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*

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this early! I was very excited to read this after reading The Quiet Tenant last year, but I just thought it was meh. I’m not even sure how to categorize it because yes, it was a mystery but it was more family drama. I did really enjoy the cult aspect because that idea always intrigues me.


This book is on sale July 8th

“Our Last Resort” by Clemence Michallon is a tense and provocative thriller about a man and woman who grew up together in a cult and bonded as brother and sister. Their story is told in dual timelines recounting the horrors of their childhood, to the present where they are spending a week at a luxury resort together to repair their estranged relationship.

They have had a hard life, he being the prime suspect in his wife’s death and she never finding a path where she fits into society. During their vacation a beautiful young woman is found brutally murdered on the grounds of the resort and once again they become the prime suspects.

These two characters are experts at keeping buried secrets which had me flipping through the pages of this book at warp speed. I think thriller lovers will really enjoy reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Resort by Clémence Michallon has a compelling premise centered around a couple’s retreat to a remote Utah resort after fleeing a cult, only to be pulled into a murder investigation that stirs up their past. I was especially drawn to the cult angle, which I found fascinating, and I appreciated the “then and now” timeline and character backstories. However, the pacing felt slow, the suspense was lacking, and the resolution didn’t fully land for me—especially with a fairly predictable twist and an abrupt ending. While the writing was strong and kept me reading, I struggled to connect with the present-day characters and found parts of the plot choppy with some loose ends. That said, I still enjoyed the overall concept and would recommend it to those interested in character-driven mysteries with cult elements.

I LOVE A GOOD OLE CULT NOVEL. As soon as I see something set in Utah, I assume it's cult related. This was soooo good. Clemence hooked me with the Quiet Tenant and then did not let me down with Our Last Resort.

✨✨✨ Arc Review ✨✨✨

Our Last Resort
By Clemence Michallon

🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

I am eternally grateful to @netgalley @knopfca, and @clemencemichallon for providing me with the Arc Copy. The thrill of receiving an early edition was palpable. I immediately found myself captivated by the author’s unique writing style, which masterfully keeps you on the edge of your seat in her gripping novel, *The Quiet Tenant*.

In her highly anticipated second debut, Our Last Resort, we delve into a haunting murder mystery that unfolds deliberately slowly, gradually building tension. The story introduces us to Frida and Gabriel, two deeply complex characters who have emerged from the shadows of a cult. Their experiences within this oppressive community were marked by cruelty, heartache, and relentless abuse. As they attempted to break free from their traumatic past, they harbored a dark desire to replicate the pain they endured, directing it towards the remaining members of the cult.

This desperate escape, however, came at a devastating cost—one life was lost, and this tragic event casts a long shadow over their futures, haunting them in ways they could never have anticipated.

Our Last Resort delves deep into the intricate dynamics of cult communities, exploring themes of resilience and retribution. It explores the murky waters of new beginnings, the chilling act of murder, and the heavy silence that often shrouds unhealed wounds. The narrative is steeped in a tone of profound sadness, vividly painting the bleak living conditions of the past and revealing the buried secrets that each character harbors. This book’s rich details and emotional depth create an unforgettable reading experience that lingers long after the last page is turned.

I truly enjoyed this book as much as I did the Quiet Tenant.

This book was well thought out but moved a bit slow for me. I also found the writing choppy, especially the dialog. It’s a good story but not the right book for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OUR LAST RESORT by Clémence Michallon

Bonded as “siblings”, escaping a cult, suspected of murder, and trying to live a normal life, could you imagine?

Give this some thought: if your sibling was wanted for murder, would you believe them if they proclaimed innocence or would you allow doubt to creep in? Such a tough predicament!

As far as vacations go, such a nice resort, it sounds like an ideal place. Minus murder, that is.

I found the author’s writing style to be unique and intriguing; it was great to “hear” what the main character was thinking.

Nice work!

A page-turner from the start, I was thinking “just one more chapter” well into the night. The settings and characters made the story shine so much that I could feel myself right along with Frida and Gabriel at every twist and turn. I enjoy a novel with suspense coupled with beautiful prose. I look forward to reading more of Michallon’s work.

I think I went into this with super high expectations since reading the debut of this author. I found this to be slow, stunted, and very disjointed. Sad to say because this started on such a good foot but I found myself losing interest in the characters about halfway through.

I read this so quickly because I just wanted to know what happened next!! The characters were very well written, the action was immediate and very suspenseful, and the twists kept the plot super engaging! The only thing that I didn't like was the murderer reveal was a bit too sudden and clean, but it didn't take away from the rest of the book! I really loved this one and would highly recommend to all thriller lovers!

Overall was a good book had a good plot with a slight twist at the end. Definitely got my wheel spinning in regarding to cult, life, and how people live that way.

Another amazing Thriller by Clemence McMihllon. I was fully absorbed into this book. Once I started reading I simply could not put it down. I loved the dual perspective in timeline, the complex relationship between Frida and her brother. I also loved reading about the cult they were a part of when they were younger. This story had the perfect mix of suspense, fear and mystery. An absolute stellar read.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one and will absolutely purchase a hard copy for myself once it’s available.

Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed The Quiet Tenant so I was hopeful for Our Last Resort, but something about it just didn't hit the same way that Quiet Tenant did. I enjoyed my time in this story, but I much preferred Quiet Tenant.

What a nail biter this one is!

Siblings looking to connect are booked in at a fancy resort in the desert. Time away, getting to know each other again while enjoying the pool and sun.

Until a guest is murdered. The younger wife of a rich guest and suddenly all the evidence is pointing to Gabriel. Which forces Frida to face their past and how they escaped from the cult they were raised in.

Is her brother a killer? Is she?

This author is an expert at building tension! Great summer reading!


NetGalley/ July 08, 2025 Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/Knopf