Thank you to Dutton for letting me read this one early. This book is out now.

This book was too long and felt like such a slog and a chore to get through. I really didn't enjoy it and found it a chore to read. I don't recommend this one.

good mystery and i loved the friends too. I really enjoyed the romance and how it solved . I also loved reading this author. Really enjoyed her friends. Great book.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton publishing!
4 stars 🌟 this book was so wild. You have an unreliable narrator, and a lot of mother daughter relationship toxic themes throughout the book.
There's representation for OCD and a very specific type, I can't remember the name rn. However Annie the FMC is triggered back into her old OCD habits after her mother dies.
There's multiple flashbacks to events Annie has memories of and they always end with You Know What You Did. So the whole time I'm reading this I'm thinking about what the hell did she do?! Haha.
I started feeling like wow this woman is really mentally unstable to the point she can't remember what even happened.
The ending threw me for a loop! I seriously didn't see it coming and that made this book so good. It's got a lot of triggers especially for immigrant parental relationship with their kid. There was some stuff that Annie went through with her mom that sadly I've seen so often in my own family with how women are perceived and should act especially in Asian culture. Please keep that in mind when going into this book.

"BONES SNAP. STEEL CRUNCHES. THE SICK THUD OF A SKULL AGAINST A DASHBOARD. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID."

YKWYD is a gripping, psychological journey into one woman's emotional decline that masterfully addresses themes of mental health, the unbreakable bonds between mother and daughter, & the refugee experience.

While a slow burn initially, the latter half is a blazing inferno of twists and thrills, occasionally transversing the genre line of horror. I generally love an unreliable narrator and Anh was no exception. Her panic is visceral, and you'll feel yourself anxiously spiraling into disarray alongside her. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, despite my newfound fear of ladybugs. 😅

All of my thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC!

Anh Le AKA Annie is struggling with contamination OCD and generational trauma that has been simmering for a long time. When Annie's mom passes away, everything starts to unravel. It keeps getting worse for Annie as she wakes up next to a body in a hotel, the police want answers.

You Know What You Did was an unexpected surprise! A psychological mystery that takes you through twists and turns you won't expect. I didn't mind the story being told with a confusing tone in terms of the structure of the chapters, we love an unreliable narrator! It represented Anh Le (Annie) very well as if we were looking into her thoughts and how her mind works.

As soon as I started reading, I was hooked by the storyline from the beginning! I also enjoyed switching to the audiobook on my walks, which also was very good considering I'm pretty picky with narrators when it comes to audiobooks. A great debut that you won't want to miss! I will definitely be on the look out for KT Nguyen's next book.

Yikes. I was really looking forward to this one, but unfortunately it did not work for me. I’ll start off my saying I did really like the mental health rep, the horror elements, the generational trauma theme, and just the overall vibe of uneasiness. I think each of these aspects was very well done. However, the entire plot and all of the twists were extremely flat and the reveals felt so anticlimactic. All of the characters outside of the MC just absolutely sucked and lacked any real depth. I also felt as though the book was 100 pages too long. If I hadn’t had an 11hr flight to bore me, I’m not sure if I would have been able to trek through this one.

With that, I will add that there are a ton of of their fantastic reviews on this one out there, so if this is on your list still give it a try.

When reality blurs with obsession, can you trust your own mind......…..

Book Information

You Know What You Did by K.T. Nguyen is a 384-page mystery/thriller with a publication date of April 16, 2024. Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with an Advance Readers Copy for review.

Summary

Annie “Anh Le” Shaw seems to have it all: a dream career, a stunning home, and a devoted family. However, her life unravels after her mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly, triggering the return of Annie's obsessive-compulsive disorder. When a prominent art patron disappears and Annie becomes a suspect, she spirals into self-doubt, distancing herself from loved ones. She wakes up in a hotel room next to a lifeless body, and as the police investigate, Annie's fractured mind struggles for answers, knowing she'll do anything to protect her daughter—even at the cost of herself.

My Thoughts

K.T. Nguyen's "You Know What You Did" is a thriller that blends suspense with a touch of horror, presenting thought-provoking themes through a unique writing style. The novel tackles heavy issues such as the plight of refugees and the complexities of mental health, which adds depth to the narrative.

The main character, Annie, struggles with significant Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depicted intensely in the first half of the book. While this portrayal successfully conveys the relentless nature of OCD, it can feel overwhelming and almost repetitive, making the beginning of the story a slow burn that feels longer than necessary.

As the story progresses, the suspense ramps up with numerous red herrings intended to keep readers guessing. However, the major twist becomes predictable midway through, which may disappoint those seeking an unexpected climax. The morally grey characters add complexity, though some might find it challenging to connect with them.

Readers should be aware of triggering topics such as OCD and emotional parental abuse. Despite these issues, "You Know What You Did" offers a unique take on the thriller genre. It's a gripping read that demands patience to fully appreciate its depth, earning it a solid three stars.

Recommendation

"You Know What You Did" is a suspenseful thriller that tackles heavy themes like mental health and the refugee experience. While the slow start and repetitive depiction of OCD can be challenging, the unique perspective and morally grey characters make it a thought-provoking read. If you enjoy intricate thrillers with depth, this book is worth exploring.

