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No One Needs to Know
9 hours, 24 minutes
When an anonymous neighborhood forum gets hacked, the darkest secrets of New York’s wealthiest residents come to light—including some worth killing for—in this gripping suspense novel from the author of Just One Look.
It was all confidential. Right up to the moment when it wasn’t.
UrbanMyth: It was lauded as an alternative to the performative, show-your-best-self platforms—an anonymous discussion board grouped by zip code. The residents of Manhattan’s exclusive Upper East Side disclosed it all, things they would never share with their friends or their spouses: secret bank accounts, steamy affairs, tidbits of juicy gossip. These are the same parents who would go to astonishing lengths to ensure their children gain admission to the most prestigious boarding schools and universities. So when a “hacktivist” group breaks into the forum and exposes the real identity behind each poster, the repercussions resound down Park Avenue with a force none could have anticipated.
And someone will end up dead.
Will it be Heather, the outsider who would do anything to get her daughter into the elite’s good graces and into even better schools? Norah, the high-powered suit failing to balance work and the emotional responsibilities of motherhood? Or Poppy, perfect on the outside but hiding more than her share of secrets?
Each of them has something to hide. Each of them will do anything to keep their secrets hidden. And each of them just might kill to protect their own.
When an anonymous neighborhood forum gets hacked, the darkest secrets of New York’s wealthiest residents come to light—including some worth killing for—in this gripping suspense novel from the author of Just One Look.
It was all confidential. Right up to the moment when it wasn’t.
UrbanMyth: It was lauded as an alternative to the performative, show-your-best-self platforms—an anonymous discussion board grouped by zip code. The residents of Manhattan’s exclusive Upper East Side disclosed it all, things they would never share with their friends or their spouses: secret bank accounts, steamy affairs, tidbits of juicy gossip. These are the same parents who would go to astonishing lengths to ensure their children gain admission to the most prestigious boarding schools and universities. So when a “hacktivist” group breaks into the forum and exposes the real identity behind each poster, the repercussions resound down Park Avenue with a force none could have anticipated.
And someone will end up dead.
Will it be Heather, the outsider who would do anything to get her daughter into the elite’s good graces and into even better schools? Norah, the high-powered suit failing to balance work and the emotional responsibilities of motherhood? Or Poppy, perfect on the outside but hiding more than her share of secrets?
Each of them has something to hide. Each of them will do anything to keep their secrets hidden. And each of them just might kill to protect their own.
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First published May 9, 2023
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About the author
Lindsay Cameron
4 books502 followersLindsay Cameron worked as a corporate lawyer for many years in Vancouver and New York City before leaving the law behind to write books. She is the author of Biglaw and Just One Look. She lives in New York City where she is currently at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 1,073 reviews
January 22, 2023
Big Little Lies Meets Gossip Girl
3.5 stars
No One Needs to Know is part thriller, part women’s fiction/drama about a group of wealthy women who live on the Upper East Side and reveal their secrets anonymously on an app. The gossip site turns into a warzone ending in murder.
Urban Myth, an app, allows the rich and elite to anonymously post. Users feel comfortable enough to post about their affairs, share fantasies about killing their spouses, and the thrill of shoplifting. When the app is used to target a 13-year-old private school student, all hell breaks loose.
The narrative alternates between the perspectives of the three women:
Heather: A helicopter parent who will do anything for her daughter’s success.
Poppy: The queen bee who is hiding a dirty secret.
Norah: An executive whose head is buried in the sand.
Most of the characters are unlikable, but a few good ones are mixed in. As awful as the characters were, I had fun watching their lives implode.
This book is so much fun. Don’t take it too seriously--it's a mindless, entertaining read with some strong commentary on people’s willingness to share copious amounts of private information about their lives on social media without blinking an eye. But when their user information becomes public, they must scramble to face the truth.
No One Needs to Know is a page-turner. I got caught up in the scandals and chaos the app created, and I was invested in the two mysteries at play. The last chapter was a bit of a drag, but appropriate. I just feel like this book deserves a juicier ending.
Overall, this was a deliciously fun read!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
No One Needs to Know is part thriller, part women’s fiction/drama about a group of wealthy women who live on the Upper East Side and reveal their secrets anonymously on an app. The gossip site turns into a warzone ending in murder.
Urban Myth, an app, allows the rich and elite to anonymously post. Users feel comfortable enough to post about their affairs, share fantasies about killing their spouses, and the thrill of shoplifting. When the app is used to target a 13-year-old private school student, all hell breaks loose.
The narrative alternates between the perspectives of the three women:
Heather: A helicopter parent who will do anything for her daughter’s success.
Poppy: The queen bee who is hiding a dirty secret.
Norah: An executive whose head is buried in the sand.
Most of the characters are unlikable, but a few good ones are mixed in. As awful as the characters were, I had fun watching their lives implode.
This book is so much fun. Don’t take it too seriously--it's a mindless, entertaining read with some strong commentary on people’s willingness to share copious amounts of private information about their lives on social media without blinking an eye. But when their user information becomes public, they must scramble to face the truth.
No One Needs to Know is a page-turner. I got caught up in the scandals and chaos the app created, and I was invested in the two mysteries at play. The last chapter was a bit of a drag, but appropriate. I just feel like this book deserves a juicier ending.
Overall, this was a deliciously fun read!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2023
Urban Myth is a social media website and no one has a profile because it's all anonymous. It's a discussion board where you just enter your zip code. The Upper East Coast disclosed it all. All you need to do to create an account was to use your email.
The posts were juicy gossip, things that you wouldn't want any one to know. Lots of secrets!
Poppy, Heather and Nora would do anything to get their children in the most prestigious boarding schools and universities.
The online group then gets hacked and everything is no longer confidential. Each of them has something to hide. They don't want anyone to know about their secrets and this is where things become dangerous.
This one was such a fun read! When I first found out that this one was a social media book I went in with low expectations because I don't like social media books. I was so surprised how much I loved it. Most of the characters are so unlikable. I didn't know who to trust. I could not put the book down. I loved reading about all the juicy gossip and all of the secrets. I loved the twist at the end. Loved that jaw dropping moment.
I want to thank Netgalley, and Bantam for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The posts were juicy gossip, things that you wouldn't want any one to know. Lots of secrets!
Poppy, Heather and Nora would do anything to get their children in the most prestigious boarding schools and universities.
The online group then gets hacked and everything is no longer confidential. Each of them has something to hide. They don't want anyone to know about their secrets and this is where things become dangerous.
This one was such a fun read! When I first found out that this one was a social media book I went in with low expectations because I don't like social media books. I was so surprised how much I loved it. Most of the characters are so unlikable. I didn't know who to trust. I could not put the book down. I loved reading about all the juicy gossip and all of the secrets. I loved the twist at the end. Loved that jaw dropping moment.
I want to thank Netgalley, and Bantam for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2023
Maybe inspired (?) by the “celebrity college admissions scandal” (which is mentioned) Lindsay Cameron, the author of “Just One Look” is back with another entertaining story-this time exposing the politics of parenting in an ultra competitive environment…
UrbanMyth was created as an alternative to the “show-your-best-self platforms” as an anonymous discussion board grouped by zip code. And, the residents of Manhattan’s exclusive Upper East Side disclose it all- things they would never share with their friends or their spouses.
