Our Last Resort is one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you. It took me a little while to settle into the story, the pacing at the start felt a bit slow, and the structure was slightly disorienting at first. But once I got into the rhythm of it, I found myself fully pulled into this dark, layered mystery. The writing is quietly suspenseful, more atmospheric than action packed, and there’s a simmering sense of unease that builds as the story unfolds.

The novel follows Frida, who reunites with Gabriel, the man she was raised alongside in a cult. Though not related by blood, they share a deeply complicated history, and the story moves between present day Utah—where they’re on vacation together—and haunting flashbacks from their childhood. Frida’s voice is the only perspective we get, which adds to the tension, especially after a woman is found dead at their resort. From that point on, the book becomes a guessing game, Frida is constantly questioning how well she really knows Gabriel, and I found myself doing the same. I truly couldn’t decide whether he was innocent or hiding something more sinister.

If you’re in the mood for a slow burn with a payoff, this one’s worth sticking with. It’s not a traditional thriller with shocking twists on every page, but there’s a quiet intensity that kept me turning the pages. Michallon’s writing is sharp, and the exploration of trauma, memory, and the messy bond between Frida and Gabriel adds depth to the mystery.

Siblings Frida and Gabriel are no strangers to trouble. While trying to reconnect on a vacation, a beautiful guest is murdered and they've somehow gotten wrapped up in the case as persons of interest. This doesn't look good (for obvious reasons,) but especially for Gabriel who has had a missing wife in his past. Through flashbacks of their cult upbringing and escaping the horrors that they endured, we find out what makes these two tick.

I couldn't put this down, yet I feel like something was missing. The end was a bit rushed, but I do really love the way Clémence Michallon can tell a story. 3.5 stars rounded down and a good summer read!

Thank you to Clémence Michallon, Knopf, and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange of my honest review.

Good book. Not as good as her last book but still good. I liked the cult aspects as cults interest me. Some of it was a bit confusing and far fetched. I would still recommend.

Clemence Michallon’s books are where terrible, horrible, and often tragic things happen to people but their stories are told in impeccably plotted and lovingly rendered ways. To say Michallon has a way with words is an understatement–she’s writing some of the most fascinating thriller fiction I’ve read in the last few years and she’s only just started.

Our Last Resort doesn’t lack for a good story or poor writing–it simply suffers from what I felt was a bit of a rocky start and a lack of cohesion between the two stories being told. I just felt like the two stories didn’t connect as much as Michallon obviously aimed for. Obviously, this could totally be a “me” problem, and I’m willing to accept that. Like I said, the book is written very well and it’s not like it was a bad book. It simply could’ve been so much better. 3⭐️


I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews three stars or below will not appear on my main social media channels. Thank you.

This was a really easy and fun page turner! I was interested from the very beginning and it kept me guessing the entire time. I love anything that has cult vibes, so the two main characters, Frida and Gabriel, being “siblings” from a commune was totally a win for me! I enjoyed this a lot and will for sure be recommending it to others!

"Everything's easier in the daylight. We're all braver in the morning."

Frida and her brother Gabriel have just arrived at the luxurious resort Ara in Utah where they plan to reconnect after years apart following a tragedy. When the young wife of one of the guests is found dead, Frida and Gabriel must confront their pasts growing up in a cult in relation to current events.

OUR LAST RESORT by Clémence Michallon is the perfect read to take to the beach this summer!

Alternating timelines between a fancy resort a la The White Lotus and decades previous where Frida and Gabriel grew up in the folds of a cult, this book was impossible to put down.

Michallon really allows her characters to fully embrace the page, taking her readers on their own journey in discovering their pasts, truths, and lies. I felt like Frida and Gabriel became physical beings as the story progressed and more of who they were as people came to light.

While a bit of a departure from her previous novel, I think a lot of readers will still find themselves getting sucked into this story, which explores some of the darker parts of humanity.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for my early copy for review - out July 8!

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the author’s first novel, so even though I wanted to try again and see if it was a me problem, I just think I’m not a fan of the author’s style of writing…

the writing style itself reads like a poetic literary or historical fiction novel, but the subject is a thriller - it just doesn’t quite line up to me. I truly enjoy popcorn thrillers with major plot twists so when this read way more like a drama, I lost interest pretty quickly…

additionally, while the premise of the story revolves around a cult, we barely even get to see what happens in the cult! it’s only mentioned in passing and conversations & never really explored or in depth, which was surprising given the extensive detail recorded in this plot.

a big thank you to knopf doubleday for the advanced copy!

rating: 1.5 stars
wine pairing: california sauvignon blanc

The story within a story that is about another story got to be a bit much to follow, but I enjoyed the broad scape of the universe the author built .

Our last resort is the follow up to last years blockbuster the quiet tenant, which was one of my favorite books of the year. I read that one in one sitting. I did enjoy this one, but it is slightly slower and a little more traditional than the quiet tenant. Following “siblings,” Gabriel and Frida who reunite at a luxury desert resort after years apart. They plan on spending time together catching up and basking in sunshine and relaxation, but a body turns up at the resort and is reminiscent of another scandal that followed Gabriel years ago. Following between past and present , the timeline jumps between Gabriel and fridas time and escape from a cult and the present day and the psychological damage the two incurred. This is a slow burn of a psychological thriller and the twists and turns come near the end of the novel.

This is a worthy follow-up to the quiet tenant but probably won’t generate the same buzz as the debut last year. An enjoyable, slow burning psychological thriller and will likely gain even michallon even more fans.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book is well-written and moves at a slower pace. This touches on the trauma of leaving a cult and trying to adjust to the "real world" however the real message is that you will do anything to protect your family--your chosen family not necessarily the family you were born into.

