I love a celebrity - regular person storyline, so I was excited for I Did Something Bad. I think this book had the bones for a great story (mystery + murder + romance) but I found a bit of the writing disconnected. I struggled to know if this book was a playful rom-com, with the celebrity/regular person trying to cover up a murder, or a more serious exploration of deeper topics, which made some of the jokes feel awkward. Overall, I enjoyed this and would read more by Pyae Moe Thet War.
Thank you St Martins Griffin for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book was hard for me to get into/enjoy. The writing was kinda choppy and I wasn’t grasped by the pot.

4.5 stars

This was so unexpected! I dove into this book expecting a rom-com with some salacious celebrity gossip, but found a novel that was filled with depth and steadfast friendships. There was some humor and a love story intertwined, but at its core it was a book about self-acceptance and an ode to friendship!

I found myself lost in Pyae Moe Thet War's writing - she beautifully captured Khin's innermost thoughts. I adored all of the Taylor Swift song references, and the title had me hooked! The love story between Khin and Tyler was a sweet, slow burn and I liked that they were open and honest with each other. Their banter was cute and fun! I loved this one!

A debut romance book, with a side of crime. It was okay 🤷🏼‍♀️ I enjoyed the different backgrounds of each character. As for the crime that was committed and the relationship that bloomed basically because of it, was a little unrealistic. The fact that May just threw herself into the situation thinking she was helping Tyler, had me thinking “yah right”.
Unfortunately I just wasn’t a fan of this one. There was just a lot that had me not feeling it.

Khin Hlaing is a freelance journalist who gets the opportunity of a lifetime-the chance to shadow Tyler Tun, Hollywood’s It actor. If she does this assignment well, it can be the career making move she’s been waiting for- a permanent gig writing for Vogue Singapore. Reconstructing her life since a recent divorce, it’s the kind of gig one would kill for. Only no one, including Khin herself, could know just how close to the truth this will actually be.

Upon meeting Tyler, Khin is taken aback by the good man that lurks beyond his obvious good looks. Passionate about his work, his friends, and his family, Tyler has lived a largely private life. But something about Khin has Tyler opening up in ways he hasn’t in a long time.

But things get complicated when a man attacks Khin one night near the shooting location. In an attempt to defend herself, Khin strikes back- the man falling into murky waters and dying instantly. Although Khin thinks she’s alone, Tyler has seen the whole thing. Now Khin and Tyler find their lives intertwined in ways they never could have deemed possible, a very real murder more harrowing than any movie Tyler has ever starred in.

I Did Something Bad grabbed me instantly and I found myself wondering where the story would go. While I enjoyed reading it, I did have a hard time reconciling the darkness of the murder with the lighthearted tone of falling in love. It’s hard to explain why the mix didn’t completely work for me as I’m a fan of genre mashups in general. I just wanted more of one or the other to be the main focus. However, I’d still recommend this book for the positive Asian representation and a unique take on ruinous romance.

I went into this book thinking it would be pretty cut & dried, but I was in for a surprise. 😳

There was a mystery element, that I did not expect.
And while I was interested in the book, almost immediately, this was the ultimate hook, for me.

While not a book I may pick from the cover, it was worth it!

The chemistry was mostly stated than seen which made it hard to see them falling in love/root for them. But I am glad that the third act breakup wasn't for the obvious reason (and had to happen) but overall, kinda meh.

This is another (new to me) author, and I definitely will be looking for more of her stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to see what else the author brings to the table. I think anybody who enjoys romance will enjoy this story.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on October 8, 2024.

This book is so good, and it's absolutely hampered by the back cover blurb, which tells you far too much about what's going to happen. I waited long enough to pick up my ARC copy that I went in blind, and that is what I would recommend, although I know it's basically impossible. Khin, our narrator-slash-heroine, is a fabulous character - prickly, thoughtful, and, perhaps most importantly, good at her job. So many romances starring journalists, particularly romances which pair a journalist with the celebrity they're covering, don't have plausible journalism happening. Khin, however, is methodical and sharp-eyed. She does her research; she's a careful, quiet observer. The push-pull between Khin and Tyler as she tries to pry out his secrets and he tries to keep them from her is excellently done, and the eventual flowering of their relationship into something more - against both of their better judgment - makes sense and is so much fun to read. There are a host of interesting, engaging secondary characters, the setting is unusual and well-drawn, and the book was compulsively readable, both as a romance and as a mystery. I don't want to say more because, as I said above, I feel like the more blind you go into reading this book the more quickly you'll be turning the pages, but it makes me sad that this isn't sitting at the front of every New Romance Releases table in Barnes & Noble.

