3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did enjoy this book! I thought the concept was really interested. I love reading about cults and secret clubs in college. I did think the story had a lot of twists and turns and I like that it was from the POVs of each sister. However, at times I was a little confused on which POV was happening and did notice myself going back. I also felt like there were a ton of characters and the friends of Naomi and Maya were a little hard to keep track of. I did notice a few grammar mistakes in the ARC but overall this was a great debut novel.

I do feel like some parts could be cut out that didn't have to do much with the plot, specially the scene after a night out with Naomi, her super drunk friend and the police. I felt like it was just an excuse to hate on law enforcement which was not needed for the plot. At times, it felt a little long so I do think 50 pages could be cut out.

If you like murder mystery meets dark academia this book is for you!

~read on kindle through arc copy from NetGalley~

This is a very good debut novel. It really keeps you entertained and guessing until the end. All of the different POVs and non linear timeline did get a little confusing at times.

Another early release to review! Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery but there are a few decisions through the book that really annoyed me. I’ll start with the positive:

Pros:

Great character development. Most of the characters get enough of a backstory and development to make readers care about what happens and understand their motivation (even if you don’t agree with it!)

Strong writing. It’s easy to get swept up into the story and this is definitely a “Oh I’ll just read one more chapter” kind of book! I will definitely read another book by this writer - the writing flows easily but isn’t so simple that it’s boring.

Cons:

There are just too many things crammed into one story. There are three timelines (two from the same narrator) and most side characters appear in all of the timelines so it’s really hard to keep track of where you are in the story

This story tries to tackle a lot of major issues. Some of them are raised and dropped so quickly that it is more distracting than anything - I wish the author had picked a few topics to tackle and devoted more time to each one.

You have to be okay with the fact that you will yell “just talk to each other!!!!!!!!!” multiple times while reading, as that would solve many of the key issues propelling the story forward

✨Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine/ Bantam for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review✨

3.5 stars- Society of Lies is the perfect title for this novel as it delves into the lives of two sisters and their association with a secret society in Princeton. The novel is told from both of their perspectives. However. one of the sisters is dead.

Maya is ten years older than her younger sister Naomi. They are orphans and all Naomi has ever wanted is to be closer with Maya. Maya, on the other hand, has tried to do everything she can to take care of Naomi. The worst happens when Naomi is found dead and now Maya has to find out what really happened.

The book is told in a non-linear fashion as it alternates between their two stories. Both sisters attended Princeton although 10 years apart but there is a professor that is connected to them both and the secret society. I did find the secret society fascinating as the college I attended had nothing like this. College in my experience was one of the best times in my life but based on this story I would never attend an Ivy League College. I couldn't imagine being wrapped up with trying to fit into these exclusive societies and clubs. The tone was very dark and oppressive. In my experience college was nothing like that.

The story keeps you guessing and I did not guess correctly at what really happened to Naomi. There were definitely elements to this book that I enjoyed however I did not like the relationship between Maya and Naomi. I felt like Maya was not a great sister to her and was too focused on prestige and money. It made it hard to like her parts of the story as I really did not like her as a character. Overall, there were good thriller elements. I think anyone who likes a darker thriller would enjoy this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam/Random House for this ARC.

I lovedddd it, not to mention the cover is beautiful!!!

Definitely the college/academia mystery/thriller that everyone should read if you love a good who done it.

The story went back and forth between the two main characters which are sisters but one of them is dead. As soon I started reading, I knew it was going to be a great read. The story was well written and truly had me guessing until the end. I didn’t even come close to figuring this one out.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC for my honest opinion.

I honestly do not know how I feel about Society of Lies. I thought that it started off strong with the multi-POVs until it started to get a little confusing as Naomi starts to discover some hidden secrets of the secret societies of Princeton. She delves into the past, which takes place during her older sister, Maya's time at the university. The timeline jumps and POV changes start to intermingle and the story moves very slow during the middle of the book. It's not until about 20% to the end that things start to ramp up again and there are twist and turns. The end is wrapped up nicely.

Although I might have had to take this book slow, I didn't hate it. Society of Lies was very well written and did have me trying to guess who killed Naomi, which I was not able to. I also really enjoyed reading about what happens in the secret societies at prestigious universities. I just don't know if I enjoyed the pacing so much.

