I loved this mystery and I will definitely be thinking about the plot for a long time. Can’t wait to read more works by this author and encourage family and friends to read when this comes out!

Our Last Resort was a whodunnit mystery that grabbed my attention from the start. The book has dual timelines, switching between present day and when Frida and Gabriel were growing up in a cult.

I really enjoyed this story, and i was not able to guess the twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

Frida and Gabriel are brother and sister. Not in the biological sense, but in the family sense. They have always been close, often finishing each other’s sentences or thoughts.

In seven years, they have grown distant, hardly speaking after an unspeakable tragedy, and secrets separated them.

When Frida reaches out to Gabriel, to try to mend their relationship, they decide to take a vacation together at a luxury resort in Escalante Utah. Swimming in the pool, long hikes, beautiful surroundings, and top quality food, have them relaxed and happy to be together again.

Until the body of a beautiful young woman
who was vacationing at the resort with her powerful, much older husband is discovered. When the police arrive and place the resort on lockdown, all of Frida and Gabriel’s secrets come rising to the surface, that they are desperate to keep hidden.

This was a great murder mystery that ties in the past and present, and even though I had an inkling of how things would turn out, it still had plenty of twists that I enjoyed!

Okay, so like, this book was totally wild! Picture it: desert vibes, a luxury resort, and BAM—a murder flips everything upside down. Super juicy, but it kinda felt like it never fully hit its stride. There’s sibling drama and freaky flashbacks to their cult days (seriously, the cult stuff was wild), but I wanted more depth or something... like, give me full-body chills! Still, it’s a story that totally grabs you.

Frida and Gabriel? Their dynamic is super intense. The way their past keeps creeping into the present? Total goosebumps. And while I guessed one of the twists (thriller detective over here ✨), there were still moments where I was completely caught off guard.

The pacing was mostly fab—like, I couldn’t put it down—and the setting? SO atmospheric. You can feel the heat of the desert and the tension building with every chapter. Sure, the ending was a little too neat, but honestly, the ride was worth it! If you love thrillers with sibling secrets, cult drama, and murder mystery vibes, this one’s a must-read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Thank you so much to Clémence Michallon, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, Anchor, and NetGalley for the ARC of Our Last Resort. After all of the explosive, wonderful reviews I heard about The Quiet Tenant I had to check this book out.

The book follows Fiona and Gabriel, two “siblings” that bonded during their time being raised by their cult family. The shared trauma that they experienced result in a bond that is impenetrable but a little strange. As adults they visit the Ara resort in Utah where a murder occurs. What happened to Sabrina? Could it be the same thing that happened to Gabriel’s wife Annie only 9 years earlier?

The short chapters and dual timelines made this book read extremely quickly. I liked how we got all of the story from Fiona’s perspective. It seems very cohesive and was easy to follow this way.

Sadly, this book fell flat for me. After all of the hype surrounding Michallon’s debut novel, I was just expecting more. This book was okay but it was nothing in comparison to The Quiet Tenant. Maybe any book after the debut would’ve been, in my opinion. I think a lot of people will enjoy this book but it just was a little boring for me. The ending was too quick and just tied everything neatly in a bow at the end. 3/5 stars

I got really, really lucky to score an ARC (thanks, NetGalley!) of Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon. After reading her debut novel, The Quiet Tenant, I was practically foaming at the mouth to get my hands on her latest.

The story centers on a brother and sister who sort of had been estranged but now back in each others lives staying at a high end resort in the desert. While they are there, a young woman is murdered.

With chapters going back to their childhood, and then back to present time, this one had me turning the pages fast to see what happened. The background story from their childhood is sad, and really gave me a glimpse into what that type of life would be like. Scary!
Also during present time, I was really waiting to see what had actually happened to this young lady. Tons of suspicions, and the ultimate tale of what family means and how far one would go to protect theirs.

There were many aspects of this book that were thought provoking, and very interesting. I really liked Frida’s tenacity and protectiveness to Gabriel. There is a scene with Frida and a coyote in the desert that shows you what a caring person she is, but also one who is not going to back down when trying to prove what’s right.

Great characters and storyline. I loved it.

Our Last Resort did not disappoint and the title really has a lot of deep meaning. It comes out July 8, 2025.

••• BOOK REVIEW •••
📕Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Do I recommend: Yes 🙂‍↕️

In my review of Clémence Michallon’s debut, I wrote “Will absolutely read whatever this author comes up with next,” and I meant it. Having read her latest, I am declaring her an auto-read author for me.

Our Last Resort blew me away. First of all - perfect title. Second of all - gorgeous setting. And now I have to stop counting because it will get annoying but even better than the title and setting were the characters, the plot, the timelines, the pacing, the intrigue and mystery, and ultimately, the conclusion.

