some.

Hardcover (The Dial Press): 368 pages

ebook (Kobo): 400 pages, 105k words

PS. If you enjoyed this book I highly recommend “Haven”, by Emma Donoghue, which was a 5 stars read for me.

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story of 1400’s France where a noble girl is basically shafted, exiled to Canada with her maid and her sweetheart. She survives alone by fighting the elements. The first 10% is great and then it gets incredibly boring until around 60% when it gets a bit dramatic and gross. I like the last 5%. Overall this was very pretentious and boring.

[Taury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isola by Allegra Goodman is a lovely written and thoughtful story. I really enjoyed the setting and the quiet depth of the characters. It took a little time to get into, but once I did, I was pulled in. It’s a reflective, subtle read that stayed with me.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Available TODAY, 2/4/25!

Yet another story of men behaving badly and getting away with being horrible to women and girls. It boils my blood how women have been treated for millennia.

Marguerite is orphaned at a very young age and meets her guardian (a distant cousin) at nine years old. He has been put in charge of her inheritance, a chateau, lands, tenants, servants—solely because she’s female, and he is male. Does he have her best interests in mind?
I think we all know the answer to that.

Through no fault of her own, she ends up in New France, and her guardian exiles her to a random uninhabited island for daring to fall in love with a man who is his opposite in every way (ie, good).

This is based on actual, real events. It will boil your blood, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Wendy Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

What am I missing? I found this completely underwhelming, with plot, characters, historical content, survival elements, romance, and writing all unremarkable—and any themes accidental. That this is based on a true story makes this unemotional account even more of a missed opportunity.

Rebecca’s review pretty much sums up my feelings as well. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Audio Notes: Fiona Hardingham’s narration is great, however, even though it’d be nice if she came up with more variation in her male voices. They all seem to have the same strident tone, suitable for an annoying relative, but less endearing for all the others.

[Tania · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a big fan of historical fiction — and someone who doesn’t shy away from sad stories — I genuinely thought Isola, based on the true story of a young woman who sails from France to the New World in 1542 and becomes marooned on an island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, would be a standout read for me. Sadly, I found the writing unexpectedly bland and struggled to connect with any of the characters. That said, I am in the minority with my opinion, so please don’t let my experience discourage you from giving Isola a try.

[Aileen O’Brien · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m baffled by the numerous four and five star reviews this book is receiving. I guess I’m in the minority, I would describe this book as an excruciating bore.

The tedium of reading this book prompted me to write my first review on Goodreads. I’m an avid reader, I ALWAYS finish the book. This was very nearly my first DNF in 25 years. Sometimes I finish a book I think is bad just to spite it, because I can laugh at it, enjoy the improbability or take bad writing at face value. I couldn’t even find a reason to spite read this book, that’s how empty it is. It is not poorly written, it is a fictional retelling that turns a true survival story into an uninteresting slog. 21.

There is no character development, the pacing is glacial, but the story is still somehow lacking details and descriptions of major events. The naïve main character has learned nothing by the end of the story. The dominating theme of oppressing patriarchy, with no consequences, is a depressing overtone that offers no revelations or reflections on the issue. I don’t understand the positive press associated with this book, maybe I’m missing something.

If you chose to read this book and paid for it independently, please explain to me why I should appreciate this novel.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isola is a historical fiction saga based on the life of 16th-century French noblewoman, Marguerite de la Roque. This epic tale begins on her French estate when she is orphaned as a nine-year-old girl, and her miserly cousin becomes her guardian and executor of her massive trust. A bit of an explorer and in favor with the king and queen, Roberval uses Marguerite's trust to further his ambition. Marguerite is then forced to leave her estate, living at one of Roberval's properties. Finally, Roberval orders her to leave the house and join a ship exploration to explore New France (modern Canada). While on the ship, she and one of the staff secretly start spending time together. In a rage, Roberval orders them off the ship and exiles them to an uninhabited island that has arctic winters.

Marguerite is a castaway for two years. Her story of survival is a narrative of finding herself and a beautiful tribute to nature. Goodman's prose is descriptive and atmospheric, allowing the reader to be fully immersed in the story. I was riveted by this amazing true story of friendship and love, faith, strength, and resilience. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing - The Dial Press, and Allegra Goodman for the advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda Bennett at passionforprose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isola tells the story of Marguerite de la Rocque, a French noblewoman, who falls in love with the wrong man and ends up in a fight for her life against nature.

Like all women in the 16th century, Marguerite has no control over her own life. Orphaned at a young age, her older male cousin Jean Francois de la Roque de Roberval, takes charge of her estate and her future. Unfortunately for Marguerite, the volatile seafarer, gambles away all her funds. Marguerite is forced to leave her home and travel to New France (modern day Canada) with her cousin where she is marooned on a deserted island with little provisions and only her forbidden love and nursemaid for company.

What follows is a harrowing tale of three people’s fight to survive in on an unforgiving island. The noblewoman finds herself in situations she never dreamed of and doing things no woman of her caste would even consider.