Urban Myth Message Board:
Some users need advice:
“Has anyone taken out a loan without their spouses knowing?”
Some just need to confess:
“I am cheating on my spouse. if I got a divorce, could that affect my child’s boarding school application?”
AND some just post to PROVOKE or to get REVENGE
“A GAZELLE DOESN’T NEED TO OUTRUN A LION-IT SIMPLY NEEDS TO OUTRUN ONE OTHER GAZELLE IN THE HERD”
When a “hacktivist” breaks into the forum threatening to reveal the USERS behind the ANONYMOUS posts,
someone will end up DEAD.
THREE MOTHERS -each with a unique voice and each with something to hide-Queen Bee Poppy, Career woman Norah, and outsider Heather.
It took till about the 25% point, before I became invested in the scandalous lives of these (mostly) unlikable women, but once I did I enjoyed each of their alternating perspectives, which were interspersed with Urban Myth posts, and emails sent to the investigating detective.
The book opens with a mystery narrator who is fearful of approaching sirens.
IT ENDS with a revelation I DIDN’T see coming!!
Lindsay Cameron is two for two for me!
Is she also two for two for buddy readers DeAnn and Mary Beth? Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Bantam for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
UrbanMyth was created as an alternative to the “show-your-best-self platforms” as an anonymous discussion board grouped by zip code. And, the residents of Manhattan’s exclusive Upper East Side disclose it all- things they would never share with their friends or their spouses.
Urban Myth Message Board:
Some users need advice:
“Has anyone taken out a loan without their spouses knowing?”
Some just need to confess:
“I am cheating on my spouse. if I got a divorce, could that affect my child’s boarding school application?”
AND some just post to PROVOKE or to get REVENGE
“A GAZELLE DOESN’T NEED TO OUTRUN A LION-IT SIMPLY NEEDS TO OUTRUN ONE OTHER GAZELLE IN THE HERD”
When a “hacktivist” breaks into the forum threatening to reveal the USERS behind the ANONYMOUS posts,
someone will end up DEAD.
THREE MOTHERS -each with a unique voice and each with something to hide-Queen Bee Poppy, Career woman Norah, and outsider Heather.
It took till about the 25% point, before I became invested in the scandalous lives of these (mostly) unlikable women, but once I did I enjoyed each of their alternating perspectives, which were interspersed with Urban Myth posts, and emails sent to the investigating detective.
The book opens with a mystery narrator who is fearful of approaching sirens.
IT ENDS with a revelation I DIDN’T see coming!!
Lindsay Cameron is two for two for me!
Is she also two for two for buddy readers DeAnn and Mary Beth? Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Bantam for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
May 28, 2023
Clever, scandalous, slow burn, entertaining! No one needs to know is thrilling story with its sarcastic tone, sharp criticism of Upper East side elites, and their secretive lives built on lies.
Characters are not easy to like. They’re absolutely ambitious opportunists, hiding terrible secrets, going too far to get what they want without thinking of the consequences.
The story centered on very special digital platform- a visual confession booth, an alternative to the performative, show-your-best-self platforms, an anonymous social media app organized by neighborhood called “UrbanMyth”All you needed to create an account was an email. No profile. No username. No way to track your identity.
The anonymity worked like truth serum. The participants disclosed things there they would never discuss with their best friends or even their spouses. Especially not their spouses.
They bared their secrets.
It was supposed to be confidential.
And it always was.
Right up to the moment when it wasn't. Major data breach is conducted by hacktivist group Eat the Rich is about to reveal the entire secrets of the neighborhood!
And unfortunately someone ends up dead!
The story is told by three POVs. Especially Heather and Poppy are very punchable, absolutely hatable characters. Only Norah is relatable but she seems like supporting character of the story. We mostly read about Heather and Poppy’s secretive lives.
Heather is definition helicopter mom, an efficient writer, extremely ambitious when it comes to her daughter’s boarding school application. Her eyes on the prize!
When she finds out somebody posted a photo of her daughter blaming on her with things she’s never done that may ruin her future, she suspects Norah’s daughter Carole might be behind all of this. She’s ready to sharpen her claws for taking eye for an eye!
Norah is buried her head into her high- powered executive job as breadwinner of her family even though she’s married with Bennett who comes from very powerful and wealthy family. She has no idea what secrets her husband and daughter keep away from her.
And Poppy… I’m repeating the definition the author has written about her which made me laugh so hard: Every inch of her body had been buffed, moisturized, botoxed, colored, manicured, pedicured, stretched, sculpted, lasered, massaged, tightened, trimmed, whitened, or some combination of all of the above. When you google “hot trophy wife”, her image pops out immediately!
Poor Poopy has no idea the last time she has sex with her husband. Months…A year… A picture perfect life cannot be ruined with a blackmail. And the person who is threatening her is not the only one can end her marriage. Her prying maid snooping around when she puts herself in a position that may end her marriage.
Then three women’s paths cross with a traumatic incident! Somebody is dead! The UrbanMyth is hacked! Secrets are out! What will happen to them?
The book was definitely well written, clever! I enjoyed the ending! Only thing bothered me was the characters. But it’s still enjoyable, addictive popcorn reading I highly recommend!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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Characters are not easy to like. They’re absolutely ambitious opportunists, hiding terrible secrets, going too far to get what they want without thinking of the consequences.
The story centered on very special digital platform- a visual confession booth, an alternative to the performative, show-your-best-self platforms, an anonymous social media app organized by neighborhood called “UrbanMyth”All you needed to create an account was an email. No profile. No username. No way to track your identity.
The anonymity worked like truth serum. The participants disclosed things there they would never discuss with their best friends or even their spouses. Especially not their spouses.
They bared their secrets.
It was supposed to be confidential.
And it always was.
Right up to the moment when it wasn't. Major data breach is conducted by hacktivist group Eat the Rich is about to reveal the entire secrets of the neighborhood!
And unfortunately someone ends up dead!
The story is told by three POVs. Especially Heather and Poppy are very punchable, absolutely hatable characters. Only Norah is relatable but she seems like supporting character of the story. We mostly read about Heather and Poppy’s secretive lives.
Heather is definition helicopter mom, an efficient writer, extremely ambitious when it comes to her daughter’s boarding school application. Her eyes on the prize!
When she finds out somebody posted a photo of her daughter blaming on her with things she’s never done that may ruin her future, she suspects Norah’s daughter Carole might be behind all of this. She’s ready to sharpen her claws for taking eye for an eye!
Norah is buried her head into her high- powered executive job as breadwinner of her family even though she’s married with Bennett who comes from very powerful and wealthy family. She has no idea what secrets her husband and daughter keep away from her.
And Poppy… I’m repeating the definition the author has written about her which made me laugh so hard: Every inch of her body had been buffed, moisturized, botoxed, colored, manicured, pedicured, stretched, sculpted, lasered, massaged, tightened, trimmed, whitened, or some combination of all of the above. When you google “hot trophy wife”, her image pops out immediately!
