What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dive
Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay...
Escape to paradise. Scuba diving instructor Cass leads her students out for their first dive off the beautiful coast of Koh Sang, Thailand's world-famous party island. It's supposed to be a life-changing experience, but things quickly spiral out of control... Leave your secrets behind. By the time she gets back to the shore, one of her students is dead, another badly injured, and she knows that her idyllic life is about to be smashed to pieces on the rocks. But don't get lost for ever... Because someone is making sure that backpackers never leave paradise - one murder at a time. And Cass has a feeling she might be next...
Escape to paradise. Scuba diving instructor Cass leads her students out for their first dive off the beautiful coast of Koh Sang, Thailand's world-famous party island. It's supposed to be a life-changing experience, but things quickly spiral out of control... Leave your secrets behind. By the time she gets back to the shore, one of her students is dead, another badly injured, and she knows that her idyllic life is about to be smashed to pieces on the rocks. But don't get lost for ever... Because someone is making sure that backpackers never leave paradise - one murder at a time. And Cass has a feeling she might be next...
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2023
738 people are currently reading
49355 people want to read
About the author
Sara Ochs
2 books442 followersSara Ochs is a law professor and the author of The Resort and This Stays Between Us. When she's not writing or teaching, she can usually be found planning her next trip. Born and raised in Upstate New York, Sara now lives in North Carolina with her husband and son.
You can follow along with her writing journey on Instagram @saraochsauthor.
You can follow along with her writing journey on Instagram @saraochsauthor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,146 reviews
November 28, 2023
The twist on this one took a little longer to play out - but WHEN it does? It's absolutely nothing like I imagined!! Revenge and secret twisted motivations from people you've chosen as family?? WILD.
The Resort is one of those novels that seem innocent, and the reading is easy - but when the reveals start to play out.. you won't even stop to drink water. Along with being thought-provoking.. I think I just truly enjoyed the what-if moments. Some of my thoughts while reading:
- What would it take for me to feel like running and starting over?
- What would I do to protect my lifestyle?
- Would I tell on someone I felt was potentially dangerous?
- How easily do I trust people?
- Is revenge really worth it?
My mind raced through so many red flags about how easily people trust other people.. but in reality - people with perfect lives don't just pack up and move to far-flung islands to start over. Something drastic pushes you to make decisions that completely alter the course of your life in such a way. Maybe you're looking for something when you go on vacation - but a short adventure is not the same as a new identity!!
NOTES:
**The content warnings on this one need to be paid attention to because when they come out - they're pretty big. Conversations surrounding parental mental illness, ped0philia, self harm etc.
RELEASE DATE: Feb 13th, 2024
**Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
The Resort is one of those novels that seem innocent, and the reading is easy - but when the reveals start to play out.. you won't even stop to drink water. Along with being thought-provoking.. I think I just truly enjoyed the what-if moments. Some of my thoughts while reading:
- What would it take for me to feel like running and starting over?
- What would I do to protect my lifestyle?
- Would I tell on someone I felt was potentially dangerous?
- How easily do I trust people?
- Is revenge really worth it?
My mind raced through so many red flags about how easily people trust other people.. but in reality - people with perfect lives don't just pack up and move to far-flung islands to start over. Something drastic pushes you to make decisions that completely alter the course of your life in such a way. Maybe you're looking for something when you go on vacation - but a short adventure is not the same as a new identity!!
NOTES:
**The content warnings on this one need to be paid attention to because when they come out - they're pretty big. Conversations surrounding parental mental illness, ped0philia, self harm etc.
RELEASE DATE: Feb 13th, 2024
**Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
February 15, 2024
One of my most anticipated books so far this year. Perhaps I set my expectations a bit too high?💁🏻♀️
A South Pacific resort. Blue skies, sandy beaches and all the scuba diving you could want. Where guests and staff come to escape their past and start anew.
But there is a darker side to this beach. When one of the guests is murdered everyone begins suspecting their “new friends.” Secrets are about to be uncovered.
This book failed to pull me in as much as I had hoped. By the end, as mysteries were revealed, it all seemed a bit too far-fetched for this reader.
The audio provided a delightfully large cast of narrators but the two main female voices were far too similar. The only way I could tell the two apart was one was louder than the other. Which required me to turn my volume up and down depending on which narrator was talking. That became rather annoying (and distracting.) quickly!
Maybe This was one of those instances where reading the book may have given me a better experience over the audio?💁🏻♀️
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media.🎧
A South Pacific resort. Blue skies, sandy beaches and all the scuba diving you could want. Where guests and staff come to escape their past and start anew.
But there is a darker side to this beach. When one of the guests is murdered everyone begins suspecting their “new friends.” Secrets are about to be uncovered.
This book failed to pull me in as much as I had hoped. By the end, as mysteries were revealed, it all seemed a bit too far-fetched for this reader.
The audio provided a delightfully large cast of narrators but the two main female voices were far too similar. The only way I could tell the two apart was one was louder than the other. Which required me to turn my volume up and down depending on which narrator was talking. That became rather annoying (and distracting.) quickly!
Maybe This was one of those instances where reading the book may have given me a better experience over the audio?💁🏻♀️
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media.🎧
February 18, 2024
for fuck’s sake
February 16, 2024
Welcome to paradise! Apparently it's located on Thailand's world-famous party island at the Koh Sang Resort (fictional). Or is it a place people go to hide?
