Society of Lies

by Lauren Ling Brown

How far would you go to belong?

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion - it's been a decade since she graduated, and this visit is special because she will also be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.

But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on.

As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister's death, she begins to realise how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya's warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus - the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it.

Maya knows that her sister isn't the first person in the society to turn up dead. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past . . . and to the secret she's been keeping all these years.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Book Club, Dark Academia

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

Lauren Ling Brown graduated from Princeton and USC School of Cinematic Arts with a BA in English literature and an MFA in film production with a focus in screenwriting. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California, where she works as a film editor.

Reviews

[Clace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 very generous stars

I am not gonna say much about this book because I honestly have nothing much to say. I don't have anything to rant about 😭 it' was a good concept and the idea was very well pitched, the cover and the blurb were solid, easy to lure anyone however there were some things that just did not work out but before we get into it, let's see what did work out;

What I liked:
• The first half was well done, I was hooked and I was intrigued and I wanted to binge it.

•The mystery aspect and the back forth during the first half was really nice between the two povs and two settings.

•The characters were fun to read about and the unsettling feelings that revolved around them + the overall vibe was fun.

What I didn't like:
• The pacing overall was very slow, despite being hooked during the first half it took me a fair amount of time to get through it and during the second half I lost it sm I even skimmed a bit.

• Story started to lose itself in the second half everything got so messy with execution and the thing just lost their charm which overall dulled my experience.

• The characters and their back and forth with the settings proved to be more of an hindrance. I tried to like Naomi and Maya but all the attachment that I felt to them and the story vanished into thin air.

Overall, it may work for some of you but it definitely was not for me or atleast the second half was. I do believe that this author can do better and I may read more of her books in the future. It wasn't a bad book, it was just very messy.
___
I need a GOOD thriller/mystery book!!

*Thank you to Penguin Random House for giving me an E-Arc for this book*

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm hooked! The mystery surrounding the dark society of Greystone in Princeton, where devoted attendees vie for their futures through powerful connections, intertwines with the enigmatic drowning of a young student: Maya's sister Naomi,  who harbors a dark past within the same college. Maya, doing everything in her power to conceal a tragic incident related to the death of a student connected with one of the teachers, takes us on a thrilling journey.

WOW! This might be one of the longest summaries I've written. My mind is about to be blown because I couldn't stop reading this thriller with so many layers, incredible characterization, and a balanced, paced trajectory that keeps your attention intact. The narrative transports you 13 years back, where young Maya, biracial with a Chinese mom and a black father, recently orphaned with her 8-year-old sister Naomi, finds herself part of a secret society surrounded by privileged students. Maya does what she can to adjust, providing extra funds to send her sister to school, even if it involves her into the pyramid scheme of the institution. We then move seven months before the present time, witnessing Naomi, Maya's little sister, unfortunately following the same footsteps, estranged from her sister and part of a secret society, entangled in a love triangle that may be doomed with heartache!

We witness how Naomi's actions may resolve with her death as she attempts to uncover the mystery of a student's death under suspicious circumstances that was swept under the rug. When she discovers her straight, cold, career-oriented sister may be one of the last persons who has seen the dead girl alive, and the possibility that the girl has been silenced for knowing too much about the secret society connections, Naomi teams up with her roommate, an intern at the New York Times, to unravel the dirty secrets! Could her attempts to face the past be the reason for her demise? Or is she the victim of a love triangle that has gotten out of hand?

Maya has to confront her dark past, face the consequences of her actions, and find out the truth about her sister's death, even though it may ruin her entire future and the family she's built.

Overall: As soon as I started to read Naomi's narrative, I easily connected with her, and I wished there would be a miracle that she could be alive, that the entire mystery might consist of misunderstandings. Her story broke my heart. I also easily understood the reasoning behind Maya's actions. She's burdened with too much baggage at a young age and needed to find a way to survive, which may have led her to dangerous roads.

