I Did Something Bad* by Pyae Moe Thet War is a fun and exciting read that had me hooked from the very beginning. The story follows Khin Haymar, a freelance journalist, who is determined to get an exclusive interview with Hollywood movie star Tyler Tun. Tyler is back in Myanmar to film his latest movie, and Khin’s big break depends on getting the scoop.

What starts as a professional assignment quickly takes a dangerous turn when a man threatens Khin, and Tyler steps in to protect her. Things get out of hand, and soon they find themselves covering up what happened. As they work together to keep their secret and find out who the attacker was, Khin and Tyler grow closer. Their connection feels real, and the way their relationship develops is both sweet and intense.

The story is full of suspense, romance, and a bit of humor, making it a perfect mix of everything I love in a book. Khin’s struggle between wanting to write the story that could make her career and her growing feelings for Tyler adds a lot of tension and makes the story even more interesting.

Pyae Moe Thet War does a great job of blending romance with a thrilling plot. *I Did Something Bad* is a must-read for anyone who loves a good rom-com with a twist. It’s a fun, fast-paced story that’s hard to put down, and I highly recommend it!
#IDidSomethingBad #NetGalley

I Did Something Bad feels like a combination of the two books: Funny You Should Ask and the Finlay Donovan Series in one. I enjoyed both of those books and so nonetheless this one was a hit in my eyes. In this story we follow Khin, a freelance journalist that's known for her strong writing style and ability to discuss topics that are often shied away from. One of her most known articles covers the discussion of abortion clinics in Yangon. Now she's given the opportunity to take on a different type of writing, to write a cover story on the famous Tyler Tun. Tyler is the newest and hottest actor and he has agreed to give the inside exclusive to none other than Vogue. With this new role, Khin must stay with Tyler for 2 months while he's on set to film his newest movie with his best friend, actress May Diamond.

On the first night on set, Khin finds herself in a sticky situation. She gets approached by a stranger that attempts to attack her...but who is he and why does he know who Khin is when she doesn't know him? This is where Khin self defenses a little too hard and......accidentally murders a man with the assistance of Tyler. Now with a murder on her mind and an important article to present to Vogue she needs to learn to keep her thoughts straight, her story straight, and somehow avoid the police from finding out what happened.

This book was very easy to read and I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Tyler and Khin. They were funny and relatable and they take the reader on an adventure as they try to uncover who they accidentally murdered and why he was after Khin. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed the Finlay Donovan Series and Funny You Should Ask Book. It was my first time reading a book from this author and I look forward to hearing more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

This was such a delight. I got a random email offering me this book, and I’m glad I accepted it, because wow was that a treat. Romance? Murder? Plot twists? Every single box was checked here. And this is such a cozy mystery feel as well. The plot itself reeled me in: journalist vests a feature on super private, huge actor, gets to follow him around for two months, but then…a parking lot altercation escalates and here they are covering up a murder together after just meeting. Doesn’t that sound amazing? Well, it was! The author does a really great job of bringing in a few more serious issues while also alleviating the heaviness with humor, which I thought was a fresh way to still bring light to societal issues while keeping the story and light and fun at the same time. The invisible strings that kept connecting as we went on were so much fun to keep discovering, and my predictions as we went were confirmed or denied, which was also fun to play along. This is the author’s debut book, and I honestly cannot recommend it enough! It releases in early October, and would be the perfect one to sprinkle in between some of those darker spooky season reads, and I will definitely be following the author for more!

I enjoyed the writing style and devoured this book fairly quickly! Although the need to suspend disbelief is there (no way would a celebrity fall so easily and quickly for a journalist [ie the media]), but it also wasn’t an exaggerated need for suspension of disbelief (like Finlay Donovan and Dial A for Aunties require). Khin and Tyler had great banter so I loved them as a couple, even though it didn’t fully make sense. I also adored allll the best friends and how much they supported one another when life gets real. As far as the mystery goes, this ending was the only one I could accept for a murder cover up in a rom com that isn’t serious.

