This has an interesting premise and was my first time reading a romantic thriller set in Myanmar.

I enjoyed the celebrity romance plot but also felt like the characters could have been more fleshed out and that there was more obvious chemistry or a gradual build up of tension. One of the most famous movie stars on the planet seems to immediately fall in love with the journalist sent to write a Vogue cover story about him. So much so that he is willing to implicate himself in a murder. Khin, said journalist, is determined to have professional boundaries but also easily accepts invitations from Tyler that go beyond what is necessary for writing the story. I had some issues with the overall tone - the murder plot is quite dark so the lighter, romantic elements and joking banter didn’t always land. Still, I am glad I read this, for the novelty of the plot and setting alone, and think that readers who like insta-love, celebrity romance, romance/thriller hybrid plots will enjoy. 2.5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Wow! This was a fun and at times stressful story. The suspense of a death by self defense was well plotted and kept it interesting! I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the characters and thought that the suspense plot wrapped up a little too neatly.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting plot line and I don’t think I have read a book like this before. It’s a murder/romance and contemporary fiction. There was great character development, and a fast moving pace.

THIS BOOK! 🤯 5 star read!!!

There is nothing I love more than an unhinged female lead within a suspense thriller WITH romance. SIGN 👏 ME 👏 UP!

I devoured this book, my goodness was it the perfect ratio of pacing and character development.

I will be purchasing this book for my shelf of book trophies and probably do a reread.

Do yourself a favor and read it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC 💜

I could not get into this book. The writing was so juvenile. I don't like when modern popular things are mentioned within a fictional setting, and this book had at least three famous names mentioned by the first chapter. Examples include: Vouge, the magazine, and "Squid Games," the very popular Netflix series. I personally find it a cheap way to get the viewers attention, and to make your character seem hip and relatable. I can not comment on the character depth, plot, or romance angles, because the writing was just so bland and poor that I put this down after the first two chapters. Why are romance books so uninteresting and commercial now? The humor is stale. I liked the description, and probably would have gotten close to liking the actual plot, but unfortunately, I felt like I was reading a fan fiction. "Girl is chosen to meet a huge, hot celebrity male whom she tries to act like does not impress her to his face, but secretly, she wants him, and he falls for her." Incredibly fan fiction-like.

Great book! The reveal of how Jared died seemed a little out of sorts for the plot. However, l loved how it was intertwined with the romance part. Great writing.

This was such a cute, but thrilling adventure! I really enjoyed this, it kept me hooked from chapter one.

This was an amazing read. It was my 2 favorite genres rolled into one book: Romance and mystery. It was also a great immersive cultural experience reading about Myanmar and learning about their celebrity, family, and food culture there. It was different from reading about movie stars in LA. Khin and Tyler both have their walls up to each other in the beginning and there is a level of mutual distrust between them, where Khin is a journalist shadowing Tyler for a scoop on his life and Tyler is an amazing actor who knows how to control his emotions and tells around other people. It was interesting to see how after sharing a life-altering experience together, these walls slowly come down and their relationship evolves.

I ADORED Tyler's character. Tyler is the protective type and adores Khin. He fell first and hard. There were some moments where I was crying because my heart broke for the two characters. Khin and Tyler had a lot of chemistry and I liked seeing them get to know each other past the initial journalist-subject relationship. I liked how even though Tyler was this amazing famous actor, Khin still held her own in the relationship and had her own brilliant and admirable accolades. They both were equals in the relationship and each brought their own assets to the table. Their respective best friends are also great side characters - they are so supportive and offer unconditional love to our main couple.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I liked it! I’m not anywhere close to an expert in romance or thriller novels, but this was engaging. The premise is fascinating and I found myself blowing through pages simply out of curiosity.

I thoroughly enjoy this writing style. It’s written very realistically, close to how people actually think. I’m a big fantasy reader, so the break from intricate and lengthy prose was nice. It might just be a me thing, but I loved that about it. The character building is amazing - I felt like I knew each person myself, and that was by… maybe page 100? That’s some crazy good character development.

There were a few parts that dragged toward the middle, and I felt like the constant ‘will-they-won’t-they’ was drawn out too far at times.