I loved the realistic execution and depiction of the secret society. As I thought I finally pieced up another layer of the mystery, the author perfectly presented another layer, and I hardly guessed some parts of twists, which are perfectly executed. It's a one-sitting, intense read that also wrecked my heart with a realistic but sad conclusion. Especially the sisters' miscommunications that affected their entire relationship broke my heart. This is great reading that earned my five unputdownable stars I highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine/ Bantam for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest feedback.

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[Meagan✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Did my silence allow the same thing to happen to my sister? “

Brief Summary-
Maya is supposed to be celebrating her little sister Naomi’s graduation from Princeton the same college she attended 10 year prior. But instead, Maya ends up investigating her sister death. As Maya keeps digging for the truth she realizes the secret society she was involved in when attending college might be the key to finding out who killed Naomi. This is a dark academia story with the rich acting unhinged. Told from the alternating viewpoints of Maya and Naomi, the reader is given two different time periods with each POV leading up to the murder.

My Thoughts-
This book had a very intriguing plot. The characters were very well liked. The author does a great job with weaving in the dark campus vibe and the suspense to this story. The writing in this book was very detailed and vivid. I felt like I was standing on the room with each character. I love how this book touched on privilege and race and how it applies at an elite school like Princeton. Money and power is everything, am I right?

I do have to complain about the pace. It was very slow. I think the reason I felt this way is because given the dual POV (which I love in books) it was very confusing, because of the repetition of characters and settings. I had to stop reading to go back to the beginning of the chapter just to confirm who perspective it was. The POV were just way too similar to each other. There was a lot of miscommunication in this story between the sisters. 😭 Which I did not like. But overall, it was a fun ride. The story kept you guessing the whole time. I kept thinking I figured it out but in reality I kept coming up wrong.

🗣️I do recommend this book. This is my first book by the author and I can’t wait to check out her future work.

“The world does not make sense. Humans are not ration decision makers- we are driven by our wants, our needs, our fears”

✨Thank you to NetGalley, the Author and Random House Publishing/ Ballantine/ Bantam for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review✨

Playlist-
🎶Touch- Cannon
🎶Perfectly- Tep No
🎶Umbrella- Rihanna
🎶Shea Butter Baby- Ari Lennox, J.Cole
🎶Work Out- J.Cole
🎶Replay- Tems
🎶Not An Angel- Tems
🎶I Took A Pill in Ibiza- Mike Posner
🎶Latch- Sam Smith
🎶Después de la Playa- Bad Bunny
🎶Safaera- Bad Bunny
🎶Mr. Brightside- The Killers
🎶This Night Has Opened My Eyes- The Smiths
🎶Rainy Night in Soho- Nick Cave
🎶No Role Models- J. Cole
🎶Imported- Jessie Reyes, 6LACK
🎶Cocaine Model- ZHU
🎶Blue Orchid- The White Stripes
🎶Poker Face- Lady Gaga
🎶Heros- Alesso
🎶Power Trip- J.Cole
🎶We Are Young- FUN
🎶Bulletproof- La Roux
🎶NUMB- ZHU

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story started out really strong. I was all in and completely invested in binging the book in one sitting. However, very early, around 20% with all of the back and forth between Maya in the present timeline, Naomi in the past and Maya in the past- it all just started to bleed together for me.

I constantly had to work to hard to remember who's POV I was reading - I don't want to work hard- I just want to enjoy a book. Not a fan of the writing, at all.

Also, not a fan of any of these characters.

DNF @20%


"But that's the thing about love, isn't it? When you find someone who sees you in a way no one else does, who understands you and makes you feel like you can't be whole without them, it wraps you in a vise and makes you forget how to live life without them." ❤️‍🩹🥹

Welp...what can I say? Manju and Meagan made me want to read this (thanks for that 🤭)- and now I really need to put in some actual work on my ARC pile. 😬😅

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lauren Ling Brown, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book that makes you think as well as entertains. For me, Society of Lies encompassed all of that and more. From the addictive dark academia premise to the stark focus on a multitude of -isms, this powerful, thought-provoking debut novel hit all the right chords. That, however, wasn’t what initially drew me in. A finely layered plot with multiple timelines, the nuanced feel and dark undertones came alive on the page with each additional twist. And just when I thought I had it all figured out, I learned that I happily hadn’t a clue.