Poor Poopy has no idea the last time she has sex with her husband. Months…A year… A picture perfect life cannot be ruined with a blackmail. And the person who is threatening her is not the only one can end her marriage. Her prying maid snooping around when she puts herself in a position that may end her marriage.
Then three women’s paths cross with a traumatic incident! Somebody is dead! The UrbanMyth is hacked! Secrets are out! What will happen to them?
The book was definitely well written, clever! I enjoyed the ending! Only thing bothered me was the characters. But it’s still enjoyable, addictive popcorn reading I highly recommend!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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August 13, 2023
Well that was an interesting look inside the realm of the one percent of the one percent…which, I don’t know about you, but is completely foreign territory to me. Having now visited, gotta say, I’m actually glad I don’t reside there.
No One Needs to Know is set in the glamorous, high-stakes world of the wealthy elite on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
“Homes” span entire floors of buildings with doormen; everyone has “hired help,” who sign non-disclosure agreements; and it’s a cut-throat race to get your progeny into the best schools.
The story’s three main characters are momzilla Heather, who micromanages every aspect of her teen daughter’s future; blueblood socialite Poppy; and corporate executive Norah, the only working mom of the group.
All three have children enrolled in Crofton Preparatory School, where the $50K/year tuition for grades K-8 is merely a drop in the bucket and seen as a necessary expenditure to ensure their offspring get into elite high schools (Deerfield, Andover, etc), which will open doors to the best Ivy League universities.
With the creation of UrbanMyth — an anonymous neighborhood online forum — the veil of anonymity is like truth serum for the entitled, wealthy, and connected residents of the UES.
Sordid secrets are readily shared and consumed by those who get a frisson of schadenfreude gawking at someone else’s accident to distract from their own wreckage. I mean, it’s anonymous, right? Who’s gonna know?
But when a hacktivist group puts the community’s dirty laundry on full display — including who posted what — it becomes (Waterford) crystal clear that everyone is hiding something and everyone has an agenda.
When a husband to one of these women goes missing — and they all have a reason to “make him disappear” — tongues start wagging and manicured nails begin pointing.
Author Lindsay Cameron has created a deft social satire of the lives of the upper-class elite and the injustice of the power of money. Think Real Housewives meets Big Little Lies and you’ll get the picture.
I couldn’t help but recall the infamous 2015 data breach of the extramarital affair website Ashley Madison that exposed its user records, shattering the illusion of online anonymity (great documentary on Hulu? Netflix?).
No One Needs to Know isn’t going to win any literary awards, but it’s a juicy, scandalous read that’ll leave you thinking twice before trusting that your digital footprint remains strictly confidential.
No One Needs to Know is set in the glamorous, high-stakes world of the wealthy elite on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
“Homes” span entire floors of buildings with doormen; everyone has “hired help,” who sign non-disclosure agreements; and it’s a cut-throat race to get your progeny into the best schools.
The story’s three main characters are momzilla Heather, who micromanages every aspect of her teen daughter’s future; blueblood socialite Poppy; and corporate executive Norah, the only working mom of the group.
All three have children enrolled in Crofton Preparatory School, where the $50K/year tuition for grades K-8 is merely a drop in the bucket and seen as a necessary expenditure to ensure their offspring get into elite high schools (Deerfield, Andover, etc), which will open doors to the best Ivy League universities.
With the creation of UrbanMyth — an anonymous neighborhood online forum — the veil of anonymity is like truth serum for the entitled, wealthy, and connected residents of the UES.
Sordid secrets are readily shared and consumed by those who get a frisson of schadenfreude gawking at someone else’s accident to distract from their own wreckage. I mean, it’s anonymous, right? Who’s gonna know?
But when a hacktivist group puts the community’s dirty laundry on full display — including who posted what — it becomes (Waterford) crystal clear that everyone is hiding something and everyone has an agenda.
When a husband to one of these women goes missing — and they all have a reason to “make him disappear” — tongues start wagging and manicured nails begin pointing.
Author Lindsay Cameron has created a deft social satire of the lives of the upper-class elite and the injustice of the power of money. Think Real Housewives meets Big Little Lies and you’ll get the picture.
I couldn’t help but recall the infamous 2015 data breach of the extramarital affair website Ashley Madison that exposed its user records, shattering the illusion of online anonymity (great documentary on Hulu? Netflix?).
No One Needs to Know isn’t going to win any literary awards, but it’s a juicy, scandalous read that’ll leave you thinking twice before trusting that your digital footprint remains strictly confidential.
April 16, 2023
It’s not so easy living the life of a one-percenter.
Love a good neighborhood thriller? Alright. What if that neighborhood wasn’t in the suburbs, but instead had an address on THE Park Avenue on the Upper East Side! Ooh! Scandalous!
Does living the high life of the ultra-rich make all your problems go away? Or do you just have different, bigger troubles with more dire consequences? (Umm...No thank you!).
Three couples bent on doing whatever it takes to get their golden children into a prestigious boarding school. Is it worth all the accompanying lies and scandals that are about to follow?
A fun engaging read that drew me in immediately! Loved how the stories of these families wove together for an explosive ending.
Though I read the digital version I do think this would’ve been even better as an audio with multiple narrators. Maybe I should have waited for the 🎧🤷♀️
Already looking forward to the next release by this skillful author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for granting my wish.🧞♀
Love a good neighborhood thriller? Alright. What if that neighborhood wasn’t in the suburbs, but instead had an address on THE Park Avenue on the Upper East Side! Ooh! Scandalous!
Does living the high life of the ultra-rich make all your problems go away? Or do you just have different, bigger troubles with more dire consequences? (Umm...No thank you!).
Three couples bent on doing whatever it takes to get their golden children into a prestigious boarding school. Is it worth all the accompanying lies and scandals that are about to follow?
A fun engaging read that drew me in immediately! Loved how the stories of these families wove together for an explosive ending.
Though I read the digital version I do think this would’ve been even better as an audio with multiple narrators. Maybe I should have waited for the 🎧🤷♀️
Already looking forward to the next release by this skillful author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for granting my wish.🧞♀
March 19, 2023
The Upper East Side of Manhattan is a neighborhood where money is king and social standing is worth its weight in gold. Parents go to outrageous lengths to get their young teens into the best boarding schools in preparation for their Ivy League college applications. But all it takes is one ill-timed picture or one social faux pas to end their chances at attending the best schools. When the parents aren’t busy micromanaging their children’s future, they���re on UrbanMyth, a completely anonymous discussion board where residents of the UES post their juiciest gossip, questions, and secrets. But three moms soon learn that there is no such thing as anonymity and that their secrets may just cost someone their life.
I honestly wasn’t expecting to like this work as much as I did, but it’s definitely my most recent guilty pleasure! More of a suspenseful mystery than a thriller, this slow burn did an excellent job at building up layers of secrets, connections, drama, and tension as the reader gets more familiar with the setting and the characters. Oh, the drama and secrets! I enjoyed that the author included some UrbanMyth discussion board posts and emails between the chapters; this added much to the story and it was executed well.
