I'm so happy to read more books by authors from Southeast Asia. I've never read anything by an author from Myanmar. I hope to discover more.

If you like FINLAY DONOVAN, but want something a bit more diverse, this is for you. Khin is a freelance journalist assigned by Vogue to do a scoop on actor Tyler Tun, Hollywood's hottest movie star. He's slated to be the next Bond. Sparks fly, but not before there's a murder.

Sometimes the amateur sleuthing thing works for me. Sometimes it doesn't. It does here. This is set in Yangon, and has a cast of multicultural characters, which I love.

The author's latest was read now on NetGalley the last I checked. I obviously requested a copy. Stay tuned for my review.

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

I Did Something Bad is an action packed mystery which will keep you on your toes. But even more so, it's full of fabulous side characters, a romance story line, and questions about our future. The premise immediately causes sparks as Khin wonders how close she can get to Tyler without undermining her journalism. Is everything fodder for her journalistic piece? And for Tyler, can he reveal his cards, his true secrets, to Khin? From the beginning there's this tension which only becomes more complicated with murder. I loved being captivated by I Did Something Bad and part of the reason is the narration from Jacqui Bardelang that transported me. I loved being able to hear how conflicted Khin was about not only her feelings, but also about her possible future.

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 Moe Thet War is a taut and thrilling story that blends suspense with moral dilemmas in a world of glitz and danger. The novel follows Khin Haymar, a freelance journalist given the opportunity of a lifetime when she is assigned by Vogue to get an exclusive scoop on Hollywood heartthrob Tyler Tun, who is shooting his latest film in Myanmar. What begins as a professional assignment quickly turns personal when Khin’s life is threatened by a mysterious man, and Tyler intervenes, leading to an escalating series of events.

As Khin and Tyler navigate the fallout of that night, they form an unexpected bond, but the stakes grow higher as Khin’s article becomes intertwined with her guilt over their actions. The tension between Khin’s ambition to secure her dream job at Vogue and her growing moral conflict creates a compelling emotional core. Khin must grapple with her ethics, the consequences of her decisions, and her shifting feelings toward Tyler—who, despite his fame, is as much a mystery as the man who tried to harm her.

With its fast pace, steamy tension, and exploration of the lines between right and wrong, I Did Something Bad is a gripping read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The complex characters and morally ambiguous decisions elevate the book beyond a typical thriller, making it a thought-provoking and entertaining journey into the cost of success and the nature of trust.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: 10/8/2024
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I went into this one completely blind and honestly I was shocked at how far this was from what I thought it would be. First off, just from the title and the cover alone is thought that this was going to be a thriller of sorts but it was more of like a rom-com mystery.
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Khin, a journalist trying to get an exclusive on the gorgeous and most sought after actor Tyler Tun, accidentally cover up a potential murder. Now this entire story wouldn’t be if the two of them would have just gone to the police in the first place, but I digress.
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I enjoyed the chemistry between Kin and Tyler and I found myself chuckling at parts and swooning over Tyler. I loved the mess that the two of them got into and how they tried to handle everything. Pretty steady paced from start to finish, a bit on the long side for me, but I really liked the ending as well.
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I listened to this one via audiobook and Jacqui Bardelang did a fantastic job. I love where she went with this narration and I felt like I was right there alongside Khin and Tyler. I highly recommend the audiobook!
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Overall, this was a fun, not what I expected read! Be sure to check this one out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Pyae Moe Thet War and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Jacqui Bardelang's narration was spot-on, bringing the characters and story to life. However, while the story was engaging, the connection between the main characters didn't seem authentic, and the writing style felt a bit choppy, making it hard for me to fully connect with the story.

Overall, I found this book to be entertaining enough for a rom-com, but nothing exceptional. I could see it being adapted into a movie.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing a copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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 love when a romance is more then just a romance or romance com. I like when there's interesting plot twists and sub genres. And in this the book starts off one way and takes a turn. I love a unique romance. We're plot drives the relationship dynamics. Very interesting concept don't want to spoil too much. Definitely recommend.

Overall, I enjoyed this debut romance! However, I did find the description a bit misleading, as I would not characterize it as "lighthearted" or particularly "funny."

The book is about a female journalist (Khin) who is thrilled to be assigned to write a feature on a leading man in Hollywood, Tyler Tun. Things rapidly take a surprising turn when Khin is attacked on his film set by an unknown man and accidentally kills her attacker in self-defense. The plot becomes unbelievable because the two decide to cover it up and dispose of the body, as though a famous + wealthy superstar couldn't successfully claim self-defense. I also deducted a star because I do not enjoy a miscommunication trope that plays out later in the story between these two MCs. But this was otherwise a fresh take on a romance novel!

Particularly recommended if you enjoy:
*Celebrity character (him)
*Diversity/Asian rep
*Closed-door romance

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review!

This was an admittedly fun read! I will say it definitely covers heavier topics though so please read any trigger warnings. I did find the tone still lighthearted despite the seriousness of murder.

