i thought i’d love this story since it revolves around a cult, which usually hooks me. unfortunately, it didn’t click. i got lost with the characters early on, and the plot seemed to jump around too much. there were also parts that felt unnecessary. overall, i’d give it 2 stars.

This is my second book by Michallon and it was a bit slow to start but then once it picked up it was very hard to put down!

This storyline had SO MUCH potential, but judt did not land for me. I love the premise of a cult. However, there are just too many pieces to this storyline that I felt were unecessary or forced. The ending was very predictable and just not as exciting or riveting as I thought it would be. I wish I loved this more.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read an early copy because I loved, The Quiet Tenant. I felt this book was a suspenseful thriller that had a unique twist, but was a little slow moving. The character development was great and I enjoyed the ending.

If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know that I lost my mind over The Quiet Tenant (still an A1 book on my list, btw!), so when I got my hands on an early copy of Our Last Resort, I basically screamed. And let me tell you—Clémence Michallon does not mess around.

This book flips between two timelines: a present-day murder at a fancy desert resort (drama!!), and a past wrapped up in a cult (absolute nightmare fuel). The cult chapters? Chilling. Disturbing. Unsettling in the best way. Michallon drops you right into that world, and it sticks. And as for the murder mystery, the way everything weaves together had me compulsively turning pages.

And then there’s the twist. Should I have seen it coming? Probably. Did I? Not even a little bit.

If you love a thriller that’s atmospheric, eerie, and impossible to put down, this one needs to be on your list. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC—this was a ride! Grab this one for your thriller book clubs on July 8!

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Thank you, NetGalley, and the publisher for the chance to read and review an early release of Our Last Resort.

I loved The Quiet Tenent so so much. This was an east choice to request on NetGalley for me. While I very much enjoyed this story, it felt wholly different from Ms. Michallon's freshman release.

Here, we follow Frida and her "brother" Gabriel in the aftermath of their escape from the cult they were raised in. While the story centers around a present-day murder that happens at the resort where they are staying after a years long separation from each other, there are also flashbacks to their past in the cult.

Gabriel has fled to Seattle to escape scrutiny after his wife's death left him guilty in the court of public opinion. Now reunited with Frida at the Ada resort, another young woman meets an untimely demise. Her much older, wealthy husband is Frida's suspect of choice, but the police may have a different idea.

As we learn about the pasts of these damaged souls, the truth of what happened at the resort is unraveled.

There were a couple small things in the writing at the beginning that I recall making me cringe slightly, but honestly, by the end I couldn't remember what they were, and for me, reading is just an escape from reality, so not anything that made this unworthy of a read and recommendation. I enjoyed this sophomore effort and will continue to read this author.

4.5🌟
Death seems to follow you everywhere…
Having been raised in a cult, it’s fair to say Frida and Gabriel had a different upbringing than most. Once breaking free of the cults’ grip they drifted apart, eventually living at opposite ends of the country from one another.

Now, a five-star luxury vacation is reuniting the two. But when a woman is killed at the resort, old secrets are about to bubble to the surface.

Told in both present and past timelines. We’re able to get a clear picture of the two characters growing up in the cult, and how that decisively shaped their future.

This was a griping, suspenseful read that maintained a hold on me from the start. I enjoyed both timelines equally and was thoroughly satisfied with the ending. An all-around great reading experience.

I absolutely loved Clemence Michallon’s debut novel The Quiet Tenant and was worried her follow up wouldn’t match that magic. (Always a big concern!) But this latest was just as thrilling. This author has now established herself as one of my go-to authors. Already looking forward to her next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor

Another knockout from Michallon! I really loved this one, and though the setting in Southern Utah was a ton of fun. I'll admit that I figured out the twist fairly early on, but the voice and characters were so compelling that I didn't mind too much.

I’d classify this as a novella and not a novel. It’s short, good beach read, not a complex story-and the story has been done infinitely. Better previously. I wasn’t a fan of how the author handled the first person narrative. So again-beach read

I really enjoyed this story, observing Gabriel and Frida as they grow up together in a cult, to their escape, and their lives after leading up to a stay at a luxury resort where… a dead body is discovered. The flashbacks and the present were appropriately written, fluid and both captivated me. I was surprised to be more drawn to the power of found family and the unbreakable bond between the two of them, more so than the mystery of the dead woman. However, the mystery held my attention too! I flip flopped with my assumptions and well you know what they say about people who assume… my hunch was correct, but by then I had my sights on someone else. Overall, an incredibly enjoyable story, read in a day, fast paced but with plenty of depth and character development, cementing Clemence as a go to author for me.

