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The Plans I Have for You
Feminine rage, cancel culture, and suffocating societal pressure—a cutting and brazen thriller about two Asian American women on a quest for revenge after a public shaming pushes them to the limit, for fans of Yellowface and Counterfeit.
When a conflict with a fellow passenger on the subway spirals into a humiliating breakdown, Shelley Hu’s life is over. The incident goes viral, costing Shelley her prestigious Manhattan law firm internship, her spot at Columbia Law, and her plan to build a better life for herself and her mother.
Months later, Shelley is back in Kissimmee, Florida, working the night shift at a kitschy motel near Disney World—the very same job she held in high school. Shelley’s life is a black hole until, one night, the beautiful, enigmatic Sophia Moon checks in with her husband and young son. But Sophia’s appearance is far from random.
It turns out that, once upon a time, Sophia suffered her own episode of public shaming. Since then, Sophia has rebuilt a new life, and she promises to help Shelley do the same. More importantly, Sophia vows to help Shelley enact revenge on the three people responsible for the worst day of her life with a precise set of plans.
Shelley returns to New York with a new identity and plans that start off well. But when the situation soon spirals out of control, Shelley is forced to reckon with Sophia’s unspeakably dark side—though it may be too late.
When a conflict with a fellow passenger on the subway spirals into a humiliating breakdown, Shelley Hu’s life is over. The incident goes viral, costing Shelley her prestigious Manhattan law firm internship, her spot at Columbia Law, and her plan to build a better life for herself and her mother.
Months later, Shelley is back in Kissimmee, Florida, working the night shift at a kitschy motel near Disney World—the very same job she held in high school. Shelley’s life is a black hole until, one night, the beautiful, enigmatic Sophia Moon checks in with her husband and young son. But Sophia’s appearance is far from random.
It turns out that, once upon a time, Sophia suffered her own episode of public shaming. Since then, Sophia has rebuilt a new life, and she promises to help Shelley do the same. More importantly, Sophia vows to help Shelley enact revenge on the three people responsible for the worst day of her life with a precise set of plans.
Shelley returns to New York with a new identity and plans that start off well. But when the situation soon spirals out of control, Shelley is forced to reckon with Sophia’s unspeakably dark side—though it may be too late.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2026
86 people are currently reading
12442 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
August 21, 2025
ARC for review. To be published March 17, 2026.
3 stars
Shelley Hu is a law student at Columbia (she only mentions this about 750 times) and has a covered clerkship with a prestigious firm, but she loses it all after she appears in a video losing her mind on the subway; the video goes viral.
She moves back in with her mother in Florida, in disgrace and she’s working at a cheesy motel when she meets Sophia Moon, who promises Shelley she can help reconstruct her life; Sophia has also been through a terrible set of circumstances made public.
So, this was…odd. What, at first, appears to be a simple revenge story (and I like revenge) is mixed with ghostliness and that part takes over toward the end of the book. It’s fairly well done, but, honestly, I don’t even know if I liked it or not.
3 stars
Shelley Hu is a law student at Columbia (she only mentions this about 750 times) and has a covered clerkship with a prestigious firm, but she loses it all after she appears in a video losing her mind on the subway; the video goes viral.
She moves back in with her mother in Florida, in disgrace and she’s working at a cheesy motel when she meets Sophia Moon, who promises Shelley she can help reconstruct her life; Sophia has also been through a terrible set of circumstances made public.
So, this was…odd. What, at first, appears to be a simple revenge story (and I like revenge) is mixed with ghostliness and that part takes over toward the end of the book. It’s fairly well done, but, honestly, I don’t even know if I liked it or not.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: It's Women's Rage genre, but anti-Karen flavor. Yum!
"Most people hoped foolishly for miracles, for saviors, for a deus ex machina that arrived in the final act. But Soyoung had known— ever since she was a little girl, standing on the bank of the Han River and looking through the midnight fog towards that ruthless , glittering city— that for someone like her, they would never come." p61
In Short: Among other brilliant techniques, this book decolonizes girls' first names in English. The plot feels repetitive and the pace a bit flat. Theme work is excellent. Form is interesting. This stalls halfway through for me.
