Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon.

This is a beautifully written and tightly plotted thriller that combines psychological suspense with emotional depth. Set against the stark, haunting beauty of the Utah desert, Our Last Resort follows Frida and her brother Gabriel as they attempt to reconnect at a luxury resort—until a guest is found dead and Gabriel becomes the prime suspect. What follows is a slow unraveling of family secrets, cult trauma, and the fragile bond between siblings.

Michallon masterfully toggles between past and present, drawing out tension while exploring how much we can truly trust our memories—or the people we love. Frida is a compelling protagonist: flawed, loyal, and deeply human. The atmosphere is richly drawn, and the sense of unease lingers from beginning to end.

I deducted one star only because the pacing in the middle dipped slightly, and a couple of plot threads could have used a fuller resolution. Still, the emotional payoff and final reveal were worth the slow burn.

A gripping and thoughtful novel that further establishes Michallon as a major voice in contemporary thrillers.

There are things that I liked about this book, such as the way it was written, the multiple timelines and the main character's voice. And there were some interesting aspects, such as the growing up in a cult part and the aftermath of it. But, as for the crime-mystery stuff, I wasn't that impressed, nor shocked.
Thank you to Elliot & Thompson and to NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

This was a fast-paced read, which I really appreciated because I was dying to figure out who did what and how it all unfolded! The story kept me on my toes the whole way through, with just enough twists to keep things interesting.
While it didn't totally blow me away, it was definitely entertaining and kept me engaged from start to finish.

3 ⭐️
Expected publication date - July 8, 2025

WHAT I LOVED - Hearing about life in a cult and how 2 kids found each other and coped and grew together.

WHAT I LIKED - There were some unexpected twists. It was a quick, page turning read.

WHAT I DISLIKED - I didn't necessarily dislike anything, but I felt like something was missing.

WOULD I RECOMMEND? Yes. It was a quick book, with enough mystery to keep you guessing.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved The Quiet Tenant, so I was very excited to give this book a try. Although it was an interesting premise - a childhood immersed in a cult and a present day mystery, I found the story somewhat lacking. The characters were hard to get into and I felt like the story just ended. I do recommend reading it because it’s an easy read and the premise is unusual, but I definitely preferred The Quiet Tenant.

This was a very good second book from Clemence Michallon. It was a slow burn mystery that alternated between Frida and Gabriel as teens living in a cult and in the present day years after they have escaped. It was very well written and did have a surprising twist. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. This kept me hooked from the very first page. The setting, a luxury resort, was incredibly immersive, and the tension never let up. Highly recommend!

After being completely wrecked (in the best way) by The Quiet Tenant, I quickly requested Our Last Resort on @netgalley and just started reading without checking out the synopsis, lol.

This one is so atmospheric, we have two timelines: the haunting past inside a cult and a tense present-day murder mystery at a resort in the Utah desert. 🏜️🔪 I really had no idea who was involved in the murder because I didn’t read the synopsis!

The bond between Frida and Gabriel — two survivors who once called each other “siblings” to survive the unthinkable — is the emotional anchor of this story. Their loyalty, their doubts, their secrets... it all felt heartbreakingly real. 💔🧩

Three mysteries unfold at once (the cult escape, a suspicious death years ago, and a fresh murder at the resort), and Michallon ties them together so seamlessly that I kept thinking, how is she this good?! The tension is relentless but so thoughtfully layered, never feeling rushed. 📖🔥

The exploration of cult psychology, trauma, and what we owe to those who saved us — even when we’re not sure they’re innocent — was my favourite part of the story. 🥀

The writing in this one is razor-sharp, the characters are messy and believable, and I did anticipate the final twist but not until just before it was revealed.
If you love thrillers that are just as much about people as they are about plots, don’t miss this one.👌🏻

📝ARC Book Review📝
Title: Our Last Resort
Author: Clémence Michallon
Publication Date: August 07, 2025
Rating: 3/5 stars

'Our Last Resort' follows Frida and Gabriel, who fled a cult together and are looking for a new beginning at the beautiful Ara Hotel in the remote Escalante, Utah, desert. When a young woman's body was found while on vacation at the Ara, their attempt to resume their once close connection was abruptly cut short. Frida's trust was tested when the police began to suspect Gabriel due to the overwhelming amount of evidence against him.

I liked the story's flashbacks of Frida and Gabriel's cult upbringing, their daring escape, and their complicated sibling dynamics. This is a story of overcoming trauma while caught in yet another tragedy that will test their trust and loyalty.

Although the story showed potential, it lacks the element of surprise that I am looking for in a murder mystery. The ending fell flat for me, and the twist is quite predictable from the get-go. Michallon, however, was able to craft a character-driven story that will resonate with readers. It is a quick read for anyone seeking a straightforward plot with a uncomplicated ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

After adoring the Quiet Tenant last year I was thrilled to dive into Our Last Resort however unfortunately for me this one didn’t have the same magic. I liked the main characters and found them interesting but the twists were a bit predictable and some of the time jumps were a bit confusing. Interesting delve into the culture of a cult and the lasting effect from it but I found the whole story a bit long winded.

