I loved this book! Unique, thrilling, and completely addictive. Once I picked it up, I was drawn in and couldn’t put it down.

can hardly catch my breath! What a heart-pounding, claustrophobic, relentlessly chilling book this is. I loved it!
Thank you for the arc

They are ready to go home after spending a year on the island for a reality show, but what happens when noone shows up to take them home?
Maddy and seven others have applied, interviewed, and been carefully chosen to live together on an island for a year. They will have cameras on them at all times, watching their every move, for a new reality show that will be releasing once all is said and done. They don't have much with them and need to figure out how to survive off of the land, make supplies last, and withstand each other. As more time is spent together, disagreements start to occur and tension rises. Will they be able to hold this community together until their boat comes to bring them home? What happens when their boat never shows up? Who will survive long enough to make it off this island alive?
I am so glad I picked this up for my last read of 2021. It was such a great read, I flew through it! I barely put it down, I needed to find out what would happen next. At times, I felt like I was on this journey with them. Sarah Goodwin did an amazing job with writing this novel and I can't wait to read more of her work! I highly recommend this to all thriller lovers, it will have you on the edge of your seat!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book, it was thrilling, suspenseful and so frustrating! I was confused by the characters; I thought I knew who some of them were but I was thrown when they turned out differently. I did not see the ending coming. I cannot wait to read another book by this author. This is one of the only books I've ever rated 5 stars, I was very impressed!

Stranded was quite an intriguing tale of survival of the fittest along with the need of the characters to hide their inner secrets. As written in the blurb, 8 people were left stranded on a supposedly haunted island owned by a witch and only 3 of them survive. Did they? Or was it one man standing at the end?

My first book by author Sarah Goodwin, I loved the research that must have gone into this book to write about the right plants and herbs used for foraging and cooking. The 8 characters were part of a reality show which was an experiment to depict to the viewers the end of days kind of scenario and how humanity would react to it.

Initially it was all honky-dory and complete co-operation. Far away from civilization the groups were made and politeness was left slowly behind. Human psyche was well shown as slowly the masks were pulled down, and real nature of primitive humans came to play. Our main character Maddy soon found herself right in the middle of maelstrom of groupism and being targeted at every point.

The book had some graphic details of how all of them hunted her, the scenes shook me to the core even when they were thought provoking. Were we all animals in reality, where left to nature, would we become one? Kill or be killed. Would that have been the rule if the pandemic had killed more and left very few of us behind?

This book was more of a dark thriller; Maddy was fabulous in her role. This would make a great movie where each character would leave the viewers with a deep impact. Maybe then kindness would be more ingrained in all of us.

In this, the author gave me a different kind of a read where the story kept calling my name even through my chores. I read the last section at one go as I needed to know if Maddy would survive it all.

Read it! It is different!

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book. A page - turner about a young woman named Maddie who is recounting the months spent on an island as part of what started as a reality type tv show, and the horrors that ensued until the time she escaped the island and was found carrying a rifle on the mainland. A story not just of a Scottish island and physical survival, but of what human nature can be pushed to.

Stranded by Sarah Goodwin is a very compelling read. A group of people are chosen after a series of interviews for a reality show called End Of The World. 8 participants are taken to the island where they'll live for a year before being rescued, while all this time, they are shown live to the viewers.

From the beginning, the journey seemed exciting. I like the MC, Maddy. She is quite different from other characters, very unique in her own way. Having been brought up in a secluded environment, growing up with no friends and becoming very Antisocial, she was very different in the group. The other participants were all lively, carefree and jovial while she sort of remained alone.

It definitely reminded me of Lord of the Flies. The way people can change within a short period of time. Maddy, being very realistic and a forager, tries to help the group, but gets scolded. As time passes, it becomes clear that help wouldn't arrive anytime soon and they get frustrated. With nothing else to do, they turn their attention to Maddy and she becomes their prey.

All of them against her, she is forced to hide in a cave.

I love the setting and realistic attitude of Maddy. She is very relatable even though she could be really timid, I like her character. It was very interesting, full of drama, suspense and entertaining in general.

Thanks to Netgalley, Avon books and Sarah Goodwin for the Arc copy.

Stranded is a book that I know I’m going to forget by next month. I liked the overall premise of strangers surviving on an island for reality TV and was very intrigued when I read the synopsis, but it just wasn’t really my cup of tea.

Eight strangers. One island. A secret you'd kill to keep.

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This book was straight up Lord of the Flies meets Survivor - and I am here for it!

Eight people are hired for the reality show of a lifetime - survive alone on an island for one year, using only the supplies they arrived with. After a few idyllic months, things take a turn for the worst and the castaways must decide how far they are willing to go to insure their own survival.

I honestly couldn't put this one down and was SO invested in the plot the entire time. I do recommend going into this one blind, as the synopsis kind of gives away a few of the twists. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC!

"Stranded", by Sarah Goodwin, is a creepy yet compelling novel. Eight strangers sign up for a Survivor-like reality TV competition: being stranded on a deserted island with cameramen and only the bare essentials. However, things go quickly awry as tempers flare and emotions rise. As told from the point of view of Maddy, the cameramen end up dead and no one picks them up on the scheduled extraction date. The participants quickly realize that something has gone very wrong. However, things are worst for Maddy. The others quickly turn on her and she is left to survive on her own, even fearing for her own life when they begin to hunt her down.

When I first began reading this book, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it. However, I was quickly sucked in and had to know what happened to Maddy. This was a very unique and compelling book! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Seeing other reviews for this book gave me high hopes and it did not disappoint. I can't wait to read more Sarah Goodwin.

