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The Reader's Resort
- GenresThriller
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2026
74 people are currently reading
1093 people want to read
About the author
E. M. Jones
2 books46 followersE. M. Jones writes supernatural thrillers set in the Midwest. His stories explore themes of death, redemption, and trauma. When he's not thinking about ghosts, he's playing football with his sons or wandering bookstores with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 18, 2026
The Reader’s Resort was an unputdownable read. This book had everything from haunting setting, ghosts, true crime, drama and even a bit of romance. The plot was gripping filled with so much suspense and tension. The build up was well down and the action was page turning. I enjoyed the characters and they were very well written, making me feel sad for them when they were grieving and fearful when they were in danger. Everything about this hit the mark. This was a great fast-paced read!
April 4, 2026
A book about books… but dark, twisted, and a little dangerous🖤
Thank you, E.M. Jones, for trusting readers like myself with this story before the rest of the world gets their hands on it what an absolute honor! This was my very first thriller, and WOW… I was not prepared for the way it consumed me. This isn’t just a book you read it’s something you experience. It pulled me in, twisted my thoughts, and refused to let go, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.
My brain was working OVERTIME trying to piece this puzzle together from page one and let me tell you, it STILL wasn’t enough for what this book had in store!!!
The Reader’s Resort by E.M. Jones is mysterious, tense, and straight-up HAUNTING! The kind of book that makes your skin crawl and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up you know that heebie-jeebie feeling while you’re reading alone at night 👀 Let’s be honest I only read this at night 🤭
First of all the SETTING?! Absolutely unreal!! I’m picturing a Victorian style luxury retreat designed for readers?! I’m talking floor-to-ceiling shelves, rolling ladders, cozy reading nooks, and personalized books handpicked just for you. Literally a book lover’s dream!! So it seems..but something’s VERY wrong..
From the moment Florence arrives, the vibes are off, the tension builds and you can feel it creeping in. It feels sinister like something lurking beneath the beauty of this place. When I say beneath I mean deep into the bones baby 👀
What was supposed to be a peaceful getaway turns into a full-blown, real-life thriller. A decades-old secret claws its way to the surface, and Florence is right in the middle of it…(This would make a fantastic movie!!! 🍿) She’s digging, questioning, uncovering things that maybe should’ve stayed buried in my opinion but I’d be curious too!
Ya’ll… the layers in this story?! 🤯 Shrek would be proud!! (If you don’t get the reference you need a movie night 🍿🧅)
Multiple timelines, eerie encounters , hidden passageways, chilling hauntings, psychological twists, hallucinations vs. reality, and crimes unraveling piece by piece. I was constantly second-guessing EVERYTHING.🫣
Every time I thought I had it figured out NOPE. Plot twist. Again, and again, and AGAIN. By the end, I was just sitting there like… WHAT DID I JUST READ?! 😮🫢
This book delivers EVERYTHING:
👻 Ghosts
🔍 Mystery
🩸 Crime
🧠 Psychological mind games
💔 A touch of emotion
💫 Even a hint of romance
The second I heard about this one, I knew it had my name written all over it and wow, it delivered in every possible way. This story pulled me in fast and kept tightening its grip until I couldn’t look away. Twisty, eerie, and dripping with atmosphere, it had me on edge the entire time.
If you love reads that feel haunting, addictive, and impossible to put down… you are going to NEED this one.
Thank you, E.M. Jones, for trusting readers like myself with this story before the rest of the world gets their hands on it what an absolute honor! This was my very first thriller, and WOW… I was not prepared for the way it consumed me. This isn’t just a book you read it’s something you experience. It pulled me in, twisted my thoughts, and refused to let go, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.
My brain was working OVERTIME trying to piece this puzzle together from page one and let me tell you, it STILL wasn’t enough for what this book had in store!!!
The Reader’s Resort by E.M. Jones is mysterious, tense, and straight-up HAUNTING! The kind of book that makes your skin crawl and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up you know that heebie-jeebie feeling while you’re reading alone at night 👀 Let’s be honest I only read this at night 🤭
First of all the SETTING?! Absolutely unreal!! I’m picturing a Victorian style luxury retreat designed for readers?! I’m talking floor-to-ceiling shelves, rolling ladders, cozy reading nooks, and personalized books handpicked just for you. Literally a book lover’s dream!! So it seems..but something’s VERY wrong..
