This was a very intriguing story. I enjoyed the multiple POVs/timelines and looked forward to finding out what was going on.

However, it was really long and got a little bogged down in some parts. The description of some of the academic schemes got so detailed that it felt like another story though I do think it was important to include

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Society of Lies" by Lauren Ling Brown is fantastic! Brown's storytelling is both gripping and thought-provoking, pulling you into a world where lies are currency and trust is a rare commodity. Her phenomenal character building and attention to detail will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about truth and deception. The characters are brilliantly crafted, each with their own secrets and agendas that keep you guessing until the very end.

This book is set at Princeton and focuses on a story that unfolds completely intertwined in the world of mysterious Ivy League secret societies. And a major highlight for me in this book is some of the themes Brown tackles - identity, race, and sisterhood. I really appreciated a perspective from a person of color. She did a fantastic job painting the picture of her characters’ experiences. There was so much attention to detail I could actually feel myself get lost in the story! It’s been a long time since a book has truly been able to do that for me. There was so much depth to this story, and it’s one that leaves you thinking long after you've finished reading.

With its intricate plot twists and sharp social commentary, "Society of Lies" is a must-read for anyone who loves a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat ride through a world where nothing is as it seems. Brown's writing is both razor-sharp and deeply insightful, making this book a true standout in the realm of dystopian fiction. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

Society of Lies delivers a satisfying conclusion that ties up all the loose ends. While the reveal of the culprit may not have been a total shocker, the journey to uncover the truth was an exhilarating ride and there are plenty of other shocking pieces revealed that you won’t see coming. Overall, if you're a fan of mysteries with a touch of dark academia and a sprinkle of sisterhood, this book is definitely worth your time.

Thank you to Bantam Publishing and NetGalley for granted me access to this digital book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
The Society of Lies is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far! A suspense book that’s fast paced, set in the world of academia and influence, and follows a pair of biracial sisters as they navigate this tumultuous road is not one to miss!
Different than most books, I was not able to fully guess the ending.
Most importantly, it shows the importance of speaking out and reaching out if you see someone needs help.
5 stars all around!!!

The character, plot and were very well thought out and portrayed.

The book would have kept me invested, but I had a horrible time trying to keep track of who was speaking. I had to read and reread several chapters to try and keep in straight. Because if this I was detracted from the storyline and did not enjoy the book as much as I could have.

Three stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Bantam books. For this novel.

Expected publication August 13, 2024.

What a great thriller! I wanted to read all night. The characters were very well developed and Princeton University’ was depicted like another character in the story. It was chilling how everything hinged on the support of the eating society and who you associated with. Society of Lies is definitely one to read this summer, a real page turner!

Thanks to #netgalley and #bantam for this eARC to read.

Give me all the dark academia and combined with sisters and we have the perfect thriller! Stunning debut and I'm so excited to see more from this author in the future. Totally obsessed.

Interesting story about secret societies at a college campus and how far people will go to belong. The story is told by two sisters who are ten years apart, one alive and one dead. The characters are believable and the plot carries the story at a brisk pace. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.

I received an advanced readers copy from Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
#SocietyOfLies #NetGalley

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion—it’s been a decade since she graduated, and she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her time there. This visit is special because Maya will also be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.
But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya’s worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on. As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister’s death, she begins to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya’s warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus—the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it. The more Maya uncovers, the more terrified she becomes that Naomi’s decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Because Maya’s time at Princeton wasn’t as wonderful as she’d always made it seem.

I was amazed that this was the first adult novel by the author. The depth of her writing and characters was really good as was the description of college life. I kept wondering how the two stories would finally merge as I knew that they would and thought the author handled it very well. I hope she writes more novels. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I highly recommend.

This is an interesting novel. I just struggled with the multiple point of views/timeline. There are a lot of beautiful quotes in this book that stuck with me. That alone makes it a 4 star book. I just am not smart enough for it.

"Society of Lies" is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that will appeal to fans of dystopian fiction and political thrillers alike. With its compelling characters, immersive world-building, and timely themes, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of the genre or simply looking for a riveting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, "Society of Lies" is not to be missed.

This book was so good! From the first chapter I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I loved the alternating points of view between Maya and Naomi. This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and when I wasn’t reading I kept thinking about it. I loved the writing and the story line and the ending. This was a wonderful debut novel and Lauren Ling Brown will now be an auto buy author for me! I would definitely recommend it!

4 stars! The book "Society of Lies" is impeccably crafted with compelling character development. While it does slow down a bit in the middle, lacking in action, the overall quality remains high. The story revolves around Maya, who is attending her 10th year reunion at Princeton, while her sister Naomi is graduating. However, the idyllic week takes a tragic turn when Naomi's lifeless body is discovered in a pond. Could Maya's past secrets involving her friends from ten years ago be connected to this shocking event? This gripping narrative is truly a captivating read.
Thank you to Net Galley and Bantam Books for ARC to read and review!

