This was a cute story. A writer gets a chance to follow an actor for two months to write a piece on him and things get out of hand quick. There’s love and murder and betrayal and redemption all the greats. I liked the story and it came together well but at some points I was like “that was a little too easy”. The characters were likable but not very deep. The narrator did a great job.

This was such a fun read! Lately, I've been really into romantic thrillers, and this one did not disappoint. Khin, a journalist, lands a major opportunity to write a cover story about a huge celebrity, Tyler Tun. She gets to spend two months in Myanmar with full access to him, and if she does a good job, she’ll be offered a new position. But when Tyler saves her on one of their first nights on set, it triggers a series of thrilling events that will keep you hooked. The story is fast-paced, with fantastic secondary characters, and the chemistry and witty banter between Khin and Tyler are absolutely delightful.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War!

After her divorce Khin lives for her work. She recently got an opportunity to interview the Tyler Tun - international moviestar and rumored next James Bond - for Vogue Singapore. Not only is this a great opportunity but, based on how well it turns out, Khin may also be offered a job with Vogue Singapore, giving her a way out of the city she still shares with her ex husband.

Typically writing articles with a bit more substance to them, she knows she can tackle a simple celebrity profile and having full access to Tyler Tun for two months is unheard of.

But when an incident occurs on the set of his new movie, Khin realizes that she needs Tyler's help. As they work together to keep their names out of the press, Khin begins to see the real Tyler, the one reserved for his family and close friends. Now, everything from her new job to her life are on the line.

I kept hearing a lot about this book and I think it was hyped up too much as being a romantic thriller. I didn't really find much in the way of thrills or suspense about it.

I feel like it would have been more apt if the book was marketed more as a celebrity romance. To be fair, it was, just not as, I feel, whole-heartedly as places calling it a thrilling and suspenseful read.

But looking at it through the celebrity romance lens, I really enjoyed it. I like how low-key Tyler was. Yes, he is a super celeb, and also yes, there were moments of chaos that follows him around in his everyday life, but I didn't feel like it was too overwhelming as a lot of fictional celebrity stories are conveyed. I also loved the way that Tyler and Khin's relationship slowly forms. They have no aspirations toward one another, but because they are set to rely upon one another after conflicts arise on his movie set, that gives them this unguarded vulnerability where they teeter on fully trusting the other but also not knowing if they can fully trust each other at the same time. Their livelihoods are in each other's hands for better or worse.

There is an aspect to Khin's writing that somewhat plays a part in how events unfold - if I can possibly be more cryptic for you! Not wanting to give too much away, but this was really the heart of the entire story for me, and I would have loved if the conflicts that arise were allowed to acknowledge this from the onset, because I feel like it would have made for a more dynamic read. Instead it becomes part of the mystery which means that it's something we don't fully understand until that mystery is solved which is close to the end of the book which in turn keeps it from being developed as much as I would have loved to see.

Overall, though I enjoyed the read which was a first for me by Pyae Moe Thet War. Her next book is already on my TBR list.

Romcom + murder? It reminded me a bit of some books that I previously read but it was still enjoyable. The banter is amazing. I love it.

An interesting debut - while the writing style didn't work for me, it was definitely an interesting premise with interesting characters. I would have liked the hero's POV, but that's a personal preference (I pretty much always want the hero's POV). If you want a romantic suspense rom-com, you should try this book.

This was a ride! I will for sure be reading more from Pyae Moe Thet War. I wish I read this one sooner but life got in the way. It made me laugh, stressed me out and interesting the whole way through.

I have never read a book set in Myanmar let alone against the backdrop of filming a movie, and that is just two of the things that made I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War so much fun. I had no idea how I would feel about a murder mixed with a romcom, but in this case it totally hit. There is plenty of action and humor, along with what ends up being a heartfelt romance and a woman figuring out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. I loved that I got to learn about the Myanmar culture though I clearly have much more to learn, and this was such a bingey read that I didn’t want to put down. I’m kicking myself for putting this one off for so long and it surprises me to know it’s a debut because it certainly didn’t read like one.

