Book review by Corey
Girl Island
Girl Island follows six teenage girls who survive a plane crash and end up stranded on a deserted island. Seventeen-year-old Ellery is already dealing with bullying, class differences, and the fallout from an old friendship, and being trapped with the same girls she has problems with makes survival even more complicated.
The book mixes a stranded-survival story with a strong coming-of-age angle, and there is also a central lesbian romance that gives the story more heart. A lot of the tension comes from the girls’ personalities, secrets, and old grudges, so the island is dangerous, but the real pressure often comes from the group itself.
The Goods
- Strong survival setup
- Good lesbian romance
- Interesting group dynamics
- Ellery is easy to root for
- Good mix of tension and emotion
The Bads
- Some characters feel stereotyped at first
- A few conflicts are predictable
- The survival side could be more detailed
- Certain character turns happen quickly
- The teen drama may not work for everyone
My Recommendation
This is a good choice for readers who like lesbian YA, survival stories, and books where a group of very different characters are forced to depend on each other. The romance gives the story a softer emotional side, while the bullying, old friendships, and personality clashes keep plenty of tension going even when the girls are not dealing with the island itself. If you enjoy LGBTQ+ coming-of-age stories with adventure, danger, and a strong found-family feel, Girl Island is a fun and easy book to get into.