Its hard to summarize a book like this, and I won’t attempt to. Michallon’s debut, The Quiet Tenant, was incredible and so thrilling. I was so glad to receive an ARC galley of her sophomore effort and I loved it a LOT! I don’t think it’s worth comparing her first and second as a lot of people seem wont to do in their reviews. Both books are excellent in their own right. I loved the dual timeline in this, the cult story, the spooky White Lotus line resort setting, and the tense and secret filled relationship between the main characters. I give this a strong 4- I’d give 4.5 if possible . It was nearly a perfect read for me except the end and the denouement were a bit predictable after the first big reveal about Annie. I will definitely be recommending this to my networks!

I am a huge fan of Michallon’s writing. I loved The Quiet Tenant. While this book was well-written, I didn’t find the storyline all that captivating. I felt the whodunnit pieces were, for the most part, predictable, and that not much really happened. The page turning excitement I felt during The Quiet Tenant didn’t exist for this one. I liked the character development and that no stone was left unturned. Still a fun read for those who like a good thriller!

Overall, I enjoyed reading this one. The writing felt a bit disjointed at times, and choppy, which is why I knocked off a couple of stars.

I was excited to see Clemence Michallon coming out with another book as I enjoyed her last one so much. I feel like Our Last Resort follows the similar style of a "slow burn." I read a lot of fast paced books, and so I enjoy the "slow burn" type of book to build the anticipation. I like the two different timelines of the main character growing up vs the present day as a way to show how her and her brothers upbringing impact their present day thinking and relationships. I felt like the climax was really rushed but enjoyed how she tied up the end and felt it was perfect. I would definitely recommend to others especially if you enjoyed The Quiet Tenant.

I struggled a bit with this book. I’m not the biggest fan of the duel timelines. I sometimes get confused while reading them and then it ends up being a harder book for me to read. I did love the Quiet Tenet which is why I was intrigued by this one!

I went into "The Last Resort" blind because it was my first book by this author. It goes back and forth between past and present which I love. Clemence did a great job with the different timelines. Honestly, it helped to understand the main characters as children growing up in a cult and challenges they faced as adults.. It could be just me but I was suspicious all the way through. This intense story had me on edge. My opinion is mine alone and I strongly encourage other readers to read it for themselves.

Not as compulsively readable as The Quiet Tenant, but an interesting read. Characters seemed a bit bland.

This story was different for me with the cult aspect. An extremely slow burn. I feel like things didn’t start happening until after 50% in. The story was also predictable. I was able to guess the twists. But nevertheless still a decent read. I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I loved [book:The Quiet Tenant|61897971] when it came out back in 2023, so I was really excited to get my hand on Clémence Michallon's sophomore novel. Unfortunately for me, this turned out to be a letdown for me.

Frida and Gabriel grew up in a cult and escaped together. I absolutely loved their relationship dynamic. They are as close as siblings and there is never an inkling of a romantic connection, which I very much appreciated. I was nervous that they weren't going to be the platonic soulmates that they were. I enjoyed the retelling of their growing up in the cult, and the difficulties they had to get out.

Nowadays, Frida and Gabriel have been estranged for quite a few years after Gabriel's wife was killed and he moved across the country because he was being accused of her murder. They reconnect by going to a fancy resort in the desert. One morning, they wake up to find that a fellow guest has been murdered.

This book fell flat. The murderer is exactly who you think it's going to be. The writing tells you everything rather than showing you so that you don't have to use your pretty little head for more than reading the words in front of you. There is one, sad attempt at a plot twist that ANYONE above the age of eight could see coming...

I'm hoping Clémence Michallon's next book will be better, because she showed great potential and this was just... meh.

I absolutely loved the dual timelines and I was simultaneously wanting to know what would happen next past or present. The pacing was great and the suspense had me craving more. The cult element just added to the layers of mystery. You could just feel the work up of this story all the way through.