I wasn't sure about this one at first but was quickly won over. Khin is assigned a story and if she gets the scoop she will get her dream job. Her assignment is Tyler Tun who has come home to make a movie and while he is protective of his privacy she gets to see the inside. After a day of filming she takes a walk and is assaulted by a man who shouldn't be on set and when she strikes back Tyler is there to help her and together they survive and the man go over the bridge. They decide to hide what happened and when the police start questioning they back each other. That starts this story that brings these two close while they try to figure out who this man is. At the same time they are developing something special until, of course, a misunderstanding. There are twists and turns and this one kept me listening.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and St Martin’s Press for advanced listener and reader copies of I Did Something Bad in exchange for my honest opinion. I listened to this while following along in my ebook copy. I’m glad I had both because I appreciated hearing some word pronunciations at the same time as I read them, since I’m not familiar with the language or culture of Myanmar. The book was a terrific introduction for me, and I’m intrigued to learn more.
I liked that this book had a mix of romance, murder, secrets, and celebrities. Because of that mix, I think many people would enjoy this read. It starts off like a cozy mystery, but with more romance and some darker themes. It’s not all light and fluffy as I expected, but I enjoyed the serious and dark parts and thought it was well balanced. I haven’t seen much press about it, so I’m hoping to help others find out about this one!
Sidenote, can you read this title without thinking of TSwift? I’m not much of a Swiftie, but that’s still where my brain goes!

Wow! Just wow! How many different types of laughter are there? Whatever number that is, divide it by two for each main character and you have the number of times author Pyle Moe Thet War and narrator Jacqui Bardelang found or placed the characters in compromising positions. The number is a lot. Now my simple formula seems to be grounded in Nutsville, but the reality is that slapstick comedy ensues in this satisfying but predictable palette cleanser where Bardelang breathes life into I Did Something Bad, This rom com is quite formulaic, but in the middle of the book you’re not thinking about that. You’re wondering if only one survives this grueling experience. But also you are yelling at the book for Khin and Tyler to kiss already. With the bad guys in hot pursuit, Khin and Tyler must work together if they want to get out of the jungle alive.

I received an advanced audiobook from Macmillan Audio, NetGalley in lieu of my honest review.

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC.

The very first line of the book blurb for I DID SOMETHING BAD is, “In this smart and swoony adventure rom-com, a journalist and a movie star find themselves teaming up to cover up a murder…” and while it started super cute and fun, by 23%, it became not the book the for me. I think it was because the book went from this playful and rom-com tone to suddenly moody and dark tone. I don’t know if it changed back, but it wasn’t what I hoped for in the book or was looking for. And my tbr is too long for books that bum me out.

Also, I was not a fan of the narrator, Jacqui Bardelang. The voice for the FMC was good, but every other voice lacked spark.

Content Warnings: (from what I read) attempted sexual assault, murder

4.5 ⭐️ Written by Pyae Moe Thet War and narrated by Jacqui Bardelang; I Did Something Bad centers on the story of Khin, a journalist, and her assignment to write an article about Tyler, a famous actor. The two are suddenly involved in a chaotic accidental murder.

This is more of an “Only Murders In The Building” vibe Rom-Com than a traditional Hollywood Rom-Com. The story is witty, smart, incidentally funny, with lots of shared secrets, cover ups, and stolen glances. I’d call it an accomplices to lovers, his family loves her, slow burn (but you feel the tension throughout) romance. What’s not to like about a little light hearted murder 😆

With star struck police and meddling characters throughout, this is a fun one for sure.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Jacqui, she did an amazing job portraying all of the characters on her own. I was never concerned with who was speaking; very smooth and easy to follow. Thank you so much for letting me come along in this journey! I was drawn to this book by the title and the cover art and it did not disappoint. Thank you so much for the Audio ARC on NetGalley from Macmillan Audio.

This book was such a wild ride.

I thought Khin and Tyler had great banter and chemistry but I just cannot get over the main plot point. Like "lol murder"....felt so aloof and strange. The lies and manipulation to cover that up...just set up their entire relationship on such a rocky road. I don't know....I did not vibe with this one as much as I was hoping to...

<b>Read Completed 10/6/24 |</b> 3.5 stars
<I>Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan audio, and Netgalley for access to this audiobook review copy. Receiving this copy did not affect my reading experience or review in any way.</I>

I picked up I DID SOMETHING BAD for its self-proclaimed mix of romance, action, and suspense. It was deemed a rom-com so I imagined it being more funny and silly, but this was actually more of a serious tone and not a laugh-out-loud comedy story. I did enjoy the book, for the most part, but I feel like it set me up for something that it really didn't quite deliver.