Content Warnings: racism, public humiliation, SA, Se*ual harassment, job loss, retaliation, absent parent, abandonment, death of a parent, parentification of a child, emotional abuse,
Preread: I love the women's rage genre in all its forms. This one is delightfully special and so needed in the genre.
"Most people hoped foolishly for miracles, for saviors, for a deus ex machina that arrived in the final act. But Soyoung had known— ever since she was a little girl, standing on the bank of the Han River and looking through the midnight fog towards that ruthless , glittering city— that for someone like her, they would never come." p61
In Short: Among other brilliant techniques, this book decolonizes girls' first names in English. The plot feels repetitive and the pace a bit flat. Theme work is excellent. Form is interesting. This stalls halfway through for me.
Content Warnings: racism, public humiliation, SA, Se*ual harassment, job loss, retaliation, absent parent, abandonment, death of a parent, parentification of a child, emotional abuse,
Preread: I love the women's rage genre in all its forms. This one is delightfully special and so needed in the genre.
September 11, 2025
What a phenomenal, unhinged ride this book turned out to be! I was lucky enough to receive an early copy from Simon & Schuster, and the moment I saw it pitched as “for fans of Yellowface,” I was all in, and it absolutely delivered.
The Plans I Have for You is a masterclass in feminine rage. Shelley’s life is derailed by a single pivotal moment, and Sophia enters the picture with a plan to help her take revenge on those responsible. What follows is a spiraling, genre-blending journey that’s equal parts cathartic and chaotic.
Lai Sanders layers in a touch of speculative fiction and introduces a lesser-known cultural side of China that I found completely fascinating. The pacing is relentless, but in the best way. I kept thinking I’d wind down for bed, but the plot refused to let up. Every chapter amped up the wildness, and I had to see how it would all unfold.
If this is Sanders’ debut, she’s one to watch. I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next. A bold, explosive, and wildly entertaining read.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
The Plans I Have for You is a masterclass in feminine rage. Shelley’s life is derailed by a single pivotal moment, and Sophia enters the picture with a plan to help her take revenge on those responsible. What follows is a spiraling, genre-blending journey that’s equal parts cathartic and chaotic.
Lai Sanders layers in a touch of speculative fiction and introduces a lesser-known cultural side of China that I found completely fascinating. The pacing is relentless, but in the best way. I kept thinking I’d wind down for bed, but the plot refused to let up. Every chapter amped up the wildness, and I had to see how it would all unfold.
If this is Sanders’ debut, she’s one to watch. I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next. A bold, explosive, and wildly entertaining read.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!
April 8, 2026
Very Promising Young Woman vibes. I love an unhinged main character with a revenge plot and this mostly delivers. I felt Sanders did pull back quite often when it was time to drive the knife home and we too often got dragged in to backstory and that made some sections drag a bit. Minor complaints though for a writer that has a lot to say and says it well. I’ll definitely keep my eyes open for what she writes next.
September 28, 2025
A debut to watch out for!
I was so taken with the synopsis and premise of this book that I dived into it almost immediately despite the 2026 publication – and was not disappointed.
The social commentary is stellar and the author skillful explores a wide range of themes while crafting a tense, intriguing and entertaining page-turner. It's a lot but yet not too much at the same time. I loved how magical realism is woven into the story while still left up up to the reader's interpretation and belief.
The ending initially left me with mixed feelings but then I realised the ambiguity is the beauty of it all.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the Netgalley ARC.
(Alas, I seem to have lost all my Kindle highlights so I might come back to add my favourite quotes 😓)
I was so taken with the synopsis and premise of this book that I dived into it almost immediately despite the 2026 publication – and was not disappointed.
The social commentary is stellar and the author skillful explores a wide range of themes while crafting a tense, intriguing and entertaining page-turner. It's a lot but yet not too much at the same time. I loved how magical realism is woven into the story while still left up up to the reader's interpretation and belief.
The ending initially left me with mixed feelings but then I realised the ambiguity is the beauty of it all.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the Netgalley ARC.
(Alas, I seem to have lost all my Kindle highlights so I might come back to add my favourite quotes 😓)
March 13, 2026
“The Plans I Have For You” is a thriller x obsession x magical realism / horror (not really sure what to classify it as) with some historical sprinklings, about two Asian American women coming together to seek revenge on the people who wronged them.
