Our Last Resort follows Frida and Gabriel, who grew up like siblings in a cult even though they are not related by blood. They escaped years ago, but life pulled them in different directions. When a book deal about their past comes up, they agree to meet at a fancy hotel in Escalante, Utah called the Ara Hotel.

Frida wants to finally have a real conversation with Gabriel, but it is frustrating because he is often missing or claiming headaches, making it impossible to get through to him.

Then one night, Frida overhears a tense argument between a young, beautiful woman and her wealthy, powerful husband. The next day, the woman is found dead and Gabriel becomes the prime suspect. This is not the first time he has been under suspicion and as the story jumps between past and present, dark secrets from their cult days start coming to light.
This book is full of twists, lies, and unexpected turns that keep you guessing until the very end. If you are into cult dramas with complicated characters and a suspenseful plot, Our Last Resort is definitely worth checking out.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers!

Frida and her "brother" Gabriel grew up in a cult that they escaped together. They remained close as the slowly learned how to integrate into life outside of the cult until Gabriel's wife was found dead and Gabriel accused of the murder. He moved away and they have not really kept in touch. Due to circumstances surrounding the leader of the cult they grew up in and what happened to expose the cult and bring it down, Frida and Gabriel find themselves at a luxury resort to potentially discuss those events for a documentary. Before anything even gets started, a hotel guest is found murdered. Immediately, her husband is suspected and arrested, but attention soon turns to Gabriel, which is shocking to Frida because as far as she knows, he doesn't even know her.

The story is told from Frida's POV in the past as they grew up in the cult until events meet up with present day. Frida knows Gabriel and does not believe him guilty of any crime. They share a deep bond and an even deeper secret. As she begins her own quest to prove Gabriel's innocence, she realizes she may not know him as well as she thought.

The story is decent, but drags in the buildup. The ultimate reveal is satisfying so worth it to continue to the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Actually 3.5⭐️ but I rounded up.

I've been trying to branch into more genres outside of my usual romance and sometimes fantasy and this was not a bad read.

I will recommend this to certain friends.

I love The Quiet Tenant so much so maybe I had unrealistically high expectations for this one. It was fine. A pretty standard thriller. Nothing special or memorable about it for me. It wasn't bad but it certainly wasn't as gripping and compelling as The Quiet Tenant.

Dnf'd at about 26%. LOVED The Quiet Tenant and hoped this would be as gripping. This was more of a literary thriller focused on the characters, which isnt my jam. She is a great writer and I'll read future offerings, but this one just 2asnt for me. Again, nothing against the book or author, just a personal style preference.

This might be the most disappointing book I’ve read in 2025. Clemence Michallon wrote The Quiet Tenant, one of my most favorite books of all time, so I had very high hopes for this book. I wouldn’t necessarily say that this book is bad but it’s just a run of the mill thriller with a cliched cult storyline (cults have been done 1000 times, if you don’t have an interesting take, at this point don’t bother) and there aren’t really any interesting plot lines, characters or twists. The one twist that did exist was pretty predictable. I’m still looking forward to her next book but I can’t really wrap my head around why this book exists. A good audiobook narrated by the great Saskia Maarleveld helped this book move very quickly.
Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for an advanced copy of this book.

A beautifully written, slow-burning story with emotional depth and a strong sense of place. Thought-provoking and poignant -- an engaging read that lingers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor and Netgalley for this ARC. Frida and Gabriel are self appointed brother and sister, they bonded in a cult in the Hudson Valley at age 8 and broke free a decade later to an unknown world. Nine years later ; Frida - a day trader in NYC and Gabriel specialist in Roman history meet up in a upscale hotel and spa in Arizona to discuss participating in a documentary on the cult they grew up in. No sooner than they can even brooch the subject a high society wife is murdered on the grounds and since Gabriel has been suspect in his own wife's death all eyes seem to be on him and Frieda must help him. Written between two timelines of years in the cult and the present we unravel their lives. If you like a slow burn (as I do) you will love this book! Did not see the ultimate truth coming around the corner!

I don't generally love books with cults, but this was well done with a dual timeline that made it stay interesting and suspenseful. Overall I enjoyed this book and did not see the final twist coming, which is always a bonus.
Posted on Goodreads as well

I absolutely LOVED The Quiet Tenant so I was very anxiously awaiting this one. I ended up listening to the audiobook of it. I did enjoy it. I was not as enthralled and captivated as the previous book though.

3.5 stars rounded up.