I liked the chemistry between Khin and Tyler, but it was overshadowed by them literally committing a murder (which I didn't realize was *quite* happening from the blurb). Without that extra push of funny, the two vibes just didn't really go together. It seemed like the romance was fighting with the concept that these two just murdered a guy... I feel like the author was trying to give the two genres/concepts equal space and they just fought each other.

I really did like the individual leads and the author did a great job with the secondary characters as well. I enjoyed the appearances from Khin's best friends as well as Tyler's best friend, who is an actress and leading with him in their current movie. It also had a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days feel where there's a lead female journalist who writes important, meaningful pieces who is now trying to get a job at Vogue and then in the end, the article she ends up writing about him is more love letter than objective interview. Which again is all well and fine, but it would have clicked more if it had been more comedic.

The ending kind of broke the book a bit for me, which I was honestly already waffling on. While I was doing well with the read, I did get bored in spots where nothing was really going on. There were some chunks where the romance wasn't progressing nor was anything with the murder investigation. There were some incredibly pushy cops, but nothing was still moving forward. <spoiler>In the end, as much as we want to see our protagonists "get away with it", it really didn't feel right that they "got away with it". It was self defense, and that's what they kept maintaining, but in the end, the coroner actually determined that he died of a heart attack?! Uhh no. Nah. That's just not right.</spoiler>

I did like a lot Pyae Moe Thet War's writing here and I'd try another book from this author! I think this one had a little too much going on and a lot of things suffered. I liked what it was going for but a lot of it just didn't land for me.

Freelance journalist Khin Hlaing’s new assignment for Vogue in Myanmar is to follow heart throb actor, Tyler Tun around and get a scoop on him. Unfortunately, I felt detached from the main character. There was no connection there. Everything about this book felt mediocre. Khin, Tyler, their romance, their friends etc. One-minute Khin was talking to Tyler and trying to understand him as a person and the next they are somewhat together? It was an odd jump. I did like that there was the murder at the beginning and a bit of a mystery of how they work together to hide what really happened. But in reality, did they really have to hide what really happened? I don’t know. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.

Khin Hlaing is a freelance journalist having a bad year. Her marriage dissolved within a year, and she’s had to start over and recover from her disappointment quickly. But maybe things are turning around, because an editor at Vogue called her up to offer her the chance of a lifetime. Tyler Tun is an A-list actor, one being considered for the role of James Bond. He’s going to be on an upcoming cover of the magazine, and they need a cover story to go with it. Khin would spend 2 months with Tyler, as he films his latest movie in Myanmar. And if things go well with the cover story, there may be a full-time job with Vogue Singapore in Khin’s future.

As Khin starts to spend time with Tyler, she understands why he is the Hollywood heartthrob. He is smart and confident, good looking, and kind as well. He can tell when those around him notice who he is, but he tries to stay as incognito as he can, especially when he is out with his family. He works hard and reaches out to help others. But he’s also hard to get to know, and Khin needs to get past his armor if she wants to get a story worthy of a Vogue cover.

But when Khin gets to spend the day on set watching Tyler film his latest romantic comedy, she doesn’t know that someone followed her on to the set. It’s a public park, and when Khin wanders off towards a lake, the man who snuck onto the set comes to talk to her. He gets aggressive, and since she thought the park was closed, she didn’t bring her phone. He keeps coming closer to her, and she has nowhere to run. He gets her trapped on the bridge, and the only thing she can think to do is to do is stab him in the ear with her pen. Tyler sees what’s going on and runs over to help her. The man ends up going over the bridge, falling into the lake. And when he doesn’t resurface, Khin panics.

Tyler tries to calm Khin, saying that it had been self-defense. She is torn. Part of her wants to go to the police and tell them what happened, but if she does that, then there is no Vogue cover story or job. And the movie may get shut down, which would be a problem for Tyler’s shooting schedule. But this is a big secret to carry, and just as Tyler and Khin were developing feelings for each other.

As the weeks go by with the filming, the police show up to investigate the death in the park. They focus on Khin in their questioning, but she refuses to say anything incriminating. She decides her best way to try to find answers she can live with is to investigate the man herself. She is a journalist, after all. But that distracts her from her story on Tyler. As Khin tries to balance the life she wants with the decisions she’s been making lately, she finds herself more confused than ever. Will she ever be able to write her story, or maybe find love with Tyler, or will she end up spending the rest of her life in prison?

