The resort is the perfect spring break beach read! The character development was fantastic, and the storytelling was on point. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was incredible. A definite must-read!

2.5 stars 🌟

I really wanted to like this book. The setting (Thailand resort) was new and exciting, and the plot seemed interesting enough. Maybe because it didn't grab me right away, the story never really stood a chance. But I could just not connect with this story at all. I definitely didn't hate it. But I feel so incredibly indifferent. Is that better or worse than hate?

Let me list the reasons for my indifference:

1. The main and supporting characters were very flat. They promised mystery and intrigue, but there weren't any stakes involved. I didn't care enough about these characters, whether they had a bad past or not. The storyline kind of relied on readers caring about these secrets to have impactful reveals/twists. Brooke was the only character who seemed interesting enough for me, but even her backstory was kind of irrelevant. Everybody has a backstory - so why should I particularly care about these guys?

2. Pacing was odd. It just took so long for anything to happen. Did anything happen? There were only like 3 scenes where action actually started driving the story along. Literally, the only parts I really remember are when they find the body during the dive, going through someone's apartment, and the "big" ending (which, by the way, got so chaotic and out of hand that it was laughable).

3. Was this a mystery or thriller? Or merely a good suspense novel? No.

4. I thought the ending would at least pay off. But it was confusing and weird. See #2. It reminded me of <i>Murder on the Orient Express</i> but without any real impact. I still don't know who the real killer was. Was there a killer? Was this a murder mystery? Or was it about these deadly shenanigans going on at <b>The Resort</b>? What was the point of any of it? There was too much going on, but still not enough interest for me.

5. The vibes were weird.

6. The narrators had nice soothing voices but had zero expression. Every character sounded exactly the same. Some accents (or at least attempts to make voices sound different) would have been appreciated. Also, some chapters between Cass and Brooke got confusing because they almost seemed to shift between first and third person within a chapter. Some "perspective changes" didn't actually offer anything. Had there been more variety in expressions, it might have made this story more exciting!

<i>Shoutout to Netgalley, RB Media and Recorded Books for early access in exchange for my honest review. Happy Publication Day!</i>

Thank you to Recorded Books and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook copy of THE RESORT by Sarah Ochs!

Rating: 3.5 / 5
Publication Date: 2/6/2024

THE RESORT is set on Koh Sang, a secluded, yet world-famous, party island in Thailand. Cass is a scuba diving instructor taking diving newbies out off the coast when things quickly go wrong. On what should have been a routine dive, by the time they get back to shore there is someone dead and someone else needs medical attention. Cass has been keeping secrets and fears that everything is going to come to light. Cass is sure that someone is out to destroy her life.

I of course had to pick this book up when I saw a thriller set in Thailand and I was excited to read it while on my travels to that very country. I wound up enjoying my time with this audiobook, though I will say that it was a bit slow to engage me in the beginning. We're following two main POVs and it took me a while to really figure out who was who in this story. I wound up wishing that I had the physical copy in front of me to be able to flip back and forth a bit. This could just be that the narration didn't quite distinguish between characters well enough, though my being tired on my travels also could have contrigbuted.

I did enjoy the twists and turns that this story took and trying to figure out how everything would come together in the end. While I did find it a fun story, I did feel like it went on a bit long toward the end of the book. That said, I definitely would read more from this author in the future.

THE RESORT (THE DIVE in the UK) is out now!

🎧 “The Resort” by Sara Ochs
Published February 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @netgalley for this audiobook

Set on a remote tropical island of Koh Sang, Thailand where few tourists visit this is a crazy “vacationing in paradise”thriller. Everyone has a secret and when bodies start being found are they accidents or is someone picking people off?

Thank you Netgalley, Sara Ochs, and RB Media for the advanced audiobook copy!! This was a great and thrilling listen narrated by a wonderful cast of Miranda Raison, Dakota Blue Richards, Joe Jameson, and Pema Monaghan. This book played like a movie with a who done it and why. The twists at the end will have you telling l reeling!!!

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.

Really didn't like this book.

Recommended for adults who like mystery/thrillers. 3 murders. Whodunnit?

Who will like it most?
Readers of the physical or digital book.

Characters - 1/5
Writing - 2/5
Plot - 2/5
Pacing - 2/5
Unputdownability- 3/5
Enjoyment- 1/5
Narration - 0/5
Cover - 5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for this opportunity.