I'll be honest. I thought this would be a quick read that would have me wondering why on earth I grabbed it from the Read Now offerings on Netgalley. I was wrong, wrong, wrong. There was much more to this story than I expected.
Cass is living the dream, teaching students how to dive in the beautiful waters of Koh Sang. Brooke is a social media influencer with a large number of followers. The story is told by these two characters in alternating chapters. There are plenty of side characters and lots of deceit as the bodies pile up and the book winds its way to the tension-filled ending. I thought the book was very well written, especially for a debut. It leans a bit into young adult territory at times but enjoyable all the same. As another reviewer said, the epilogue is pure gold!
TW: Mention of grooming, suicide, familicide but none are a predominant element in the story.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley for providing an advance digital copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
I'll be honest. I thought this would be a quick read that would have me wondering why on earth I grabbed it from the Read Now offerings on Netgalley. I was wrong, wrong, wrong. There was much more to this story than I expected.
Cass is living the dream, teaching students how to dive in the beautiful waters of Koh Sang. Brooke is a social media influencer with a large number of followers. The story is told by these two characters in alternating chapters. There are plenty of side characters and lots of deceit as the bodies pile up and the book winds its way to the tension-filled ending. I thought the book was very well written, especially for a debut. It leans a bit into young adult territory at times but enjoyable all the same. As another reviewer said, the epilogue is pure gold!
TW: Mention of grooming, suicide, familicide but none are a predominant element in the story.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley for providing an advance digital copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: February 6, 2024
January 20, 2024
Wow! That ending!!
Cass wanted to start a new life, far away from the memories that haunted her. So, she packed her bags, moved to Thailand, and ended up working as a scuba instructor. For a while, life was good, and she felt like she had finally left her past behind. But little did she know that one day, her past would catch up with her. The question is, will she be able to face it?
I admit the beginning of the story was a bit slow and confusing with the number of characters being introduced. However, once I got into the plot, I found it engaging and it kept me hooked till the very end. The ending was nothing short of mind-blowing! Overall, if you're looking for a book with an unexpected twist, then this is worth a read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Ochs, and RB Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Cass wanted to start a new life, far away from the memories that haunted her. So, she packed her bags, moved to Thailand, and ended up working as a scuba instructor. For a while, life was good, and she felt like she had finally left her past behind. But little did she know that one day, her past would catch up with her. The question is, will she be able to face it?
I admit the beginning of the story was a bit slow and confusing with the number of characters being introduced. However, once I got into the plot, I found it engaging and it kept me hooked till the very end. The ending was nothing short of mind-blowing! Overall, if you're looking for a book with an unexpected twist, then this is worth a read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Ochs, and RB Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
February 5, 2024
Yay. Yet another thriller that turns mental illness and trauma into a shitty plot device. And add on an aggressive anti-pharma stance (Xanax doesn’t do 90% of what this book claims unless you don’t take it right). Oh and also random rape story arc that results in vengeance against women but idiocy with men.
Just why? Why is it so hard for anyone to take an hour to research mental health? I’m so sick of these books.
I got this ARC from NetGalley.
Just why? Why is it so hard for anyone to take an hour to research mental health? I’m so sick of these books.
I got this ARC from NetGalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
Like that popular meme goes 'YOU CANT TRICK MIIIIII' 🤣
The Resort (known as The Dive for the US edition) is following two mysterious women, a group of expats known as 'The Permanents' and a murderer on the loose.
As soon as I received this book I was so eager to read immediately as I loved the cover and the blurb was giving just the vacation abroad gone wrong vibe I needed.
You already know... I DO NOT LIKE SLOW BURNS! Unless it is still engaging and still holding a level of suspense. For me I would say the book half achieved this. I wasn't fully engaged but what kept me going was I suspected earlier on who the perpetrator was and felt compelled to keep reading to the end to be proven right, even though the author was throwing red herrings left right and centre. (Nice try Ms Ochs 😉)
Now even though I was proven right. The last 100 pages of the book is what made me bump up the rating. The reveals and atmosphere was written so well, I was practically ripping the pages to get to the next part. *chefs kiss*
Characters
Truthfully I didn't feel any connection with any of the characters. They were not fully fleshed out enough for me and with the small information I was given, they all come off unlikeable. So it's fair to say I really didn't care less what happened to any of them.
The Plot
I really wanted a locked room kind of thriller but make it on a island. It was hard to envision it at different points in the book, except the last 100 pages, when the atmospheric thrill of the island and the reveals really kicked in.
I would recommend this book but I would also give a forewarning that you have to wait a long while to get to the juicy bits!
3.5 ⭐
Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me a copy of this book.
The Resort (known as The Dive for the US edition) is following two mysterious women, a group of expats known as 'The Permanents' and a murderer on the loose.
As soon as I received this book I was so eager to read immediately as I loved the cover and the blurb was giving just the vacation abroad gone wrong vibe I needed.
You already know... I DO NOT LIKE SLOW BURNS! Unless it is still engaging and still holding a level of suspense. For me I would say the book half achieved this. I wasn't fully engaged but what kept me going was I suspected earlier on who the perpetrator was and felt compelled to keep reading to the end to be proven right, even though the author was throwing red herrings left right and centre. (Nice try Ms Ochs 😉)
Now even though I was proven right. The last 100 pages of the book is what made me bump up the rating. The reveals and atmosphere was written so well, I was practically ripping the pages to get to the next part. *chefs kiss*
Characters
Truthfully I didn't feel any connection with any of the characters. They were not fully fleshed out enough for me and with the small information I was given, they all come off unlikeable. So it's fair to say I really didn't care less what happened to any of them.
