THE GRAND PALOMA RESORT is a literary suspense novel that lays bare the stark divide between the wealthy tourists vacationing in the Dominican Republic and the locals who keep the industry afloat.

Beneath the glittering beaches and luxury resorts lies a darker reality of corruption and exploitation—of both land and people. The story centers on Laura, a driven resort employee willing to do whatever it takes to rise above her circumstances, and her younger sister Elena, who finds herself caught in a desperate and dangerous situation.

Interwoven with island intrigue is a deeper exploration of the Dominican Republic’s complex history and its fraught relationship with Haitians, often seen and treated as the underclass. This is a richly layered novel about survival, ambition, and sisterhood, examining what people sacrifice to change their lives and what they risk losing in the process.

Read this if you:
-enjoy a lush island setting with something darker beneath the surface
-like slow-burn suspense with social commentary
-are drawn to stories about complicated family bonds and resilience

Many thanks to the publisher for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a different feel than I expected. Right away we learn about two sisters: pill popping issues, and an injured child of a guest. I would not take my child to a foreign country and then let a stranger watch her and hurt her. Seems like culture issues here, rich people issues here, missing girls. I don't know. I was expecting a fun vacation book and this was different than that.

I thought this book was going to be different than it was. A resort in the Dominican, parents that leave their child with a stranger and she gets hurt. It seems almost like a sketchy country where things happen at the resort meets someone who is rich and thinks they can do anything they want. I didn't finish it.

Laura is a the manager of the luxurious Grandpa Paloma Resort and she is actively pushing for (and has been promised) a promotion that comes with a relocation. She created of a popular resort program that pairs every guest with their own resort employee that will fulfill any ask, no matter how outlandish.

Laura's sister Elena works at the resort as well, employed as a babysitter, but her sights are set on a different set of goals--she is interested in social justice and organizing and has been using pills to help her get by. The two sisters clash constantly with Laura concerned that Elena is not serious enough. Things threaten to go off the rails completely when Elena encounters the father of her babysitting charge at an area bar and offers up the two young daughters of the bar owner in exchange for a large wad of cash. As Elena flees, Laura tries to keep everything under control as everything starts to unravel.

Money, luxury, race and class are all deep themes in the story. For example, the resort is a 2,500-acre oasis in the Dominican Republic, dedicated to fulfilling its guests' every whim. The lives of its workers are another thing entirely. The resort has plenty of water as everything is diverted there to maintain the lush environment and keep the guests happy, but the town's residents have no running water and are forced to buy water by the truckful to sustain themselves. There is also a deep divide between the Dominican workers and the Haitian workers, but all are largely invisible to the white tourists that only see them as staff there to indulge them, not as individuals.

This story is told from multiple POVs, the different characters are motivated by different desires and have different relationships to the titular resort, all which are well crafted by author Cleyvis Natera.

The setting is exceptionally well developed as the environment and its surroundings play a big role in the story, especially when natural disaster strikes.

A solid, layered look at life behind the beauty of million dollar vacation locales and the dark side of consumer culture. 4.25 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Cleyvis Natera’s The Grand Paloma Resort is an evocative and beautifully written novel that immerses you in the vibrant worlds of its characters. Set against the backdrop of a Dominican community, the story explores themes of family secrets, cultural identity, and the enduring strength of heritage. Natera’s lyrical prose paints a vivid picture of life at the Grand Paloma Resort, capturing both its allure and underlying struggles. The characters are richly developed, each embodying layers of history and emotion that feel authentic and compelling. The narrative deftly weaves past and present, revealing how history shapes personal destinies. While there are moments where the pacing slows slightly, the depth of character exploration and the evocative storytelling more than compensate. The novel offers a heartfelt look at resilience in the face of change, and the importance of holding onto one’s roots. Overall, The Grand Paloma Resort is a moving and insightful read that celebrates family, culture, and the complexities of human connection. Definitely a book that lingers long after you finish.

Cleyvis writes a great suspenseful novel!

The setting, the characters, the themes were so well thought out! In a world where White Lotus and True Crime is at its hight this is a great story!

She explores race, social status, wealth, culture and familial relationships in a fantastic way that blends so beautifully with the mystery and plot!

I really enjoyed this book!