I felt the concept was interesting to keep me listening (audiobook). I wanted to see how things ended up. I felt a bit iffy about the third act conflict — felt a little bit forced because they all knew she is a journalist. I liked the author weaving in the diversity of the characters to make some solid arguments about race. It helped add depth to the story and situation.

I loved the narrator and I think she made this read even better! She had fantastic voices for each character. The only thing is sometimes her inflection would be off but overall, it was a tough feat to do all the accents on top of male/female voices that felt distinct.

Overall, if you liked Finlay Donovan, this would be right up your alley!

3.5 rounded up!

While I had a really good time with the book for the most part the way the murder subplot is handled was disappointing, and I think the book could have done without the third act break up.

Jacqui Bardelang does a really good job narrating the book, she is easily understandable and does excellent accents for several characters in the book.

While I had some issues with this book I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

I will note I did not finish this book.
The narration made this an unable to listen to. Which made me sad as I was excited for this plot. I tried multiple times and the narrator’s character voices were too distracting to finish :(

I was a little confused on the genre on this one. It feels like a romcom, but then it has some serious undertones. Main character Khin is a serious journalist, and her most prominent story to date is one about abortion clinics. Then there is the very serious attempted sexual assault which results in accidental death, which results in a shared secret between Khin and Tyler.

As a romcom, I really liked this. I liked the characters, the banter, the tension, the chemistry. I think it would have worked better to not have the murder be the shared secret that brings them together, the seriousness of the assault just felt out of place in the romcom setting.

This one is narrated by Jacqui Bardelang, who does a great job bringing the characters and story to life.

This is a cozy mystery romance starring a celebrity and a journalist that end up covering for each other when a potential murder occurs. It takes place in Myanmar and I enjoyed discovering the amenities in a new setting. The story itself may be a little far-fetched, but executed in a fun way that held my attention. I listened to the audiobook and the narration makes it a great way to enjoy this unique love story.

Entertaining debut about a freelance journalist (Khin) and international superstar (Tyler) who find themselves teaming up to hide something from the police in Myanmar.

In terms of genre, I'd say this is contemporary, book club-type fiction with mystery elements and a romance subplot.

Jacqui Bardelang did a great job with the narration; she really pulled me into the story (though at times it seemed like some characters had a Chicago accent which threw me a little).

I Did Something Bad is not a cozy mystery, but I think I'd recommend it to readers looking for something along those lines. Think fun, not challenging to follow. Maybe a good fit for fans of Finlay Donovan and Errands & Espionage.

Fun, Thrilling. Just a great suspense read. I love the audio book. This one is a great listen to get your through a road trip or in my case lots of housework.

“Every smart woman has a starter husband, darling. Better to get it out of the way when you’re young.”

✨ Genre: Romance/Thriller
✨ Steamy rating: Mild
✨ Profanity: Moderate

Kin is a journalist assigned to follow Tyler Tun, a famous movie star, as he works on a film in Myanmar. The two quickly form a connection, with undeniable chemistry between them. However, when tragedy strikes, they must work together to cover up a murder.

This romantic comedy has a lot of heart and depth. Kin’s most famous journalistic piece is about a secret abortion clinic in her conservative country, which sparks backlash and hate. I particularly enjoyed how the story showcases Asian culture and the warmth of Tyler’s endearing family members. I’d never heard of Myanmar before reading this, and I learned that it was formerly known as Burma.

While the story was engaging, I felt the plot fell flat. It was very character and relationship driven without much adventure. Plus, the relationship between the two main characters didn’t seem authentic.

Triggers: Abortion, anti-abortion, racism. misogyny, attempted sexual assault, death, and attempted murder

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy. It was darling.

#macaudio2024

I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I feel like I'd seen mixed reviews, but I ended up really liking this! It had a unique mystery, likable characters and a building love story. Tyler was just absolutely adorable and I found myself loving anytime he was on page. The narration was great for this one and I thought the narrator did a great job handling all the different accents and characters. I would definitely recommend this for people who are looking for a lighter thriller with a good splash of romance thrown in.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

This was a super fun part romance, part mystery/suspense story, and great on audio. I really liked both main characters, Khin and Tyler, and their chemistry was palpable. The book was a little bit predictable overall, but I still enjoyed every step of the way! Myanmar was a unique setting for a book and it was cool to hear about the varying Asian cultures featured in this one. I will say that, while I enjoyed this one, I doubt it will stand out in my mind for more than a few weeks!

I love a celebrity - regular person storyline, so I was excited for I Did Something Bad. I think this book had the bones for a great story (mystery + murder + romance) but I found a bit of the writing disconnected. I struggled to know if this book was a playful rom-com, with the celebrity/regular person trying to cover up a murder, or a more serious exploration of deeper topics, which made some of the jokes feel awkward. Overall, I enjoyed this and thought Jacqui Bardelang really brought it alive with her narration.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.