“Everyone has secrets. But at a resort like this, someone’s secret might be deadly.” — The Resort, Sara Ochs

Sometimes, you just want a fast, twisty read that pulls you in right away. That’s exactly what I got with The Resort. It starts with a dream vacation, but things go wrong fast. A storm hits. A guest goes missing. And suddenly, everyone seems like they are hiding something.

I love thrillers with secrets, suspense, and a setting that feels like a character itself. This book gave me all of that. It’s set on a remote tropical island, and as the weather turns bad, so does the mood.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through what the book is about, what I liked, what didn’t work for me, and who I think would enjoy it. If you’re into quick thrillers that keep you guessing, this might be your next read. Keep going to see if The Resort is worth the stay.

About The Book

The Resort is a thriller novel set at an exclusive tropical resort, where a group of strangers arrives for what should be a relaxing escape. But soon, the calm turns into chaos when a guest disappears, and the rest begin to suspect foul play.

As the resort gets cut off by bad weather, secrets come out, lies unravel, and no one knows who to trust. The story mixes vacation drama with suspense, making it both fun and tense.

This book is about more than just the mystery—it explores how people act when they’re scared, exposed, and far from home.

Plot Summary

• Abby: A quiet guest who sees more than she lets on.
• Nate: Her husband, who seems to be hiding something.
• Lila: A young woman who loves attention but may not be as carefree as she appears.
• Ben and Emily: A couple trying to fix their broken marriage.
• The Staff: A few resort employees who may know more than they say.

A group of guests arrives at a luxury island resort, each bringing their own baggage—some emotional, some very real. Just as they start to settle in, a big storm traps them on the island, cutting off phones, boats, and contact with the outside world.

Then, someone disappears. At first, it seems like an accident. But as the story goes on, people start looking at each other with doubt and fear. Who can be trusted? Who’s lying? And is someone out there hiding a dark secret?

The mystery builds with each chapter, and as more truths come out, the tension rises. What starts as a dream vacation turns into a fight for truth—and maybe survival.

My Review

Writing Style and Tone

The writing in The Resort is fast, clean, and easy to follow. The chapters are short, which helps keep the pace moving quickly. The author does a great job of dropping clues slowly, keeping the reader guessing without giving too much away too soon.

The tone stays tense throughout, even in the quiet moments. There’s always this feeling that something is just about to go wrong. That’s what made it hard to put down.

Themes & Emotional Impact

• Secrets and Lies: Everyone in the story is hiding something, and the book shows how those secrets affect not only the characters but also the people around them.
• Trust and Fear: When you’re stuck with strangers and danger is near, who do you trust? This theme runs through every part of the book.
• Marriage and Relationships: Some couples are falling apart; others are pretending to be fine. The book looks at what happens when love is tested under stress.
• Truth and Survival: The truth matters—but finding it can be dangerous, especially when people are scared and desperate.

What I Liked

• The setting felt real—I could picture the resort and the rising tension as the storm hit.
• The characters felt believable, and each had something to hide.
• The pace was quick, and the twists kept me guessing.
• It had just the right amount of suspense without going over the top.

What Didn’t Work for Me

• Some characters felt a little flat or underused.
• The ending was fast, and I wanted a bit more explanation.
• A few of the twists were easy to guess if you read a lot of thrillers.

EXPLICIT SPOILER WARNING

• The guest’s death near the cliffs after the storm immediately grabbed my attention. At first, it seemed like an accident, but something felt off.

• One of the couples turned out to be not who they claimed to be, and that revelation completely shifted how I viewed their actions.

• The resort staff’s involvement in a potential hidden cover-up made everything feel even more suspicious. I constantly questioned who could be trusted.

• Abby’s decision to uncover the truth but face the dilemma of whether to reveal it or protect someone she loves really stood out. It was such an emotional moment that it made me reflect on loyalty and sacrifice.

• The final twist changed how I viewed everything that happened on the island. It was an unexpected conclusion that left me rethinking all the clues and moments from earlier in the story.

Ratings and Reader Opinions

“Sometimes the most dangerous people are the ones smiling beside you.” — The Resort, Sara Ochs

Goodreads Ratings & Reader Reviews

Rating: 3.8/5

Total Ratings: 50,000+

• “Quick, fun read with great atmosphere.” – 4 stars
• “Loved the setting but saw the twist coming.” – 3.5 stars
• “Finished it in a day. The pacing was perfect.” – 5 stars

Amazon Rating: 4.2/5

• “Gripping and easy to read. A perfect beach thriller.”
• “Reminded me of The Guest List and One by One.”
• “Characters were a bit weak, but the plot made up for it.”

What Other Authors Have to Say About the Book

Many bestselling authors have praised The Resort for its fast-paced plot, gripping tension, and atmospheric setting. It has been called a perfect beach thriller with just the right amount of mystery and drama.

• Lucy Foley, author of The Guest List, said:
  “Twisty, tense, and impossible to put down. The perfect escape read with a chilling edge.”
• Ruth Ware, author of One by One, wrote:
  “A clever mystery set in paradise. Secrets, lies, and a storm you won’t forget.”
• Rachel Hawkins, author of Reckless Girls, called it:
  “The kind of book you devour in a day. A tropical setting with plenty of dark surprises.”

The Resort has struck a chord with both readers and writers who enjoy suspenseful thrillers with locked-in tension and hidden motives, making it a standout in modern mystery fiction.

Is Reading The Resort Worth It?

“Everyone has secrets. Some just hide them better than others.” — The Resort, Sara Ochs

The Resort is a quick, suspenseful readset in paradise—until things start to go wrong. What starts as a peaceful getaway turns into a tense mystery full of secrets, lies, and shocking twists. The author does a great job building suspense, and the short chapters make it easy to read the book quickly.

If you enjoy thrillers that are fast-paced and character-driven, this one is a fun choice. The island setting adds to the tension, and the way the mystery slowly unravels keeps you turning the pages.

That said, it’s not the most complex thriller. Some twists are easy to see coming, and a few characters feel a little flat. But for a light, entertaining escape, The Resort is worth reading—especially if you like books set in beautiful places with a dark twist.

If You Like These Genres or Story Arcs, You Should Try It

• Thrillers set in remote or locked-in settings
• Vacation mysteries with hidden pasts
• Quick reads with unreliable characters
• Books with multiple points of view and shifting truths

Similar Books If You Enjoyed This One

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley
• One by One by Ruth Ware
• The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
• Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
• The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley