3.5  ️
In this smart and swoony adventure rom-com, a journalist and a movie star find themselves teaming up to cover up a murder...and falling for each other in the process.

There was a lot to like about this book, but also a few things to question! When we meet Khin, she's in a bad place mentally - going through a divorce and navigating being on her own. She's offered the opportunity of a lifetime to write an exclusive on actor Tyler Tun while he's in Myanmar to shoot a movie with his best friend. While we get to know both Khin and Tyler, we learn more about some of the other articles that Khin has published, including a controversial article about a secret underground abortion clinic. The way this was brought up OFTEN, I had an assumption this had a lot to do with what happened next. After the murder, we see Khin and Tyler get closer and closer but some of the levity in some of the situations after deciding to cover up said murder felt really out of place. We don't really see or feel a lot of the relationship building between our two MCs, either. Tyler is very stoic while Khin seems to be barely holding herself together (I mean understandably so). It also seemed like Tyler forgot all about the article that Khin was meant to be writing - he literally picked her for this job and then got mad when she was trying to brainstorm scoops to write about. This conflict felt out of proportion after literally covering up a murder together. Things I did love:- Myanmar setting and culture- Khin learning it's okay to ask for help- Tyler's love for his family and friends- Tyler's love language of gift giving (more mugs, please!)- The reveal in the Australian Embassy (hard to explain without spoiling!)
Thank you, NetGalley and St Martins Press, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute romcom about a freelance journalist who is offered a full-time job at Vogue if she can discover a scoop with a big Hollywood actor she is interviewing. Khin is recently divorced and feeling pretty low when she is offered the opportunity to shadow Tyler for two months for an entertainment profile when they both happen to get caught up in a murder. While they are trying to cover it up, romantic hijinks ensue. There is a great supporting cast of friends and these two main characters have good chemistry. This wasn't super original, but it was cute and fun. I would recommend as a light romantic comedy with closed-door spice. I did find myself laughing out loud a couple of times and I enjoyed the book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 but rounding up to 4 stars.

The relationship dynamic and shenanigans were so much fun! I really enjoyed how much of both main character's jobs we got to see, the premise of her shadowing him and working on an article while he films a movie really worked for me.

I’d recommend this to people who liked Dial A for Auntie's by Jessie Q. Sutanto but wanted it to focus more on the romance and a little less on the murdery hijinks.

Also, the audiobook narrator was excellent.

Overall, this book was a lot of fun and I will definitely read more from Pyae Moe Thet War.

3.5 ☆
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The cover art for this book is beautiful and caught my attention. In this book, we meet freelance journalist Khin, who is assigned by Vogue to get the scoop on Hollywood's #1 hottest movie star, Tyler Tun. Tyler has done his very best to keep his private life private. Then, one night on set, a strange man follows Khin into the surrounding park grounds. When he threatens her, Tyler steps in, and things escalate quickly. When she learns that this man seems to have targeted her specifically, she needs to do everything she can to find out why.
The pacing of this book felt slow to me and could have been faster. It wasn't holding my attention as much as I wanted it to, to the point that I wasn't even interested in why the man followed Khin.
The audiobook was good; the narrator did a good job. She was easy to listen to and understand. I do wish it had been a dual narrator.
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Thank you, Netgellay, St Martin Press for the eBook and MacmillanAudio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to St Martins and Macmillan Audio for the eARC and ALC.

4.31 stars rounded to 4

I love so much about this book. It seems like it’s going to be another fun but cheesy cozy mystery, but it’s more of a rom com with substance than a cozy. For one, the mystery is back burnered a bit and not the primary driver of plot. It also has multi-dimensional characters that feel real.

Here’s what I loved about it:
💙 The characters and their romance!! Tyler is such a unicorn - a celebrity x golden retriever mix (haha). I found Khin and her struggles/situation so relatable and couldn’t help but root for her. Their relationship gradually evolves from acquaintances to friends to lovers and it all feels so natural and real.
💙 The setting! I’ve never read a book set in Myanmar and absolutely loved it! The author does so much to bring it to life. There’s the physical setting that’s brought to life by the on location filming for Tyler’s movie, plus tons of scenes set in local parks or while commuting. It definitely feels like you’re in a big city but one with greenery and a focus on sustainability.
💙 There’s also the political side of Myanmar, highlighted by Khin’s article in Time Magazine about a secret abortion clinic. This story line masterfully advances the plot, adds dimension to multiple characters, and builds awareness about the current state of women’s rights in Myanmar.

