Always the Quiet Ones is an intense, gripping read that immediately draws you in with its sharp writing and deeply complex protagonist. From the very first line—"It takes a lot of effort to live"—the book sets a raw, emotionally charged tone that holds throughout most of the story.

The book follows Bea, a fiercely ambitious lawyer navigating a male-dominated workplace while carrying the weight of past struggles. Her frustration, anger, and relentless drive are palpable, making her a fascinating yet flawed narrator. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Bea is not entirely reliable—she frames events in ways that absolve her of blame, adding an intriguing psychological layer to the narrative.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is how it explores themes of workplace sexism, immigrant family expectations, and mental health with nuance and intensity. Bea is not a perfect heroine—far from it—but that’s exactly what makes her so compelling. She is sharp, bitter, and sometimes selfish, yet never written in a way that diminishes her depth as a character. The writing is dry and precise, striking a balance between emotional connection and a stark, unfiltered portrayal of Bea’s reality.

The pacing is excellent for most of the book, with events unfolding in a way that feels both natural and suspenseful. However, for me the final chapters didn’t quite match the dark, layered complexity that had been built up until that point. The resolution felt a bit too simple compared to the emotional weight of the rest of the novel, which left me wanting a slightly different approach to the ending.

That said, Always the Quiet Ones is a thought-provoking, dark, and engaging read that challenges ideas of ambition, accountability, and what it truly means to succeed. I hope this book gets the recognition it deserves upon release—it certainly left a strong impression on me.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jamie Lee Sogn, and Lake Union Publishing for this advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book I could not put down loved it from beginning to end. I would highly recommend!! This isn't like something ie read before.

I'm surprised this hasn't gotten more attention. I was pleasantly surprised by "Always the Quiet Ones," a dark psychological thriller full of twists and turns.

Bea Ku, a corporate lawyer in Seattle, is at the end of her rope. She works for a misogynistic asshole who keeps passing her over for a promotion in an office full of men who think she needs to sleep her way to the top. She's simmering with rage and at the edge of spiraling out of control.

I don't know what corporate law is like but thankfully most law offices aren't like this, or at least it was an exaggerated version for dramatic effect. (I work as a legal assistant and found some of the depictions of lawyers to be stereotypical, but the author was a corporate lawyer so she knows her stuff.)

Bea's also hiding a past as a childhood delinquent, when she got wrapped up in an addiction to pills that had dangerous consequences.

Now she lives with her parents in a tight-knit but suffocating home. She's never had a serious relationship, and female friendship seems like a fairy tale.

Until she meets Kelli, another lawyer at a party. She vents about her horrible boss and Kelli jokes about killing their bosses. Until it's not a joke and Kelli's deadly serious.

Bea goes down a twisting spiral of thinking it's happening all over again and she can never escape her past.

At times the action could get a bit melodramatic for my taste, but overall I loved this and I was riveted from start to finish with this convoluted plot. Bea could often be unlikable and cold, addicted to succeeding at work at any cost, but I liked how she was flawed and morally grey, trapped by the mistakes of her youth. She was an interesting, complicated character and a case study in the question of whether people can actually change. I also appreciated the elements of her Filipina culture and her mother's lovely ginger tea. (But keep in mind this is not a cozy mystery. The stakes are high, this is very dark and Bea can never catch a breath)

A fun thriller that will keep you guessing, centered on female rage, corporate life, and revenge. Women supporting women shouldn't include murder pacts, Bea realizes too late.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advancd review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Always the Quiet Ones started off with a bang - I was instantly hooked after the first page, and I flew threw the rest of the book in two days! The feminine rage had me fuming from the very beginning and kept me rooting for the main character throughout the story...even if some of her decisions were a little on the morally grey side. Highly recommend this novel to fast-paced thriller lovers, and those who can relate to some of the rage-inducing situations that come with being a woman in today's society.

I never thought I'd see the day that I would willingly read a book just because it was written by a Filipino author, yet here I am.

So, this had a great start, it was suspenseful and it slowly built the not so known toxicity of the Filipino culture. It was even more interesting to read about it from the lens of a Filipino American, a child of a Filipina immigrant who married a white man—the stereotypical Filipina immigrant. A stereotype, that the author was quick to break up by pointing out that MCs mom is a nurse and their dad isn't a typical AFAM.

I absolutely love how the author played with the basic Psychology of things. The toxic aspects of the MCs upbringing that largely affected her overall personality and made her seek maladaptive ways of coping. It was all stitched perfectly!

Plus their style of writing was such that throughout the whole book, I was making a lot of different assumptions. Is it a dark and heavy thriller, an homage to Urban Legends or something even more psychologically organic?

Apart from the cheesy stuff like the lechon, lumpia and nursing that I think most Pinoys, be they from the motherland or a child of immigrants, will find relatable, IT'S THE DRAMA y'all! I was so not expecting the surge of drama towards the end. It's not my cup of tea but I just felt a tug of appreciation because it's so utterly Pinoy. If you're an avid watcher of Pinoy teleseryes, you'd understand where I'm coming from!

All in all, this was a good debut novel. Heartfelt, relatable and definitely gives an interesting take on the culture of people who are commonly known as one of the friendliest, if not the friendliest.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, Plenty of twists and intrigue which keeps your interest till the end. A recommended read.

I just finished a great book that kept me engaged until the very end. Always the Quiet Ones by Jamie Lee Sogn is out this summer. Pick this one up.

This book was fantastic! There were lots of twists and turns- I was on the edge of my seat until the very end!
I read the whole book in two days.

Jamie Lee Sogn delivers an exciting and emotionally charged thriller in Always the Quiet Ones, a gripping tale of guilt, deception, and survival. The story follows Bea, a successful lawyer whose past mistakes come back to haunt her in the most dangerous way. As a teenager, Bea caused a near-fatal car accident while high on drugs, but her boyfriend took the blame. Now, years later, she finds herself entangled in a sinister plot that threatens everything she has built. Sogn expertly weaves past and present together, creating a suspenseful and layered narrative that keeps the reader hooked.

Though the pacing slows slightly in some areas, the overall tension and mystery more than make up for it. Bea is a flawed yet compelling protagonist, and the psychological depth of her journey adds weight to the unfolding drama. With sharp writing, well-timed twists, and a satisfying conclusion, Always the Quiet Ones is a gripping read that will keep fans of psychological and legal thrillers thoroughly engaged.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.