The characters were excellently written. The three main protagonists had unique voices and were well developed. I enjoyed how different the women were despite having much in common, and the fact that they were all unlikeable but still fascinating to read about. It was also a plus that this work focused on the adults rather than the teens.
This was a highly entertaining book that didn’t require much thought and was impossible to put down. I highly recommend this work if you like drama, rich people problems, and juicy secrets. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 9 May 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I honestly wasn’t expecting to like this work as much as I did, but it’s definitely my most recent guilty pleasure! More of a suspenseful mystery than a thriller, this slow burn did an excellent job at building up layers of secrets, connections, drama, and tension as the reader gets more familiar with the setting and the characters. Oh, the drama and secrets! I enjoyed that the author included some UrbanMyth discussion board posts and emails between the chapters; this added much to the story and it was executed well.
The characters were excellently written. The three main protagonists had unique voices and were well developed. I enjoyed how different the women were despite having much in common, and the fact that they were all unlikeable but still fascinating to read about. It was also a plus that this work focused on the adults rather than the teens.
This was a highly entertaining book that didn’t require much thought and was impossible to put down. I highly recommend this work if you like drama, rich people problems, and juicy secrets. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 9 May 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 5, 2023
The anonymous app, Urban Myth is a place for the residents of an exclusive upper East Side neighborhood, to vent, share secrets, and share advice.
The story is told with excerpts of the scandalous postings and alternating points of view between Heather, the helicopter parent, Poppy, the Queen Bee, and Norah, the business exec. Unfortunately for them, the site may not be as anonymous as they hoped. The site is hacked and identities are threatened.
Then a husband goes missing.
Pop the popcorn and let the games and drama begin!
This was an addictive fun read. Rich people behaving badly is not a new premise, but this one had the added themes of oversharing on social media, parents who will stop at nothing to get their kids into prestigious universities, and a murder investigation.
*I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The story is told with excerpts of the scandalous postings and alternating points of view between Heather, the helicopter parent, Poppy, the Queen Bee, and Norah, the business exec. Unfortunately for them, the site may not be as anonymous as they hoped. The site is hacked and identities are threatened.
Then a husband goes missing.
Pop the popcorn and let the games and drama begin!
This was an addictive fun read. Rich people behaving badly is not a new premise, but this one had the added themes of oversharing on social media, parents who will stop at nothing to get their kids into prestigious universities, and a murder investigation.
*I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2023
Poppy - The Queen Bee mother that singlehandedly runs the Upper East Side due to her uber wealthy husband and his old family money.
Heather - A mom that has fought her way into this elite society and will do anything for her daughter to receive the same accommodations as the other spoiled rich kids.
Norah - A successful business woman who has little in common with the other moms except that her daughter also attends the Crofton School. Her hectic schedule leaves little time for gossip over coffee and wine and she is more than fine with that.
It's the end of eighth grade for their children which means acceptance into an elite boarding school. Admission is extremely selective and all parents and children must be on their best behavior to even be considered.
Urban Myth - an alternative to Instagram where residents of the Upper East Side can post whatever they want whenever they want all while under anonymity. Sound like a good idea? Think again!
Hacktivists have infiltrated and now all those juicy little secrets have been exposed and a few of the local mothers have reason to be frightened.
A husband to one of these women has gone missing and they all have a reason to make him disappear. Does Urban Myth hold the answers? The detectives on the case sure do hope so but you'll have to read this to find out!
Do people behaving badly pique your interest? Look no further as this book has no shortage of unlikeable people with nefarious motivations and intentions. Lindsay Cameron has shined a light on the wealthy and let's just say the image isn't nearly as glossy and glamorous as one would think.
I gladly turned the pages just waiting to see how low these characters would go and I wasn't disappointed. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine that kindly granted my wish to read this book.
Heather - A mom that has fought her way into this elite society and will do anything for her daughter to receive the same accommodations as the other spoiled rich kids.
Norah - A successful business woman who has little in common with the other moms except that her daughter also attends the Crofton School. Her hectic schedule leaves little time for gossip over coffee and wine and she is more than fine with that.
It's the end of eighth grade for their children which means acceptance into an elite boarding school. Admission is extremely selective and all parents and children must be on their best behavior to even be considered.
Urban Myth - an alternative to Instagram where residents of the Upper East Side can post whatever they want whenever they want all while under anonymity. Sound like a good idea? Think again!
Hacktivists have infiltrated and now all those juicy little secrets have been exposed and a few of the local mothers have reason to be frightened.
A husband to one of these women has gone missing and they all have a reason to make him disappear. Does Urban Myth hold the answers? The detectives on the case sure do hope so but you'll have to read this to find out!
Do people behaving badly pique your interest? Look no further as this book has no shortage of unlikeable people with nefarious motivations and intentions. Lindsay Cameron has shined a light on the wealthy and let's just say the image isn't nearly as glossy and glamorous as one would think.
I gladly turned the pages just waiting to see how low these characters would go and I wasn't disappointed. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine that kindly granted my wish to read this book.
May 13, 2023
Juicy rich people murder saga. A slow burn, yes, but it deliberately unfolded so that I never got bored.
Focusing on three private school mothers from the uber-wealthy Upper East Side, focused on getting their children into an exclusive boarding school and onto the Ivy League. Heather, Poppy, and Norah have their own problems as well, and they vent them on the highly anonymous Urban Myth site. Yet scandals and secrets abound, and when one of their circle ends up missing, presumed dead, who might be to blame?
I thought the prologue was a bit superfluous, it didn't add anything other than letting us know that something was going to happen (maybe a death?) I did like the way the book unfolded, it was juicy secret after juicy secret, and when everything comes to light--oooh! the accusations fly! The narrative is straightforward and although I figured out what happened long before it was revealed, it didn't really make a difference because it was an enjoyable ride.
This is a popcorn thriller at its finest, and I was here for all of the delicious drama.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Focusing on three private school mothers from the uber-wealthy Upper East Side, focused on getting their children into an exclusive boarding school and onto the Ivy League. Heather, Poppy, and Norah have their own problems as well, and they vent them on the highly anonymous Urban Myth site. Yet scandals and secrets abound, and when one of their circle ends up missing, presumed dead, who might be to blame?
I thought the prologue was a bit superfluous, it didn't add anything other than letting us know that something was going to happen (maybe a death?) I did like the way the book unfolded, it was juicy secret after juicy secret, and when everything comes to light--oooh! the accusations fly! The narrative is straightforward and although I figured out what happened long before it was revealed, it didn't really make a difference because it was an enjoyable ride.
This is a popcorn thriller at its finest, and I was here for all of the delicious drama.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
July 1, 2023
3.5 STARS ~ Audio 🎧
A bit of a slower burn for me. NOT A BAD read!
It took me awhile to really "get into" this one, but once I did it took off.
A wealthy neighborhood, parents obsessing over their kids getting into the proper school, everyone posting on the Urban Myth app and thinking they were anonymous as they spread secrets, lies, and so-called confessions!
A husband has suddenly disappeared. Detectives are "visiting" the neighbors and gathering information. Knock,knock......
The Urban Myth site gets hacked! Some are really unnerved now and for good reason.
Overall a fun listen, but I didn't care much for the big reveal. I would be up for reading another by the author.