The premise of this tale is in intriguing, but execution was lacking for me. The background and build up drags as the author stresses how powerless women’s lives were in the 1500s. It takes quite some time before Marguerite gets to the island, and even longer for her to evolve as a character. Isola reads like literary fiction and is more pragmatic than empowering.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and of course the author Allegra Goodman for the advanced copy of the book. Isola is out on February 4th. All opinions are my own.

http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Allegra Goodman's sweeping 2025 historical fiction novel Isola (based on true recorded events and taking place both in France and also on a small island off the coast of the what is now the Canadian province of Newfoundland but would in the 16th century of course be considered part of New France and actually maybe even still be known as terra incognita, as unknown lands) readers encounter Marguerite de la Rocque, who is wealthy and a member of the French nobility, but orphaned as a toddler is actually completely alone in the world except for her loving and loyal nurse Damienne (and technically speaking also her legal guardian, her cousin Jean-François de la Rocque de Roberval, but well, Marguerite would actually be much much better off without him). For the only very rarely present Jean-François is shown by Goodman, is described in Isola as being absolutely and disgustingly self-servingly arrogant (in a men rule the world kind of way), as thoughtlessly but also intentionally cashing in his ward's property, her dowry and her future for his own benefit and eventually setting sail to claim new territory for the French King (who is a close personal friend and confidant), callously, forcibly taking along the terrified (but also utterly and totally powerless) Marguerite and Damienne. However aboard ship, Marguerite de la Rocque falls in love with her cousin's secretary and vice versa (with the utterly furious and feeling betrayed Jean-François de la Rocque de Roberval forcing the ship's captain to cruelly abandon Marguerite and Damienne on the ominously named Isle de Démons and Marguerite's lover jumping into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean to join them in their enforced and threatening, their likely deadly exile).

Now Isola has Allegra Goodwin textually delightfully and with much description, with lyrical poeticism as well as with ample but never overly exaggerated emotionality charting Marguerite de la Rocque's eventful and often painful journey from nobly born naive victim to gritty survivor (and patron of the poor upon her rescue and subsequent return to France), with the appreciated and enlightening author's note showing that Goodman is with Isola following the contemporary accounts of Marguerite de la Rocque's life and the details regarding her abandonment on Isle de Démons (of her survival and of her rescue) fairly accurately, with vividly rendered characters, intensely descriptive and narrationally rich writing, depicting in Isola a world that feels historically and culturally authentically accurate and equally so comes totally alive, with Marguerite de la Rocque starting out as a typical 15th century inactive, restricted, easily bullied and manipulated French noblewoman and who through her experiences and because of the tragedies she has to endure on Isle de Démons finds power, self confidence and an absolute iron-clad inner strength.

And Allegra Goodman setting Isola, setting Marguerite’s story of love and loss (since sadly, only she and neither her lover nor Damienne survive being stranded on Isle de Démons and that the baby born to Marguerite de la Rocque also dies) against textual snippets from Anne of France’s Lessons for My Daughter, this being motherly advice (but also with no criticism allowed) from the daughter of Louis XI of France on how to be modest and chaste in circa 1517, yes, this ingenious narrative tool very much underscores the culture and also the religious extremism and puritanism against which in and throughout Isola main protagonist Marguerite de la Rocque has to relentlessly struggle in order to survive and to achieve self-actualisation, with Goodman writing Isola with deep empathy and with a descriptive intensity that pulls readers in and holds their interest and also their feelings from the first page to the last, and with Allegra Goodwin's author's note (already alluded to above) for me being the total, the exquisite textual icing for an already most delicious reading cake (and solidly cementing my five star rating for Isola).

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Historical fiction at its best. I loved the fictionalized account of a society/royal girl who loses both parents and ends up with a distrustful guardian who uses and loses all her wealth. Set in the 16th century when sailors were locating new lands this story has a bit of everything and I loved it all.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I bowed my head because the world was stranger and more terrible than ever I’d imagined.”

We’ve all been there, right?!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝?

I found encouragement from this stoic, outspoken young woman who refused to be silenced and relied on her faith to survive until rescued.

Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval was a 16th-century orphaned noblewoman who left with her ward, Jean-Francois de la Rocque de Roberval, on his voyage to New France in 1542. Along the way, he maroons her on L’îsle des Démons, an isolated island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. She survives the isolation for two years. This is a retelling of the events, closely following historical records from Marguerite herself, the Queen of Navarre, and a priest who interviewed Marguerite upon arrival in France.

First of all, THAT title! So evocative. It’s Italian for island, it refers to her 𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚tion as an orphaned child, and broken down, it is ‘I sola’, I solo, I alone. The cover hints at the goal of the book; what is it like to be completely alone with no prospect of being saved?

