I was expecting more from this I thought it would be more of a thriller but I thought it was more of a mystery vibe. It’s not something I’d rush to reread or recommend but I did enjoy the author’s writing style & would be open to reading more of their work. The characters didn’t really grab me so overall it was just an okay read.

★★½ (rounded up)

I’m a bit torn on how to review Our Last Resort. It’s a very slow burn, almost hypnotic in its pacing and language. That rhythm pairs well with the luxury desert setting, where a sense of danger quietly undercuts the beauty and glamour.

This is juxtaposed with flashbacks to Gabriel and Frida’s past, growing up in a cult. Those scenes were intriguing and haunting, and I was completely caught up in their story and the unique nature of their relationship.

However, the connection between past and present felt more tenuous. By the end, I still didn’t have a clear sense of Gabriel and Frida’s relationship in the now. The slow build and simmering suspense felt like it was leading to a big twist, but that moment never quite arrived.

That said, I did enjoy it. The prose was atmospheric and haunting at times, and there was something mesmerising in the effortless way it moved between timelines. It felt more drama than thriller, and I flew through it in a day, enjoying the ebbs and flows of their journey.

I’d recommend for anyone looking for an engaging and atmospheric slow burn suspense.

Thank you to the publishers for this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

Our Last Resort cleverly blends together the horrors and pitfalls of being part of a cult along with its aftereffects in the lives of two young children- who are now adults in present day America. Frida and Gabriel (even though they are not brother and sister by blood) develop a familial kinship after an event that takes place within the cult and decide to forge their own paths in everyday society in the outside world.
The story was captivating, suspenseful from start to finish and had a nail biting ending that I didn't see coming but which tied everything up as a whole. This is my second foray into the authors work and it wont be my last.
Thankyou to Net galley and Elliot and Thompson for and ARC of this book.

After being completely mind blown from reading Michallon's debut novel, The Quiet Tenant, I was super excited to get the chance to read this one a bit early, thanks to being offered an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley. Because there are so many books and so little time, I find myself a wee bit late in writing this review.

Our characters Freida and Gabriel spent their childhood, if you can call it that, inside the walls of a cult compound. Not knowing the premise of the book ahead of time, this drew me in immediately. I have always been fascinated by and have read many, stories of cult survivors and their lives in the aftermath of leaving that life behind. Years later, this brother and sister team are on a vacation of sorts and get caught up in the murder investigation of another resort visitor.

The chapters alternate between present day and their life inside the cult. Some books with the back and forth can get a little confusing but not this book. It's all just so perfectly penned, I did not want this book to end!

I'm finding that this author really allows us to get to know her characters so well, that we feel like we know them personally. I think that is why the ending was so shocking to me. I don't want to spoil it for other readers but there was a twist I really did not see coming. Many thriller writers claim that their books are full of these twists but very few actually deliver these unimaginable twists. Michallon is indeed that author who delivers!

Thank you to Elliott and Thompson Publishing and NetGalley for a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Frida and Gabriel share an unusual upbringing, they grew up & escaped a cult in upstate New York, and began a new life. Sharing the trauma, they consider each other siblings. Yet, time and circumstances, including a recent tragedy has made them drift apart. Frida, desperate to try and reconnect with Gabriel, convinces him to join her at a luxurious resort in the desert to work things out. While there, things begin to unravel, a beautiful young woman is murdered, and Frida can’t explain Gabriel’s absences, and sullen moods. It brings up the past, their shared one in the cult, and other, darker incidents. As their past collides with their present, will Frida and Gabriel make it out together or will their secrets destroy them?

This was an easy, fast-paced thriller that caught my attention quickly. I love a good cult story and would have loved more elements of that storyline in the present. The reveals didn’t shock me, but I enjoyed the themes of family and the power & hold they have on our lives, whether we want them to or not.

Our Last Resort is a compelling slow-burn thriller that masterfully blends psychological suspense with emotional depth. Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of the Ara Hotel in Escalante, Utah, the story follows Frida and Gabriel—two survivors of a cult—who reunite at the resort only to find themselves entangled in a murder investigation.

