Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I Did Something Bad was so good! As one of many fans of well done murder mystery romantic comedies I often see these stories veering too far into one or the other creating the effect of two partially done books rather than one well done books. This was different in that balanced the two genres perfectly and was a cohesive and highly enjoyable read.

Khin, a freelance writer hoping to get in with Vogue Singapore long term, and Tyler, a movie star, had great chemistry and their pitch perfect banter only enhanced that. I also loved the setting of Myanmar as it’s a country I’ve not been to but felt I got to enjoy secondhand through the book.

While this may read a little formulaic in the romance it was so much fun and I enjoyed every page. If you’re a fan of modern romances with a big side of humor, and enjoy mysteries to add some suspense and dimension to your books, pick this up!

A well respected freelance writer, Khin, doing a very rare exclusive on one of Hollywood’s hottest stars (Tyler Tun) for Vogue Singapore with a potential job following them story. A situation in a park that leads to the death of a man and the decision not to go to the authorities. That’s all I needed to know to be all in.

The banter is incredibly fun even with some darker humor which I appreciated.
The depth and genuine love of friendships was particularly beautiful to me even if you only see glimpses of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tyler. But I’ll be damned if he didn’t make me disappointed that my husband is nothing like him. 😆
And Khin is a bit of a hot mess, reasonably so… but I can relate to that on a molecular level. She’s very independent and struggles with struggling. It was nice experiencing her growth in a short period of time.

I laughed out loud several times and absolutely adored some of the simple gestures and sweet words. When things are exceptionally sweet but also seemingly reasonable, I cry. My heart just swells and my eyes leak.

I came into the book expecting a romcom with a murder side story and it delivered. Of course it’s fairly predictable as are most romcoms, but if you’re looking for a simple, fun, and flirty book… you’ve found it!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

When I first saw that our main character has a connection to Vogue Singapore I was intrigued and excited. I love the world of fashion but this story is so much more! Think of a good murder mystery that keeps a reader tense and anxious but throw in an unfurling romance that calms down. Plus throw in the setting of Myanmar, it's a place that I've never read about and the cultures included were presented with fresh insight and nuanced. This was such a good book and extremely original, something needed in the genre that I hope continues!

This review is my opinion and my opinion only. This is a good read. Pyae Moe Thet War wrote a story that is a well balanced story with romance and mystery.
This story is about Khin and Tyler. Khin is a journalist who was asked by Vogue Singapore to write an intensive story about actor Tyler Tun. She will spend almost two months interviewing him. On the first day of filming, something bad happened to Khin and Tyler was there to help. What happened? You have to read the book to find out.
I enjoyed the story and will be reading another story by Pyae Moe Thet War

You hardly ever see a romance book written with a murder mystery aspect, at least one that's not cliched & overdone, but this one is a fresh, new take on the theme. It is set in Myanmar with Myanmar characters, and I love reading about new places & cultures I don't know much about. The romance tension builds throughout the book and both MC are well-written & nuanced. The murder isn't a mystery but finding out the motive behind the attack kept me reading this book. One of the best books I've read so far this year and can't wait to see what else this author comes out with.

This was an unexpectedly fun ride! Romance, suspense, slow burn. I enjoyed the pace, and the storyline. I would purchase this book!! One of the better romances I’ve read this year.

I'm thoroughly impressed by the depth and complexity of this narrative. War has crafted a compelling story that delves into the darker aspects of human nature, exploring themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of our actions. The characters in this book are vividly portrayed, each with their own flaws and struggles. Their journey through moral dilemmas and personal turmoil kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to see how they would navigate the challenges they faced. War's ability to create characters that feel so real and relatable is truly commendable. The writing style is raw and powerful, drawing the reader in with its emotional intensity. The author doesn't shy away from difficult topics, instead taking them head-on with honesty and depth. The result is a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page has been turned, prompting reflection and introspection. Overall, "I Did Something Bad" is a thought-provoking and compelling read that I won't soon forget.

This was a great story! The characters were like able and the plot was great! I was really interested and would definitely recommend.

To my surprise I really enjoyed this book. This book was the first that I’ve read by this author. I was hooked from the beginning. I would recommend this read.

loved this romance and murder about someone being followed and the the romance between the writer and actor and his friends and family. loved her friends and the trust that they both learned.

