I liked the story overall but struggled with the POV blending together. I would get confused often and kept having to stop mid chapter to make sure I was reading correctly. I didn’t find any of the characters likable at all but I still gave it 3 stars because the story was unique and I did stay intrigued enough to want to see it through to the end!

A Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown is a thriller that takes place at Princeton and revolves around Maya, a Princeton Graduate, and her younger sister Naomi. by 10 years who presently attends Princeton. They both belonged to exclusive social clubs that included secret societies.
Maya is excited to attend her sister’s graduation when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The story goes back and forth between Maya and Naomi’s college lives and clues as to how Naomi died.
I enjoyed parts of this story although it was a bit slow. Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC. This was a slow paced read, there are two murders and three timelines. It was difficult to care about the characters. The plot is very predictable.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Very enjoyable! Dark academia, secret societies, sibling relationships, TWO murders - what's not to like? So many elements for a great read and it did not disappoint. I loved the different timelines and trying to put the together the pieces from past and current. Matthew DuPont was an interesting character and I was intrigued by how he fit into the lives of both sisters. A little slow burn at times but held my interest throughout. Also, very thought provoking re. the upper echelons of the world! Not sure I *loved* the sisters as individuals, a bit naive for two Princeton students, however, it worked!

With this premise and plot line this should have been an edge of your seat thriller. Instead, it plodded along with two dimensional characters who over reacted melodramatically to everything that happened to them. Told from the point of view of two sisters over three timelines, the writing lacked distinct voices for each sister and I had to keep checking which one was narrating. By the time the ending came, I really didn't care who did it. This one wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for an advanced reader copy.

the description of a book about secret societies piqued my interest as i am fascinated by secret societies. The first half of hte book was slow paced but it picked up in the second half. there were times that the vocies sounded familair and had to keep reminding myself when i was in past/present. overall an okay book

“Society of Lies” is a thriller by Lauren Ling Brown. This book should have worked for me - its got a college, it has a murder, it has a secret society, it has dual timelines … but for some reason it didn’t. While I found the three timelines interesting (and sometimes a bit difficult to keep track), I was okay with it - except that the pacing was uneven. Additionally, there wasn’t a lot of “voice” difference between the two sisters, so when I was skimming the more slow sections (I know, my fault) I’d get confused as to who was speaking - and when. There are a number of minor/supporting characters - and I wish that some of their stories had not been left loose at the end. This wasn’t a bad book - and for a debut novel it was a great idea - but it just didn’t always work. A huge plus was the short chapters - very convenient to read a few chapters, put it down to do something, and then return. I’d give this author another try as I see the potential. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Society of Lies have all the makings of a good thriller. I admit I found Part 1 dull. The plot does pick up, but unfortunately it felt like an effort to get through the book. There were so many characters to keep track of and the multiple POVs and timelines made it confusing to keep track of. Its difficult to keep track of which chapters are Maya and which are Naomi as they were written so similar. Theres a lot of repetition and it would be better if it was shortened. I never became invested in any of the characters.

Society of Lies
Written by Lauren Ling Brown
Published by Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine
Release Date August 13,, 2024

How far would you go to belong?

Princeton University has a special place in Maya’s heart and she is returning to the school for two reasons. It has been a decade since she stepped foot on the campus and now it is her reunion. Maya is excited to return and see her old friends and possibly make new ones. Her sister, Naomi, is also graduating. Naomi has always followed in Maya’s footsteps. Even when Maya tells her not to. But Maya will get news that will shatter her world. Naomi was found dead. The story that Maya is told about her sister’s death just doesn’t make sense. As Maya investigates, she learns that Naomi was a member of The Sterling Club.
Maya is familiar with the exclusive club because she too was a member. She also has hid a secret from everyone for a very long time and as she looks deeper into the death of her sister she learns that her past and her secret could be the reason Naomi turned up dead. But can she figure out what happened before it’s too late?

I was somewhat disappointed in this book. The premise was great and the publishers blurb really made it sound awesome but there were parts that were just unbelievable. Overall it did have some twists that kept me reading to figure out why Naomi was dead.The characters were well developed and the way the author told the background was excellent. While the book was not totally what I expected, I really did find the ending to be a surprise. It certainly was not what I expected.


4 stars

Disappointed in this one. The description sounded so great, but I had trouble distinguishing between the sisters, and then the different clubs/societies inside the story.
Also had trouble getting worked up about the actual murder.

Ultimately didn't finish the book

I love thrillers and dark academia is my favorite sub genre! Society of Lies starts out strong, but falls a bit short. That strong start slows down (gets bogged down) with a lot of (needed, but tedious) back story.
Years apart, mixed race sisters Maya and Naomi pledge Princeton eating club Sterling and are tapped for the elite branch, Greystone. This allegiance will not only open doors, but guarantee successful careers. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is, When Maya was a a member, a friend ended up dead. Naomi’s roommate, Amy is investigating that murder and Naomi finds herself pulled in.
Themes of racism, classism and teacher/student sexual situations. Told from dual timelines and POV, this is a great summer read and a great conversation starter.

Society of Lies takes us into the lives of two sisters who have joined a secret club at Princeton with dark and deadly consequences.