Overall, I’d recommend this for rom com lovers who enjoy a dash of mystery

⚠️Content warnings below
Short on page attempt of SA, but ends before getting graphic; stalking, references to abortion, grief over divorce


I will be sharing this review to my Instagram page in October closer to release day

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I sincerely enjoyed I Did Something Bad. It had elements of humor, suspense, murder mystery, and romance with a Hollywood-esque setting.

I thought Khin was a strong female lead character, but naturally my favorite character was Tyler... swoon! This was a fun rom-com to read but it was also unconventional and incorporated plenty of other elements within the plot that it stayed fresh and unpredictable.

I was hooked from only a few pages in and found it hard to put this one down. I would definitely read more by this author in the future.

"I Did Something Bad" by Pyae Moe Thet War is an intriguing blend of romance, mystery, and cultural immersion. The story follows Khin Haymar, a freelance journalist in Yangon, Myanmar, who finds herself in a precarious situation after her messy divorce. She gets an opportunity to turn her life around by teaming up with a movie star to cover up a murder. This smart and swoony adventure rom-com explores their dynamic and the lengths they go to protect their secrets.

The book delves into themes of redemption, the complexities of human relationships, and the pursuit of personal growth. It also touches on cultural aspects, providing readers with a glimpse into life in Yangon. The blend of romance and mystery adds layers to the narrative, making it a rich and multifaceted read.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the unique combination on romance, mystery, and adventure. Our female lead, Khin Hlaing, is a journalist who has been given the opportunity to write and article about the most popular man in Hollywood, Tyler Tun. Tyler is filming a movie in his native Myanmar and Khin will have access to him for the entire month. Most importantly, this article could be her springboard to a position at Vogue Singapore. But things take a strange turn when the two undertake a murder coverup. This circumstances brings them closer, but left me feeling oddly about the situation. The tone of the romance potion of the book didn't flow well with the story of the murder. I would have liked a better balance. I also think the story could have benefitted from a little more character development. The couple do have good chemistry and their banter was a highlight even if it didn't feel like it fit with the other elements of the story. This is an enjoyable read and a great debut for the author.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Oh my god, I LOVED this book!!!! The perfect mix of my favorite genres- thriller and rom com. It had me laughing out loud but also brought tears to my eyes. I can’t say enough about the story.

While this book touches on some serious topics (TW abortion) I think it’s always important for authors to bring those to light when applicable. The FMC is connected to women in the story in ways she didn’t even imagine she could be; but it’s because she wasn’t afraid to speak up about things people were too afraid to talk about.

Thank you so much SMP for providing me with an eARC of this! Enjoyed it so so much. If you love a laugh out loud rom com with a side of drama, this one is for you!

I really enjoyed this great debut! It had everything I wanted in a rom com. I couldn't put the book down because I was so eager to find out what was going to happen. The murder subplot was a great addition and the plot progressed at a nice pace. It was fun to get a closer look at the Hollywood scene and the process of making a movie, as well as all the secrets that come with fame. I enjoyed the development of Khin and Tyler's relationship, from potential accomplices in a murder to becoming lovers. I also appreciated the strong support system among the friends and can envision potential for spin-off books featuring some of them.

Thank you to NetGallery and to St. Martin's Press for giving me a copy of this book.

I love that I Did Something Bad takes place and is centered around characters from Myanmar. I love the idea of an accidental murder bringing two characters together romantically. But the story itself doesn’t feel cohesive to me. Khin is a journalist that has the opportunity for an exclusive with A-list actor Tyler Tun, and there’s sparks between the two immediately. There is also, unfortunately for them, a dead man. Although Khin is supposed to be writing a story this story quickly turns to trying to cover up their involvement in a man’s death, with run-ins with the cops, and attempts to learn more about the dead man. It is also about Khin trying to figure out what she wants after her husband filed for divorce. It is also about the growing attraction between Khin and Tyler. In short, there’s too much going on, and bringing it all together in a way that feels like it flows would be tough for any author to do. It was hard to follow what was happening and who was having a meltdown about what. The Khin that wrote a thoughtful and inspiring article prior to a celebrity piece for Vogue would have been more enjoyable than the indecisive one present in the actual story. And Tyler feels too good to be true, without any real flaws that make him seem normal. The book wasn’t bad, but I was hoping for more than I got out of it. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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 book was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC and everyone should pick it up for an important, fun read that is full of heart. Pyae masterfully wove together a story that keeps you on your toes, makes you root for the main characters, and truly relate to their vulnerability. I could not put this book down!

Thank you to NetGalley + the publishing team for the ARC - hoping there are sequels!

4.5 stars

A rom-com with a murder-coverup? Go figure!

Khin is a journalist who has been given the biggest opportunity of her life! Two months covering Tyler Tun, the Myanmar native turned Hollywood superstar. He's come home to film a movie with his best friend, May Diamond. Get it right, and Khin's got a permanent gig with Vogue Singapore. Unfortunately, one night on set, a seemingly random stranger tries to assault Khin. In the ensuing struggle, which Tyler is a part of, the guy falls to his death. If Khin reports it, who's going to believe it was self-defense? Plus, it would shut down filming and cause all sorts of issues. So, she and Tyler decide to keep quiet. Somewhere along the way, they catch feelings. lol

I really liked the writer's style. There were good twists and turns. No real spice, but there was LOTS of tension. I'm ashamed to admit I had never even heard of Myanmar! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that through an American lens, I felt really uncomfortable with the coverup. Based on what I've since read about Myanmar, I can see that their government is not as transparent and that a woman killing a man, even by accident, would not be dealt with in the same way there as here.

I will definitely check out the author's catalog! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I had trouble getting into this book. It really good premise and plot. Thank you net galley and St. Martin.

✅ Khin, journalist, doing a Vogue Singapore profile on Tyler Tun, Hollywood star
✅ Set in Yangon, Myanmar
✅ oops, accidental murder
✅ Khin and Tyler are trying to cover up the murder and also figure out if Khin was targeted, and why?
🌶️: no
So charming! If you like Katherine Center’s books you will like this too!

So good and entertaining. I was into this from the beginning. The writing was witty and fun. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a slow-burn masterpiece. With a hint of humor, this romantic thriller is a gut punch right in the feels.

Khin is a journalist who is tasked with interviewing and writing a cover story for Vogue about Tyler Tun, a Hollywood star. At first, this was her ticket to fame and fortune, and she would do anything to print his biggest secrets, but Tyler proved to be a difficult “job” in more ways than one. Khin quickly realizes that maybe her career isn’t as important as ruining Tyler’s career and demolishing his trust in her. Maybe other things are more important.

The banter between Khin and Tyler is laugh out loud funny. The writing dazzles and captures your heart. 5/5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. This plot sounded really interesting to me, however I had a hard time getting into it. Other reads really enjoyed it though!

The electrifying mix of romance and suspense kept me hooked from the first page. Khin and Tyler’s journey is a perfect blend of heart-pounding excitement and deep emotional connection. As they navigate the perilous situation of covering up a murder, their chemistry and growing trust create a mesmerizing dynamic. The intricate plot, with its clever twists and moral dilemmas, adds layers of depth to their story. The way their relationship evolves amid the danger and secrecy is beautifully done, making every page a delight. I enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend it as well.

I had a hard time getting into this at the beginning, the whole murder plot point got a little ridiculously at some points.

Khin was a hard to like character, she’s trying to heal from a divorce that happen less than a year after they married, so she’s a bitter person.
I get that Khin was supposed to be a strong willed woman, but she could be really awful at some points. She was mean to Tyler in more than one occasion, while Tyler did nothing but support her and try to help her out with the whole murder situation. She was just an unlikable character which made reading a little difficult.
But you do see her go through a lot of growth through out the book and you find yourself rooting for her and Tyler.

I really liked their banter, Tyler is one of those characters that you can’t help but like, he’s a literal golden boy. His friendship with May was also really enjoyable.
All in all it was a good book, a little ridiculous at some points but sweet in others.


Thank to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.