I also loved I Did Something Bad on audio and thought Jacqui Bardelang crushed the narration. She was such an easy voice to listen to and it felt like she put her heart into it. I could listen to her accent for ages as well, and she made this a joy to listen to. The romance itself was a nice slow burn and with the added pressure of covering up a murder, there is a lot of tension! Khin and Tyler are not the kind of heroes/love interests I would expect but I loved them both and I felt transported completely into their world thanks to the fantastic writing.

Read this if you are looking for a diverse romance, Swiftie references, and a nice balance between lighter themes and darker ones.

This was funny and lighthearted , it leaned more towards the romance side rather than the mystery side but everything tied together well.

✨ The Vibes ✨
A perfect blend of thrills and romance

📖 Read if…
✨ You loved The Fall Guy
✨ Want a romance with some emotional depth
✨ Like the celebrity x normal person trope

Over the past year, I’ve been seeing more and more action rom-coms across books and film, from The Fall Guy to Raiders of the Lost Heart, and have really grown to love the way these stories combine action and mystery with a romance that has all of the warm and fuzzy feelings. And I Did Something Bad is the perfect addition to this subgenre.

The book follows journalist Khin as she’s sent to profile actor Tyler Tun for Vogue. Everything’s going to plan until the two are caught up in a crime and are forced to investigate to clear their names.

Both Khin and Tyler were amazing characters to read about, but Khin was especially relatable. Her voice was so distinct and her chemistry with Tyler was excellent. Their relationship developed at the perfect pace and was aided by their investigation as the development felt very organic and natural rather than a rushed, insta-love type scenario.

While I enjoy the celebrity x normal person trope, sometimes those stories can feel unrealistic, but the emotional conflicts in the story helped to root this story in realism. Khin’s feelings about being divorced, Tyler’s concerns about his family, and their mutual concerns over how to deal with the idea of celebrity all felt like valid problems people in their position would deal with.

I Did Something Bad will certainly be on my favorites list at the end of the year and I can’t wait for Pyae Moe Thet War’s next book! This one is available now. Thanks to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF - which I don’t normally do. I’m not sure what it was - the writing, the narration, too many similar storylines and books like it? whatever it was this just wasn’t for me.

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Thet War was overall a fun read albeit at times frustrating. Let's unpack.
This is the story of Khin a journalist reeling from divorce being given a big break to write a Vogue piece on Tyler the biggest A-lister in Hollywood while he's shooting a passion project in Myanmar. They have chemistry, there's a banter. There's a dead man in a lake and they have to cover it up.

Things I loved:
- Myanmar setting
- the premise / overall idea. I love a good actor/normal person story ever since I read Funny You Should Ask.
- the diversity of the characters
- Mae
- Tyler is adorable. He's a golden retriever and I'm here for it.

There were however ONE thing that didn't work for me.
- Our FMC tone of voice. It's a little crass and sounds more like a teen than an adult (especially her internal monologue narration). Her thoughts were so cringe at times they took away from the sweetness of the slow burn romance. If her tone of voice was a little more real and mature I would have loved this book so much more..

Overall an ok read. I just wish it had a better execution.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc. My opinions are my own.

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War is a powerful, introspective novel that explores themes of guilt, self-reflection, and the consequences of one’s actions. The story follows a character grappling with the aftermath of a mistake that has affected their life and relationships. As the protagonist navigates their feelings of remorse and attempts to reconcile with their past, the book delves into the complexities of morality and personal redemption. With rich character development and a thought-provoking narrative, this novel is an emotional journey for readers who enjoy exploring the nuances of human behavior and personal growth.