From the moment Florence arrives, the vibes are off, the tension builds and you can feel it creeping in. It feels sinister like something lurking beneath the beauty of this place. When I say beneath I mean deep into the bones baby 👀
What was supposed to be a peaceful getaway turns into a full-blown, real-life thriller. A decades-old secret claws its way to the surface, and Florence is right in the middle of it…(This would make a fantastic movie!!! 🍿) She’s digging, questioning, uncovering things that maybe should’ve stayed buried in my opinion but I’d be curious too!
Ya’ll… the layers in this story?! 🤯 Shrek would be proud!! (If you don’t get the reference you need a movie night 🍿🧅)
Multiple timelines, eerie encounters , hidden passageways, chilling hauntings, psychological twists, hallucinations vs. reality, and crimes unraveling piece by piece. I was constantly second-guessing EVERYTHING.🫣
Every time I thought I had it figured out NOPE. Plot twist. Again, and again, and AGAIN. By the end, I was just sitting there like… WHAT DID I JUST READ?! 😮🫢
This book delivers EVERYTHING:
👻 Ghosts
🔍 Mystery
🩸 Crime
🧠 Psychological mind games
💔 A touch of emotion
💫 Even a hint of romance
The second I heard about this one, I knew it had my name written all over it and wow, it delivered in every possible way. This story pulled me in fast and kept tightening its grip until I couldn’t look away. Twisty, eerie, and dripping with atmosphere, it had me on edge the entire time.
If you love reads that feel haunting, addictive, and impossible to put down… you are going to NEED this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh how my brain tried desperately to piece this puzzle together from the very beginning! It was mysterious, tense, and haunted. This story will make your skin crawl and the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
EM Jones nailed it with the setting of this book – a retreat that any reader will absolutely swoon over. Carefully curated themed rooms, hand selected books custom picked for each guest, in a sprawling resort with all the amenities and the best cozy places to read. Imagine floor to ceiling shelves of books, rolling ladders, all the things readers dream of. But not all is what it seems - there are some very ominous things happening within the walls and beneath the floor boards of this seemingly serene getaway.
Our main character, Florence, arrives for this once in a lifetime stay, and things already seem off. As the tension is building, she finds herself more and more involved in a real-life thriller. A decades old secret has decided to surface, and she finds herself smack dab in the middle. She takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of it. Multiple story lines and characters, hidden passageways, haunting and horrifying creatures, delusions, hallucinations, crimes unfolding. The Reader’s Resort will have you on the edge of your seat the whole way through to the twisted end.
I rate this 4.5 stars rounded up because it had everything: ghosts, mystery, crime, psychological twists, even a slight hint of romance… and a book about books? Perfection. I knew instantly this book was a must read and its sinister vibes did not disappoint!
I received an advance copy from the author for an honest review of this book.
EM Jones nailed it with the setting of this book – a retreat that any reader will absolutely swoon over. Carefully curated themed rooms, hand selected books custom picked for each guest, in a sprawling resort with all the amenities and the best cozy places to read. Imagine floor to ceiling shelves of books, rolling ladders, all the things readers dream of. But not all is what it seems - there are some very ominous things happening within the walls and beneath the floor boards of this seemingly serene getaway.
Our main character, Florence, arrives for this once in a lifetime stay, and things already seem off. As the tension is building, she finds herself more and more involved in a real-life thriller. A decades old secret has decided to surface, and she finds herself smack dab in the middle. She takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of it. Multiple story lines and characters, hidden passageways, haunting and horrifying creatures, delusions, hallucinations, crimes unfolding. The Reader’s Resort will have you on the edge of your seat the whole way through to the twisted end.
I rate this 4.5 stars rounded up because it had everything: ghosts, mystery, crime, psychological twists, even a slight hint of romance… and a book about books? Perfection. I knew instantly this book was a must read and its sinister vibes did not disappoint!
I received an advance copy from the author for an honest review of this book.
Review of advance copy
I will admit it took me longer to read this book than I had anticipated. I have been sick and it's been a little hard to concentrate. The more I read on this book, the more I needed to find out what happens next.
It really kept me on the edge of my seat. Florence, who lost her best friend, Chloe, in high school, goes to the one place her and Chloe always wanted to go. The Readers Resort. She wanted to try to talk to her one last time because it's rumored to be a haunting resort and she hoped to see her one last time.
