Although this one didn’t live up to the quiet tenant, I will read anything Clemence writes. She’s absolutely talented.

Having really enjoyed The Quiet Tenant, I went into Our Last Resort with high hopes. While the book has a strong setting and some thoughtful themes, it didn’t quite meet the expectations I had from Michallon’s previous work.

The mystery itself was fine but not especially gripping. The pacing is slow and steady, which works in some ways but left me waiting for a payoff that never fully landed. That said, I appreciated that the cult element stayed grounded. It avoided the over-the-top turns that similar stories often lean into, which made it feel more believable.

Frida and Gabriel’s bond is compelling, and their shared past adds weight to the story, but I found their perspectives a bit distant. I never felt fully pulled into their emotional worlds. The writing is restrained and thoughtful, which is consistent with Michallon’s style, but it lacked the tension and urgency that made The Quiet Tenant so memorable.

Overall, this is a quiet, character-focused mystery that may appeal to readers looking for something more reflective than thrilling. It has its strengths, but for me, it didn’t quite deliver the same impact as her earlier novel.

"Innocence doesn't bail you out; it just makes you easier to trap."
Our Last Resort is the thriller that will have you intrigued from the beginning. This page turner has two timelines, which is the past and present. It follows the lives of two siblings at a cult and then in the future where they are at a hotel and end up being involved in a murder investigation. The book was a fast paced read that was written well. All of the characters in this were great. I enjoyed all of the twists in this one and the ending was so good. Overall, I highly enjoyed this one and would recommend it to any reader who likes thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor/ Knopf for this great read in exchange of my honest review of Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon.

Clemence Michallon is a master at creating suspense and dread. I was on the edge of my seat for three quarters of the book. Some would say this is a “slow burn suspense”. However, as is my quibble with most thrillers, the ending came together too quickly. It felt incredibly rushed and restrained. I would have liked more drama & intrigue. Overall, I would recommend this to those who enjoy the thriller/mystery genre and I will read what the author publishes next.

A brother and sister looking for a nice relaxing break at the Ara Hotel in Utah, but it becomes anything but.
1) Another guests is found murdered.
2) One of the two is a suspect in that murder.
And with that suspicion, a lot of their secrets may become exposed.

This book has several timelines;
*** Frida and Gabriel first meet officially in a closet. Sounds strange, but they meet there after being punished by their cult leader. Yes, they grow up, basically as sister and brother in a cult. This part of the book highlights their blossoming friendship and how they got out.
*** In the present, the story focuses on the activities at the hotel before and after the murder. What surprised me is that it seems even though Frida cared for Gabriel, she is one who is quick to believe he may be responsible. Why? Well that leads to the third timeline when Gabriel meets his wife. Why is this significant? You'll have to read to find out.

I had my suspicions about who was the murderer, which proved wrong. But it didn't mean that person was entirely innocent. I was definitely caught off guard with the twist about Gabriel's wife. But this twist shows just how much these two have each other's backs.

Overall, while this wasn't as gripping as the author's first release, it is a good followup for thriller lovers to check out.

Overall, a solid book. I gave it 3 stars.

The subject matter is not really what I enjoy reading about but the author’s writing style is what pulls me in! So well written.

This unique story line kept me interested from the start. I’m also a huge fan of switching between past and present to form the whole story. I will say none of the plot twists were groundbreaking in my opinion, which is why I’m giving it 4 stars. I did really enjoy this book though.

Sometimes, the worst thing a reviewer can do is to compare an author's book against their other books... and this is a case where I did just that. On its own, Our Last Resort is super interesting - we're talking cults, murders, who dunnits, and the animals all make it out OK! Where this suffered for me was ranking it against The Quiet Tenant, which is one of my favorite books I've ever read.

So my advice to you is this: go in with an open mind and put The Quiet Tenant away while you read this.