Libby listen/ Narrated by Brittany Pressley and Rebecca Lowman/ 9hrs 24min
A bit of a slower burn for me. NOT A BAD read!
It took me awhile to really "get into" this one, but once I did it took off.
A wealthy neighborhood, parents obsessing over their kids getting into the proper school, everyone posting on the Urban Myth app and thinking they were anonymous as they spread secrets, lies, and so-called confessions!
A husband has suddenly disappeared. Detectives are "visiting" the neighbors and gathering information. Knock,knock......
The Urban Myth site gets hacked! Some are really unnerved now and for good reason.
Overall a fun listen, but I didn't care much for the big reveal. I would be up for reading another by the author.
Libby listen/ Narrated by Brittany Pressley and Rebecca Lowman/ 9hrs 24min
August 22, 2025
The residents of Manhattan's exclusive Upper East Side neighborhoods, are no strangers to drama. One might say, the bigger the money, the bigger the drama.
Looking for an anonymous place to vent and share their deepest, darkest secrets, as well as occasional search for advice, residents turn to an app; as you do nowadays.
It's called UrbanMyth and the promise is that it is 100% anonymous. No matter what you post, no one will ever be able to link it back to you.
That sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?
In this story, we're following three different perspectives, Heather, Norah and Poppy; all women who live in the UES and have children at the Crofton School.
I don't want to give any details of the drama that unfolds amongst these women, as it is really fun to watch the sh*tshow unfold right before you eyes. Just know, it's high octane, 1% problems, with twist after jilted twist.
As the interactions between the women and their families are reaching a fever pitch, hackers break through the walls of UrbanMyth, tearing them down and exposing all users.
After the hack, as long as you have a person's email address, you can find everything they ever posted on the app. When an UES-parent disappears, the local law enforcement find this hack quite useful.
Will any of our ladies be caught red-handed blabbing about their evil misdoings?!
It's no secret that I love stories involving rich people drama, so No One Needs to Know had a really great shot of making me happy, and it did!
It's such a quick, fun read, especially if you are also down for some secrets and drama. I loved the use of mixed media to tell the story.
Cameron included various posts from the UrbanMyth app, as well as correspondence involving the lead investigator of the UES-parent's disappearance.
I also really enjoyed the anticipation of getting to the crime. I didn't know for quite a while who, or what, the investigation was going to be into. There were so many different possibilities with all that was going on.
I thought once the crime/mystery was revealed, it was fun watching everyone scrambling around. I couldn't tell if they were covering up something regarding that, or just other various secrets they were trying not to have exposed.
It was genuinely an addicting storyline.
Additionally, I found the conclusion to be immensely satisfying. Cameron knew just what I wanted in the end.
Overall, this is a great popcorn suspense, that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. Don't expect to fall in the love with the characters, but if you enjoy being a fly on the wall watching people's dirty laundry be aired, you should definitely have a good time with this one!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Ballantine, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
This is the first I have read from Lindsay Cameron, but I am definitely looking forward to picking up more of her work.
Looking for an anonymous place to vent and share their deepest, darkest secrets, as well as occasional search for advice, residents turn to an app; as you do nowadays.
It's called UrbanMyth and the promise is that it is 100% anonymous. No matter what you post, no one will ever be able to link it back to you.
That sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?
In this story, we're following three different perspectives, Heather, Norah and Poppy; all women who live in the UES and have children at the Crofton School.
I don't want to give any details of the drama that unfolds amongst these women, as it is really fun to watch the sh*tshow unfold right before you eyes. Just know, it's high octane, 1% problems, with twist after jilted twist.
As the interactions between the women and their families are reaching a fever pitch, hackers break through the walls of UrbanMyth, tearing them down and exposing all users.
After the hack, as long as you have a person's email address, you can find everything they ever posted on the app. When an UES-parent disappears, the local law enforcement find this hack quite useful.
Will any of our ladies be caught red-handed blabbing about their evil misdoings?!
It's no secret that I love stories involving rich people drama, so No One Needs to Know had a really great shot of making me happy, and it did!
It's such a quick, fun read, especially if you are also down for some secrets and drama. I loved the use of mixed media to tell the story.
Cameron included various posts from the UrbanMyth app, as well as correspondence involving the lead investigator of the UES-parent's disappearance.
I also really enjoyed the anticipation of getting to the crime. I didn't know for quite a while who, or what, the investigation was going to be into. There were so many different possibilities with all that was going on.
I thought once the crime/mystery was revealed, it was fun watching everyone scrambling around. I couldn't tell if they were covering up something regarding that, or just other various secrets they were trying not to have exposed.
It was genuinely an addicting storyline.
Additionally, I found the conclusion to be immensely satisfying. Cameron knew just what I wanted in the end.
Overall, this is a great popcorn suspense, that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. Don't expect to fall in the love with the characters, but if you enjoy being a fly on the wall watching people's dirty laundry be aired, you should definitely have a good time with this one!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Ballantine, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
This is the first I have read from Lindsay Cameron, but I am definitely looking forward to picking up more of her work.
August 15, 2023
No One Needs to Know is a mix of women's fiction with drama and suspense based on The socialite moms of the Upper Elite Upper East Side of Manhattan all having dark, dirty secrets. To have no autonomy, they're all chomping at the bit to liberate themselves of all the secrets that are eating at them, and they can't share with their spouses, friends and family on the anonymous discussion platform UrbanMyth, which allows users to post questions and confessions without anyone knowing. But someone takes it too far, falsely targeting Violet, a 13-year-old private school student who attends Crofton, enraging one of the moms. However, they should have known nothing on the web is ever genuinely safe because a hacktivist group called "Eat The Rich infiltrates the platform, causing a massive data breach and allowing anyone to identify who wrote which posts on the app. All you need is their email to look up the person you're looking for. But they must scramble to face the truth when their user information becomes public. And then, of course, someone ends up dead.
Heather, a Tiger Mommy, will do anything to ensure her daughter's success. No matter the cost.
Poppy is married to a powerful, wealthy Harris Ridley, born into a blue-blood family. And owns Global Corp.
Norah is an executive at Global Corp. who is overworked and unaware of what is happening in her daughter's life or marriage.
The author cleverly builds tension and creates a sense of unease that had me eagerly turning the pages all night, eager to uncover the truth. The primary and supporting characters in the novel are also well-developed, each contributing to the overall suspense of the story. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of the three women. There is a good balance of unlikeable and likeable characters. As awful as the characters were, I did connect with them. I felt for Nora as she worked long hours, traveled out of town and was the sole bread winner for her family and felt like an outsider. Heather was overbearing, and she didn’t seem to care if her actions hurt her family as long as her daughter got accepted into the right school. By the end, I felt I had a better understanding of Poppy. I had a front seat to see how the Upper East Side Women navigated theIr lives, watching the cattiness of the women and the drama it created. Some of it was self-inflicted by spreading unsubstantiated rumours and not thinking about the fallout or who it would hurt as long as it benefited their daughter. The lies they told to their husbands, the drama and the two mysteries to figure out made it an enjoyable read; I found it highly entertaining and a page-turner. My only minor complaint is that I felt the ending fell a little flat. I paired my reading with the audio narrated by Brittney Pressley and Rebecca Lowman, who did a fantastic job of making me visualize the characters and adding to the drama with their voices.