As for the characters, the dual POVs of Naomi and Maya were powerful contrasts to one another. At the same time, their lack of mutual understanding was a driving force throughout the well-plotted chapters. Adding to the mix was the underlying menace of the Sterling Club and Greystone Society. So palpable was the foreboding surrounding them that they felt like yet another persona in this breathtaking doozy of a thriller. Along with plenty of standout supporting characters, they formed a brilliant cast who felt both genuine and flawed.

As I’ve mentioned, the depth to this novel was simply astounding. Examining concepts such as race, sisterhood, and privilege in an elite establishment, the idea of being “other” both made me squirm and think hard. In short, I think this would make quite the pick for a book club given the themes that it tackled. Plus, the fast-paced plot and spine-tingling climax is sure to keep just about anyone reading.

With a definite In My Dreams I Hold a Knife vibe, I simply couldn’t get enough of this book and found myself practically skimming as I raced through the pages. The cliffhanger chapters and rising unease were so good, in fact, that I just couldn’t put this one down and finished in just a single sitting. And while the climax might have felt just a tad unhinged, I couldn’t have cared less. After all, the long-buried secrets, multilayered mysteries, and serious topics won me over hook, line, and sinker. So grab your copy today. I promise you that you’re going to want to know what happened to Naomi. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion—it’s been a decade since she graduated, and she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her time there. This visit is special because Maya will also be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.

But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya’s worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on.

As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister’s death, she begins to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya’s warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus—the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it.

The more Maya uncovers, the more terrified she becomes that Naomi’s decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Because Maya’s time at Princeton wasn’t as wonderful as she’d always made it seem—after all, her sister wasn’t the first young woman to turn up dead. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past…and to the secret she’s kept all these years.

Thank you to Lauren Ling Brown and Random House for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: October 1, 2024

Trigger warning: death of a sibling, racism, drug and alcohol use, getting roofied, sexual harassment, assault, abduction

[Lauren Ling Ling Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for reading my debut novel, Society of Lies.

Society of Lies is a dark academia about Maya, a young woman of color who joins a secret society at Princeton. Ten years later, she returns to campus to attend her younger sister Naomi’s graduation and learns that Naomi has died in a horrible accident.

The book is set in the Princeton eating clubs, historic clubhouses built in the late 19th century where many students eat and study during the week and socialize on the weekends. The sisters join a fictional club called Sterling Club and the secret society within it.

I wrote this story during the pandemic, during a low point in my life and a divided time in America, hoping it would reach other people like me who felt like outsiders at this time in their lives. It was inspired by the moral question: if you were invited to join a society that promised you the life of your dreams but then you learned that they were hurting someone else, would you stay?

Much of the sisters’ relationship was inspired by my relationship with my sister, who is three and a half years younger than I am, and while much of the book draws from life, one area that it does not is the morally questionable Greystone Society.

The majority of the people I met at Princeton were kind, hardworking, honest, and most were from more modest backgrounds than the characters in this book. I hope that the reader understands that this story could have been set anywhere, at any university in America. It is meant to be entertaining but also, hopefully, to encourage conversations around privilege, belonging, and sisterhood. I hope by talking about these things, we can listen to one another and welcome different opinions, bringing us a little closer together in the process.

Thanks for checking it out. I hope you enjoy!

- Lauren

[Teres · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me eight days to slog through this. I seriously felt like slapping most of these Yale-educated women who are beyond stoooopid. Questioning Reece Witherspoon's choice. 🤔

[yyb · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Did my silence allow for the same thing to happen to my sister?"
Yes, yes it did.
The end.

[Provin Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did nothing for me. I really wanted to like it but in the end it was just another book about rich kids and icky teachers. The twist were just straight lines pretending to be twists and the rollercoaster was more of teacup ride. I’m very disappointed!