Rating

3 OCD Stars

A slow burn but worthwhile suspense novel about a woman who begins to unravel after the death of her mother. I love that the author gave us a thriller with depth- the portrayal of OCD felt legitimate and the second half was even stronger than the first. If you can be patient with the build up, you’ll be rewarded.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for this book. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

In this book we are following Annie Shaw, a mother and artist who has just discovered her dead mother. Annie and her mom have a very interesting relationship. Annie's mother clung to her from the moment she was born after leaving Vietnam and having mental health problems. The mental health representation is excellent in this book. For much of this novel Annie is seemed to be an unreliable narrator but that is not the case towards the end of the novel. There is more than one toxic relationship in the novel but luckily Annie is able to let go of what happened in her childhood and in her marriage and able to renew her relationship with her daughter. Annie is believed to be going insane when in reality her husband is making it seem that she is going crazy in order to rebuild his life and save face with his daughter. Annie ends up having to save her own daughter from the husband when he takes her to the same place he killed Annie's mother. Duncan confesses to killing Annie's mother, dog, mentor, and almost killing her one night stand. Luckily Duncan is stopped and Annie and her daughter Tabby are able to have a healthier relationship then the one she had with her own mother. This book was hard to put down and I enjoyed it immensely.

I can appreciate what this book did and the story was engaging and compelling-but ultimately I did not enjoy my reading experience. I became too frustrated with the MC's decisions, and the daughter and husband also got on my nerves. Overall, I think many readers will enjoy this story but I found myself too annoyed throughout.

Wow what a wild ride. This book was truly so thrilling.

It touched on generational trauma, childhood trauma and mental illness and how all three can affect people long term. Truly such an interesting look into how OCD presents and how debilitating it can be.

The complex mother daughter relationships were so well done. If you’re a fan of Everything Everywhere All At Once, LadyBird, any mommy trauma things, this is a great book for you.

I was so satisfied with this book up until the end. There was too much doubt on every single character to tie up nearly and the ending felt a bit rushed because of it.

I really loved the unreliable narrator in this, it’s one of my favorite tropes.

I am just coming into my thriller era and this is one of the books that was at the top of my list. I was hooked from the first 10 pages and I finished this book in one sitting. If you like gone girl and other Books in that vibe, you’re gonna like this one.

Annie Shaw, dealing with her mother's sudden death and her own OCD diagnosis, faces a series of mysterious deaths around her. As suspicion falls on her, Annie grapples with unsettling questions about her own mind. Despite a slow pace, the story delivers unexpected twists, especially towards the end. Exploring themes of culture, family dynamics, mental health, and deception, the book creates an eerie atmosphere and delves into complex relationships. While the plot could benefit from a faster tempo, the chilling tension and surprises make it a compelling read.

Gratitude to Penguin Group, Dutton, and NetGalley for the review copy.

I REALLY wanted to love this book but I really found it to be a bit disjointed. Overall I'd still recommend it but I can see it not being for everyone.

I was interested in this book because the description said it was for Lisa Jewell fans. It was a good thriller with a twist at the end. However, for me, it was a little depressing. The characters were mean to each other and the storyline did not always make sense. I kept losing interest.
I received this galley from NetGalley.

Loved how the book looked at generational trauma and the baggage carried from the past. A unique thriller. Thank you for an advance copy!

This didn’t work for me so DNFing at 5%. It felt very YA to me with childish writing, and I didn’t like the set up for a mental health trope of the “did I/did I not do something because I can’t remember due to my meds.” Thanks anyway for the ARC.

Thank you so much Dutton books for the ebook via NetGalley and PRH Audio #partner for the audio! I absolutely loved the narration by Kim Mai Guest!
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Annie “Ahn Le” Shaw comes from a poor and turbulent childhood having had a complicated history with her immigrant mom. Nonetheless, Annie has managed to have a stable life with a husband who’s able to provide her with everything and a daughter she adores.

However when Annie’s mom dies, Annie’s mental health begins to spiral and her OCD resurfaces to the point that Annie loses control over her surroundings and can’t trust herself of the actions she takes. Deaths of two of her close acquaintances in different capacities lead the police at her door and Annie is forced to regain control of her life to save herself from the looming investigations and keep her family safe.

This thriller was action-packed with back and forth timeline of events, unique elements of contamination OCD, toxic familial relationships and generational trauma as well as the immigrant experience. Even though Annie was a very intense character to read (with an often repetitive loop of her intrusive thoughts and mental state) and an unreliable narrator, I kept rooting for her to thrive and the complicated mother-daughter relationship really pulled at my heartstrings. Annie’s friendship with Ike was also a lovely respite in an otherwise grim state of relationships that Annie endures. Also, be warned, there’s a dog that’s unalived in the story. All in all, this was a very unique and memorable thriller to read! I can’t wait to find out what K.T. Nguyen will come up with next!

Annie looks like she has it all, but inside she’s unraveling. Struggling with her relationship with her mother and OCD, PTSD and memory lapses, she’s far from being in control. Distancing from her family, Annie wakes up in a hotel room next to a dead body. As an unreliable narrator it’s difficult to know what’s true. Even Annie is questioning what’s real. Dark and dreary, this one dragged for too long making it hard to connect with the story. The writing is good, the storyline wasn’t a favorite. Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

With vivid prose, this novel delves into trauma, intergenerational struggles, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters. It offers both thrills and emotional depth.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Duttonand to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.