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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

This book is about a woman who finds her mother dead one day and then her life pretty much begins to spiral out of control. I did like the beginning of the book as it gave a little background on the main character, which I found intriguing. I felt that there were so many different side stories that were unnecessary jumbled all together in the story. There were some twists that felt forced and just didn't seem realistic. The characters were not very likeable people, especially the daughter, she was unbearable. Overall, I felt it started off pretty strong but then it got repetitive and ended up falling flat.

Amazed that i finished this one. Was a struggle for sure.

Very random writing with italicized statements that keep referencing You know what you did but when it finally gets around to the BIG REVEAL………….meh.

Not much happens and even when things do happen they are mixed in with oodles of extra fluff information or the main characters random thoughts.

Not for me. Do not recommend.

Triggers: affairs, dog dies with dismemberment of paw mentioned later.

Thanks to netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had no idea going into this book was in store for me, and it was a wild twisty road. I was in deep with the family drama and really thought the main character Annie was a stone cold killer. The author does a lovely job of laying out a complex story of betrayal,family drama, lies, and murder.
Annie hasn't had the best life growing up with a mother who can't provide for them physically or emotionally. She looks to escape any way she can and finds herself with child from a man she doesn't even know if she loves. Her painting and her daughter are her first loves and she wants to be the best woman she can but her OCD and compulsions constantly get in the way. It prevents her from having guests over and even from being intimate with her husband Duncan. With the death of her mother tragically Annie is under a lot of stress and seems to be blacking out. Things are happening that she can't explain and when it comes to a near death and the cops are looking at her, she knows something terrible is going on. Is she committing terrible acts and not realizing she's doing them? Could she have the power to hurt someone and never remember? Or is someone else to blame?

In K.T. Nguyen’s debut novel, “Annie “Anh Le” Shaw,” the protagonist grapples with profound guilt and a series of unsettling events that disrupt her seemingly perfect life. The sudden death of her mother triggers a downward spiral, causing her obsessive-compulsive disorder to resurface and causing her to confront the painful legacy of her mother’s struggles.

Amidst her personal turmoil, Annie awakens one morning in a hotel room, naked and beside the lifeless body of a man. This harrowing discovery plunges her into a state of confusion and disorientation, as she grapples with the unraveling of her seemingly idyllic existence. The complexities of her past are revealed as the narrative unfolds, shedding light on her upbringing in a challenging environment marked by poverty and her mother’s mental disability, which manifested in physical and emotional abuse.

Despite these hardships, Annie emerges resilient, achieving a life that appears idyllic—a beautiful home, a fulfilling marriage, and a typical teenage daughter. However, the loss of her mother shatters this facade, and Annie’s life spirals into a rapid descent. Her unraveling mirrors the unfolding of the novel, as the reader witnesses the gradual erosion of her carefully constructed reality.

A deeper examination of Annie’s life reveals strained relationships, particularly with her daughter, who enjoys a harmonious partnership with her husband. This disparity increases Annie emotional distress, which she struggles to acknowledge. As the narrative shifts its focus back to her relationship with her mother, it becomes evident that Annie harbored deep unhappiness. The loss of her mother serves as a catalyst for her realization that the idyllic bubble she had constructed was destined to burst.

Nguyen’s novel offers a diverse perspective, highlighting the stark contrast between Annie’s memories of growing up in Japan and her current experiences in America. Memories play a pivotal role in the narrative, particularly after Annie’s memory loss in the hotel room. The novel’s tense atmosphere compels the reader to contemplate Annie’s disturbing childhood and the unfolding events that shape her future.

Many thanks to Dutton and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Annie “Anh Le” came from humble beginnings, but she’s made a great life for herself—a job she loves, a beautiful home, and a happy family with her husband and daughter. But after the sudden death of her mother, Annie’s carefully constructed world starts to come apart.

This book surprised me! It starts off as a slow-burn drama, focusing on Annie’s past and her struggles with OCD. But as the story progresses, it shifts gears and becomes more of a thriller. While I found the twist a bit predictable and not as impactful as I’d hoped, I still enjoyed the read and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good slow-burn story.

Not my favorite book, but the story was interesting. My mind was all over the place, but eventually it all fell into place.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! The unfolding of Annie's story and character development was fascinating to read through and though it was a bit of a slow burn, I found myself looking forward to finding out how it all wrapped up.

This book kept me guessing. I love a good suspense, but sometimes it felt like a fever dream. What is real?

Annie’s OCD and PTSD was portrayed so well. It was terrifying following her journey deeper and deeper into her illness and there were so many disturbing scenes. I thought the topic of generational trauma was well done in this book, and the perspective of immigrants in a new country was spot on. The reader is inside the mind of Annie, and it was believable and terrifying and wonderfully written.

The plot is relatively slow, and I wished that there was more going on. The story was purely psychological, and there are truly some horrifying moments. There are lots of triggers in this book, so assume that going in. The dog is really dead. I felt the ending was predictable, but there were lots of moments you could suspect someone else. 4 stars!

✨Book Review✨
You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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This was a very low three for me. I really did appreciate the OCD representation being accurate and authentic, but most of the book felt like it had no plot other than the main character hating her dead mother and struggling to parent her daughter. Watching her spiral was rough. The ending did redeem itself a little though. If you like an unreliable narrator and don't mind a frustrating toxic spiral you might like this one more than I did.

In my opinion this book was a lot longer than it needed to be. I started to feel like it was dragging at times and hard for me to finish. It did have some good twists though.

You Know What You Did was dark, haunting, and heartbreaking, with plenty of disjointed layers to unpack. While the synopsis calls this book a thriller, l'd consider it a very slow (yet oddly compelling) domestic drama or psychological fiction. Definitely took some patience but I really liked it! 4.25/5 stars

I really tried with this novel! I couldn’t get into it, I didn’t get very far. I found I couldn’t connect with the characters. I don’t have much more to say on this front, it was a family drama more than it was a thriller. I went in with expectations and I think that was a fail on my part.

**Book Review: *You Know What You Did* by K.T. Nguyen**

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

*You Know What You Did* by K.T. Nguyen is a psychological thriller that takes readers on a wild ride of suspense, deception, and unexpected twists. The story centers around two childhood best friends, Liz and Sophie, whose lives are shattered by a dark secret from their past. When mysterious notes start to appear, accusing Liz of a crime she thought was long buried, the tension and paranoia grow until everything spirals out of control.

Liz is a well-developed protagonist, with a relatable internal struggle between wanting to keep her life intact and facing the truth about her past. The pacing of the book is fast, with every chapter revealing another layer of the characters' lives, leaving you wondering who you can trust.

Nguyen does a great job of building suspense, keeping readers on edge with the mystery surrounding what Liz did, and how far she will go to protect her secret. The dynamic between the two friends is compelling, as years of friendship clash with betrayal and guilt. Nguyen's writing is sharp, and the plot’s twists and turns are well-executed, though some may find certain plot elements slightly predictable.

The ending is satisfying but leaves a few threads untied, making you question everything even after you've finished the book. It’s a strong psychological thriller that fans of the genre will enjoy, with enough surprises to keep readers hooked.

If you love stories about secrets, betrayal, and moral dilemmas, *You Know What You Did* will certainly deliver.