Stranded by Sarah Goodwin - [Review]

 Stranded by Sarah Goodwin
Review

Author: Sarah Goodwin
Publisher: Avon 
Pages (Kindle edition): 398 pages
Publication date: 16th September 2021
Amazon purchase link here

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)

Synopsis

Eight strangers. One island. A secret you would kill to keep!

Eight strangers are offered the chance to partake in a reality tv programme which would include them living on a picturesque but isolated Buidseach Island for an entire year along, they are delighted to take up the chance of a lifetime. 
Eighteen months later a woman is found in a small fishing village, she is desperate to explain what had happened to her and the group. The friendly group that first arrived on Buidseach Island soon experienced rife and tension which tore the group apart. The desperate woman must decide whether to unveil her secrets and her part in what had happened and how exactly to explain that from out of eight of the group, only 3 leave Buidseach Island. 

My Review

The main character Maddy began her role as a soft, introverted and nervous woman who was just trying to fit in with the others. Maddy had recently lost her parents which had left her world upside down, when she was offered this opportunity, she grasped it with both hands as she just needed to escape her old life. From the onset, it was quite clear which characters would be leaders and which would be followers, because just like real life, it is always that way. At the beginning, the group were nervous but happy to find a routine that serves the whole group a purpose and their decision making started off as rational, however, this would soon change. It became clear that alliances were being formed and this is when you really see Maddy grow more confident and independent, whilst the rest of the group are making less than ideal decisions, she tries to hold her ground and make a plan for how the camp could do things to benefit them in the colder months. The leader of the group clearly views Maddy as a threat, they are unhappy with her being so outspoken against their decisions and soon enough this comes to a head, where Maddy who is shocked and frightened is cast out from the rest of the group. I personally thought Maddy was far more forgiving than I am as she still continues to help the group when they are in desperate need of her herbal knowledge, despite them throwing it all back in her face. Following this, the story just gets darker and more intense with each page. At times, I could literally feel myself holding my breath for Maddy, hoping against all odds that she makes it out unscathed. By the end of the story Maddy is far stronger, independent and resilient than what I would be at this point and she is hardened by the shocking events that took place. The twist right at the end definitely allows you to make up your mind about whether you are rooting for Maddy or not, but I can say, I definitely was! 

This book was a fantastic and thrilling read, that is a perfect combination of The Lord of the flies and The Hunger Games. It is jaw dropping and I only have one wish, which is to be able to read this story for the first time again! 

About The Author

Sarah Goodwin is a novelist who grew up in rural Hertfordshire. She was raised on ‘The Good Life’ ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and ‘Little House on the Prairie’ by her parents, who turned a blind eye to her dabbling in herbal medicine, feminism, eco-warrior ideals and witchcraft. They were understandably unsurprised when she developed the lifetime ambition of building a hut in the woods and living there like a soothsayer.

Her second preferred career, was author.

At Bath Spa University Sarah studied for a BA in Creative Writing and self-published many novels across various genres, including YA magical realism, contemporary women’s fiction, romance and horror.

Sarah graduated in 2014 with an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. After writing several historical novels, she decided to return to her roots and write instead about the wild, the darkness and survival, which led to her coming up with the idea for ‘Stranded’ which would become her first professionally published novel. (Taken from Goodreads)

Follow Sarah Goodwin on Twitter at: @SGoodAuthor

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