Michallon’s storytelling shines through her dual timeline structure, alternating between the present-day mystery and the characters’ traumatic past. This format builds tension gradually, allowing the reader to peel back layers of Frida and Gabriel’s complex relationship and shared history. The pacing is deliberate, but never dull, and the emotional stakes are high throughout.

What makes this novel stand out is its atmosphere and character work. Michallon avoids gratuitous violence, instead opting for a mood of quiet dread and introspection. Frida, in particular, is a deeply nuanced protagonist—her vulnerability and strength are portrayed with authenticity and care.

The ending was a genuine surprise, tying together the threads of mystery and trauma in a way that felt both shocking and earned. While the middle could have moved a bit faster, the payoff was worth the wait.

If you enjoy thrillers that prioritize character development and emotional resonance over fast-paced action, Our Last Resort is a must-read. Michallon continues to prove herself as a rising star in the genre.

A suspenseful thriller following Frida and Gabriel in both the past and present. They have grown up in a cult and are now on a resort, trying to agree as to whether or not they should share their story with the rest of the world. A tragic murder happens, and soon they are both intertwined in the case. Tracing their story back to their childhood and past trauma, the murder mystery slowly unfolds.

Thank you Elliot &, Thompson and Clèmence Michallon for this read!

This is my second book by this author and it was another winner. With Cult vibes and an unsolved murder, Our Last Resort takes us to a resort where we are learning about dark secrets of our protagonists. The author tackles dark themes however handles them with care - check trigger warnings! Our two protagonists share a deep connection and their friendship is a big part in this book.

I was on the edge of my seat as the suspense slowly built throughout each chapter. As the end was getting closer I was desperate to find out the truth to multiple crimes. While it is a slow burn, there is alot going on so that you are never bored. The ending was wild and such a great finish!

Overall an excellent slow burn thriller, with Cult vibes and unsolved crimes!

I LOVED The Quiet Tenant and could not wait to get my hands on this one. It absolutely did not disappoint.

Fifteen years ago, Frida and Gabriel escaped from a cult. Once so close, a sudden, tragedy caused them to drift apart. Now, on holiday together, they finally have a chance to reconnect in a gorgeous place. It all feels like paradise – until a young woman is found dead.

First - the cover art. Absolutely gorgeous. I loved the story and the characters and the time jumps to help understand Frida and Gabriel as the story went on. The pacing was really well done and I enjoyed this book a lot.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Our Last Resort releases July 8, 2025

3.75

Frida and Gabriel grew up in a cult-like commune and became each other’s sibling by circumstance.
However, the two of them grew distant in their early adulthood, shortly after escaping the cult, when Gabriel’s wife was found dead.

Now, ten years after his wife’s death, Gabriel is finally ready to speak his piece in a documentary. But when Frida and Gabriel reunite at a resort hotel, the last thing they expect is to have front row seats to another murder.

Will Gabriel be able to escape the public’s guilty husband narrative that has been troubling him for years?

Michallon’s sophomore novel is well-written, but could have really excelled with a more shocking twist. I enjoyed the added anxiety and migraine rep, and how the reveal was built up through the use of dual timelines.

cw: grooming, SA, infidelity

A gripping, character-driven thriller, Our Last Resort hooks you with its dual timelines—shifting between a tense present-day investigation and a shadowy past. The layered portrayals of Frida and Gabriel feel authentic and emotionally resonant, while the remote desert resort setting adds an atmospheric edge. Though the pace dips briefly in the middle, the ending lands with impact and ties the threads together in a satisfying way.

★★★★☆ — Suspenseful, smart, and rich with character depth.

