This book was so good!! The twist and turns had me wanting to keep reading and not put the book down. Very well written!
Cass leaves her terrible past behind her only to end up in more dangerous circumstances. Who is her true friends and who can she trust when the poop hits the fan?

A debut, dual POV novel set on a beautiful Thailand island that promises paradise but gives something else entirely. Cass, a scuba diver instructor with a secret, ends up with a dead diver and another injured. Brooke, a social media influenster, who seems to be running from her past. Both characters are well developed, and its a slow start of the book. I was grateful I really enjoyed the setting of the novel to push through because the twist in the epilogue got me good! This novel game me big Reckless Girls vibe with a bit more mystery if that was your cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to advance read this novel! Look forward to seeing others reading it when it releases Feb. 13th, 2024.

What a great debut novel!

First off, I thought the imagery and descriptions used throughout this novel was very good. I thoroughly enjoyed the dual POV. There’s a good handful of characters mentioned throughout the novel, but it doesn’t get confusing because each character is very well described with different backstories (although vague for storyline purposes). I really enjoyed the aspect that everyone on this island has some sort of secret and/or mysterious past that no one talks about and no one asks about. Sort of an island for the misfits but they all make a family together.

And can we just talk about the twist in the freaking epilogue! Go off I guess.

Overall, a super enjoyable read. I found myself engaged in the story the whole time.

The ONLY thing that really irked me about this novel was the cops trope that I think is done so often. Either that they are dumb or supposedly being manipulated/paid off in some way. It’s one of my biggest annoyances in a novel, however, I understand why it needed to happen in this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sara Ochs! I look forward to more novels in the future!

A slow start, i usually DNF slow starts, but this one did eventually suck me in and was really good about 25% into the book.

The story gives dual POV, love multiple POV, and it is set in Thailand.

When things start happening and secrets start to come out both Brooke and Cass try to keep them hidden. I really enjoyed the story and would recommend.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

This story follows several expats that have moved to an island in Thailand that is known for its diving resort. Written from two of the main character’s POVs, it alternates who is telling the story and how they’re living it in present time. No one’s story is quite clear, though it’s evident they’ve all moved to this island to escape something in their past. However, there have been some suspicious “accidents” and it has people on edge. To say the ending shocked me is an understatement. I thought I had it all figured out, and I certainly didn’t. The writing was so well done and truly set the scene throughout the whole book, I could clearly imagine every single page as I read like I was there with them. If you’re a fan of The Guest List, The Woman in Cabin 10, and other books similar, you’ll enjoy this one. Wonderful debut novel, will definitely pick up future books by Sara Ochs.

I mostly really enjoyed this book. About three quarters of the way through, I had some issues with some of the characters logic and reactions, but humans are unpredictable so that may not be fair criticism.

Overall the book moved quickly and portrayed the life of ex-pats on a small Thailand really well. The book moves between the point of view of two characters who are complicated women each with their own murky past that is slowly revealed. The pacing is good and there were many surprises along the way.


MINOR SPOILER: I'd also say that I don't know that the epilogue was really necessary though I'm sure many readers will like the last kicker. Also, the Hudson Massacre Killer feels a bit extreme if a person is accused of killing TWO people!

“Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay.”

As frost is nipping at my heels these days, I reached for an armchair journey to a sun-drenched island and was surprised to discover that this fantastic book does not read like a debut!

The setting immediately pulled me in - a remote island in the Gulf of Thailand - but it was the perfectly plotted crime that held my attention.

This fictitious party island, Koh Sang, attracts those with secrets and those wanting to get away from it all. It’s far enough away from the other backpacking islands and doesn’t attract an overflow of tourists, it’s the perfect ‘locked room’ setting. The desire to hide one’s true self is what initially forms the tension; a group of people pretending to have fun, willing to take risks to protect their secret, and very aware that their past may catch up with them at any moment. The threads of mistrust unite the two groups on the island; the Permanents and the tourists. Permanents are those who live and work on the island full-time. Like the tourists, they are suspicious of everyone and any friendships made are surface-level and fleeting at best.

So the contrasts begin - two different groups of people, two different reasons for being on the island, and then the third contrast appears …

A murder.

Now we’ve got the juxtaposition of all this natural beauty with its lush vegetation and clear turquoise waters with the darkness of a crime. A crime committed by one of them.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Cass, a scuba diving instructor and a Permanent, and Brooke, a social media influencer on vacation who becomes involved with one of the Permanents. Although both women hide secrets, both are suspicious of everyone, and both are equally compelling characters, the story is more plot-forward than character-forward. Och’s ability to perfectly place her clues makes this an astounding crime thriller. Her twist was spectacular and was made possible by the dark, intriguing, and pacey story. It definitely has Agatha Christie vibes.

Och’s examination of friendships, or the illusion of friendships, is fantastic as is her spotlight on our tendency to hide our true selves. I’m looking forward to another thriller and I hear it’s set in Australia and also features an international cast of characters.

I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I enjoyed this secluded island murder mystery. The main characters were both fleshed out really well. It did take a little bit to get interesting, and I think the story would have been better without the epilogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A slow start that will eventually suck you in and consume you.

This story is dual POV, set in Thailand at a resort. Hence the title. It follows Brooke and Cass as they are seemingly running from their past and living under a facade of someone else. However.. things start to happen within the resort that lead to other issues that threaten the secrets that both Brooke and Cass have worked to keep hidden.

