Would recommend for fans of…
🏝️ We Were Never Here
🏝️ The Hike
🏝️ Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead

With summer (nearly) here, it’s time to start picking up alllllll the beachy books, and The Resort was at the top of my list. It follows two women – Cass and Brooke – who have left their lives (and secrets) behind and found a new home at the Koh Sang Resort. Until a resort guest dies and brings all of their secrets to the surface.

While the reader is immediately aware that everyone at the resort has a secret, it does take a minute for the action to heat up, and even longer for the puzzle pieces to connect the seemingly disparate events that have happened. But once it does, this story is so gripping! I had planned to read a few chapters a day, but once I hit the 70% mark, I binged the rest because I had to know what happened. I was also a big fan of the ending – it was a perfect way to end the story.

Whether you’re headed to the beach, or stuck in the city this summer, The Resort, which is out now, is the perfect book to add to your TBR this summer. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller was really good. The storyline and plot was really intriguing and help my interest. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

2.5 stars. I found the characters in this story to just be ridiculous. This trope is so overdone as well. I think I've just gotten sick of reading books with this getaway on an island and a murder happens theme. It wasn't for me.

This was a cool read that I really devoured. I didn't suspect the real killer until the reveal. It was masterfully done, however I didn't love that the book pitted these women against each other. The whole idea that the expats were killing people to keep their past lives a secret was intriguing but the ending was unsettling. The whole cast of characters made me feel like all these people were hiding shit and weren't good people. However, Cass felt like she deserved a better ending. Brooke felt selfish and rash and while I felt bad for her after reading the epilogue I also felt like the author clearly recognized she didn't deserve a happily ever after either.

4 1/2 stars

At a resort on Koh Sang Island, in Thailand, life seems like it should be paradise. Except bodies of guests start to appear far too regularly. What’s behind these deaths? More, who’s behind them?

I found this book to be a well-written and well-plotted story. It includes an interesting collection of characters with extraordinary backstories offering an international cast. It allows the reader to have plenty of possible perpetrators, and it will keep them guessing to the last moment.

This is a tale of a serial killer, of mental health, betrayal, and rape. Of assumed identities, of hidden pasts with hidden events. It’s about friends and coworkers, about the animosity between the locals and the tourists. There are secrets, surprises, and twists and turns.

I found this to be an interesting page-turner of a thriller. It focused on a small group of employees of the resort and their relationships and interactions. It included some of the guests and how they and the employees interacted.

This is a book that is definitely worth the time to read.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

This fell short for me. The story is told mostly from 2 person's perspectives/angles.....& I'd actually more than once, found myself a bit confused.....as to who was who.....there seemed to be several people who were 'not who we thought they were'! I felt the whole thing came off as kind of sophomoric. I was never too invested in any of the characters, & it seemed like there was an excess dose of deception & misdirection & felt that scenes & plot had to be overly explained to present why/what was happening.....it might be kind of described as a 'lukewarm mess'! There was just enough there to keep me reading on, to finish it.....
On the more positive side, it can be read pretty quickly & doesn't require a lot of investment..... in spite of the described frequent confusion!
I did receive a complimentary e-copy of the book from publisher Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for review purposes, & this is my own fair/honest review.

There is a reason why you find yourself working on a remote, paradise island and it's usually one you don't want to share....that's why people live there, to get away from SOMEthing. It's how we are introduced to the Permanents and the tourists and how they intertwine on this remote garden of eden. 
    An unexpected death in a scuba accident starts the chain of events that makes the book start the unraveling of their past lives and what they have been avoiding.
    The book reminded me of an eddy with wide circles that get smaller and more intense as it goes on. I read faster and faster because I was caught up in the events that kept me going in circles.
    A compelling read full of secrets and surprises.

This is a new to me author so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I actually liked ir so much that I’ll read more of her work.

It’s a different genre than what I usually read, which was an added bonus.

Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay... wow this thriller sounded super interesting from the start and i’m so glad i received it as an arc! there were so many twists and turns that kept me fairly engaged. however, i read so many mystery books, this one doesn’t compare to others i’ve read and obsessed over. the epilogue was shocking and i’m impressed with the journey the book took me on!

I absolutely loved this novel as it's a whirlwind of crazy activities all taking place in a beautiful seaside resort in Thailand. Initially scuba-diving instructor Cass and boyfriend Logan get engaged but the drowned body of Lucy is discovered underwater with strangle marks around her neck. Then we have travel-blogger/influencer Brooke who is more than excited to have such "newsworthy" events to report. But as it turns out there have been two other suspicious deaths on the island so tensions are high as tourists are frightened and the "Permanents" are worried that tourism will suffer if the murder isn't solved. The novel vacillates in time as we see who is involved and what events led up to these deaths.It's a wonderfully convoluted--my favorite kind--plot that kept my head spinning until the last page!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Sara Ochs's "The Resort" offers a captivating escape with its lush tropical backdrop and a web of intriguing characters harboring hidden motives.