[Melissa ~ Bantering Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 53%

Reese really missed the mark with this one. I refuse to suffer through another five hours of listening time.

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller

Society of Lies is a debut mystery thriller about two sisters, Maya and Naomi. After ten years, Maya is finally going to take part in her college reunion. One day, however, she gets a phone call informing her that her sister, who was about to graduate from college, has passed away. Although they have determined that it was an accident, Maya believes there is more to her sister's death than that.

After conducting her own investigation, Maya discovers that her sister joined the Sterling Club despite the fact that she had repeatedly cautioned her against doing so numerous times. Maya will then continue her search for additional secrets in order to discover what transpired with Naomi.

Using the first-person narration style, the story is told from the perspectives of the two sisters. There are three different timelines, one of which is the present day, told from Maya's point of view. As well as two in the past, from the points of view of both of the girls.

There is a lot of intrigue surrounding the concept of the book. It is always interesting to read about secret societies, and I believe the author did a good job of making this aspect of the mystery the primary focus of the whole thing. Both the writing and the organization of the book are excellent, especially considering that it is the author's first novel.

Society of Lies is a decent mystery thriller. Because I am not a fan of multiple points of view written in one's own voice, especially when both of the characters' own voices were not too distinct from one another, I am unable to say that I enjoyed everything the author did. Additionally, another thing that I do not like about this is that there are three different timelines that we are dealing with here. In this case, I suppose it is a "me" thing. Therefore, if you don't mind these things and like reading about secret societies, you should give it a try because you might like it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it to 40% but quit. I don’t care about anyone in this stupid, boring book.

[˚₊꒰ა Jii ໒꒱₊˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

˙₊➴ ꒰ 3-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖

❝ Ubi amici ibidem sunt opes. Where there are friends, there are riches. ❞

Where money means power, influence, and the promise of a secure future for Naomi, her little sister, Maya is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her from a life of hardship. Princeton is supposed to be the beginning of that journey, a world of endless opportunity. But among the polished halls and privileged smiles, Maya feels like an outsider, constantly reminded of where she came from. Desperate to belong, Maya is offered a chance to join one of the most powerful and exclusive societies on campus. With it, the door to success finally begins to open.

Now, Maya has climbed higher than she ever dreamed. But as the walls between her past and present crumble, the consequences begin to reach Naomi. The life Maya fought so hard to leave behind is now threatening the one person she promised to protect. And deep down, Maya fears the worst, that it’s all because of her.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Characters

⟡ Maya Manson-Banks - is one of the two Mason sisters. She worked her hardest to get accepted into Princeton, a prestigious Ivy League university. As the eldest and Naomi’s remaining guardian, Maya strives and pursues to do everything just to give her sister a life without struggles and hardship, gifting a life that only leads to success.

❝ And for my sister’s happiness, I could do anything. I could live with our secret. I could hold it inside forever. ❞

⟡ Naomi Manson - second of the Mason sisters. She also got accepted at Princeton, following in her sister’s footsteps. Seeing how hardworking her sister was, Naomi grew up aiming to be as intelligent, hardworking, and successful as her. Yet she is a young soul navigating her path after graduation.

❝ But that’s the thing about love, isn’t it? When you find someone who sees you in a way no one else does, who understands you and makes you feel like you can’t be whole without them, it wraps you in a vise and makes you forget how to live life without them. ❞

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts

Despite picking up Society of Lies just for the Poolside reads achievement, I actually enjoy reading it! I gobbled this one up. I’ve seen some reviews stating the present-past-present narrative of Maya and Naomi’s pov made things quite confusing as you walk through both their lives at the same school, same club, but in different years. But for me, that was what hooked me in.