When a Princeton student is found dead Her sister goes on a mission to find out what happened. How far will students go to belong

Society of Lies took me inside of the walls of an Ivy, and I have always been fascinated by the mystery surrounding their eating clubs and the grandeur of those prestigious universities. This was a book I could really sink my teeth into. I honestly think this would make a great show for one of the streaming services. There was so much intrigue. There was a lot of backstory to get set up that at times it felt just a little bogged down. I loved Naomi and her free spirit compared to her more uptight sister Maya. This would not be my typical summer read, and I loved that about the book. To catch a glimpse into what you think will be their more glamorous lives, marred by tragedy.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did enjoy this book! I thought the concept was really interested. I love reading about cults and secret clubs in college. I did think the story had a lot of twists and turns and I like that it was from the POVs of each sister. However, at times I was a little confused on which POV was happening and did notice myself going back. I also felt like there were a ton of characters and the friends of Naomi and Maya were a little hard to keep track of. I did notice a few grammar mistakes in the ARC but overall this was a great debut novel.

I do feel like some parts could be cut out that didn't have to do much with the plot, specially the scene after a night out with Naomi, her super drunk friend and the police. I felt like it was just an excuse to hate on law enforcement which was not needed for the plot. At times, it felt a little long so I do think 50 pages could be cut out.

If you like murder mystery meets dark academia this book is for you!

~read on kindle through arc copy from NetGalley~

This is a very good debut novel. It really keeps you entertained and guessing until the end. All of the different POVs and non linear timeline did get a little confusing at times.

Another early release to review! Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery but there are a few decisions through the book that really annoyed me. I’ll start with the positive:

Pros:

Great character development. Most of the characters get enough of a backstory and development to make readers care about what happens and understand their motivation (even if you don’t agree with it!)

Strong writing. It’s easy to get swept up into the story and this is definitely a “Oh I’ll just read one more chapter” kind of book! I will definitely read another book by this writer - the writing flows easily but isn’t so simple that it’s boring.

Cons:

There are just too many things crammed into one story. There are three timelines (two from the same narrator) and most side characters appear in all of the timelines so it’s really hard to keep track of where you are in the story

This story tries to tackle a lot of major issues. Some of them are raised and dropped so quickly that it is more distracting than anything - I wish the author had picked a few topics to tackle and devoted more time to each one.

You have to be okay with the fact that you will yell “just talk to each other!!!!!!!!!” multiple times while reading, as that would solve many of the key issues propelling the story forward

✨Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine/ Bantam for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review✨

3.5 stars- Society of Lies is the perfect title for this novel as it delves into the lives of two sisters and their association with a secret society in Princeton. The novel is told from both of their perspectives. However. one of the sisters is dead.

Maya is ten years older than her younger sister Naomi. They are orphans and all Naomi has ever wanted is to be closer with Maya. Maya, on the other hand, has tried to do everything she can to take care of Naomi. The worst happens when Naomi is found dead and now Maya has to find out what really happened.

The book is told in a non-linear fashion as it alternates between their two stories. Both sisters attended Princeton although 10 years apart but there is a professor that is connected to them both and the secret society. I did find the secret society fascinating as the college I attended had nothing like this. College in my experience was one of the best times in my life but based on this story I would never attend an Ivy League College. I couldn't imagine being wrapped up with trying to fit into these exclusive societies and clubs. The tone was very dark and oppressive. In my experience college was nothing like that.

The story keeps you guessing and I did not guess correctly at what really happened to Naomi. There were definitely elements to this book that I enjoyed however I did not like the relationship between Maya and Naomi. I felt like Maya was not a great sister to her and was too focused on prestige and money. It made it hard to like her parts of the story as I really did not like her as a character. Overall, there were good thriller elements. I think anyone who likes a darker thriller would enjoy this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam/Random House for this ARC.

I lovedddd it, not to mention the cover is beautiful!!!

Definitely the college/academia mystery/thriller that everyone should read if you love a good who done it.

The story went back and forth between the two main characters which are sisters but one of them is dead. As soon I started reading, I knew it was going to be a great read. The story was well written and truly had me guessing until the end. I didn’t even come close to figuring this one out.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC for my honest opinion.

I honestly do not know how I feel about Society of Lies. I thought that it started off strong with the multi-POVs until it started to get a little confusing as Naomi starts to discover some hidden secrets of the secret societies of Princeton. She delves into the past, which takes place during her older sister, Maya's time at the university. The timeline jumps and POV changes start to intermingle and the story moves very slow during the middle of the book. It's not until about 20% to the end that things start to ramp up again and there are twist and turns. The end is wrapped up nicely.

Although I might have had to take this book slow, I didn't hate it. Society of Lies was very well written and did have me trying to guess who killed Naomi, which I was not able to. I also really enjoyed reading about what happens in the secret societies at prestigious universities. I just don't know if I enjoyed the pacing so much.

I would recommend this book to those looking for a dark academia book seeded in secrets, lies, betrayal and the privileged behaving badly.