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Islanders
In an era of public versus private personas, a young woman decides to shake up her ordinary life by becoming a contestant on a reality television show. The manufactured paradise has no clocks, no way to contact the outside world, and nothing but time, a pool, and gorgeous people. As the days or weeks or months pass by, she discovers more about herself through the people around her and challenges her notions of identity and love. In a paradise where the only game is to fall in love, what will she do to win?
Audible Audio
Published September 10, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
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June 2, 2022DNF too strange.....
September 13, 2020
Failed attempt to tell an interesting story
There is so much wrong with this story. The POV this story is told in is awful. "We" this, "us" that. It does not do this story any favors. It seems like the author tried very hard to write an intriguing story, but instead, it is just a mess. The perspective is confusing. The story makes no sense. No interesting characters are introduced. No "hook" to engage the listener. It strives to be innovative, but it fails to be entertaining, uplifting, inspiring, illuminating, anything. I'm sure there is supposed to be a great "lesson" to be learned at the end of this, but the supposed realization of the main character at the end fell completely flat.
I did not enjoy this at all and would not recommend it to anyone, however, if you are someone looking for something completely different, no matter if it is good or not, this is the story for you. It IS different.
There is so much wrong with this story. The POV this story is told in is awful. "We" this, "us" that. It does not do this story any favors. It seems like the author tried very hard to write an intriguing story, but instead, it is just a mess. The perspective is confusing. The story makes no sense. No interesting characters are introduced. No "hook" to engage the listener. It strives to be innovative, but it fails to be entertaining, uplifting, inspiring, illuminating, anything. I'm sure there is supposed to be a great "lesson" to be learned at the end of this, but the supposed realization of the main character at the end fell completely flat.
I did not enjoy this at all and would not recommend it to anyone, however, if you are someone looking for something completely different, no matter if it is good or not, this is the story for you. It IS different.
October 7, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I started listening to this, having no idea what it was about, but needing something that was shorter than two hours. Maybe because I had no expectations I really enjoyed this freebie audio. I liked the writing, which had almost a dreamy quality to it, and the narration by Daisy Ridley was superb!
The Story: Islanders explores the world of reality television and follows a young woman who has always felt invisible – until she becomes a contestant on a televised dating show.
The Story: Islanders explores the world of reality television and follows a young woman who has always felt invisible – until she becomes a contestant on a televised dating show.
October 10, 2020
2.5 rounded up for the narration, But, what did I just listen to? I am not even sure I know. It was pretty tho; the descriptions, the story. I picked it bc it was short and Daisy Ridley reads (love, love, love). It's an audible freebie for members. My attention span is so short on weekdays now with work being so busy. I can't say for sure I would have stayed with it if Daisy hadn't been the narrator.
October 1, 2020
I picked this Audiobook because Daisy Ridley narrates. The POV (use of we and us) is different than most of the books I have read or listened to and that certainly makes it stand out this particular week. Our character, is a contestant on a reality show and she thinks it's going to really make her noticed but as the weeks past, it really becomes a journey of identity.
Goodreads review published 30/9/20
Goodreads review published 30/9/20
May 25, 2021
Estaba buscando un audiolibro que me ayudara a salir de mi depresión post-libro, algo corto que se escuchara prometedor, así que cuando vi que éste duraba 1 hr y media y lo narraba Daisy Ridley (Rey en Star Wars) no la pensé para bajarlo.
Para mi mala suerte ... llevaba 20 min y no entendía aún de qué demonios se trataba esta historia, por lo que tuve que buscar una sinopsis que me explicara que estaba escuchando.
La historia trata de una joven que platica su experiencia participando en un reality show. El destino paradisiaco en el que debe estar por 8 semanas no tiene relojes, alcohol ni contacto con el mundo exterior, por lo que el tiempo libre de los participantes solo se puede gastar de una forma: buscando el amor.
Pero en un programa donde el premio es dinero, ¿Qué tan lejos está dispuesta a llegar para ganar?
La premisa es bastante interesante ... pero la historia deja mucho que desear.
Desde el uso confuso de los pronombres (usa pronombres en plural en vez de en singular, ej. nosotros en vez de yo y ellos en vez de el/ella) hasta lo ambiguo del comienzo de esta historia, el lector queda algo confuso respecto a que demonios esta escuchando, así que no les recomendaría que gasten su tiempo con esta historia.
Siento que trató de manera desesperada el sonar interesante y único ... pero solo logra sonar raro.
Le daría solo 1 estrella pero la voz de Daisy Ridley es un deleite, su pura interpretación hace que no lo quieras soltar (genuinamente creo que hizo todo lo que pudo por hacer esto interesante pero tampoco se pueden hacer milagros con un material fuente tan bizarro)
2/5 estrellas
Para mi mala suerte ... llevaba 20 min y no entendía aún de qué demonios se trataba esta historia, por lo que tuve que buscar una sinopsis que me explicara que estaba escuchando.
La historia trata de una joven que platica su experiencia participando en un reality show. El destino paradisiaco en el que debe estar por 8 semanas no tiene relojes, alcohol ni contacto con el mundo exterior, por lo que el tiempo libre de los participantes solo se puede gastar de una forma: buscando el amor.
Pero en un programa donde el premio es dinero, ¿Qué tan lejos está dispuesta a llegar para ganar?
La premisa es bastante interesante ... pero la historia deja mucho que desear.
Desde el uso confuso de los pronombres (usa pronombres en plural en vez de en singular, ej. nosotros en vez de yo y ellos en vez de el/ella) hasta lo ambiguo del comienzo de esta historia, el lector queda algo confuso respecto a que demonios esta escuchando, así que no les recomendaría que gasten su tiempo con esta historia.
Siento que trató de manera desesperada el sonar interesante y único ... pero solo logra sonar raro.
Le daría solo 1 estrella pero la voz de Daisy Ridley es un deleite, su pura interpretación hace que no lo quieras soltar (genuinamente creo que hizo todo lo que pudo por hacer esto interesante pero tampoco se pueden hacer milagros con un material fuente tan bizarro)
2/5 estrellas
Read
May 22, 2022DNF. I couldn’t tell from the narration if the “we” was a self identified pronoun or speaking about two or more people. It seemed as though was no real plot or hook either. I couldn’t keep up and I didn’t care enough to keep going.
July 15, 2022
Very strange, kept switching between singular and plural when taking about themself/selves. Just very weird.
October 27, 2021
I enjoyed this without really understanding why.
We never learn the name of the narrator. She's entered a reality TV competition and tells the story of meeting the other contestants and "The Beautiful One" who becomes her love interest in the competition. As the game progress she learns more about herself and learns to become a individual that makes her own choices and not just follow the herd.
The writing is lovely. Funny, witty and a bit surreal and the narration just suburb, Daisy Ridley being one of the reasons I selected this
A lovely short addition on Audible.
We never learn the name of the narrator. She's entered a reality TV competition and tells the story of meeting the other contestants and "The Beautiful One" who becomes her love interest in the competition. As the game progress she learns more about herself and learns to become a individual that makes her own choices and not just follow the herd.
The writing is lovely. Funny, witty and a bit surreal and the narration just suburb, Daisy Ridley being one of the reasons I selected this
A lovely short addition on Audible.
September 15, 2020
Audiobook - narration, Daisy Ridley - a little fast, but otherwise, really good.
Audible Plus
This is a weird little thing, but I did rather enjoy it. Kind of reminded me of Big Brother meets Temptation Island. No... it’s that other show where all these men and women are all at this resort (but they’re not couples) and they bow-chick-a-bow-wow themselves through the competition.
There’s also an unusual writing style - I suppose someone smarter than I knows exactly what the intent was. But the main character refers to herself as “we” and “us” but at the climactic point swings her pronouns over to me and I.
I don’t know. It’s short, it’s weird, it’s oddly interesting.
Oh! And as I started it before going to bed, I ended up having a crazy dream where I was on a reality show with all these sloppy young kids. All I did was wash dishes and cleanup after them. But since I was doing all the work, I found all the clues you needed to win the show!!!! Mwah-Ha-Ha-Ha-haaaaaa!
Audible Plus
This is a weird little thing, but I did rather enjoy it. Kind of reminded me of Big Brother meets Temptation Island. No... it’s that other show where all these men and women are all at this resort (but they’re not couples) and they bow-chick-a-bow-wow themselves through the competition.
There’s also an unusual writing style - I suppose someone smarter than I knows exactly what the intent was. But the main character refers to herself as “we” and “us” but at the climactic point swings her pronouns over to me and I.
I don’t know. It’s short, it’s weird, it’s oddly interesting.
Oh! And as I started it before going to bed, I ended up having a crazy dream where I was on a reality show with all these sloppy young kids. All I did was wash dishes and cleanup after them. But since I was doing all the work, I found all the clues you needed to win the show!!!! Mwah-Ha-Ha-Ha-haaaaaa!