Shelley has fled back to her Floridian hometown to work at the front desk of a run-down hotel after her idyllic life in New York fell apart. The victim of “cancel culture” and her public meltdown gone viral, Shelley has accepted her losses after losing her prestigious internship and her place in law school. That is, until one day, a woman named Sophia, with a similar experience as Shelley, checks into the hotel, and offers Shelley a chance to turn things around, to get back at those who played a part in her downfall.
This was a pretty fun and easy read. Once you get a few chapters in, the narrative progresses at a good pace and keeps the reader fairly engaged. However, I think that this book tried to do too much at once and it led to elements of the book feeling watered down. It felt like there were two competing narratives here, and I could see them both being standalone novels. The first being: the thriller focused on cancel culture and getting revenge on the ones who contributed to your downfall. That’s such an interesting topic, and I really loved that aspect to the plot. The second being: the magical realism x horror element with a focus on racism, the jinn, and breaking the cycles of generational trauma. With the two combined into one novel, though, it felt like competing narratives. They both were compelling at times, but I think they would be more effective in their own standalone novels. The novel also had alternating perspectives, from Shelley (present day) to Sophia (past, detailing Sophia’s backstory and how she became the person she is in the present). I’m not the biggest fan of back-and-forth narratives, but that’s just a personal thing. It wasn’t too bad here, though, because I’d say each of the perspectives is just as interesting as the other.
Overall, I think “The Plans I Have For You” is a fine novel. I believe that some of this could have been edited down, and I truly think that this could have (and maybe should have) been two separate novels rather than one. At its best, the novel is engaging and quick to read and keeps the reader a bit on the edge of their seat wanting to know what will happen. It had some really interesting historical context on China and the country’s cultural background, while also spotlighting the gender inequalities, the persecution of Muslims, etc. I enjoyed this and I would recommend it, but it’s definitely not a thriller in the conventional sense—it’s more genre-bending. A good read, but (for me) missed the opportunity of being a great one.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the advance eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Shelley has fled back to her Floridian hometown to work at the front desk of a run-down hotel after her idyllic life in New York fell apart. The victim of “cancel culture” and her public meltdown gone viral, Shelley has accepted her losses after losing her prestigious internship and her place in law school. That is, until one day, a woman named Sophia, with a similar experience as Shelley, checks into the hotel, and offers Shelley a chance to turn things around, to get back at those who played a part in her downfall.
This was a pretty fun and easy read. Once you get a few chapters in, the narrative progresses at a good pace and keeps the reader fairly engaged. However, I think that this book tried to do too much at once and it led to elements of the book feeling watered down. It felt like there were two competing narratives here, and I could see them both being standalone novels. The first being: the thriller focused on cancel culture and getting revenge on the ones who contributed to your downfall. That’s such an interesting topic, and I really loved that aspect to the plot. The second being: the magical realism x horror element with a focus on racism, the jinn, and breaking the cycles of generational trauma. With the two combined into one novel, though, it felt like competing narratives. They both were compelling at times, but I think they would be more effective in their own standalone novels. The novel also had alternating perspectives, from Shelley (present day) to Sophia (past, detailing Sophia’s backstory and how she became the person she is in the present). I’m not the biggest fan of back-and-forth narratives, but that’s just a personal thing. It wasn’t too bad here, though, because I’d say each of the perspectives is just as interesting as the other.
Overall, I think “The Plans I Have For You” is a fine novel. I believe that some of this could have been edited down, and I truly think that this could have (and maybe should have) been two separate novels rather than one. At its best, the novel is engaging and quick to read and keeps the reader a bit on the edge of their seat wanting to know what will happen. It had some really interesting historical context on China and the country’s cultural background, while also spotlighting the gender inequalities, the persecution of Muslims, etc. I enjoyed this and I would recommend it, but it’s definitely not a thriller in the conventional sense—it’s more genre-bending. A good read, but (for me) missed the opportunity of being a great one.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the advance eARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 18, 2026
There’s way too much going on here, and that’s a problem. It’s not clear to me that the author really figured out the kind of book she wanted to write…psychological thriller? supernatural horror? social commentary? romance? mystery? There are elements of more genres than I can count here…sadly, not any of them are done particularly well. The characters are completely inconsistent, the plot has multiple holes, and the ending comes with a thud…um, huh? It’s odd to read a novel with an author’s foreword bemoaning her multiple rejections…it doesn’t inspire much confidence in what one is about to read—a feeling unfortunately borne out by the novel itself.
