Calling all fans of dark mysteries and secluded island chills! This thriller is a gripping story that will hook you from the start. With a suspenseful plot that twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing until the very last page! I totally see where this one was picked for a book of the month selection!

2.5 stars!

This really didn't speak to me. I felt really uncomfortable about some of the discussions about sexual assault, and I thought the characters were one note and stereotypical. I think also characters with poor mental health were kinda looked down upon which also made me feel uncomfortable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Resort to me represents the return to locked room thrillers. I loved the Thai Island setting, and the cast of characters that all escaped to make a new life for themselves at this resort. I felt that the pacing was just right to keep the story moving forward without it ever being too much. Somehow, despite all the deaths, it still made me want to visit a Thai resort, so either I’m crazy, or the location was sold well.

Sara Ochs' The Resort is a solid debut, and I am sure that we will be hearing more about her in the years to come. Her first suspense novel, the atmospheric and mysterious The Resort, takes place on an island in Thailand, where multiple women have ended up dead. A group of expats have settled themselves into life on the island, opening business and leading tourist excursions, but just who is that person serving up your drink or teaching you how to scuba dive? What secrets do the people who come in and out of our lives hold? The Resort explores the things that we hide away as we attempt to recreate ourselves anew.

Sara Ochs' The Resort is not a book I loved as much as I was hoping I would. In my case, I think this is a situation where I personally did not connect with the author, her characters, and writing, but that other readers will devour and adore. Told in separate POVs from two of the female expats on the island, The Resort is a slow burning, multi-layered, twisty novel of suspense and secrets. I felt like I could trust no one as I read this novel, making the mystery of who is murdering women on the island all the more dire and dangerous.

The Resort by Sara Ochs is an interesting novel with a beautiful resort setting, as the title indicates. The lush scenery helps make it a good beach read. Readers of psychological thrillers should enjoy this book. The author will keep you guessing throughout, right up until the end. Overall, it’s a solid read. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

4.5 stars!

Okayyy this was unexpectedly really really GOOD! The beautiful beach setting makes this the perfect summer thriller. Mysterious deaths, revenge, secrets, the TWISTS. Loved it all.

Wow! This book had lots of twists and turns and an ending that I did not predict. While reading, it felt like there was too much death and unlikely connected, however the ending made me forget it and had me powering through the last 1/4 of the book.

The different walks of life, tourist vibes, resort locations makes it a perfect summer read while lounging poolside, lakeside or by the beach!

3.75 star but the ending bumped it up for a 4 star for me.

Thanks for the ARC! Will definitely recommend.

Would recommend for fans of…
🏝️ We Were Never Here
🏝️ The Hike
🏝️ Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead

With summer (nearly) here, it’s time to start picking up alllllll the beachy books, and The Resort was at the top of my list. It follows two women – Cass and Brooke – who have left their lives (and secrets) behind and found a new home at the Koh Sang Resort. Until a resort guest dies and brings all of their secrets to the surface.

While the reader is immediately aware that everyone at the resort has a secret, it does take a minute for the action to heat up, and even longer for the puzzle pieces to connect the seemingly disparate events that have happened. But once it does, this story is so gripping! I had planned to read a few chapters a day, but once I hit the 70% mark, I binged the rest because I had to know what happened. I was also a big fan of the ending – it was a perfect way to end the story.

Whether you’re headed to the beach, or stuck in the city this summer, The Resort, which is out now, is the perfect book to add to your TBR this summer. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller was really good. The storyline and plot was really intriguing and help my interest. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

2.5 stars. I found the characters in this story to just be ridiculous. This trope is so overdone as well. I think I've just gotten sick of reading books with this getaway on an island and a murder happens theme. It wasn't for me.

This was a cool read that I really devoured. I didn't suspect the real killer until the reveal. It was masterfully done, however I didn't love that the book pitted these women against each other. The whole idea that the expats were killing people to keep their past lives a secret was intriguing but the ending was unsettling. The whole cast of characters made me feel like all these people were hiding shit and weren't good people. However, Cass felt like she deserved a better ending. Brooke felt selfish and rash and while I felt bad for her after reading the epilogue I also felt like the author clearly recognized she didn't deserve a happily ever after either.

4 1/2 stars

At a resort on Koh Sang Island, in Thailand, life seems like it should be paradise. Except bodies of guests start to appear far too regularly. What’s behind these deaths? More, who’s behind them?

I found this book to be a well-written and well-plotted story. It includes an interesting collection of characters with extraordinary backstories offering an international cast. It allows the reader to have plenty of possible perpetrators, and it will keep them guessing to the last moment.

This is a tale of a serial killer, of mental health, betrayal, and rape. Of assumed identities, of hidden pasts with hidden events. It’s about friends and coworkers, about the animosity between the locals and the tourists. There are secrets, surprises, and twists and turns.

I found this to be an interesting page-turner of a thriller. It focused on a small group of employees of the resort and their relationships and interactions. It included some of the guests and how they and the employees interacted.

This is a book that is definitely worth the time to read.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

This fell short for me. The story is told mostly from 2 person's perspectives/angles.....& I'd actually more than once, found myself a bit confused.....as to who was who.....there seemed to be several people who were 'not who we thought they were'! I felt the whole thing came off as kind of sophomoric. I was never too invested in any of the characters, & it seemed like there was an excess dose of deception & misdirection & felt that scenes & plot had to be overly explained to present why/what was happening.....it might be kind of described as a 'lukewarm mess'! There was just enough there to keep me reading on, to finish it.....
On the more positive side, it can be read pretty quickly & doesn't require a lot of investment..... in spite of the described frequent confusion!
I did receive a complimentary e-copy of the book from publisher Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for review purposes, & this is my own fair/honest review.

There is a reason why you find yourself working on a remote, paradise island and it's usually one you don't want to share....that's why people live there, to get away from SOMEthing. It's how we are introduced to the Permanents and the tourists and how they intertwine on this remote garden of eden. 
    An unexpected death in a scuba accident starts the chain of events that makes the book start the unraveling of their past lives and what they have been avoiding.
    The book reminded me of an eddy with wide circles that get smaller and more intense as it goes on. I read faster and faster because I was caught up in the events that kept me going in circles.
    A compelling read full of secrets and surprises.

This is a new to me author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I actually liked ir so much that I’ll read more of her work.

It’s a different genre than what I usually read, which was an added bonus.

Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay... wow this thriller sounded super interesting from the start and i’m so glad i received it as an arc! there were so many twists and turns that kept me fairly engaged. however, i read so many mystery books, this one doesn’t compare to others i’ve read and obsessed over. the epilogue was shocking and i’m impressed with the journey the book took me on!

I absolutely loved this novel as it's a whirlwind of crazy activities all taking place in a beautiful seaside resort in Thailand. Initially scuba-diving instructor Cass and boyfriend Logan get engaged but the drowned body of Lucy is discovered underwater with strangle marks around her neck. Then we have travel-blogger/influencer Brooke who is more than excited to have such "newsworthy" events to report. But as it turns out there have been two other suspicious deaths on the island so tensions are high as tourists are frightened and the "Permanents" are worried that tourism will suffer if the murder isn't solved. The novel vacillates in time as we see who is involved and what events led up to these deaths.It's a wonderfully convoluted--my favorite kind--plot that kept my head spinning until the last page!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Sara Ochs's "The Resort" offers a captivating escape with its lush tropical backdrop and a web of intriguing characters harboring hidden motives.

Cass has sought refuge as a dive instructor at the serene Koh Sang Resort, nestled on a secluded island in Thailand, finding solace among fellow expats known as the "Permanents." But paradise is shattered when one of Cass's students perishes during a diving expedition, sparking suspicions of foul play. As Cass delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the resort, she uncovers a disturbing pattern of unexplained deaths. With each revelation, Cass grapples with the unsettling realization that her idyllic sanctuary may be concealing sinister truths from her past.

"The Resort" is a riveting thriller that will keep readers guessing at every turn. Sara Ochs expertly crafts a narrative brimming with unexpected twists, ensuring an exhilarating journey into the shadows lurking beneath the surface and the secrets that lurk amidst the tranquil façade of paradise. This is a perfect summer read.

The Resort by Sara Ochs
mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0

This was a 4 star read until the epilogue so of course I can’t tell you why. During the rest of the read however it kept me on my toes.

I liked the idea of this book, but it was a little slow. It seemed like most of the storytelling took places in the last 30%, so it took me awhile to get there.