I’m honestly not sure how to feel about Our Last Resort. It took me a really, really long time to finish, which is unusual for me. The premise is great—a luxury resort in the Utah desert, a murder, and two people, Frida and Gabriel, who grew up in a cult and formed a sibling-like bond because they found safety in each other with a connection that is intense and complicated.

The writing is strong and atmospheric, and I liked the dual timelines from Frida’s POV. The story flows well and there’s definitely a lot going on under the surface. But even with all that, I just felt disconnected. I kept waiting to feel more invested or pulled into the suspense, but it never quite clicked for me emotionally.

I also felt like there were a lot of intriguing threads and details that I wished were explored more deeply or tied back into the main plot. A few plot points seemed significant early on but didn’t really get revisited, which left me wanting a bit more closure and clarity.

I don’t think this is a bad book at all—it’s well written and has a unique setup. It just didn’t fully work for me, though I can definitely see how others might love it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon is a slow-burn mystery that combines a view of the Utah desert with the lingering weight of a shared past. Frida and Gabriel, once deeply connected, arrive at an isolated luxury resort in hopes of rebuilding their relationship after years of emotional distance—and a tragedy that still haunts them. But when a young woman turns up dead and suspicion falls on Gabriel, buried secrets begin to surface, putting trust and loyalty to the test. Told through dual timelines, the novel moves between an upbringing in a cult and a present-day murder investigation. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This thriller is a slow burn with a great setting. As I was reading, I could feel the heat of the desert radiating off of the stone patios. Frida and Gabriel are sharing a room at a luxury resort in the desert in an attempt to reconnect after years apart, but they're both realizing that they aren't nearly as close as they once were. The plot moves back and forth in time between a murder at the resort and the past, where Frida and Gabriel made their way out of an isolated cult and struggled to manage the outside world. I was intrigued by the whole thing until, gradually, I found myself not caring anymore.

📜Quick Summary: Frida and Gabriel grew up together in the grasp of a cult lifestyle. After escaping, growing up, and growing apart, they find themselves back together at a fancy resort. A documentary is coming out regarding their upbringing, and for the first time, Gabriel wants to speak. At the Ara Hotel, they are hoping to reconnect. But when a woman is found murdered, things don’t go to plan. Gabriel becomes a prime suspect, and Frida doesn’t know what to think. She starts to think back on her childhood, and things start to resurface…

❣️Initial Feels: This seems like two separate stories, with the chapters alternating timelines, but I’m intrigued to see where it goes.

👀Trigger Warnings: traumatic upbringings, cult lifestyle, sexual assault

🌶️Spice Level: none

📖Read if you want: cult lifestyle, dual timelines, unreliable narrators

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: I don’t think I really liked either of our main characters, which hurts to say. Not that I didn’t like them… I was rooting for them and their painful upbringing, but I didn’t feel much depth to either of them to truly feel like they were a character off the page.

💡Final Sentiments: I loved Our Quiet Tenant so I was really looking forward to this novel! Part of this novel fell flat for me. It was hard for me to relate and really feel deeply for these characters, so that played a role in truly enjoying this murder mystery. I wish one of the stories was flushed out more, and that would have made for one great novel, instead of two stories that were intertwined. I think I was expecting more in depth cult-life, more deep dark secrets of the cult, when it almost felt like more mini stories thrown in the mix. I really feel like most readers will like this, and will devour it like I did. I will say, I enjoyed the ending more once it started moving and motives were uncovered. That was when I felt like Frida and Gabriel were really making choices and laying it all out there.

🌟Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

🔉Special thanks to Clemence Michallon, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf and NetGalley for this arc of Our Last Resort.

📘Grab yourself a copy on July 8, 2025!

I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting but this was a pretty solid thriller I’d say? I was confused at the start given the nature of the siblings’ relationship, but the story grew on me over time and I love a good mystery whodunit! I was also never fully sure where the story was going which was nice that I couldn’t predict it.

I loved the Quiet Tenant so I had high hopes for this one. I enjoyed it and it kept me turning the pages, but the ending left a little to be desired. A good read all in all

When I saw that Clémence Michallon had a new book releasing, I was beyond excited. I adored her debut novel, The Quiet Tenant so much. I was truly hoping that The Last Resort would be in the same vein. Sadly, for me, it wasn’t. And when I tell you I was sad, I was so so sad. I loathe writing negative reviews. So it pains me to say that I did not enjoy this book. I’m so sorry Clemence!