The Plot
I really wanted a locked room kind of thriller but make it on a island. It was hard to envision it at different points in the book, except the last 100 pages, when the atmospheric thrill of the island and the reveals really kicked in.
I would recommend this book but I would also give a forewarning that you have to wait a long while to get to the juicy bits!
3.5 ⭐
Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me a copy of this book.
April 21, 2024
There was so much that I found problematic about this book.
The way anxiety medication was discussed (making a character unreliable, her hiding it like it was shameful, a partner hiding pills from her) felt icky, especially because that character had suffered a very traumatic event.
Additionally, I didn't like the woman-on-woman blame when it came to things like sexual assault. The epilogue also included a woman lying about sexual assault after being broken up with, which is harmful in so many ways.
I'm not usually overly sensitive about potentially offensive material, but these things kept me from fully enjoying the narrative.
The way anxiety medication was discussed (making a character unreliable, her hiding it like it was shameful, a partner hiding pills from her) felt icky, especially because that character had suffered a very traumatic event.
Additionally, I didn't like the woman-on-woman blame when it came to things like sexual assault. The epilogue also included a woman lying about sexual assault after being broken up with, which is harmful in so many ways.
I'm not usually overly sensitive about potentially offensive material, but these things kept me from fully enjoying the narrative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
Update 2/13/24: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for sending me an ARC of The Resort in exchange for an honest review.
A couple of years ago, Cass moved to Koh Sang, an island in Thailand, desperate to escape her dark past. She fell in love with the island, and Logan, and made a new family for herself out of the several ex-pats, or “permanents,” on the island. But something is wrong on Koh Sang. A woman was found dead a few weeks ago after falling from a cliff path. Then, while teaching scuba diving to some students, Cass finds the dead body of Lucy, another of her students. Finally, Cass begins finding notes warning that her secret past is about to be revealed. Working with her new friend, Brooke, they try to unravel the many mysteries, including who killed Lucy and why ….
The Resort is largely told through the alternating perspectives of Cass and Brooke. Both have secrets in their past that are slowly revealed to the reader. They’re both unreliable narrators, though for different reasons. The other ex-pats on the island also have their own secrets, and each add to the tension in their own ways. There are lots of twists as the mysteries are revealed, and once everyone fully understands what’s happening, the story transforms into more of a thriller. For me, the final twist was one too many, but I’m probably in the minority on that one.
The Resort is an impressive debut novel. It’s a solid mystery thriller, with lots of twists, and a couple of different emotional cores. The island setting greatly enhances the story. Recommended.
A word about the audiobook. It’s … ok. Two of the performers only did a single chapter, and they were fine. I quite liked the performance of Cass. But the performance of Brooke was distracting somehow. The accent was unusual and in some ways it was rather similar to Cass. A few times I had to rewind to confirm which person was speaking. It’s a perfectly fine way to read the book, but it’s also not a particularly enhancing way either as great audiobooks can be.
I didn’t want to know, and I didn’t want to upset anyone or draw unnecessary attention. So I stayed quiet. I kept my suspicions to myself. I was the good girl this island family expected me to be, the quiet one. But I’m done with that. That girl is dead. I open my mouth wide, drawing on whatever little energy I have left. And I scream.
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for sending me an ARC of The Resort in exchange for an honest review.
A couple of years ago, Cass moved to Koh Sang, an island in Thailand, desperate to escape her dark past. She fell in love with the island, and Logan, and made a new family for herself out of the several ex-pats, or “permanents,” on the island. But something is wrong on Koh Sang. A woman was found dead a few weeks ago after falling from a cliff path. Then, while teaching scuba diving to some students, Cass finds the dead body of Lucy, another of her students. Finally, Cass begins finding notes warning that her secret past is about to be revealed. Working with her new friend, Brooke, they try to unravel the many mysteries, including who killed Lucy and why ….
The Resort is largely told through the alternating perspectives of Cass and Brooke. Both have secrets in their past that are slowly revealed to the reader. They’re both unreliable narrators, though for different reasons. The other ex-pats on the island also have their own secrets, and each add to the tension in their own ways. There are lots of twists as the mysteries are revealed, and once everyone fully understands what’s happening, the story transforms into more of a thriller. For me, the final twist was one too many, but I’m probably in the minority on that one.
The Resort is an impressive debut novel. It’s a solid mystery thriller, with lots of twists, and a couple of different emotional cores. The island setting greatly enhances the story. Recommended.
A word about the audiobook. It’s … ok. Two of the performers only did a single chapter, and they were fine. I quite liked the performance of Cass. But the performance of Brooke was distracting somehow. The accent was unusual and in some ways it was rather similar to Cass. A few times I had to rewind to confirm which person was speaking. It’s a perfectly fine way to read the book, but it’s also not a particularly enhancing way either as great audiobooks can be.
January 26, 2024
“Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay.”
As frost is nipping at my heels these days, I reached for an armchair travel to a sun-drenched island and was surprised to discover that this fantastic book does not read like a debut!
