The story is told in alternating chapters between Cass, a scuba diving instructor and a Permanent, and Brooke, a social media influencer on vacation who becomes involved with one of the Permanents. Although both women hide secrets, both are suspicious of everyone, and both are equally compelling characters, the story is more plot-forward than character-forward. Och’s ability to perfectly place her clues makes this an astounding crime thriller. Her twist was spectacular and was made possible by the dark, intriguing and pacey story. It definitely has Agatha Christie vibes

If I was a DNF-er I would have stopped reading The Resort by Sara Ochs at 40% in.

I'm not going to guarantee that this is spoiler free, so proceed with caution!

-the two main characters are instantly best friends, despite having only been together at the resort for a couple weeks (with not many interactions occurring during that time)
-at 33% in, one character describes the other one way (with supporting examples) and a couple paragraphs later completely contradicts the previous description (again, with supporting examples)
-I didn't like any of characters (all were surface level); one in particular kept pointing fingers, only to change their mind, instantly pointing elsewhere ad nauseam
-the twist clues were laid out so poorly, or were completely non-existent, causing the whole book to feel incredibly sloppy
-traumatic assault was broached from two different conflicting stances, neither handled with sensitivity
-mental health representation seemed convenient instead of an actual plot point to pivot around
-there is way too much going on for this book to be coherent
-although I had stopped caring, the ending mentions transporting cremated remains around to various countries in a zip-top bag (I have SO many issues with this)
-the female main character audiobook narrators had such similar sounding voices which caused me to forget which character was speaking for most of the book; there was a lack of emotion and anticipatory build up from the voice actors; pronunciations were odd or wrong at times

I have thought long and hard about what I did enjoy with this book, and I've come up with - the cover. It's pretty, sets the island tone and has a slightly hidden image. But… trigger warnings abound with rape, mental health, suicidal ideation, suicide and addiction - none of which I had anticipated by that beach resort cover!

Overall: poor execution, although I can see what the author was trying to achieve.

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, RB Media and Recorded Books for the complimentary copies to read and review.

When Cass sets foot on the coast of Thailand's world-famous party island, she's searching for an escape. With dark secrets following her every move, Koh Sang becomes the perfect place to hide. Now, years later, she is a local dive instructor alongside the Permanents, a group of expats who have claimed the island as their own. The Permanents don't linger on who they were before the island. Like Cass, they all have something to outrun.

When a dive student is found dead and paradise comes crashing down. This isn't the first mysterious death on the island, and it won't be the last. Be careful who you trust. Someone knows who Cass is and they're ready to make sure justice is finally served.

This is a thriller full of secrets. Everyone is hiding something and everyone has their own reasons for coming to the island. None of the characters are likeable and you don't know who to trust. As things begin to happen we learn a little more about everyone's background.

The place is slow, and with so many secrets, it's a lot to get through. It's a little unbelievable with all the stuff going on, and I didn't care about any of it.. I think other readers will enjoy this more than I did. I also recommend to not skip the epilogue because it's properly twisty.

This should have been my jam, which might have been part of the problem. Two chapters in I felt like I knew where everything was going. Because of that, I couldn't stay focused on the story, so much so that I kept dozing off while reading. I know there is already a ton of buzz around this book, but for me, I just don't get the hype.

A vacation resort or a hideaway for outcasts on the run. Koh Sang in Thailand has become a perfect place to hide. Except people are still mysteriously dying. Follow Cass and Brooke, Discover their secrets. Who is guilty and who is innocent. Who is next to die. Highly recommended read!

THE RESORT is the book version of the quote "No matter where you go, there you are" in so many different ways. Cass has run away from her life and ended up at a dive resort in Thailand. She starts receiving threatening messages and is now thinking her past has finally caught up with her. Brooke is a travel influencer and has ended up at the same resort, escaping her life for different reasons. So-called "accidental" deaths have been happening on the island, and after the third, they wonder if maybe they're all connected.