Things that didn’t work for me:
🫣 It definitely suffers from the “that’s a little too convenient” issue that so many cozies and adventure romcoms face. I’ve learned to accept it with the genre but worth noting if this is a sticking point for you.
🫣 Idk how i feel about the trend of using Taylor’s lyrics as your book title. It feels a little grabby/bait-y. But when it’s a lyric that’s already a common phrase, as is the case for I Did Something Bad, I’m more ok with it. I didn’t even put two and two together that it’s a song title until the story mentioned Taylor Swift as well.

🎧: I’ve never heard Jacqui Bardelang narrate before but I enjoyed her performance! It was appropriately emotional with good pacing, cadence, and enunciation. Solid, would recommend.

“Suddenly, every Law & Order: SVU episode I’ve ever watched (and I’ve watched all of them) starts replaying on fast-forward in my brain”.

As someone who LIVES & BREATHES by SVU 🤭, it was the perfect book to read alongside my usual background noise. I was obsessed with the numerous references and love for the show.

IDSB follows an up and coming journalist, Khin Hlaing, who is given a once in a lifetime opportunity to do a cover story on the one of the world’s leading actors on the set of his newest movie: Tyler Tun. after an adorable meet cute, the pair hit it off immediately and promise to give each other complete trust. however, things take a turn on the first day of set when Khin is attacked by a stranger and while trying to defend herself, the man dies. Tyler happens to witness everything and together they decide to cover up the “crime”.

I don’t know that this should necessarily be categorized as a rom-com because though it does have a slow-burn romantic element, for me personally, there wasn’t much comedy. I felt like a lot of the moments and topics mentioned here were high stakes. An interesting choice to market it as a rom-com.

Overall, it was a good read that I mostly enjoyed. There is a little bit of “thrill” that I would have preferred more of as the story progressed. Towards the end, there is some miscommunication that creates unnecessary drama, but with both careers of the characters on the “line”, I get why it was included.

A little suspense and lots of romance. A fun read with a journalist and an actor trying and failing to not fall in love while also covering up a murder.

Loved the original premise of this one. just wish there was more banter and we got to see Tyler's personality a bit more. Overall it was too clean the way it came together and I wish there was more suspense or build up.

(Actual: 2.75⭐, rounded up) While the premise certainly sounds intriguing enough, I unfortunately had a hard time really getting into this book. It's definitely more of a mystery/suspense novel than it is a romance, so I feel like the marketing could have reflected better too. Overall not a bad book by any means, just not what I was expecting.

What a fun read! This premise was so intriguing to me (can you really root for a murderer to fall in love? And can they do it with someone who is followed 24/7 by cameras?) and I wasn't sure how it was going to pay off in the end, but it really did work!
I absolutely loved Khin and following along in her journey to achieving the ultimate goal (landing a full time role at Vogue) while also falling in love with the man she probably never would've expected to.

Tyler was such a sweet male lead, and is everything you would want out of someone that you're preparing to be in a relationship with. He was loyal, protective, funny, and caring.

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

Give me an unhinged female character, funny AF, and hilarious friends ANY TIME!!!! Khin is newly divorced, a freelancer journalist, got offered the opportunity of a lifetime to shadow a well-known actor and write his first ever publishes interview, this is personal. Tyler is a literal dream, but of course while on set to his new movie, someone tries to attack her, she kills the man, Tyler is there to witness everything and now the whole book is about trying to find out who this man was and why he was targeting her. There are other things that happen in this book, which is so cutesy, but I will say this the book was a slow burn in every way possible way, I wanted certain parts to be over with the romance between the 2 made little sense at times. I loved the supportive characters though.

This was such a fun book! The premise was so enticing and the book totally lived up to the hype! There are so many romcoms and will they wont they's, and this one was SO different and SO fun! Highly recommend!! Thank you, NetGalley!

This book is good for people who are looking for a romantic suspense. I haven't read many but thought the balance here was done well.

The characters are likeable! Plus having the romantic tension and the suspense of the thriller aspects it keeps you turning the pages.

I wasn't sure how I was gonna feel about a romcom with murder tbh. The premise felt a little silly to me, but this book actually worked really well and I tore through it way faster than I've typically been reading lately!

I should've known I'd like this book because I love rom-coms about celebrities. They're so much fun and you can get away with a lot that wouldn't be believable otherwise. So this book is about a journalist who gets assigned to do a profile on a huge actor and shadow him for two months but the two of them get wrapped up in a murder. There are some dark themes in this book, especially around themes of feeling unsafe as a woman, as well as access to abortion. This book takes place in Myanmar where abortion is illegal and the main character wrote an article about underground abortions so that's talked about quite a bit.

The only thing that kinda annoyed me with this book was that the conflict near the end didn't really make sense. Like he knew the whole time she was a journalist writing a story about him, that's literally why they met, but then all of a sudden he was angry and betrayed because she wrote notes on a whiteboard? I don't get it. But other than that I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!