I love all the 𝟙𝟠𝟘* 𝕡𝕚𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕤 in this book. Three memorable ones are (1) the very quality that society tried to erase, Marguerite’s strong will, becomes a cherished gift rather than a liability. Had she not been so strong, she would never have survived Roberval’s evil plan. The island experience breaks her and then remakes her … stronger than ever before. I love that! (2) Marguerite returns to France knowing what it’s like for her servants and has more appreciation for them. After all, she’s had to do everything for herself. (3) Before her experience, she’d been confined by her lavish clothing. Once on the island, she was free of such confinement, only to realize it again once back in France and meeting the Queen.

As I closed the book, I pondered 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓼 𝓾𝓼 𝓪 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱….

The author chat on Zoom this week opened up so much of this powerful book. I put it on my forever shelf as I can see myself rereading this one.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. WHOA. WOWZA.

I truly don't even know what to say after finishing this novel, but it honestly EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS. This is my first novel by Allegra and it definitely won't be my last! What a fantastic storyteller!

I went into this not really knowing the plot or the history behind it. I just saw the cover and a bit of the synopsis and it was an immediate "YES PLEASE." From the very beginning, as I started reading, I realized this would be special. It felt like I was reading a favorite classic. The writing excellent, the character development wonderful, the shock at the end finding out it's based on truth?! WHAT!

This was a mix between Jane Eyre, Swiss Family Robinson, and Cinderella. Something like that lol.

Marguerite is an orphan whose cousin became her guardian to watch over her. He turns out to be a not so good man, and she ends up marooned on an island with her lover and nurse. I don't want to say any more of the plot because it's truly wonderful to have it unfold as you are reading, but I promise you it's worth it!!

The character development of Marguerite was absolutely heartbreaking, breath-taking, inspirational, and gut-wrenching. Who she was at the beginning of the novel to the end was absolutely brilliant. The writing was beautiful and I found myself tearing up in multiple parts.

I don't want to say too much without giving it away, but just trust me. READ THIS.

[None Ofyourbusiness Loves Israel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marguerite de la Rocque inherits a chateau, a ruby ring, and a ruined future. Périgord, France 1531, where a girl’s lace-edged loneliness cohabits with walnut trees and cold stone towers. At nine, she is assessed by her guardian as if she were a filly on the cusp of sale: “She is small for her age,” he remarks, with the generosity of a man inspecting a chicken. Over time, her slippers decay at the stables, her music master shakes his head in pained resignation, and her governess Jacqueline D’Artois remarks, “You both have much to learn”—with the passive elegance of a woman gently repulsed.

Claire, the governess’s daughter, enters as a walking standard of all things needlepointed and saintly. The girls kneel before their altar, embroider pomegranates, and murmur lines like, “The Virgin is not my mother, but she does look like her.”

As a dowry shrinks, a loan is taken, tenants replace the rightful owners, and two poor girls in silver-trimmed sleeves are left to pray in the attic while Madame Montfort’s horses prance below. Claire receives a poem describing a stag struck through the heart, and the predator turns out to be Nicholas Montfort, whose gaze feels as adhesive as his intentions. “Nothing was the best and only remedy,” says the text, with a fatalistic shrug that perfumes the second half of the book.

When the sea finally appears, it feels earned. The girl embarks under duress on a voyage with her guardian, a man who gifts her gold by throwing it in the air. At La Rochelle, the girls are fitted with chemises, counted like beans, and assigned to a ship of colonists where Claire must assist a midwife and Marguerite must obey.

The ship creaks with discontent, the captain is punished by being marooned with a psalter, and a once-treasured altarpiece is shattered against a mast. The island, when it arrives, holds neither paradise nor perdition. There are mangoes, there are crabs, there are stingers and sores and "salt instead of balm." Claire weakens. “Where is the fire?” she whispers, and dies beside a fireless hearth.

A child is born in filth and baptized in silence. The lines tighten: “I still dream of birds… I shoot, and ten thousand rise screaming.” The pages seem to be plucked from the Book of Lamentations and annotated by Montaigne in a bitter mood.

Allegra Goodman, known for her braided portraits of intellectual families, turns her quill toward history’s orphaned archives and lets the marginalia speak louder than the documents. Letters go unanswered, ships pass with sails full and hearts empty. “He said he would return,” says a line scratched in a sea-wet journal, “and he did. With shovels.”

Goodman understands the grandeur and the grift of academia. In Isola, she builds a greenhouse and sets it on fire from inside. Her language plays by its own rules: biblical cadences interrupted by sudden brutality, satin lyricism pocked with dirt and lice. She folds Montaigne and Marguerite de Navarre into the corners of her fiction without stitching them into its hem.

Isola strangles the Enlightenment dream with its own girdle. This is a novel that punctures quietly, slowly, like woodworm through oak. Think Rousseau on a raft, soaked, shivering, and surprisingly modern.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The redemption arc is strong in this one! Another chilling story about a 16th Century French woman left to fend for herself in the DEEP wilderness, and the fires she walks through to survive.

And then to find out it’s a TRUE STORY.

Jeepers.

Beautiful conceived and written by Goodman, I was engrossed.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very glad Goodman found this story, dusted it off, and re-imagined it for fiction lovers.