July 22, 2021
Audio book review.
I typically hop into a book without re-reading the synopsis. I do read it before buying, but then the book drops to the bottom of my read list, and by the time I get to it, no clue what I'm getting into. If I didn't get confused toward the beginning due to the writing style and jarring time jumps, if I didn't peek at the synopsis and confirm I'm meant to be following a contestant in a reality show, I was fully convinced our setting was a woman's prison. Maybe there's some deep parallels I'm meant to draw there, but this writing style doesn't lend well to such a short story. I didn't have enough of a glimpse into this character to really understand each quick scene. Just not my type of book, I guess.
I typically hop into a book without re-reading the synopsis. I do read it before buying, but then the book drops to the bottom of my read list, and by the time I get to it, no clue what I'm getting into. If I didn't get confused toward the beginning due to the writing style and jarring time jumps, if I didn't peek at the synopsis and confirm I'm meant to be following a contestant in a reality show, I was fully convinced our setting was a woman's prison. Maybe there's some deep parallels I'm meant to draw there, but this writing style doesn't lend well to such a short story. I didn't have enough of a glimpse into this character to really understand each quick scene. Just not my type of book, I guess.
December 22, 2021
After having been underwhelmed by the drama Zoetrope (which isn't listed on GR; love that struggle of adding "books" for me), I decided to check out the other Daisy Ridley thing on Audible.
The unnamed narrator goes on a Temptation Island-type reality TV show and feels lucky to attract some of the chosen people on the show: Friend, who is their platonic escape from the proscribed life in the villa, and Beautiful One, who becomes their romantic partner to the narrator's bewilderment. Friend also gets a romantic hook up with Beloved, who flew in with the express purpose of sweeping Friend off their feet.
(For most of the novella, the main four characters are referred to with gender neutral pronouns, although their genders and gendered pronouns are revealed at the end.)
Narrator reflects back on parts of their life (an amateur dance recital with the babysitter for their parents, a chance encounter with their father's mistress) and tries to understand how they got here and how they deserve any of this. In doing so, they destroy their little slice of paradise
I liked the production. The music and the few sound effects served to help the flow of the story. Daisy Ridley's narration was excellent and I hope she does more audiobooks.
The unnamed narrator goes on a Temptation Island-type reality TV show and feels lucky to attract some of the chosen people on the show: Friend, who is their platonic escape from the proscribed life in the villa, and Beautiful One, who becomes their romantic partner to the narrator's bewilderment. Friend also gets a romantic hook up with Beloved, who flew in with the express purpose of sweeping Friend off their feet.
(For most of the novella, the main four characters are referred to with gender neutral pronouns, although their genders and gendered pronouns are revealed at the end.)
Narrator reflects back on parts of their life (an amateur dance recital with the babysitter for their parents, a chance encounter with their father's mistress) and tries to understand how they got here and how they deserve any of this. In doing so, they destroy their little slice of paradise
I liked the production. The music and the few sound effects served to help the flow of the story. Daisy Ridley's narration was excellent and I hope she does more audiobooks.
April 30, 2024
This is an Audible Original which I only downloaded because Daisy Ridley was the narrator – and I quite like her as an actress (I mean, she was in Star Wars so that alone makes her awesome) and I think she has one of the best smiles in Hollywood. I had no idea who Elinor Cook was or anything about the story. Turns out she’s actually a playwright. Interesting.
And the only reason I listened to it yesterday (it’s only an hour-and-a-half long) was because the Wi-Fi crapped out at my place and I couldn’t download Abercrombie’s The Heroes after finishing Best Served Cold.
The result:
Daisy Ridley’s accent gets 5 stars. In fact, I would like Daisy Ridley to narrate the Encyclopedia Britannica, because then I’d have like 400 hours of her mellifluous accent to listen to. (“Mellifluous” is a great word btw.)
Daisy Ridley is a great narrator (which was to be expected).
The story is written in first-person yet for all but the last few minutes, uses only plural pronouns, which I found a bit off-putting because it was difficult to tell when it was just the main character describing something she alone was doing, or she and someone else.
Nonetheless, I was captivated by the story. There’s an eeriness to it – like I was half expecting it to suddenly veer off into psychological thriller, horror or post-apocalyptic.
Worth a listen. 3.5 stars.
And the only reason I listened to it yesterday (it’s only an hour-and-a-half long) was because the Wi-Fi crapped out at my place and I couldn’t download Abercrombie’s The Heroes after finishing Best Served Cold.