Generally speaking, I’m not a huge rom-com movie fan because they feel so repetitive. While this book definitely has some of the rom-com clichés, they’re mostly overshadowed by the unique plot and setting. I want to emphasize that this is not my normal read, so I’m probably not the target audience. Despite that, I will definitely explore more in the romance genre because of this book.

A book with a Taylor Swift song title, sign me up! Combine mystery + rom com, I'm in heaven!

I was so excited to get read this arc and it did not disappoint. I must say I was more interested in the rom com aspects than the actual mystery of it all, but that is just because I loved the two characters who were falling in love. It was a really quick read for me and I genuinely enjoyed every second of it. I cannot wait to read more by this author!

I was so excited to start reading this book. My friend saw it and knew it screamed me. Some love and mystery? I’m sold. I’m certainly in my mystery rom-com era and this itches the scratch. It’s funny at the perfect moments and even some unexpected ones. It’s a quick read especially when you can’t put it down. 4.5/5

Oh my, what a delightful book. I was laughing and crying. Pyae Moe Thet War' debut novel, I Did Something Bad is destined to be a hit.
When we first meet Khin, she is reeling from her recent divorce. However, as a journalist she's near the top of her game. She's given the once in a lifetime opportunity to tag along as the world's hot leading man (Tyler) returns to their home country to star in an upcoming film. All she needs to do is write a kick butt celebrity profile of Tyler after their two months are finished. In the first day of shooting for the film, Khin is attacked by a stalker. Tyler steps in to help her and the next thing you know, the man is dead in the lake.
I loved Khin and Tyler's best friends. They seemed so real and offered unconditional love. When this book is published in October 2024, run out to read it. You won't be disappointed.

I was really excited to pick up this book because it includes some of my favorite tropes and genres in a novel: murder, humor, journalism, and of course, love.
This debut does an incredible job of incorporating all these things while still creating a unique experience by bridging the tropes with Myanmar's culture. I enjoyed the way the author explored the social and cultural impacts of the country on Khin, our main character, as a journalist, famous actor Tyler Tun, and women as a whole. This brought so much life to the mystery and romantic journey between Khin and Tyler by adding so much complexity.
While reading this book, I had a constant smile on my face from all the humor and banter between characters. Right from the get go in Chapter 1, Khin's personality is so bright and captivating, making readers really root for her journey. From being emotionally frustrated after her divorce, she grows and changes after her new assignment with Tyler so naturally, it's impossible not to love the two of them. Their adventures, conversations, and reflections are so fun to be a part of.
I do think that certain parts of both the premise and the plot feel a tad overdramatized, almost unnecessary. But even then, they're both sparsed out and still enjoyable to read (just a bit presumptuous for normal life).
For me especially, the love and passion for journalism/entertainment explored by the setting and characters made this book even more appreciable. It truly just had all of my favorite things, but explored in a cultural way foreign to me that I enjoyed getting to learn more about.
Reading this book is a thrilling experience of grinning and then furrowing your brows at the suspense. It's sweet and silly, but it's also so meaningful in its exploration of healing one's identity through relationships -- both with ourselves and with others.
Rating: 4.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Smart and fun! I am not typically a mystery/suspense reader but I liked how the storyline fit with the rom-com feel. Recommend if you are interested in trying something different

I was giving an advanced copy in exchange for my review, I am giving an honest review voluntarily. I'm not much of a thriller person but I really enjoyed this. It has rom-com vibes while still being a mystery read. It's emotional with a happy ending. This book has a great plot and I really enjoyed the way the author writes. I recommend giving it a try!

This book was a lot of fun!

I liked the adventure in addition to the romance.
The romance brings conflict, tension and a good amount of drama. Definitely a page turner.

Pyae Moe Thet War seems to have a gift for making us readers become emotionally invested in their characters. As, this is exactly the kind of story that is going to stick with me. I can’t wait to read more from them.

A book hasn’t made me feel so many things in a long time. I read it so fast and couldn’t wait to have some time to seat and read. With wit, romance, and a mystery thriller, "I Did Something Bad" captures the essence of rom-com. Easy five stars for this engaging and satisfying read.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.