I love Ms. Michallon's writing. Loved her first book and loved this one! I find anything about cults just fascinating. I loved how the two main characters shared that experience and grew up as brother and sister. (I do feel like there was more to their relationship) After their daring escape as teenagers, they had to grow up fast and had it hard. They did survive though and are at a resort now to discuss being interviewed for a documentary about the cult. When another guest is killed at the resort, they are suddenly thrust in the limelight as suspects. There is murder in their past so it does make sense but then there is a turn that I didn't see coming!

Keeps you reading and attentive through the whole storyline.

Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf publishing for a copy for review.

Quite the twist of two interlocked storylines written into one book. The history behind the main characters was developed through the look back chapters while current day events were a murder mystery. Excellent!

Our Last Resort is a quick, well-paced mystery that kept me engaged from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the alternating chapters between past and present. The past chapters, set in the cult, added depth to the characters and enriched the present-day mystery.

I did find myself wanting more from the cult storyline, as it was the most intriguing part of the book for me. The mention of a documentary being made about the cult early on piqued my interest, but it disappears for most of the story and only resurfaces at the end.

Still, this was a strong, enjoyable read. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Clémence Michallon’s work!

Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for the DRC!

I love stories about cults, so this was perfect. It was a great blend of mystery and cult-life story that had me hooked. I really enjoyed that either story, past or present, was so well written, and had me hooked. I love when these types of novels balance well, so you're not more excited for one side of the story. Really enjoyed this and hope to share with others.

I am assuming this is a super slow burn because I made it about 20% then DNF - If others stuck it out, kudos.

Loved Clémence Michallon's first book, so was excited to pick this one up!

Enjoyed it -- quick read and definitely did not expect the twist at the end.

This is quite different to her last but still intriguing! I enjoyed this slow burn with lots of twists and turns.

There were two main story arcs here - the cult and the resort. Neither were developed fully. I was much more interested in the cult, but we didn’t get enough context there, nor did I have an in depth understanding of how that experience shaped the characters. This was slow and one dimensional, which was so unfortunate since I loved The Quiet Tenant.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An Unforgettable Journey of Love, Secrets, and Second Chances

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallo is nothing short of breathtaking. From the very first page, I was completely swept up in the atmosphere—lush, emotional, and beautifully written. Michallo crafts a story that feels both intimate and cinematic, filled with raw vulnerability, slow-burning tension, and characters so vivid they feel like old friends.

The setting itself becomes a character, evoking deep emotion and nostalgia, while the plot balances romance, heartbreak, and healing with effortless grace. Every twist feels earned, every revelation lands with impact, and the chemistry between the protagonists is absolutely electric.

This book made me laugh, cry, and stay up way too late flipping pages. If you're looking for a story that grabs hold of your heart and doesn’t let go, Our Last Resort is it. Clémence Michallo has written something truly special.

Frieda and her brother Gabriel escaped a cult as teenagers, in the years that followed they slowly drifted apart. Gabriel has a dark past and his wife died in a tragic accident… one that everyone thought Gabriel had something to do with. Now the siblings are on a vacation together at a swanky resort, and when a woman turns up dead all eyes look to Gabriel.

We jump between the timeline of their childhood and growing up in a cult and present day as Frieda rushes to prove that her brother is innocent in the other guest’s death.

The Last Resort was SO well written, and the characters were intense. It’s a little dark, a little twisted but such a great read. Highly recommend.

I thought that this was ok but I didn’t really enjoy it. I wasn’t wowed by it at all. I found it to be dull in fact.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel!

I picked this one up because I enjoyed the author’s debut novel. If you were a fan of the last book, I think you’ll enjoy this one too! This one is also written in “popcorn” format, where you won’t want to out it down. Because of this, I found myself reading this book quickly. I also really enjoyed the backstory of the MCs and although not the central part to the story, the author did a great job at detailing this to make it believable and the characters well-rounded. This backstory is unique and reminded me of the uniqueness of the setup of the author’s previous novel. Everything is definitely not what it seems here! Giving this one 4 stars as the ending did fall a bit flat for me, but not so much that it eclipsed the rest of my reading experience. I recommend giving this one a read!