The setting immediately pulled me in - a remote island in the Gulf of Thailand - but it was the perfectly plotted crime that held my attention.
This fictitious party island, Koh Sang, attracts those with secrets and those wanting to get away from it all. It’s far enough away from the other backpacking islands and doesn’t attract an overflow of tourists, it’s the perfect ‘locked room’ setting. The desire to hide one’s true self is what initially forms the tension; a group of people pretending to have fun, willing to take risks to protect their secret and very aware that their past may catch up with them at any moment. The threads of mistrust unite the two groups on the island; the Permanents and the tourists. Permanents are those who live and work on the island full-time. Like the tourists, they are suspicious of everyone and any friendships made are surface-level and fleeting at best.
So the contrasts begin - two different groups of people, two different reasons for being on the island, and then the third contrast appears …
A murder.
Now we’ve got the juxtaposition of all this natural beauty with its lush vegetation and clear turquoise waters with the darkness of a crime. A crime committed by one of them.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Cass, a scuba diving instructor and a Permanent, and Brooke, a social media influencer on vacation who becomes involved with one of the Permanents. Although both women hide secrets, both are suspicious of everyone, and both are equally compelling characters, the story is more plot-forward than character-forward. Och’s ability to perfectly place her clues makes this an astounding crime thriller. Her twist was spectacular and was made possible by the dark, intriguing and pacey story. It definitely has Agatha Christie vibes.
Och’s examination of friendships, or the illusion of friendships, is fantastic as is her spotlight on our tendency to hide our true selves. I’m looking forward to another thriller and I hear it’s set in Australia and also features an international cast of characters.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
As frost is nipping at my heels these days, I reached for an armchair travel to a sun-drenched island and was surprised to discover that this fantastic book does not read like a debut!
The setting immediately pulled me in - a remote island in the Gulf of Thailand - but it was the perfectly plotted crime that held my attention.
This fictitious party island, Koh Sang, attracts those with secrets and those wanting to get away from it all. It’s far enough away from the other backpacking islands and doesn’t attract an overflow of tourists, it’s the perfect ‘locked room’ setting. The desire to hide one’s true self is what initially forms the tension; a group of people pretending to have fun, willing to take risks to protect their secret and very aware that their past may catch up with them at any moment. The threads of mistrust unite the two groups on the island; the Permanents and the tourists. Permanents are those who live and work on the island full-time. Like the tourists, they are suspicious of everyone and any friendships made are surface-level and fleeting at best.
So the contrasts begin - two different groups of people, two different reasons for being on the island, and then the third contrast appears …
A murder.
Now we’ve got the juxtaposition of all this natural beauty with its lush vegetation and clear turquoise waters with the darkness of a crime. A crime committed by one of them.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Cass, a scuba diving instructor and a Permanent, and Brooke, a social media influencer on vacation who becomes involved with one of the Permanents. Although both women hide secrets, both are suspicious of everyone, and both are equally compelling characters, the story is more plot-forward than character-forward. Och’s ability to perfectly place her clues makes this an astounding crime thriller. Her twist was spectacular and was made possible by the dark, intriguing and pacey story. It definitely has Agatha Christie vibes.
Och’s examination of friendships, or the illusion of friendships, is fantastic as is her spotlight on our tendency to hide our true selves. I’m looking forward to another thriller and I hear it’s set in Australia and also features an international cast of characters.
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
December 16, 2023
Ok…so I started out really enjoying this thriller set on a tropical island in Thailand. Two main characters - Cass and Brooke. One a dive instructor and the other a travel influencer. There had been a little murder on the island and then another and I was starting to get invested…but then things went sideways for me.
Because a third character was introduced and they were the star of the show. Everything was their fault and their name appeared on almost every page. Xanax. And I just said Phuket at that point because it was so over the top.
This book had so much potential and then it turned into utter drivel with plot holes so big I could park a Buick Skylark in them. Origin stories that were tossed in there casually and explained so quickly that I had to re-read it and think - “really? That’s what they went with here?”
I don’t normally hate on books - especially by a new author - but this one is a hard pass from me. Too far fetched, full of ridiculous plot “twists” and the classic unreliable woman who is too boozed up to know what’s real or not, except in this case it’s benzo’d.
Because a third character was introduced and they were the star of the show. Everything was their fault and their name appeared on almost every page. Xanax. And I just said Phuket at that point because it was so over the top.
This book had so much potential and then it turned into utter drivel with plot holes so big I could park a Buick Skylark in them. Origin stories that were tossed in there casually and explained so quickly that I had to re-read it and think - “really? That’s what they went with here?”
I don’t normally hate on books - especially by a new author - but this one is a hard pass from me. Too far fetched, full of ridiculous plot “twists” and the classic unreliable woman who is too boozed up to know what’s real or not, except in this case it’s benzo’d.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
Story told from 2 POV. Brooke is here for one purpose, to expose the one person that could have helped her in the past. Cass is escaping a horrendous past that she wishes to forget but cannot. The lives of these women will come to a collision, leaving some dead along the way.
Solid 3.5 stars!
Solid 3.5 stars!
