Look at that cover - I love it! Society of Lies drew me in quickly and had me guessing the whole time! There were so many different scenarios that I could see playing out, but I will admit that I was a bit disappointed with the ending (let's chat if you've read this one)! I enjoyed the dual timelines, and I loved how Brown addressed privilege and racism in the context of this thriller (although I wish she had done a little more with the racism aspect). This is the second book in a week that I read that also featured Princeton's eating clubs, which were unfamiliar to me previously. I love a good academic thriller, and this definitely scratched that itch! There is lots for a book club to discuss, and I can see why Reese just picked it!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for a copy of the book!

There was a lot to like in this book, but it fell victim to being too many things at once...

Pros: I love reading about old Ivy League secret societies and eating clubs (yes, eating clubs really exist at Princeton and Harvard). I went on a Google deep dive when I first started this book. The idea of a murderous, cover up, dark academia spin on secret societies was a great idea for a book.

CONS: Two POVs that were very similar - somehow Maya AND her sister have almost identical events happen to them in the same secret society at Princeton, and honestly, it was just too much. There's LOTS of flip flopping between past, semi-past, present that makes your mind spin. I would have rather have seen one of the two main characters have their story well-developed instead of two.

Bottom line: Was a bit of a miss for me.

This is very much a slow-burn mystery with hardly anything happening in the first half. The story centers on two sisters (Maya and Naomi, half-Asian, half-black) who are ten years apart and both are past or current Princeton students. The younger sister (Naomi) turns up dead, and the older investigates.

There are three POVs: Maya in the present, Maya in the past, and Naomi in the recent past, just before her death. Past Maya is in past tense; the other two are present tense. Groan. All three are so similar, it was hard to keep track of which one I was reading. Maya and Naomi are interchangeable as far as characterization goes.

It’s not particularly thrilling or suspenseful except for a few scenes, but it works as contemporary fiction. If you are expecting a thriller, you will be sorely disappointed.

Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. 3.5 rounded up to 4. Solid debut thriller that kept me guessing.

This dual timeline, dual POV story is, at its heart, about relationships and power. Maya is 10 years older than her sister Naomi. Orphaned at a young age, Maya has always felt responsible for getting Naomi a better life. As an undergrad at Princeton 10 years ago, she made some questionable decisions in order to cement her place in a powerful secret society, and one of them may have led to the death of one of her friends. Naomi has followed in her sister's footsteps, but days before she is set to graduate from Princeton, her body is found in a lake. Authorities say she drowned, but when Maya discovers Naomi had been part of the same society, she fears she may have uncovered secrets that other wanted to keep hidden. I liked the characters and the story held some surprises. However, although this book started off fast, the pace fell off partway through and I found most of it quite slow, which definitely impacted my overall rating (3.5 rounded up to 4 stars because I did quite like the twist at the end!)

Lauren Ling Brown’s debut novel is a dark academia thriller that takes place at Princeton and, more specifically, within the walls of its secret societies. It is a tale of two biracial sisters who attend the university ten years apart. Maya, the elder sister, returns to Princeton for her ten year reunion and her sister Naomi’s graduation. Rather than a happy occasion, the weekend turns into a tragedy as Naomi dies in what authorities describe as a drowning/drug overdose. Maya doesn’t believe it, and questions whether Naomi was murdered and if her death had anything to do with the secret societies to which both Maya and Naomi belonged at Princeton, given that Naomi’s death hearkens back to the death of another young woman when Maya was a student.

The first half of this novel is a slow burn as the book shifts between three timelines and two points of view. This is often confusing, in part because there is not much distinction between the voices of Maya and Naomi. However, any confusion is outweighed by the good job the author does showing the interrelationship between race, social class, and privilege to show how far people can go and why in order to belong.

The last third of the book is a whirlwind as the author works hard to tie many threads together. While I appreciated the pacing and the twists and turns, the ending felt rushed and came out of the blue. Overall, however, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to other fans of the dark academia genre.

Thanks to Penguin Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book.

