Thank you so much to RB Media for the gifted audiobook!

I was really enjoying this one and for some reason every time it gets to chapter 7, it stops working. I've tried skipping that chapter, deleting and re-downloading about 5 different times and am out of ideas on how to get it to play on the Netgalley app. Maybe it's an error with the app itself.

I plan to read the physical copy and I can come back and review or wait until the audiobook publishes and come back!

Imagine going to paradise only to find it more like a nightmare. Sara Ochs takes us to a small island in exotic Thailand where a community of ex-pats are enjoying an adventurous lifestyle until visitors start turning up dead. The Resort is full of people with secret pasts dangerous enough to kill for.

The two main characters, Cass and Brooke, have interesting backstories that slowly unfold adding to the tension. Ochs gives us no shortage of suspects and plenty of misdirections before revealing the twisted conclusion. Relationships this toxic make you wonder how well you really know the people you meet. Overall, this is a solid thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Recorded Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I absolutely could not stop listening to this audiobook. This book takes place on an island at the Koh Sang Resort. Cass is a dive instructor and Brook came to the island as an influencer. The two girls become friends as time goes by, however, both have secrets and death seems to be surrounding all of them. This thriller was fast paced, interesting, and each character you meet has secrets, up until the very end. I loved that this felt scary because many people go to an island and befriend locals or other vacationers during their stay. Imagine one, or more, are murderers?!?

The Resort by Sara Ochs was quite the thriller. It is hard to wrap my arms around this one because it was a little too much for me. I did enjoy the suspense and was surprised over and over. The ending had me shocked and disturbed. I found the background stories of the two main characters, Cass and Brooke, very intriguing and the author did a great job building this story and linking the characters.

It was not my cup of tea. A little too much for me, however if you are a suspense/thriller lover and are okay with gore, this might be for you. I am not going to fault the author because I knew going in what I was getting in to -- I mean, it is a suspense.

A solid 3.5 stars, probably more. The author did keep me on my toes, and I didn't see THAT coming. Also, I enjoyed the narrators' voices.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the advanced audio copy of The Resort in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinion are my own.

I enjoyed this book a lot and finished it in one day. Fast paced and dual POV makes this a fun listen. There were many twists to lead you in different directions that kept you guessing throughout the whole book. Check TW because there are a couple heavy topics in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced audiobook!

"Welcome to paradise. We hope you enjoy your stay..."

Koh Sang, famous in the travelling scene as being Thailands Party Island, has a group of ex pats working within the island, all escaping their murky pasts.

The story is told from two different POVs. Cass, the islands scuba instructor and Brooke, an influencer coming to review the island for her social media following.

This book had me wondering if you really know everyone you meet, especially those you may form friendships with on holiday!!
Fast paced and gripping this thriller had me listening at double the speed to find out how it ended, and not until the very last second did I guess it correctly.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A debut novel from Sara Ochs that wasn't a home run (for me), but a solid triple and tells me this is an author to watch. The Resort is set in exotic Thailand full of young people, who, unlike me, are living a nomad existence and definitely not thinking about retirement. At almost 60, having grown up in a different world, I am unsure I can handle one more main character who is an "influencer." But that's on me. I need to stop requesting books where it's clearly stated that we are going to have to deal with that culture.

I enjoyed the opening, meeting the characters and what I hoped would come. It's listed as mystery/thriller by the publisher, but there was a strong YA vibe which may or may not appeal. And, not listed by the publisher, is a trigger warning I hesitate to mention since it's such a big plot/spoiler. Not my favorite, and exhausted by it.

I look forward to Ochs next novel. She definitely can write.

Author Sara Ochs’s debut destination thriller is a slow build two person POV thriller that exposes the dangers of paradise in a taut, entertaining suspense novel. On the Thai party island of Koh Sang, dive instructor Cassie and social media influencer Brooke, are both likable narrators, but both are escaping from something in their past. They tell simultaneous stories about a mysterious accident that has left dive student Lucy drowned. Another young woman also died shortly before Brooke arrived. Cassie is definitely trying to remake herself at the resort after something happened 3 years ago and Brooke has used all her money in order to investigate something. But what?

The narrative starts out steadily, then finally revs up and produces multiple twists. Author Ochs creates well-developed characters and a plot that kept me engrossed until the very end. It’s gripping and action-packed and the perfect beach read for those who aren’t always in the mood for a happily-ever-after romance. 4 stars!

An audiobook usually enhances the experience, but in this case, I felt that the voices of Cassie and Brooke seemed too similar — I had to rewind too often to the chapter beginning to figure out if Brooke or Cassie is speaking. This is a rare case where I’d suggest reading the book over listening to the audiobook.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Blue, gray and brown, but no green.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): YES/NO

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark/RB Media and NetGalley for a free advanced ebook and audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Recorded Books for the copy of this ALC!

THE RESORT is a twisty, toxic thriller debut from Sara Ochs that you won't want to miss! Featuring multiple POVs and a group of highly suspicious expats on Koh Sang Resort, THE RESORT is the sort of thriller that makes you keep cleaning so you can keep listening to your audiobook. Remote island settings, tropical storms, multiple murders, and constantly questioning who to trust make this thriller excellent. This a great rec if you like thrillers with girls trips, vacations, shady friend groups, or island settings, like ONE OF THE GIRLS, SHE STARTED IT, or THE ONLY SURVIVORS. And since this is her debut, I can't wait for more from Sara!

Audio is definitely the way to go for THE RESORT, since it's done in an excellent full cast (Miranda Raison, Dakota Blue Richards, Joe Jameson, Pema Monaghan).

Diving into the pages of this sea-inspired thriller was an exhilarating experience. The novel weaves a tale around the mysteries of the ocean and the promises that bind its characters. With each twist, the plot thickens, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that keeps you eagerly turning the pages. Personally, I lean towards a storytelling style that delves deeper into character emotions, but the abundance of surprises undoubtedly adds a unique flair to the narrative.

The author's vivid descriptions transport readers to the mesmerizing world beneath the waves. From the breathtaking coral reefs to the hidden caverns, every detail is painted with precision, making it a treat for those who harbor a love for the sea. Despite my preference for fewer twists, there's no denying the novel's ability to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

In the end, this diving adventure unfolds as a satisfying thriller with its own charm. It might not align perfectly with my taste for profound narratives, but for those seeking an adrenaline-pumping journey into the unknown depths, this novel proves to be a worthy companion.

That ending 🌀
I loved the atmosphere of Koh Sang and the idea of all these mysterious strangers with secrets living side by side. There were a ton of tiny twists with one major bomb that caught me off guard

The narration was okay. It was at times hard to differentiate between Brooke and Cass.

This is a twisty thriller in a sexy island resort setting, full of bad people doing bad things - but their motivations match their actions, so I’m here for it! Definitely a fun time for any thriller fans (though it does touch on some other awful topics, beyond the obvious murdering). I will read whatever the author writes next!

📚 Series or Standalone: standalone
📚 Genre: thriller
📚 Target Age Group: adult
📚 Cliffhanger: no

✨ Will I Reread: maybe
✨ Recommended For: fans of White Lotus

💕 Characters: 4/5
💕 Writing: 4/5
💕 Plot: 4/5
💕 Pacing: 4/5
💕 Unputdownability: 4/5
💕 Enjoyment: 4/5
💕 Book Cover: 5/5

Thanks, NetGalley and Sourcebooks, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for this ARC.

I liked this read, but I didn’t love it. The narrator’s did well, but I found myself getting confused with the POVs due to the narrators sounding too similar at times.

I found myself invested half way through and slowly losing interest to the end. The end had a good twist, but by then I no longer cared for the characters.

I’d recommend this to fans of thrillers with drama or newbies to the thriller genre.

I will be screaming about this audiobook from the rooftops! What a thrilling ride! The narration was perfect, and the fast pace had me devouring this book. I was so shocked by that ending. This may be a top thriller of 2024!

2.5 stars - simply wasn't a trope I wanted to read about.
TW: SA, grooming

This was just okay for me. It is the author's debut work and that in itself is something to celebrate and note before reading my review below.

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator was fine. No issues there. It had multiple POVs and a twist that I didn't see coming. My issue with it was the twist/ reasons for the killings and where the story went after. The epilogue was definitely great, and was another twist.. that said I don't love when the bad person seems to get away with it. That happens too often in real life, so I'd at least like my thriller reads to end with some real justice.

The premise and the resort vibe itself was enjoyable. It was just where the story went that didn't work for me. I don't really enjoy thrillers that touch on SA and grooming. With that said, I do think the writing was good, and perhaps I will enjoy the author's next book more.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of the audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.