November 17, 2023
Scuba diving instructor Cass has escaped her past and is living the dream, teaching students how to dive in the beautiful waters of Koh Sang, Thailand. But when something horrific happens on a dive she’s quickly forced to re-evaluate the idyllic life she currently lives. Then when she receives an anonymous note, she realises that the waves are about to come crashing over her…
I love a destination thriller - and this one was no exception. The descriptions of Koh Sang are gorgeous and evocative, i could almost feel the sand between my toes (although after reading this book I think this is one Thai island I wouldn’t want to visit!) The story is relayed by Cass and another woman, Brooke who is a relatively well known social influencer with a large following. Somehow their paths are linked, but how?
There are hints and twists galore flowing through this thriller. You’ll need to keep your eyes on the prize and trust absolutely no one. Chilling and gripping, this is one you won’t want to put down.
I love a destination thriller - and this one was no exception. The descriptions of Koh Sang are gorgeous and evocative, i could almost feel the sand between my toes (although after reading this book I think this is one Thai island I wouldn’t want to visit!) The story is relayed by Cass and another woman, Brooke who is a relatively well known social influencer with a large following. Somehow their paths are linked, but how?
There are hints and twists galore flowing through this thriller. You’ll need to keep your eyes on the prize and trust absolutely no one. Chilling and gripping, this is one you won’t want to put down.
February 28, 2024
4.5/5
The Resort by Sara Ochs is one of the few books that I can say actually stuck in my head for an extended period of time, and due to that, I raised my star rating! I was struggling to find the time to sit down and read it, so if anyone sees the dates on my Goodreads or StoryGraph and wonders WTF, this is why, and it has nothing to do with the pacing or the book itself. For a debut, this was pretty dang amazing, and I was very into the story as well as finding out what would happen next. The alternating viewpoints that would sometimes end on mini cliffhangers kept things even more interesting, and I love it when authors use this technique to keep the reader curious.
I think this is one of the many books that is best to go into blind, but honestly, if that incredible cover doesn't draw you in, I doubt anything I can say will. The Resort also had me Googling to see if a certain Thailand festival was a thing, and I love it when a genre like mystery or thriller takes me to the webs to see if something is real. The secrets are piling up in this storyline, and it seems that almost everyone has something to hide. I experienced quite a few jaw-dropping moments that both shocked and surprised me, and I loved the twists and turns. The audiobook was also top-notch as narrated by Miranda Raison, Dakota Blue Richards, Joe Jameson & Pema Monaghan. Full casts are my kryptonite, and they all did an incredible job making the audio a fantastic experience. Bottom line, if you love thrillers and debut novels, you just need to read (or listen) to this. 😉
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The Resort by Sara Ochs is one of the few books that I can say actually stuck in my head for an extended period of time, and due to that, I raised my star rating! I was struggling to find the time to sit down and read it, so if anyone sees the dates on my Goodreads or StoryGraph and wonders WTF, this is why, and it has nothing to do with the pacing or the book itself. For a debut, this was pretty dang amazing, and I was very into the story as well as finding out what would happen next. The alternating viewpoints that would sometimes end on mini cliffhangers kept things even more interesting, and I love it when authors use this technique to keep the reader curious.
I think this is one of the many books that is best to go into blind, but honestly, if that incredible cover doesn't draw you in, I doubt anything I can say will. The Resort also had me Googling to see if a certain Thailand festival was a thing, and I love it when a genre like mystery or thriller takes me to the webs to see if something is real. The secrets are piling up in this storyline, and it seems that almost everyone has something to hide. I experienced quite a few jaw-dropping moments that both shocked and surprised me, and I loved the twists and turns. The audiobook was also top-notch as narrated by Miranda Raison, Dakota Blue Richards, Joe Jameson & Pema Monaghan. Full casts are my kryptonite, and they all did an incredible job making the audio a fantastic experience. Bottom line, if you love thrillers and debut novels, you just need to read (or listen) to this. 😉
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
March 9, 2024
Overly slooow pacing, flat company of homogenous and stereotyped characters, unnecessary complication requiring excessive explanation, unpleasant last minute surprises, and ending on an ominous bad omen twist: all things I like in neither vacations nor thrillers. Plus, negative and/or minimizing portrayals of various mental/behavioral health issues.
February 21, 2024
This book was absolutely atrocious. There is something nasty and unsettling about a woman writing in a story line of woman-blaming-woman for a rape committed by a man, AND including another separate storyline about a woman lying about sexual assault. I absolutely lost it at the end when another character admitted to someone that she was never able to come hate the adult who groomed her as a child, and that she weirdly still loved her. theres not enough of a trigger warning that could prepare me for the yucky feeling of reading all these terrible backgrounds. I counted FOUR storylines including sexual assault/rape among the roughly 7-8 characters…I was begging for more creativity!! Brooke’s motivation could have easily been substituted for something like Cass’s little sister was Brooke’s best friend and Brooke truly believed Cass killed her…something like that.
It never really felt like I could start drawing my own conclusions or guess who did it…being led every other chapter to who was the real killer made me easily go “okay so it’s definitely not them”. I was able to guess from the first fourth of the book that the entire group was in on it yet dropping in the last chapter who was the real killer (after not mentioning their existence for the second half of the book) felt lazy and honestly just bad, no creativity.
I enjoyed some of the scenery description but that would never override how bad this was. Easily one of the worst books I’ve ever read, and I read Haunting Adeline. I couldn’t in good faith suggest this to anyone, unless they simply wanted to share in my distain.
It never really felt like I could start drawing my own conclusions or guess who did it…being led every other chapter to who was the real killer made me easily go “okay so it’s definitely not them”. I was able to guess from the first fourth of the book that the entire group was in on it yet dropping in the last chapter who was the real killer (after not mentioning their existence for the second half of the book) felt lazy and honestly just bad, no creativity.
I enjoyed some of the scenery description but that would never override how bad this was. Easily one of the worst books I’ve ever read, and I read Haunting Adeline. I couldn’t in good faith suggest this to anyone, unless they simply wanted to share in my distain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2024
2 stars!! — The spoiler-free version of this review is that all of the characters are ridiculous, unlikeable, and the villain(s) win. Cass and Brooke are both absolutely insufferable, but Brooke is truly the worst. For the entire book, she ping pongs saying "This person is the killer! Nevermind. This person is the killer! Nevermind!" Every guess she makes is completely unfounded, she doesn't think about any of the actions for her consequences, has completely misplaced anger and doesn't feel any sympathy or remorse until it's too late. I couldn't stand her. Both Brooke and Cass are "hiding" something and their secrets revealed were really underwhelming and only made me dislike them even more. The reveal for the "Permanents" (stupid name) is a bit more exciting, but for the most part the book is teasing you and when it all comes out in this ridiculous, dramatic way that kind of makes it less thrilling and more ridiculous. Also, am I really supposed to believe Amani and Brooke had a full saga storytelling in the middle of a brutal storm, but just because they're under a tree it's fine?
Spoilers below!:
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review!
Spoilers below!:
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a DRC in exchange for my honest review!
January 13, 2024
1.5 stars far fetched & little character development
November 29, 2022
Pitched as "The Guestlist" meets "The Beach," I KNEW I'd love this one!
The Dive is set on a beautiful island in Thailand where darkness lurks in the shadows. Koh Sang seems like a tropical paradise at first. But when a small group of people take to the water for their first dive, one will end up dead, another badly injured.
The story is told from the points of view of two different female characters: dive instructor Cass, and influencer Brooke. Both women were likeable and relatable and I loved the behind-the-scenes insights into the worlds of diving and Instagramming! I also loved the oddball multicultural assortment of other characters including Aussie surf bum Doug and Swedish yoga teacher Greta.
Like all the best travel thrillers, The Dive will make you think twice about the people you meet on holiday! Everyone on the island is there because they are running from something or hiding murky secrets. Secrets they will kill to keep...
Gripping and action-packed, this is the perfect summer thriller! A must-read for fans of The Beach!
The Dive is set on a beautiful island in Thailand where darkness lurks in the shadows. Koh Sang seems like a tropical paradise at first. But when a small group of people take to the water for their first dive, one will end up dead, another badly injured.
The story is told from the points of view of two different female characters: dive instructor Cass, and influencer Brooke. Both women were likeable and relatable and I loved the behind-the-scenes insights into the worlds of diving and Instagramming! I also loved the oddball multicultural assortment of other characters including Aussie surf bum Doug and Swedish yoga teacher Greta.
Like all the best travel thrillers, The Dive will make you think twice about the people you meet on holiday! Everyone on the island is there because they are running from something or hiding murky secrets. Secrets they will kill to keep...
Gripping and action-packed, this is the perfect summer thriller! A must-read for fans of The Beach!
April 22, 2024
My thanks to Sourcebooks/Landmark, Sara Ochs and Netgalley.
I would have sworn on a stack of Stephen King and Clive Barker books that I had already reviewed this book. But, turns out I'm very much mistaken!
I don't remember much about this book. I do recall being really frustrated with these characters.
This book was unfortunate enough to be read by me while I was jumping through hoops. That's how I think of my hospital surgeries anymore. Just hoops.
With surgery comes days of painkillers. For me, painkillers mean not only relief, but also the ability to speed through books that I enjoy, and yet not remember much at all!😜
Yay?!
I couldn't tell you anyone's name, but I did like the book. Barely.
I would have sworn on a stack of Stephen King and Clive Barker books that I had already reviewed this book. But, turns out I'm very much mistaken!
I don't remember much about this book. I do recall being really frustrated with these characters.
This book was unfortunate enough to be read by me while I was jumping through hoops. That's how I think of my hospital surgeries anymore. Just hoops.
With surgery comes days of painkillers. For me, painkillers mean not only relief, but also the ability to speed through books that I enjoy, and yet not remember much at all!😜
Yay?!
I couldn't tell you anyone's name, but I did like the book. Barely.
March 4, 2024
Everyone’s a suspect in this book. It’s one of those stories where you know something’s happened from the very beginning but you don’t know what. And there isn’t just one mystery, there are multiple mysteries unraveling at once—some related and some not. While some parts were predictable, there were some unexpected twists, including one that happens after the reader is under the impression that everything has been unveiled.
I gave four stars instead of five because the first third of the book was pretty slow. Also, while the main characters grew to be likeable, I really disliked them for half of the book and never fell in love with them. I definitely recommend this for a quick mystery that you won’t want to put down once you get into it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ARC.
I gave four stars instead of five because the first third of the book was pretty slow. Also, while the main characters grew to be likeable, I really disliked them for half of the book and never fell in love with them. I definitely recommend this for a quick mystery that you won’t want to put down once you get into it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ARC.