The result:
Daisy Ridley’s accent gets 5 stars. In fact, I would like Daisy Ridley to narrate the Encyclopedia Britannica, because then I’d have like 400 hours of her mellifluous accent to listen to. (“Mellifluous” is a great word btw.)
Daisy Ridley is a great narrator (which was to be expected).
The story is written in first-person yet for all but the last few minutes, uses only plural pronouns, which I found a bit off-putting because it was difficult to tell when it was just the main character describing something she alone was doing, or she and someone else.
Nonetheless, I was captivated by the story. There’s an eeriness to it – like I was half expecting it to suddenly veer off into psychological thriller, horror or post-apocalyptic.
Worth a listen. 3.5 stars.
September 16, 2025
I went into this with zero expectations. The cover gave me Love Island vibes, and I needed a short audiobook to listen to while at work. Most of the time, a short story is a great palette cleanser between long books. That's what I was hoping for when I picked this story. Unfortunately, it did not deliver. This was very horribly written. I was never quite sure what was going on or who the MC was even talking about when referring to "we," "us," "them," "they," etc. Finishing this story felt very similar to that feeling you get when you are putting together a puzzle. You're almost done, but you're struggling to figure out the last few pieces. You're hoping just ONE more piece will help the rest fall into place. But then you get to the end, just to find out that those missing pieces were never in the box to begin with, and you did all that work for nothing.
September 17, 2020
1-Sentence: A group has been recruited a competition to see who can win at the game of love.
Gay?: Alas, no. But it seemed like it could have been until the very end; pronouns were all “they” and “we” for most of the story.
Keywords: friendship, love, beauty, competition, money
Like?: It’s less about the story and more about the feeling: of abandonment, of corruption, of complicity, of destruction. Daisy Ridley does an incredible performance, and that’s what makes me enjoy this so much. It was weird and thinly veiled in dread and it made me want to see what else this author does.
Rating: 4/5
Gay?: Alas, no. But it seemed like it could have been until the very end; pronouns were all “they” and “we” for most of the story.
Keywords: friendship, love, beauty, competition, money
Like?: It’s less about the story and more about the feeling: of abandonment, of corruption, of complicity, of destruction. Daisy Ridley does an incredible performance, and that’s what makes me enjoy this so much. It was weird and thinly veiled in dread and it made me want to see what else this author does.
Rating: 4/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2021
I enjoyed this audiobook, and Daisy Ridley was fantastic. However, the way in which it was written (we, us, they, no names for characters) led to some confusion. I believed the friend and the beautiful one were one in the same for about half the story. This could be a text-to-audio issue, and I might not have had the issue while reading or if there had been more than one actor.
I also might have enjoyed it more if I knew more about or had any interest in Love Island, which I gather this is expanding upon.
I also might have enjoyed it more if I knew more about or had any interest in Love Island, which I gather this is expanding upon.
February 2, 2021
Daisy did a beautiful job of narrating this bizarre story, which was honestly the only redeeming quality. I’m still not sure why the protagonist refers to herself and everyone else in plurals “we touch our head,” “they have a freckle,” etc. The mother seems to be the only exception.
The ending makes no sense at all... it feels like we’re supposed to walk away with a “moral of the story,” but the author rushed to finish and forgot to include the point. I honestly just hung in there because Daisy did such a nice job narrating, but I’m glad it was a free book.
The ending makes no sense at all... it feels like we’re supposed to walk away with a “moral of the story,” but the author rushed to finish and forgot to include the point. I honestly just hung in there because Daisy did such a nice job narrating, but I’m glad it was a free book.
July 28, 2022
There’s not much to say about this one!
What started off as an interesting commentary of reality TV and the people behind the shows as well as the stars, ‘Islanders’ quickly became basic and repetitive. The using of ‘we’ and ‘us’ very quickly became meaningless and lost the commentary of women being homogenised and seen as a collective.
The only thing saving this from 2 ⭐️ was Daisy Ridley’s performance! She totally smashed it. Unfortunately this book will be ‘eliminated’ from the villa that is my bookshelf.
What started off as an interesting commentary of reality TV and the people behind the shows as well as the stars, ‘Islanders’ quickly became basic and repetitive. The using of ‘we’ and ‘us’ very quickly became meaningless and lost the commentary of women being homogenised and seen as a collective.
The only thing saving this from 2 ⭐️ was Daisy Ridley’s performance! She totally smashed it. Unfortunately this book will be ‘eliminated’ from the villa that is my bookshelf.