Frida & Gabriel arrive seeking a fresh start at the stunning Ara Hotel in the secluded desert of Escalante, Utah. Once so close they were able to finish each other’s sentences, they’ve grown apart in recent years after a sudden, unspeakable tragedy. Now, at the luxe resort, they are ready to reconnect between dips in the pool and hikes on spectacular desert trails. It all feels like paradise—until the dead body of a beautiful young woman who was vacationing at the Ara with her powerful, much older husband is discovered. When the local police arrive and suspicion quickly falls on Gabriel, Frida is forced to revisit memories from their upbringing in a cloistered cult in upstate New York, their dramatic escape, and the scandal that followed. Frida’s belief in Gabriel’s innocence never wavered at the time, but now even she can’t ignore the evidence mounting against him.

This was a fast paced and easy read. The past timeline and living at the cult was the most interesting part for me as the present timeline I found to be a little dull. The twist was predictable but the ending was satisfying! Beautiful cover.

Frida and Gabriel spent their childhood years in a cult, Years later one of them is arrested for murder.

While a start like that in life would inevitably have had an impact this is shown fully in the dual timeline, which was perfect for creating an air of uncertainty.

This is a a novel you can be easily engrossed in but there was a lack of surprise for me that changed the ending.

There’s little question Michallon is a talented writer — her books are hard to put down, incredibly readable, and built on the kind of car-crash stories that are all too easy to lap up (serial killers! cults!) — but two books in, I wonder what manner of problems her love for traumatized characters can conceal. It’s easy to say “no one acts like this” and then consider “well, these characters aren’t like anyone else, they’ve been through some stuff, surely that would make anyone act batty?” I had that sense with her first book, and it’s even more clear with this one. Trauma and secrets definitely make people act “odd,” and Frida and Gabriel are indeed traumatized, but that only goes so far. I didn’t believe much of anything I read here — except for the cult stuff! that rang eerily true! — even as I devoured the book. The final notes — this is all about family? — really sent that false feeling home. This was about WHAT NOW?

An addictive read. I didn't want to put this down. I had some theories that were correct but didn't take away from the experience. My first read from the author but won't be my last.

Gabriel and Frida shared a brutal childhood as members of an insidious and isolated cult.
They grew up without nurturing, medicine or formal education.
They relied on each other for survival and became chosen siblings.
They managed to escape and painstakingly scrape out a decent life for themselves, but remain traumatized by memories of events from their troubled past.
When Gabriel is accused of murder, their strong bond is put under some pressure, and their past again comes back to haunt their fragile psyches.
This novel was told in dual timelines, and I was so impressed by the authors ability to keep me connected to both stories. I often find in similarly constructed novels that I’m more addicted to one timeline than the other.
But the memories of their damaged, destroyed youth were as compelling as the present day murder mystery.

I was very moved by these characters and their loyalty and love for each other. They are both so sympathetic and so well constructed. And the shocking twist at the end was expertly executed! Add this one to your TBR for July !

Our Last Resort is an engaging and fast-paced novel that immediately drew me in with its intriguing plot and atmospheric setting. The story unfolds in a place so vividly described that it feels like a character of its own. The cast of characters is original and adds charm to the narrative, though I sometimes wished for a bit more depth and development in their arcs. The writing style is simple and accessible, making it an easy read. However, I found that some plot twists and conflicts were resolved a little too easily, which occasionally lessened the tension. Despite these minor flaws, Our Last Resort remains a solid and enjoyable book, perfect for readers looking for a captivating story they can quickly get lost in. I would definitely recommend it for a light but satisfying read.

This book definitely gave off murder mystery vibes. The cult connection also gave it an interesting perspective. Overall I feel this one just fell a bit short for me, I wasn’t super excited to pick it up after getting into it. This may be a favorite for someone else though, so don’t be scared to give it a chance!

Thank you to NetGalley, Clemence Michallon, and Knopf for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a tough read for me as it was a slow burn about a brother and sister who were a part of a cult. The chapters were short and easy to follow but the book wasn’t for me. 3.5 stars.

Unfortunately my download of this book was ineligible and I could not read it. The pages weren't numbered and the format was not readable. It seemed like paragraphs were cut off and missing. Unreadable format. Such a shame but I am still looking forward to reading a copy of this when it comes out on it's expected publication date of August 7, 2025.
Thank you anyways to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

This was a solid read. I liked the flawed protagonists and the past and present timelines. The past timeline was particularly enjoyable as I love receiving insights into cults and their workings. I feel like I would’ve enjoyed diving deeper into this aspect of the story

However, I unfortunately didn’t find any of the twists shocking. I love to be surprised but when they were revealed it just seemed like the obvious choice. Not necessarily a bad thing for some people but just my personal preference!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.