Frida and Gabriel grew up in a cult together and were so close they considered themselves siblings. Now estranged for several years, they reunite at a luxury desert hotel in hopes of reconnecting. While there, a woman is discovered dead and the forced lockdown forces Frida and Gabriel to face their past and each other in ways they never had to before.

This was heavy but so beautifully written that I had to remind myself to read slower to really soak it all in. I loved it and highly recommend you grab it when it comes available in July!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC.

#ourlastresort #netgalley #nobadbooks #bookreview

Thank you to NetGalley for this free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Our last resort is the story of siblings Frida and Gabriel. They are staying at a high end resort filled with influencers and rich people. Frida accidentally witnesses an altercation between a married couple staying at the resort, William and Sabrina. The next morning Sabrina is found dead and William is arrested. But shortly afterwards William is released and returns to the resort. The detectives begin an investigation and ask everyone to stay put. Ultimately Frida and Gabriel are named persons of interest. Frida becomes suspicious of Gabriel when Sabrina’s belongs start to show up in some interesting places.
I really enjoyed the sibling dynamic of the book since most thrillers follow a husband/wife storyline.

The book also features flash back chapters detailing the siblings lives growing up in a cult, their growing fascination with the outside world and their adventures of escaping. The abuse and darkness they endured there is seen through their eyes as children growing to adulthood.

Despite the rapid beginning of the book it turns into more of a slow burn with each chapter building tension. The chapters are short but I found some of the flashbacks to drag on; however I loved the present day investigation storyline. The book picks up around 50% and really gets going around 65%. The last 80% I could not put down. Overall I’d give this a 3.75. It’s a great story but definitely not a fast paced thriller.

Look for Our Last Resort out July 2025!!

Clémence Michallon’s Our Last Resort expertly weaves past and present in a suspenseful tale of murder, siblings, and buried secrets. The secluded luxury resort setting is as haunting as the story itself, with the murder of a fellow guest forcing Frida and Gabriel to confront their dark, cult-ridden past.

Michallon’s writing is taut and atmospheric, building tension with every chapter as timelines converge toward a shocking conclusion. While some twists are predictable, the emotional depth of the characters keeps you invested.

A captivating read for fans of psychological thrillers, Our Last Resort solidifies Michallon’s reputation as a rising star in the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for an ARC of Our Last Resort.

I was SO excited to be selected to read an early copy of this book, especially because of the rave reviews I've seen for the author's previous book, The Quiet Tenant. I can honestly say, though, this book got me the closest to a reading slump as I have been in a while. There were so many improbable details in the story that it was distracting (like the main character just happens to stumble upon the murder victim's phone because she made friends with an injured, wild coyote with pups...um???). The pacing was extremely slow, there was no emotional connection with the characters for me, and I guessed the twist very early. Definitely not the book for me, but maybe fans of her previous book will enjoy this one more than I did.

2.5 stars

Thank you Net Galley for my first ARC…very exciting! I loved Michallon’s previous novel The Quiet Tenant which is in my top 5 reads for 2024 so was looking forward to her new book. Basic premise is girl and boy grow up together in cult in upstate New York which they eventually escape from leaving behind some casualties in their wake. They attempt to build new lives in a world that they’ve never been exposed to after living a sheltered childhood tho the woman has a successful career and the man falls in love and marries. As story goes on the man’s wife goes missing and while at a resort in Utah another guest is found dead. Unfortunately I had difficulty connecting with main characters. Never was invested in their story nor liked or cared about them which makes it difficult to enjoy a book. The author’s writing style is very readable and there were moments of suspense but overall was not a memorable book.

Frida and Gabriel grew up together in a communal cult. They have been distant recently and are now reunited after being estranged. They’re reunited at a luxury resort when the body of a billionaire’s wife turns up. Both Frida and Gabriel saw some things that make them have their suspicions.

This is the first time I’ve read a book by this author. The writing is solid and the pacing is spot on. Told in past and present timelines this story unravels an intriguing story. Frida and Gabriel get tangled up in the investigation, while memories of their difficult childhood resurface. The twist at the end was well worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

Wow wow! I am normally not a huge fan of time jumps but in this story it made perfect sense! Definitely had a twist at the end I did not see coming great read!

I went into this book completely blind, and was pretty infested after the second chapter. However, the dual timelines of this one felt somewhat disjointed to me and left me wanting more.

I felt like after the first few chapters the pacing slowed way down and I was bored the majority of the book. The ending picked up and I ended up enjoying the twist (however I did guess it, which I never do 🤣)

All in all, this was an okay thriller to me. I didn’t have it, but didn’t love it. I think if you enjoy slower paced thrillers this could be one you totally love!

I really enjoyed the story. It was not what I expected from this author, but I am pleased. It’s about a brother and sister with a strange colt like past. I enjoy going back in time into the past and then back into the present, it keeps the book exciting.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me an early read of this book!