A wild ride! A reality show that entails being stranded on an island for a year. There’s definitely a lot of Lord of the Flies in this novel but there is enough of a modern twist to set it apart.

I don’t think I liked any of the characters but this didn’t hold me back from enjoying this book.

I listened to this one on audio and at times I really didn’t like the main character, she was so irritating. But then at other points I was absolutely rooting for her.
What a drama of a time she had on that island! Very far fetched at points but absolutely compelling listening, I was literally on the edge of my seat in the car where I do most of my listening.
Defo worth a read / listen but watch your blood pressure it may go up a notch!
Thanks to the author and also @netgalley for my e copy as well.

An amount end of days with a sprinkling of Lord of the Flies.

This was at times hard to read, look at what becomes of people 'stranded' on an island as part of an experiment. Some aspects I found startlingly realistic, the outcomes of ostracisation, the sway of personalities, the influence other people may have, the firm rooting of opinions.

Part thriller, part mystery, part survival tale, part literary fiction, it was a great read.

Stranded is a page-turner. It’s a fascinating journey into the mindset of being in survival mode. The last 20% had my heart pounding, and my nerves almost got the best of me. I don’t think I would last a day on Buidseach Island.

Welcome to Stranded - the new revolutionary reality television show where eight strangers are dropped off on a remote island off the coast of Scotland where they will be – you guessed it STRANDED – for an entire year. With only the allotted items they have been approved to bring along and, if they’re lucky, the luck of stumbling upon a handful of hidden caches, this is a Survivor for the next generation.

As someone who has missed not even one episode of Survivor in all of its eleventy-trillion seasons, I may be a bit biased when it comes to my reaction of this new(ish) release. The good news is all of my friends dug it too.

What starts out as a chance to build the next Biodome!!! Okay, maybe not exactly, but it does start out as a chance at a potential utopia where the group will work together to build shelter, hunt, forage and all of the outdoorsy things that yours truly is allergic to, quickly devolves into a bit of a Lord of the Flies featuring grown-ups and a whole lotta "mean girls" sorts of attitude.

A true delight for both the reality TV junky and stabby sides of me. I did guess the ending, but it didn’t really even matter. This was a boatload of fun *rimshot* (told ya I’d be here all week!)

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

📖BOOK REVIEW📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#Stranded by #Sarahgoodwin

➡️for synopsis

I’ll start by saying I DID enjoy this book, it took this type of story, which has been way over done btw, and made it its own. It had an originalish plot and I think the author made it really modern using the reality tv angle. I enjoyed the characters albeit them being a little stereotypical in stereotypical roles. The location was new, interesting and the author really managed to keep the atmosphere and creepiness of the island alive throughout. The story was complete and used a alternating timelines to slowly reveal its secrets which I also really enjoyed.

A small problem for me was that throughout I was constantly waiting for something AMAZING to happen, even up till the end, and it just didn’t. I really wanted something more to have been going on or something really dramatic to happen. I also felt at times the plot was a little long winded in getting to the action. Like I say these are small things that would just would have made it a five star read for me.

Overall, this is a really good thriller with a twisty plot perfect for these cold nights in!

With thanks to #netgalley, author #sarahgoodwin and #avonbooks for allowing me to read this one early - sorry it’s late!

This one is OUT NOW!

-Emily

@the_book_girls_1

I want to give this book 1 star or 5 stars.

1 star
The characters were just terrible people. Maddy was meek and a doormat with zero personality. Any argument she got into was very quickly reversed and backed down, so any argument she was in felt forced. The group was no better. All of them being selfish and hateful people. They picked the weakest person, and out of fear of becoming the weakest they blamed everything on that person. No one took responsibility for anything and let it all fall on maddy for her to be ostracized for.

The small arguments that were had in the beginning were just that. They were small. Maddy, and others, would occasionally go against things Duncan said, or just question him. A group vote would happen and she would move on. It seemed to not happen enough to warrant the removal from the community in my mind. I needed more arguments, or more feeling in the ones we saw to feel the anger and make the removal logical in my mind.

5star
Wowowowowow

I really don’t know where to begin. You’re alongside with maddy feeling her fear, all of her emotions, all of her everything. You really do feel with her and for her. You, ow she makes it out alive and she captivates you in story telling to find out who didn’t or why some didn’t, how things went so wrong.

The whole mob mentality is terrifying. It’s such a real thing that when faced with certain situations can actually happen. Of course this is to an extreme extent, but it is a real thing and it is written and portrayed well.

Fantastic writing style that was slightly slow in the beginning with the abrupt start, and too slow build of distaste between characters, however the second half definitely kept me wanting more and I found myself staying up late unable to put it down until I knew the ending.

A reality TV themed survival book. This book poses the question about what happened 18 months after the contestants set off. An interesting Lord of the Flies undertone. My critique is the ending felt rushed. That said, this is a uniquely plotted, well-written thriller that I would recommend reading.

I was not able to put this down!
Eight survivors sign up for a reality show set on a desolate island. The goal is to imagine survival during the apocalypse and live there a year. They had solar powered cameras, and two emergency cameraman on the island. Splinters in the group form quickly leaving Maddy out in the cold, literally. Tensions run high, the ship meant to pick them up on the last day is nowhere to be found and the cameramen are dead!

Fast forward to 18 months in, and Maddy is the lone survivor, bedraggled and scared and we can't wait to hear this story.
Fans of Survivor, Lord of the Flies will love this book. It was surprising, different, and in a deep way examined what happens when the laws of society no longer apply.
Great read!