❝ This nightmare has spiraled out of control, and it’s all because of me, because I couldn’t be honest with the people closest to me. ❞

Another thing to note, what I really appreciated was the way the book addressed themes of color and power, and how those dynamics played out throughout the story (tbh I wish it had delved deeper into it). As well as the relationship between the Mason sisters. Reading their povs, you feel the weight of their unspoken emotions. The love and care they have for each other, held back by the fear of becoming a burden. That quiet tension was heartbreaking yet completely understandable. I admire Maya for all the sacrifices she made, but I also admire Naomi for the incredible strength she had.

❝ How often, in the world, is silence what allows horrible people to get away with their crimes? ❞

The only thing that kept this book from being truly shocking or twisty for me was that. I sussed out everything and guessed how things might end, which made the final chapters feel a bit underwhelming but I don’t fault the book for that, it’s just me and my trust issues going overdrive every time I read thriller/mysteries. To sum it up, even though I predicted the book’s ending, I still really enjoyed the read. Society of Lies is gripping, easy to follow, and delivers its twists in a believable way without ever becoming overly complex.

˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆

Been reading most of my arcs and they were all fantasy, so it's a good time to switch it up (this is an excuse to read a book on the Poolside Reads Achievements)!🙂‍↕️💯

[Dona's Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lots of quibbles with this one, and I didn't have any fun with it. I had to work so hard to ferret out the plot that I was just grumpy the whole time.

Full review:

Thank you to the author Lauren Ling Brown, publishers Bantam Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SOCIETY OF LIES. All views are mine.

I can hear my sister’s voice as though she’s standing right next to me— He’s not good for you, you deserve more—and I know she’s right. But that’s the thing about love, isn’t it? When you find someone who sees you in a way no one else does, who understands you and makes you feel like you can’t be whole without them, it wraps you in a vise and makes you forget how to live life without them. Loc.258

The last 50 pages of this book were an eye rolling purgatory. This book is bloated and needs to lose at least 75 pages of repetition. I found endless quibbles with this one, and not too much to like, unfortunately.

I recommend this book for fans of Dark Academia, but to be clear, this is no THE SECRET HISTORY.

Reading Notes

One thing I loved:

1. My hands curl into fists, crushing the edges of the card. Matthew DuPont left us there. Stranded. With cops who could have done who the hell knows what? It would have been so easy for him. All he had to do was tell them to leave us alone. ...I feel the anger rise up in me. Without thinking, I grab the flowers by the neck and hurl them at the trash, just barely missing, scattering petals and leaves all over the floor. p205 I appreciate this author's ability to draw the natural drama out of her sentences and scenarios. She gives us the best of hyperbole to communicate how much is on the line for the speaker, her sister, and the people in their lives.

Six things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. It turns out this is dark academia, which isn't a favorite genre for me. They have to work really hard to get my attention, and this one is starting out slow and foggy. But they mismarketed unfortunately as a mystery or true crime novel.

3. The plot is convoluted due to the exaggerated complication of the narrative form. Dual POV, both in first person but possessing little distinction between them, and shifting timelines for both POVs. It gets very difficult to follow.

4. Sentence structure is often rickety, composed of lots of little moving parts.

5. There are some small logic issues. Like when the previously comatose girl in the backseat sits up and yells, "What are you waiting for?" p212

6. It has the tone and mood of a mystery, especially the way it drops story evidence in moments of increased tension. But it tries to move like a thriller, and it's built like a thriller. So, it fights with itself a bit, and in so doing, loses the trail of its plot. Every time I had to pick this book back up, figuring out where I was in the story often felt impossible. Sometimes, I gave up getting my bearings, and just kept reading. (Figured I would figure it out. I was mostly right.)

Rating: 🏫 /5 colleges
Recommend? No
Finished: June 2 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🔍 mysteries
🪢 first person, dual POV
🔥 slow burn

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Society of Lies follows sisters, Maya and Naomi. Maya graduated from Princeton a decade ago, and now her little sister, Naomi, is set to graduate from there as well.

When Maya returns to the university for her reunion and Naomi's graduation, she's shocked when she receives a nightmare phone call. Naomi is dead.



Maya is left reeling. She's devastated. If only she could have seen Naomi one more time.

