Our Last Resort
by Clemence Michallon
Pub Date: July 8, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From the bestselling author of The Quiet Tenant comes a propulsive new thriller: Fifteen years ago, Frida and her brother escaped a cult. Now her brother is the prime suspect in a murder investigation—and it isn’t the first time.
I really enjoyed The Quiet Tenant and was so excited to receive this ARC but this book wasn’t for me. I felt like there wasn’t much to the story and it dragged on. I didn’t find it very thrilling or had any twists. I also found it hard to connect with the characters. I believe many others would enjoy this book even though it wasn’t for me.

This novel following Frida and Gabriel, siblings who seek to reconnect at a luxurious hotel after a past trauma. Their attempt at reconciliation is shattered when a murder occurs, forcing them to confront a dark past involving a cult and their escape, while grappling with mounting evidence against Gabriel. The story unfolds in alternating timelines, revealing the complex dynamics of their relationship and the secrets they carry.

So i was very excited about this book However, it fell very flat for me. I couldn't connect to either character but the MMC was super annoying. The 2 timelines were good except I really wish they dove into the cult more then they did. That side of the story really was interesting and pulled at your heartstrings. The story line at the resort was honestly pretty boring. The twist was pretty predictable and honestly not that thriller like. This was the first book ive read from this author and i do want to give her another chance.

3 ⭐️
Expected publication date - July 8, 2025

WHAT I LOVED - Hearing about life in a cult and how 2 kids found each other and coped and grew together.

WHAT I LIKED - There were some unexpected twists. It was a quick, page turning read.

WHAT I DISLIKED - I didn't necessarily dislike anything, but I felt like something was missing.

WOULD I RECOMMEND? Yes. It was a quick book, with enough mystery to keep you guessing.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

Clémence Michallon’s Our Last Resort is a compelling blend of psychological suspense and emotional depth. The story follows Frida and Gabriel, siblings who escaped a cult in their youth, as they reunite at the luxurious Ara Hotel in Utah. Their attempt to reconnect is disrupted when a fellow guest is found murdered, and Gabriel becomes a prime suspect. ​

The narrative alternates between past and present, gradually revealing the siblings' traumatic history and the complexities of their relationship. Michallon masterfully builds tension, with each chapter peeling back layers of secrets and mistrust. The desert setting adds to the novel's atmospheric quality, creating a sense of isolation and unease. ​

While the pacing is generally brisk, some readers might find the middle section slightly uneven. However, the intricate plot and well-developed characters make up for this minor flaw. The novel's climax is both shocking and emotionally resonant, leaving a lasting impression. ​


Our Last Resort is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers that delve into complex family dynamics and the lingering effects of past traumas.​

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Resort - Clémence Michallon
Pub Date - 7/8/25
Rating - 3/5
Trigger Warning(s) - Sexual Assault, Cult
Thoughts - Thank you Netgalley and Knopf Publishing for the gifted advanced ereader copy in exchange for my honest review. I really liked The Quiet Tenant, so was really excited to read another Clémence Michallon book. The story centers around Frida and Gabriel who are trying to rekindle their sibling relationship at a secluded hotel in Utah when someone is found dead in the room next door. We follow Frida and Gabriel as go between past and present, giving a glimpse of the horrors how they grew up, and what really happened to the murder victim in the present.

What I liked:
- It was extremely fast paced. I was able to finish the book in less than 24 hours.
- The description of the cult and what went on sent CHILLS down my spine - the descriptions were spot on.
- Relationship between Frida and Gabriel was really well done

What I didn't like:
- While it was a well told story, there was no....shocker in it. The plot leads you to the killer and the other twist is also easily predictable. I wish there was more to it - it ended very neatly tied up in a bow. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop....but it didn't

3.5 rounded up. I liked this one... however, I was not fully into it. There are 2 time periods that take place throughout the book. Past and Present. I will be fully honest... I think I would have much rather read the book about their past and the cult than the murder mystery... The who done it's aren't really doing it for me especially when they are easily predicted.

It was a quick read, and there were some good spots that kept me intrigued. Overall, I did like it! Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the advanced reader copy for review.

Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon
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Frida is on vacation with her brother Gabriel at a resort when a guest is murdered. When the cops start looking at Gabriel as a person of interest it is concerning as this isn’t the first time he has been considered a murder suspect.
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What I liked:
-There was a great suspicious vibe to the whole book. In my mind I was reading with a dubious squint the entire time.
-The back story chapters were very engrossing, I flew through those like they were a train wreck that I couldn’t look away from.
-I found myself liking both Frida and Gabriel. I feel like they had a good relationship with each other.
-I liked how it ended.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don’t know if I liked this story more than The Quiet Tennant, but it’s possible I did.

I absolutely loved Clémence Michallon’s first novel, The Quiet Tenant, so I was thrilled to get early access to Our Last Resort. Once again, she delivers a gripping and original story. While cult thrillers are a popular genre, Michallon truly makes this one stand out with a unique plot and strong, atmospheric writing.

The twist completely caught me off guard — I didn’t see it coming at all, which made the reading experience even more exciting. While there were a few moments that felt a bit unbelievable, they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. Michallon has a real gift for building tension and creating characters that stay with you long after you finish the book. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

This was such a beautifully written book. I liked the flashbacks in the book, it really helped tell the story. I never would have expected the end! I really enjoyed the suspense of the novel, I had to keep reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. I would highly recommend it!

