Wonderful debut novel from Laura Ling Brown! Little did Maya know that her acceptance to an exclusive Princeton eating club (and then a secret society for only the most privileged of students) would affect her life in unexpected ways in the years to come. This relatable character makes the reader consider what would they do to reach their goals or achieve their dreams, and how far would one be willing to bend their integrity to accomplish this. Despite her best efforts, her little sister follows in her footsteps to Princeton - and winds up dead the day before graduation. Maya wonders if her little sister’s death and a friend’s death in college are connected…and were they really accidents? Full of corruption and deceit, with plot twists seemingly every chapter, this novel was engaging and shocking. Highly recommend this page turner!

ARC copy provided courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

I love the idea of the book but the execution was clumsy. The two viewpoints was expected but they way they crisscrossed in time was unnecessary and at times confusing. There were not enough signifiers in the text to know what the time period was, the characters repeated themselves and the settings were very similar.

Both sisters have a nearly identical “voice” which made this so much worse; I would have to scroll back to double check who it was telling this part of the story and that I didn’t start reading the next chapter. Everything should be distinct enough that a reader doesn’t have to do that. It made reading the book feel like a chore. It was very muddled.

I felt like the idea and characters had promise but needed a stronger writer and editor to flesh them out.

A solid read for me. Loved the premise, but I lost some steam with the two timelines/dual POVs. An ambitious challenge for a thriller-like book where pacing is key to keeping my interest. I think the places where a page-turning pace was sustained came at the expense of description/setting. It’s a tricky balance for me personally. But I think fans of dark academia suspense will nonetheless really like this. Great rep as well.

I enjoyed the non-linear timeline of this story. Since Maya had two separate timelines, I had to be careful to note if it was past or present that I was reading. I thought the plot and twists were well thought out and enjoyed learning aboht Naomi and Maya through their storylines.

Loved the suspense and the whodunit aspects!

Mayas younger sister Naomi is found dead in a lake near Princeton campus, the same school Maya attended 10 years ago. Maya has suspicion's about her sister’s death and unravels secrets at the college.
This was a great dark academic story that I hated to end. Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this eARC that will be released August 13, 2024!

truly a page turner! i couldn't get enough. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So at first this book was giving “the maidens” but then it got even juicier and I just couldn’t put it down. Maya and Naomi were very different characters which was nice with their POVs and the different timelines. At some times it got a tad confusing but it was good either way I give it 4/5 ⭐️

I want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Do you love a book that:

🔻Murder Mystery
🔻Multiple POV
🔻Flashbacks
🔻Secret Society
🔻Dark Academia

THOUGHTS:

I really enjoyed this book. I love switching up my reads and genres and this was such a great change. Our author gives us a fantastic read that has such great tropes : secret societies, dark academia, multiple POV’s flashbacks/different timelines through the book. This murder mystery thriller was hard to put down. I loved all of the characters, the storyline was wonderful and the ending I never expected. I thought overall this was a great read! I would recommend this to my murder mystery loving book besties for sure.

This was a great academic thriller. Filled with feats, secret societies, and murder. I love how it approached multiracial characters and how they dealt with racism. A very diverse group of characters. The only thing that got confusing for me was the constant switch between not only POV but timeline. Other than that, it was fantastic!!!

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown was a suspenseful dark academia.
What immediately pulled me in was Browns writing. It’s so descriptive and full of life.
The characters and the story totally engrossed me and I found that the entire story was intriguing.
An intriguing debut thriller filled with suspense and marvelous characters.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine & Bantam for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The plot was solid. The writing did not appeal to me. There was less development of atmosphere. The background. More dialogue that felt just a little off. I wanted to like the book and the author has talent but this one did not resonate with me.

In Lauren Ling Brown’s debut novel, “Society of Lies,” readers are thrust into a suspenseful narrative that unfolds with the mysterious death of a young woman on a college campus. Maya, the protagonist, takes center stage as she navigates through the intricacies of her sister Naomi’s demise, unraveling hidden secrets that hit close to home.

The story kicks off during Maya’s anticipated return to Princeton for Reunions, a momentous occasion tainted by the shocking news of Naomi’s death. Brown masterfully weaves a tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, questioning the official narrative surrounding the incident.

Maya’s journey to uncover the truth propels the narrative forward, revealing the dark underbelly of college life and the exclusive Sterling Club, where secrets lurk behind seemingly idyllic facades. As Maya delves into Naomi’s choices, the suspense intensifies, and readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride through the clandestine world of secret societies.