The police are calling it an accident, but that doesn't sit right with Maya. The things the police are alluding to, they don't track with Naomi's personality.

As Maya begins looking into her sister's tragic death though, she discovers that Naomi was keeping a whole lot from her. Did she really know her little sister at all?



One of her discoveries is that her sister joined the Sterling Club, the same exclusive club that Maya had been a member of herself. She had warned Naomi to stay away, but apparently those warnings didn't stick.

Maya knows Naomi isn't the first young woman to die while a member of this club. The more she digs in, the more the evidence seems to point back to her time within the organization. Could she have done anything differently to save Naomi from this fate?



I enjoyed this, although it took some time to get my bearings with the perspectives and timelines. I did love learning about both Maya and Naomi. I felt for them and the difficult things they'd experienced in their lives.

Their relationship was complicated and unfortunately, there was a lot of failed opportunities for open communication. It left them both viewing their relationship very differently, which made me sad, the details of that. I wish they could have had more time together.



I also enjoyed the elite-Princeton setting and what everyone was getting up to there. I do tend to vibe really well with this type of story. Give me shadow organizations, lies, cover-ups and rich people behaving badly any day.

At times, I'll admit, this narrative felt a little choppy. You get Maya's perspective both past and present, and the jumps between her past at Princeton and Naomi's present at Princeton could get muddled if you let down your guard for even a moment.

Overall though, I do appreciate the difficult themes this author explored within this otherwise fairly standard Mystery-Thriller. To me, the character's relationships were the gold star of this story.



Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would def be interested in picking up more from this author!

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Society of Lies was a solid suspense story to close out October reading. Maya attends Princeton and joins The Sterling Club, a prestigious group granting privileges and opportunities to its members on campus and in post-graduate life. ⁣
⁣
When she returns to Princeton years later to meet up with her younger sister Naomi, now a current student, she’s devastated to learn Naomi has died. Maya doesn’t think this is an accident and is determined to uncover the truth, even if it puts her own past at risk of being exposed. ⁣
⁣
Society of Lies was a fast-paced story with past and present alternating timelines. I had some predictions about where things were headed but still enjoyed the reveal and the dark campus setting.

[Teju A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really can't put my finger on why I didn't like this book, so let me try. secondary characters felt flat and the relationship between sisters left more to be desired. The mystery truly was promising and kept me guessing, but honestly after a while, it just fell flat in my humble opinion.

We have 2 POV from 2 sisters, both navigating the complex world of being biracial and trying to belong into an elite institution. When one gets murdered, we go back in time to see how events come together in unraveling her killer.

Solid 2 stars!!
Meh!

[Kimberly R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mayas younger sister Naomi is found dead in a lake near Princeton campus, the same school Maya attended 10 years ago. Maya has suspicion's about her sister’s death and unravels secrets at the college.
This was a great dark academic story that I hated to end. Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this eARC that will be released August 13, 2024!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Society of Lies" by Lauren Ling Brown is a captivating read that had me hooked from start to finish.
Maya's return to Princeton for her college reunion takes a dark turn when she receives the devastating news of her sister Naomi's death. What should have been a nostalgic trip down memory lane quickly transforms into a gripping mystery as Maya delves into the secrets of the exclusive Sterling Club, where Naomi was involved.

Now, I gotta be real – the story starts off a bit slow. But trust me, once it picks up, it's a wild ride! Brown keeps you guessing with every twist and turn, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, she hits you with another surprise. Admittedly, keeping track of the multiple points of view was a bit challenging at times, and some characters felt a little too similar. However, Maya and Naomi's dynamic as protagonists added depth to the narrative, and their sisterly bond was a driving force throughout the story.

And let's not forget about the themes Brown tackles – identity, race, sisterhood, you name it. It adds a whole new layer of depth to the story and makes you think long after you've finished reading.

