Always The Quiet Ones by Jamie Lee Sogn, Bea Ku is a Lawyer who lives with her parents and owes them so much for a pass incident that cost them everything. She is waiting to get a promotion her boss Landon has promised her for the past couple of years but when she arrives at work that day she learns the promotion went to Greg. She is upset but keeps her head down and does her job but not without vocalizing her disappointment and dismay which ultimately leads to her boss telling her she’s not getting a promotion because she is a bitch no one likes her etc he told her this at a club celebrating Greg’s promotion and landing a great client a big boon to the company something she was also taken off of thanks to Landon. Later that night she sees a woman she keeps running in to named Kelly. despite wanting to leave she’s hoping her and Kelly will become great friends this is why she decides to stay longer. They dance, drink, have a great time and now they’re on their way home this is when Kelly sees Landon he is drunk sitting in his car something he cannot possibly drive. When Kelly insists they must do the right thing despite Bea’s refusal they ultimately let him tag along in the Uber. When they arrived they leave be with no choice when they get to Landon‘s house and send the Uber on its way. They Tell her to come in for one night cap and then they will go home. Bea drinks a glass of wine and that is the last thing she remembers she wakes up in her bed at home confused and even as she on peels the layers to what happened her confusion will only grow because Landon soon found dead, and Kelly tells her OK now it’s your turn you have to kill for me? this is just the beginning of her problems and we haven’t even discussed Caleb and Aurora her childhood friends and that whole episode. I really enjoyed this book I liked Simon and to be honest I also liked Kelly at first. I thought this was a well put together story in which you can actually unlike a lot of books follow the clues there’s drama thrilling situations not to mention her fraught and checkered past. this is a neurotic journey that definitely pays off in the end with great twist not to mention the main character is definitely worth rooting for. There’s problems with her family her job her social life but that doesn’t mean she wants to give it up. This is a great book and definitely one I recommended those who love thrillers with likable characters great writing awesome twist all wrapped up into one great story. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JamieLeeSong, #AlwaysTheQuietOnes,

2.5⭐️
I did struggle through this book. I couldn't really connect with the characters and was bored for the first half of the book. Not for me but others may enjoy it. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishinh for ARC.

I had so much fun with this book. It truly hooked me in from the jump. It was twisty in the best way and there were definitely many things I didn’t have figured out until they happened making it all the more fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for this ARC!

This book was wildly smart and emotionally intense in the best way. Bea is such a layered, complicated character - and watching her unravel had me hooked. The mix of psychological suspense, female rage, and dark humor kept me flipping pages. I loved the commentary on workplace politics, mental health, and what happens when suppressed emotions finally explode. Unhinged in all the right ways.
What stood out most to me was its portrayal of female rage-not as a caricature, but as something complex, valid, and sometimes terrifying. Bea's anger is born out of betrayal, isolation, and the relentless erosion of her self-worth. The story doesn't shy away from showing how that rage can empower but also consume.
The toxic friendship dynamics are deliciously messy loyalty and envy intertwine, and you're never sure if the people in Bea's life are allies or enemies. The blurred line between reality and fantasy adds a haunting psychological layer, making the suspense as much about Bea's mind as it is about the mystery unfolding around her.
The writing is immersive, almost claustrophobic at times, pulling you directly into Bea's spiraling thoughts. By the time I reached the twist ending, I was breathless-and left sitting in silence, replaying the entire book in my mind.

dnf at 24%. i cannot stand the main character at all. the interactions she has with the people at work are so unbelievable i truly cannot continue on lol. the writing isn't bad, but the characterization is god awful. i love a good unlikeable main character but usually there is something either endearing or redeemable about them. there is nothing of the sort in this main character.

Totally gripping and filled with suspense and tension with a twist in the end. Couldn't help but hold myself on the edge while reading this. Would totally recommend!
Thanks Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

a great read, i was hooked from the start. a definite recommend
thanks lake union and netgalley

all thoughts are my own

This is the type of book to give you goose bumps. If you’re looking for a book that will have you hooked from the start, this is the book you must read next. It’s not even a question

Quick entertaining thriller/suspense with Strangers on a Train vibes. Liked this book for the most part felt the ending didn't really work and kind of lost me in the last few pages but all in all decent thriller and would recommend. I want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tension filled book with great pacing and character development! The emotions of the protagonist are intense and raw . A suspenseful read - and all I wanted to do in my free time was read it. There are also some life lessons to ponder.

