Ohhh this one was good! It was a fast-paced engaging story about the secret societies at Princeton University filled with lies and manipulation by using wealth and powerful connections. I found this topic fascinating and was googling to learn more about these societies. The dual POVs and timelines from Maya and Naomi kept me hooked and I couldn’t wait to learn more about each of their backstories. There were a few surprising moments and because so many characters were questionable, it kept me guessing. Overall, Society of Lies is a unique and interesting plot and with a suspenseful, dark tone throughout! A fabulous debut by Lauren Ling Brown! 👏🏻

Society of Lies is definitely a slow burn! The premise is super exciting initially, but the pacing is definitely set to string the reader along.
Maya graduated from Princeton and had been a member of one of its extremely secret societies. She has returned to her alma mater to watch her sister graduate only to find out that Naomi has been found dead under suspicious circumstances. As Maya investigates the circumstances leading up to Naomi’s death, she begins to realize that she doesn’t really know her sister at all. Naomi has also been admitted to the Greystone Society and what happened all those years ago resulting in the death of a previous student may now have come full circle in Maya’s life.
I wish the pacing was a bit faster or it allowed for the suspense to build to more anticipation. However, the story is incredibly intriguing and well worth the read.

This was told in alternate points of view and timelines by both Maya and Naomi. You get to see Mayas past Princeton experience as well as her present day. You are given a peak at Naomi’s life months prior to her untimely demise. Maya being the older sister did have to grow up very quickly and I could sense the motherly vibe she had towards her sister since she was the only family she had left. I felt their relationship was real, with miscommunication being at the forefront between the both of them.

I really did think I had this one figured out, and I was actually surprised at the reveal. I was not expecting things to play out how they did, so that was a great shock to me, the thriller queen. There were themes of race and privilege, which I can appreciate a light being shined on these topics. I stayed up late to read this as well as sneaking a few pages in during downtime at work. I love a dark academia thriller, and this one did not disappoint with the secret society and privilege.

Let me tell you what I enjoyed about this book:
1. The Ivy league, academia setting
2. Secrets societies, coverups, etc. of the wealthy/priveleged
3. Suspense and intrigue
4. Dual timelines.

Silence can allow crimes to go unpunished.

Maya is returning to the Princeton campus ten years after she graduated; she will be meeting up with the friends she made there, but more importantly she will attend her younger sister Naomi’s graduation from that same university. Maya’s memories of her time at Princeton are decidedly mixed; as a mixed race person who was not from a monied background and who was shy and awkward when she arrived, she did not readily fit in to the culture there. She was also then mourning the death of her widowed mother and worrying about Naomi, who had been sent to live with an aunt in California. Junior year changed her life not just on campus but forever, when her friend Daisy encouraged her to “bicker” to join an elite eating club, one which would offer her connections and opportunities of which she could otherwise only dream. All things come with a price, and this was definitely the case for Maya’s admittance to the groups, so she was not at all pleased when Naomi decided to attend Princeton as well. Not only that, Naomi also became a member of the same eating club, Sterling, as well as gained entry into the Greystone Society, the secretive organization unknown to most of which Maya had become a member. With graduation just hours away, Maya is finally feeling relief that Naomi has made it through her four years without incident….and then she gets a phone call that changes everything. Naomi’s body has been found in a nearby lake, presumably an accident caused while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Maya is devastated, and also unsettled. She remembers only too well another student, her friend Lila, who also died accidentally during her senior year. There were disturbing things happening within Greystone back then, including a professor with a reputation for having affairs with students, and neither Maya nor her circle of friends believed that Lila’s death was an accident. They were, however, young and afraid, doubtful that anyone would listen to their suspicions and unwilling to jeopardize their futures just when they were about to launch their adult lives. Did Naomi anger the same people who Lila was accusing of misdeeds ten years earlier? Did Maya, by keeping silent all this time, contribute to the circumstances that took her sister’s life? Maya can no longer keep silent…and if she trusts the wrong person, her own life may be in jeopardy.
With all of the stories in the media about what goes on at elite universities like Princeton (the Varsity Blues scandal where parents found ways to buy their child’s way into schools otherwise out of their reach, “legacy” admittance enabling generation after generation within certain families to secure admittance, and the general bacchanal that the children of the ultra rich enjoy in between classes), the setting for this thriller is both familiar and exotic. Maya, and later Naomi, are not the typical Ivy League students….part black and part Asian, they don’t seem to fit into either culture yet don’t feel fully accepted by the white students either. Their quests to belong make them willing to do things they might otherwise not choose to do, which also makes them vulnerable to those for whom acceptance is a given. Each will find friendship and betrayal, experience racism and bump up against issues of class, and find their own methods to deal with them even while they recognize that a large part of the student population is not experiencing nor are even aware of those challenges. Both women will find the courage to dig for the ugly truths that lie at the heart of the mysterious society which they joined without knowing the full price of admission. There are plenty of possible villains, plots twists and unexpected betrayals, and not until the end of the book does it become clear what happened to Lila a decade earlier, and what cost Naomi her life in the present day. Readers of Donna Tartt, Julia Bartz and Jodi Picoult should definitely give Society of Lies their attention, as should anyone who wonders what really goes on behind those ivy-covered facades. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Bantam for allowing me early access to this dark thriller.