This was such an engaging read! Michallon has a way of pulling you into her characters’ minds and making you feel every bit of their tension and uncertainty. The setting felt so atmospheric, and I loved the slow build of suspense. There were a couple of moments where I wished the pace was a little quicker, but overall it kept me hooked and delivered a satisfying ending. Definitely worth picking up if you like character-driven thrillers with a moody edge

DNF at 50% - I enjoyed the author’s first book The Quiet Tenant, but this book was unfortunately not for me. The cult aspect of the book had my interest but overall I found the story boring and I didn’t care for the two main characters. Despite this particular book falling flat, I will be on the lookout for any future books by Clemence Michallon.
Thank you to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson for the arc for review.

Almost everyone I know love The Quiet Tenant, and while I did enjoy the book, I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. I was excited to read Our Last Resort, but did not have super high expectations.

The story spanned between two timelines, the past where Frida and her brother Gabriel lived in a cult, and the present where they are involved in a murder investigation on their vacation.

Though I did not see the final big reveal coming, there really wasn't that much mysteries in the book. What's surprising is that there really isn't that much overlap from the cult background to the present murder. You'd think the two timelines would somehow come together or have some sort of connection at the end but there really wasn't any so that was kind of a let down.

I also find the past timeline (time in the cult) is more interesting than the present timeline, and wish we get a bit more backstory on the cult.

Overall I thought it was a quick read but didn't think there was anything memorable from the story.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. After reading and loving The Quiet Tenant by this author, I was excited to see just how this book would compare. I am pleased to say whilst being very different from The Quiet Tenant in that instead of a serial killer, this novel centred around Frida and Gabriel who had been raised in a cult their entire lives. Cults are not usually one of the tropes I lean towards reading but this book had me fully immersed in reading about their cult life and all of the darkness in it. We are following Frida and Gabriel as adults who have since escaped the cult and have also drifted apart from each other. The decide to spend some time together on a luxury vacation to rekindle their friendship which felt very much like a close brother/sister bond given that they had been raised, survived and escaped the cult together. A fellow holiday maker is killed at the resort and this starts causing their secrets and their past lives to rise to the surface and also causing Frida to start questioning Gabriel's connection to the victim. Told in both present and past time lines it was a fast paced unputdownable read. The suspense as things started unravelling and being revealed was palpable. Another gripping, captivating thriller read from Clemence Michallon. #clemencemichallon #ourlastresort #knopf #netgalley #goodreads #getlitsy #thestorygraph #fable #tea_sipping_bookworm #thriller #bookqueen #bookstagram

Our Last Resort is a thriller set in duel timelines with found family. Frieda our MMF is toeing the line of "how far would you go for the people you love" she is a bit morally grey and isn't afraid to act on it. There are two murders that are being solved and talked about in two different states, but all around the main characters, It's a fun one to unravel and sort out the story. Set originally in a cult with a man who acts as god, check trigger warnings.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

This book and I did not jive and it took me months to finish because I kept dreading picking it back up.

This book is about two people who were raised together in a cult. There are three separate timelines. The first is when they were growing up in the cult/eventually escaping the cult. The second is after they escaped and how they were able to adjust and assimilate into society. The third is current day at a hotel in the desert. There is a mysterious death in the past that has never been solved as well as a death that happens in the hotel they are staying at in current day. I enjoyed the story and it was very atmospheric, I just wish it had been a bit more propulsive. It felt a bit slow in some parts for me. There was, however, a twist that I should have seen coming that I did not expect and that was really fun. Overall I enjoyed this story but I just felt like the pacing was a bit slow.

Gabriel and Frida are vacationing at a luxury resort and when a woman is found murdered they suddenly find themselves involved in the investigation. And not in a good way. Told in dual timelines, Gabriel and Frida’s horrific past and haunting memories lead us to the present day and Frida is determined to figure out how they ended up here! This atmospheric book is gripping, suspenseful and a page turner! Clemence has become an auto read author for me, Our Last Resort should be on your reading list!! Thank you Elliott and Thompson and Clemence Michallon for the gifted eARC! Can’t wait to read what this author writes next!

This was a decent murder mystery and the setting/cult aspect were definitely interesting to me. I could see this being popular for a book club/reading group.