Heather, a Tiger Mommy, will do anything to ensure her daughter's success. No matter the cost.
Poppy is married to a powerful, wealthy Harris Ridley, born into a blue-blood family. And owns Global Corp.
Norah is an executive at Global Corp. who is overworked and unaware of what is happening in her daughter's life or marriage.
The author cleverly builds tension and creates a sense of unease that had me eagerly turning the pages all night, eager to uncover the truth. The primary and supporting characters in the novel are also well-developed, each contributing to the overall suspense of the story. The narrative alternates between the perspectives of the three women. There is a good balance of unlikeable and likeable characters. As awful as the characters were, I did connect with them. I felt for Nora as she worked long hours, traveled out of town and was the sole bread winner for her family and felt like an outsider. Heather was overbearing, and she didn’t seem to care if her actions hurt her family as long as her daughter got accepted into the right school. By the end, I felt I had a better understanding of Poppy. I had a front seat to see how the Upper East Side Women navigated theIr lives, watching the cattiness of the women and the drama it created. Some of it was self-inflicted by spreading unsubstantiated rumours and not thinking about the fallout or who it would hurt as long as it benefited their daughter. The lies they told to their husbands, the drama and the two mysteries to figure out made it an enjoyable read; I found it highly entertaining and a page-turner. My only minor complaint is that I felt the ending fell a little flat. I paired my reading with the audio narrated by Brittney Pressley and Rebecca Lowman, who did a fantastic job of making me visualize the characters and adding to the drama with their voices.
April 1, 2024
Entertaining for sure!
There are 3 main female characters.
Heather: she is relentless in trying to get her daughter into an elite boarding school. She will stop at nothing to accomplish it.
Poppy: Rich and full of privilege. Yet, she is bored. Her husband treats her like a decoration he purchased and is showing off.
Norah: a down-to-earth mother who works for Poppy's husband. She works and enjoys it and doesn't feel like she fits with all the other mothers which she is happy about.
Then there is a website called Urban Myth. The website is supposed to be private. Everyone can post their deepest secrets. The information is so juicy that everyone on the Upper East Side has the app.
Then, a man disappears and the site is hacked and all three ladies' secrets are in the open.
I think the blurb is misleading. The hacking happens not at the beginning of the book but way into it. By then, I don't think it made much of a difference. We already knew each woman and what they were dealing with privately.
No One Needs to Know had unlikable characters except for Norah. She was my favorite.
I enjoyed the ending and I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read something like Desperate Housewives. I certainly do.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Bantam via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
There are 3 main female characters.
Heather: she is relentless in trying to get her daughter into an elite boarding school. She will stop at nothing to accomplish it.
Poppy: Rich and full of privilege. Yet, she is bored. Her husband treats her like a decoration he purchased and is showing off.
Norah: a down-to-earth mother who works for Poppy's husband. She works and enjoys it and doesn't feel like she fits with all the other mothers which she is happy about.
Then there is a website called Urban Myth. The website is supposed to be private. Everyone can post their deepest secrets. The information is so juicy that everyone on the Upper East Side has the app.
Then, a man disappears and the site is hacked and all three ladies' secrets are in the open.
I think the blurb is misleading. The hacking happens not at the beginning of the book but way into it. By then, I don't think it made much of a difference. We already knew each woman and what they were dealing with privately.
No One Needs to Know had unlikable characters except for Norah. She was my favorite.
I enjoyed the ending and I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read something like Desperate Housewives. I certainly do.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Bantam via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
May 8, 2025
No One Needs to Know is a 2023 mystery I found on NetGalley, written by Lindsay Cameron, a new author to me. Focused on a group of wealthy parents in NYC who use a mobile app where you can share secrets anonymously, but they will only show to people within a certain radius of your home address, this novel seeks to create major suspense and drama. Quite the premise, which is both awesome and silly... since no one would really ever use this in reality but if they did, how fun would it be to guess people's identities! Of course, the apps hacked and everyone learns who posted about infidelity, thoughts of murder, lying, et al. Their kids are also integral to the storyline as the drama all starts when one of them takes a picture of another one vaping at a secret school party. I enjoyed the various POVs for the mothers, and when things begin to rip apart, the drama is hilarious and scary. The ending brings together well but it suffered a bit from randomness and side stories taking over. For the premise and spot-on picture of NYC wealth, it was a great read. For the ending, it needed a higher level of scrutiny so that it really left a huge mark on readers. But I liked it enough that I want to read another book from the author.
August 7, 2023
Did I read the same book as everyone else? Am I missing something here?
I've seen many rave reviews for this novel. Many have stated this was similar to Gossip Girl, a show I loved as a teen. I was excited to dive into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. Sadly, I found the story boring.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Lindsay Cameron, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I've seen many rave reviews for this novel. Many have stated this was similar to Gossip Girl, a show I loved as a teen. I was excited to dive into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. Sadly, I found the story boring.
Overall, not for me.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Lindsay Cameron, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
May 9, 2023
HAPPY PUB DAY🥳 to this gripping domestic thriller on May 9 2023! I enjoyed my read of NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW by Lindsay Cameron. Find her on Instagram @lindsaycaneronauthor
Thank you to the author Lindsay Cameron, publishers Bantam Books and Penguin Random House, and as always NetGalley, for an advance audio copy of NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW.
Heather is a power mom who would do anything to protect her daughter, who has been accused of selling drugs at a school event. Poppy is being blackmailed by the man she's sleeping with. And Norah's great business acumen and greater wealth do little to protect her from the cutthroat anonymous posters on their swanky New York City condo association's community board. Each of them are seeking to protect themselves from their own problems, but as they keep running into each other and accusing each other, more information becomes clear -- like maybe they have something in common -- something like an enemy.
This is a super twisty domestic thriller with quite a few unlikable characters whom I enjoyed watching wriggle like worms. This is the best way to write unlikable characters, in my opinion, and the best way to write a plot in which all the characters' lives basically come apart: combine the elements!
It's a bit of a slow burn, but really turns up the gas at about the thirty percent mark. Once it picks up, the pace is solid for the rest of the book.
Somewhat convoluted at points, but overall an enjoyable read! Think you know what's going on? You don't, or at least not for long!
Rating 🏙🏙🏙.75 / 5 big city high rises
Recommend? Yes!
Finished May 6 2023
Format: Advance Digital, NetGalley
Read this if you like:
🔪 Murder mysteries
🏠 Domestic thrillers
🫦 Torrid affairs
🤷♀️ Benignly neglected children
🏙 Rich city zipcodes
🕶 Anonymous message board posters
Thank you to the author Lindsay Cameron, publishers Bantam Books and Penguin Random House, and as always NetGalley, for an advance audio copy of NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW.