April 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing a copy of this novel!
This was a very odd book and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I liked the writing style. It was a quick and thrilling read and I had no idea what was going to happen next. I also liked the characters. Sophia was insane and I was loving it. Shelley was also a little crazy, but like... a normal about of crazy. She was just someone who was having a rough couple of years and needed some therapy. But Sophia... oof. But I also loved their relationship and codependency.
This book goes back and forth between the present timeline with Shelley's new identity and revenge plot. While the other follows Sophia's past. I enjoyed both of these parts. In both instances, I was pretty much just on the edge of my seat, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
While I enjoyed this book, I wasn't a big fan of the ending or the fantastical elements. We keep hearing a lot about curses and a "jinn" throughout the book. And I thought that this was meant to be kind of like a metaphor for the main characters' mental health issues. But then this one scene happens at the end that made it seem like jinn and ghosts are real. And I just didn't like this. I love fantasy, but I wasn't really expecting (or wanting) fantasy in this.
I also wasn't a big fan of the ending. I'm going to be honest, I didn't really get it. I might read some more reviews to see if someone else can give me some more insight on what the ending was supposed to mean. Not only did it not hit for me, but I can't even figure out what the point was.
While this was a quick and thrilling read, the ending and fantastical elements just really dragged it down for me.
This was a very odd book and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I liked the writing style. It was a quick and thrilling read and I had no idea what was going to happen next. I also liked the characters. Sophia was insane and I was loving it. Shelley was also a little crazy, but like... a normal about of crazy. She was just someone who was having a rough couple of years and needed some therapy. But Sophia... oof. But I also loved their relationship and codependency.
This book goes back and forth between the present timeline with Shelley's new identity and revenge plot. While the other follows Sophia's past. I enjoyed both of these parts. In both instances, I was pretty much just on the edge of my seat, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
While I enjoyed this book, I wasn't a big fan of the ending or the fantastical elements. We keep hearing a lot about curses and a "jinn" throughout the book. And I thought that this was meant to be kind of like a metaphor for the main characters' mental health issues. But then this one scene happens at the end that made it seem like jinn and ghosts are real. And I just didn't like this. I love fantasy, but I wasn't really expecting (or wanting) fantasy in this.
I also wasn't a big fan of the ending. I'm going to be honest, I didn't really get it. I might read some more reviews to see if someone else can give me some more insight on what the ending was supposed to mean. Not only did it not hit for me, but I can't even figure out what the point was.
While this was a quick and thrilling read, the ending and fantastical elements just really dragged it down for me.
January 14, 2026
This is a strong debut - it was hard to put this book down. The pacing is quick, I enjoyed the characters, and the non-linear narrative really ramped up the tension as more tidbits were revealed. The novel succeeds in juggling a lot of themes and topics, such as race, gender, class, virality/cancel culture, mother-daughter relationships, myth, religion, virtue signaling, and more. There were some areas that I wish received a little more focus, but overall I had a great time reading this and will definitely be reading any future books from Sanders.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
March 22, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this e-book ahead of publication, and what initially pulled me in were the themes around feminine rage, cancel culture, and that feeling of being seen as an “other” in America. It sounded like it had a lot to say, and for the most part, I think it really delivered on that.
The story follows Shelley, whose life is basically blown up after a viral video derails everything she’s worked for. She ends up back in Florida working at a motel near Disney, and that’s where she meets Sophia, who pulls her into this whole revenge plan targeting the people who blew her life up. From there, things just spiral in ways that are… a lot.
This story starts off strong and, honestly, it keeps that momentum for most of the book. There was a stretch where Shelley travels to Asia with her mother that slowed things down for me a bit and I found my attention drifting there, but it does pick back up and pulls you right back in.
And this is one of those books that just feels like a full-on train wreck you cannot look away from.
There is not a single likable character in this story. Not one. The choices these women make are completely out of control at times, but I have to give the author credit because she tells you upfront in the opening note that this is going to be an uncomfortable read with characters who go way too far. And she absolutely delivers on that promise.
