I was initially drawn to this book because of the unique combination on romance, mystery, and adventure. Our female lead, Khin Hlaing, is a journalist who has been given the opportunity to write and article about the most popular man in Hollywood, Tyler Tun. Tyler is filming a movie in his native Myanmar and Khin will have access to him for the entire month. Most importantly, this article could be her springboard to a position at Vogue Singapore. But things take a strange turn when the two undertake a murder coverup. This circumstances brings them closer, but left me feeling oddly about the situation. The tone of the romance potion of the book didn't flow well with the story of the murder. I would have liked a better balance. I also think the story could have benefitted from a little more character development. The couple do have good chemistry and their banter was a highlight even if it didn't feel like it fit with the other elements of the story. This is an enjoyable read and a great debut for the author.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Oh my god, I LOVED this book!!!! The perfect mix of my favorite genres- thriller and rom com. It had me laughing out loud but also brought tears to my eyes. I can’t say enough about the story.

While this book touches on some serious topics (TW abortion) I think it’s always important for authors to bring those to light when applicable. The FMC is connected to women in the story in ways she didn’t even imagine she could be; but it’s because she wasn’t afraid to speak up about things people were too afraid to talk about.

Thank you so much SMP for providing me with an eARC of this! Enjoyed it so so much. If you love a laugh out loud rom com with a side of drama, this one is for you!

I really enjoyed this great debut! It had everything I wanted in a rom com. I couldn't put the book down because I was so eager to find out what was going to happen. The murder subplot was a great addition and the plot progressed at a nice pace. It was fun to get a closer look at the Hollywood scene and the process of making a movie, as well as all the secrets that come with fame. I enjoyed the development of Khin and Tyler's relationship, from potential accomplices in a murder to becoming lovers. I also appreciated the strong support system among the friends and can envision potential for spin-off books featuring some of them.

Thank you to NetGallery and to St. Martin's Press for giving me a copy of this book.

I love that I Did Something Bad takes place and is centered around characters from Myanmar. I love the idea of an accidental murder bringing two characters together romantically. But the story itself doesn’t feel cohesive to me. Khin is a journalist that has the opportunity for an exclusive with A-list actor Tyler Tun, and there’s sparks between the two immediately. There is also, unfortunately for them, a dead man. Although Khin is supposed to be writing a story this story quickly turns to trying to cover up their involvement in a man’s death, with run-ins with the cops, and attempts to learn more about the dead man. It is also about Khin trying to figure out what she wants after her husband filed for divorce. It is also about the growing attraction between Khin and Tyler. In short, there’s too much going on, and bringing it all together in a way that feels like it flows would be tough for any author to do. It was hard to follow what was happening and who was having a meltdown about what. The Khin that wrote a thoughtful and inspiring article prior to a celebrity piece for Vogue would have been more enjoyable than the indecisive one present in the actual story. And Tyler feels too good to be true, without any real flaws that make him seem normal. The book wasn’t bad, but I was hoping for more than I got out of it. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

This book was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC and everyone should pick it up for an important, fun read that is full of heart. Pyae masterfully wove together a story that keeps you on your toes, makes you root for the main characters, and truly relate to their vulnerability. I could not put this book down!

Thank you to NetGalley + the publishing team for the ARC - hoping there are sequels!

4.5 stars

A rom-com with a murder-coverup? Go figure!

Khin is a journalist who has been given the biggest opportunity of her life! Two months covering Tyler Tun, the Myanmar native turned Hollywood superstar. He's come home to film a movie with his best friend, May Diamond. Get it right, and Khin's got a permanent gig with Vogue Singapore. Unfortunately, one night on set, a seemingly random stranger tries to assault Khin. In the ensuing struggle, which Tyler is a part of, the guy falls to his death. If Khin reports it, who's going to believe it was self-defense? Plus, it would shut down filming and cause all sorts of issues. So, she and Tyler decide to keep quiet. Somewhere along the way, they catch feelings. lol

I really liked the writer's style. There were good twists and turns. No real spice, but there was LOTS of tension. I'm ashamed to admit I had never even heard of Myanmar! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that through an American lens, I felt really uncomfortable with the coverup. Based on what I've since read about Myanmar, I can see that their government is not as transparent and that a woman killing a man, even by accident, would not be dealt with in the same way there as here.

I will definitely check out the author's catalog! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I had trouble getting into this book. It really good premise and plot. Thank you net galley and St. Martin.

✅ Khin, journalist, doing a Vogue Singapore profile on Tyler Tun, Hollywood star
✅ Set in Yangon, Myanmar
✅ oops, accidental murder
✅ Khin and Tyler are trying to cover up the murder and also figure out if Khin was targeted, and why?
🌶️: no
So charming! If you like Katherine Center’s books you will like this too!

So good and entertaining. I was into this from the beginning. The writing was witty and fun. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a slow-burn masterpiece. With a hint of humor, this romantic thriller is a gut punch right in the feels.

Khin is a journalist who is tasked with interviewing and writing a cover story for Vogue about Tyler Tun, a Hollywood star. At first, this was her ticket to fame and fortune, and she would do anything to print his biggest secrets, but Tyler proved to be a difficult “job” in more ways than one. Khin quickly realizes that maybe her career isn’t as important as ruining Tyler’s career and demolishing his trust in her. Maybe other things are more important.

The banter between Khin and Tyler is laugh out loud funny. The writing dazzles and captures your heart. 5/5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. This plot sounded really interesting to me, however I had a hard time getting into it. Other reads really enjoyed it though!

The electrifying mix of romance and suspense kept me hooked from the first page. Khin and Tyler’s journey is a perfect blend of heart-pounding excitement and deep emotional connection. As they navigate the perilous situation of covering up a murder, their chemistry and growing trust create a mesmerizing dynamic. The intricate plot, with its clever twists and moral dilemmas, adds layers of depth to their story. The way their relationship evolves amid the danger and secrecy is beautifully done, making every page a delight. I enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend it as well.

I had a hard time getting into this at the beginning, the whole murder plot point got a little ridiculously at some points.

Khin was a hard to like character, she’s trying to heal from a divorce that happen less than a year after they married, so she’s a bitter person.
I get that Khin was supposed to be a strong willed woman, but she could be really awful at some points. She was mean to Tyler in more than one occasion, while Tyler did nothing but support her and try to help her out with the whole murder situation. She was just an unlikable character which made reading a little difficult.
But you do see her go through a lot of growth through out the book and you find yourself rooting for her and Tyler.

I really liked their banter, Tyler is one of those characters that you can’t help but like, he’s a literal golden boy. His friendship with May was also really enjoyable.
All in all it was a good book, a little ridiculous at some points but sweet in others.


Thank to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book surprised me! I loved the development of the characters and their storyline. It was friends to lovers and forced proximity in the backdrop of the movie set and Vogue article. I loved all the pop culture pieces that were scattered throughout the plot and found myself wanting to be friends with Khin, the FMC. Despite her stubbornness, I was routing for her and Tyler to work things out and see the love they had for each other. This book blended romance and mystery so well making for a unique storyline that I will continue recommending.

I love a book that keeps me on my toes, and this book has everything! What I thought would be a run of the mill rom com turned out to be one of the best books I've read this year! There's mystery, murder, movie stars, strong female characters, and of course, romance. Content warning for attempted sexual assault. I can't recommend this one enough.

A very interesting premise, but unfortunately this was a bit bland in its execution. A boring insta-love story with surprisingly little tension given there's literally a murder! SUPER sudden tonal shifts made it difficult to take anything seriously. This very much read like a debut.

I also wasn't a fan of the way the murder plot wrapped up. It was very anticlimactic and felt too convenient. If it was going to be resolved so stupidly, then what was even the point? Also, I could not take the third act conflict seriously. She is a journalist, why is it such a big deal she was writing down notes about him?? I genuinely do not understand.

I read this book early through NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I really liked this book except for the murder portion. That seemed a little outrageous… If the author had left out that part, the book would have just been a really sweet romcom; she would still be writing the article, the whiteboard still would have happened, his sister’s story would still be apart of it, and it would have been a little more believable of a story.

I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War is a fun read that kicks off as mystery but quickly dives into romance and relationships. Khin, the main character, is dealing with a broken heart from a failed marriage when she gets a chance to follow the dreamy movie star, Tyler Tun, on his new film set. She's all set to uncover his secret and hopefully land a full-time gig at Vogue.

But as Khin gets closer to Tyler and they end up hiding a secret together, things start to change. The mystery that brings them together is creative and sets the stage for their evolving relationship.

Khin's journey from skepticism to something more meaningful with Tyler is both entertaining and heartfelt. She's super relatable, and her growth throughout the story is pretty cool. Tyler, with all his layers, makes their interactions fun and touching.

This book is a quick read, perfect if you're looking for a mix of mystery and romance. It might not hit the mark if you're after a classic whodunit, but the relationship dynamics and character development make it totally worth it. The book hits on a few touchy topics as well to add to the depth of the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.