NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

We are buddy reading The Resort by Sue Watson immediately as it publishes June 24!

Goodreads synopsis:
When a dream trip becomes your worst nightmare…

You’ve been excited about this getaway for months – at last, a chance to reconnect with your husband at a secluded island resort. But when he unexpectedly calls you from the beach, you hear the urgency in his voice. Something is very wrong.

The beautiful waitress from the restaurant last night has been found lying dead in the sand. And the police want to question your husband about it.

Sure, you saw him glance at her over dinner a few times, but you know he didn’t have anything to do with the poor girl’s death. So why is he asking you to lie to the police that he was with you all night? And where did he go in those missing hours?

When he returns to your beautiful sea-view suite, things get heated and he accuses you of being jealous, just like he always does. Yes, the waitress was overly flirtatious with your husband, but you didn’t actually wish her any harm. Not really.

Can you trust the man you married… or are you the one who can’t be trusted?

I linked it to the calendar starting June 17th (tomorrow).

Perfect! I just finished a book, so I will start this one now.
I LOVE island resorts so I am hoping this one is good.

I started this one and I can tell it is my kind of book. Juicy and dramtic!!

I am at 15%
It follows 3 couples who are vacationing at a fancy resort and the POVs (so far) have alternated chapters between the woman half of the couples.

I've just started it!

I'm 20% through (at Ch 6) and Daisy and Sam (view spoiler)[just discovered Stella's body. (hide spoiler)] JUICY! All these men seem like such trash, it'll be interesting to see where this leads!

I am at 35% now.
Yes, the men are trash. Hate them. I hate when ALL the men are trash though. Can't some of them be good?

Even (view spoiler)[ the waiter, Paolo (I think his name is) is a creep. Do you think he has more to do with it than just a background character?

I don't know how Sam's husband turned to a jerk so quick. They just got married.

I am most interested in Becky and her issues. About WHY she allows her husband to drug her and treat her like that. And I don't think it is him, because that would be obvious, right?

I just got to the part where Daisy got attacked and they are leaving the island for the hospital. Hmmm... I didn't see that coming.

Do you think maybe it isn't even one of the men who killed Stella?
(hide spoiler)]

Just got to 35% (at Ch 11) and (view spoiler)[I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't any of the 3 husbands because the author is sure making all of them suspicious and too obvious!! We need to find out more about Paolo the waiter.

I'm also very curious about what's going on with Becky and Josh!! He also hid the landline and lied about it?! WTF?! They definitely have big money problems that Becky doesn't know about.

I'm surprised that Daisy and Tom are being taken out of the equation...or are they? We'll find out! Honestly her own husband could have assaulted her. (hide spoiler)] This book is definitely holding my attention!

I am at 63% (Chapter 20)
(view spoiler)[ Well, the whole Becky thing is explained now. I think that takes her husband out of the equation. What a horrible situation though. Especially that he is missing out on so much by trying to "save" her.
I really don't know what I am thinking now. I agree about the husbands. They are too awful and obvious to be the killer.
I don't like Sam's husband at all. I feel like slapping him.
I mean what other characters are there besides the wives? And Paulo... (hide spoiler)]
This is a good read!

I'm following the comments to see if it's something I will want to read, sounds perfect for summer.

Tasha wrote: "I'm following the comments to see if it's something I will want to read, sounds perfect for summer."

Me too! I'm definitely thinking about reading this one.

Oh crap. Ch 20 is explosive. (view spoiler)[It’s gotta be David who just raped Daisy. But is he also the killer and who assaulted her? IDK. But I hate Daisy as a character now. I hate all of this abuse as a plot device. She’s been sexually abused her whole life. Why does that need to be? I hate that this book/this author did that. (hide spoiler)]

72% (on Ch 23). I was so shocked by Ch 20 that I forgot about some other things! (view spoiler)[WHO WAS WATCHING THE RAPE?! And OMG David and Sam killed Marie, his ex-wife! And Josh tried to steal! What the heck is going on?! Where does Stella fit in all of this? I definitely don't think it was Josh. Who was Stella canoodling with? So many questions! (hide spoiler)]

This sounds like a good one then??!! At least so far?

Tasha wrote: "This sounds like a good one then??!! At least so far?"

Something has happened to make it worse, for me at least. A choice that author made that I don't agree with and hate to see as a trope in books. When a character has already gone through so much trauma and then more trauma is piled up on them. I don't care for that. So it has colored my view of the book.

I will read on to get to your spoilers Elyse. I think I am right before that part!

