3.5 rounded up.

Honesty, I enjoyed this book! It was an intriguing book but it was a SLOOOOOW BURN. It starts out pretty quick and then in between it feels like it hits a little bit of a lull. The narration was fantastic. The island vibes were a 10/10. I enjoyed it from start to finish but I did find myself getting a little distracted in the middle. There were A LOT of characters all at once. The multiple POVs were great.

Huge thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the early audiobook of The Resort by Sara Ochs in exchange for my honest review.

**3.5**

In the midst of the dark dreary winter weather I couldn't wait to escape to "The Resort" set in the tropical islands of Thailand.The setting in this book was everything, and Sara Ochs did a fabulous job of sucking me in to the mysteriousness surrounding this perfect remote island.
Told from two characters points of view, Cass and Brooke, you get alternating takes on what is happening. Cass has recently become engaged to her boyfriend and works as a scuba instructor, she is running from her past. Brooke an influencer (apparently this is the new thing in books, including an influencer) is visiting the island...but why?The suspense was really building the first half of the book with 2 women dead, Cass's spotty memory and Brooke's skeptisism of the other "Permanents" (Those who live on the island).
I was enjoying the two women trying to solve the murders (but seriously in real life would two women do this? Um, no I would be booking my ticket back to the great U.S of A, I don't care what kind of crazy I did back state side) At one point I honestly didn't know who to trust.
Once the ending came to a head the book lost some momentum in my opinion (Hence the 1/2 star) There was so much "telling"--a la scooby doo style.
It was a little like eating a Sloppy Joe , messy and fast. That being said. I loved the epilougue and the author did one of my absolute favorite things......

I certainly look forward to reading more by this author. This being her debut shows she has great potential and I am glad I had the opportunity to review this book. Thank you Net Galley for this chance.

I recommend this book if you are looking for a fun escape from the Winter Blues!

Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay…

This story is a multiple POV with Cass, a scuba instructor and Brooke, a social media influencer. The story takes place at a resort called Koh Sang on an island in Thailand. Cass wanted a fresh start and moved to the island to become a scuba diving instructor, she finds the man of her dreams and gets engaged, things are so great..until her past starts to catch up with her. Brooke, is on vacation on the island documenting all of the hot spots the island has to offer. Things start going awry when women start showing up dead on the island. Maybe the island isn’t so perfect anymore? Both women become suspicious of each other and want to find out who is behind the murders.

I really enjoyed the island ambiance this book had, it made me want to travel to a tropical island (minus the murders). I liked both our main characters Brooke and Cass because you didn’t know who to believe, they both have secrets in their past that they didn’t want to surface and that kept me intrigued. I thought I had an idea of who the killer was, but I was thrown for a loop at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for sending me an ARC of The Resort in exchange for an honest review.

The Resort is a good suspenseful, resort-based thriller. It's a dual POV and alternates between Cass and Brooke, the main characters who are both on an island off the coast of Thailand. The resort looks beautiful, but there are so many mysteries going on and being hidden on this island. The beginning was a bit slow, but after that, this was a fast-paced thriller. There are so many secrets and lies that start to unravel pretty quickly in the story, and we realize that Cass and Brooke are trying to get away from their past. There are also some deaths happening on the resort and the two main characters are trying to figure out what happened. Overall this is a good mystery read, the twist at the end landed quite well, and I didn't see it coming. If you like thrillers full of secrets, friendships, mysteries, lies, and intrigue, then you need to read this.

I loved this book. A thriller set in a vacation destination in Thailand. Having been to Thailand before it was great to go back in this book. The ending was absolutely crazy and such a rollercoaster ride. Everyone, please read this book. There are so many twists so you never know whats coming.

First I’d like to thank Netgalley and RB Media for the early audiobook. I enjoyed this thriller and the authors debut novel. It caught my attention from the very beginning and I kept wanting to go back to the story. I loved the location and the descriptions of the island were amazing. I liked all the characters in the book even though there were a lot of them. I found them each shady and they were all suspects in my mind throughout the whole book which kept me guessing the whole book.

I really enjoyed the narrators of this audiobook. They both were so expressive and kept me engaged the whole time. I think my only complaint is that their voices were so similar that sometimes it was difficult to remember whose chapter I was on.

My other complaint in the book was the prose. I think it could have used a little editing. It felt a little wordy at times and that made it feel almost overly dramatic.

The ending of this book was twisty but I do wish that Brooke hadn’t jumped to so many conclusions. That felt like it came out of no where and then two minutes later she changed her mind again.

Overall, a solid 3.25 stars.

So, not at all what I was expecting.
You know, you see Resort, and you think I’m gonna be reading a light, bright, breezy island novel…about vacation…
Nope!
Not even close…
So we have Cass, who is a dive instructor on this beautiful island in Thailand. People come here from all over to dive and explore the island.
Then we have Logan her boyfriend…handsome and doting…

And then we have a whole array of people on the island… visiting, vacationing, working and living there…

When one of the dive students turns up dead, well, all bets are off.

We learn that in addition to a beautiful vacation spot, this place also has people who are harboring all sorts of secrets…

And as more people are getting hurt, more secrets start to come out!

Multiple twists and turns…some that will definitely blow your mind! 🤯

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook which is due to be released in about 10 days! (2/13/24)

#TheResort by #SaraOchs and narrated beautifully by a full cast!

Keep up with all my upcoming reviews and previews on Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or on
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Happy Reading!! 📚📖⭐️

"The Resort" is an enthralling novel by Sarah Ochs that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the mysteries and perils of the Koh Sang Resort in Thailand. The story revolves around Cass, a dive instructor with a troubled past, who finds solace among a group of ex-pats known as the Permanents. However, when dead tourists start to appear, Cass realises that dark secrets and danger lurk beneath the seemingly idyllic paradise.
The story is told from various perspectives, giving us a comprehensive understanding of the events happening on the island. The two main characters, Cass and Brook, have their secrets and motivations, making the plot more intricate. The resort's setting is described in detail, portraying a place that may appear perfect but is concealing hidden realities.
Although the narration was initially a bit monotone and not very engaging, I eventually got used to it and enjoyed the multiple perspectives. However, some plot aspects felt unrealistic and forced. Despite this, the overall pacing and tension of the novel kept me interested in the story, and I was eager to uncover the island's secrets.
"The Resort" is a captivating and thrilling book that explores the hidden darkness of a seemingly beautiful paradise. Although some parts of the plot may appear forced, the characters and the setting are impressive and engaging, making it an addictive and suspenseful read that keeps the reader hooked until the end.

This book was the definition of a slow burn and took much longer to get into than I wanted. I nearly didn't finish because I had to keep starting again to hook myself into the story. I also found the amount of characters introduced in the begining too complicated to actually attach myself to any of them. It's hard to sink into a story when you don't feel a connection to any of the characters.

Overall, this book turned out to be an interesting read but it took far too long to get into for my liking.

When someone is found dead underwater by a class of scuba divers this twisty mystery begins to unfold. This is the second woman dead in the pay few weeks. What is going on at the resort? A slow burn for sure

Special thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. There’s a lot of twists and turns to this story and I’ll be the first to admit it took me a minute to follow. I’m glad I stuck around because the twist and turns of this book surprised me. I initially was going to only give this one 3.5 stars but this ending put it at a solid 4. Well done!

"The Resort" by Sara Ochs unfolds against the backdrop of the Koh Sang Resort, a captivating tropical paradise that serves as the stage for suspense and mystery. The narrative kicks off with Cass's hidden past, injecting anticipation into the story, while the exploration of the expat community known as the Permanents adds depth by unraveling the characters' concealed histories. Notably, the inclusion of an influencer character breaks away from stereotypes, offering a fresh perspective that enriches the overall narrative.