What Florence encountered was much different and worse. It's a supernatural book containing ghosts and other elements she was not expecting. Characters were great. When Robert popped up in the book there was something off about his character from the beginning and after reading more, you would understand why.
It was a really good book, in my opinion, and I recommend it for anyone who likes ghost stories and on the edge of your seat.
The only thing I had an issue with, because it didn't go into details about it, was towards the end in the cellar. I don't want to give it away, but when you read it, you will understand. I just wonder if anyone else is confused about the two events that happen in the cellar. There were no details and who was the one-legged figure helping Alyssa at the end?
It really kept me on the edge of my seat. Florence, who lost her best friend, Chloe, in high school, goes to the one place her and Chloe always wanted to go. The Readers Resort. She wanted to try to talk to her one last time because it's rumored to be a haunting resort and she hoped to see her one last time.
What Florence encountered was much different and worse. It's a supernatural book containing ghosts and other elements she was not expecting. Characters were great. When Robert popped up in the book there was something off about his character from the beginning and after reading more, you would understand why.
It was a really good book, in my opinion, and I recommend it for anyone who likes ghost stories and on the edge of your seat.
The only thing I had an issue with, because it didn't go into details about it, was towards the end in the cellar. I don't want to give it away, but when you read it, you will understand. I just wonder if anyone else is confused about the two events that happen in the cellar. There were no details and who was the one-legged figure helping Alyssa at the end?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Florence and her best friend Chloe always dreamed of going to the Reader’s Resort. Those plans ended abruptly when Chloe died at 17. Now, many years later, Florence has made up her mind to go to the resort. But first, she’s going to stop to see Chloe at her gravesite to extend an invitation to meet her at the resort.
Upon Florence’s arrival at the resort, she gets right into her quest to meet up with Chloe. She goes to her room and begins a makeshift seance. However, someone other than Chloe arrives in her room. After Florence’s initial trepidation, she becomes intent on learning more about the apparition who came to see her. What Florence learns, however, is that getting a read on whats going on at the Reader’s Resort might come at a cost she never saw coming.
This book gripped me right from the start, setting the tempo for the rest of the story. I was honestly worried that the initial intrigue would drop off at some point. It’s difficult for a book to start with a bang and not lose momentum. This book did just that. I was not only interested by surprised by the twists and how much I loved the characters. If you’re looking for a ghostly slasher book, this is it. I highly recommend it.
Upon Florence’s arrival at the resort, she gets right into her quest to meet up with Chloe. She goes to her room and begins a makeshift seance. However, someone other than Chloe arrives in her room. After Florence’s initial trepidation, she becomes intent on learning more about the apparition who came to see her. What Florence learns, however, is that getting a read on whats going on at the Reader’s Resort might come at a cost she never saw coming.
This book gripped me right from the start, setting the tempo for the rest of the story. I was honestly worried that the initial intrigue would drop off at some point. It’s difficult for a book to start with a bang and not lose momentum. This book did just that. I was not only interested by surprised by the twists and how much I loved the characters. If you’re looking for a ghostly slasher book, this is it. I highly recommend it.
March 29, 2026
I was super lucky to get to read this early, I saw a Instagram friend posting about it and knew, I needed to read it 😍
You know I love a good isolated horror and this one is well a reader retreat and I'm not going to lie I woukd have been swayed myself x despite loudly yelling, I would never 😅.
A luxary line resort with any and everything you could hope for and somethings you didn't, secrets, lies and murder.
It was so easy to slide into Florence's characters, she's a reader with a taste for mysteries and would wouldn't want a chance to solve their own??
But what happens if some of the suspects are a little more supernatural then what your used too, secrets passages are eveywhere and are those creatures... Real?
But Florence wasn't just going to this retreat to read, she wanted to talk to her bff one last time, Chloe who had died and what better place than a haunted resort.
This book was absolutely fantastic, the characters were well done and really dragged me in. I was actively invested wondering what was going to happen and thinking, what the hell is the deal with Robert?
Absolutely a fan and can't wait to read more by this author.
You know I love a good isolated horror and this one is well a reader retreat and I'm not going to lie I woukd have been swayed myself x despite loudly yelling, I would never 😅.
A luxary line resort with any and everything you could hope for and somethings you didn't, secrets, lies and murder.
It was so easy to slide into Florence's characters, she's a reader with a taste for mysteries and would wouldn't want a chance to solve their own??
But what happens if some of the suspects are a little more supernatural then what your used too, secrets passages are eveywhere and are those creatures... Real?
