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.

I did something bad is a fun read and also quite interesting - it's set in Yangon, Myanmar. Khin is a freelance writer who is assigned a profile on the hottest celebrity around, Tyler Tun. In this world, Tyler and his friend May are both Myanmar A-list actors, and everyone speculates they are more than friends. Khin becomes close to Tyler immediately, and then they accidentally murder someone (I won't go into all the details, but this is really the premise of the book.) Mostly, the murder seems to be taken less seriously than the budding romance between Khin and Tyler, but it does make for an interesting storyline. This is fun to read, and I learned a lot about modern Myanmar culture.

This was a great romance! Loved the plot of this book and the characters! I loved the mix between romance and thriller mystery that this book had and how it made for a unique and captivating story! Definitely recommend this one!

Oh, I am a fan of a romance x thriller/mystery. I am also a big fan of a celebrity romance. I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War is a winning combination, and I will look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War is a captivating mix of romance, suspense, and drama that would make an excellent Prime Video adaptation. The story follows Khin, a journalist, and Tyler, a Hollywood star, as they team up to cover up a murder while navigating their growing attraction. The chemistry between them, paired with high-stakes mystery, would translate beautifully on-screen.

With its blend of intrigue, moral dilemmas, and dynamic characters, this novel is the perfect fit for Prime Video’s diverse and engaging content. The setting, suspenseful twists, and romantic tension would make it an addictive series that keeps viewers hooked.

Khin is a freelance journalist who has been assigned by Vogue to get a scoop on Tyler Tun, a Hollywood movie star who has returned home to Myanmar to shoot a film. She’s determined to succeed because an explosive exclusive could grant her a position at Vogue Singapore and a ticket out of the city that feels too small since her divorce. Unfortunately, Tyler is very good at keeping his private life private and doesn’t show any sign of letting Khin in. One night on set, a strange man follows Khin into the surrounding park and threatens her, leaving Tyler to step up and things escalating quickly. Khin knows she can’t go to the police but needs to find out why this man was targeting her specifically. As Tyler and Khin try to hide their secret and find out more about her attacker, they grow closer, and Tyler begins to open up.

The premise of I DID SOMETHING BAD is unique and interesting. Khin is a freelance journalist who has been offered an opportunity to write an exclusive on a Hollywood movie star with the possibility of a permanent position at Vogue Singapore. I thought it was really cool to have the story set in Myanmar – a place I don’t think I’ve ever visited within the pages of a novel (or in real life either).

The novel is narrated in Khin’s POV. I liked both main characters: Khin and Tyler. They’re characters that are easy to love and are relatable. Their connection was well done with some chemistry and good banter. The romance is what I’d call a very slow burn that really culminates at the end of the book. I adored the idea of an article that reads like a love letter, and I loved that this was shared within the text. Such a beautiful and romantic touch.

There is a touch on the idea of a mystery, but I wouldn’t really call it that as it is very misleading to do so.

I really enjoyed the supporting characters, each adding a little something to the story through their relationships with the main characters.

The ending is really cute and makes a great resolution to this story.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Griffin, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

This was an interesting book and not what I was expecting to happen. The whole book is the two main characters falling in love as they cover up a murder.
3.5 stars

Have you ever been browsing at a bookstore, and a book that is face out calls to you? That's what happened with I DID SOMETHING BAD by Pyae Moe The War. I was just looking on the shelves at Barnes and Noble, and the cover caught my eye. Read the synopsis, and immediately knew I had to take it home. I also wondered why the title sounded vaguely familiar - it's because I had requested the audiobook a few days earlier.

This novel is very niche me. I absolutely enjoyed it. It's if Dial A For Aunties was actually a romance, rather than a cozy crime/mystery that keeps being shelved in romance. The criminal element keeps you on your toes, because every time you think our protagonists are safe, the bumbling detectives come back, because they've uncovered something new. So you keep holding your breath waiting for the shoe to drop, and it's great when you can let go with a sigh of relief.

It's also very much a book about Khin's personal growth - being stuck, and going with the flow. Given an opportunity she takes because she thinks she should want it (IT'S VOGUE), but finding out what she really wants along the way.

I enjoyed how this novel brings to light how women's health is effected around the world, and how our Khin tried to connect people to resources, even though it put her livelihood at risk. Tyler was cool too, you could tell he was smitten from the beginning even if he was being awful to her.

I read this in print and audio, and really enjoyed the audio. I can't wait to read more from the author.

3.5 stars! Thank you netgalley and st martins press for this eARC for an honest review. Enjoyed this rom-com involving a movie set and covering up a murder. Such an interesting plot for a rom-com! Easy to read and felt for the two main characters managing their unexpected romance!

Khin is a journalist hired by Vogue to get an exclusive on the famous but very private Hollywood actor Tyler Tun. For her article, she follows him to Myanmar, where he is on location for his next film. But one night on set, a strange man starts following Khin and things escalate quickly when Tyler tries to help. Now the mystery man is dead and Khin and Tyler don’t want to go to the police. Together, Tyler and Khin try to keep their secret while trying to uncover why this man was targeting Khim.
A little bit of mystery paired with a celebrity romance? Yes please. This book was filled with tension and made for a fun read. The romance definitely took a backseat to the mystery in this story, but I didn’t mind because the mystery was so wild. This was a unique story that I really enjoyed.
Thank you to SMP Romance, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copies.

I Did Something Bad is an entertaining romcom combined with a thriller / mystery. I say this because it's much more of a rom com.

I enjoyed the author's writing style and found myself immersed in the story as the thriller parts were introduced early on. Those parts were exciting and kept the book moving along at a decent pace.

I really liked the MCs as individual characters however, together I'm still unsure of. I feel like the romance wasn't very believable and found the lack of chemistry and sparks contributed to that.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. Thank you netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the e-ARC to read and review. I'm a bit late in my reviewing here, as the book's already out, but I'm glad I got to experience this book. I really enjoyed that this book was a combination of a lot of my favorite interests: like mystery novels, celebrity magazine journalism (my early career!) and behind-the-scenes of movie shoots, with a dash of a romance story. I found "I Did Something Bad" to be a quick read and a good balance of all of those elements, so it wasn't TOO much of a murder mystery, or too flimsy a rom-com. I will say that even though those themes were balanced, I didn't feel super satisfied by any specific element: like I wasn't gripped by the police investigations, or hanging on for a very big celebrity drama moment; nor was I swept away by the romance by any means. They all came together well and then just kind of ... left?

I also, as a journalist who's written across genres, struggled with our main character Khin as a journalist. To be clear, the actual writing in this novel is very good - but Khin's interviewing and writing just, isn't? Like she's called in for a massive opportunity of a story and is super awkward about celebrity interviewing as if it's her first time talking to a star. She asks basic questions but also gets too involved. And we learn that she's responsible for some very controversial, high-profile serious reporting, yet she has little knowledge about safety or consequences. A real journalist would also not cross ethical boundaries as much as Khin did, with her romance, crime coverup, and overall carelessness - no matter what! We didn't even really see her on page wrestling with that much either, which could have added serious tension. Trust and integrity are pretty big themes throughout - even in interpersonal relationships, beyond reporting. It was just kind of... mentioned. I would also love to see which magazine in 2024 would have the budget to have a reporter on a pretty much 24/7 celebrity assignment for months with seemingly no other assignments. Maybe I'm just jealous that Khin wasn't writing clickbait web articles in between her profile research just to pay the bills, because I promise that's what the rest of us would have to be doing!

In the span of time that I requested this book to when I actually started it, I'd forgotten what it was about. I remembered the description saying something about a murder, but other than that, I had no clue. I decided to forgo rereading the synopsis because I wanted to go in blind.

Man oh man I knew from the first page that this was going to be a good one. The writing is so sharp and clear and moves the story forward at lightening speed.

And okay, I knew this book was about a murder but I was delighted by the love story that unfolds, mostly because I wasn't expecting it (y'know, because the murder). Khin and Tyler have amazing chemistry from their first meeting and it unfolds in such a natural and delicious way. And they are both super interesting characters outside of their relationship. I love them both. I was kicking my feet up and twirling my hair over them.

It's dark and funny and sweet and the writing is so good, I can't wait to see what this author puts out next!!