Did I request this book because I can’t stop blowing for Reputation Taylor’s Version? Yes. Did this bring me out of my book slump? Also yes! Such a fun read. I can’t wait for the author’s next novel.

I was enjoying this until I wasn’t. I had to DNF at 50%. There were some interesting ideas but ultimately it’s just not a book for me.

Mysteries where the culprit is known are pretty juicy. You get an extra sense of adrenaline from the book and I loved the direction this author went with their story.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

In this book you will meet a freelance journalist named Khin and a sexy movie star named Tyler. Khin is given an great opportunity to work for Vogue if she can get the scope on Tyler that no other journalist has been able to do, and of course Khin jumps on this opportunity but nothing is as it seems and when everything goes wrong Khin thinks that her life is going explode, but maybe the cards are in her favor because in this cute romcom, thriller/mystery and suspense.

I thought the author did a good job with the plot, it was well developed, the characters were fun and exciting, I liked that it wasn’t all about the romance, but you will definitely get the fill of it throughout the book. The pace was just right for a romcom, and I found this book to be a fast read. The characters were interesting and fun. I liked the twists throughout the book with the investigation on the murder of a random man, even though at times I found the murder plot to be a little crazy at times, it still kept the book interesting and fun. I was able to connect with them and even found myself relating to them as well.

I thought Khin and Tylers relationship progressed at a good speed, and you will see their development as each character gets more and more to the end of the book. I loved that Khin's character was smart, but at the same time you can see how she might not be handling things the right way but no worries Tyler the sexy movie star is there, and could he be her knight and shining armor? I found their banter and their serious moments to be heartwarming and swoon worthy at times.

Overall, this book was charming, fun, easy and fast read, great romance and some fun plot twists.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this book.

This was a lot of fun! A breezy read about an investigative journalist who lands an assignment profiling the biggest star on the planet—only for the assignment to get derailed and the interviewer-subject lines become blurred after a deadly incident occurs on-set—and they are the only two who know about it, Sure, it falls into the journalistic cliches about a celebrity/journalist love story but it was enjoyable and a murder-y wrench thrown into the whole trope was a fun twist..

I didn’t read a lot of romance, but, when I do, there has to be a murder, just enough to satisfy my thriller-loving heart. Pyae Moe Thet War’s I Did Something Bad checks all the boxes. It’s fun and swoony without being over the top, and this genre-crossing debut makes me already excited for her next book!

This was a fun story! I liked the mystery, and suspense.
I enjoyed the humor and romance as well! I can’t wait to see what else this author comes out with.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded

*screams in Taylor Swift IDIDSOMETHINGBAD*

I had to.

Also, get Tyler a role on Bridgerton. I would love to watch that man on the big screen.

Okay, back to my thoughts. For some reason, I tend to avoid celebrity romances. They’re just not my go-to, but I wanted to read this one because there was a murder mystery/cover-up on top. I was intrigued to see if they would get away with it and how, but in my opinion, it was resolved way too conveniently just to have it out of the way. I also felt as if this book dragged out in the middle and the third-act conflict wasn’t necessary (because it lasted for few pages?), but I still enjoyed the book overall.

Kihn and Tyler’s back-and-forth as so well-written. I loved Tyler’s backstory and would’ve read that. I wasn’t that invested in them as a romance because I think that they way they connected felt more platonic.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

Going into this book, I was not prepared for the twists and turns that would be packed into this book. Khin lands possibly the biggest writing piece of her life while dealing with the residual fallout of her divorce. When she goes to start her expose on Hollywood's hottest Tyler Tun, things do not go as planned, and they find themselves in an almost impossible situation. As I fell deeper and deeper into this rom-com and the coverup, I was hooked till the end.

This was entertaining enough for a rom-com. Nothing great, nothing bad, just fun. I enjoyed the character development, and I could definitely see this being made into a movie. I enjoyed this title overall. I read and listened both.