The story follows Frida and Gabriel in the as they have a reunion after many years at a resort. While they are there, there’s a murder and that’s when things start to unravel. Told in dual timelines, the story is told in present day at the resort and past, when Frida & Gabriel met as children when they were born into a cult.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of books/movies involving cults, I did find this part of the book interesting. While I don’t think it completely melds with the plot, it’s necessary in order to show how Gabriel & Frida meet, and to convey the “trauma bond” they share. However, even though I did find this part of the plot interesting, I often felt like I was reading two different stories. I didn’t feel like it flowed as well as it should have.

I also didn’t feel anything for Frida or Gabriel. While their past was obviously difficult and I felt like I should have been able to feel for them, there was just no connection there for me.

I will say that I do truly enjoy Clémence Michallon’s style of writing. She’s an amazing writer and I’m sad that in this case, that wasn’t enough for me. But some books just aren’t for everyone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What I love about Clémence Michallon’s thrillers is that you’re getting so much more than a page turner you can’t put down. You’re getting deep prose and a unique point of view. A closer look at how devastating situations might shape a person, or people, as it does in Our Last Resort. Definitely pick this one up!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishing team for this ARC!

I thought Our Last Resort was an okay read. It held my attention, I wanted to know how it ended, and I liked the writing style. My favorite part was definitely the cult aspect of this book. I wasn’t shocked or surprised by the ending and that’s ultimately why I’m not giving it a higher rating.

I was given an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Short synopsis: 15 years ago, Frida and her brother Gabriel escape a cult, now Gabriel is accused of murder.

My thoughts: I absolutely devoured Michallon’s debut “The Quiet Tenant” so I was very much anticipating this release, and I was pleasantly surprised. The story reads different than your typical thriller, it was more literary and had my attention gripped in a different way.

I loved the past/present timelines, the inside look into the cult was compelling but completely heartbreaking. I couldn’t wait to see how they were able to escape and what the final pushing point was. And in the present timeline, I was on the edge of my seat trying to unravel the mystery.

I flew through this story via audio, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, who really added to the ambience of the story. I highly recommend.

Read if you love:
* Sibling relationships
* Cult vibes
* Past/present timelines
* Mystery on vacation
* Remote resort locations

This was an average read for me. There were parts I enjoyed, but there were also many parts that were forgettable. I struggled to really get into the book in the beginning because I just didn’t feel connected to the characters and had no idea why we should care so much about a victim we knew little about.

As the story progressed I was more engrossed, but also more just meh on the characters. There were some questionable choices made and I felt that Gabriel’s character was almost just a contradiction of himself.

If you’re into cult stories, this one might be more in your lane but unfortunately for me, it was just an ok read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eArc!

Unfortunately this book did not do it for me. I didn't get any thriller vibes from it. It was more murder mystery (which admittedly is not a favorite genre of mine). I felt like it was missing a big twist or reveal. It needed a spark that was not there. After quickly realizing this was more a murder mystery, I thought I maybe could still get into it becasue it had a cult aspect (which I love). But I feel like we didn't get to dive deep enough into the cult of it all. It felt surface level and I would have prefered something darker. I also thought the present day timelie move VERY slowly to the point where I was geting bored. I really wanted to like this book but I just didn't, but I'm not giving up on Clemence Michallon!

I was locked and loaded for all of the cult vibes after reading the blurb for Our Last Resort. Instead, it was mix of three timelines- what happened leading up to Frida & Gabriel leaving the cult; the death of Gabriel’s wife; and the seemingly random death of a woman staying at their hotel in the present timeline while they are on vacation. As the storylines evolve, tensions mount until all is revealed at the end. I wasn’t sure how I felt about things in the middle but the ending added some shock value to keep everyone happy!

With hypnotic character development and an original plot that pulled me in deep, Our Last Resortwas a unique trip into the depths of friendship and love. From the introspective poignancy to the palpable tension, all sides of this novel won me over in spades. It wasn’t quite the propulsive thrillerthat I had been expecting, however. Instead, the suspense-laden tale was mixed deftly with a heart-stopping sibling drama. Despite the lack of adrenaline-fueled action, though, there was no end to the building unease as I waited for disaster to strike. And let me tell you, when disaster finally did descend, it did so via a pulse-pounding climax that had me ripping through the pages with glee.

