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A review by amaboutbooks
The Grand Paloma Resort: A Novel by Cleyvis Natera
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When I say I want a good thriller book, THIS IS THE KIND OF BOOK I MEAN!
This book contains multitudes, and was so complex, layered and so well written. I love how history was very much a component throughout the book and showcasing the relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti brought even more tension to the book. I think the morally grey nature of some of the characters throughout this book was so well done, in particular because they are seeking to get ahead in a world that is absolutely against them. Racism, along with colorism, are themes throughout this book, and the author does a phenomenal job of showcasing instances of these.
One of my favorite parts of this book is that the bulk of the story is told through the perspective of people that work within the resort, rather than people who are visiting the resort. This makes it so that it takes a typical "tourist thriller" and completely turns it on its head in a really satisfying way, along with bringing in so many complexities. Laura and Elena are both really interesting characters, and their dynamic as sisters is layered and full of complications. I also really appreciated how this book tackles the criminal activities of privileged tourists and how local communities are often affected without any form of justice, due to corruption. This book really tackles a number of complex ideas and issues and carries them so well throughout the story. And the ending? PERFECTION.
This book contains multitudes, and was so complex, layered and so well written. I love how history was very much a component throughout the book and showcasing the relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti brought even more tension to the book. I think the morally grey nature of some of the characters throughout this book was so well done, in particular because they are seeking to get ahead in a world that is absolutely against them. Racism, along with colorism, are themes throughout this book, and the author does a phenomenal job of showcasing instances of these.
One of my favorite parts of this book is that the bulk of the story is told through the perspective of people that work within the resort, rather than people who are visiting the resort. This makes it so that it takes a typical "tourist thriller" and completely turns it on its head in a really satisfying way, along with bringing in so many complexities. Laura and Elena are both really interesting characters, and their dynamic as sisters is layered and full of complications. I also really appreciated how this book tackles the criminal activities of privileged tourists and how local communities are often affected without any form of justice, due to corruption. This book really tackles a number of complex ideas and issues and carries them so well throughout the story. And the ending? PERFECTION.