3.5 Rounded up.

The Resort follows Cass who thought she had finally outrun her past and managed to land a dreamy fiance and a group of friends at the picture perfect Koh Sang Resort. When mysterious Brooke shows up, her arrival coincidentally coincides with paradise becoming much less peaceful as dead bodies begin to show up.

The setting is so vividly described and luscious that you can almost hear the waves crash. The cast of characters aren't people I would trust to hold open a door let alone with my life and I instantly started keeping notes on who I didn't trust and suspected. However, just when I was sure I was correct, Ochs threw a curve and blindsided me.

Pack this in your beach bag, but trust no one.

I wasn’t a big fan of this book because I didn’t really like or connect with any of the characters. It seemed very repetitive to me and the twists were mostly predictable. Up until the end that is, there’s a big twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and that was probably my favorite part of the book. This book is about a murder that takes place on an island. This book also dives into the culture of tourism, the greed and corruption that can lie there and travel expats/ travel influencers and what they add to that equation.

The Resort by Sarah Ochs is a gripping, suspense-filled thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With its clever twists and complex characters, it's a chilling, immersive read that’s impossible to put down.

I requested this one just for the cover and am SO happy I did. I couldn't believe this was a debut novel! There were so many twists and turns that kept me on edge the entire book. Whenver i thought i knew what was going to happen, i was proven wrong. Loved the Dual POV in this one--different for this kind of a book!! Thanks so much for the copy!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

When staying on the resort of Koh Sang - you must follow three rules:
1 - Leave the past behind
2 - Always be careful who you trust
3 - If someone discovers who you really are, run

Cass comes to stay on the party island as a means for escape. When the Permanents - expats that become residents - advise her of these rules, she welcomes them. The island is a place to hide from her past. However, when #3 happens and she stays, she opens up a lot of issues for the permanents, who are hiding also.

This thriller kept me guessing until the very end! It was just so good and there were so many twists. Going into this book I was a little worried that it would end up being similar to a few other remote island thrillers, and while similar, it was not the same at all – it was better! I enjoyed getting to know both of them as they were very different. The pacing was good for a thriller, not overwhelmingly fast, but not slow either. Just fast enough to keep you on the edge of you seat wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will definitely be recommending it to my readers.

This book really grabbed me in the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. The first half of the book had my mind reeling on what was going to happen next.
I was slightly disappointed because this book sounded like it would really blow me away and I really did like it when I first started reading it. Once we got towards the second half of the book I just wasn’t as thrilled with the reveals as I hoped to be.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Resort. It took me awhile to get into this one but it's worth a read when you are dreaming of a faraway vacation...the author did a great job of describing the island and the people and the places. She did an even better job with the whiplash at the end...wonderful! Just when you think you have it figured out and you're ok with the ending, she pulled me back in and made my head spin! It was really interesting how she tied the 2 main characters together...so many surprises!

Dual POV between our two lead females, Cass and Brooke, we see the events of the week through their eyes. Both are hiding something from the reader and the others in the story. While somewhat predictable, it still kept me on my toes and I didn't completely guess the ending. Honestly, I'm shocked this was a debut.
The remote, tropical setting was perfectly described, making it easy to envision the locale. Some parts of the character backstory could not be guessed and were totally out of left field and I didn't like the 'holding a grudge' situation and the misplaced blame.
The final reveal at the very end was such a jaw drop that it made me round up my rating.

THE RESORT by Sara Ochs was the perfect "remote location" thriller, and a 2024 release you won't want to miss! It had me on the edge of my seat from the first page.

This was really just mediocre. Some of it was ok but for the most part it missed the mark. The epilogue was the best part imo.

*The Resort* takes you straight to the tropical, mysterious island of Koh Sang in Thailand, where Cass has been trying to leave her past behind. Life seems to be going well – she’s made friends with a close-knit group of ex-pats and even found romance with Logan. But the island paradise quickly turns eerie when Cass discovers the body of a student, Lucy, in the water, and then starts receiving notes that someone knows the secrets she’s tried so hard to bury.

Cass teams up with Brooke, a friend with her own mysterious past, and together they start to unravel the dark mysteries of Koh Sang. The story jumps between Cass and Brooke's points of view, and with each twist, it’s clear these two are keeping as many secrets as the island itself. The ex-pats they hang out with aren’t exactly innocent either, each adding to the tension as things spiral into a thriller that’s hard to put down.

With its surprising twists and a setting that pulls you in, *The Resort* is a fun, suspenseful read that’ll keep you guessing. If you’re into mystery thrillers that mix drama with a bit of island atmosphere, this one’s worth checking out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

This one was twisty and turny. Lots of characters not to like! The payoff is in the epilogue - don’t skip it!

I absolutely love a good vacation thriller, and this book delivered! The numerous twists and turns kept me fully engaged from start to finish. There's something about remote island settings that lend themselves perfectly to whodunits and locked-room mysteries, and this one was no exception. I was completely caught off guard by the ending—it took me by surprise! Overall, it was a fantastic read!

This was a fun read for a beach trip! I loved the elements of social media included in the story, and while alternating perspectives sometimes throws me off in mysteries, I really liked how it was done here.

I did finish the book, but overall, it didn't work for me. I found the characters to be so unlikeable that I didn't care about the mystery, who killed who, and who was next. I'm glad others liked it, though.

I had to dnf this one. Shallow, uninformed views on mental health and anxiety meds, as well as the incredibly slow burn story, were too much for me right now. I read other reviews to see if it was just me and found that there are also women blaming women over SA, and I'm just not up for that.

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I apologize that I wasn't able to make it through the entire book.

I gave this 2.5⭐️.

At a resort on Koh Sang Island in Thailand, life appears to be paradise. But when the bodies of guests begin to turn up with alarming regularity, questions arise: What lies behind these deaths? And who is responsible?
This book is a masterfully crafted thriller that weaves together an intriguing cast of characters, each with their own extraordinary backstories, creating an international tapestry. With a plethora of potential suspects, the narrative keeps readers guessing until the very end.
The story delves into themes of serial murder, mental health, betrayal, and the complexities of identity. It explores the hidden pasts of its characters, the dynamics between friends and coworkers, and the tension between locals and tourists. With a wealth of secrets, surprises, and unexpected twists, it draws you in deeper.
I found it to be a gripping page-turner, focusing on a tight-knit group of resort employees and their interactions with both guests and each other. This is a book that is undoubtedly worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others. Wonderful!