It’s dark, messy, and honestly kind of unhinged in a way that keeps you turning the pages. The ending has that scorched earth feel, even if it didn��t land exactly how I expected. I’m still not sure if I need more time to sit with it or if I just wanted something slightly different there.
What really worked for me was the writing. It takes real skill to create characters that are this unlikable and still make you want to stay with them and see how everything plays out. And I was definitely invested in seeing how far this would go.
Overall, I was entertained… if that’s even the right word for a book like this. But I think it kind of is. I’m giving this 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4, and I’ll absolutely be curious to see what Lai Sanders does next.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book in advance of publication date. All opinions are my own.
The story follows Shelley, whose life is basically blown up after a viral video derails everything she’s worked for. She ends up back in Florida working at a motel near Disney, and that’s where she meets Sophia, who pulls her into this whole revenge plan targeting the people who blew her life up. From there, things just spiral in ways that are… a lot.
This story starts off strong and, honestly, it keeps that momentum for most of the book. There was a stretch where Shelley travels to Asia with her mother that slowed things down for me a bit and I found my attention drifting there, but it does pick back up and pulls you right back in.
And this is one of those books that just feels like a full-on train wreck you cannot look away from.
There is not a single likable character in this story. Not one. The choices these women make are completely out of control at times, but I have to give the author credit because she tells you upfront in the opening note that this is going to be an uncomfortable read with characters who go way too far. And she absolutely delivers on that promise.
It’s dark, messy, and honestly kind of unhinged in a way that keeps you turning the pages. The ending has that scorched earth feel, even if it didn��t land exactly how I expected. I’m still not sure if I need more time to sit with it or if I just wanted something slightly different there.
What really worked for me was the writing. It takes real skill to create characters that are this unlikable and still make you want to stay with them and see how everything plays out. And I was definitely invested in seeing how far this would go.
Overall, I was entertained… if that’s even the right word for a book like this. But I think it kind of is. I’m giving this 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4, and I’ll absolutely be curious to see what Lai Sanders does next.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book in advance of publication date. All opinions are my own.
March 17, 2026
The Plans I Have for You by Lai Sanders is one of those books that starts out feeling like it might be something else…and then steadily reveals its teeth. Going in, I thought I was picking up a story that leaned more heavily into Chinese culture, and while there is cultural texture woven throughout (plus some genuinely cool mysticism), what I got overall felt much closer to horror—the slow, unsettling kind where you realize the characters aren’t just hurt… they’re dangerous.
The story centers on two American women, Sophia and Shelley, who both feel like they’ve been unfairly judged by society—often because of choices they made themselves. And instead of learning, growing, and moving on (like most of us try to do), they decide to do something darker: they plot revenge against anyone they believe has wronged them. What really chilled me is the way they frame it. They don’t see their plans as petty or cruel. They view them as necessary—as if they’re “righting things” for future generations. That kind of self-justification is terrifying, because it’s not the rage you can see coming—it’s the calm certainty that makes people feel entitled to destroy lives.
Sophia and Shelley are not written as cartoon villains, which is part of what makes this work. They’re complicated. They’re intelligent. They’re wounded. And they’re wrong. Watching them twist their pain into a mission gave the book this creeping dread that kept building, page after page.
I also appreciated that Sanders is able to bring in cultural elements and mysticism without turning the whole book into a lecture. There’s a balance here: enough context to enrich the story, but not so much that it feels like it’s trying to score points. For me, it actually made the unsettling parts hit harder, because the world feels grounded even when the mysticism starts brushing up against the plot.
If you like horror that’s less about jump scares and more about human obsession, grievance, and revenge dressed up as righteousness, this one will stick with you. It’s disturbing in a “this could happen” way—even when the story slides into darker, more mystical territory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Simon & Schuster for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
The story centers on two American women, Sophia and Shelley, who both feel like they’ve been unfairly judged by society—often because of choices they made themselves. And instead of learning, growing, and moving on (like most of us try to do), they decide to do something darker: they plot revenge against anyone they believe has wronged them. What really chilled me is the way they frame it. They don’t see their plans as petty or cruel. They view them as necessary—as if they’re “righting things” for future generations. That kind of self-justification is terrifying, because it’s not the rage you can see coming—it’s the calm certainty that makes people feel entitled to destroy lives.