The Resort is absolutely brilliant! Fast-paced page turner that I read in under 24 hours because I could NOT.PUT.IT.DOWN!

A dead body in the water, the 2nd woman found murdered in just a few short weeks. What is happening on this remote little island? It should be all moonlight parties and fun. Brooke is an influencer, staying longer term on the island. She hasn't been accepted by the permanents, a group of ex-pats from all over that are living there, but she'd love to finally be accepted and invited into their small group. There's also Cass, one of the permanents that is about to marry another permanent, but she has secrets she hasn't told anyone on the island yet and she's getting worried she'll have to.

I loved the remote island feel of this one. It's a little jarring, just how little information you get along the way, because no one has much information on tourists just passing through. I liked guessing Cass's story, and Brooke's, and their purpose on the island. I had so many guesses on who the bad guy was and I liked the twists to keep me wondering. The twist at the very end made my jaw drop. And what a gorgeous cover! This was a fun mystery.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Thank you for this ARC!

I thought it wouldn’t be very good when I started, I couldn’t figure anything out. Then as the story progressed, I had a hard time putting the book down. I just wanted to know what was going to happen next.

This story is dual POV, set in Thailand at a resort. Hence the title. It follows Brooke and Cass as they are seemingly running from their past and living under a facade of someone else. However.. things start to happen within the resort that lead to other issues that threaten the secrets that both Brooke and Cass have worked to keep hidden.

This book was full of plot twists from beginning to literally the last page. Just when you think you have it figured out, Sara basically laughed and said “SIKE!”

I gave 4 stars because I felt the beginning wasn’t super strong in pulling me in. Otherwise I loved it!!

Pub date: 2/13/24
Genre: thriller
Quick summary: Cass is living the good life as a scuba instructor at the gorgeous Koh Sang resort - until she receives a threatening letter and one of her students ends up dead. Can she and traveler Brooke survive this paradise turned nightmare?

How many thrillers set on deserted islands have I read? Tbh I'm afraid to even count, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop reading them. This one focused a lot on developing Cass and Brooke's mysterious pasts, and it worked really well for me. I liked trying to unravel their secrets and predict what they would do next. Ochs' plotting kept me hooked, and I read this one over ~24 hours because I needed to know how it would end. There were plenty of surprises to keep me entertained.

When this book releases in February, I think readers dreaming of summer will love the armchair trip to sunny Thailand!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s unbelievable that this is a debut! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was experiencing another twist. Cass and Brooke provide the dual POV which adds to the mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed this!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The setting of this book, an island resort off the coast of Thailand, was beautifully described. Unfortunately, for me, that was the best part of the book. I was not interested in the troubles and partying of these young adults.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙩 eARC by 𝙎𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙊𝙘𝙝𝙨 available February 13, 2024

📖SYNOPSIS📖
For readers of Rachel Hawkins and We Were Never Here comes a searing vacation thriller set on a remote island in Thailand following two mysterious women, a charismatic group of expats, and the one murder poised to bring their paradise crashing down.

Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay...

🌟REVIEW🌟
What a great debut novel. Thank you to @bookmarked and @netgalley for the eARC. I was instantly transported back to the beaches of Thailand while reading this book. Sara Ochs did a fantastic job of placing you on Koh Sang island and the pacing of this thriller was perfect to me. So many people move to remote places to hide their secrets, and boy, were there secrets on Koh Sang. The twists kept coming and I loved it. Even when I thought I had it figured out, alas, I did not.

Thank you @netgalley and @bookmarked for the eARC "Read Now" invitation. I definitely can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy when it releases in February.

This was a solid debut thriller from Sara Ochs. It was suspenseful, although a little hard to believe and entertaining. She is a good writer and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

For a debut novel Sara Ochs did a phenomenal job. Interesting story line with a bunch of twist and turns. Great characters but hopefully not individuals you have in your real life.

Traveling is overrated anyway, right?

The Resort features Cass and Brooke, two women hiding deep secrets. One will do whatever it takes to keep her secret, while the other will do whatever it takes to get her revenge. The Koh Sang Resort may seem like an idyllic escape, but when a body appears and a scuba diving excursion goes horribly awry, the dream quickly becomes a nightmare.

I was eager to find out Cass's secret and I loved how difficult it was to determine her reliability as a narrator. I liked how small bits of her past were revealed along the way instead of being explicitly told what happened. It definitely added to the suspense. While the beginning was a bit slow, the pacing quickly found it's footing and I got sucked in.

I didn't love Brooke as a character. Her motives seemed unrealistic and hard to rationalize. Many of the side character also could have been more fleshed out. They sometimes felt like they solely existed to add suspects, rather than add to the plot. This was especially evident in the last few chapters where a lot of information was thrown at the reader about characters who had been previously ignored. At first I didn't love the ending, but the epilogue was very well executed (if a bit haphazard) and definitely bumped up my rating half a star.

Overall, this was a quick and suspenseful read. If you enjoy page-turners that keep you guessing until the very end, I would recommend this book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

4/5 unmistakable rings
💍💍💍💍

This novel is narrated via alternating points of view. It takes place on a small Thai island where the characters are hiding from their pasts and suspicious deaths are occurring.

I feel like the storyline had potential, but the execution was lacking. The characters were unlikeable, there was a lot of repetitiveness as the plot unfolded, and, at times the writing utilized awkward wording and phrasing. In my opinion, it was fairly predictable. I also felt that it focused more on shock value than building characterization that informed the actions chosen by the figures in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Sara Ochs for this free ARC digital copy.