March 16, 2024
A woman who gets into a reality show, befriends contestants and has an affair with her new friend's boyfriend. The story had the potential to be something good, in my opinion, but the way it was told made it too weird and hard to understand.
Especially the constant use of the first person plural pronouns when refering to characters - both the main character and the supporting ones - jıst confused me to no end, until the story was really close to the end and I finally figured out who was who.
In the end, the maşn character won the contest, but I didn't even care. Not for me.
Especially the constant use of the first person plural pronouns when refering to characters - both the main character and the supporting ones - jıst confused me to no end, until the story was really close to the end and I finally figured out who was who.
In the end, the maşn character won the contest, but I didn't even care. Not for me.
August 20, 2024
“There is no innocence, we are all complicit.” This was to be a quick read about being on a reality TV show.
The book doesn’t give that feel at all and I’m struggling in writing this review as I am a no~spoilers gal, there is something very near the end that happens that takes me by complete surprise. Something that is underreported, illegal and violent.
I’m not going to give the spoiler away. It’s there for you to discover and feel your own way about. I can only say that I found it offensive and it took an otherwise “fine” 2 star book down to the lowest of reviews for me.
The book doesn’t give that feel at all and I’m struggling in writing this review as I am a no~spoilers gal, there is something very near the end that happens that takes me by complete surprise. Something that is underreported, illegal and violent.
I’m not going to give the spoiler away. It’s there for you to discover and feel your own way about. I can only say that I found it offensive and it took an otherwise “fine” 2 star book down to the lowest of reviews for me.
March 26, 2022
If they pay attention, readers will recognize that this novella carries a lot of commentary and symbolism. In some ways this book brought Ayn Rand’s “Anthem” back into my mind. The intentional second person pronouns may feel jarring at first, but the switch gets readers thinking and reflecting!
Daisy Ridley is an excellent audiobook narrator. If she does more, I will definitely be checking them out!
Daisy Ridley is an excellent audiobook narrator. If she does more, I will definitely be checking them out!
May 14, 2022
Simply awful. Horrible concept with more horrible people. Thank goodness it wasn’t longer. Reality concepts have been so overdone and this was just obscene, absurd and hostile. Worst humans ever. There is usually some sort of redemptive moment and that didn’t exist here. Just an hour and a half of gross and icky people doing gross and icky things. So glad it was a freebie. And even so it was too costly.
September 28, 2020
This was BRILLIANT!
It is a really amazing blend of high brow writing and low brow subject matter, with much deeper themes below the surface.
The use of language, especially pronouns, was telling and evoked such emotion that I was weeping at a scene near the end because of the author’s use of pronouns.
I am still breathless minutes after finishing it.
It is a really amazing blend of high brow writing and low brow subject matter, with much deeper themes below the surface.
The use of language, especially pronouns, was telling and evoked such emotion that I was weeping at a scene near the end because of the author’s use of pronouns.
I am still breathless minutes after finishing it.
January 4, 2021
Don’t pick this up. It was incredibly boring and I had almost no idea what was going on. What did I actually listen to? Supposedly someone is on a game show like the bachelor or something but I’m not sure. I really struggle with stories that I can’t understand.
2 stars only because the audio reader was wonderful. Otherwise, this was NOT worth it.
Just...no.
2 stars only because the audio reader was wonderful. Otherwise, this was NOT worth it.
Just...no.
November 2, 2020
Fall 2020 (October);
I think the hardcore commitment to the second person point of view kept me enrapt in this more than the focus or threadbare plot. Still, the very end dig tug at my heart something hard. The utter destruction of everything.
I think the hardcore commitment to the second person point of view kept me enrapt in this more than the focus or threadbare plot. Still, the very end dig tug at my heart something hard. The utter destruction of everything.
September 12, 2020
I love Daisy Ridley, but the book kept losing my attention. I may have to listen to it at a later time. But for now, two-stars.
September 14, 2020
A interesting look at reality television.
September 16, 2020
This book was adorable. It is very cute, and the perfect bit of happiness for a day at the beach or a day tucked in your own room with a hot chocolate.
September 17, 2020
Weird, surprising and subversive, this story took me to an uncomfortable place. The narration was fantastic. I only wish it had been longer.
September 26, 2020
Loved this short story and it’s beautifully performed by Daisy Ridley. BONUS: It’s kind of a short cut, but it also helped me achieve my reading goal for the year for the first time. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews