I dropped everything I was doing the second I was approved for this ARC and read this book in 2 days. I loved The Quiet Tenant so I was really looking forward to Ms. Michallon's second book.

I thought this book was a little bit slower but it got my interest quickly and I was excited to learn more about Frida's and Gabriel's story. It was written in two timelines - now and then, and the parts about both siblings living in a cult were very interesting to me.
I felt a little disappointed with the ending - it guess I just expected more of a jaw dropping twist and that didn't really happen for me.
Overall I still think this is a solid mystery/thriller that I highly recommend.

Thank you Knopf and the author for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So goof kept me wanting to turn the pages I am happy I was able to read this book it was a great page turner will I recommend yes I would

Fifteen years ago, Frida and her brother Gabriel escaped from a cult in upstate NY. Estranged for the last few years, they agree to a vacation at an upscale resort in Utah to discuss an upcoming documentary about the cult. But when a high-profile guest is murdered, suspicion falls on Gabriel, and their past may come back to haunt them. Our Last Resort is a melancholy tale of two lives- before and after the cult. Seamlessly told in dual timelines, we learn of their life in the cult and how those experiences have affected Frida and Gabriel since their escape, as well as how they deal with the police investigation in present time. Can Frida still trust Gabriel as intensely as she did when they were cult members? Or has the time apart changed them both? This was a great premise, and the author delivers with a tense, at times heart aching novel that will keep you spellbound. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from Knopf via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. The premise sounded fascinating, but the execution was a bit of a let down. It seemed like nothing much was happening, and I never really connected with the characters. Although the main twist was a surprise, instead of being pleasantly shocked, I just felt, "yeah, so?"

What did work: the vivid descriptions of the resort, Frida's concern for the injured coyote, the chapters about the past in the cult. I also think Ms. Michallon did well describing the various challenges & newness the characters faced when first leaving the cult (such as thinking a small store is huge and imposing, or not knowing how police investigations operate). That seemed quite believable and an aspect that I wouldn't have even thought of.

I read Michallon's debut novel The Quiet Tenant a few years ago and was very impressed by it. This set the bar pretty high for Our Last Resort and, unfortunately, I don't think that it reached that bar. For me, there were a couple of issues with this novel. First, it was very slow and simply not interesting. I had very little reason (if any) to care about the death of the woman at the resort, and since this is essentially how the novel begins, it was tough to fully engage. This book has two distinct storylines, and neither were very riveting. If I had to choose one, it would be the "past" storyline with Frida and Gabriel at the cult, but even this felt overdone and unoriginal. Lastly, the "twist" in this book was so obvious. I'm assuming we were supposed to be surprised, but I couldn't have been less surprised if you paid me. Unfortunately, there is really nothing redeeming about this novel, and I think it will be one I quickly forget.

Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon takes the reader to a luxurious hotel in Utah. Frida and her brother Gabriel need a much due break and the Ara Hotel seems like the perfect place! That is until one guest is found murdered at the secluded resort. Suspicion falls on Gabriel and Frida knows only she can clear her brother’s name. But issues from their past seem to be rearing up again—even at this isolated oasis.

Thank you @aaknopf and @netgalley for this ARC ❤️

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.

Like many readers, I absolutely LOVED The Quiet Tenant. It’s always nerve-wracking picking up a sophomore novel after loving the first. I have to say that I enjoyed this one! While it wasn’t as fast paced and memorable as The Quiet Tenant, I thought it was well written and it held my attention the whole way through.

Read if you enjoy:
*Dual timelines
*Cult life
*Twisted family bonds
*Atmosperic desert setting

⭐️ 4/5

This was a good read but it didn’t trick me in ways that I was hoping, as I was able to see the plot twist coming. I would recommend the book to others for sure, but it just wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.
Thank you for the opportunity to read in advance

What a BOOK!! I was not expecting to feel the feels but here we are! I went into this as blind as I could & was so pleasantly surprised this had a cult aspect (a personal favorite). The characters were so flushed out, their stories were so heartbreaking & I found myself rooting for Gabriel & Frida the entire time.
The hotel murder wasn’t too big of a shock but I still enjoyed the ins & outs. Overall I LOVED this books so much & can’t wait for others to read it!

Our Last Resort is the new thriller by Clémence Michallon, author of The Quiet Tenant. I absolutely loved The Quiet Tenant so getting my hands on this new story was super exciting for me.

The story is told in two timelines—then and now. Then is when our two main characters, Frida and Gabriel, are living in a cult led by a charismatic man named Emile. This story line was very interesting to me and I could have read an entire book on it alone. But this story shifts every chapter or two to a “now” timeline when Frida and Gabriel, now out of the cult, are reconnecting after a while apart.

The hotel stay turns into a whodunnit once a famous Hollywood wife staying at the hotel dies and not only stirs up old memories for the two main characters but also puts them in the spotlight as persons of interest.

I figured out what was happening pretty early on. That’s not to say that I didn’t or couldn’t enjoy it but I kind of felt like it took the story a long time to get where I already knew it was going. I think people who love traditional thrillers will enjoy this book. I was hoping for something a little more off the beaten path like The Quiet Tenant.

I would absolutely recommend this for thriller lovers, it’s good. I just typically want something a little different from a formulaic thriller and this was a little on the nose for me.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Knopf, the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC for review.

Our Last Resort is a fabulous story about two people who escape from a cult and go on living their lives the best they can. I love how the author writes the past and the present so fluidly. She is able to take you back to the their life in the cult to help you understand exactly the things they have gone through and what drove them to leave. Their lives weren't always easy once outside the cult which leads them to this vacation destination. On their vacation to try to re-kindle their friendship/sibling love for each other there is a murder. Who committed this murder? Was it the husband? A lover? or the previous cult members? This book keeps you guessing until the very end and then surprises you as it is wrapped up! I give it a solid 4 stars!

3.5 ⭐️! Thank you to Clémence Michallon, Knopf/Pantheon/Vintage, & Anchor and Netgalley for the e-arc of Our Last Resort. A murder mystery thriller. This book flashes back and forth between past(cult) and present day (resort). Overall this book was good but it was a slow burn for me! This book publishes on 7/8/25!

I was so thankful to get the chance to read Our Last Resort. After loving The Quiet Tenant, I was really excited for this one—and it did not disappoint. This was such a fast-paced, easy read and totally had me turning the pages.

I loved the way it was written, jumping between past and present. It centered around two siblings who grew up in a cult, and even though they promised to tell each other everything, there are definitely some gaps in their stories. That tension really pulled me in.

There were twists and turns throughout, some I predicted, others caught me off guard, and I loved that balance. It kept me fully hooked from start to finish.

Huge thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Netgally for the ARC of Our Last Resort! As a huge fan of The Quiet Tenant, I had high expectations going into Clémence Michallon’s next book and it did not disappoint!! From the very first chapter, Michallon's writing pulls you in with its emotional depth and sense of quiet suspense. I loved the element of going between present time at the Resort, and the past time in the Cult. This story was unique and haunting in the best way and left me thinking about it long after I turned the last page.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting Our Last Resort after I loved The Quiet Tenant so much. As follow ups go, this was a damn good one. I loved the pacing, as the story goes on, you see the action ramp up, along with the consequences. I loved being unsettled by Gabriel and not quite sure where anyone stood. The cult plot line was so well done, seeing it from the child’s perspective then Frida growing into the adult side of it. The intensity throughout is where this book hooked me. I loved this!!

I really wanted to love this book, especially since I enjoyed The Quiet Tenant, but Our Last Resort just didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would. The idea sounded super interesting, a mix of cult stuff and a murder mystery at a resort, but the story didn’t pull me in.

The two timelines were kind of confusing, and I found myself way more into one than the other. Jumping back and forth made it hard to stay into the plot, and I ended up feeling kind of disconnected from the whole thing.

The characters didn’t do much for me either. I didn’t feel that attached to them, and even though a lot of dramatic stuff was happening, it didn’t really hit emotionally. It felt a little flat overall.

That said, the writing wasn’t bad, and there were a few parts I liked. It just didn’t grab me the way I wanted. Not terrible, just not for me. I still think this will be a 5⭐️ book for a lot of people!

I was so excited and thankful to receive this ARC!!! My favorite type of book. Fast paced for me and on the edge of your seat type of book! Loved it!!

After reading “The Quiet Tenant” last year and absolutely loving it, to say I was so excited for this book is an understatement!

12 years ago, Frida and her brother by circumstance, Gabriel, escaped a cult. In the years that followed their escape, they grew apart. In order to resolve that, they’re both spending some time at a fancy resort, hoping to reconnect while hiking and swimming. It is there that a body of a beautiful young woman shows up dead. All signs point to her much older husband being at fault, but when all of the guests are questioned, the police seem focused on Gabriel.

The story is told in two different timelines, the past (their life in the cloistered cult) and the present. While I felt this story was much different than her debut, I think many will enjoy the mystery aspect! It definitely kept me turning the pages and staying up way too late. Thank you so so much to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC, I literally screamed when I saw I was approved!!

This book was definitely interesting and page-turning, however I did enjoy the first book "A Quiet Tenant" by this author more. I was very invested in the beginning, thought it became slow in the middle, and was a bit predictable at the end. Not a top favorite thriller but one I would recommend if you like the author's first book. 4stars!

Our Last Resort, the sophomore novel by Clemence Michallon, is a very different tale from her best-selling, five-star debut, The Quiet Tenant. The standalone novel is original, compelling, and character driven. This reviewer is unfamiliar with cults and how to escape one, but Michallon does a great job taking readers on the perilous brother-sister journey to Frida and Gabriel's new life. Their freedom is hard won, and this reviewer rooted for them on every page. A recommended read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf
for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*