Lots of quibbles with this one, and I didn't have any fun with it. I had to work so hard to ferret out the plot that I was just grumpy tge whole time.

Full review:

Thank you to the author Lauren Ling Brown, publishers Bantam Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SOCIETY OF LIES. All views are mine.

<i>I can hear my sister’s voice as though she’s standing right next to me— He’s not good for you, you deserve more—and I know she’s right. But that’s the thing about love, isn’t it? When you find someone who sees you in a way no one else does, who understands you and makes you feel like you can’t be whole without them, it wraps you in a vise and makes you forget how to live life without them.</i> Loc.258

The last 50 pages of this book were an eye rolling purgatory. This book is bloated and needs to lose at least 75 pages of repetition. I found endless quibbles with this one, and not too much to like unfortunately.

I recommend this book for fans of Dark Academia, but to be clear, this is no THE SECRET HISTORY.

Three (or more) things I loved:

1.<i> My hands curl into fists, crushing the edges of the card. Matthew DuPont left us there. Stranded. With cops who could have done who the hell knows what? It would have been so easy for him. All he had to do was tell them to leave us alone. ...I feel the anger rise up in me. Without thinking, I grab the flowers by the neck and hurl them at the trash, just barely missing, scattering petals and leaves all over the floor. </i>p205 I appreciate this author's ability to draw the natural drama out of her sentences and scenarios. She gives us the best of hyperbole to communicate how much is on the line for the speaker, her sister, and the people in their lives.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. It turns out this is dark academia, which isn't a favorite genre for me. They have to work really hard to get my attention, and this one is starting out slow and foggy. But they mismarketed unfortunately as a mystery or true crime novel.

3. The plot is convoluted due to the exaggerated complication of the narrative form. Dual POV, both in first person but possessing little distinction between them, and shifting timelines for both POVs. It gets very difficult to follow.

4. Sentence structure is often rickety, composed of lots of little moving parts.

5. There are some small logic issues. Like when the previously comatose girl in the backseat sits up and yells, <i>"What are you waiting for?"</i> p212

6. It has the tone and mood of a mystery, especially the way it drops story evidence in moments of increased tension. But it tries to move like a thriller, and it's built like a thriller. So, it fights with itself a bit, and in so doing, loses the trail of its plot. Every time I had to pick this book back up, figuring out where I was in the story often felt impossible. Sometimes, I gave up getting my bearings, and just kept reading. (Figured I would figure it out. I was mostly right.)

Rating: 🏫 /5 colleges
Recommend? No
Finished: June 2 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🔍 mysteries
🪢 first person, dual POV
🔥 slow burn

Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for sending me an early copy of Society of Lies.
Beginning to end, this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the dual perspective and fast paced the story was. I was literally kept guess the entire read. I think this is a perfect read for anyone who likes a whodunnit style story, with secret societies, nail biting plots!