Society of Lies is a twisty, psychological thriller set in the dark world of collegiate secret societies.

Society of Lies has an intriguing premise. Two sisters, ten years apart in age, are tapped into a (fictional) secret society at Princeton University. Elder sister Maya witnesses a tragedy that reverberates for years to come. When Maya’s sister Naomi tries to pick up the pieces ten years later, more tragedy ensues.

Maya and Naomi’s back stories were interesting. Their dual POVs added new information to the mysteries and their voices felt different enough that it was easy to differentiate between them. Their family dynamic was well integrated into the plot. Their opportunities for missed connections made sense in context, as they both felt uncomfortable being open with each other. Their cultural background also added depth and nuance to the story.

Maya and Naomi were characters that were easy to connect with. They weren’t perfect protagonists. Their flaws and struggles made them more realistic and empathetic characters. Their reasons for joining Greystone Society were refreshingly different. While Naomi could have easily been characterized as a present-day Maya, she was thoughtfully crafted as her person with different reasons for her involvement in Greystone Society.

The story started off with an inciting incident that set the novel into motion. However, after the initial shock wore off, the novel couldn’t keep pace with its opening. The plot moved slowly throughout most of the book. That action picked up during the last 20% of the book.

I would have liked for Lila’s character to have been developed further, as well as her friendship with Maya. That part of the story felt rushed for it being the crux of the novel’s tension. A third POV with Lila would have added some more tension to the story and more connection to her character.

If you’re looking for a twisty, multi-layered psychological thriller in a dark academic setting, add Society of Lies to your cart.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

"Society of Lies" by Lauren Ling Brown is a captivating read that had me hooked from start to finish.
Maya's return to Princeton for her college reunion takes a dark turn when she receives the devastating news of her sister Naomi's death. What should have been a nostalgic trip down memory lane quickly transforms into a gripping mystery as Maya delves into the secrets of the exclusive Sterling Club, where Naomi was involved.

Now, I gotta be real – the story starts off a bit slow. But trust me, once it picks up, it's a wild ride! Brown keeps you guessing with every twist and turn, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, she hits you with another surprise. Admittedly, keeping track of the multiple points of view was a bit challenging at times, and some characters felt a little too similar. However, Maya and Naomi's dynamic as protagonists added depth to the narrative, and their sisterly bond was a driving force throughout the story.

And let's not forget about the themes Brown tackles – identity, race, sisterhood, you name it. It adds a whole new layer of depth to the story and makes you think long after you've finished reading.

"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. 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.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Society Of Lies is a fast-paced suspenseful novel interweaving status (economic, social, racial) and dark academia. Sometimes the pacing was off and I had a hard time believing that Maya was involved in the eating clubs for some reason, but overall once I got to the 60% mark I didn’t want to stop reading!

I absolutely loved this book! I love dark academia and was pulled in immediately. I thought I knew who the murdered was multiple times but was never right

Thanks so much for the early copy!

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown is a fast-paced mystery that dives into the dark side of elite college life. When Maya’s sister Naomi dies in what seems like an accident at Princeton, Maya suspects foul play, especially when she discovers Naomi had joined the same secretive club she once belonged to. As Maya digs deeper, buried secrets from her past resurface, making her question what really happened. It’s a gripping read full of suspense, dark secrets, and twists, perfect for fans of mysteries that explore power, privilege, and family bonds.

I could not get into this book. I felt like it was rushing from the start. Character and world building felt rushed. The plot felt rushed. DNFed

A tense and intriguing debut novel that delves deep into the world of Ivy League secret societies and their hidden dangers. It reminded me a bit of 'A Secret History' by Donna Tartt. Set against the prestigious and high-pressure backdrop of Princeton University, the novel explores the bond between two sisters, Maya and Naomi, as they navigate the treacherous landscape of privilege, ambition, and deceit.

