Our Last Resort leans more into a murder mystery than a thriller, making it a more accessible read for fans of the genre. While readable, it felt underdeveloped and lacked the depth of the authors other books. The main characters didn’t feel authentic to me, making it hard to connect or care.
Despite the flaws, there’s potential here, and some readers may still enjoy the plot—sadly, this one just wasn’t for me.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This book was an enjoyable read but did not have the unputdownable factor. I did want to finish the book though, and the storyline was something that I haven't read before, so the fresh idea was a nice change. Overall a decent book, just not super memorable long term.

I don’t know if this author is for me! I wasn’t a big fan of The Quiet Tenant and this one was just ok. I may be over cult storylines. This wasn’t a bad story, just not my fav!

It was supposed to be a reunion with her brother, a chance to reconnect after so many years. At first, it was terrific. Then history repeats itself. Told in two timelines, the current days and the history that brought them together to this place. Frida and Gabriel have a long history they've tried to put behind them, but their past haunts everything they do. This is an excellent thriller with a mystery full of tension and emotions. It was a fast read for me; I couldn't wait to see what would happen.

I don’t normally enjoy books about cults which is a me thing. That being said, I did enjoy this book and it kept me engaged throughout. I will continue to read every book Clémence releases.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me and I struggled to stay interested in it. Both settings seemed like they would be the perfect mixture for a dark and twisty thriller, but it just wasn’t. Thank you to Elliott & Thompson Publishing and NetGalley for a gifted ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon

Brief Outline:
Frida and Gabriel grew up in a cult together, but years later they meet again at a fancy desert resort—the Ara Hotel in Utah. When a murder happens, their past starts catching up, and the story flips between then and now as secrets come out.

My Thoughts
This hooked me with its luxury desert resort setting where two former cult kids reunite, shifting between past trauma and a tense present. Frida’s narration nails the struggle to move on while being haunted, and though a few twists fell flat, the atmosphere and characters kept me hooked.

Read this if you like:
• Cult survivors rebuilding their lives
• Luxury resort settings
• Dual timelines that gradually reveal the truth
• Slow-burn psychological suspense
• Strong character development
• Stories about confronting the past before it catches up
• Fans of Ruth Ware, Gillian Flynn, and Riley Sager
• Themes exploring trauma, memory, identity, and trust

MyRating 3.85 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Elliot & Thompson for the eARC which will be published August 7 2025.

⭐️⭐️ ⭐️.5 rounded up
Two-word synopsis: Cult Thriller

When I was approved for this ARC, I gasped—having absolutely loved Clemence Michallon’s debut The Quiet Tenant (which I still rave about), this felt like a dream come true! From the very beginning, it was clear that The Last Resort would be a departure in tone and pacing from her first novel, but what remains unchanged is her undeniably beautiful way with words.

This book leans more toward a slow burn, which might not work for every reader….
The cult flashback scenes in particular were my fave—I honestly would’ve loved even more of that world-building, as those moments really captured my interest.

It did take some time for me to warm up to the characters and understand some of their choices, but in the end, I appreciated the emotional depth and nuance they brought to the story. Michallon explores trauma, control, and healing in a subtle but impactful way.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy!

A fiction book I almost let pass me by…but then went back and am glad did

We meet Frida and her brother Jack, they were raised in a cult until they managed to escape and travel to New York, their upbringing and what they saw however stays with them and affects every aspect of their lives….Frida realises they are losing their bond so arranges a holiday….disaster strikes and Jack is under suspicion…this would be bad enough but it isen’t the first time he has faced being accused of a terrible crime

I loved the past and present alternate chapters and the insight into the cult was horrifying and Iwas urging them to escape, once they did you felt the emotional difficulty they faced suddenly being in a world they knew nothing of, was interesting to read how the Cult had brainwashed them and how in awe they were of everyday things they had never seen

It is worth noting the subject of adult rape is part of the their survivors story, however it is not graphic in content and is part of the story and needed in context to explain the cult and its leader

Fast writing where you were pulled into then flung along with the story and aside from one small section where the narrative seemed to wander and fixate for a few pages the story was full on

A good and unusual ending where the acknowledgments where part of the final page and story,something not seen before

Challenging and different, a book am glad did not dismiss but decided to read

Thank you NetGalley! I loved this authors debut book and was excited to read another. I really enjoyed the story and cult like aspect

2.5 ⭐️ When I saw the description of this book I was immediately interested and after loving The Quiet Tenant by this author I went in with high expectations. It took me a little while to get in to the story as the pacing is quite slow, I really liked the dual past/present timelines and was anticipating some darkness within the past chapters. I hoped they would give me a wider insight into the characters and help me connect to them but unfortunately this didn’t happen. The chapters were very descriptive but I didn’t find much of it added any value to the story. I enjoyed the cult chapters but I would have enjoyed the book more if I’d have found out more about the cult than I did. I didn’t feel a suspense build up so the reveal and final twist fell a little flat for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, publisher and author for this ARC!

After reading the authors debut novel, and loving it, I was very excited to receive an ARC for this book. Unfortunately, I was a little let down by this book. The authors first book had a lot of social commentary and a feminist take on a serial killer thriller, which I loved. This one had none of that, and felt like a run of the mill cult thriller. The story itself didn’t feel exciting, I didn’t care about any of the characters and the plot twist left me bored. I did not love this one.

Having read Clémence's first book, The Quiet Tenant, and absolutely loving it, I couldn't wait to dive straight into this book - and I was not disappointed.
This was absolutely captivating - you cannot put this one down.
One of the best suspense/thriller novels I've read in a long time.
I haven’t read a book that had me on the edge of my seat like this in quite a while.
The narrative skillfully weaves a web of suspense, leaving you curious and holding your breath from beginning to end. Michallon's ability to maintain tension throughout the book creates an immersive experience that captivates the reader's attention. A compelling read for those who enjoy a gripping psychological thriller.

Thank You NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Once I got into this book, I really go into it and flew through it.
If you are looking for a book with a cult background, this has it. We follow Gabriel and Frida who grew up in a cult and we alternate chapters between their background story and the now where they are on vacation together at a resort and someone gets murdered. Told through Frida's point of view throughout.
We get a lot of cult and I was here for it. I liked the way their background was relevant to the situation in the present. I felt the length of the book was just right as was the pacing. The only reason it does not get higher stars is solely because the outcomes of a couple of mysteries were quite obvious - not unexpected. Otherwise a solid well written book with good character connection between the 2 main characters.
Many thanks to Elliott & Thompson for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

not my favourite thriller of all time but would recommend to anyone who wants a quick and captivating read. My biggest issue is that when I downloaded the book the spacing format made it extremely hard to read and that took away from the reading experience for me! I changed the font size, font, and margins but still the format was not working for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Publisher Knopf and Author Clémence Michallon for the advanced e-copy of Our Last Resort.

The idea of a cult.. A cult told from the inside?.. this might be my guilty pleasure, what really peaked my interest in this book. This is a perfect palate cleanser, one that got me out of a slump.

The dual timeline added the extra touch this work needed to combine the stories and create proper character development. Close to the middle of the book, the story picked up, and I was invested in Frida, the main character. Her thoughts, her perks.. her quirks.. but her brain.. She's beautiful.

Not to go too much into detail, I was invested in the development of the three main events - crimes - criminal investigations that were left somewhat open, but always threatening to reveal the truth to the wrong person, and how it affected Frida and Gabriel. All in all, their love is strong and is what's keeping them together.

I adore the uniqueness of Clémence Michallon's books. Whilst this story isn't as gripping a thriller as her last book was, it is a fascinating exploration into the lives of Frida and Gabriel, who grew up in a. cult, and the impact it had in shaping the people they become as adults. The character development is outstanding and the writing flows well.

When the "siblings" take a holiday at a luxury resort together, they find themselves caught up in a murder case. As the investigation gathers momentum, secrets from the past start to unravel, making Frida and Gabriel question how well they really know each other and who they can trust.

The plot is fast paced and there are some epic twists that had me floored! A great read!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Clémence Michallon and Elliott & Thompson for an ARC of this book.

, I’d like to thank NetGalley, Clémence Michallon, and Elliot & Thompson for the opportunity to read Our Last Resort in exchange for my honest review.

I flew through this book—it completely sucked me in and held my attention from the start. The writing was immersive, and the pacing made it hard to put down.

I was especially fascinated by the cult elements and the emotional journey of Frida and Gabriel as they escaped that life and worked to build something new for themselves. Their resilience and quiet strength were compelling and heartbreaking all at once.

While I did have a sense of the twist coming, and it didn’t totally shock me, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

This was a fast paced and captivating read, perfect for those who enjoy psychological suspense with emotional depth.

The story is told from Frida's POV over a dual timeline. We learn about her and Gabriel's past while in the present, the police close in on the killer.

Their past reveals some dark secrets, but what impact do those secrets have on who they are now?

I would say this is a suspense thriller and a fairly slow burn one, but the pace picks up in the last part as the culprit and secrets are revealed.

I enjoyed it, but not as much as her first book The Quiet Tenant.

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️ on Netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley, Elliott & Thompson and Clémence Michallon for the ARC of this book to read and review. My opinions are my own.

** spoiler alert **


Our Last Resort
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC given for review. All opinions are my own.

Our Last Resort was for me a book that for as many pages it had it really didn't say much. I felt like it was two stories in one. On one end we have the cult flash backs that the two siblings had survived and then trying to solve the murder mystery of one of the guests at the resort during the present time. I felt that what was going on during the present time between Frida and Gabriel was overshadowed from what happened when they were kids in the cult.
When the truth was uncovered of who and why the person was killed at the resort fell flat because something that Frida had done nine years ago seemed to bring a conclusion to the story.