1 sentence review: I only watched 2 episodes, so don’t quote me on this, but this was giving me White Lotus vibes!!

The audiobook had a full cast, which is always a 5 ⭐️ narration in my book!

I can’t believe this is a debut!! The writing was phenomenal and the imagery was spot on, especially for a thriller! This had an engaging, interesting, and well thought out plot with twists just kept coming! This was such a fun and bingeable read and ending definitely threw me for a loop.

Read This if You Like:
- Murder mysteries set on secluded islands
- Thrillers with dual POV and multiple twists
- Unreliable narrators
- White Lotus, Fantasy Island, and The Guest List

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book had quite a few twists and turns and I was wondering what motivated Cass and Brooke. I was so sure I knew who was behind the murders, but was proved wrong in the end. I loved the setting of this book because it was such a beautiful landscape. This was such a great read.

A twisty debut thriller set on a remote, Thai island that sees a woman who has made a good life for herself living off the grid as a scuba instructor come face to face with someone looking for revenge.

As the bodies start piling up there is no shortage of suspects and I was left guessing on the edge of my seat right to the end.

Recommended for fans of other travel thriller authors like Roz Nay. This was also good on audio narrated by a full cast. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Koh Sang, a remote island in Thailand is where the guests come to get away from it all and dive and all of the residents are there because they are running away from something in their past and each of them is hiding a secret. Cass is a newly engaged dive instructor whose family died in mysterious circumstances. Brooke is travel influencer newly arrived on the island. Before Brooke arrived, a young tourist was murdered and now another tourist, Lucy, has arrived and is asking questions. Shortly after Lucy’s arrival she too is found dead. Now with multiple murders on such a small island and a limited pool of suspects, Cass’ past is about to be uncovered. However, just when you think you know who did it, the story twists again.

This thriller took a bit to get into but then I was hooked. I thought I knew who did it, but then I kept changing my mind and I’ll be honest I only figured it out because by the end I had accused everyone in my head. The novel alternates between Cass and Brooke’s POV and their backstories added an extra dimension to their characters that I enjoyed. I went back and forth between the audio and the book depending on where I was at the time and the narrator was great. This one was a fast and fun read and I had no idea it was a debut but I look forward to her next one!

34.25

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the ARC to review

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

Love, love, love this book! The narrators did a wonderful job and really brought the story to life! I loved the plot and just when I thought I had it all figured out, it completely changed and took me by surprise! I always enjoy a good unreliable narrator and this book is full of them! If you like mysteries, suspense, and psychological thrillers, you have to pick up this book!

A great mystery novel especially if you enjoy a slow burn. Almost like a locked in mystery with being set on an island and a simplistic set of characters. I did have an issue with the 2 narrators sounding similar tho one had an odd cadence. I had to backtrack a few times to see which character was “talking”. Great debut! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for review

A lovely book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one. A clever, engrossing story with fabulous characters.

2x narration speed for the narrators, 2 female MCs, and they did a great job. Easy to understand. Nice variation in voice so it was easy to pick up on who was who.

Set on a remote party island in Thailand, it's clear that everyone who comes to "The Resort" has a secret. The two main characters clearly have items they're hiding, which makes them unreliable narrators AND also casts suspicious onto every other character. It creates necessary tension in the plot because the events themselves leave something to be desired.

While the ending (and full conclusion) are pretty predictable, it was still a fine read overall. Honestly, I was a bit more concerned about the "scary foreign police/government" and the resort being a beacon for "family-less" twenty somethings.

Overall: 3 stars (I liked it)

I'll tell my students about: language, alcohol, drugs, sex, trauma, violence/killing

**Thank you to NetGalley & RB Media, Recorded Books for the free ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Cass is living her dream life in Thailand as a Scuba diver instructor. But is she? Leaving her past behind her, she has befriended a group of expats living on the Island. All is great, until it isn’t and dead bodies start showing up.

This was a slow burn to begin with, but once the tension and twists started showing up, I burnt through it trying to uncover the mystery. It’s a story full of secrets, lies, tested friendships and betrayals. A great debut and an author I will look out for in the future.

Many thanks to @netgalley #rbmedia for an early ALC - Full cast of narrators made this audiobook an amazing experience.

I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 because I think this could be enjoyed by newer thriller readers who are less likely to see everything coming.

The main problem was that the Cass and Brooke PoVs read the same and it was hard to tell them apart.

Another is that both of them are constantly saying, "No one can know my deep dark secret",for two thirds of the book which was super annoying and not that satisfying when they were eventually revealed.

Lastly, I found all the twists, including the final reveal, predictable. (view spoiler) There was also a lot of extended monologuing during these reveals.

Kept me on edge and guessing up until the very end. Very fun and very well written book. Highly recommend. Thanks NetGalley!

Koh Sang, a small island off the coast of Thailand were so many expats go to disappear and enjoy scuba diving and island life. Brooke, a social influencer arrives and meets Cass who is the dive instructor who has been living there the last three years. The description of the Island sounds so beautiful.

Brooke hears about a young woman who died from a fall off the coast but was it really a fall? Soon it is not just one, not just two, but three are dead. The reader is constantly trying to figure out what is going on and who is behind it but the author uses a lot of worn out tropes like the drunken or drugged person who isn't sure what happened, and the mentally ill who you can't be sure what he is saying is true or not.