3.5 rounded up for goodreads.

The first thing I will say is I love this authors writing style so I will never stop reading her books. The Quiet Tenant was fantastic. So I had high hopes going into this book and was a little let down.

The story is about 2 siblings who come back together at a luxury resort to reconnect after they sort of drifted apart after a tragedy. Within days the body of a beautiful young woman is found. The police come and put the resort on lockdown and we start to learn more about the siblings.

The premise is interesting to me. However the book was just sort of blah to me all the way through. And the twists were very predictable. I did keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and for me it just never did. Plenty of people will like this book I have no doubt and I didnt hate it. It just was just middle of the road for me

Our Last Resort begins with siblings Frida and Gabriel enjoying the oasis of the Ara resort in Escalante, Utah. After an unconventional upbringing and subsequently escaping from what they later learned was a cult, the two are anticipating nothing more than a relaxing time away from the reality of their daily lives. Unfortunately, they are thrust into the middle of a murder mystery at the resort, with suspicion landing solely on Gabriel. Frida finds herself willing to do whatever it takes to uncover the answers.

Alternating between the past and the present, Clemence Michallon’s second thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and enthralled with her story telling. Michallon has a way of fully developing her characters, their nuances and in this case the childhood experiences that built them into the individuals they are at present. I loved this one!

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon is an intriguing psychological thriller that offers a blend of suspense, mystery, and complex characters. The story follows a group of people whose lives become intertwined in a remote coastal retreat, where hidden secrets and past traumas start to unravel, leading to unexpected twists.

Michallon's writing is atmospheric, and she excels in creating a tense, claustrophobic setting that enhances the growing unease throughout the story. The pacing is steady, and the first half of the book particularly builds up a lot of anticipation, with strong character development and hints at the dark secrets each person is hiding. The exploration of themes like mental health, isolation, and the weight of personal choices are compelling and thought-provoking.

However, while the book offers an engaging premise, it doesn’t fully deliver on the suspense in the way I’d hoped. The twists, while interesting, didn’t come as shockingly as they could have, and some of the character motivations felt a bit underdeveloped. The ending, though satisfying in some ways, felt slightly predictable and didn’t quite have the emotional punch I expected.

Overall, Our Last Resort is a solid read for fans of psychological thrillers, but it didn’t quite live up to its full potential. It’s a 3-star read for me—enjoyable, but not as gripping or intense as I’d hoped. I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of this book, especially after loving the suspense and horror of The Quiet Tenant. This one is set to release this July, and let me tell you—it’s got all the makings of a Netflix documentary.

The story follows Frida and Gabriel, siblings raised within a cult, as they navigate young adulthood inside its sinister grip. Their escape propels them into the “real world,” full of work, relationships, suspicion, and loss. Years later, after Gabriel all but ghosts her, Frida books a stay at a desert oasis hotel in an attempt to reconnect—just before Gabriel plans to share their past with a documentary crew. What begins as an innocent effort to draw her brother closer turns into a situation that could push him away forever.

Here’s where my feelings get complicated. The book juggles three distinct storylines: the cult, the siblings’ lives after their escape, and the looming documentary. Each one was compelling on its own—I could have easily devoured them as separate books. But combining all three into just 320 pages felt rushed. I wanted more—more about the cult and its enigmatic leader, more depth in the siblings’ post-cult struggles, and more voices from the other survivors.

The cult storyline shaped much of the characters’ psychological damage and their forced proximity, which made their sibling bond feel less organic and more like a product of trauma. While that’s realistic, it left me less emotionally invested in their actions and choices throughout the book.

Overall, this was an ambitious and gripping read, but I wish it had leaned fully into one storyline to create a more focused and immersive experience. If you’re a fan of cult-centered thrillers or complex sibling dynamics, this one’s worth checking out when it hits shelves this summer.

Our Last Resort, the sophomore novel from Clemence Michallon, author of The Quiet Tenet, is an artfully written domestic thriller that unfolds in dual timelines. The story alternates between Frida and Gabriel’s haunting childhood growing up in a cult as pseudo-siblings and their present-day luxury vacation at a desert resort. What begins as an idyllic getaway takes a sinister turn when a murder occurs a few days into their stay.

Michallon’s writing is undeniably skilled and creative, elevating the genre with literary finesse. However, while I appreciated the rich prose, the abundance of detail occasionally bogged down the plot. A good example is the beach scene, which felt overly drawn out and disconnected from the broader narrative. These moments made the novel feel more like literary fiction than a thriller, which detracted somewhat from my overall enjoyment.

That said, the book remains a quick read and kept me engaged enough to see how the story unfolded. While it didn’t completely meet my expectations as a thriller, Michallon’s talent as a writer is undeniable. I give this book 3.5 stars and am grateful to NetGalley for the ARC.