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the eARC of I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 When Khin Haymar gets her first celebrity profile, she cannot wait for the chance to follow the very famous and very handsome movie star, Tyler Tun for an in-depth piece. While her personal life is not so great, she is nothing but professional and hopeful that this is her chance to boost her career from freelance journaling to an actual position at Vogue Singapore. And boy are we rooting for her from the beginning! I Did Something Bad is a delightful mix-up from the normal Hollywood rom coms we all love; the intimate look at movie stars in another country is so fun and refreshing! The characters are wonderfully smart and successful yet still down-to-earth and relatable, and their chemistry comes through wonderfully in their hilarious banter. Nothing cements the relationship like good old trauma bonding and the book takes on a gripping mystery tone as well! When a terrible attack in the park is averted, the perpetrator is dead but they agree to keep this secret due to fear of the repercussions. This book had just the right amount of everything, a top-notch storyline with loveable characters, I Did Something Bad is a book not to miss out on!!!

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on instagram ahead of the publication date.

This was such fun read for me. I think the author did a very good job balancing the romance and mystery plot of the novel. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was that this was a romance between two adults but at times I felt as though I was reading about teenagers. However, I look forward to reading the author's already published novel as well as any future releases!

I flew through this book. It was funny and I was surprised how invested I was in both characters. The side characters were also well developed and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting to see how things would turn out. It was a quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Khin’s obsession with Olivia Benson was the best part. The combo of romance and mystery was made this book easy to love.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Do you like romcoms, true crime and also thinking about lives of celebrities? Yes? Then do I have a book for you! Pyae Moe Thet War did such an incredible job at creating such a deeply (painfully) relatable character in Khin and truly the celebrity of a book lovers dreams in Tyler that I can promise you you will laugh, gasp, shriek and cry just as much (if not more) than I did all while surrounded in the beautiful world of Myanmar and the behind the scenes of making a movie. 10/5 stars, cannot wait to read more from this incredible author.

This has an interesting premise and was my first time reading a romantic thriller set in Myanmar.

I enjoyed the celebrity romance plot but also felt like the characters could have been more fleshed out and that there was more obvious chemistry or a gradual build up of tension. One of the most famous movie stars on the planet seems to immediately fall in love with the journalist sent to write a Vogue cover story about him. So much so that he is willing to implicate himself in a murder. Khin, said journalist, is determined to have professional boundaries but also easily accepts invitations from Tyler that go beyond what is necessary for writing the story. I had some issues with the overall tone - the murder plot is quite dark so the lighter, romantic elements and joking banter didn’t always land. Still, I am glad I read this, for the novelty of the plot and setting alone, and think that readers who like insta-love, celebrity romance, romance/thriller hybrid plots will enjoy. 2.5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Wow! This was a fun and at times stressful story. The suspense of a death by self defense was well plotted and kept it interesting! I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the characters and thought that the suspense plot wrapped up a little too neatly.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting plot line and I don’t think I have read a book like this before. It’s a murder/romance and contemporary fiction. There was great character development, and a fast moving pace.

THIS BOOK! 🤯 5 star read!!!

There is nothing I love more than an unhinged female lead within a suspense thriller WITH romance. SIGN 👏 ME 👏 UP!

I devoured this book, my goodness was it the perfect ratio of pacing and character development.

I will be purchasing this book for my shelf of book trophies and probably do a reread.

Do yourself a favor and read it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC 💜

I could not get into this book. The writing was so juvenile. I don't like when modern popular things are mentioned within a fictional setting, and this book had at least three famous names mentioned by the first chapter. Examples include: Vouge, the magazine, and "Squid Games," the very popular Netflix series. I personally find it a cheap way to get the viewers attention, and to make your character seem hip and relatable. I can not comment on the character depth, plot, or romance angles, because the writing was just so bland and poor that I put this down after the first two chapters. Why are romance books so uninteresting and commercial now? The humor is stale. I liked the description, and probably would have gotten close to liking the actual plot, but unfortunately, I felt like I was reading a fan fiction. "Girl is chosen to meet a huge, hot celebrity male whom she tries to act like does not impress her to his face, but secretly, she wants him, and he falls for her." Incredibly fan fiction-like.

Great book! The reveal of how Jared died seemed a little out of sorts for the plot. However, l loved how it was intertwined with the romance part. Great writing.