The story follows Maya, a New York art dealer, returning to Princeton for her 10-year reunion, only to be confronted with the tragic death of her younger sister Naomi, a recent graduate. While Naomi’s death is officially ruled an accident, Maya is convinced foul play is involved and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. As the narrative alternates between the sisters' timelines, readers are drawn into the dark secrets of Princeton's elite society, Sterling, where power and loyalty can easily turn into dangerous weapons.

Lauren Ling Brown uses these dual timelines to build suspense, as the mysteries of both Naomi’s final months and Maya’s own university experiences slowly unravel. The novel grapples with issues of identity and belonging, particularly as Maya and Naomi are biracial women, and have struggled to fit into the predominantly white and privileged circles they find themselves in. Could this have played a role in Naomi's death?

For fans of campus thrillers and mysteries that explore the sinister side of elite institutions, Society of Lies offers a gripping exploration of secrets, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to in order to protect themselves and their reputations.

Though the novel suffers slightly from occasional slow pacing and long diatribes into character's backstories, it stands out for its exploration of privilege, racial identity, and moral ambiguity within an academic setting. Perfect for readers who enjoy multi-layered mysteries with complex characters and ethical dilemmas.

Secret societies on a college campus are my kryptonite so I had to read this one. This was an intriguing novel strong characters and writing. Naomi and Maya were excellent MCs. While they had similarities, I enjoyed seeing how their different upbrings led to their choices. I didn’t know eating clubs were a thing and liked how Ling Brown included real ones with the fictional story. Overall, a strong debut thriller!

I was excited to receive the arc of society of lies as it was generating a lot of buzz!

This is the story of two sisters-both who joined an exclusive society at Princeton during their respective times there. The younger sister goes missing and the eldest sister is desperate to find the answers. As she gets closer, her greatest fears about this society are confirmed and she crosses paths with some dangerous people who will stop at nothing to protect the society.

This is a dark academia novel that explores race, privilege, gender, family bonds, etc. the race element is what differentiates this novel from others in the genre.

I enjoyed this and the twists and turns throughout. A strong debut and one that will deserve the praise. Excited for a follow-up!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Told in dual POV this story had intrigue, mystery and drama. When Maya was at Princeton, she forms lasting friendships through an eating club even though there was drama and a death. When Naomi follows in Maya’s footsteps she becomes embroiled in solving the mysterious death of Maya’s classmate and her hunt for the truth has deadly consequences.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine for the book #SocietyOfLies by #LaurenLingBrown. Maya is planning on going to her sister Naomi’s graduation at Princeton and attend her reunion. She is crushed when she learns her sister has died in an “accident”. She goes back to her college days and start investigating. She suspects there is more to it all. Was her sister murdered?

I enjoyed this, but I also felt like there were definitely some moments that I would change. The idea for this was really interesting and the author did a good job of hooking you into the story with compelling plot, characters and pacing. However, the pacing wasn't consistent--after that initial hook, it was really slow to get through. I also felt like the plot threads sort of got all muddled in the second half of the book. While I though that the tone of the book was well curated, and the characters for the most part were interesting/compelling, I found myself having a hard time connecting to them.
I don't know. I feel on the fence about this book because, on the one hand I did think this was fine, but on the other hand I did have a hard time pushing myself to finish it.

This book kept me guessing the entire time about who might be guilty and who might be an innocent bystander. Lauren Ling Brown did a fantastic job with the plot and character development.

I would have to say that Maya is my favorite character because she did not give up in solving her sister, Naomi’s death. No matter how many times her own life was threatened and even when injured she did not give up.

I really liked that Brown also used her own background and experiences to create characters that were multiracial because it feels more real to me that way. So many young people feel like they don’t fit in and have some of the same struggles as these characters.

The many twists and turns in the book will keep you hooked. Enjoy the ride.

This was such an addicting book! I love the different narrations of Naomi from past to before her passing and Maya in the past to current/three weeks post murder. The mystery surrounding the dark society of Greystone in Princeton, where the most devoted will prosper the most in the future with strong connections woven into every opportunity you may want.
I am a big fan of secret society's and murders so this one was perfect!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the eARC