After marrying widowed surgeon Tom Baxter for a year, Heather, Tom, and their two teenage children travel to Australia for a family vacation. Compounding a work vacation and jet lag, the kids are over their new mom soon after arrival. When they discover Dutch Island, a remote and private island without wifi or phone reception, the Baxters convince the residents to ferry them across. Unfortunately, after a terrible accident and separation from Tom, Heather and the kids are forced to fend for themselves. At 24 and barely an adult, Heather must use her wit to bring her family back, even though the kids don't trust her, and their pursuers underestimate her.

I listened to The Island on audiobook, and it was terrific! The plot is fast-paced, with lots of tension and suspense, and I love the descriptions of the scenery on Dutch Island. Heather starts as an underdog in the book but slowly progresses into this influential figure as the story unravels, and it's a thrill to read. As someone squeamish, there are a lot of descriptions that are a bit much for me, and I got too scared sometimes I had to take a break