This book was just ok. The relationship didn't feel super developed but it was a quick easy read. For you if you like mystery in your romcom

I enjoyed the first 2/3 but then I really struggled to pick up the book and finish the rest. I appreciate the seriousness the author wove in, but ultimately it just didn't hold my attention. Enjoyed the lady characters though and I always love when pro abortion talk comes into things.

I DID SOMETHING BAD - Pyae Mae Thet War

GREAT CHARACTERS - 3 stars

Plot - 4 stars - If freelance journalist Khin can get an exclusive on Tyler Tun, there may be a permanent position for her at Vogue Singapore, plus a new start after her divorce. When a strange man threatens her, Tyler steps in and things escalate fast. When she learns that this man targeted her specifically, she needs to do everything she can to find out why. As Khin and Tyler work together to hide their secret and find out more about her attacker, they grow closer, and Tyler finally starts opening up. The job at Vogue suddenly looks more promising, but Khin can’t help feeling guilty. But will they get away with murder? Can Khin get the exposé she needs for her dream job? And is she willing to risk Tyler’s trust in the process?

Writing - 4 stars - Thet War captured my attention right from the beginning with her easy-to-read writing. Although I assume that English is the author's second language, the cadence and idioms are right and felt very comfortable.

Characters - 4 stars - Khin is a strong main character. She is an ambitious journalist, but in this case, she becomes personally involved with the subject and her guilt starts to come out. Tyler is attractive, much more humble than you might expect from an A-list movie star. Secondary characters of May (Tyler's co-star) and Khin's close friends added spice and fun.

Title - 3 stars - Khin finds herself involved in a difficult situation beyond her control, but the title makes it clear that she recognizes that she has some culpability.

Cover - 4 stars - The cover is bright and colorful, definitely eye-catching.

Overall - 3 stars - The writing is good, the characters are appealing, but I had to take off a whole star because the whole basis of the story was problematic for me. Yes, Khin was attacked, but the decisions she and Tyler made after that seemed self-serving and not the right thing to do. Things turned out OK, but that was just luck and not through anything Khin and/or Tyler decided to do. The love story is sweet and had a HEA, but it was all overshadowed by the disturbing plot. Despite this, however, I will look for more from this enjoyable author.

I'm all for romances blending with mysteries and thrillers lately, and this one was a fun and sexy and kept me guessing all at once! Bliss!

This book started off really strong. I loved the premise (I’ve been very into the mystery/ rom-com vibe lately) but it kinda fell more and more flat toward the end. I still really enjoyed it overall, I just thought that some of the reveals for the murder part of the book felt too easy and the third act break up really made me mad.

I really enjoyed these characters. I thought Khin and Tyler were so entertaining and interesting. I definitely thought they had a lot of chemistry and really enjoyed their interactions. I really enjoyed all their conversation and watching them fall together was truly fun.

However, I did find that the end of this book fell flat for me. I thought that some of the decisions made were quite silly and I really really was not a fan of the third act break up at all.

Overall, I did have a fun time with this, and I really enjoyed the narrator for the audiobook. I would be interested in something else by this author though!

Title: I Did Something Bad by Pyae Woe Thet War
Genre: Mystery Thriller/Rom Com
Pub Date: October 8, 2024

Romantic Subplot
Super Slow Burn
Some Cute Banter
AAPI Author

I Did Something Bad is marketed as a rom-com but I feel like it definitely feels more like a mystery with a romantic subplot which I'm totally cool with BUT if you're looking for lots of romance and banter that's not really what you'll get here.

If you like dark humor then you'll probably appreciate the tone set by this very strange series of events. I was a little disappointed because I was looking forward to a cute rom-com but I Did Something Bad doesn't really fit into that category, more like it straddles a slow paced thriller and rom-com. There is some pretty cute banter, which I enjoyed, but it felt a little odd considering the accidental murder 😅

May is my favorite character 🫶✨️

Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the digital review copy ❣️

TW: attempted SA

Not what I expected but ended up enjoying the story. This is a rom-com with a side of murder. The banter and characters were great and kept me coming back for more.