I did not love Cass and Brooke. I felt like their POV chapters were too similar- unreliable, paranoid, hidden agendas. The secondary characters felt like they were just there, so there really was no one to fall back on to save the story. The story itself was intriguing enough I guess, because I did continue to flip the pages, but I think the most 'jaw-dropping' part was the epilogue and you're either gonna love it or hate it. 2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you Sourcebooks for providing me with my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: attempted suicide, rape

The Resort is an absolutely delicious destination thriller that is guaranteed to keep you glued to the page from the very first murder through the very last twisty reveal.

I am such a massive fan of books that toss you right into the action, and then never let off the gas. Give me a plot that will keep you on your toes with unreliable narrators, atmospheric tension and a perfectly paced unravelling of a mystery - which @saraochsauthor weaves together here BRILLIANTLY.

I devoured this book in one day, including reading it throughout the Super Bowl, while at a noisy party and with my goddaughter climbing all over me - THAT is how much I needed to know how the story ended. And the ending DELIVERS. This book is lose-yourself in the plot, popcorn thriller, pure, delicious entertainment. You cannot miss it.

Many thanks to @bookmarked for the copy and Sara - I am ready for whatever you dream up next!

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Summary: There are three rules to follow during a vacation at the famous Koh Sang Resort

1 – Leave the past behind.

When Cass sets foot on the coast of Thailand’s world-famous party island, she’s searching for an escape. With dark secrets following her every move, Koh Sang becomes the perfect place to hide.

2 - Always be careful of who you trust.

Now, years later, Cass is a local dive instructor alongside the Permanents, a group of expats who have claimed the island as their own. The Permanents don’t linger on who they were before the island. Simply because, like Cass, they all have something to outrun.

3 – If someone discovers who you really are, run.

But suddenly, a dive student is found dead and paradise comes crashing down. Because this isn’t the first mysterious death on the island, and it won’t be the last. Someone knows who Cass is and they’re ready to make sure justice is finally served.
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Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts- this was a perfectly enjoyable thriller. I loved the setting in an inclusive resort it made me want to jump on a plane and travel there, until the murders started. 😂 Cass was in interesting main character, I couldn’t stop listening to this audiobook. It took a lot of great twists and turns, some predictable and some not. Overall a fun, fast paced that that would be totally perfect to lounge on the beach and read. Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebooks for the gifted audiobook!
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The weather in NJ is quite the opposite of lovely resort weather 😂 we are currently covered in snow but
QOTD- how is the weather by you today ?!

Ohhhhh this book was so much fun! Murder and intrigue and friends who aren't really your friend...all at a holiday resort on a tiny island in the Pacific. I loved the fast-paced story and the alternating perspectives. I thought the book got off to a slow start, but then it really took off and kept me guessing until the very end. What a fantastic read!

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

Twists and uncertainly until the very last page! This was a fun romp from two different perspectives- characters all had something to hide- and how their truth is laid bare, but at what cost? The atmosphere was palpable, character development was good, and this had just enough ‘juice’ to keep me coming back for more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 rounded up.

Slow burn that paid off in the end.

Struggled with the beginning myself. Told from alternating point of views, Cass who lives in the island and Brooke an influencer who is visiting. Took awhile for much to happen then when it did was a bit slow to reveal how it all was going to weave together but it sure did come together nicely!! Had some surprises that I did not see coming and the epilogue…..wowzers! Not one for spoilers but definitely left my head spinning.

Liked the main characters and felt they had depth and relatable characteristics! Just don’t enjoy scenery descriptions myself 🤷🏼‍♀️

Overall enjoyed and would recommend if you can do slow burn.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a very slow burn mystery. Lots of characters being introduced. I am never a fan of books that are so slow.

The cover and description both made me so excited to receive an ARC of this author's debut novel, and it did not disappoint! A beautiful resort on a remote Thai island where people keep dying... what a setting!

This was a wild ride! Multiple POVs usually aren't my favorite but I liked getting to know the characters through their own voices. I didn't particularly connect with either of them, but they were still integral to the story. Toss in a bunch of secrets, a remote setting, and some red herrings, and I could not put this book down! The beautiful but unpredictable setting really added to the story. The first half was a bit of a slow burn to set everything up, but the second half flew by. I guessed some of the twists and the ending was absolutely off the rails, but the epilogue redeemed it for me. I'd absolutely recommend this one when it comes out, and am excited to see what the author does next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy!