At first glance, the Ara Hotel in the beautiful Utah desert promises its guests a luxurious desert escape filled with privacy and peace. Chosen siblings Frida and Gabriel, who were both born into a cult which they eventually managed to escape, check in hoping to reconnect after years of estrangement. However, they quickly find themselves entangled in a murder investigation, and for them the Ara soon becomes the setting for suspicion, secrets, and the surfacing of an inescapable past.

In "Our Last Resort", Clémence Michallon writes the story of two people bound by childhood trauma and loyalty. Told in dual timelines, the novel alternates between the siblings’ past - marked by isolation, indoctrination, and eventual flight - and their fraught present, where old wounds meet new dangers. The transitions are seamless, and Michallon makes smart use of cliffhangers to keep the pages turning. The past storyline, in particular, is deeply compelling, rich with emotional nuance and insight into what it truly means to leave a cult - not just physically, but psychologically.

However, while the setup suggests a suspenseful whodunnit, the mystery aspect of "Our Last Resort" ultimately feels undercooked. The procedural elements are barely sketched, and key developments arrive with little dramatic weight. The present-day timeline falls somewhat flat compared to its counterpart; most notably, the interactions between Frida and Gabriel at the Ara are frustrating. Their evasiveness, secrecy, and often baffling behavior undermine the emotional stakes, especially when clear communication could resolve - or at least clarify - much of the tension. It doesn't help that present-day Gabriel feels underdeveloped and at odds with his character in the past timeline. His motivations and interior life remain frustratingly opaque, making it hard to fully invest in the story’s central question: how well do we really know those we love?

Still, "Our Last Resort" succeeds as a slow-burn literary thriller more interested in trauma, identity, and the cost of love than in traditional detective work. The exploration of chosen family and the psychological costs of survival is well-done, and while the final reveals aren’t particularly shocking, they’re satisfying in their emotional resolution.

Michallon’s writing is often exquisite. Her prose balances restraint and lyricism, with moments of haunting introspection and striking imagery. Though some sentences are clipped, her control over tone and atmosphere is impressive.

While it never quite delivers on its mystery-driven premise, this is a beautifully written novel with a vivid setting, poignant themes, and a strong emotional core. Additional bonus points for the clever title.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf and NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Our Last Resort" was published on July 8, 2025.

My favorite kind of thrillers are ones that involve cults. They scare the crap out of me, but they are so much fun to read about! And I loved this one!

A murder in a resort leads to so many questions. After surviving a horrific childhood, Frida and Gabriel become involved in the investigation. This was a great domestic thriller with very twisty turns! While this is the first book I’ve read from the author, it definitely won’t be the last!

This book was suspenseful. The characters were well developed and the set up made for the perfect storyline. I’m not big on books about cults, but still found those sections fascinating. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

In Our Last Resort, siblings Frida and Gabriel meet at a resort in the Utah desert to reconnect. A few days into their vacation, a woman is found dead and we learn that Gabriel's wife is dead and he was the chief suspect. As the investigation carries on, there are flashbacks to their time growing up in a cult. With subjects like murder and cults, I was anticipating an exciting novel however found this one quite boring. I was not particularly interested in either timeline or main character and while I finished it, I was never drawn to pick it up. I finished this about a week ago and already have forgotten most of the details. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy. 2.5 stars, rounded up.

Clémence Michallon’s *Our Last Resort* is a captivating exploration of trauma and relationships, following her stunning debut, *The Quiet Tenant*, which literally blew me away and became one of my favorite books.

The story centers on Frida and Gabriel, who escaped a cult together fifteen years ago. As they reunite at a luxurious resort in Utah, their bond is tested when a young woman is murdered, forcing them to confront the secrets of their past.

Michallon expertly weaves dual timelines—one in the present during the investigation and the other revealing their childhood memories from growing up in a cult. This structure keeps readers engaged while gradually uncovering the complexities of their relationship and the cult's dark influence.

What sets *Our Last Resort* apart is its slow-burn approach. While it may not be fast-paced, the deliberate pacing builds tension and deepens emotional stakes. The balance between suspense and character exploration makes for an absorbing read.

As a fan of cult narratives, I found this novel particularly compelling. Michallon’s sensitive portrayal of the psychological impact of such experiences resonates deeply, leaving readers wanting more.

In summary, *Our Last Resort* is a remarkable follow-up that showcases Michallon’s talent for blending suspense with emotional depth. If you loved *The Quiet Tenant*, this haunting tale is a must-read, perfect for those who appreciate a well-crafted slow-burn thriller.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, NetGalley, and Clémence Michallon for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review—this book is available now!

Thank you so much to Knopf for the complimentary copy of this!

This book is out now!

I fell behind and missed reading The Quiet Tenant last 2 years ago (I know I know I have had time) which I know people have LOVED. So when the opportunity to read this one came around, I knew I had to grab it.

"Here's the truth about committing murder: There are no perfect crimes. Only lucky ones. Only a hundred cursed stars aligning just so."

I was not sure what I was expecting because just like most books I read, I did not read what it was about. I just saw the author's name and that was that. I don't know where my brain was because it probably took way longer than it should to pick up that our FMC Frida and her brother Gabriel came from a cult. This book is told from two timelines - the past and the present. The past we are taken back 25 years ago where Frida starts her life at the cult and then each flashback is a year closer to the present. Gabriel is not her actual brother but they bonded while being in the cult. In the past we see an insight into their lives at the cult and ultimately how they escaped. But ultimately how they escaped eats away at the two of them and is a constant cloud above them. Fast forward to the present Gabriel's wife was killed and he was absolved of her murder and never knew what actually happened to her. While Frida and Gabriel reconnected at a spa, a murder happens and all eyes are pointed at them.

I like how the author took these two timelines that you didn't think were going to connect but by the end ultimately kind of does. Some parts mostly in the past timeline felt like it dragged a little but I knew that it was important to the storyline. I love the bond between Frida and Gabriel. They were so loyal to one another until the end. They went through a lot in their youth and I am glad that they had one another and trusted one another to escape. There was one part of the story surrounding Gabriel that just felt a little unpolished. I cannot go further without giving too much away so I apologize for the vagueness.

Overall I was invested in the story and I don't want to say that I am surprised when the one reveal happened but the how and why is what I was more surprised by. If you like one location mystery, dual timelines and unreliable narrators then I would give this one a read!

Frida and her brother Gabriel are taking a vacation at a swanky resort when another guest turns up dead. Suspicion quickly passes from the victim’s husband to Gabriel, whose own wife died under suspicious circumstances years before. The investigation threatens to reveal Frida and Gabriel’s secrets from their childhood in a cult. What lengths will they go to to protect each other?

Frida’s cult flashbacks were much more interesting to me than what was going on at the resort in the wake of Sabrina’s death. As Frida shares the back story, things start to neatly fall into place. The big twist was a little bit of a let down for me; I was hoping for something less obvious to happen. I enjoyed the main timeline’s setting at the Utah desert resort - it seemed like a great metaphor for the relentless environment in which Frida and Gabriel were raised.

Read if you like cults, dual timelines (but a single narrator, thank goodness) and murder mysteries.

3.5 stars

At the captivating Ara Hotel in the remote Utah desert, a young woman is found dead, sparking an investigation among the hotel guests. Siblings Frida and Gabriel are there to reconnect after a long estrangement, but they soon become involved in the murder. Did Gabriel, accused of killing his wife a decade ago, commit this murder? Can Frida save them once again?

Michallon's debut novel, The Quiet Tenant, was a gripping, slow-burning psychological thriller. Our Last Resort leans more toward a murder mystery. Once you look past that, Resort is well-written, featuring several mysteries—current murder, Annie's murder, and the events of their youth at an upstate NY cult. How are they connected? How far would you go to protect those you love?

Advanced reader copy provided by Knopf. All opinions are my own.

Frida and Gabriel escaped a cult together fifteen years ago. They considered themselves brother and sister and had an unbreakable bond for many years. But not yet revealed events tore them apart, and they are now reuniting at a fancy resort in Utah. But the reunion has barely begun before a young woman is murdered. This will make fissures in their relationship resurface as we slowly understand the backstory.

I enjoyed the cult element in this story. I came of age in the era when there were a lot of dramatic cult stories: Waco, Jonestown. I found the description of life in the cult to be immersive and not too sensationalized. I liked the present day relationship between Frida and Gabriel. Michallon is a great writer and she made both these characters come to life for me. She is good at creating sympathy for her main characters.

The description of the Utah resort really put me in the scene. She didn't concentrate too much on the peripheral characters, other than the victim's husband, but for me that just kept the spotlight on Frida and Gabriel and the unfolding story.

This book is very different in storyline from The Quiet Tenant, which I also very much enjoyed. But where Michellon shines for me is immersing me in the world of the characters, which Our Last Resort also did.

Thank you to NetGalley, Clemence Michallon, and Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.