"Society of Lies" delivers a satisfying conclusion that ties up all the loose ends. While the reveal of the culprit may not have been a total shocker, the journey to uncover the truth was an exhilarating ride. Overall, if you're a fan of mysteries with a touch of dark academia and a sprinkle of sisterhood, this book is definitely worth your time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of THE best thrillers in a minute! Genuinely shocked by the twist in this murder mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed feeling like I was in a different world. Secret societies aren't typically something I gravitate towards, but I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of this, and I'm so glad I requested it!

If you're into the idea of secret societies in the upper echelons of scholarly societies and the 1% - this is your next novel!

Listened to this in tandem with the Spotify audio because I couldn't put it down, and the narration was well done. I knew exactly whose point of view it was and even sped up at 2x speed - I never had a hard time figuring out where I was in the story.

Ending - satisfactory!! When a mystery novel wraps up all parts of the storylines - I'm always happy to have my burning questions answered.

**Thank you to Bantam Books for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

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[ThatBookish_deviant · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0 ⭐️

I loves me some dark academia but not this mess. The characters are one dimensional and lack depth. I decided to dnf at page 200. The lack of characterization and personality left me with a total lack of interest in the outcome.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very much a slow-burn mystery with hardly anything happening in the first half. The story centers on two sisters (Maya and Naomi, half-Asian, half-black) who are ten years apart and both are past or current Princeton students. The younger sister (Naomi) turns up dead, and the older investigates.



There are three POVs: Maya in the present, Maya in the past, and Naomi in the recent past, just before her death. Past Maya is in past tense; the other two are present tense. Groan. All three are so similar, it was hard to keep track of which one I was reading. Maya and Naomi are interchangeable as far as characterization goes.



It’s not particularly thrilling or suspenseful except for a few scenes, but it works as contemporary fiction. If you are expecting a thriller, you will be sorely disappointed.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Language: Some strong language
Sexual Content: Mildly explicit
Violence/Gore: Murder/attempted murder; not graphic
Harm to Animals: None
Harm to Children: None
Other (Triggers): Cheating (adultery and academic); classism, racism; greed, corruption, blackmail; frequent use of alcohol, underage drinking

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m saying it now—2024 reads have so far been my overall best year since I’ve started my bookstagram! Lauren Ling Brown’s debut, SOCIETY OF LIES, immediately captured my interest with this stunning cover. Thank you @randomhouse for this gifted copy! The story is centered around Princeton alumni Maya and her investigation into the mysterious death of her sister Naomi. Naomi was supposed to graduate Princeton and Maya was looking forward to reconnecting back to her college days, but Maya is stunned to find out that her sister joined the Sterling Club, the mysterious and exclusive social club on campus. Maya warned her about the Sterling Club since she had joined back in her college days. Maya can’t help but think this club has something to do with Naomi’s death.⁣

This book gave me In My Dreams I Hold a Knife vibes! I really had a blast reading this one. This book touches on race and privilege while in college which I felt was a compelling aspect of the book that also helped form the mystery in ways I didn’t expect. This book moved rather quickly and left for many different scenarios for the reader to keep on guessing. I don’t always love dark academia stories, but SOCIETY OF LIES was very compelling. I highly recommend putting this book on your TBR and picking it up once it releases later this summer! STARS: 4, PUB: 8/13

[Chelsea | thrillerbookbabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Random House and Lauren Ling Brown for this debut. It was about Maya, a girl head back to her alma mater to see her sister graduate. But when Naomi turns up dead, the weekend becomes something Maya could have never imagined. Maya knows there is more to the story, especially after she finds out Naomi was in a secret society that Maya warned her against joining. The more she uncovers, the more Maya realizes that Naomi was digging up the past and secrets that went along with it. After all, Naomi wasn’t the first girl found dead at Princeton.

Thoughts: This book had the perfect setting. I love an academic thriller, and the setting of Princeton and the eating clubs and secret societies was a great backdrop for this story. I liked the contrasting characters of Maya and Naomi with the rich and privileged students who attended Princeton with them. I thought there were some good points about race and culture and belonging.