I would recommend this book to those looking for a dark academia book seeded in secrets, lies, betrayal and the privileged behaving badly.

If you love dark academia and secret societies, you’re going to NEED to read this book.

Society of Lies delves into the dark side of the secret societies (and secret societies IN those secret societies) in prestigious colleges and what they are able to get away with. We follow sisters Maya and Naomi in the past and present leading up to Naomi’s death. The story works to unravel two mysteries that have been heavily covered up.

It took me a bit to get used to the POVS since Maya has a past and present POV and her experiences are very similar to Naomi’s. But once I got that figured out, I was absolutely HOOKED. The dark academia vibes in this book are everything you want them to be.

I thought the end got to be a little rushed and hard to believe and Naomi’s POV felt very immature at times but it was still SO good. The journey the sisters go on separately to unravel the secrets within their secret society made the book impossible to put down. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book went from slow to tell-me-everything-now so fast. Society of Lies shows us two perspectives: Naomi and Maya. They’re sisters who are ten years apart in age. Both went to Princeton, and both became members of the same secret society.

I am shocked that this is the author’s first book because the writing was amazing. Characters were flawed but relatable. And the plot was mostly realistic, as far as I can tell since I’ve never been in a secret society.

The dark academia trope is one I can always get sucked into. And this is no different. The book starts with Naomi’s death, so you’re all ready wondering what happened. And then we see split timelines: current day, 2011-12 when Maya was in college, and then Naomi 8 months before her death up until her death.

The split timelines got really confusing for me. There was no real organization to it. Both points of view sound exactly the same, and Maya hadn’t changed at all in the 12 or so years between her timeline. I wanted to see some individuality and maturity growth with both.

I’ll be on the look out for more books from this author. Not only do I recommend this, I’d buy it for gifts for friends. It’s worth a read. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Lauren Ling Brown’s debut novel, Society of Lies, tells the story of two sisters, Maya and Naomi. Maya, a Princeton grad, comes back to campus after ten years to reconnect with some friends and celebrate Naomi’s graduation. Shortly after arriving though, Maya is told that Naomi’s lifeless body was just found.

This was a fast-paced, interesting read, that I found I did not want to put down! Great, multi-faceted characters. Suspenseful and thrilling. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Great book, really enjoyed the twists and turns that this took me on and I would definitely recommend to a friend.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

Society of Lies has a really good premise but I didn’t love the execution. It started off ok, but most of the book was slow going and filled with information that didn’t seem relevant to the two deaths. I found it to drag in places and the action didn’t really ramp up until the last 10% of the book so I lost interest. I also just don’t connect well with dark academia books, so I also struggled here.

I wouldn’t personally recommend this but I do think some people, mainly dark academia fans, would enjoy it.

Lauren Ling Brown Out Aug 13th
Desperate to find out what happened to her sister, Maya is plunged into a world she had no idea about. Mysterious and suspenseful, this was a very quick read.

While I do enjoy tales from dark academia, especially when they feature secret societies, this one fell a little flat for me. It was a bit of a slow read and the pacing took away any tension that could have been built around the characters. I also didn't find the secret organizations to be all that interesting. Overall, an interesting idea for a book, but I would have preferred a faster pace and more twists and turns throughout.

Lauren Ling Brown’s debut novel, Society of Lies, tells the story of two sisters, Maya and Naomi. Maya, a Princeton grad, comes back to campus after ten years to reconnect with some friends and celebrate Naomi’s graduation. Shortly after arriving though, Maya is told that Naomi’s lifeless body was just found.

Initially, this book started off very strong and had an interesting premise. I was intrigued and wanted to figure out the mystery surrounding Naomi’s death. However, as the story continued, I began losing interest. In my opinion, I felt like the book was a lot longer than necessary. I struggled with keeping the two timelines separate and trying to keep everything straight in my brain. With all of that being said, the ending moved more rapidly and held my interest.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine/ Bantam for this ARC. It will be available for purchase on August 13, 2024.