The biggest win in this unputdownable read, however, was easily the combination of fully fleshed out personas and relentless intrigue. Unwinding layers of secrets from the siblings’ enigmatic past, the dual timelines delivered a perfectly paced storyline filled with anxiety-inducing cliffhangers and well-timed reveals. By the time I reached the somewhat open-ended conclusion, I very well could’ve been holding my breath for the entire time I was reading. After all, I felt as if I’d been immersed in Frida and Gabriel’s worldthanks to the evocative descriptions and thought-provoking prose. Besides, with twist after twist that left me gasping out loud, how on earth could I have ever put this book down?

All said and done, while I wouldn’t classify this book as a fast-paced thriller, it certainly kept me spellbound from beginning to end. In fact, I was so hypnotized by the cult-centered mystery and modern-day intrigue that I finished the book in one single sitting. With a complex relationship between the two main characters and an equally intricate plot that kept me riveted throughout, I was blown away by the deep exploration of friendship, identity, history, and trauma. Add in the underlying locked room mystery vibe, and there wasn’t much missing from these thrilling yet pensive pages. Atmospheric, bingeable, and with teasing plot twists, I couldn’t get enough of this enthralling tale. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Clémence Michallon, Alfred A. Knopf, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

Really loved The Quiet Tenant but this one was just alright. I really loved the cult storyline because I’m just always a sucker for a cult. The resort storyline didn’t suck me in though. It also seemed like the two were so unconnected they didn’t really make sense.

It was decent and I read it in a day so that says something. I would’ve liked it more if it was just the story of the cult and Gabriel’s wife Anna’s death.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I give this 3.5 stars. I feel it was drawn out a little too much. I felt like the characters were unmemorable. It was a decent storyline, but all the back and forth of timeslines made it often-times difficult to keep straight. For me, it lacked depth and emotions. The ending was great. I wish there would've more of that kind of writing in the actual story.

I wasn’t in love with Clémence Michallon’s other but this book sounded so good I wanted to give it a try but I wasn’t for me. It was so slow and the plot didn’t move fast enough for me. I think I might be done picking up books from this author. The writing style is just not for me.

Thank you so much to Clemence Michallon and Knopf Publishing for my copy of this book! It was about Frida and Gabriel, two cult survivors who are reconnecting years later. They grew up as siblings, and survived a traumatic childhood, and now they are trying to spend time together again. On vacation at a luxury resort, someone ends up dead and suspicion ends up on Gabriel. Frida starts to uncover memories from the past, including the death of Gabiels wife. Though Frida has never questioned his innocence, she starts to question the death of a second woman close to him.

Thoughts: WE LOVE A CULT BOOK! This book was such a twisted cult story about the aftermath of two cult survivors. Gabriel and Frida have such unique pasts and it was so intriguing to learn about them. The contrast of the far past, near past, and present made this story interesting and twisted. It made me ask what was real and who was telling the truth.

I love the way Michallon writes and immerses the reader in her settings. I was recently in Escalante Utah, and this book captured the desert setting perfectly. The sibling relationship was perfectly captured, especially with their twisted background. Though I knew how it would end, I really loved the journey to get there and couldn’t put it down. 4-stars!

I loved Clemence Michallon’s The Quiet Tenant, so I was really excited to get an ARC of OUR LAST RESORT. I didn’t like this one quite as much, but it’s still a solid, insightful mystery, with an intriguing desert setting. The main characters, Frida and Gabriel, grew up together in a cult and have since escaped. When a woman is found dead at the luxury resort where they’re staying, their past catches up with them.

The chapters are short and the character development is good. I wasn’t totally blown away by the twists, but the writing makes this book worth it. There are two timelines here that are woven together, but I wish there had been more of the cult aspect included, as that was the most interesting part of the plot for me.

Overall, a solid book that I’ll recommend to thriller lovers.

Thank you to publisher Knopf for an early digital copy of OUR LAST RESORT in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Last Resort
This well executed suspense follow two cult survivors who are involved in a murder investigation during their stay at a luxurious hotel in Utah.
Very compelling characters mixed with mystery and intrigue make for a spectacular read! 4 stars