After reading and LOVING this authors first novel, I was so excited to get an advanced reader copy! Unfortunately, this one didn’t grip me the same way. The story focuses on three different plot points. In the past, we learn of the main characters upbringing in a cult and how they left, present day murder mystery at a luxury resort, and future upcoming podcast. I think if the author had focused the plot on one of these things, it would have been better. Instead of one gripping exciting thriller, we had three underdeveloped plot lines that I was wanting more from. I would have loved more focus on the cult, how it started more of the day to day and more info on how it was ended! There were some twists along the way, but nothing was a total shock for me. Unfortunately, this one fell short for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

This was ok. I did like the plot line and the writing was lovely. The twists were good although I did guess them. However, there was a lot going on this book. Several story lines to follow and every character has some tragedy injected which seemed...a bit much and not realistic? One example, a woman who is in the book for one purpose only and not really moving the plot line along, randomly has a line thrown in about her being killed by a serial killer years later. No idea why that was needed as it didn't add anything to the plot or the character and it just moved the needle into unrealistic. Because of this, it felt really unfocused and scattered. I really wish we'd just stuck with the present timeline with the past maybe being told in flashbacks. I'm not sure, if that would have worked. And there are pages of dialogue that the main character WANTED to say, but didn't. That all felt like wasted time only to come back to what she actually said. For me, it was just too much. It also felt more literary. A lot of time was spent on the characters inner thoughts, and while eloquently worded and visualized, I really wanted to get back to the plot after a few pages. If you are more into literary, pick this up as I think it'll be right up your alley. I'm more in it for the plot and twists, so this wasn't my favorite.

I really liked both time lines in this book. Learning about the cult was very fun. I sort of predicted the ending but I still enjoyed getting there.

(I don't have many triggers but my one is animal cruelty which we see here- a heads up to anyone who struggles with this as well.)

I wanted to love this one as much as I loved his debut but so many things were amiss for me and I really struggled to connect to the characters.
The synopsis gave me high hopes going into this book but the past/present storyline felt cumbersome and unnecessary, too much focus on their upbringing in the cult really detracted from the present and the characters themselves. I absolutely LOVE Michallon's writing style and slow and predictable as I found the story, I really did savory every bit of his writing!

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

Enjoyed this book that I received from NetGalley early in exchange for a review. I love the short chapters and alternating time perspectives between past and current day.

Gabriel and Frida, are children that grow up in a cult together, for years they are each others constant companion and comfort in their small cult community. Until a fateful decison changes their lives. Fast forward to present day, Gabriel and Frida are at a luxury desert resort seeing each for the first time in years. To the outside world they are brother and sister and they become entangled in a murder investigation. Secrets of past and present are revealed in this luxury destination.

I really liked Clémence Michallon's first novel so I was excited about this. Plus, a White Lotus-style resort and a creepy cult? Count me in. Unfortunately this one never quite got off the ground for me. There was a distinct lack of mystery and an even greater lack of danger, which made it hard to care very much. That being said, I flew through it, so take that as you will.

Started out very slow. I almost gave up on this book, but I had enjoyed the author’s previous book. I am glad that I did. The pace picked up , there were beautifully woven twists and turns that kept me in suspense and kept me guessing.

Clemence’s writing is truly so clean and well thought out. This was the best ARC I’ve read, with fewest mistakes. I’m so impressed with how she can cause a reader to feel the inner workings of relationships between characters.
While this story wasn’t as captivating as “The Quiet Tenant” I still think it was interesting, and she is capable of doing great things in the writing world!

A couple years ago I read this author's debut novel, The Quiet Tenant, and I loved it so much that I was very excited and eager to read Michallon's next new book.
Our Last Resort, sadly, didn't work so well for me as her other book did.
And I'll just say it: this is a 'cult book'. If you don't like mysteries or thrillers about cults, be aware of that.
I usually enjoy cult-y books. But I did not truly enjoy this one.

I didn't connect or barely care for the siblings who are the protagonists, and they are the centre of the whole story.
There is a murder mystery that takes place inside the resort that did hold my attention for the most part. I was honestly in it for the murder mystery and not for the siblings' dramatic and traumatic past. I certainly couldn't care less for all the endless chapters in the past timeline.
And even though the conclusion is far, very far from being original or unpredictable, I thought it was satisfactory enough. The setting (in the present timeline - the resort in the middle of the desert) was a hit for me. I was invested in the resort chapters.

I guess I could recommend this book to any readers who enjoy thrillers about cults and siblings' drama. If you've read The Quiet Tenant and loved it, maybe you should go into this book with lower expectations. But if you haven't enjoyed that book, maybe you'll enjoy this one better.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

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!