Stranded

By: Sarah Goodwin

Narrated by: Esme Sears

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

You’ll want to stay. Until you can’t leave....

A group of strangers arrive on a beautiful but remote island, ready for the challenge of a lifetime: to live there for one year, without contact with the outside world.

But 12 months later, on the day when the boat is due to return for them, no one arrives.

Eight people stepped foot on the island. How many will make it off alive?

A totally addictive psychological thriller with twists and turns you just won’t see coming. Fans of The Hunting Party, The Castaways and The Sanatorium will be totally gripped from the very first moment until the final, breath-taking conclusion. 

©2021 Sarah Goodwin (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

It was alright.

The premise was good and I got through the whole story so that’s good. It seemed to drag out in many places, where it seemed like Groundhog Day a little bit. In addition, I think it could use another editorial review. There were several times I noticed descriptive phrases/sentences repeated — often only a few “pages” from the prior use. It definitely didn’t feel like a deliberate choice either — rather, an unintended oversight from moving sections around during the editing process. They were all things I feel a decent editor would easily catch. But overlooking those kinds of things I find super annoying, the story itself was good and it was a worthwhile use of a credit.

So BORING

I was expecting a combination of the TV show survivor and the movie The Beach. This book is so boring. Absolutely nothing happens. I’m so sorry I wasted 11 hours of my life on this. No idea at all why this is in the thriller/suspense category. It should be under tutorials on what to bring to a deserted island or on a camping trip. Got a bit better at chapter 19. But the first 18 are a slog. What a waste of a credit!

Couldn't stop listening!

Loved this audiobook! Soothing voice and great story! I'm actually listening to it again!

mesmerizing! riveting story

I got sucked right into this story and it wouldn't let me go. Whenever I was doing other things, I just kept thinking about our heroine and couldn't wait to get back to it and see how she was faring.

Adult Lord of The Flies

What an interesting and well executed idea this story was! I don’t necessarily feel that all of the characters were developed. The main character was developed the most which makes sense for the story. I think some people could potentially find this story boring because there isn’t a whole lot of action, but I enjoy stories about survival and all of the little mundane tasks that they do throughout their day.

Surprising

A thoughtful thriller. Even though the circumstances were intense they weren’t utterly implausible like so many of this genre.

I feel so lost

Ten Stars. This book was extremely stressful, and harrowing. It broke me repeatedly. I was desperate for it to end and to never end at the same time.

I haven’t been so emotionally invested in a story in a long time. It is a good thing that we learn from the very beginning that Maddy survives (from page 1) because I don’t know if I could have continued the story not knowing. I might have fallen apart from the worrying.

This book made me angry. I was right there with her the whole time. All the characters were so well fleshed out. If you aren’t sure about picking this one up let me stop you right there. It is absolutely worth the journey. Stop reading reviews and READ THIS BOOK

The better of two similar books

I've also recently read Small Game which has a surprisingly similar premise. This book is much more engaging and well-written. It does grab you by your emotions and you feel as angry, disappointed, scared, and hopeful as the character. I would recommend this book over Small Game if you are looking for a book about reality game shows like Survivor.

Very exciting

Enjoyed the story and the narrator. Lots of twists and turns. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys a stranded on the island theme.

Great!

Twists and turns. The performance was easy to listen to. The story was unpredictable. Worth listening to!

Compulsive listening, fascinating plot + topics

I have been reading some great thrillers lately and looking forward to the evening when I can get immersed again, but this was the one I could not put down and finished in less than 24 hours!

At a time where travel is tricky this quenched my thirst for adventure and the writing was so good I really did feel like I was there on that remote windswept Scottish Island. Normally I prefer a sun, white sands and turquoise beaches for my location thrillers so it is a real sign that this was something really exceptional to capture my imagination so completely.