I think that some of the chapters ended at really weird points that didn’t make much sense. The story was a bit far fetched and I found there to be some loose ends that were never tied up. This was wonderful for a debut, and I think the author will be one to watch. 4 stars for this interesting story!

[Lackof_shelf_control · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books with academic settings! That was what drew me to read this book. I was a little hesitant because I usually don’t like Reese’s Book Club picks 🙊, but I really enjoyed this one! The dual POVs and timelines had me confused initially since it is two female perspectives at Princeton going through similar storylines. However, once I learned my characters it was easy to follow. There is a lot of scandal and real life parallels that made it an emotional one. Naomi’s character development specifically was great. I felt like I knew her and I could relate to her, which really connects you to the story. Also, I loved all the pop culture references from Afrojack to Timothy & Kylie. Definitely recommend you check it out!

Like I said - I’m a sucker for academia books ( The Maidens, The It Girl, etc)

What is your favorite back drop for books? 📚

[mimi (semi-hiatus ‘cause on vacation) · Rating 2 out of 5]

At this point, the terminology “dark academia” is used too freely.
Is this story set in secretive clubs of one of the most prestigious universities in the world? Yes.
Is there any spark of romance, any magic or any twisted scandal involved at all? No.

Society of Lies is the story of four girls who pretend to like each other and are part of a powerful and not-risky-at-all eating club at Princeton in the early 2010s.
Someone outside their circle - but still part of the club - dies after having tried to expose the most powerful member, when everyone had already ostracized her and kinda forgot about her.

Listen, I don't know if it's the back-and-forth narration or one too many unnecessary details, but it just doesn't work.
The whole thing is divided into four parts: in the first one, you get the idea; in the second one, you get a better idea; by the third one, it's pretty clear who the bad apple is and we could wrap it up; when you reach the four and last part, even the plot twist doesn't feel like a twist because who cares.

I hope people in secretive clubs all around the globe are having more fun than this.

↠ 2.5 stars

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very intrigued with the story itself. But the author making comments all the time about how awful white people are is just getting old really really fast. I wish authors would get past the whole whites are racists etc. It a I think the story could have been cut down a little bit there due to there was a lot of slow parts.

[Constance · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to read this book, set at Princeton University, where I completed a postdoc. My office was in one of the eating clubs that are a centerpiece of the novel. And then I saw this novel was Reese’s book club so I figured it was good. Unfortunately the novel is trite, repetitive, and poorly written. The characters are underdeveloped and vapid, and I don’t think on purpose. The author writes that her character’s heart thumped out of their chest or they hear footsteps but no one is the at least 25 times throughout the boring novel. It appears she has people helping her career the way the Princeton legacy students are assisted in the novel. I can’t remember are more poorly written and ridiculous book and then to be chosen by Reese’s book club? I am disappointed in Reese, the author and her editors. Don’t bother!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok. I found myself pretty bored for most of it. It’s bad when I don’t care to find out how someone died and watch the mystery unfold… audio made it a quick listen.

[Lizzy Brannan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storyline: 4-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending: 2-star ⭐️⭐️

This review might be a little too petty. There are just some things I can't get past. It was good. It really was. I thought the storyline was fantastic and well-written. It did seem to have an overall plotline of "The Maidens" mixed with "Mean Girls." So - not super original - but definitely entertaining and well-written. I'm not going to type out the plot in this review. You probably already know it based on the comparisons to other storylines. I just get so hung up on endings. It's such a pet peeve of mine when an author writes an incredible storyline but just can't end it well. I'm not even trying to project a type of ending. I'm not that picky. REALLY. I just think that books should have well-written endings. They don't even have to resolve or end positively. I would go so far as to say that a publisher should not accept a book that has a crummy cop-out ending. This one just left me tilting my head and saying, "Oh. Okay. Ugh." Come on. This writer was brilliant in the use of her own cross-culture and life. I appreciate how she drew on Princeton's atmosphere and explained the current culture of the school in her author's note. I really do think she's brilliant. I just maybe think that Bantam books should have sent it back to her for revision of the ending before publishing it. Surely they had to know.