Tense chilling a true page turner..Clemence Michallons writing drew me in from the first pages the throwback to the cult the mystery quite a read.#NetGalley #knopf

After absolutely loving Clémence Michallon’s debut, I was eager to get my hands on this one. I loved the two settings of this novel: the compound and the resort. I wish we got to “be” at the resort a bit longer to soak it in, but I did appreciate being swiftly dropped into the action. I was thoroughly intrigued by the flashbacks to the cult compound and could’ve happily read a book based on this alone. This was a quick, propulsive read but had the elegant prose not typically found in a fast-paced thriller which is my favorite kind of read. The ending felt a little too swift and clean, but overall, another wonderful read!

Frida and Gabriel are uniquely bonded by their childhood experience and escape from a sheltered cult. This tells the story of how they met within the cult, how they survived, their escape, adjusting to the adulthood in the Real World, and presently, their reconnection at a vacation resort. They are bonded by their early trauma, but Frida starts to question how well she still knows Gabriel when a woman is murdered at the resort. They have always told each other everything, so why is he hiding things now?

Unique writing style with short sentences that frequently end by trailing off. It embodies a true psychological suspense through Frida’s inner thoughts. Real thoughts are jumbled. They move faster than our mouths could possibly communicate. They are raw and honest before they filter through our tongues. I felt like I was walking in her shoes the entire book as she battled with trauma, grief, guilt, and so much more. I enjoyed reading from beginning to end.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jul 08 2025

I loved The Quiet Tenant so was excited to dig in to Our Last Resort. I thought the concept was great -- a cult, family secrets, a murder at a resort -- but it wasn't as strong in the execution. There was one good gasp-worthy reveal that I didn't see coming. Overall, I'm glad I read this but it will not be memorable for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

OUR LAST RESORT by Clemence Michelin
ARC review • pub date 07.08.25

I was a big fan of The Quiet Tenant so I requested this one as soon as I saw it was available!
This book is a dual timeline that follows siblings, Gabriel and Frida - from when they’re in a cult, and after they’ve escaped. Not long after they get out of the cult for a fresh start, Gabriel becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. The investigation brings back terrible memories for Frida and makes her wonder how well she truly knows her brother - because this isn’t the first time he’s been a prime suspect.

Perfect for fans of cult thrillers! The super short chapters kept my attention and made me fly through the book. If you loved her first book you will for sure enjoy this one too.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for my ARC

In this psychological thriller, Frida faces a haunting dilemma when her brother Gabriel is accused of murder—again. Seeking a fresh start after surviving a traumatic upbringing in a cult, the siblings retreat to a luxurious yet isolated hotel in Utah. Their hope for healing is shattered when a young woman at the resort is found dead, and Gabriel becomes a prime suspect.

As the resort goes into lockdown, the secluded setting triggers memories of their cult experience and the dramatic escape they made 15 years ago. With tensions rising and secrets resurfacing, Frida begins to question everything she believed about Gabriel’s past and his innocence.

The novel slowly builds in pace, initially focusing on the siblings’ trauma and cult life, before diving deeper into the present-day mystery. It blends psychological suspense with an atmospheric, isolated setting and an exploration of how past trauma shapes perception and trust. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you @ClemenceMichallon, @KnopfPantheonVintageAnchor, @Knopf and @NetGalley for a free e-ARC. The opinions are mine alone and not biased in any way.

I loved this book! The Quiet Tenant was just okay for me but I could not put this one down. I thought the cult flashbacks were so well done and the murder mystery on top of it just kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book... hmm... I wanted to love it but for whatever reason it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

What I did love was Frida and Gabriel's storyline of their past, how they rose to overcome it, and following the mystery to find out who would be revealed as the killer. I honestly could have used more of the background on Frida and Gabriel- it was a captivating part of the book for me.

I also enjoyed the alternating perspectives that pushed the book along. Ultimately, this is a good novel, but didn't strike into the "great" category for me personally. I had heard only good things about the author before reading this, so I definitely feel disappointed to have not fallen in love with this one.

I would absolutely consider reading additional novels of this author in the future.

Frida and her brother, Gabriel, used to vacation together every year. However, it's been a few years since they have, but she's managed to talk him into another trip. They are in hot Utah, to hike, lounge by the pool and relax. These 2 have a complicated past and, now that a few years without talking much have passed, Frida isn't sure where her brother's head is at.

First, they grew up in a cult. There are flashback chapters that give their backstory, just about every other chapter, and it details out their tough childhood, their shared trust in each other, and their escape from the cult. Also, years ago, Gabriel's wife went missing and then was found dead. He was presumed to have done it, raked over the coals in the press and a person of interest with the police.

Now, just days into their vacation, after Frida sees a husband and wife fight, the wife is found dead.
I did like the mystery and found the beginning really easy and fast to read. But somewhere in the middle, the flashbacks started to feel repetitive and the story slowed way down. I pushed through and was rewarded with an interesting conclusion that pulled it all together.

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.

The Quiet Tenant was a 5-star read for me so I'm so bummed that Our Last Resort didn't work for me. All the ingredients are there - escaping a cult, family secrets, a shocking murder - but they never added up. Most of the book was slow-going with little forward momentum and Frida was just not compelling as a narrator. Sadly, a letdown for me.

Frida and Gabriel, who grew up in a cult, are on vacation reconnecting after years of estrangement. Within days, a body is discovered in the early hours of the morning, bringing upon an investigation and the unneeded attention on the past lives of Gabriel and Frida. Told in past and present timelines, we are thrown into the events of the past that should have stayed hidden.

This author has a unique style of writing, and whether the reader likes it or not, you can't deny the talent that lies in their words. While it is written in a completely different style than The Quiet Tenant, it is still distinct. This was a slow-paced story, not just of murder but of past trauma and the effects it can have. It was more an exploration of the lives of two individuals who have survived the horrors of a cult and, to this day, are still attempting to come to terms with it. Do not go into this one expecting the likeness of this author's previous work. This one is its own story and a great one at that. Four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this ARC.

Did he or didn't he? That is Frida's predicament when her brother Gabriel is accused of murder,again! History seems to be repeating itself and she needs to uncover what really happened 15 years ago and how it relates to what's going on now.

Frida and Gabriel arrive at the luxurious Ara Hotel in the secluded desert of Escalante, Utah, looking for a fresh start after surviving a cult growing up. They're hoping some time away at the luxe resort will bring them back together like they used to be, finishing each others sentences, and in tune with each others thoughts. That is, until a beautiful young woman who was there with her much older, powerful husband turns up dead.

When the local police put the resort on lockdown while they investigate, Gabriel and Frida are reminded of their upbringing in a secluded cult in upstate New York — not to mention their dramatic escape from the charismatic leader's clutches 15 years earlier that they had always thought bonded them for life. As Frida and Gabriel revisit their past, suspicion mounts, secrets unravel, and the past echoes ominously into the present.

The author does a good job creating a isolated vibe with the luxury hotel in the middle of the desert as all the guests are kept on lockdown until the police solve the case. This gives Frida more time to think about what really happened 15 years ago. She always thought her brother was innocent, but now as the evidence mounts against him, she's not so sure.

The pace of the book starts out slow, then picks up once you hit the halfway mark. It does focus more on the trauma the siblings experienced in the cult, rather than the murder case, then gets back to the events at hand. There's lots of interesting details about how cults operate and the whole culture behind it.

Did not read. Have way too many books on my shelf - need to cut back. Hoping to get to it in the future though.

Rate: 3.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 7/8
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I am an odd man out when it comes to Clemence Michallon books. The Quiet Tenant was interesting for me, but it wasn't anything that blew me away. So when I saw that this one was coming out, I knew I needed to give Michallon another go.
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I didn't hate this book, but it also was not something that knocked me off my feet... I think that this was a slow burn to the max, it took me a while to really get into the story and to really piece the characters and the situation together. Once I managed to get the flow of the story, I began to like it more. This is told in a dual timeline, and I personally enjoyed the mystery of who Frida and Gabriel are / were and their past rather than the death that occurred in their present. I loved the cult aspect, though I would have loved a bit more detail into that whole situation.
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While this is supposed to be a thriller. I feel like this is a deep dive into trauma; into these two main characters bond from childhood trauma and their connection to one another to want to help each other in any way possible.
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Overall, I may be throwing in the towel with this author, but let's be real, I would probably continue to torture myself. I feel like the author creates atmospheric reads but nothing truly groundbreaking sooooo I don't think that she is for me, which is totally okay. I am most definitely an outlier, I liked it, I didn't love it, but i know that there are going to be some amazing reviews on this one!

NO SPOILERS
Our Last Resort
By Clémence Michallon
Pub Date: Jul 08 2025
Archive Date: Aug 07 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This book was gripping and intense and has a great storyline, different from what I’ve read. It alternates between two different time periods and two different locations.

Gabriel and Frida grew up living in a cult in upstate NY. They had no experience of the real world outside their cult's compound. They were both kids who were being raised by "mothers"; not knowing who their biological mother was. They weren't biologically brother and sister, but that's how they viewed one another.

Growing up in a cult can shape many things about your life.. The brainwashing that must go on is mind-boggling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

This one took me a minute to get into but once I got used to the author’s writing style I was hooked. The pace picked up and I couldn’t put it down. Intriguing characters and unexpected twists kept me turning the pages. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced reader copy.

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon was a pretty gripping read. The story pulled me in with its mix of suspense and emotional depth. What I really liked was how the characters felt real and layered. You could tell there was more going on beneath the surface, which kept me hooked.

The pacing was just right, not too fast but enough to keep the tension alive. Michallon does a good job of balancing the mystery with the personal struggles of the characters, which made the whole thing feel grounded. I found myself caring about what happened next and the choices they had to make.

Interesting thriller about a woman who grew up in a cult and her "brother" who grew up along side her. We get flashbacks from their cult days as we also get glimpses of current day, when the resort where her and her brother are reuniting at had a guest die in mysterious circumstances. As the attention gets shined on her brother as a suspect, we get more of their backstory. It was a fun thriller, and the writing is great, which makes it an easy read. It only suffers in comparison to the author's last book for me.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun, easy to read thriller with a unique added cult storyline. Some of it felt a little predictable but overall it was a fun ride and would make a great pool read this summer.

I wanted to read this after reading this author's last book and it was a total surprise when the writing style is totally different. It felt sloggish and the characters were not as complex. Maybe it was me but it seemed like a completely different author.