The tension in the novel is palpable as Khin and Tyler navigate the dangerous situation they find themselves in. The dynamic between Khin and Tyler evolves naturally, adding a layer of complexity to their relationship. Khin's internal conflict between professional ambition and personal ethics is portrayed with nuance, making her a compelling and multi-dimensional character. Overall, this novel is a captivating read that combines elements of mystery, romance, and drama. The characters were well-developed and the plot was engaging. Loved the vivid setting of Myanmar
as well. It was a solid read - rating a 3 because it was pretty predictable but overall a fun one!

This is a great romantic comedy. It would make a heartwarming movie. The exotic setting makes a great backdrop for the events that unfold. Khin is a reporter who is at a crossroads in her life. Tyler is a famous actor who is looking to make changes in his life. The story looks at cultural perceptions in Hollywood and how natives can be minimized even in their home country. It is a sweet love story between an unlikely couple that share a secret. Readers will be glued to the pages as they watch their story unfold.

I received a free ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!)

This is the story of Khin, an already accomplished journalist who is selected for an exclusive profile of a very popular actor, Tyler. Khin will have access to Tyler for 2 months while filming in his home of Myanmar and is expected to uncover a scoop for her editor - with the promise of front page and a regular position with Vogue Singapore versus the freelance work she’s been doing. Khin is great at her job, so she knows she’s going to crush this opportunity! Except….

Pretty much anything that could go wrong does! Khin accidentally murders a stalker when her safety is in danger and the investigation takes over filming and Khin’s interview time with Tyler. And then… with all the extra time together trying to get away with the accidental murder: feelings between Khin & Tyler start to go. Tyler is protective of Khin. But surely a journalist can separate business and personal relationships and stick to the code of ethics, right? And gosh Tyler is just so hot and such a quality human being. How is Khin going to get the scoop of a lifetime without hurting Tyler or his career?

I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars! I really enjoyed the story - and it was truly unlike any romance book I’ve read before. The mystery and running from the law was thrilling and a unique take on a romcom, but almost felt like it didn’t make sense with the romance part of the plot. The characters were very lovable and almost too good to be true, but in an “I’m rooting for them!” way. I was a journalism concentration in college so this book was right up my alley! The barriers of the murder investigation and the interviewer/interviewee dynamic made for chaos in the storyline that was interesting to work through.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to friends!

Khin has not been living her best life lately. She is recently divorced after less than a year of marriage. When she is offered the job of doing a cover story for Tyler Tun, an actor who will be in his hometown of Myanmar shooting part of his next movie, she is ready to turn her life around. They will spend two months together and there's a job at Vogue in Singapore being dangled in front of her if she can get the scoop on Tyler. Tyler is known for keeping his private life private and it's odd that he's even agreed to this in depth cover story. He's definitely hiding something and Khin is ready to figure it out. Their first night on set, Khin goes for a walk during a shooting break and is followed by a white man. When he becomes violent, Tyler steps in to help her. With the man dead, Khin knows they can't go to the police - even with it being self-defense, there's no proof. During police questioning, she finds out that the man had been following her and taking photos so she and Tyler make an effort to find out more about him while trying to keep the police in the dark. As they get to know each other better, Tyler starts being more honest about what's going on with him as they are obviously falling for each other.

First, let me say that I was SHOCKED when I read the acknowledgements and discovered this is the author's debut novel. It is so well written and interesting that I would recommend clearing your calendar before starting it so you can just devour it with no interruptions. As it was, I sacrificed sleep but it was worth it. This book gave me all the feels. The author's masterful blend of mystery, comedy, and romance was perfection. The characters were incredibly well written. Not only did you have the romance brewing between Khin and Tyler, they each had their best friends in the story and they were keeping some pretty big secrets from them. I am really looking forward to what this author has in store for us next (did I immediately sign up for her mailing list - of course)!

From the start I just had a hard time connecting to the characters which is my top criteria for liking books. I really wanted to like the story more, but I just didn't. I had such high hopes due to the synopsis but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it.

My first mistake was not realizing that this book was a romance - because that part threw me when I picked it up wanting a fast-paced thriller. Once I got past that though, I never really got invested in these characters. Right away I had an impression of Khin as a hard working, rule following and determined writer who is in a quite tumultuous point in her life. However, the first thing she does was something that felt so against this character that was described. And really, I couldn’t get past that. Add in my least favorite trope of insta love and I’m out. Tyler as the love interest was also contradictory in how private he was yet so willing to open up to Khin, the JOURNALIST, and the 3rd act drama was just ridiculous. Sorry to say this one did not work for me, though I have seen others that enjoyed- so if you are looking for a romance with a side of mystery, then you may want to pick this one up.