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.

You Know What You Did by K. T. Nguyen is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of guilt, revenge, and the dark secrets that bind friends together. The narrative follows a group of friends whose past actions come back to haunt them, leading to a tense exploration of their relationships and moral dilemmas. Nguyen’s sharp writing and well-developed characters keep readers on the edge of their seats, as twists and turns unfold in a captivating manner. This novel masterfully combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre.

I liked this book! I found Annie as a character to be both unique and fascinating. Every step she took in the book had me wanting to read further ahead. I was expecting more of a fast-paced thriller from this book as opposed to many slow burn elements thrown in, especially in the first half. I really enjoyed the writing and the premise of the book was incredibly promising. My only issue lies with some inconsistencies with the pacing and overall plot itself. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

You Know What You DId is a thriller that centers around mental illness, generational trauma, and how much we know about the closest to us. This debut thriller is in the vein of Lisa Jewel or Celeste Ng. The pacing and the protagonists OCD, along with the hints of who was good and who was bad, made for a fast paced and enjoyable read.

I’d categorize this book as thriller/horror. On the surface, Annie has the perfect life—an artist with a loving husband, a smart teenage daughter, and a nice home. But in reality, her life is far from perfect.

Annie is caught in a push-pull relationship with her mother, torn between love and hate. She exhibits OCD behaviors, something that overshadowed her own adolescence due to her mother's struggles. As the story unfolds, Annie experiences memory loss and battles to keep her sanity.

With Annie as an unreliable narrator, it’s tough to know what’s real. I enjoyed unraveling the truth with her, but the first 25% of the novel dragged with too much background information.

The resolution felt a little too neat for my taste, and I struggled to empathize with Annie despite her obvious struggles with OCD and PTSD. The entire cast exists in a morally gray area, which adds complexity, but combined with the graphic depictions of worms (I have a serious worm phobia, lol) and her OCD tendencies, it made for a tough read.

I can’t recommend this to everyone, as it covers triggering topics like OCD, emotional parental abuse, and mysophobia (germophobia). Please be mindful of that going in! That said, the writing is undeniably good.

I just cannot get into the audio version of this book. I think I will try the copy at a different date. Thank you for my copy!

This book was very slow and way longer than it needed to be. Some of the characters were so unlikeable, it took away from the story itself.