Isola - by Allegra Goodman (Hardcover)

About the Book

"France, 1531. Orphaned by the age of five, Marguerite de la Rocque was heir to a chateau with its own village and lands. But her guardian, Jean Francois de la Rocque de Roberval, sells Marguerite's property to embark on an expedition to New France, bringing Marguerite and her maidservant with him. Aboard the ship, the women are limited to the company of the captain, the navigator, Roberval, and his secretary--a man whose musical talent, literary knowledge, and dark eyes intrigue Marguerite. It isn't long before the two of them are meeting secretly to declare their love for one another. When Roberval discovers this transgression, he is furious, seeing their affection as betrayal. As punishment, he maroons them on a small island off the coast, condemning them to certain death. Marguerite, the man she considers to be her husband, and her servant create a home for themselves inside a small cave. When the weather turns and the island is blanketed in ice, survival becomes nearly impossible. Marguerite is soon the only one left alive. She despairs, convinced she's been abandoned by God, and that she, too, will succumb to the brutality of the Island. Only then does she realize a strength her guardian could never have fathomed. She teaches herself to hunt and fish, to preserve food, and to scavenge. Months pass, and eventually Marguerite is discovered by a group of Basque fisherman. She persuades them to return her to France, where she tells her story and finally secures her own future, free from her guardian's control"--

Book Synopsis

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

"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)

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.

Review Quotes

"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"

"A new generation of survival story: a tale that distills larger themes of power, ownership, tenacity, and colonialism into intimate, vulnerable narratives . . . It is 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"

"Resilience! Surviving the elements! Polar bears! But one of the best parts of Goodman's writing is her insistence that all young girls have stories and lives worth sharing, even if this one is particularly exceptional."--Literary Hub, "Most Anticipated Books of 2025"

"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."--Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"What a gift this novel is: vast, lush, feminist, and brilliantly crafted. Allegra Goodman is one of our finest writers."--Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful

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

"Isola is a finely drawn and gripping novel of survival and faith. It succeeds in making the past strange and real and maddening--and is all the more memorable for that."--Joanna Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Whalebone Theatre

"This book made me cry but it was worth it! I am grateful to Allegra Goodman for writing such a luscious, rich, and moving novel. . . . A beautiful, careful, and profound book about survival and hope."--Alice Winn, author of In Memoriam

"Goodman writes with fluid beauty, deep empathy, and an emotional undertow that pulls you in and holds you from the first page to the last. [This] sweeping page turner is at once historical and modern, intimate and epic, personal and powerful."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Engrossing . . . Goodman brilliantly depicts Marguerite's courage as she fights to survive the bitter Canadian winter. It's a rousing portrait of an undaunted woman."--Publishers Weekly

"A bravura departure . . . Goodman's lush and enthralling castaway tale of betrayal and love, suffering and strength is magnificent in its beauty, mystery, fury, and redemption."--Booklist, starred review

About the Author

Allegra Goodman is the author of six novels, including the national bestseller Sam, which was a Read with Jenna selection; two short story collections; and a novel for young readers. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere, and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Massachusetts.