Heather is a power mom who would do anything to protect her daughter, who has been accused of selling drugs at a school event. Poppy is being blackmailed by the man she's sleeping with. And Norah's great business acumen and greater wealth do little to protect her from the cutthroat anonymous posters on their swanky New York City condo association's community board. Each of them are seeking to protect themselves from their own problems, but as they keep running into each other and accusing each other, more information becomes clear -- like maybe they have something in common -- something like an enemy.
This is a super twisty domestic thriller with quite a few unlikable characters whom I enjoyed watching wriggle like worms. This is the best way to write unlikable characters, in my opinion, and the best way to write a plot in which all the characters' lives basically come apart: combine the elements!
It's a bit of a slow burn, but really turns up the gas at about the thirty percent mark. Once it picks up, the pace is solid for the rest of the book.
Somewhat convoluted at points, but overall an enjoyable read! Think you know what's going on? You don't, or at least not for long!
Rating 🏙🏙🏙.75 / 5 big city high rises
Recommend? Yes!
Finished May 6 2023
Format: Advance Digital, NetGalley
Read this if you like:
🔪 Murder mysteries
🏠 Domestic thrillers
🫦 Torrid affairs
🤷♀️ Benignly neglected children
🏙 Rich city zipcodes
🕶 Anonymous message board posters
January 16, 2023
I really liked this book and read it late into the night so I could see how it all turned out. It centers on 3 moms of 8th graders in Manhattan's Upper East Side: Poppy, Norah, and Heather. They are all trying to get their kids into the best high schools while navigating the dynamics that come along with being super competitive with each other in an exclusive neighborhood and educational system. Someone ends up dead and the "anonymous" website to which they all post their secrets gets hacked, making all of them potential suspects. The story felt relevant to current events with people trying to buy their way into good schools and posting things online that they should really keep to themselves.
I don't think the characters were meant to be likable but I found myself rooting for both Norah and Poppy. I wanted to strangle Heather, though. The book goes back and forth between the POVs of these 3 women and does a good job of letting you into their lives without repeating things that happen in different voices. There were some good twists in the book and I was surprised at a couple things when all was revealed- I thought there was a good level of suspense overall. I felt like the short chapters and the various intertwined mysteries made for a really fast read. It was fascinating to me just how much money and status can influence decisions, something that I knew happened but hadn't ever delved deep into.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and thought it was a fun read, similar in style to "Big Little Lies". I'd recommend it to those who like to read about the 1% and also like a good mystery. I enjoyed this author's "Just One Look" as well and will have to pick up "Big Law". Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think the characters were meant to be likable but I found myself rooting for both Norah and Poppy. I wanted to strangle Heather, though. The book goes back and forth between the POVs of these 3 women and does a good job of letting you into their lives without repeating things that happen in different voices. There were some good twists in the book and I was surprised at a couple things when all was revealed- I thought there was a good level of suspense overall. I felt like the short chapters and the various intertwined mysteries made for a really fast read. It was fascinating to me just how much money and status can influence decisions, something that I knew happened but hadn't ever delved deep into.
Overall, I'd recommend this book and thought it was a fun read, similar in style to "Big Little Lies". I'd recommend it to those who like to read about the 1% and also like a good mystery. I enjoyed this author's "Just One Look" as well and will have to pick up "Big Law". Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2023
No One Needs To Know was such a fun read! You have got to love rich people behaving badly. This is an addictive read, one that can easily be read in a few hours. It will have you hooked and trying to work out just who did what with who and where and when. Loaded with highly unlikeable characters, you won’t want to stop until you finish.
Urban Myths is an anonymous chat board for the élite residents of Manhattan. Here you can ask anything and get advice and no one will even know it is you. Well that is until it gets hacked and all your darkest secrets are revealed. This is where the wealthy parents unload themselves and now everyone knows their dirty laundry. Which comes in handy when sponge of their own goes missing.
There are money issues, affairs, thieving maids.. you name it, these women have so many issues and secrets. It is so fun to see them scramble to save their reputations.
I loved reading this book. A massive thanks to Bantam and Thriller Book Promotions for my advanced reading copy. Publishes on May 9th, you will want to read it.
Urban Myths is an anonymous chat board for the élite residents of Manhattan. Here you can ask anything and get advice and no one will even know it is you. Well that is until it gets hacked and all your darkest secrets are revealed. This is where the wealthy parents unload themselves and now everyone knows their dirty laundry. Which comes in handy when sponge of their own goes missing.
There are money issues, affairs, thieving maids.. you name it, these women have so many issues and secrets. It is so fun to see them scramble to save their reputations.
I loved reading this book. A massive thanks to Bantam and Thriller Book Promotions for my advanced reading copy. Publishes on May 9th, you will want to read it.
January 11, 2024
An enveloping drama that eclipsed all else with its juiciness. Honestly no one is shocked more than myselves that were rating this 5 stars 😂 the epitome of rich white people problems & it was simply fun to sink into.
Marketed as a thriller, this is a drama following the lives of outlandishly wealthy upper east siders in NYC whose lives are bared when a vigilante exposes the secrets they’ve all confessed on a local neighborhood app called Urban Myth. Oh and a murder gets thrown in at the end 😆
Marketed as a thriller, this is a drama following the lives of outlandishly wealthy upper east siders in NYC whose lives are bared when a vigilante exposes the secrets they’ve all confessed on a local neighborhood app called Urban Myth. Oh and a murder gets thrown in at the end 😆
February 17, 2023
Although it's not a bad book, it definitely wasn't the book for me. At no point throughout the story did I feel as if I was reading a thriller. The writing and characters failed to spark and hold my attention consistently. Nothing of real significance seemed to really happen until there was a quarter of the story left and the pacing finally picked up. Even then (especially with the ending), the plot and spaced out dialogue felt random, stiff and mundane. Lack of character development and unfinished plot lines left the story feeling pointless.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing a copy for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing a copy for an honest review.
March 27, 2023
"She knew better than to give anyone in this group a thread to pull."
No One Needs To Know is a juicy, gossip-filled domestic drama that gives you frequent tidbits but holds its biggest secrets until the very end.
This story is built around 3 Upper East Side moms. One business mom, one author mom, and one trophy wife mom. They're very different women but they have one thing in common: they want their children to succeed.
The moms are at each other's throats right now because it's nearly time for the elite private high school to be picking their students. They're using UrbanMyth, an anonymous app that lets you post questions or comments about your neighbors, to help their kids' chances and find out the scoops.
There is a lot going on besides the hacking of UrbanMyth, which outs all of those "private" posts with the click of a mouse but that's like pouring gas on a fire. Drama, deceit, betrayal.. and in the worst of ways.
Not everyone is going to make it to see who gets into Andover!
I really enjoyed this! I usually prefer fewer narrators but I really liked them all and was quickly able to tell them apart easily. I found myself waiting to see how the others viewed a situation.
There are a few really good twists in here and I didn't guess any of them! It was a fun read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes neighborhood, domestic, or social media dramas, which are all right up my alley.
Thanks to NetGalley and other publisher for the chance to read and review! This book is due to hit shelves this May!
No One Needs To Know is a juicy, gossip-filled domestic drama that gives you frequent tidbits but holds its biggest secrets until the very end.
This story is built around 3 Upper East Side moms. One business mom, one author mom, and one trophy wife mom. They're very different women but they have one thing in common: they want their children to succeed.
The moms are at each other's throats right now because it's nearly time for the elite private high school to be picking their students. They're using UrbanMyth, an anonymous app that lets you post questions or comments about your neighbors, to help their kids' chances and find out the scoops.
There is a lot going on besides the hacking of UrbanMyth, which outs all of those "private" posts with the click of a mouse but that's like pouring gas on a fire. Drama, deceit, betrayal.. and in the worst of ways.
Not everyone is going to make it to see who gets into Andover!
I really enjoyed this! I usually prefer fewer narrators but I really liked them all and was quickly able to tell them apart easily. I found myself waiting to see how the others viewed a situation.
There are a few really good twists in here and I didn't guess any of them! It was a fun read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes neighborhood, domestic, or social media dramas, which are all right up my alley.
Thanks to NetGalley and other publisher for the chance to read and review! This book is due to hit shelves this May!
June 16, 2023
Review to come
May 21, 2023
For those who long for a grown up Gossip Girl, this is it!!!
March 4, 2023
This is a book full of drama, twists and secrets. It was like an episode of the Real Housewives of New York City, where all the women live on the Upper East Side and live in their own bubble. Fans of that will definitely like this book!
Norah, Poppy and Heather: These three women are our main characters, and they all lead very posh and dramatic lives. Their kids are all poised to go to Ivy League schools, and they are all on a social media app called UrbanMyth. On this app they can anonymously post their most private secrets, and they are JUICY ones!
Then one day, news breaks that a “hacktivist” group has infiltrated the app and has posted every member’s email addresses and messages to the public. As long as you know the person’s email address, you can plug it in and see every anonymous thought they ever put into the void.
The problem is, one of the husbands in this group has gone missing, and all of these women have posted things that could incriminate themselves in his case. Affairs? Blackmail? Kids doing drugs? It’s all out in the open now, and these women are in damage control mode. The rest of the book is them trying to stay under the radar and talk their way out of things they’ve said online.
This was, as I said, very juicy and dramatic. As long as you don’t go into this thinking these women might be deep inside, you’ll enjoy this popcorn thriller. It was definitely entertaining and I didn’t see the ending coming! I give this one a solid four stars.
(Thank you to Bantam Publishing, Lindsay Cameron and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 9, 2023.)
Norah, Poppy and Heather: These three women are our main characters, and they all lead very posh and dramatic lives. Their kids are all poised to go to Ivy League schools, and they are all on a social media app called UrbanMyth. On this app they can anonymously post their most private secrets, and they are JUICY ones!
Then one day, news breaks that a “hacktivist” group has infiltrated the app and has posted every member’s email addresses and messages to the public. As long as you know the person’s email address, you can plug it in and see every anonymous thought they ever put into the void.
The problem is, one of the husbands in this group has gone missing, and all of these women have posted things that could incriminate themselves in his case. Affairs? Blackmail? Kids doing drugs? It’s all out in the open now, and these women are in damage control mode. The rest of the book is them trying to stay under the radar and talk their way out of things they’ve said online.
This was, as I said, very juicy and dramatic. As long as you don’t go into this thinking these women might be deep inside, you’ll enjoy this popcorn thriller. It was definitely entertaining and I didn’t see the ending coming! I give this one a solid four stars.
(Thank you to Bantam Publishing, Lindsay Cameron and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 9, 2023.)
June 11, 2024
I've never watched a single show of The Real Housewives of wherever TF they are, but I've seen enough commercials to confidently say this is the book version of that. It is the reality TV of books. I didn't learn anything. It didn't change me. It was pretty fun in the moment, but nothing will stick with me. There are so many pop culture references within this book that it will not age well. I hated the ending.
If you're thinking about picking this up, read Big Little Lies instead.
2.75⭐️
If you're thinking about picking this up, read Big Little Lies instead.
2.75⭐️
May 14, 2023
no one needs to know how boring this book is
May 10, 2023
3.5 stars
A decent compulsive read, No One Needs to Know has the unputdownable quality going for it — propelling one to keep turning pages until the book ends. Even though the plot is constructed with very recycled materials, with a pivotal reveal being rather anticlimactic, overall the mixed media narrative devices and Lindsay Cameron's punchy writing help sustaining its enjoyable factor all the way through.
'First World Problem' is the name of the game, as we follow 3 wealthy women fighting petty rivalries (such as securing their kids a spot in a private boarding school), and their uncensored interaction on an anonymous neighborhood digital forum. I particularly enjoyed the forum aspect, which the novel has utilized its anonymity fully to build tension (leaving us to guess which character said what). However, No One Needs to Know didn't quite master closure; there were multiple points where the buildup was so high-stake and devious, only for the reveals to be rather mundane and out of left field — they weren't so bad that I felt like I've wasted my time reading, but I was left hoping the plot has gone a different, less safe route.
Still, even though No One Needs to Know might not be God tier, it remains a good one; it doesn't stray far from the formula of gossipy neighborhood thrillers — which can translate to familiar comfort, and the online forum element does bring fresh perspective that's relevant to the time. I can see many readers enjoy this one quite a bit!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A decent compulsive read, No One Needs to Know has the unputdownable quality going for it — propelling one to keep turning pages until the book ends. Even though the plot is constructed with very recycled materials, with a pivotal reveal being rather anticlimactic, overall the mixed media narrative devices and Lindsay Cameron's punchy writing help sustaining its enjoyable factor all the way through.
'First World Problem' is the name of the game, as we follow 3 wealthy women fighting petty rivalries (such as securing their kids a spot in a private boarding school), and their uncensored interaction on an anonymous neighborhood digital forum. I particularly enjoyed the forum aspect, which the novel has utilized its anonymity fully to build tension (leaving us to guess which character said what). However, No One Needs to Know didn't quite master closure; there were multiple points where the buildup was so high-stake and devious, only for the reveals to be rather mundane and out of left field — they weren't so bad that I felt like I've wasted my time reading, but I was left hoping the plot has gone a different, less safe route.
Still, even though No One Needs to Know might not be God tier, it remains a good one; it doesn't stray far from the formula of gossipy neighborhood thrillers — which can translate to familiar comfort, and the online forum element does bring fresh perspective that's relevant to the time. I can see many readers enjoy this one quite a bit!
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
January 10, 2023
Poppy, Heather and Norah all live in Manhattan's Upper East Side. Their children all attend an elite private school and are all competing for their children to get in the top high schools and Universities. When an app called UrbanMyth they have all used is hacked, all their dirty secrets are exposed and someone ends up dead. Who is it and why did it happen?, Detective Danielli investigates.
NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW is a fast paced thriller you can read in a days time. I can't say I liked any of these ladies, but their story lines grabbed my attention. The ending had a nice twist I didn't see coming and I love when that happens. Overall, this is an entertaining book, I think many thriller lovers will enjoy.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication date.
NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW is a fast paced thriller you can read in a days time. I can't say I liked any of these ladies, but their story lines grabbed my attention. The ending had a nice twist I didn't see coming and I love when that happens. Overall, this is an entertaining book, I think many thriller lovers will enjoy.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication date.
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