4.5/5

This book was amazing. I couldn’t put it down. It goes between two sisters points of view Maya and Naomi. Both in the past and present. The twists and turns don’t stop. The secret society at Princeton is such an interesting part of the book. How it operates keeps you on your toes. The ending you don’t see coming.

Definitely recommend!!!

Lauren Ling Brown's Society of Lies is a riveting and emotionally charged novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and the search for truth in the face of deception. Set against the backdrop of Princeton University and spanning a decade, the story follows two sisters, Maya and Naomi, whose lives intersect in unexpected and tragic ways.

At the heart of the narrative is Maya, who returns to Princeton for her college reunion only to receive devastating news: her younger sister, Naomi, has died under mysterious circumstances. As Maya grapples with the shock of Naomi's death, she becomes determined to uncover the truth behind what happened to her sister, delving into the secrets and lies that have haunted her for years.

The author expertly captures the atmosphere of academia, from the ivy-covered buildings to the competitive social scene, while also exploring the darker underbelly of privilege, racism, and entitlement that lurks beneath the surface.

As Maya delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Naomi's death, she uncovers a web of lies and deception that threaten to unravel her own sense of identity and belonging. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about truth, memory, and the nature of reality, leaving readers questioning the reliability of their own perceptions.

Interspersed with Maya's present-day experiences are flashbacks to pivotal moments in the sisters' lives. Through these flashbacks, readers gain a deeper understanding of Maya and Naomi's complex bond, as well as the events that led up to Naomi's untimely death. From their childhood insecurities to their college experiences, the novel delves into the sisters' shared history and the secrets that have shaped their lives.

The plot twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. As the story unfolds, secrets are uncovered and mysteries deepen, but no character can be trusted. Just when readers think they have it all figured out, the narrative throws them for a loop with an unexpected and unpredictable ending.

I really enjoyed Society of Lies. The stories of Naomi and Maya were expertly woven together, and I couldn’t put it down.

Society of Lies is a dual narrative/dual timeline of sisters Maya and Naomi during their time at Princeton University and the present.

I really enjoyed both the dual narrative and dual timeline. Having different perspectives for a similar crime made the story more interesting.

Both sisters belong to the same secret society and each one is searching for answers to a crime they think the same person committed.

Things really picked up about a third of the way in and I read the last 50% in just a few hours..

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this arc.

First off, I would like to thank author Lauren Ling Brown, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and give it a review!

Maya is a Princeton graduate; she has a good job, loving husband, a 5-year old daughter, and great friends. When her parents died when she was 18, she was left to take care of her 8 year old sister Naomi. All she wanted was to be able to take care of her and support them both. When an elite secret society taps Maya to be included, she can't pass up the opportunity for the lifelong connections it will open up for her.

Naomi is getting ready to gradute from Princeton, she has followed in her sister's footsteps even when it seemed like Maya didn't want her to. Naomi was also tapped into the same society as Maya, but it always seemed like something was off. The day before graduation, Naomi turns up dead. It reminds Maya all too much of the death of a student while she was in school. Maya, unwilling to let her sister's death be brushed off as an accident, begins to uncover secrets that people would kill to stay buried.

I enjoyed this book. I liked reading for both Maya and Naomi's perspectives. Lauren Ling Brown did a great job of connecting the sisters' lives at Princeton even though they were 10 years apart. I really enjoyed how everything tied together in the end and the book was full of surprise turns. Definitely recommend.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Society of Lies is filled with endless secrets, twists, and turns while the characters are just trying to figure out how to survive the real world and secret societies. Between sisters Maya and Naomi, it's hard to figure out who you can or can't trust. Both timelines of them at school definitely tie them closer together in more than one way. It's just hard to follow the pieces when we float between different timelines.

And yet, I couldn't help but try to guess who was behind it all before we would get a new clue. Then I'd throw everything out the window and start guessing all over again. Towards the end of this, we got so many reveals. One of the big ones definitely shocked me because I never had this person down as a suspect. They were a little chaotic and got jealous quite easily, but I just never saw the betrayal coming until it was too late.

In the end, I'm happy with how the mystery played out and how a certain character met Karma. I definitely can't wait for this to get published and for everyone else to be able to dive into Princeton.