In this smart and swoony adventure rom-com, a journalist and a movie star find themselves teaming up to cover up a murder...and falling for each other in the process.

I loved this romance with mystery and intrigue. The characters were well written, and the romance was fantastic.

An intriguing romantic mystery that I really enjoyed!

Sorry, but this one for me was a DNF, i don't know, i didn't like Khin, and i couldn't stand Tyler.
Thanks To Netgalley and the author for a chance of reading this book in adv, in exchenga of an honest review.

First I want to thank St Martins, NetGalley and the author for this advance copy, in exchange for an honest review.
The main protagonists are: Khin Hlaing and Tyler Tun.
Khin is a journalist looking for a scoop for Vogue, and Tyler is a famous actor. Little step back, this is indeed a rom-com, but there is also an aura of mystery that involves the whole story, I was hoping that this would make it a little spicy, but instead the main trope is the slow burn. Anyway, due to an "unfortunate" (so to speak) event, the two find themselves having to face a threat and "hiding" the facts of what really happened.
This will bring them closer and closer, to a point of no return.
I give only three stars, because in some points i found it too slow burn, and the communication problems, really bothered me.
This book will be available starting October 8, 2024. This is a novel debut, so please support this new author!

I absolutely picked this one because of the name (Swiftie over here) but stayed for the absolute wild ride it was. This was SO much fun, the dynamic between our MC’s was *chefs kiss* so good that I couldn’t put it down. I’ll be keeping an eye on this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. This was a really fun book and I wish I could read it again for the first time.

The synopsis to this book is a bit misleading. This is labeled a Rom Com, and while there is a small romantic element, it is a slow burn one. On top of that, I didn't really see comedy in this story. That is not to say I didn't like it, I just think expectations should be set at a different level to enjoy this one.

The plot centers on an up and coming journalist, Khin Hlaing, getting her big break, with a feature story on acting superstar, Tyler Tun. With the two connecting from day one, a great meet cute, I thought that was the beginning of a sweet romantic tale. But things take an interesting turn when Khin is attacked on his film set and in defending herself, a tragic accident occurs. For various reasons, all ridiculous, the two decide to cover it up. I didn't really get why Tyler took such risks for someone he barely knew, but when you think of the implications for his movie career, I sort of get it.

From this point forward, the two go to elaborate lengths to cover up the "crime" and find out why this man targeted Khin. I had my suspicions, which were later confirmed. What is interesting is the more I learned about the mystery man, the more I disliked him. Maybe he had what was coming to him?

There are a couple twists that change the direction of the story, including some poor communication between the couple to cause unnecessary drama. Are these two rising stars on different paths, or can they ultimately change their path and enjoy a future together? You'll have to read for yourself to find out.

Loved the idea behind the books and the execution. Mystery/thriller and romcom all rolled into one. Our Main character, Khin is set to interview a celebrity for Vogue Singapore. It kinda reminded me of Findlay Donovan which is one of my favorite go to series when I am down and need something to pick up. I am so excited to find another book that is similar in feel to that and excited to see what else Pyae Moe Thet War is going to write in the future!

3.75 stars

Every once in a while, I get an invite from NetGalley to read a book, and this is one such occasion. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Decided to put this one in list format-
Pros-
-This was a quick read
-Solid debut
-A mix of rom/com and mystery
-Loved the setting as I’ve never read a book set in Myanmar
-Enjoyed the overall premise
-Liked what I was given from the characters
Cons-
-Using the murder to make jokes-didn’t sit well with me
-I wish the characters were more fleshed out-made the insta-love seem unbelievable
-Feel as though it ended abruptly
-The murder felt like an afterthought at some point
Overall, a solid debut, just wish I was given more from the characters.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me at 50%. I loved the representation with the characters, but the plot just did not make sense at all. This book had a very off vibe for involving a murder. I am also not a fan of long chapters. At times I felt there was just too much fluff and not enough progression of the story. Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was definitely not for me. I didn’t enjoy the plot as it was set up similar to a mystery book, but it leaned more towards a romance book. The mystery part had a very unsatisfying ending and in general, there wasn’t enough tension to create the feel of a mystery/thriller book. The characters weren’t my favourite either. I didn’t feel a spark between them and they were a little one dimensional to me. I also couldn’t get intonthe writing style. The pacing felt very slow.

This review will not be posted on my social media.

I Did Something Bad
4.25 ⭐️

Ok I loved this combination of thriller romance! With how this started out, it felt like it was going to be very heavy. While parts were, it definitely brought a lighter tone throughout the story.

Khin is a journalist with a big break when she’s asked to shadow celebrity Tyler Tun for a few months of his filming. After a strange man attacks Khin, the two are forced to work together and hide what really happened.

This story ended up being so sweet. While the third act breakup wasn’t my favorite part of the story, I did love both of their characters and the growth they made. Unique setting and genre combination!

Thanks @netgalley for this ARC!

How to Summon a Fairy Godmother is a twist on the classic fairy tale, blending humor, magic, and romance into a story that challenges traditional notions of happily ever after. Lady Theodosia Balfour, or Theo, is about to be stuck in a life-altering predicament after her stepsister, Princess Beatrice, spreads damaging rumors about their family. Reminiscent of Cinderella, but with a refreshing inversion of the tale's familiar roles. Instead of Cinderella being the center of attention, we hear from Theo, one of the stepsisters. She is seeking help from a fairy godmother to escape an impending forced marriage to the detestable and very, very, very old Duke, who views Theo as nothing more than a vessel for producing heirs, has her in a tailspin and desperate to get out of the nuptials. The desperation of Theo's situation is palpable, and her resolve to find a way out leads her to discover a fairy in her stepsister's old room.

