📝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.

It's a good book, and I'm familiar with the history of isolation in education. The two timelines that alternate made me uncomfortable, even though the transitions were smooth. The poetic narrative, simple dialogue, and strong characters didn't make me empathize or feel their emotions. But thank you for your approval.

Our Last Resort has the benefit of being a page turner whilst not really offering up anything that makes it stand out amongst the plethora of cult stories and psychological thrillers.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, depends on your current wishful reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this, it is well written, twisty enough with engaging characters.

Overall not quite living up to the promise of this authors debut but great none the less. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Elliott and Thompson for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really liked THE QUIET TENANT, but until the end, I think that I liked this book more. The dual timelines were really interesting, and the characters were complex and well-developed. I had no idea what was going to happen, and I did not expect the twist near the end. The end itself though did not do it for me. Things resolved too quickly and seemed a bit anti-climactic to me. I kept looking for another twist. Definitely still a book worth reading when released in August 2025.

thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this book was somewhat of a disappointment, considering how much i loved the quiet tenant.

it just felt unfinished, the dual timelines didn’t really work for me.

while the characters were well developed, they never really connected with me. their relationship was the saving grace of this book. i can understand two people being so connected that they’re entirely codependent on each other to the point of unhealthy means. in a twisted way i like how they would do anything for each other, even if it leads to tragedy.

hopefully her next book is a hit for me!

Our Last Resort is about as haunting as Michallon’s previous novel—there’s a deep emotional intelligence running through every line. It’s devastating in its clarity, its control, and its quiet fury. The narrator’s voice in her youth retelling—measured, almost detached at times—makes the horror all the more suffocating without ever hinting at sensationalism or melodrama. Just raw, lucid memory laid bare. The prose is deliberate without being clinical. What stands out is how well the author captures the psychology of grooming, coercion, and complicity—not just from Émile, but from the system he’s built around himself. The emotional aftermath—shame, numbness, disassociation—is rendered with chilling precision. I understood the use of short, broken sentences in The Quiet Tenant—they effectively conveyed the main character’s fear and urgency. But I noticed the author used the same rhythm with Frida, the protagonist in this new book, and it threw me off. Maybe because it hasn’t been all that long since I read The Quiet Tenant. That said, these fragments echo this new narrator’s fractured sense of self and lend the scenes a quiet realism that’s more powerful than anything graphic. It’s not just a story about abuse, but about structure—how manipulation is scaffolded, how power is maintained, and how silence is enforced. I’m only lowering this novel to four stars because it took me a while to connect with Frida and Gabriel, to get into their horrific story, so much so that I thought about DNF once or twice. Then I was hooked and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

The premise of Our Last Resort immediately captured my interest. I’ve always found the psychology of cults to be both fascinating and deeply complex, and Michallon’s exploration of this subject drew me in from the outset. I had previously read The Quiet Tenant—a novel I found compelling due to its literary depth and suspenseful narrative—and so I approached this book with high expectations. Michallon clearly has a talent for crafting intriguing storylines.

This novel centers around two main characters, Frida and Gabriel, who grew up together in a cult and escaped at the age of 18. The narrative unfolds across multiple timelines: the period during their life in the cult (before), the aftermath of their escape, and the present day, in which they are staying at a resort. The dual timeline structure offers ample opportunity for character development, and we are given significant backstory on how Frida and Gabriel have evolved. While both characters have experienced hardship, Frida seems to have built a stable life, whereas Gabriel has endured continued tragedy. A central thread is their enduring care for one another throughout these challenges.

However, I found the pacing of the novel inconsistent. Some sections felt overly drawn out, while others seemed rushed, particularly key moments that could have benefited from further exploration. Interestingly, the story includes two murder mysteries. The present-day mystery, set at the resort, developed at a reasonable pace, though I found the resolution predictable. The cold case, revealed in the second timeline, was similarly easy to decipher early on.

The emotional conclusion of the novel, while clearly intended to leave a lasting impact, did not resonate with me in the way I believe it was meant to. Unlike The Quiet Tenant, which I would categorize as a literary thriller, Our Last Resort leans more into the murder mystery genre. This may make it more approachable for a wider audience, but I personally found it less refined and less compelling than Michallon’s debut. The protagonists, while central to the plot, felt somewhat underdeveloped; I struggled to form a connection with them, as they never quite came to life on the page.

Although the story alternates between past and present, the structure felt disjointed—almost as though I were reading two separate narratives. While stories about cults typically offer rich ground for exploring psychological horror, in this case, the past timeline felt underutilized and, ultimately, unnecessary to the present-day mystery. Much of the writing in the past timeline relies on exposition rather than vivid scene-building, which flattened its emotional impact.

In conclusion, while Our Last Resort may appeal to readers who enjoy straightforward mysteries with multiple timelines, it did not fully meet my expectations. I found it a decent read overall—engaging at times, but lacking the depth and emotional resonance of Michallon’s earlier work. I appreciated the opportunity to read this advance copy, but I likely won’t revisit the story or the characters in my thoughts moving forward.

Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved Michallon's previous work, but this one just did not work for me at all. There was too much telling and not enough showing for me. The past timeline regarding the cult was not what I wanted and it just felt unecessary. I wanted more from it.

Our Last Resort is a standalone book written by Clemence Michallon.

What to expect:
*Cult lifestyle
*Resort mystery
*Alternating timeline

Brother and sister, Gabriel and Frida, are visiting a luxury resort in Utah when the death of a resort guest leaves them both reliving a different past tragedy involving Gabriel’s wife.

Suspicions and evidence cause the siblings to distrust each other, while memories resurface of a time when they were growing up in cult scandal.

For me, this book would have been better if I had listened to the audio version instead of reading the ebook. I found myself getting distracted very easily while trying to read this, it just could not hold my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf publishing for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️
Characters: Frida (FMC) & Gabriel (MMC)