But Florence wasn't just going to this retreat to read, she wanted to talk to her bff one last time, Chloe who had died and what better place than a haunted resort.
This book was absolutely fantastic, the characters were well done and really dragged me in. I was actively invested wondering what was going to happen and thinking, what the hell is the deal with Robert?
Absolutely a fan and can't wait to read more by this author.
April 18, 2026
The Readers Resort by E.M Jones
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
This whole story just felt like a warm entrance. I loved the idea of the resort and honestly need a ticket!! The ideas of the themed rooms and the secrets within the resort were so fascinating.
This is a story with MANY POV’s with good reason. All the characters were very well rounded and I never lost site of who was who. I adored the authors writing style and am very much looking forward to more!
I loved the crime solving aspects, the trauma and grief we were forced to endure, the secrets within the resort and its residents, and of course the twists and turns that came with it.
The ENDING? Lordy I did not need to be crying at 2AM I can tell you that much! Absolutely phenomenal storytelling in this one.
I read this one in two sittings and honestly loved it so much. It would make a great read by the fireplace on a stormy night!
Thank you so much for the ARC E.M!
Review of advance copy received from Author
It’s far from a secret that I think EM Jones is an absolute stand out author. Everything he writes is completely perfect, if you ask me. So you can guess ahead how much praise I have for this story! As with The Darling Killer, the atmosphere, characters and locations of this story are so beautifully written, it feels as though you are a part of the action. It truly feels like you could know these characters. Each one, both good and bad, are written so completely they feel like real lives being lived as you read along. The twists and turns follow right along with the character development as each piece of plot falls into place. I was hooked from the first line and this one never let me down.
Plus, come on. A reading-themed hotel where the rooms are custom curated for you? Where do I sign up?
Plus, come on. A reading-themed hotel where the rooms are custom curated for you? Where do I sign up?
Review of advance copy received from Author
E.M. Jones writes thrillers that transport you in time and space. His prose is moody and atmospheric, and The Readers Resort encapsulates everything the genre should be.
In most thrillers, characters exist to further the plot. This story refuses that shortcut. I felt the humanity of the characters within the first few pages, and by the time the story demanded something of them, I was already invested in ways I didn’t anticipate.
The writing put me inside this world completely. The details are physical, the dread is visceral. Texture, sound, smell, all of it alive on the page. I wasn’t reading so much as inhabiting.
The plot is ruthless and the pacing is relentless (in the best way). I was captivated from start to finish, and this story has, quite literally, haunted me since reading.
If you like atmospheric supernatural thrillers, read this book.
In most thrillers, characters exist to further the plot. This story refuses that shortcut. I felt the humanity of the characters within the first few pages, and by the time the story demanded something of them, I was already invested in ways I didn’t anticipate.
The writing put me inside this world completely. The details are physical, the dread is visceral. Texture, sound, smell, all of it alive on the page. I wasn’t reading so much as inhabiting.
The plot is ruthless and the pacing is relentless (in the best way). I was captivated from start to finish, and this story has, quite literally, haunted me since reading.
If you like atmospheric supernatural thrillers, read this book.
April 23, 2026
The Reader’s Resort feels like the kind of book you sink into slowly. Florence is the heart of it all, and what stays with me is how stubbornly she keeps going. Not in a dramatic, heroic way, but in that quieter, more familiar way where you’re unsure, a little worn down, but you move forward anyway.
The resort itself has this soft, almost hazy quality; part escape, part confrontation, and it mirrors Florence’s inner world in a way that feels natural rather than forced. She questions herself, hesitates, even falters, but never quite gives up. That’s what makes her strength feel real.
It’s not a fast or flashy read, but it lingers. Like that last sip of wine, it leaves you thoughtful, a little warm, and not quite ready to let it go.
The resort itself has this soft, almost hazy quality; part escape, part confrontation, and it mirrors Florence’s inner world in a way that feels natural rather than forced. She questions herself, hesitates, even falters, but never quite gives up. That’s what makes her strength feel real.
It’s not a fast or flashy read, but it lingers. Like that last sip of wine, it leaves you thoughtful, a little warm, and not quite ready to let it go.
March 25, 2026
The author does a great job of being descriptive and detailed, while getting to the point. I like that!
I usually like books with different perspectives.
It seems a bit busy at first but the author does make them easy to follow and keeps you interested!