I Did Something Bad is part rom com, part mystery, and a fun ride for a debut novel. Author Pyae Moe Thet War brings together adventure, romance, and celebrity culture to a story filled with secrets, lies, and big life decisions. I listened to the audio book for this one, and narrator Jacqui Bardelang brought Khin’s voice to life so beautifully. I thought she was an excellent choice for this story, and I truly enjoyed her narration.

I love the cover for I Did Something Bad, and I was looking for a story with a strong hero (or maybe an anti-hero, based on the title). I did think Khin was a strong character, and I loved the setting in Myanmar. But I did find the story got a little muddled between romance and mystery. I enjoyed it, and I think others will as well, but I did think it could be a little stronger if the story was a little more focused. Mostly, I just liked these characters, and I was rooting for them to find the answers they needed to come back together in the end. That was enough for me to keep reading to the end, and I’m really glad I did.

Egalleys for I Did Something Bad were provided by St. Martin’s Griffin and a copy of the audiobook was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I am loving this genre mashup that many authors are finding success in. This has romance, mystery and suspense and really can’t be labled as a specific genre. There are some heavier topics discussed which I think added some great social commentary. The murder plot was a little far fetched but I think it worked as this book didn’t seem to take itself so seriously. The audiobook was well narrated so I would highly recommend that format.

Excuse me while I obsess over this new release from Pyae Moe Thet War!

This was my first experience with this author and the narrator for the audio book. I'm actually hoping that Jacqui Bardelang will narrate everything I listen to from here on out. She's simply incredible.

Okay back to the book.

I realize that I should have known where this book was going based on the description, but I guess I forgot about that? I don't know but I was not expecting the turn that this book took and I loved it that way.

This romcom was fun and at the same time interesting and different. I was hooked from the very beginning and really enjoyed the characters.

If you love romance but need something a little different, pick this up!

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6930336243
Instagram review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBK--H_pC0C/

I Did Something Bad is an excellent romcom with thriller vibes mixed in. I love a genre blend, and this one does it well while maintaining the humor and heart of a romantic comedy.

This story is told from a single POV. The female MC is fantastic for going on this journey with. The other characters are detailed and full of life.

The setting and the plot is well done, believable, and engaging.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was well done by a single narrator, at 1.75x speed (my normal audiobook listening speed is 1.75-2x speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed both the book and the audiobook. I thought this was a fun mystery romance novel. I would read more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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Khin is supposed to get a story on Tyler Tun, Hollywoods hottest movie star when he returns to Myanmar. Tyler is very private and doesn't want to talk to Khin but one night when he finds a man following Khin in the park, he intervenes to protect Khin. They can't go to the police and start to work together to protect themselves.

This story was just really not for me. I would not say it is a swoony rom-com, but I did enjoy the journalist/movie star storyline. There was a bit of romance and some mystery.
3.5/5

A romcom in which the main characters bond over accidental "murder"? What's not to like? I listened to the audio of this one and really enjoyed it!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an alc!

i was pleasantly surprised with this debut — it was a great murder mystery romcom, and i’m excited to see what the author will write next!

It was fun. But was it good? I am just not sure. Too many things seemed unrealistic. The characters were well described but I just never felt like I connected to them. I found that Khin went from being a very strong character to being very weak. Maybe that's just life.

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

This was a very fun listen! I loved the storyline, it was romance, mixed with contemporary fiction and had a murder mystery. This book tied together journalism, acting, Asian representation, friendship bonds, and I enjoyed the writing. I thought it seemed a tad too long in some parts but besides that this was a great audiobook!!

✨I Did Something Bad ✨

Khin is living in limbo, trying to find her footing as a freelance journalist after her divorce when she’s offered the assignment of a lifetime: two months doing a celebrity profile on heartthrob movie star, Tyler Tun, while he is home shooting in Myanmar.

Unfortunately, on the first day of shooting, Khin ends up in a sticky situation in the dark at a deserted park. Thrown together, Khin and Tyler try to coverup the death of Khin’s attacker and grow inevitability closer on the adventure that follows.

This was a fun adventure romance that is enjoyable as long as you can suspend belief. There are some heavier themes included: divorce, attempted sexual assault, murder, abortion, and misogyny. It felt a little jarring to have so many of these themes alongside the love story. It made the romance harder to believe and I struggled to connect with Khin and Tyler’s chemistry, especially with Khin’s inherent distrust of Tyler throughout.

While this was not for me, I hope others who can suspend belief enjoy the adventure!

The audio was fun, with great narration, variety of voices and pacing. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC! My opinions are my own.

I liked I Did Something Bad for the most part. I think that it didn’t really successfully be both a murder mystery and a romance. The romance kinda fell flat with everything else going on. That being said, I still enjoying reading the book even though I don’t think it worked very well in the end?

The narrator was great.