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.

I had such a thrilling experience reading this book! The story of Frida and Gabriel seeking a fresh start at the stunning Ara Hotel in Escalante, Utah, immediately drew me in. I loved how their journey to reconnect after years of growing apart due to a tragic event was beautifully portrayed. The idyllic setting of the luxe resort made me feel like I was right there with them. I found myself on the edge of my seat as the mystery unfolded. I appreciated the alternating timelines between past and present, as it allowed me to see the full picture of Gabriel and Frida's relationship and the secrets they had been hiding. I couldn't put the book down and found myself eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next.

I was completely captivated by the story and the characters, and I highly recommend Our Last Resort to anyone who loves a good suspenseful mystery with deep emotional layers.

Such an excellent slowburn mystery, full of beautiful prose and explorations of the ties that bind us.

I was already captivated by Michallon’s writing in The Quiet Tenant, so when I saw she had a new release, I couldn’t wait to dive in. Our Last Resort is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The well-crafted cast of characters and the alternating timelines between past and present really added depth to the story. The book is packed with dark secrets and trust issues, keeping you guessing at every turn. This is a thrilling beach read that you'll want on your summer tbr!

Ahhh I really struggled with this one. After loving THE QUIET TENANT I was really excited to pick this one up but it just felt all over the place. It jumps between past and present. Two young kids who grew up in a cult jump between their time in a cult and a current vacation they are on. The problem is the characters were never fleshed out, so I had no care in the world about them. The cult part and the current day part, while they were interesting at times, just never brought me into the story. Right as I was getting invested in one part, it jumped to current day and I was over it. The ending felt unsatisfying as well, which was the cherry on top of the book for me. Overall, this just wasn't for me.

Our Last Resort is about a brother and sister who were born into a cult and escaped. As adults the two find themselves at a resort at the same time as a famous man's wife is murdered, They quickly become suspects. Moving between past and present, the novel tells of the pair's traumatic and dark past as well as some of the secrets they'd rather not share.

I really enjoyed the Quiet Tenant by this author, but Our Last Resort lacked something for me. I wasn't invested in the characters and parts of the story seemed a bit far fetched. It was an entertaining read, but only just.

Compared to Michallon's debut novel, A Quiet Tenant, her second book didn't quite hit the same way for me. The story goes back and forth between the present, where self-proclaimed brother and sister, Gabriel and Frida, are away (for reasons that I don't think are very well stated) at a high-end, secluded resort in the desert, and the past, where the "siblings" live and eventually escape from a cult. I felt like I was more interested in the cult part of the story than the present one at various times - there felt like more depth, personality of the main characters, a problem and solution, than there was during the resort part of the story. I felt like the stories did seamlessly fit together in parts - where issues resolved or unresolved resurfaced during the present - but the ending felt like there were also plot holes, almost forced. Frida was just allowed to break into William's car with seemingly little to no repercussions because she found the true murderer? It felt like it skipped over some of the reality that Michallon did so well in other parts of the story.

When I got early access to Clemence Michallon’s second book, I jumped on it. I was blown away by the writing and plot of her debut novel and was eager to see if the praise held up. It does.

The very first sentence of Our Last Resort pulled me in. Michallon has a way of blending profound, complex writing with short, impactful sentences. I have so many highlights in my Kindle to prove it, but honestly, I’m too lazy to pull them up. You just need to read this book yourself.

The Before chapters read like a memoir of two kids leaving a cult. The writing style was deliberately crafted to reflect their limited worldview, starting with childlike phrases that matured as they grew up, especially once they left the cult. It had the raw, immersive quality that makes a memoir great, and seeing that in a novel was such a delight. Every stage felt emotionally authentic. I’ve obviously never been in a cult, but I do have severe childhood trauma, and this book transported me back to those feelings of confusion and unsafety. Michallon did this in her first book too. She’s incredibly skilled at drawing out visceral connections, making you feel and understand.

The Present plot wasn’t as strong. My least favorite thriller trope, refusal to communicate leading to unnecessary confusion, was too present here. Given the background established in the Before chapters, I understand why the characters struggled with communication, but I still found myself wanting more dialogue between them. I know the author intended for their silence to reflect a deep, unspoken bond, but it didn’t quite land for me. Maybe if we had the MMC’s perspective or more insight into his current life, it would have helped.

Another issue was the shift in believability. The book started with a plausible interaction with police, but by the end, the heroism complex felt too outlandish to be convincing.

That said, the writing is undeniably beautiful. The twists are well-paced and unpredictable, and the emotional depth makes the story resonate. While some aspects of the plot didn’t fully work for me, there was so much I did love. It’s hard to pin down a rating, but I’d say maybe 4.5 stars. I’m still completely enamored with Michallon’s writing and will continue reading everything she writes. An excellent read.

Frida and Gabriel, who grew up in a cult environment as children, meet up at a luxury resort in Utah. A hotel guest is murdered. This book, through interweaving storylines, tells the story of two people who will forever be connected, even when living on other sides of the U.S. It was an interesting book. 4 stars.

This one didn’t shock me quite as much as the quiet tenant but the author has a way of sneaking in darkness and shocking details throughout that keep you engaged. This one wasn’t different although it definitely felt a bit all over the place at times.

Frida and Gabriel are siblings but not by blood. By cult. And shared childhood trauma. Born into a cult where no one knew who their own parents were and run by an enigmatic snake oil salesman, the pair cling to each other from a young age. Trauma bonded and fiercely protective of one another, they escape to the real world after a shocking end to the cult - only to be met with the reality of the world.

Flash forward to the anniversary of the end of the cult and they are together in a high end resort, about to speak with documentarians about their childhood experience. Except while they are relaxing, a guest is murdered. And Gabriel is the primary suspect…because it’s not the first time a woman has been murdered in his orbit.

This story was on a whole other level! I started reading and got so sucked into this story so hard! With the time jumps, cult life, dynamic between “siblings”, and that twist at the end?! Wowww, I am loving this author. Her first book was incredible and this book is just as impressive in different ways!!! Five glowing stars!!!

The story is told in the past and present. The past is told when Frida and Gabriel were in a cult run by a man named Emile. They decide to leave.
Years later Frida and Gabriel meet up at a resort where a young woman named Sabrina is murdered. Sabrina is there with her older rich husband William Brenner. Gabriel was a person of interest in the death of his wife Annie. Frida and Gabriel consider themselves siblings but aren’t.
The story gives an inside view into a cult and the psychological control of a cult and one man. It showed the trauma Frida and Gabriel endured and had to overcome later in life. It showed the sibling bond they had throughout all they experienced including trauma. The story showed how childhood trauma affects adulthood and relationships. Frida and Gabriel had the strength to leave the cult and survive all they went through afterwards which included no identity, no money, no food, homelessness, etc.
The ending was predictable. The reasons for both murders were predicable. The story was slow and anticlimactic. There was no shocking twists. There wasn’t any mystery to figure out.