Florence definitely has a past but she’s a strong, badass, well developed FMC
Robert is all action
And Logan is an unlikely hero
It wasn’t suspenseful until it was and it was and it KEPT GOING!! Once it started taking several unexpected turns right in a row, I couldn’t put it down.
A little bit of 💕✨romance✨💕 with your thriller?
“A ghost had stolen his baby, and for what?” LOL
I usually like books with different perspectives.
It seems a bit busy at first but the author does make them easy to follow and keeps you interested!
Florence definitely has a past but she’s a strong, badass, well developed FMC
Robert is all action
And Logan is an unlikely hero
It wasn’t suspenseful until it was and it was and it KEPT GOING!! Once it started taking several unexpected turns right in a row, I couldn’t put it down.
A little bit of 💕✨romance✨💕 with your thriller?
“A ghost had stolen his baby, and for what?” LOL
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2026
WOW! I honestly loved every minute of this book. It pulled me in from the beginning and never let go. This is the kind of book that lives in your head long after you close it! The creepy resort setting, the mystery, the twists, the ghost. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. If you love dark, suspenseful reads that keep you guessing, you need this one on your TBR. Absolutely loved it! Thank you so much E.M. Jones for letting me be an arc reader!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is perfect for someone who is obssessed with books, like me..most of the small details and mentions of books are so immersing for someone who loves to read. The mystery thriller element was heart pounding and fast paced. The story was also very emotional and heart wrenching. Without spoilers, the multiple POVs really bring something special to the story. This is a layered horror/ thriller/ mystery story that will stick with
you.
you.
April 7, 2026
I’m not usually one for ghost stories but I just so happen to be friends with this author so of course I’m going to read it! I really enjoyed his style of writing and the story went very quick. I found myself especially drawn to the setting, which maybe something like this exists already but if it doesn’t, it should! This book kept my attention and I looked forward to being able to sit down and read it to see what happened next. Looking forward to his next book!
April 29, 2026
I was so excited when Jones announced his second book, and it did not disappoint!! It’s a love note to horror, books, horror books, and the people who love them. The characters are well developed and the creepy ones are incredibly true to their creepy selves. The descriptions are beautifully done and graphic at times but not over the top or egregiously so. Overall a great second book for Jones and I cannot wait for him to publish more!!
April 21, 2026
Florence lost her best friend Chloe but she wanted to do something that Chloe had always dreamt of.. go to The Readers Resort..
Florence entered and instantly the vibes became darker.
There is so much tension and suspense that will have you questioning what will happen next.
The characters were well written and it was hard to tell what was going to happen next
Florence entered and instantly the vibes became darker.
There is so much tension and suspense that will have you questioning what will happen next.
The characters were well written and it was hard to tell what was going to happen next
April 2, 2026
This book was amazing!!!! I was given this as an ARC read and I fell in love!!! It gave me all the feels. It was like the best readers vacation meets clue with ghosts and psychopaths. The story was a great read and I am hooked on this author.
April 6, 2026
I accidentally found this author on tiktok. I’m so glad I did. It takes a really good thriller to keep me interested, this book is exactly that. If you start this, I suggest you have no other plans, you won’t want to stop until you’re finished!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this story from beginning to end! I’m so glad I read it and lived through the vibrant characters!
April 7, 2026
Chilling. Spine-tingling. A reader’s dream…or nightmare.
April 25, 2026
Give this one a try!
I really like the writing style of this author. The story had more going on than ‘just’ the plot. I loved the ending, too.
I really like the writing style of this author. The story had more going on than ‘just’ the plot. I loved the ending, too.
May 7, 2026
This book was captivating. The ending was not one I saw coming and was sad.
April 7, 2026
This book had me from the first page. I couldn't put it down.
If you like thriller suspense and want to be lost in a book trying to figure out what happened,Pick up this book up. You
will not be disappointed.
The story was so well written and the plot was perfect, It has you guessing and on your toes the whole book. You think you may know what will happen but you get a surprise and it’s completely different than what you thought.
I can’t wait to read more from E.M. Jones
If you like thriller suspense and want to be lost in a book trying to figure out what happened,Pick up this book up. You
will not be disappointed.
The story was so well written and the plot was perfect, It has you guessing and on your toes the whole book. You think you may know what will happen but you get a surprise and it’s completely different than what you thought.
I can’t wait to read more from E.M. Jones
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews