This was a great read. It was suspenseful and intriguing. The characters were well fleshed out and interesting. I liked the way the story was told through the lens of Maya & Naomi and goes back & forth between present and past. Highly recommend reading this one if you enjoy a good suspense thriller!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Thank you to Random House and PRH Audio for the copies to review!

Dark academia is a favorite sub-genre of mine and this one is excellent, what with weaving in two generations and all into a fantastically dark and twisty story (set at Princeton!) that had some turns I did not see coming. It is a slow build in the beginning, flashing back to the past when Maya attended and who is now returning current day for her reunion and to see the graduation of her little sister, Naomi. Except shortly after she arrives, Maya receives the devastating news that Naomi is dead. Police say accident, Maya says, let’s try again, and begins to dig into what really happened.

This has it all - secret societies, privileged people, lies, coverups, sketchy deaths, rampant inappropriate behavior, you name it. I loved the audio for this, it was incremental to the suspense building that occurred in here, and I enjoyed the dual POVs of Maya and Naomi along with the dual timelines. It took a minute to keep all straight via audio so the book was helpful to have as a companion, but I didn’t need it after a while. I figured out loosely how this would end but in no way predicted the execution, and it was better than I thought it would be. I highly recommend this one, it was very well done and kept my attention from beginning to end. I cannot wait to see what Lauren Ling Brown writes next!

I loved this book, definitely kept me on my toes with lots of twist and turns. I love Reese picks and this one was a top favorite!

I usually enjoy a dark academia mystery/thriller but this one just did not stand out for me. It was intriguing at the beginning but with the constant switching of POVs, the story didn't flow well. The ending, although tied up nicely, was just okay.

Palpable suspense!
When I read the synopsis I was intrigued! Secret societies, rich people behaving badly, murder, and a dual narrative/timeline. What’s not to love?

When Maya returns to Princeton to celebrate her sister, Naomi’s, graduation, she’s excited to reminisce and catch up with old friends. Instead, she’s met with the shocking news of her sister’s death, and the possible link to a secret society.

This story had me on the edge of my seat! I love a dual narrative and timeline so I was pulled in right away, rooting for Maya to uncover the truth, while following Naomi as she navigated her way around the social dynamics at Princeton. I always enjoy a story about sisters and definitely felt a connection with these two characters. The author’s description of the setting was vivid and it felt very unsettling at times. She also did a great job at weaving in twists and I had no idea who the killer was until the last few chapters. At times I felt there were a few too many characters to keep track of and that had an effect on the overall pace for me, slowing it down.

3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy dark academia, compelling female protagonists, and dual narratives/timelines.

Maya returns to Princeton for her college reunion and her sister, Naomi's, graduation. The night before graduation Naomi is found dead and Maya will do anything to find out what happened. The secret society that both sisters were involved in may hold all the secrets to uncovering what happened to Naomi. But to figure out that truth, all the secrets from Maya's past will need to be brought to light.

This is such a quick thriller. I couldn't put it down. The back and forth between Naomi and Maya's stories was very well done. I definitely recommend this if secret societies and the bonds of sisterhood are intriguing to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC of Society of Lies.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book!

A decade after her graduation, Maya is back at Princeton for her sister, Naomi’s, graduation. But when Naomi is found dead Maya refuses to accept it was an accident. As she pieces together Naomi’s last few months, she is also brought back to an uncomfortably similar death that occurred during her own years in college, all potentially connected to the same exclusive social club. The more Maya uncovers, the more she fears for her own safety, and the more she worries about her own secrets being revealed.

This is a gripping thriller told in multiple timelines that demonstrates how desperation for belonging can lead to regrettable behavior. Maya and Naomi are not the typical Princeton students (not from a wealthy upbringing, and not white) and they each struggle for acceptance, but with a decade in between their college years it is also fascinating to see the differences in their experiences and social surroundings. I loved the various characters, and had so much fun guessing the conclusion of this story! It feels particularly exhilarating to find a debut like this, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!

This started off so strong, that first chapter had me so intrigued, unfortunately the back and forth between the POVs and the pacing didn’t keep me hooked for long. I do think this book will be widely loved, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

I thought the premise was intriguing, secret societies at an Ivy League school, but I struggled with the main characters. I didn’t understand the complete disconnect between the sisters. It seems like the 2nd death could have been avoided if they had actually talked to each other. The family dynamic was weird.

There were some plot elements that were introduced but not really expanded. Race and ethnicity are mentioned, then glossed over. Other plot points were mentioned briefly, then no further information was provided. I felt the book was fine.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam, and Lauren Ling Brown for the eARC.

All I can say is that I had such a nice college experience. No bullies. No cliques. No time! This is yet another book about someone going to school and dying. Then a relative somehow goes to solve the mystery of their death. Don’t get me wrong. These can be some really good books. But there was nothing here to make this one stand out.

I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and I’d liked how the chapters rotated from maya and naiomi’s point of views. I liked the concept. Secret societies always intrigue me. I also enjoyed the many twists and turns I did not see coming.

Look at that cover - I love it! Society of Lies drew me in quickly and had me guessing the whole time! There were so many different scenarios that I could see playing out, but I will admit that I was a bit disappointed with the ending (let's chat if you've read this one)! I enjoyed the dual timelines, and I loved how Brown addressed privilege and racism in the context of this thriller (although I wish she had done a little more with the racism aspect). This is the second book in a week that I read that also featured Princeton's eating clubs, which were unfamiliar to me previously. I love a good academic thriller, and this definitely scratched that itch! There is lots for a book club to discuss, and I can see why Reese just picked it!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for a copy of the book!

There was a lot to like in this book, but it fell victim to being too many things at once...

Pros: I love reading about old Ivy League secret societies and eating clubs (yes, eating clubs really exist at Princeton and Harvard). I went on a Google deep dive when I first started this book. The idea of a murderous, cover up, dark academia spin on secret societies was a great idea for a book.

CONS: Two POVs that were very similar - somehow Maya AND her sister have almost identical events happen to them in the same secret society at Princeton, and honestly, it was just too much. There's LOTS of flip flopping between past, semi-past, present that makes your mind spin. I would have rather have seen one of the two main characters have their story well-developed instead of two.

Bottom line: Was a bit of a miss for me.

This is very much a slow-burn mystery with hardly anything happening in the first half. The story centers on two sisters (Maya and Naomi, half-Asian, half-black) who are ten years apart and both are past or current Princeton students. The younger sister (Naomi) turns up dead, and the older investigates.

There are three POVs: Maya in the present, Maya in the past, and Naomi in the recent past, just before her death. Past Maya is in past tense; the other two are present tense. Groan. All three are so similar, it was hard to keep track of which one I was reading. Maya and Naomi are interchangeable as far as characterization goes.

It’s not particularly thrilling or suspenseful except for a few scenes, but it works as contemporary fiction. If you are expecting a thriller, you will be sorely disappointed.

Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. 3.5 rounded up to 4. Solid debut thriller that kept me guessing.

This dual timeline, dual POV story is, at its heart, about relationships and power. Maya is 10 years older than her sister Naomi. Orphaned at a young age, Maya has always felt responsible for getting Naomi a better life. As an undergrad at Princeton 10 years ago, she made some questionable decisions in order to cement her place in a powerful secret society, and one of them may have led to the death of one of her friends. Naomi has followed in her sister's footsteps, but days before she is set to graduate from Princeton, her body is found in a lake. Authorities say she drowned, but when Maya discovers Naomi had been part of the same society, she fears she may have uncovered secrets that other wanted to keep hidden. I liked the characters and the story held some surprises. However, although this book started off fast, the pace fell off partway through and I found most of it quite slow, which definitely impacted my overall rating (3.5 rounded up to 4 stars because I did quite like the twist at the end!)

Lauren Ling Brown’s debut novel is a dark academia thriller that takes place at Princeton and, more specifically, within the walls of its secret societies. It is a tale of two biracial sisters who attend the university ten years apart. Maya, the elder sister, returns to Princeton for her ten year reunion and her sister Naomi’s graduation. Rather than a happy occasion, the weekend turns into a tragedy as Naomi dies in what authorities describe as a drowning/drug overdose. Maya doesn’t believe it, and questions whether Naomi was murdered and if her death had anything to do with the secret societies to which both Maya and Naomi belonged at Princeton, given that Naomi’s death hearkens back to the death of another young woman when Maya was a student.

The first half of this novel is a slow burn as the book shifts between three timelines and two points of view. This is often confusing, in part because there is not much distinction between the voices of Maya and Naomi. However, any confusion is outweighed by the good job the author does showing the interrelationship between race, social class, and privilege to show how far people can go and why in order to belong.

The last third of the book is a whirlwind as the author works hard to tie many threads together. While I appreciated the pacing and the twists and turns, the ending felt rushed and came out of the blue. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to other fans of the dark academia genre.

Thanks to Penguin Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book.

Society of Lies is a twisty, psychological thriller set in the dark world of collegiate secret societies.

Society of Lies has an intriguing premise. Two sisters, ten years apart in age, are tapped into a (fictional) secret society at Princeton University. Elder sister Maya witnesses a tragedy that reverberates for years to come. When Maya’s sister Naomi tries to pick up the pieces ten years later, more tragedy ensues.

Maya and Naomi’s back stories were interesting. Their dual POVs added new information to the mysteries and their voices felt different enough that it was easy to differentiate between them. Their family dynamic was well integrated into the plot. Their opportunities for missed connections made sense in context, as they both felt uncomfortable being open with each other. Their cultural background also added depth and nuance to the story.

Maya and Naomi were characters that were easy to connect with. They weren’t perfect protagonists. Their flaws and struggles made them more realistic and empathetic characters. Their reasons for joining Greystone Society were refreshingly different. While Naomi could have easily been characterized as a present-day Maya, she was thoughtfully crafted as her person with different reasons for her involvement in Greystone Society.

The story started off with an inciting incident that set the novel into motion. However, after the initial shock wore off, the novel couldn’t keep pace with its opening. The plot moved slowly throughout most of the book. That action picked up during the last 20% of the book.

I would have liked for Lila’s character to have been developed further, as well as her friendship with Maya. That part of the story felt rushed for it being the crux of the novel’s tension. A third POV with Lila would have added some more tension to the story and more connection to her character.

If you’re looking for a twisty, multi-layered psychological thriller in a dark academic setting, add Society of Lies to your cart.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

"Society of Lies" by Lauren Ling Brown is a captivating read that had me hooked from start to finish.
Maya's return to Princeton for her college reunion takes a dark turn when she receives the devastating news of her sister Naomi's death. What should have been a nostalgic trip down memory lane quickly transforms into a gripping mystery as Maya delves into the secrets of the exclusive Sterling Club, where Naomi was involved.

Now, I gotta be real – the story starts off a bit slow. But trust me, once it picks up, it's a wild ride! Brown keeps you guessing with every twist and turn, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, she hits you with another surprise. Admittedly, keeping track of the multiple points of view was a bit challenging at times, and some characters felt a little too similar. However, Maya and Naomi's dynamic as protagonists added depth to the narrative, and their sisterly bond was a driving force throughout the story.

And let's not forget about the themes Brown tackles – identity, race, sisterhood, you name it. It adds a whole new layer of depth to the story and makes you think long after you've finished reading.

"Society of Lies" delivers a satisfying conclusion that ties up all the loose ends. While the reveal of the culprit may not have been a total shocker, the journey to uncover the truth was an exhilarating ride. Overall, if you're a fan of mysteries with a touch of dark academia and a sprinkle of sisterhood, this book is definitely worth your time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Society Of Lies is a fast-paced suspenseful novel interweaving status (economic, social, racial) and dark academia. Sometimes the pacing was off and I had a hard time believing that Maya was involved in the eating clubs for some reason, but overall once I got to the 60% mark I didn’t want to stop reading!