Unlikable characters. I didn't care about them.
Unreliable and questionable "narrators" meaning the character POV.

Set in Thailand, which was interesting.

Terrible audiobook narrators with no emotion, mispronunciation, no attempt at male voices, no accents. I recommend you read the book or ebook if you are interested.

Trigger warnings for date rape, violence, murder.

Thank you too Netgalley and RB Media for this opportunity.

The Resort by Sara Ochs is the perfect thriller audiobook! This story transported me right onto the island. It felt like spring break in February. I didn’t see all of the twists coming and I love that!

*
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.
*
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*
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!

I didn’t really care for the narration. I will try again later when the story might catch me more. I like the concept of the story.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, set on a remote resort in Koh Sang, Thailand! The story was narrated by Brooke, an influencer new to the island, and Cass, a "permanent" employee, running from her past. There are shady characters and twists galore down to the last chapter! I love thrillers set on holiday and this one was a lot of fun to listen to!

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

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were completely wrong for this book. The book itself started out slow and there was a lot going on. I liked the island setting but felt like the story could have been shorter and done better. I’m sure this will be a favorite for some but it was not for me.

This audiobook was done really well. Overall I enjoyed this story, I really always love the whole killers on an island concept in general. The setting was described well and helped me imagine I was there. I would read another story by Sara! The narrator(s) voice was very similar for both women which made it a little hard to decipher between the two at time. The slow burn was definitely burning but then boom, it started moving out of nowhere lol.

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.

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

Because someone has discovered Cass’s dark secret, and on an island as remote as this, there aren’t many places to hide. There is a killer waiting, and whoever it is will stop at nothing until Cass’s life is ruined and justice is finally served.

Slow burn mystery set out on a small island. A group of permanent residents that work at a resort that has now had two suspicious deaths. It was a fun listen to try to figure out “whodunit”. I enjoyed the remote setting and twists. I struggled a little bit keeping up with Cass and Brookes POV because I found the narrators voices to be very similar. The middle got to be a little slow, but the twist in the end was a shocker!

🌴 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!

Escape to paradise but don’t stay too long. Someone is making sure visitors never leave — one murder at a time.

The Resort starts as a slow burn but quickly picks up after another body is found during a scuba dive. Every character has their secrets and reasons for hiding out in the idyllic remote party island in Thailand. I found myself suspicious of all the characters throughout the entire book!

The ending is action packed, and I couldn’t stop listening. It’s full of surprises and suspense. The unpredictable finish is impossible to guess.

There are multiple POVs in this murder mystery thriller. The four different narrators made it easy to follow. The Resort is an entertaining and engaging listen even when the plot gets a bit convoluted in places.

Overall, The Resort is a fun escape listen.

Book Review: The RESORT
STARS: 4 X 5
Author: Sara Ochs @saraochsauthor
Publisher: @sourcebooks
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC.

There is a fictional party island call Koh Sang in Thailand. It is that place you go to get from all and start anew. This is what Cass has done. She moved to this island to forget her past. She fell in love with a fellow “permanent” named Logan and found a family with the other workers at the resort.

Instagram Influencer and Blogger Brooke arrives on the island. Just before Brooke arrived a woman accidentally fell to her death. After being on the island a few weeks and getting to know all the permanents another body of a tourist is found in the ocean when Cass is out with her scuba diving students.

Cass and Brooke start to investigate these two deaths. The two of them start to get cryptic messages warning them to about their investigation. They do not let these warnings distract them and when a few more deaths occur, they start to get scared. There are so many secrets that the permanent a keeping, it occurs to them that one of them could be the killer. Both Cass and Brooke have secret motives about looking into these killings. Will they turn on each other and will they find the killer before another person is killed?

This books starts out slow and a bit confusion with the introduction of so many characters. The book is written from each of Cass and Brooke’s perspectives which does take a little getting use to. I will tell you to hang in there because the story will bet going. Once it does you will not want to put it down. The twist and turns just keeps coming as the story unfolds. I actually thought I had figured out who the killer was but I was way off. The ending of this book was a big surprise that I did not see coming.

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This was a fun one! Multiple POV’s, a remote isolated setting, and an unrelaiable narrator - the perfect combination for a fun thriller in my opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for my review copy!