It took a while to get into and the two voices were very similar but it was an engaging story that touched on pertinent social issues such as class and race. I loved the dark academia vibe of the story and the conspiracy theories were fun to untangle. Great suspense and twists! Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked and appreciated a lot of the serious topics it touched on. The mysteriousness of secret societies within these prestigious schools are always so interesting! I had fun reading this one, though I do have to say it seemed like it was dragging a bit through the middle and I was having a hard time focusing. But, toward the end it really picked up and the secrets finally unraveled! The timeline really jumped around which could get confusing. This was definitely a twisty and dark read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this ARC! "Society of Lies" by Lauren Ling Brown is a riveting thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of social manipulation and deceit. The story follows protagonist Emma, who finds herself drawn into a web of secrets and lies within an elite social circle. Brown’s writing is sharp and fast-paced, with a knack for building suspense and creating intricate plot twists that keep readers on edge. The characters are well-crafted, each with their own hidden motives and complex personalities, making the unraveling of the truth all the more engaging. The book explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the masks people wear in society, offering both a thrilling and thought-provoking read. "Society of Lies" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone intrigued by the dynamics of social power and deception.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Society of Lies.

The premise was interesting and even though I'm not a fan of dark academia, I was curious to read about a biracial character.

Not surprisingly, there's a lot going on in the narrative; racial identity, elitism, bribery, sexual predation, the haves versus the have nots, many topics our society is not longer inured to.

My biggest issues with the narrative included:

Maya and Naomi. Despite the age difference, their voices sound painfully alike, as some reviewers have noted.

In fact, Maya sounded childish and immature despite her being nearly 30 years old, so it wasn't surprising I got confused who was talking.

I didn't like Maya and Naomi nor did I dislike them.

There was something shockingly naive about them despite how they grew up, being the children of a Asian mother and Black father.

The past and present timelines was super confusing. We get Naomi in the past, Maya in the past and present, and since both women sound the same, all their voices blurred together.

The narrative wasn't suspenseful or interesting; it was boring.

The pacing dragged; I mean, how long can we keep reading about the Richie Riches drinking and partying and having lavish parties? Or maybe rich people are just boring.

I wanted to know more about the secret societies and eating clubs. I've heard of them but would have enjoyed further background.

I guessed whodunnit very early in the plot and it was a downer.

I didn't like any of the characters except Margaret. I liked Margaret.

Lauren Ling Brown’s debut, Society of Lies, captivated my attention from start to finish! Murder, mystery, and secret societies blend into a gripping tale that had me hooked.

Society of Lies takes you behind the elite walls of Princeton’s exclusive Sterling Club and the secret society within it, where sisters Maya and Naomi find themselves (decades apart) entangled in a web of secrets and danger. Years after Maya’s departure from Princeton she is forced to return following her sister Naomi’s mysterious death. The unfolding revelations about the Sterling Club’s dark history force Maya to confront not only the truth about her sister’s fate but also her own past.

What I particularly enjoyed was how Brown weaved together the dual timelines of Maya and Naomi, creating a suspenseful narrative that keeps you guessing at every turn. Brown brings you in to Maya and Naomi’s unique sisterhood and childhood setting the tone for their experience with elite campus life adding depth to the plot.

I couldn’t put this book down—I devoured it on a cross-country flight, completely absorbed in Maya’s journey and the secrets waiting to be uncovered. Brown’s ability to build tension and suspense kept me eagerly turning pages until the mystery is solved. This is your must-read book of August!

What if the very community that gave you everything was also what took everything away?

Society of Lies delves into the lives of two sisters who have joined the hallowed halls of a Princeton eating club only to discover that there is something deeper and darker at play than they realize.

It was a slow start for me, but I think it was due to building the context and story of how entrenched in the society’s lies members could become. When the suspense kicked off, it was enjoyable! I also loved that this novel touched on some other, heavy topics such as class and race. I mentally cataloged it in a similar vein as When No One is Watching.

If you like conspiracy theories, plots to take down powerful people, and, as always, thrillers and suspense, you’ll enjoy Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown!

I think a prologue can be tricky, some are really captivating and others don’t hook you into the story. Within the first paragraph of this prologue I was hooked. the last line, pure perfection!

From the moment I started reading this I could not put it down!! I needed to know what would happen next, what happened in the past and how these three timelines align!

I enjoy the three timelines, Maya when she was in college, Naomi prior to her death and Maya after Naomi’s death. Being able to see the relationships of these sisters and how their lives went individually is really important to their character development. I would have liked to see more of their relationship when Naomi was alive and even during their childhood but I understand that there was another mystery happening at the same time.

Having multiple POV’s and timelines within them allows for me as a reader to see the beginning of certain relationships like Maya and Nate or Naomi and Liam and then how they all connect and intertwine with one another. I think this was sooooo well thought out with so many relationships to juggle alongside multiple mysteries and conflicts she did a great job. The characters were flushed out, relatable and ever changing. I appreciate the back and forth of a timeline because it allows for the reader to see characters and plots grow giving new information throughout the book and I think she did a great job with that!

want to see more of her books! It was such a fun read! I will definitely be recommending this to everyone!

I really liked the covers structure, the building with various windows exposing various characters.

I will be posting about it on the release day for sure!!!!!!! On my instagram and TikTok in Aug.

Society of Lies is a mystery that takes place at Princeton University. Maya has returned to campus for her reunion and also to visit her younger sister, Naomi, who is currently a student. After Naomi's body is found in the lake, Maya is convinced she must have been murdered and is determined to find the culprit. This involves eating clubs, secret societies, the uber wealthy, and a whole cast of characters. The chapters are told from each sister's point of view. I usually love this writing style, but this time, it was just confusing. There are too many similar characters, and the shuffling back and forth from past to present just added to the confusion. The plot also dragged, and the storyline just did not mov quickly enough. Unfortunately, this was just not the book for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for the ARC.

All in all, I thought this was a pretty good book. Sometimes it was hard to keep the storues straight, as the character perspective would change, along with past and present. Not too earth shattering of a twist at the end, was able to figure it out pretty easily. However, it was an entertaining read that kept me hooked til the end.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read and give an unbiased review of this book.