Brown’s storytelling prowess shines as Maya confronts the unsettling reality that her sister’s decisions mirrored her own collegiate experiences. The exploration of the past, coupled with the fear that Naomi’s fate might be linked to Maya’s own buried secrets, adds a layer of complexity to the narrative that keeps readers hooked until the very end.

“Society of Lies” is a gripping page-turner that skillfully blends mystery, suspense, and the intricacies of familial relationships. Brown’s vivid prose brings the characters and settings to life, creating a palpable sense of tension and intrigue. As Maya’s quest for answers unfolds, readers are treated to a compelling exploration of the consequences of hidden truths.

In this thrilling debut, Lauren Ling Brown proves herself as an exciting new voice in the literary world, delivering a narrative that captivates from the first page to the last. “Society of Lies” is a must-read for fans of suspenseful mysteries that delve into the complexities of human connections and the secrets we keep.

Rating: 4/5 stars

This book is dripping with the elite social status, murder mystery, and a dark academia vibe from start to end! I’m a big fan of academia reads- boarding schools, colleges, or schools and this delivered on my craving! The premise was super interesting, as well as the well-rounded group of characters. A bit slow at times and can be confusing if you pick up/put down the book due to timelines and the large group of characters. It’ll be a great end of summer read and I expect it to do well!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

This book provides true insight into the world of the elite and how many items that appear perfect on the outside is merely a facade of the darkness that lies beneath. Maya in her quest to belong, eagerly accepts the invitation to the Sterling Club and thereafter Greystone. She is led to believe that once initiated that her personal and professional life is set due to the connections she will have. She believes she found true best friends in Cecily, Daisy and Kaii; however, what occurs on the sky trip and thereafter with Lila changes the course. She comes to realize that her environment is fraught with corruption and bribery especially led by the mastermind, Matthew. It is only her sister Naomi that really digs deeper to uncover what truly goes on that more and more secrets are revealed which ultimately leads to her death. The ending is certainly shocking and the book is captivating. Highly recommend.

I could not put this novel down. The first few chapters took me a little bit to get into. but once I was deep into it all I wanted to know was what happened to Naomi. I don’t even have the words to describe it because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. But such a great novel that will continually keep you on your toes

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing - Ballantine, Bantam, and Lauren Ling Brown for sending the ARC of Society of Lies for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fabulous book, and I was hooked from the start.
This is the story of two sisters, Maya and Naomi, who both attended Princeton and joined Sterling, an eating club, as well as Greystone, the secret society within Sterling. The book begins with the unthinkable - Naomi is found dead in a lake on campus just before graduation.
We see both Maya and Naomi’s points of view; Maya’s both past and present and Naomi’s in the past leading up to her death.
Maya has first hand experience with Sterling and Greystone and knows she, more than anyone, can piece together the puzzle behind Naomi’s tragic death.
If you love dark academia, thrillers, multiple POVs, and a sprinkle of secret societies, this book is 100% for you.

publication date: August 13, 2024

This book focuses on sisters Maya and Naomi and is told via both POV's. Maya is at her sister's graduation from Princeton when she gets a call that Naomi is dead.
I was interested in this plot from the get go, but while I liked the concept of this book, I did have a couple of issues with it. My main issue with this book is that the POV's/timelines switch far too often for my liking and I kept finding myself going back to the chapter to remind myself who's POV I was on and what year it was. I think the book would have flowed a bit better if the transition between timelines and POV's was a bit longer and not so frequent.

I love books with secret societies, elite social status privilege, murder mystery, dark campus vibes and this one did deliver on some of those aspects but it left me a bit wanting in the end.

The book will keep you guessing right until the end and it was entertaining but for me this one lands at a solid 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and Lauren Ling Brown for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As far as college campus thrillers go, I liked the premise a lot. Exclusive, secret societies at Princeton- a sort of inception (society within a society) that are full of secrets and covers for both banal and heinous crimes. The book includes many minority characters and briefly addresses discrimination they face because of their perceived races and classes. There were a few red herrings in this story that were not explained away at the end, which bothered me. But overall I thought the ending was plausible, yet not totally predictable either. If you liked The Maidens, this one has similar vibes and tropes, with its own flair.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance reader's copy. Was drawn to the cover initially; it's so beautiful. Love a suspenseful and dark story about sisters.

I LOVED this book!!! It made me fall in love with dark academia! The twists were unpredictable and I was guessing the entire time!