It is a story that blends romance, suspense, and moral dilemmas set in Myanmar. Khin Haymar is a determined freelance journalist who can land a permanent position at Vogue if she can get an exclusive scoop on Tyler Tun, a reclusive Hollywood movie star. The story takes a sharp turn when Khin is threatened by a mysterious man on the movie set, and Tyler intervenes, but the situation turns deadly. Khin and Tyler realize they cannot go to the police, even though the incident was self-defense.

The chemistry between Khin and Tyler is instant, but their relationship deepens as they try to steer the complexities of their shared secret. Initially guarded, Tyler begins to let Khin into his private world, revealing his vulnerability and making his character deeper than just a movie star. On the other hand, Khin walks the fine line between her professional ambition, the moral implications of her actions, and her feelings for Tyler. The tension between her desire to secure her dream job and her growing feelings for Tyler drives the story forward. The situation forces both Khin and Tyler to question their values and the choices they are willing to make to protect themselves and each other. It was a fun, easy read with a steady pace that kept me engaged in the story. It makes you question to what extent would you go to cover up a deadly accident.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.
The blurb of this book sounded great! I was immediately intrigued and super excited to read this. Sadly this fell flat for me. The main character was annoying and I just couldn’t vibe. I’m hoping after release there will be an audio version that may keep my interest more but for now I’ve got to shelve this one.

5 ⭐ .5 🌶

A rom-com, but make it murdery.

I couldn't get enough for this book, and to find out it's Pyae's debut novel and that she herself was born and raised in Yangon, Myanmar had me giddy as heck. I loved all of the little nods to feminism and racism that she added to this story, it had some very powerful moments that had me in my feels.

I adored Tyler and Khin so much, and all of their friends and family too. May was a-may-zing (sorry, couldn't help myself) and Nay and Thidar were incredible too. This story had some of the bestest best friends. Tyler was such a sweetheart, once I got over my initial suspicions I fell pretty hard for him. Khin broke my heart a time or two... She just had so much baggage and watching her run from it, before finally unpacking it had me all up in my feels.

The ending was perfect. I was so sad to see it end, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye on more from Pyae.

Super fun spin on a mystery + romance book. Believable? Not really but I read to escape so it was a good read! The author did a fun job of plugging in some pop cultural references that were fun to spot.

Thank you to @netgalley and @StMartinsGriffin for this ARC. Khin has been tasked with writing a cover article for Vogue on one of the hottest actors of her time. She is to follow Tyler Tun for a month on his latest project being filmed in Myanmar. On the first day of filming, a body is found on set. This leads to a lot more secrets while their professional relationship blooms. This is a really cute rom-com and it won't be the last book I read by Pyae Moe Thet War! #IDidSomethingBad #PyaeMoeThetWar #StMartinsGriffin #Oct2024

I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've ever read that was set in Myanmar, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it! Overall, this plot made me super nervous - there's a crime committed almost right away (in self-defense!) and the two main characters have to cover it up. Totally acknowledging my privilege here but I do get very stressed out when I'm reading/watching something and characters are trying to cover up a crime from the authorities. The reasoning here was totally legit but it still made me squirmy. Anyway, once I moved past that part, I really liked this. Khin, our main character, is a recently divorced Myanmar journalist who manages to get a dream assignment for Vogue Singapore - an in-depth profile on Hollywood superstar and fellow Myanmar native Tyler Tun. He's filming a movie in Yangon, and agrees to let Khin shadow him for an extended period of time. Khin is struggling to figure things out in here life post-divorce, and she throws herself into the assignment. Unfortunately, on the very first day of shooting, someone tries to attack her and she (and Tyler) end up killing him in self-defense. As they try to hide the crime, they get closer and closer, and a friendship grows into an attraction. This was kind of a romance mixed with a psychological thriller, and ultimately I really enjoyed it (despite my own weirdness about cover-up plots). I would definitely read more from Pya Moe Thet War!

This one was so much fun! I loved the murder aspect of the story. It added such a unique layer, not to mention so many hilarious moments. Tyler and Khin were so sweet together. This one also had great representation in it.

I thought the premise on the description for this book was good. Unfortunately, the story became way too political for me and I had a hard time seeing this as romance, women's fiction, mystery? I'm not sure which genre this book truly belongs in or which one it was meant for. I'm guessing women's fiction because of the topics within the story.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of I DID SOMETHING BAD to review.

I rate I DID SOMETHING BAD two out of five stars.

What a fun and sweet romance between an actor and the journalist hired to write a piece on him, that also involves an accidental murder, followed by a police investigation, and lots of pining and a guilty conscience! While there was a lot going on in this story, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I requested this because of the title, and I’m glad I did. I enjoyed the Taylor Swift references and Easter Eggs (Khin being obsessed with Olivia Benson was chef’s kiss).

I highly recommend this if you’re a fan of romance with a suspense subplot and/or a Taylor Swift fan!