I was sucked into this book. I love a good psychological thriller. It was so engaging, and I was sucked onto the backstory of this book. This book was told with both a present and past tense but there was a clear picture between both timelines. I was able to get a clear picture of the two MCs growing up in a cult and how that shaped them and their future.

It was an all-around great read.

Please check some trigger warnings: if you are not a fan of books that have cults or child SA (off page) Domestic Violence, this book may not be for you.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will start this review by saying that "The Quiet Tenant" was one of my favorite books I read last year. Kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. So I went into "Our Last Resort" (thank you NetGalley and Knopf!) with high expectations.

And they were met.

A "couple" is visiting a beautiful resort in the Utah desert. And of course, there's a murder.

If Mike White set "White Lotus" in the desert it would have definitely been here. Had a very similar set of characters - wealthy, romantic, confused...

Turns out our "couple" , Frida and Gabriel are not a couple. They actually state that they are "brother and sister" - but we soon find out they are not. They were actually both born and raised in a cult in upstate New York.

The flashbacks to their time in the cult are fascinating and highly realistic. You've seen it before: charismatic leader, concubines, etc. But the descriptions of this cult are extremely realistic. It's a business, it's a school, it's a religion. You can see why people join these groups... but also why they flee.

Of course there are a multitude of secrets. And twists and turns galore. A coyote even comes into play.

Like White Lotus, no secrets are safe, and they all come out in the end. Highly recommend and look forward to Michallon's next book!

Thank you @netgalley @aaknopf #partner for the gifted copy of this eARC.

I LOVED The Quiet Tenant so when I saw Our Last Resort I jumped at the chance to read it. I am happy to report this one is another winner! I loved The Quiet Tenant because that one literally scared the bejesus out of me and this one although different, still was engaged and was more of a slow burn mystery! I think my favorite part of this book was the brother and sister relationship and their loyalty towards each other having escaped a cult and all when they were younger. Seems like that’ll do it to create that unbreakable bond! 😝 Even though they had grown apart a bit when they were older, I still really appreciated their original roots. I love how Clémence created tension and suspicion using two timelines of past and present because it helped paint the picture of why the characters were the way that they were. The storytelling is a great and although I had an inkling of who was behind the mystery it didn’t spoil the book for me at all. I highly recommend this book for any mystery and cult lovers out there!

I unfortunately didn’t vibe with this one as much as The Quiet Tenant, there were certain aspects that just didn’t work for me. But it had an interesting back story and kept me invested the whole time, and I will definitely read more from her in the future. Thanks to the publisher and @netgalley for the digital arc - out July 8th!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy! I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Our Last Resort is a murder mystery that leaves you breathless til the end. There are many twists and turns.
Frieda and Gabriel grew up like brother and sister in a cult. He was a suspect in the murder of his first wife but was ultimately cleared.
Having grown apart over the years they go to a resort to rekindle their friendship. A woman is killed at this resort and many secrets come out
You won’t be disappointed if you like a suspenseful mystery

This book had some many interesting elements to it. Cults, innocence, growing up, murder, complicated feelings, chosen family and morality. It definitely kept me reading, as I wanted to find out what happens next, unfortunately I was able to predict the main plot and most of the ending. That didn’t stop me from reading it though. Good sophomore book.

3.5⭐️
I was obsessed with her previous thriller, and was so intrigued by the ~culty~ presence in this one, so I knew I had to read this one asap!

I liked it, but i wasn’t itching to pick it up (which I want in a thriller!!)
- There is a past and present timeline. Past is the cult, present is the murder investigation at resort
- I enjoyed the cult chapters more. That’s just always a fascinating theme to me!!
- the present chapters didn’t have as much action as I was looking for
- the last chunk was quick as the final events unfolded! I did guess the twist, but still enjoyed reading
- I feel like there could have been more drama with some of the side characters at the hotel?? There wasn’t much done with them, even though there were some interesting characters described

This book definitely gave off murder mystery vibes. The cult connection also gave it an interesting perspective. Overall I feel this one just fell a bit short for me, I wasn’t super excited to pick it up after getting into it. This may be a favorite for someone else though, so don’t be scared to give it a chance!

Thank you to NetGalley, Clemence Michallon, and Knopf for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Our Last Resort is a fun, light mystery, perfect for long summer days at the beach or by the pool. The book doesn't demand too much from its readers other than going along for the ride. The cult background of characters Frida and Gabriel is interesting, their bond believable. Anyone looking for an easy escape need look no further than this quick mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

(3.5/5 stars)
Our Last Resort is a slow-burning psychological thriller that blends the glossy allure of a luxury desert resort with the eerie undercurrent of cult trauma and buried secrets. It’s atmospheric, well-paced, and often unsettling—but not without its bumps.

The alternating timelines were a strong structural choice, gradually peeling back layers of Frida and Gabriel’s dark past. The cult background adds real intrigue, offering emotional weight and nuance to the present-day mystery. But while the premise is rich, some character dynamics—especially Frida and Gabriel’s—felt a little underdeveloped. Their emotional connection was meant to be the heart of the story, but I found myself wanting just a bit more depth to really feel their unraveling.

That said, the mystery is engaging and well-executed. The desert setting adds a cinematic isolation, and the tension around the murdered guest never fully lets up. The final reveal is satisfying, if a little predictable.

Overall, Our Last Resort is compelling and thoughtful, just not quite as sharp or emotionally resonant as it could’ve been. Still, a solid, enjoyable read for fans of slow-burn suspense with a cultish twist.