I loved the selection process in the then and now sections which set up the story so well and the details of every day life at the survivalist camp.
I am a big fan of foraging so I found that a lovely topic to explore further.
I adored the way the story unfolded and the characters developed and interacted ......... and then it all kicked off!

Oh the machinations, the twists the turns the shockers, the wonderful writing which made it all so atmospheric and claustrophobic - it just captivated me and it was a right riveting rollercoaster of a ride. I really did feel I was there.
It is a truly ingenious thriller and I am so sorry I finished it ... and speaking of finishes - what a finale!!!!
So many thriller set up a great premise and peter out leaving you disappointed.
Not Stranded. It reveals all the mysteries one by one, launches a couple of reeling new twists and then crash - bang - wallop a scorcher of an ending!

Fabulous, a really tightly plotted, intelligent, unique thriller.

I would give the story 10 stars - The narration is very easy to listen to bar a couple of mispronounced words like "albeit" but the casting was a very good and it was well read and does not let the story down and overall it was just one of the most addictive and exciting books I have read for a long time.
One small gripe ..... well two really.
All the foraging info seemed so well researched but then came a mention of hibernating rabbits.
Oooh I thought I did not know rabbits hibernated ............ and as far as I can tell from numerous internet searches .. um they don't. Awks!

The other gripe is a bit personal, as though it was not in any way graphic or detailed except for the cooking and eating, I really could have done without the constant munching of bunnies.
Given their lonely and isolated setting I would have thought that at least one of the survivalists would have valued the chance to interact with the wildlife on the island and it would have been lovely to have heard more about it in general. There was a vegetarian among them, so it was possible to survive without hunting. But for any animal lovers please be assured there is nothing to do with animal cruelty or suffering other than making a meal of them.

If you are looking for a fabulous adventure, to escape to a remote island and to get lost in a first class, wonderfully crafted thriller, then this is for you! Highly recommend.

wow, what a great listen

enjoyed every single minute of this audible book. I can't think of any thing to criticise! Only one thing....that it came to an end! Can't wait for her next novel, and would make a great film...a hide behind the cushion film. Great narrative. 👍

Gripping

I would recommend this well narrated story which had me engrossed to the end. Can’t wait to read/listen to more of Sarah Godwin’s books

An awesome book

A flat out brilliant book.

It’s interesting enough to keep you fixed to the pages throughout. It’s exciting enough to keep you reading with increasing pace..its thrilling enough to keep you up at night.

Couldn’t ask for more in a book.

Excellence.

Kept me enthralled from beginning to end! No dilly-dallying around with unnecessary 'insights' into the workings of the character's inner-self. Absolutely superb!!

captivating!

Loved it. great plot, the detail is stunning. Narration is excellent (apart from a dodgy Scottish accent in the early part of the book)!

Definitely a must read! could not stop listening to it.

Just confusing

This is a no from me.
I’m still puzzled and i finished it last night. It didn’t even start off great, but I plodded on with it, at times listening to chapters twice as I thought I had missed something. The end, I can’t work it out.

Not what I expected.

I thought this book started off quite well but as it went on it started to go down hill quick rapidly. It was a difficult story to try and understand. For me, it was just too far fetched to believe.

I got frustrated with the characters as they were just not believable. The more I listened the less interested I got. The plot was just ridiculous and the ending was so disappointing.

The narrator was very good though. That’s really the only positive thing I can say about this book.

Good but too long

The story was dragged out too much, there were long chapters of very little happening at all. I was interested in what happened, but often found myself getting bored waiting for some sort of event. The narration was excellent.

Flat after few chapters . Quite disappointing.

2⭐️⭐️
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Thankyou #netgalley for the opportunity to have a advance copy for this book for a honest review.
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The first few chapter was interesting, getting them character to a remote island for a tv show , up until to the chapter when the main character was left in there and half of the story mainly focus on her . It gotten boring , I thought there is a twisted/ bang story at the end but no.
Still flat writing and not liking the wordings just to make it more longer .


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