July 13, 2024
Everyone on Koh Santa has secrets and while untrustworthy characters are great, here, there are too many and you are too far removed from them (given this is told from two main POVs) that it doesn’t have the impact it otherwise could. Most of the time we are listening to Cass question what is truth and watching Brooke act like an amateur PI as they both try to figure out what really happened to Lucy, who was discovered dead. Neither were particularly exciting characters.
I never got the suspense or thrilling feels while reading this and I also wasn’t drawn into the mystery of the island, ex-pats, and death.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I never got the suspense or thrilling feels while reading this and I also wasn’t drawn into the mystery of the island, ex-pats, and death.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
arcs
July 26, 2023”Welcome to paradise. We hope you survive your stay...”
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
January 2, 2026
3 stars
Decent thriller set on an island in Thailand. A little too long. Nice ending.
Decent thriller set on an island in Thailand. A little too long. Nice ending.
April 17, 2024
I’ve been waiting to read The Resort, taking place in beautiful Thailand. A country I have always heard is so beautiful and I’ve always wanted to visit. But for me, it is like a 30+ hour flight and i have no desire to fly that many miles. Anyway, if you want lies, secrets, murders, Xanax - lots of Xanax - this book has it all! This book was a page turner!
March 13, 2025
1.5/5
I do it to myself at this point. A beachy murder mystery whodunnit with a dual perspective, what could go wrong? Turns out a lot.
I'll start with what I enjoyed first. I love stories that take place an on island, beach, or just a summer vibe location. I was very down with the imagery. I took a risk reading this despite the many negative reviews because of those things. I was confused by the negative reviews until about 200 pages in, which always seems to be the case for me with these kinds of stories. Was having a great time until I wasn't.
Now to get onto the MANY things that I hated about this:
1. Neil screamed Bo Burnham in Promising Young Woman. Like that was my first thought while reading their initial interactions. You're supposed to like him, but he's obviously not a good guy. I really enjoy a "not happy ending" story so that worked for me in a way but I did not have the "Aha!" moment that I'm sure I was supposed to. My favorite part was about how after the murders happened a bunch of information came out about everything involved but they conveniently only did not do a deep dive into Neil's past.
2. What the actual fuck was up with the side stories of Brooke and Cass? That brought absolutely nothing to the table for me and it genuinely made me so mad. Throwing in a random ass r*pe storyline and then having Brooke want revenge on the girl who opened the door instead of the guy who r*ped her? This was the point where this story starting screaming internalized misogyny at me. That fucked up storyline aside, Cass's story was just as pointless and weird. The family murder in the hotel was laughable. Very lazily thrown together and when the sister just dies because of champagne and Xanax I almost had to put the book down. This book could've been about 150 pages shorter if this was all taken out. I was so mad at the reveal that Brooke was only there for revenge. I had to go back and think about and skim over some of the other chapters just to make sense of it all. And speaking of Brooke's side story, I thought it was very weird the way they treated the Daniel thing. They find out that he is on the island running away from charges for SA but they still talk very highly of him. Then it's just explained away in the ending that the girl wanted "15 minutes of fame" by lying about him assaulting her? Very much was telling about the author's views on sexual assault.
3. What was with this basically being an anti-Xanax ad? Felt very strange and off to me. All of Cass's memory issues, whether she is mixing it with alcohol or not, are because of Xanax. Like damn girl, how much were you taking? And then she quits cold turkey which is extremely dangerous if shew as actually taking so much that she was losing hours of her day that frequently.
4. When Brooke posted that Instagram caption without having full context whatsoever and then calls herself a journalist. She has been traveling for three years as an influencer and had ample opportunity to start a blog and didn't. Yet an Instagram caption is going to really launch her career. I mean if you're trying to get into the National Inquirer, sure. Then she immediately realizes that everything she thought she knew didn't make sense 10 minutes after screaming at Cass because that was the moment she decided to critically think for the first time.
This had soooo much potential to be so much better. In the beginning I truly loved the dynamic between Brooke and Cass. They had great chemistry and it should have leaned into that more. Can we please give more credit to our female characters?
I do it to myself at this point. A beachy murder mystery whodunnit with a dual perspective, what could go wrong? Turns out a lot.
I'll start with what I enjoyed first. I love stories that take place an on island, beach, or just a summer vibe location. I was very down with the imagery. I took a risk reading this despite the many negative reviews because of those things. I was confused by the negative reviews until about 200 pages in, which always seems to be the case for me with these kinds of stories. Was having a great time until I wasn't.
Now to get onto the MANY things that I hated about this:
1. Neil screamed Bo Burnham in Promising Young Woman. Like that was my first thought while reading their initial interactions. You're supposed to like him, but he's obviously not a good guy. I really enjoy a "not happy ending" story so that worked for me in a way but I did not have the "Aha!" moment that I'm sure I was supposed to. My favorite part was about how after the murders happened a bunch of information came out about everything involved but they conveniently only did not do a deep dive into Neil's past.
2. What the actual fuck was up with the side stories of Brooke and Cass? That brought absolutely nothing to the table for me and it genuinely made me so mad. Throwing in a random ass r*pe storyline and then having Brooke want revenge on the girl who opened the door instead of the guy who r*ped her? This was the point where this story starting screaming internalized misogyny at me. That fucked up storyline aside, Cass's story was just as pointless and weird. The family murder in the hotel was laughable. Very lazily thrown together and when the sister just dies because of champagne and Xanax I almost had to put the book down. This book could've been about 150 pages shorter if this was all taken out. I was so mad at the reveal that Brooke was only there for revenge. I had to go back and think about and skim over some of the other chapters just to make sense of it all. And speaking of Brooke's side story, I thought it was very weird the way they treated the Daniel thing. They find out that he is on the island running away from charges for SA but they still talk very highly of him. Then it's just explained away in the ending that the girl wanted "15 minutes of fame" by lying about him assaulting her? Very much was telling about the author's views on sexual assault.