However, as the plot develops, its complexity becomes convoluted, making it challenging to fully connect with the characters. The intricacies surrounding the mysterious deaths on the island could have been streamlined for a more immersive experience. The narrative occasionally feels disjointed, and uneven pacing hinders the natural flow of the story. Despite the suspense maintaining reader engagement, the resolution of the mystery may leave some yearning for more depth and clarity. The conclusion feels rushed, leaving loose ends that prevent a comprehensive resolution. Nevertheless, "The Resort" by Sara Ochs provides an escape into a world of intrigue and suspense, with its lush setting and diverse characters creating a unique atmosphere for mystery enthusiasts. The influencer character adds a distinctive layer, yet the underexplored character relationships leave a part of the ending's impact feeling incomplete. Fans of the mystery genre may find the novel appealing, though those seeking richer character dynamics might be left wanting.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC as well as an ALC.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RBMedia for the book #TheResort by #SaraOchs. This book is focused around a resort and people hiding from the world. It has murder, corruption and secrets that lead up to a surprising twist ending.

1 sentence review: I only watched 2 episodes, so don’t quote me on this, but this was giving me White Lotus vibes!!

The audiobook had a full cast, which is always a 5 ⭐️ narration in my book!

I can’t believe this is a debut!! The writing was phenomenal and the imagery was spot on, especially for a thriller! This had an engaging, interesting, and well thought out plot with twists just kept coming! This was such a fun and bingeable read and ending definitely threw me for a loop.

Read This if You Like:
- Murder mysteries set on secluded islands
- Thrillers with dual POV and multiple twists
- Unreliable narrators
- White Lotus, Fantasy Island, and The Guest List

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book had quite a few twists and turns and I was wondering what motivated Cass and Brooke. I was so sure I knew who was behind the murders, but was proved wrong in the end. I loved the setting of this book because it was such a beautiful landscape. This was such a great read.

A twisty debut thriller set on a remote, Thai island that sees a woman who has made a good life for herself living off the grid as a scuba instructor come face to face with someone looking for revenge.

As the bodies start piling up there is no shortage of suspects and I was left guessing on the edge of my seat right to the end.

Recommended for fans of other travel thriller authors like Roz Nay. This was also good on audio narrated by a full cast. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Koh Sang, a remote island in Thailand is where the guests come to get away from it all and dive and all of the residents are there because they are running away from something in their past and each of them is hiding a secret. Cass is a newly engaged dive instructor whose family died in mysterious circumstances. Brooke is travel influencer newly arrived on the island. Before Brooke arrived, a young tourist was murdered and now another tourist, Lucy, has arrived and is asking questions. Shortly after Lucy’s arrival she too is found dead. Now with multiple murders on such a small island and a limited pool of suspects, Cass’ past is about to be uncovered. However, just when you think you know who did it, the story twists again.

This thriller took a bit to get into but then I was hooked. I thought I knew who did it, but then I kept changing my mind and I’ll be honest I only figured it out because by the end I had accused everyone in my head. The novel alternates between Cass and Brooke’s POV and their backstories added an extra dimension to their characters that I enjoyed. I went back and forth between the audio and the book depending on where I was at the time and the narrator was great. This one was a fast and fun read and I had no idea it was a debut but I look forward to her next one!

34.25

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the ARC to review

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

Love, love, love this book! The narrators did a wonderful job and really brought the story to life! I loved the plot and just when I thought I had it all figured out, it completely changed and took me by surprise! I always enjoy a good unreliable narrator and this book is full of them! If you like mysteries, suspense, and psychological thrillers, you have to pick up this book!

A great mystery novel especially if you enjoy a slow burn. Almost like a locked in mystery with being set on an island and a simplistic set of characters. I did have an issue with the 2 narrators sounding similar tho one had an odd cadence. I had to backtrack a few times to see which character was “talking”. Great debut! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for review

A lovely book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one. A clever, engrossing story with fabulous characters.