I enjoyed the setting of this book. It was definitely a vibe, however I didn’t enjoy the execution of the story. I had a hard time getting through the chapters and fell bored some times.

I loved the exotic setting but did not connect with any of the characters. Could be they read a little young for me or maybe they were just unlikable. Such a slow burn, which is not a favorite of mine, but I was interested in seeing if my initial guess was correct. And it was. Yay me. But when the slow burn, burns off, the fireworks begin. No warning in the change just hello, lets speed things up and change all that you know.

While I didn't love this one, I think the author is one to watch and I'll be interested in her next book.

And the audiobook has a full cast narrating all the characters, but since the book is mainly told from Brook and Cass's POVs, they didn't all have a lot of narration. While the two women have different narrators, I still at times had a little trouble knowing who the narrator was at times. I would need to switch back to the book to set myself straight.

This book definitely improved as it progressed. I started by listening to the audio edition, but found the voices of the two main charcters so much alike, I was't sure who was who. Switched to the kindle edition which was more satisfying. I love destination mysteries that make me want to visit the place, and this one certainly did that. Very interesting ending, which I will not give away. As little as I know about diving, main character is a diving instructor, I know not to dive alone, especially when there is a storm coming in!

🌴 The Resort - Sara Ochs

3 ⭐️ - This was good! If you like deserted islands, dead bodies, and mysterious characters, this one’s for you. This would be a good book to break up your beachy light reads this summer! Look for this one hitting shelves on 2/13!


I read a lot of thrillers and while a lot of them have twins and turns that surprise me, this one felt a little predictable. The characters are unreliable, liars, and mysterious. The changing POV helps give this book a quick, suspicious vibe that makes you want to keep reading. Trust no one but yourself! If you’re a Lucy Foley fan, you’ll enjoy this one!
Thank you Netgalley, RB Media, and Sourcebooks Landmark for the early listener and reader copies! This one is also a February Book of the Month pick!

Thank you to @Netgalley and @SourceBooks for allowing me to read The Resort by Sara Ochs early! I read the synopsis and I knew it sounded like just the book for me.

The Resort takes place on an island off the coast of Thailand. You follow two women. One woman has been living there for a few years, she’s recently engaged, and she’s clearly hiding something. The other woman has been there for a few weeks and has some secrets of her own. This is a party island until it seems to be having a lot of dead bodies as of lately…. Maybe the party will be over soon?

❤️Review❤️

I liked the setting of this book. I’m a sucker for books that take place on a remote island with a resort. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but for the most part I stayed invested in trying to figure out what was going on. The hard part is everyone on this island has secrets and could be considered unreliable. So it was hard to really put your finger on what was going on. By the end it felt like it was trying a little too much with all of these side plots going on. Multiple deaths and histories that didn’t always feel like they had a place. I would have liked it to be a little more focused instead of feeling all over the place. I do however see this being a perfect page turner for the beach this summer. So I would definitely check it out if it was something you’d be interested in.

3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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We follow two women called The Permanents or as we would call them expats… and a murder who are all set upon each other at a resort in Thailand. Cass is a local scuba diver who instructs tourists. She is instructing the two expats when unexpectedly there’s a death in the group. But this isn’t the first death and secrets about Cass are coming to light.

I guess I had high hopes when I saw this story. It isn’t bad but it wasn’t like wow. It definitely was a slow build with a big twist. And some slow builds can turn me off. There are a lot of red flags with people while reading so of course you’ll be like this person.. not this person when trying to figure the story out and I liked that. Definitely more plot than character. The story itself is told in Cass’s pov and Brooke(one of the permanents) pov and being trapped on this island. They both have secrets and they both have pasts.

So all in all, I enjoyed what Sara was trying to portray but I think the slow build turned me off.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! Unfortunately, The Resort wasn’t for me. This trope is overdone and I found the novel to be predictable and there wasn’t anything memorable or unique for me, as an avid thriller reader. I think someone who hasn’t read many thrillers with this trope would adore this!