I enjoyed The Quiet Tenant by Ms. Michallon more than this novel but if you are looking for family drama and the ties that bind them together this will fit all those criteria.

Thanks to Knopf publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

A murder at a luxury resort during a siblings reunion cast Gabriel as a suspect, Frida examines their time growing up in a cult along with unraveling the current mystery. Literary thriller mixed with a bit of murder mystery ended up being an average read. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon is a haunting and emotionally layered exploration of trauma, survival, and the inescapable pull of the past. At its core, the novel follows Frida and her brother, two siblings who escaped a cult as children—but Michallon challenges the notion that escape equals freedom.

The story unfolds with a dual focus: the tense and heart-pounding night of their escape, and the fractured, uncertain life that follows. As Frida begins to question whether her brother may be involved in a murder, the psychological tension sharpens. Their past, filled with secrets and manipulation, threatens to resurface as law enforcement begins to probe into their history—raising the chilling question of whether one can ever truly outrun what they’ve left behind.

Michallon delivers a gripping and original narrative that blends psychological suspense with emotional depth. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere charged with unease, and the stakes rise with every chapter. What makes this story stand out is not just the mystery, but the nuanced portrayal of life after trauma—and the realization that survival doesn’t guarantee peace.

Our Last Resort is a powerful, unsettling novel that lingers long after the final page.

OUR LAST RESORT is an emotionally layered novel that pulls you in with its tension and keeps you invested with the mysteries at its heart. The story surrounds siblings Frida and Gabriel, who share a traumatic upbringing, with everything that happens afterwards coming as a result of that trauma. Clémence Michallon masterfully explores tragedy, secrets that emerge as a result, and the fragile threads that hold people together against all odds. The story’s slow-burning suspense is matched by its wonderful writing and compelling storyline.

The story is told in dual timelines, alternating between Frida and Gabriel’s childhoods and present day, where we find our two MCs trapped at a luxury hotel—what started out as a vacation quickly turns into a murder investigation. I grew to truly love Frida, undoubtedly flawed but endearing. Haunted by a horrific past, she reacts with a sense of obligation and duty to ensuring the safety of the only person she ever truly loved—her brother, Gabriel. Oh, and of course, coyotes.

Michallon has such a gift for peeling back the layers of human behavior, revealing truths that are both haunting and tender. A captivating, deeply affecting read, OUR LAST RESORT is a novel I won’t soon forget. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley, Clémence Michallon, and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for gifting me the ARC of OUR LAST RESORT. It was such a privilege to read this before publication. And I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!

*4.5 stars

Michallon’s first thriller was one of the best books I read in the year it was published. I was excited for this thriller in hopes the story would weave through the narrative. Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. The time jumps and character development left me confused. Maybe it is read best in one sitting, but if there are stops and starts, the reader is lost in time and space. Frida’s narration and Gabriel’s story are too disjointed to make the story flow. Mysterious deaths and a cult should make a fantastic story, but this left a lot to be desired.

“Our Last Resort” by Clémence Michallon is a family drama mystery that keeps you on edge with its dual timelines, as estranged siblings Frida and Gabriel face a shocking murder at a luxury desert resort while battling trauma from their cult upbringing. The author’s vivid, atmospheric prose brings both the opulence of the Ara Hotel and the claustrophobic intensity of their past to life, delivering twists that are both earned and unsettling.. Though I found the pacing uneven in the middle, the novel finished strong.

**Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the eARC of this thrilling title!**

I really loved The Quiet Tenant by this author and was so looking forward to this one! Our Last Resort had a lot of difficult topics to stomach but the suspense was perfectly done and I couldn't put this one down. I absolutely loved the remote resort setting and the slight whiplash from trying to figure out what the heck was going on.

Multiple timelines made this one a quick read and I could see this being a perfect beach or plane read for the summer!!

While the narrator was not the most unreliable person in the world she certainly wasn't the MOST reliable either and I loved not knowing what was coming next. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from Michallon in the future!

Fans of thrillers, cults, and police procedurals will love this one.

Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon is an excellent novel.

Frida and Gabriel are excellent well written characters.

Their journey slowly evolved with a perfect pace.

Really enjoyed this book.

Fantastic read! I love Clémence Michallon's style of writing and I was also a huge fan of The Quiet Tenant. In Our Last Resort, an estranged brother and sister are staying at a fancy desert resort when a woman winds up dead. As the case unravels, so do the siblings' secrets -- and without saying too much, it involves a creepy cult in the best ways. This was an easy, fun, twisty thriller that I didn't have figured out. Definitely recommend!

Gabe and Frida grew up together as close as siblings in a cult. When they escaped the cult they only had each other. However, after spending years figuring the world out together, they experienced yet another tragedy and slowly grew apart over the last decade. They decide to reunite before a documentary filming at a nice resort where they will spend a few days together catching up. When a woman shows up dead they become people of interest in the investigation, which is the one place they didn’t ever want to find themselves,

I loved The Quiet Tenant and this follow up novel didn’t disappoint. I live a good cult story and I love that the author didn’t shy away from the trauma for life associated with that kind of upbringing.

Cult books usually are not my favorite - however I loved the last book by the author so I figured that I would try this one. I will say that I enjoyed it more than other cult books that I have read - but it was still not my favorite. I do think that this gave super summer vibes and would be perfect for a beach vacation or just a poolside read.