A review by kristineisreading
Stranded by Sarah Goodwin

challenging dark tense

3.0

My second book in a row with an unlikable protagonist. I can’t with Maddy. I get that she’s <i>supposed</i> to be unlikable because otherwise the whole premise of the book doesn’t work. But damn does it make this hard to read. There are parts where I want to cheer for her but there are constant reminders of why she’s in that situation to begin with. I also feel a little misled by the description. I didn’t expect it to be the story of one woman’s experience being ostracized on a deserted island. Not what I thought I signed up for and not something I’m really that interested in. I will say the book does a good job illustrating the horrors of her experience. Parts of the book are downright brutal. And of course beyond the survival aspect there’s the underlying question of what exactly DID happen to the boat? And while we’re focused on Maddy, how is this going to play out with the others? You start the book knowing Maddy survives but the how, and the who else, and the what happened, are all slowly revealed. I’m giving this four stars for being a legit horror/thriller, but knocking one off because I personally don’t enjoy reading an entire book with a main character I can’t stand, no matter how bad I ultimately feel for her.