This wasn’t just your typically murder mystery this had plenty of underlying themes as well. How many times do you wish your life was different, less boring maybe? What would you do if you ended up an accomplice to murder? Well Bea finds out all about that and finds that she never needed a new life that she wasn’t boring but that just maybe she needed to change her perspective and learn to be grateful for the life she has and those that are in it.


*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

Wasn't a bad book, but I didn't take to the characters. I wish I had because I am sure I would have enjoyed it more. I wouldn't want to put anyone else off reading it because they might like the characters more.

Always the Quiet Ones by Jamie Lee Sogn is a razor-sharp psychological drama that doesn’t just ask you to sit with discomfort—it dares you to look it in the eye. From the beginning the tone is set for a raw, emotionally fraught journey through ambition, identity, and the murky gray areas of personal accountability.

We follow Bea, an ambitious, tightly wound lawyer grinding through a high-stakes legal world that feels all too real in its depiction of everyday sexism, racial microaggressions, and the quiet desperation of needing to prove yourself twice as hard. Bea’s voice is striking: dry, sharp, bitter, and often unreliable. She tells her story with a pointed edge, often reframing events in ways that protect her self-image, and as a reader, that makes the unraveling of her character deeply fascinating. You’re never quite sure if she’s being honest—with others, or even with herself.

Thematically, the book hits hard. It tackles the pressure of immigrant expectations, the toxicity of performative workplace equality, and the weight of unhealed mental health wounds. Bea is a complex portrait of burnout and resentment, and Sogn writes her with a clarity that is both brutal and empathetic. You don’t have to like Bea to understand her—and I think that’s what makes her character work so well.

The pacing is excellent throughout most of the book; there’s a slow-burning intensity that keeps you on edge without being overly dramatic. That said, the ending didn’t quite land for me. It felt slightly too clean compared to the rich, messy buildup. I was hoping for something a little more unresolved, more jagged, that reflected the layered emotional terrain we’d been navigating.

For readers who like:
-Intense, character-driven psychological dramas
-Flawed and unreliable female narrators
-Legal thrillers

Final Verdict
Jamie Lee Sogn delivers a debut that is as smart as it is scathing, as emotionally vulnerable as it is tough. Always the Quiet Ones isn’t a comforting read but it is a compelling one, and Bea’s voice lingers long after the last page. A strong, incisive exploration of what it costs to survive in spaces that were never built for you.

Grateful to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Jamie Lee Sogn for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Started off good, interstellar premise and you cannot help but root for Bea but it does get a bit crazy towards the end. OK for a beach read.

I found this to be a fast read and interesting but it was not one of my top picks. The story moves along well i just was not fond of the characters in this one. It's a story of revenge after being let down one too many times.
The writing is good and so is the plot, I just couldn't connect with Bea. This is no fault of the book or the author and I will definitely read another book by Jamie Lee Sogn

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I did not realize how heavily involved family was in this book. I do not enjoy books with a heavy family element in them. I made it to about 12% before putting this one down for now.

I really liked the writing style though and the cover is eye-catching. I am curious to check out other books from this author!

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

This story had so much promise, it sounded so good, but for me it did not work. I just could not get into it or care for any of the characters. I was not able to continue and had to DNF.

What a compelling read! The story does a great job of capturing the tension and emotional depth of the characters, especially with the way the author handles themes of friendship, trust, and the weight of secrets. It’s one of those books that keeps you guessing and makes you think about how well you really know the people around you. The writing feels raw and authentic, which made me connect with the characters on a deeper level. My only small critique is that a few of the plot twists felt a little bit predictable, especially if you’re used to thrillers with surprises. It didn’t take away from the overall experience, but I think some more unexpected turns could’ve made it even more gripping. Still, it’s a solid, thought-provoking story that’s perfect if you’re into character-driven mysteries with a dark, atmospheric vibe. Definitely worth checking out!

A timely, under-the-radar thriller that deserves way more attention.
This is a story about a woman trying to rewrite her past, break free from her overbearing family, and finally make it — only to realize the only way up might mean giving up her morals and playing into the male gaze. Throw in a new friend she meets while tipsy at a party, a plot to murder her bosses, and suddenly you’ve got a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat ride about female rage, revenge, and feeling totally stuck. Wild, sharp, and so worth the read.

Bea has come through quite a tough time. She is a lawyer working for a prestigious legal firm. Her boss has let her down again, promoting another coworker, a man, instead of the promotion he promised her. She was angry, full of rage. So when someone tells her she will kill her boss if Bea kills hers. Bea does not take this seriously but then she is implicated in the murder of her boss. This was complicated with lots of twists and surprises.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.