3. What was with this basically being an anti-Xanax ad? Felt very strange and off to me. All of Cass's memory issues, whether she is mixing it with alcohol or not, are because of Xanax. Like damn girl, how much were you taking? And then she quits cold turkey which is extremely dangerous if shew as actually taking so much that she was losing hours of her day that frequently.
4. When Brooke posted that Instagram caption without having full context whatsoever and then calls herself a journalist. She has been traveling for three years as an influencer and had ample opportunity to start a blog and didn't. Yet an Instagram caption is going to really launch her career. I mean if you're trying to get into the National Inquirer, sure. Then she immediately realizes that everything she thought she knew didn't make sense 10 minutes after screaming at Cass because that was the moment she decided to critically think for the first time.
This had soooo much potential to be so much better. In the beginning I truly loved the dynamic between Brooke and Cass. They had great chemistry and it should have leaned into that more. Can we please give more credit to our female characters?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2024
This is a slow-to-unfold mystery. From the beginning of the book, you know there are bits and pieces that you are missing in the overall story. Using the characters' POVs, you slowly get more information to fill in the puzzle. While I love slow mysteries that make the ending all the more satisfying, for me,'The Resort' was missing the likable character that you could get behind.
January 22, 2024
⭐️3.5 stars⭐️
Not gonna lie, I have conflicting feelings about this book. I was really enjoying it in the beginning. The secluded island resort in a beautiful country full of interesting, complicated characters. But then there was SUCH an abrupt change in the story where the characters’ true intentions were starting to be revealed. No lead up, just BAM, this is who I really am. It threw me off.
Another thing that bugged me was the female narrators’ true accents coming out. One of the characters is supposed to be from Kentucky and makes remarks about learning to hide her “southern drawl” but the narrator seems to have difficulty keeping her real English accent hidden throughout the story.
Overall, the story was entertaining and I did enjoy it and would still recommend it to friends. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a physical book though.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the opportunity of listening to and reviewing this audiobook.
Not gonna lie, I have conflicting feelings about this book. I was really enjoying it in the beginning. The secluded island resort in a beautiful country full of interesting, complicated characters. But then there was SUCH an abrupt change in the story where the characters’ true intentions were starting to be revealed. No lead up, just BAM, this is who I really am. It threw me off.
Another thing that bugged me was the female narrators’ true accents coming out. One of the characters is supposed to be from Kentucky and makes remarks about learning to hide her “southern drawl” but the narrator seems to have difficulty keeping her real English accent hidden throughout the story.
Overall, the story was entertaining and I did enjoy it and would still recommend it to friends. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a physical book though.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the opportunity of listening to and reviewing this audiobook.
July 13, 2023
Scuba diving instructor Cass leads her students out for their first dive off the beautiful coast of Koh Sand, Thauland's world-famous party island. It's supposed to be a life changing experience, but things quickly spiral out of control.... By the time she gets back to the shore, one of her students is dead, another critically injured, and she knows that her idyllic life is about to be smashed to pieces on the rocks. Someone has discovered Cass's secret, and on an island as remote as this, accidents happen. Plenty of backpackers choose to stay here forever - but some never make it home alive.
This story follows a group of friends who have all made a new life for themselves on the island. But they all have a secret that they keep hidden from each other. Filled with lots of twists and turns, well developed and likeable characters, a pretty good plotline, murder and intrigue. It did take a couple of chapters for me to get into this book, but once I was there, I was hooked. I loved the plot twist at the end. This is a quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #SaraOchs for my ARC of #TheDive in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows a group of friends who have all made a new life for themselves on the island. But they all have a secret that they keep hidden from each other. Filled with lots of twists and turns, well developed and likeable characters, a pretty good plotline, murder and intrigue. It did take a couple of chapters for me to get into this book, but once I was there, I was hooked. I loved the plot twist at the end. This is a quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #SaraOchs for my ARC of #TheDive in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2024
Nope. Nope. Absolutely not. Right to jail.
Bad writing! Dual POV where the protagonists were indistinguishable in both voice and levels of utter incompetence! Sensationalization of trauma in the service of trying to make “unreliable narrator” happen! Offensively inaccurate portrayal of mental illness, including extremely weird takes on Xanax! Blaming other women for sexual assault committed by men!
The scuba scene was excellently creepy. That’s the only good thing I have to say. I am once again asking Book of the Month to raise their standards for thrillers even just a little bit.
Bad writing! Dual POV where the protagonists were indistinguishable in both voice and levels of utter incompetence! Sensationalization of trauma in the service of trying to make “unreliable narrator” happen! Offensively inaccurate portrayal of mental illness, including extremely weird takes on Xanax! Blaming other women for sexual assault committed by men!
The scuba scene was excellently creepy. That’s the only good thing I have to say. I am once again asking Book of the Month to raise their standards for thrillers even just a little bit.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,146 reviews