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.
Thought-provoking—if occasionally heavy-handed ... Where White Lotus provides zoomed-in, pointillistic snapshots of its characters, The Grand Paloma Resort delivers panoramic views. The back stories are often meaningful and moving ... In a few places, the story gets bogged down in details and earnestness ... This is also the beauty of Natera’s novel: It’s one of those entertaining beach reads that also make you think. Grand Paloma will transport you.
Natera writes her young protagonist with dimension ... The timeframe works to the novel’s advantage by keeping the plot pressurized .. [Natera] balances multiple storylines with deftness, making sure they all converge as the narrative progresses ... Natera gives a face to the often faceless resort staff ... Natera asks the reader to consider what’s behind the facade of paradise. Still, the novel doesn’t demand the reader’s pity ... Natera writes her characters with empathy, displaying their full humanity with nuance, honesty and most importantly, compassion. And in doing so, she accomplishes what the novelist is meant to do.
Natera deftly splices into this narrative the history of the Dominican Republic and the plight of Haitian workers ... A propulsively paced plot and heart-racingly high stakes ... Exhilarating, entertaining, and thought-provoking .. Heart-wrenching.