By the last third of the audiobook, it got very exciting and when you think it is all resolved, there is the epilogue! A bit creepy and a bit over the top! Overall, an entertaining story to listen to.

My thanks to Net Galley and Recorded Books for an advanced copy of this audio book.

I received an ARC of the audiobook. I really enjoyed this story. The twists kept coming. I thought I had it figured out but I did not! Without giving spoilers, I will say I love books that are written like this, with twists up until the very end. It's definitely worth reading until the very very end. And now I really want to travel to Thailand (regardless of what happened in the book)

"The Resort" by Sara Ochs
NetGalley ARC.
Format - Audiobook.
Expected publication date: 13 Feb 2024

In Sara Ochs' gripping novel "The Resort," the narrative unfolds through alternating chapters featuring Cass, a scuba diving instructor with a mysterious past, and Brooke, a vacationing social media influencer entangled with the enigmatic group known as the Permanents. As both women conceal secrets and harbour suspicions, their compelling characters lead the reader through a maze of intrigue.

The plot swiftly unravels, exposing a tapestry of secrets and lies as Cass and Brooke attempt to escape their haunting pasts. Against the backdrop of a resort plagued by unexplained deaths, the two protagonists join forces to unravel the mysteries that shroud the island. The narrative is a captivating mystery, with a well-executed twist at the end that took me by surprise.

For enthusiasts of thrillers rich in secrets, friendships, mysteries, lies, and intrigue, "The Resort" is a must-read. The unpredictable twists and turns transform the reading experience into an exhilarating journey. The final revelation is nothing short of astonishing, leaving readers in awe.

Choosing the audiobook version proved to be a wise decision, with narrators Miranda Raison, Dakota Blue Richards, Joe Jameson, and Pema Monaghan delivering an outstanding performance that truly brought the story to life. I recommend listening at 1.75x speed for an enhanced pace, although this may vary based on personal preference.

In conclusion, "The Resort" is highly recommended for readers who relish suspenseful island thrillers with a compelling whodunit mystery intricately woven with the dark secrets of the past.

I am grateful to Netgalley, RB Media-Recorded Books, for providing an audiobook copy of "The Resort by Sara Ochs" in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this - felt like I was on the island myself.
Having been to Thailand, it was easier to picture it and made me think of all of the documentaries about killings in SE Asia that have happened.
I could see this as a film.
I didn't see the last twist coming, but enjoyed the story, and the different mini stories going off it.
I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrator.

I could not get into this book. The Dual female POV were confusing as they were so similar. I struggled to get through it, but the twists were awesome. I loved the location of a remote island in Thailand as well as the scuba diving aspect. I feel those made this story unique. It was hard to like a lot of these characters. I did think the narrators did a great job telling the story and listening to the audio helped me get through the slow parts.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for my ALC of this story.

The Koh Sang Resort in Thailand boast beautiful beaches, exotic views and secretive staff. Cass has been hiding from her past and working as a dive instructor at the resort. She has recently gotten engaged to Logan, a bar owner, and prays he never finds out what truly happened to her back in the States. Logan has secrets of his own that he wouldn't want Cass to find out. It seems that most of the staff are running from something and have ended up at the resort to hide.
Brooke is an influencer with her own agenda. She befriends Cass with an eye on getting revenge for her past trauma. When a young lady named Lucy shows up and starts asking questions about an accidental death, the staff close ranks. But Lucy ends up dead and the police rule it another accident. But Cass and Brooke are determined to figure out exactly what is going on. Even if they have to reveal their own secrets.
I'd like to add that the epilogue blows up the tidiness of the ending. ;)

*Special thanks to NetGalley and RB Digital for this audio e-arc.*

The idea of people going to a resort for a celebration of some kind has become a common trope in thrillers lately and gotta say. Kindof sick of it. While this book was interesting enough, it didn't add anything to the genre. Easy read for when you want something quick and snappy.

Thank you, Netgalley for this audiobook 🙌 This book transports listeners to a tropical Thai island, what a delightful escape. The lush setting adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the suspenseful narrative, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a virtual vacation (or for you mood readers, bring this book on your real Thai vacation!)

Narrated with finesse, the audiobook captures the essence of the landscape and its mysterious atmosphere, but no so much about the resort itself. The twists and turns keep you engaged, turning your listening experience into a thrilling island adventure.

This book is a recommended pick for those craving a brief, suspenseful getaway set against the backdrop of a captivating Thai paradise.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Resort by Sara Ochs, an audiobook narrated by Miranda Raison, Dakota Blue Richards, Joe Jameson, and Pema Monaghan is an absolute madhouse! It's deadly and twisty and there is so much going on! I even don't know where to start!
It started slowly and for some time I wasn't really sure how much I liked it but then things turned around and BAM, BAM, BAM! Oh well, I gasped and gasped, and the epilog... I was holding my breath with and without realizing it!

I absolutely enjoyed that there were multiple narrators as was so easy to follow characters, reading was emotional and full of expression.

Koh Sang Resort looks like a perfect place to restart your life, leave everything behind, and be a new you! Problems start when there are too many escapers with dark and deadly dangerous secrets! You can't trust no one, not even yourself! People dying, police closing their eyes, money and power dictate rules and no one is safe anymore! It is too late to run so you must face danger and hope that you will survive!

I absolutely developed an interest in Sara Ochs other books!

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media, Recorded Books for this copy!