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Ballantine, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

SYNOPSIS: A decade after graduating, Maya Banks has returned to Princeton for her little sister Naomi’s commencement. But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya’s worst nightmare when she learns something awful has happened: Naomi has died.
As Maya begins to piece together the months leading up to her sister’s death, she realizes that Naomi’s decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past… and to the secrets she’s kept all these years.

MY REVIEW: What an AMAZING well rounded debut thriller by Lauren Ling Brown! The entire premise of exclusive eating clubs and even more secret societies within was so unique and had me hooked from page one.

The timeline jumps and dual pov builds the mystery through the lenses of Maya and Naomi, both whom have internal struggles regarding the wellbeing and happiness of one another. Each timeline weaves seamlessly into the other, making for a fast paced, yet slow burn. No matter how much I tried to figure out who murdered Naomi, I was shocked when the true killer was revealed.

If you love suspenseful dark academia, secret societies, cover-ups and blackmail, do yourself a favor and curl up with Society of Lies.

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

This is not typically my genre but the title and cover pulled me in. Oh my gosh, I loved it! I definitely couldn’t read it before bed but it was such a fun and satisfying day read! Can’t wait to read more by this author!

Synopsis: When Maya’s younger sister is found dead right before her graduation from Princeton, she begins to suspect that the elite secret society they both belonged to was involved.

Thoughts: I’m a sucker for a secret society story, so I was super excited to read this one! I thought the setting was well done and felt realistic, and I was immediately drawn into the dual pov/dual timelines. There were some parts that felt a little bit muddled in the middle because there was A LOT going on - but the twists were well executed and tied most things up pretty well. Overall, I thought this was an impressive debut, and this author is one to watch! If you’re interested in an entertaining mystery with dark academia vibes, go grab Society of Lies tomorrow!

Read this if you like:
🎓 murder mysteries
🎓 dark academia
🎓 college
🎓 secret societies
🎓 dual POV

I really enjoyed this mystery! The author does a great job of using dual timelines of telling the story of two sisters' time at Princeton. I really liked the beginning and end of the book but thought the middle of the book dragged just a bit. I highly recommend this one to those who like mysteries!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc of this book! Publication date is 10/1/24.

I love a book I can read over a weekend. Society of Lies is a compelling debut that was engaging to read. I enjoy the campus novel told through flashbacks. I think this works well for older readers who still enjoy a campus setting.

Mysteries are always fun and Lauren Ling Brown brings a great perspective addressing race, elitism and money.

I’ve read a few novels that discuss gaining admittance to prestigious schools and dealing with the outsiderness of never quite belonging due to race or economic status. It is an important theme to dissect.

Society of Lies does a lot to address race, elitism, family relationships, money, acceptance all within the walls of Princeton. I love the crap Princeton gets in novels. I think there are many novels spent talking about their secret societies and social clubs.

She studied at Princeton and this is her first novel.

I was frustrated by the miscommunication trope. It is not a plot device I enjoy.

wow this book was really enjoyable. thank you net galley for this arc.so for statrters the twist are there but it take some time to develope, but this story give in us a look at money and privalage. naomi is schocked thta her sister is found drowned on campus with drug in her system.

Maya is looking forward to returning to her alma mater Princeton for her 10 year reunion, since this is also the year her younger sister Naomi will be graduating. However, Maya receives a phone call saying that her sister was found dead. She’s convinced it wasn’t an accident and will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

SOCIETY OF LIES by Lauren Ling Brown (fellow film editor, heyyyyy!) is a debut novel and so so rich in story.

The Ivy League combined with secret societies within secret societies was absolute peak dark academia, making it the perfect fall read.

Brown alternates between the two sisters and builds the mystery and story from their POVs and I really enjoyed seeing how their Princeton journeys varied and were also similar, despite attending a decade apart.

I couldn’t help but root so hard for Naomi throughout most of the story and knowing that she wouldn’t survive to the end made it that more emotional to read.

Definitely a great slow-burn thriller that puts class and race under a magnifying glass!