Sophia and Shelley are not written as cartoon villains, which is part of what makes this work. They’re complicated. They’re intelligent. They’re wounded. And they’re wrong. Watching them twist their pain into a mission gave the book this creeping dread that kept building, page after page.
I also appreciated that Sanders is able to bring in cultural elements and mysticism without turning the whole book into a lecture. There’s a balance here: enough context to enrich the story, but not so much that it feels like it’s trying to score points. For me, it actually made the unsettling parts hit harder, because the world feels grounded even when the mysticism starts brushing up against the plot.
If you like horror that’s less about jump scares and more about human obsession, grievance, and revenge dressed up as righteousness, this one will stick with you. It’s disturbing in a “this could happen” way—even when the story slides into darker, more mystical territory.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Simon & Schuster for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
April 27, 2026
3.5 stars. A viral video on the subway cost Shelley her spot at Columbia Law and a prestigious internship, forcing her to move back to her hometown in Florida with her mom. Then she met Sophia Moon, who sought her out and made plans to take revenge.
The brutal effect of cancel culture and the moral gray areas push people to question "how far is too far" when it comes to revenge.
The premise was great; however, there were a few disconnects along the lines. I'd like to see what's become of Sophia's young son. What's really going on in his head? Will he inherit his mother's psychopathic behavior? And after all the deaths, how come there were no investigations? The book only focused on revenge and had no consequences.
The brutal effect of cancel culture and the moral gray areas push people to question "how far is too far" when it comes to revenge.
The premise was great; however, there were a few disconnects along the lines. I'd like to see what's become of Sophia's young son. What's really going on in his head? Will he inherit his mother's psychopathic behavior? And after all the deaths, how come there were no investigations? The book only focused on revenge and had no consequences.
March 23, 2026
✨This is a sharply intense exploration of cancel culture, viral shame, feminine rage, revenge and reinventing oneself. While I’m still trying to fully figure out what the heck just happened here, I’m also fully on board because I really enjoyed this absolutely chaotic (in the best way) wild ride. It’s dark. It’s twisted. It’s filled with obsession and psychological manipulation, and I was here for it all – even the parts that were probably a little too clever for me to fully grasp.
✨ I absolutely love stories about unhinged women doing unhinged things, and this one delivers in every possible way. If you want a glimpse of what happens when someone pushed too far finally decides to push back, this is the book to read.
🎧I paired the print and audio versions of this book and loved the immersive experience. The narration by Greta Jung and Jenapher Zheng was fantastic. Such a fun listen.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Unhinged female main characters
✨Character studies
✨Female rage
✨Revenge thrillers
✨Stories of identity reinvention
✨Racial commentary
✨Asian American women rep
✨Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
✨ I absolutely love stories about unhinged women doing unhinged things, and this one delivers in every possible way. If you want a glimpse of what happens when someone pushed too far finally decides to push back, this is the book to read.
🎧I paired the print and audio versions of this book and loved the immersive experience. The narration by Greta Jung and Jenapher Zheng was fantastic. Such a fun listen.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Unhinged female main characters
✨Character studies
✨Female rage
✨Revenge thrillers
✨Stories of identity reinvention
✨Racial commentary
✨Asian American women rep
✨Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
August 18, 2025
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The Plans I Have For You is a psychological-revenge thriller about two Asian-American women, Shelley Hu and Sophia Moon, whose lives are wrecked by public shaming. Sophia recruits Shelley to return to New York with a new identity and a step-by-step plan to get even—until the scheme spirals and Sophia’s darker side surfaces (which is – whoa – pretty scary). The novel tackles themes of viral humiliation, “cancel culture,” and identity reinvention with well-crafted insight and ease. What do you do when your whole life collapses around you? When your plans vanish into thin air?
I appreciated the layered psychology of this book – lots of insights on the intersection of faith, God/higher powers, free will, the spirit world and more. The quote at the beginning of this review (from where — I think — the title comes) sums of many of these themes, all wrapped around a pretty chilling and page-turning thriller with tinges of pretty intense horror. To wit: I am never, ever purchasing a watercolor painting of any body of water (I don’t care if it’s a freakin’ puddle on the pavement) from anyone, ever again. Or accepting one as a gift. Nope. That’s done for me.
I enjoyed this immensely. Lai Sanders is a very talented writer!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The Plans I Have For You is a psychological-revenge thriller about two Asian-American women, Shelley Hu and Sophia Moon, whose lives are wrecked by public shaming. Sophia recruits Shelley to return to New York with a new identity and a step-by-step plan to get even—until the scheme spirals and Sophia’s darker side surfaces (which is – whoa – pretty scary). The novel tackles themes of viral humiliation, “cancel culture,” and identity reinvention with well-crafted insight and ease. What do you do when your whole life collapses around you? When your plans vanish into thin air?
I appreciated the layered psychology of this book – lots of insights on the intersection of faith, God/higher powers, free will, the spirit world and more. The quote at the beginning of this review (from where — I think — the title comes) sums of many of these themes, all wrapped around a pretty chilling and page-turning thriller with tinges of pretty intense horror. To wit: I am never, ever purchasing a watercolor painting of any body of water (I don’t care if it’s a freakin’ puddle on the pavement) from anyone, ever again. Or accepting one as a gift. Nope. That’s done for me.
I enjoyed this immensely. Lai Sanders is a very talented writer!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.
July 26, 2025
Shelley is down on her luck after hitting her breaking point in public which ended up costing her career and reputation.
With no better options, she returns to her hometown to work at the motel with her mother. During a night shift an unexpected guest arrives. Turns out this woman knows exactly what Shelley needs to get revenge on everyone who ruined her life.
Taking a leap of faith, Shelley puts everything she has left on the line for Sophia to help her. However everything comes with a price…
Wow what a wild ride! While this was very fast paced, I liked that the author took the time to build the backstory for the main characters. It really helped paint the picture on why they were looking for their own version of justice.
Also the plot twist blew my mind - I wasn’t expecting that ending at all.
Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster for the eARC.
With no better options, she returns to her hometown to work at the motel with her mother. During a night shift an unexpected guest arrives. Turns out this woman knows exactly what Shelley needs to get revenge on everyone who ruined her life.
Taking a leap of faith, Shelley puts everything she has left on the line for Sophia to help her. However everything comes with a price…
Wow what a wild ride! While this was very fast paced, I liked that the author took the time to build the backstory for the main characters. It really helped paint the picture on why they were looking for their own version of justice.
Also the plot twist blew my mind - I wasn’t expecting that ending at all.
Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster for the eARC.
August 16, 2025
WHAT A BOOK!!
I can see why they’re pubbing this for fans of Yellowface, it’s got the same kind of “can’t put this down but oh god can I even read this page” cringe. But also it’s got such incredible insight into toxic relationships! I’ve never seen that feeling of “oh yes life is worth living because of this, but also it’s killing me” captured so well.
Can’t say whether or not I enjoyed it because it mostly knocked me off my seat. Strongly recommend and can’t wait to make people read it so we can talk about it!
Ty to netgalley for the free ARC!
I can see why they’re pubbing this for fans of Yellowface, it’s got the same kind of “can’t put this down but oh god can I even read this page” cringe. But also it’s got such incredible insight into toxic relationships! I’ve never seen that feeling of “oh yes life is worth living because of this, but also it’s killing me” captured so well.
Can’t say whether or not I enjoyed it because it mostly knocked me off my seat. Strongly recommend and can’t wait to make people read it so we can talk about it!
Ty to netgalley for the free ARC!
March 20, 2026
“The world has always been an open-air sewer, always. We’re rats, all of us, swimming against the tide, and we do it because we’re convinced, somehow, that if we swim long enough, we will be one of the few rats that can emerge from the filthy water, that we can finally make it ashore.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book quite like The Plans I Have for You. The comparisons to Yellowface are apt, but Lai Sanders’ debut stands on its own as a fascinating examination of race, obsession, feminine rage, and cancel culture.
Shelley Hu is a law student at Columbia when her encounter with a woman on the subway goes viral and completely derails her life. She retreats to her hometown of Kissimmee, Florida, where she goes back to working the same job she held in high school at a kitschy motel near Disney World. One night, the mysterious Sophia Moon walks into the motel lobby, promising Shelley an alluring combination of reinvention and revenge against the people responsible for wrecking her life. Shelley can’t resist the temptation of getting back at the people who wronged her – or the pull of Sophia herself.
