The Grand Paloma Resort

A Novel

De: Cleyvis Natera

Narrado por: Sixta Morel, EJ Lavery, Diana Bustelo

AN ELLE AND ELECTRIC LIT BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • The Grand Paloma Resort is a lush paradise in the Dominican Republic where the guests enjoy incredible luxury, and the staff is always eager to please—that is, until they are pushed to the brink.

Laura is a local Dominican woman who, through sheer hard work, has risen through the ranks to become manager at the Grand Paloma Resort. Her idea to pair a “platinum” guest with their own resort employee to attend to their every whim has been wildly successful, and she’s just weeks away from a promotion that could blaze a path for her off the resort and toward a life of opportunity. If only her younger sister, Elena—who she’s looked after since the death of their mother—could get with the program.

Elena has tried to live up to her sister’s expectations, but to escape the drudgery of waiting on rich tourists, she’s become increasingly dependent on pills and partying. As a babysitter at the resort, she’s at the beck and call of guests who are indulging their worst impulses and need someone else to watch their kids while they do so. Now, after an accident, a child left in her charge is believed dead, and Elena knows she'll be held responsible.

When Elena runs into the child’s father at a nearby beachfront watering hole, he offers her an obscene amount of money for private time with two young local girls. Elena pockets the cash to fund her escape and prays she’s gotten the girls out of harm’s way. But then the girls are reported missing.

Set over the course of seven days, The Grand Paloma Resort offers an unforgettable story of class, family, and community, building to an intense climax in which the true costs of luxury are laid bare, redeemed only by true acts of love.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Gripping . . . Cleyvis Natera, author of Neruda on the Park, crafts a layered narrative about sisterhood, ambition, and the quiet rebellions of working-class women. A lush and suspenseful summer read.”—Al Dìa

“Cleyvis Natera blew me away with her debut Neruda on the Park and her sophomore novel is truly the perfect follow-up from White Lotus.”—Crime Reads

“Cleyvis Natera is a masterful storyteller, and this irresistible novel is a master class in human nature at its most vulnerable, most callous, and most righteous.”—Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies

“One of the most compelling stories you will read this year.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, author of Black Cake and Good Dirt

“With compelling characters and a narrative that steals your breath from the first page, The Grand Paloma Resort offers an unforgettable, unexpected story that will upend readers’ assumptions about power, pleasure, and moral salvation.”—Xochitl Gonzalez, author of Olga Dies Dreaming

“A deeply felt, utterly unputdownable read.”—Karin Slaughter, author of Pretty Girls

“A tense page-turner that unsparingly interrogates allegiances, and belonging, and who gets to decide how you survive.”—Cristina García, author of Vanishing Maps

“A heart-stopping, gut-punch of a novel that doesn’t just tell a story—it grabs you by the throat and won’t let go.”—Angie Cruz, author of How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

“Fast-paced and richly rendered, this is a novel I won’t soon forget.”—Elizabeth Acevedo, author of The Poet X

“This is a fresh, critical twist on the resort genre that will leave readers on the edge of their seats!”—Myriam J. A. Chancy, author of Village Weavers

“The Grand Paloma Resort is a literary White Lotus. Through a rich cast of characters, Natera has written a sexy, sinister, and intricate tale that serves as an indictment of the haves at the expense of the have-nots.”—Alejandro Varela, author of The Town of Babylon

What seemed to be very accurate local vibe

I loved the voices, the intrigue, the not shying away from difficult subjects, and the hope she leaves us with.

Dark reality of tourism

The reader is smack dab in the middle of all the layers within all-inclusive resorts. May every traveler to these types of accommodations read this & understand the varied effects such travel has upon local populations. So many unexpected twists & turns during the “vacation” described throughout the book, yet…all felt realistic. One won’t look at all-inclusives the same after this. The question remains: how is ethical tourism promoted when too many feel free to run rampant / wreak havoc without guilt in foreign countries?

Beautifully written🥰

I loved how the characters are flawed but easily understood and how the unpleasant parts of the history of our country is exposed so that we can have awareness and perhaps even curiosity to dig deeper and understand our past.

The Grand Paloma Resort! I can’t stop reading it!

The Grand Paloma Resort is a masterful novel that keeps readers on edge, constantly guessing what will happen next; only to be completely surprised when the story takes unexpected turns. Just when you think you know where it’s going, Natera flips the script, making this book impossible to put down.
The brilliance of the novel lies not only in its unpredictable plot but also in the way the stories of its characters are intertwined so seamlessly. Each storyline feels essential, every character richly layered. Attentive readers will notice the clever intentionality behind the characters’ names; symbols that hint at their roles and deeper meaning in the narrative. Set against the backdrop of a luxury resort, Natera pulls back the curtain to reveal what goes on behind closed doors, both among the wealthy guests and the families working tirelessly in the shadows. Themes of racism, classism, sexism, and LGBTQ issues are confronted with nuance and honesty, giving the novel both social weight and emotional resonance. The result is a story that not only entertains but challenges readers to reflect on their own experiences and the world around them.
The prose itself is vivid and transporting; Natera’s descriptions of the resort and its surrounding environment make you feel as though you’re standing there, immersed in the sights, sounds, and textures of the Caribbean. The characters are equally alive, so much so that you will find yourself saying, I know someone exactly like this or even, this could be me. And then, there’s the ending. Without giving anything away; it’s the kind of finale that you’ll want to talk about with someone immediately, but you’ll stop yourself because you know they need to experience it firsthand. Ultimately, The Grand Paloma Resort is thrilling, thoughtful, and deeply human. It has the sharp social commentary of a modern classic while delivering the page turning intrigue of a suspenseful drama. Frankly, even though this novel was written before HBO’s White Lotus which I think they should take note; this novel has all the makings of a perfect season.

Beautiful, revealing, beautiful, provoking, beautiful

The first time I went to an All-Inclusive a few years ago, I spoke to one of the waiters at the buffet. She told me and my partner that she had three days off every two weeks, and that she used them to go and see her 4 year old son, who lived in Dajabón. It took her one day to go, she spent one day with her family, and then one day to travel back; then gratefully repeat after two more weeks. She worked in Punta Cana. I’ve always wanted to write about her story because it is so compelling, a combination of sacrifice, heroism, gratitude and horror, and there are so many more like hers. Natera did it, and in the most brilliant and humane possible way. I think this book is unique, touching and digging into sand and smelly crystal-blue waters nobody has the guts and conscience to explore; The Grand Paloma Resort is beautiful, revealing, beautiful, provoking, and beautiful. Congratulations Cleyvis!