Good to know, too bad. :(

I finished it last night. I will wait until you're done to rate it so I don't color your opinion. But here are some of my ending thoughts: (view spoiler)[I don't like how it played out. Josh made NO sense. DAVID is the one who was making comments and touching Daisy and being inappropriate. Nothing led me to think it was Josh and why would he assault Daisy before this? They thought the confusion between Stella and Daisy, blonde and thin but Daisy being assaulted had nothing to do with Stella. And then Stella's death just being an accident?! Sam accidentally pushed her? I did not like the POV from Stella. I hate when authors do that, give a death POV. But she obviously couldn't figure out how to show us what actually happened to Stella. Sam certainly didn't give any indication or show any remorse. And eww David was the one making out with Stella but when we were first told it from Josh's recounting of stealing the money, he overheard consent but then in Stella's POV, she was adamant that it was unwanted. I'm a bit frustrated by the ending and epilogues. I did like that Daisy killed Josh and Becky was okay with it though. lol (hide spoiler)]

77% chapter 25

Ok....so much here
(view spoiler)[ i have no idea who was watching the rape, but that is extremely creepy. Agree that it is ridiculous to continually have her a victim of sexual assault. Poor literary choice

Did we KNOW previous that Sam and David killed Marie?

What does Becky's cancer add to this story? Could that be suspect?

I am at the part of the night swim and something is about to go down. (hide spoiler)]

I will finish tonight.

I am dying to know what you guys are going to rate this one. From your conversation it seems like it may have taken a nosedive, which is sad bc the premise sounded really good.

I finished and I agree with your ending spoilers.

I call it the (view spoiler)[kitchen sink theory because the author literally threw everything in BUT the kitchen sink.
I did like the Becky/Daisy meeting at the end.

I actually thought it would have been better without the Stella epilogue. I also dont like the dead explaining what happened. It would have been better to have left it under speculation. Bc Sam was way out in right field - unless she had killed Marie, which we now know she hadnt (hide spoiler)]

My review

I also gave it 3 stars after a strong start. The second half just didn't live up to the beginning.

My review here

Oh that's disappointing. I thought this one was heading towards 5 stars for you both. Seems the author lost her way in there somewhere.

I really dislike when authors make every male character awful. Most men are just fine and most people have some redeeming qualities. When you get a group of people in a book that are all just jerks it makes the whole story feel unrealistic.

I feel the same way when a bad guy in a story in just blatantly rude and awful. I understand wanting us to dislike them, but be real about about it. The same with cozy mysteries. It's always how can you tell who's going to get killed off. Oh, that person is awful? They'll be showing up dead in the next chapter. lol

I agree with your thoughts, Kristie.

I am definitely skipping this one. lol Good reviews with enough info to let me know I'm not interested.

Hey everyone I did start this one late because I have covid and I am still sick two weeks later. I think I have long covid anyways no voice haven't had that now for two weeks. So I started it and I am about 25% in. I like the premise so far with the three couple's and each given space to talk about them. (view spoiler)[ The bar maid being found dead I don't know I suspected that. I think the men so far each one sounds like big dicks the way they treat their wives just the vibe I am feeling they seem way to flirtaticious. I get the feeling that some how all three men has a role in the young girls death just the gut feeling I am getting but hopefully I am wrong.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

You cracked me up TheReadingBell when you call the men (view spoiler)[BIG DICKS (hide spoiler)]
So perfectly stated!

Hope you are starting to feel better!

66% in
(view spoiler)[ Omg shit is hitting the fan in this story. I am feeling sorry for daisy. Now more than before I think every male character is this book needs to be put on a leash. Omg they are all disgusting in their own ways. I do understand Josh but even he seems suspect in his behavior. David he is just disgusting period. This entitlement I am feeling from the men they can get what they want cause they have money just gross and they are all pigs. My thought about these women if your guts telling you something go with it you know it is right. Daisy seems the most shocker why let someone in your room after everything you been through. Like why would you do that I had to stop reading at that point I don't know who she let in the room I suspect it is David but anyways I was like really you been through hell already you left traumatized and now regardless you are that naive to let a man into your room now come on. This makes me feel like the author is painting the trope well she asked for it she is beautiful why would she let a man in if she didn't want it. Omg really this in itself irks me to know end. Why Sue did you do this to your character she has been through enough already why paint this trope on her like the blood stain dress from the bloody mary. (hide spoiler)]

I might be ranty again lol

ok I don't know I am angry about this story I agree with what Else said about the book up to this point. I feel like the author just blew up a really good story up to this point. It was not good to pile more onto a character who is already dealing with Trauma was just to much for me period. I might DNF this at this point because I am that mad over it. Why Sue did you feel the need to do this and for any author out there do not do this to your characters it is just bad period. (view spoiler)[ I even feel like she is making Daisy out to be a slut because how dare she be beautiful experience what she went through finding the body then being attacked herself to now let a man into her room who is demanding to see her naked. I am WTF it all over the place. Ya'll I am really angry over this whole revelation. (hide spoiler)]

Thereadingbell wrote: "ok I don't know I am angry about this story I agree with what Elyse said about the book up to this point. I feel like the author just blew up a really good story up to this point. It was not good to..."

Yes this really disgusted me.

This is the Audible daily deal today. I just popped on here to see what you all thought before deciding if I wanted to grab it or not. You all rated it 3 stars, but from the comments I can read it seems that those were generous ratings. Maybe I should give this one a pass?

Pass
Too many other better books

Yeah, I skipped it.