Member Reviews

Interesting read, explores the binds of mothers and daughters through the lens of trauma. Had some unexpected twists, if a bit convoluted.

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This one didn't click for me, the writing was great. The story was compelling, but there was just something that felt ultimately off and i can't quite put my finger on it. i feel kinda bad about it :\

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A powerful exploration of the consequences of choices, "You Know What You Did" is a must-read for those who enjoy gripping narratives that challenge perceptions of morality and friendship. Nguyen's skillful storytelling ensures that readers will be left contemplating the complexities of human behavior long after they turn the final page.

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2.5 stars rounded up. Slow, repetitive and just too long but it did all wrap up nicely without leaving any loose ends.

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I am usually not a thriller fan but this was one of the best I’ve read! Especially being familiar with some of the areas. I didn’t guess the plot twist early on, and seeing the parallels between the MC and their trauma (and how THEY didn’t see it manifesting) was definitely interesting.

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This was a great psychological thriller debut. It was well written and kept me entertained from start to finish. There were so many twists and turns in this one & i wasn't expecting any of them. I enjoyed that we got to really see how Anh Le's mind was thinking & processing everything.

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3 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

This was an intriguing premise and was instantly drawn to it, however I did feel like this book was a lot longer than it needed to be. Also a bit jumbled with the way some parts were written and found myself backtracking a couple of times to see what I had missed.

TW: child abuse, and animal abuse

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This was a fairly impressive read for me. I love me an intense thriller! First few chapters were slower to get into, but it picked up pretty well after that. I do very much enjoy a book where I can feel myself getting emotional or worried and stressed along with the MCs.

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Overall I appreciated how atmospheric the author's writing was and how vivid the more horrific imagery was. I think what fell flat for me was the thriller plot as the beginning of the book felt like it was setting up a completely different type of character exploration. As a debut novel, I was impressed, but wished that the thriller aspect had more nuisance,

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I Know What You Did by KT Nguyen had me hooked from the start—secrets, drama, and a twisty mystery that kept me guessing. If you love thrillers with messy friendships and dark pasts, this one’s a must-read!

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You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen is a gripping and emotionally charged debut thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Annie “Anh Le” Shaw, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist who appears to have everything—success, a beautiful home, and a loving family. However, when her mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly, Annie's carefully constructed life begins to fall apart. Her past traumas and obsessive-compulsive disorder resurface, and soon, the line between reality and her terrifying thoughts starts to blur.

As a prominent art patron disappears and the investigation points to her, Annie's mental state deteriorates, and she finds herself in an even darker situation—waking up next to a dead body, with no memory of what happened. Desperate to protect her daughter, Annie becomes caught in a web of lies and confusion, unsure who to trust or what is real.

Nguyen masterfully combines heart-pounding suspense with deep, nuanced explorations of identity, trauma, and family. The story doesn’t just focus on the mystery; it delves into the complexities of being a child of immigrants, dealing with mental health struggles, and confronting the legacies that shape us. With its sharp twists and richly developed characters, You Know What You Did is as much a psychological thriller as it is a moving meditation on motherhood and cultural heritage.

For fans of Lisa Jewell and Celeste Ng, this debut thriller is a must-read—a dark, twisting tale that will have you questioning everything until the very last page.

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After her mother’s death, Annie’s seemingly perfect life begins to unravel as her OCD spins out of her control.

I mostly really loved this - complicated mother-daughter relationships, generational trauma, the seedy underbelly of suburbia, morally grey female characters, aaand I don’t typically like the unreliable narrator thing but in this case it worked perfectly. Oh my god and the imagery of the OCD compulsions had my literal skin crawling !!

The only piece i didn’t really like was the ending/reveal. It was kind of predictable but that wasn’t even the real problem. It honestly just felt like a totally different vibe and writing style from the rest of the book. It suddenly got super cheesy and over the top and idk, I just didn’t get it.

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How did I manage to finish this? It was a very slow burn. I did like the twists but it did drag most of the time. When Annies mother passes away, her life begins to unravel. Any kind of mental health disorder is very difficult. I can’t imagine how hard it was for Annie to lose her mom and then deal with all the thoughts in her head. I didn’t really feel like it was much of a thriller. It just wasn’t what I thought it was going to be but I’m glad I was able to finish it.

Thank you NetGalley, K.T. And Penguin Group Dutton for the E-ARC!

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You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen is a slow burn thriller that will leave readers guessing. It had some elements that left me wanting more, but I will look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

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Artist Annie "Anh Le" Shaw has a nice suburban life with her husband and daughter on their quiet property with a guest house for her mother, a refugee of the Vietnam War who raised her daughter on her own. When Annie's mother dies under mysterious circumstances, the generational trauma comes to light and Annie's OCD rears its ugly head once again. Is her paranoia resurrected mental illness or based on reality?

I had mixed feelings about this one. The flashbacks to Anh Le's childhood with her traumatized single mother are a compelling look at the reality of living with a person suffering from mental illness. It also sheds light on the difficult transition from a life filled with violence and uncertainty to assimilating into an often unwelcoming foreign culture. Even with those well-done elements I still found Annie an unlikable character whom I had difficulty championing. She seemed ungrateful and selfish, and her motives usually reflected this.

This one was okay overall. The flashback storylines make it worth a read, but I couldn't get invested in the main character's fate which took away from the suspense aspect of the novel.

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THE TWISTS! WOW. It is a slow read but it definitely is worth it. The OCD aspect really drew me in and once things picked up, I couldn’t put it down.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen!

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I received an ARC of You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had some intriguing elements, it didn't fully meet my expectations. SThe story follows Annie "Anh Le" Shaw, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist who seems to have it all—a dream career, a beautiful home, and a loving family. However, her life begins to unravel after the sudden death of her mother, a Vietnam War refugee. This traumatic event triggers the resurgence of Annie's obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which she thought she had overcome. As her mental health deteriorates, Annie starts experiencing disturbing fixations that might actually be coming true.
Annie's carefully curated life spirals out of control as she becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of a prominent art patron. Her obsessive thoughts and compulsions intensify, leading her to question her own sanity. The narrative takes a darker turn when Annie wakes up in a hotel room next to a lifeless body, with no memory of how she got there. As the police investigation closes in, Annie must confront her past traumas and unravel the truth behind the mysterious events. While You Know What You Did offers a compelling premise and explores important themes such as mental health and the refugee experience, some plot twists felt predictable, and the pacing could have been tighter. Annie's character is well-developed, and her struggle with OCD is portrayed with sensitivity and depth. However, the story's reliance on familiar thriller tropes and a somewhat rushed conclusion detracted from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the book's strong character dynamics and emotional intensity kept me engaged. Fans of psychological thrillers and stories about personal resilience might find this book an interesting read, even if it doesn't fully deliver on all fronts. I would consider reading more from K.T. Nguyen in the future. #netgalley #youknowwhatyoudid

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Thank you #Netgally for the arc.

So for me, if I could be honest, I would give this a 3.25 almost 3.5 rating. Its only that because I felt the book was TOO LONG. There were parts that just seemed to drag. I appreciate all the character development, but there needs to be a middle ground for it.

Ok so that being said, yes this is a thriller/suspense etc, but there was also a lot more in the book. There were topics in here that dealt with mental health issues (and they were represented so well in this book) . There was a tough mother and daughter relationship, which was almost a little too cliche (and don't get me started on Annie's daughter.) The ending was a little on the predictable side and the book could have been a couple hundred pages or so shorter BUT K.T can write and I think his words are what made it that much more better.

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You Know What You Did is written by K. T. Nguyen . This was an enjoyable read that I was drawn into right way. This is a psychological thriller that takes readers on a journey of twists, turns, suspense and will leave you shocked.

Anh Le, who goes by Annie has a great life. It has not always been that way. However, when her mom dies she starts to unravel. One minute she is married with a teenage daughter, and the next she feels her OCD come raging back. She starts to distance herself from friends and family.

Annie is an artist, when one of her wealthy patron's go missing - she is on the list of suspects. Annie cannot make sense of any of it. When her husband travels for work and her daughter goes to camp - Annie hits rock bottom. She awakens in a hotel room, with a lifeless body next to her and no recollection to what happened. The police don't buy h er story - and she needs to clear her name

This book is packed full of action, suspense, and thrilling descriptions. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

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