Thanks to Bantam (Random House Ballantine) and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: October 1

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Society of Lies is the debut novel of Lauren Ling Brown. A dark academia novel set at Princeton, Society of Lies draws upon Brown's experience with being of mixed ethnic heritage in predominantly white spaces. The novel is told in fractured timelines, bouncing between Maya when she was a student at Princeton, her sister, Naomi, as a student at Princeton ten years later, and the Maya of the present. Lila Jones was a student who died during Maya's final year at Princeton. When Naomi begins investigating Lila's death, Naomi is found dead shortly thereafter. Maya is left to find out the truth of what happened to both Lila and Naomi and what the eating club Sterling Club and the secret society Greystone have to do with their deaths.

I wanted to love this book. I love dark academia in theory. But somehow there are quite a lot of dark academia books that just aren't for me. This was one of them. I wanted to give up around 30% due to pacing being far too slow for me and not being invested in the characters. I find that a successful dark academia book, for me, requires me to care very much about the characters. When I don't, it's incredibly difficult to achieve more than three stars because it doesn't matter what stakes are introduced at that point. It isn't that I didn't believe Maya was in danger. I simply didn't care.

Let me be clear, this book was written well. I can see this being adapted successfully into a movie. Especially learning that Brown has experience screenwriting. This would do well in a cry_wolf type film. One of my favorite films. Unfortunately, this was just a miss for me.

I still think this is worth a read if it sounds interesting to someone, and I hope this book finds its audience.

This book is perfect for fans of dark academia, mystery, and secret societies! This book is told in alternating timelines, and being able to piece together the mystery alongside the two main characters slowly was so fun and gratifying. The plot twists keep coming to the end of the book and keep you guessing repeatedly. The pacing of this book was incredible and kept me turning pages to find out what happened sooner rather than later.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me an E-Arc of this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via NetGalley.

Maya returns to Princeton for what should have been a joyful reunion weekend, only to be plunged into a nightmare when she receives devastating news: her younger sister, Naomi, has been found dead on campus. The police are quick to rule it an accident, but Maya's instincts tell her there's more to the story. As she begins to dig into the months leading up to Naomi's death, Maya discovers her sister had secrets—dangerous ones tied to the elite and enigmatic Sterling Club, a social circle Maya herself was once a part of.

The novel deftly weaves together two timelines, unraveling Maya's own dark experiences at Princeton alongside her quest to understand what happened to Naomi. While this dual narrative adds depth and suspense, it can also be challenging to follow, as the shifts between past and present sometimes blur, making it difficult to keep track of which sister's story is unfolding.

Despite a slightly drawn-out conclusion, the novel keeps readers hooked with its tantalizing clues and unsettling revelations. Maya's journey forces her to confront the shadows of her past, revealing that her sister's death may be tied to secrets she thought were long buried.

This compelling book explores the dark underbelly of privilege, power, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. It may feel a bit lengthy toward the end, but the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the final page.

When I tell you that this book had me in a chokehold from the beginning, I can’t find the words to explain. The plots, twists, turns, and characters had me on the edge of my seat. This was definitely a world wind so get ready for the ride. I highly recommend.

Society of Lies is a mystery/ thriller about two sisters, Maya and Naomi. Maya and Naomi are sisters who attend Princeton ten plus years apart from each other. When Maya learns her sister has died right before graduation, she is believes this wasn't an accident. She knows too much about the secrets and lies from her own time at Princeton. As Maya begins to investigate Naomi's college life, she learns her sister was hiding more than she led on. Throughout the story, we learn about the corruption, lies and what money can do within Princeton's eating clubs and secret societies, Maya will stop at nothing to find answers and it might just get her into trouble too.

The story is told from the perspectives of the two sisters. There are three different timelines, one of which is the Maya present day, As well as two in the past, from the points of view of both Maya and Naomi. So this was the only thing that was slightly confusing. There also was some plot points that were left hanging. Not big ones luckily.

This was a good thriller and I was very into it. I had no idea who the murderer was and when it was revealed I was very surprised. Then the very last twist was perfect. I give this a solid 4 stars.