Cass has sought refuge as a dive instructor at the serene Koh Sang Resort, nestled on a secluded island in Thailand, finding solace among fellow expats known as the "Permanents." But paradise is shattered when one of Cass's students perishes during a diving expedition, sparking suspicions of foul play. As Cass delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding the resort, she uncovers a disturbing pattern of unexplained deaths. With each revelation, Cass grapples with the unsettling realization that her idyllic sanctuary may be concealing sinister truths from her past.

"The Resort" is a riveting thriller that will keep readers guessing at every turn. Sara Ochs expertly crafts a narrative brimming with unexpected twists, ensuring an exhilarating journey into the shadows lurking beneath the surface and the secrets that lurk amidst the tranquil façade of paradise. This is a perfect summer read.

The Resort by Sara Ochs
mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0

This was a 4 star read until the epilogue so of course I can’t tell you why. During the rest of the read however it kept me on my toes.

I liked the idea of this book, but it was a little slow. It seemed like most of the storytelling took places in the last 30%, so it took me awhile to get there.

The setting in The Resort was stunning and despite everything that happened it made me want to visit Thailand so badly!

The fact that this is Ochs' debut is breathtaking—her ability to create something so unique, thrilling, engaging, enrapturing, and funny at times was such a pleasure to read. I really appreciated the dual POV here and found the pacing to be absolutely perfect because of it. The twists and turns, foreshadowing, and character development were perfectly executed as well. I just loved this!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

Actual Rating: 3.5

A fun summery thriller from debut author Sara Ochs!

This wasn’t anything special but was an overall good time. I received an ALC and ARC from Netgalley and the publisher but ultimately I read this purely from audio.

I think the narration was well done! We had two different female narrators for our two main characters, Brooke and Cas. Plus a few other one-off narrations! I’ve seen some reviews mention one narrator being a bit all over the place but I think that was an intentional and smart choice!

Plot wise, I found some of this predictable but that wasn’t a bad thing! There are a lot of reveals in the third quarter that felt a little unnecessary though when we get to the ultimate conclusion. I think a lot of these characters you’re supposed to dislike to varying degrees and the few characters I was completely behind and rooting for, kept making stupid choices that frustrated me.

Ultimately I had a fun enough time with this and I look forward to what comes next from Sara Ochs!

2.5

Too many characters with too many stories trying to be major plot points.
The end was a good surprise but it took a lot to get there.

Spoilers:

I hate when characters barely mentioned are the killers, but that's what happens when you try to do too much.
Also rape revenge is a cop out and a lame play to me.
Who would believe a family would name a child Jacinta and another Lucy??
Xanax hallucinations and memory loss with taking two pills and a drink or two is a little over the top.

The Resort
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Sara Ochs

I requested a digital and audio advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Sourcebooks and RB Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: A searing vacation thriller set on a remote island in Thailand following two mysterious women, a charismatic group of expats, and the one murder poised to bring their paradise crashing down.

Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay...

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.

My Thoughts: This was an interesting read. The twists are late and when they start coming, you are like oh my with a little whiplash action going on. Think of it, who flees to a hideaway island, far from where you actually live, and immediately trust others as if your life depended on it? Only a person who truly has something to hide from. I had really high expectations for this book and was slightly disappointed. Not a bad book, just not what I had hoped it would be. You do have to suspend belief a little bit, maybe a bit much. However, for a debut novel, this was really well written. Trigger warnings of mental illness, suicide, self-harm, and pedophilia - none of these warnings were dominant, just by mention.

The story is primarily narrated by Cass, dive instructor, and Brooke, social media influencer. There are also a ton of supporting characters and with this comes the secrets, deceit, lies, and a dangerous cat and mouse game of whodunit. We start off a little slow and somewhat confusing until we get the character layout straight. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and were intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, twisty, thought-provoking, and creative. Now the ending was a twisty madness of fabulous, definitely worth navigating through the characters and their secrets.

Overall, this was an enjoyable listen/read that I would recommend to other readers.

The Resort by Sara Ochs was an absolute rollercoaster from beginning to end! Highly recommend and will be purchasing for library collections.

A twisty mystery involving multiple deaths, two girls with past connections, secrets, and an unexpected ending. Some surprises wer ok, but not as shocking as they could have been.

Incredible thriller! Definitely didn’t see the big twist coming, let alone most of the small ones! The author really captured the setting and characters well.