Unfolding on two timelines from the alternating perspectives of Shelley and Sophia, The Plans I Have for You is an intimate exploration of the dark hearts of women. Sanders’ writing is sharp and observant and full of timely social commentary in a genre-hopping debut that has both literary thriller and magical realism elements. Sanders draws richly on folklore and cultural beliefs with an uncanny quality to the storytelling that makes the book feel like it inhabits a world just beyond our own.
The characters are nuanced and complicated, and the dynamics between Shelley and Sophia are so intriguing, laced with a warped, toxic version of love. Through these two compelling, complex women, Sanders explores race, privilege, societal and cultural pressures, sexism, obsession, and the magnetic pull of revenge in fascinating, thought-provoking ways.
The supernatural elements introduced near the end felt somewhat abrupt, but the conclusion had the same dreamlike, ephemeral quality as the rest of the book, so it worked for me. This is an impressive debut, and I can’t wait to read whatever Sanders writes next. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the early reading opportunity.
May 3, 2026
Let me preface this review by saying that I am not a big thriller reader. It is not a genre that I normally drift to, but the comps to Kuang's "Yellowface" by the publisher had me intrigued. "The Plans I Have for You" teeters the line between satire and thriller, but it doesn't really achieve success in either genre. While the book does explore race, power, rage, vengeance, unconditional love, faith, and morality, it does so when it serves the plot. It is abandoned in the second half of the novel in favor of plot twists which aren't fully fleshed out and are rushed. Plot holes become wider and the unexplained is waved away by a speculative deus ex machina.
There are glimmers of a great story hidden in the book. The short chapters build tension effectively and the characters though unlikable are captivating enough to keep turning the pages. Unfortunately, the ending doesn't release catharsis but rather exasperation.
There are glimmers of a great story hidden in the book. The short chapters build tension effectively and the characters though unlikable are captivating enough to keep turning the pages. Unfortunately, the ending doesn't release catharsis but rather exasperation.
April 3, 2026
This was so engaging that I managed to read the whole thing in a single day. I was hooked from the first chapter and fell head over heels for our two crazy, obsessive main characters and their quest for vengeance. I also really appreciated Lai Sander’s writing style — something about it really appealed to me and kept me wanting to read more.
The middle of the novel felt bogged down at parts when compared to how entertaining the beginning and end were. I didn’t always love the pacing and had wanted to learn just a little bit more about each of our characters, but overall this was a fantastic debut and I will be keeping an eye out for Sander’s sophomore novel — I hope to see her writing career flourish!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
The middle of the novel felt bogged down at parts when compared to how entertaining the beginning and end were. I didn’t always love the pacing and had wanted to learn just a little bit more about each of our characters, but overall this was a fantastic debut and I will be keeping an eye out for Sander’s sophomore novel — I hope to see her writing career flourish!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
November 25, 2025
4 stars
I'm a big fan of knowing as little as possible about a book before I dive in, and this book is a particularly strong example of why it's important to follow this rule. Stop reading reviews. If you want to know what plans one person has for another, just find out the traditional way. The reveals...wow.
Shelley is having a tough time which gets way worse after she, ummm, expresses herself publicly. This book provides many reminders of why social media and tech are ruining our lives, and this is just one. Shelley's faux pas is big, but it'll never be forgotten thanks to the joys of the modern era. Another interesting outcome of this situation is that her fame connects her to a person who, uh, understands her particular predicament: Sophia.
The way things d/evolve in this novel is troubling because of both the extreme and believable nature of the situation. Sometimes we get pushed to the brink and the outcomes can range wildly in their severity. Also, there might be someone for everyone if only for a specific moment.
Transparently, there were times when I was so disturbed by the choices these characters made that I got irritated with them and with the reading experience, but I am also confident this is an intended outcome, so kudos. A frequent response I've had to my reads recently has been that the kids are not alright, but in this society, can any of us be expected to be okay at all? Ever? This book will have me pondering this question for a long time.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Danielle Prielipp at Simon & Schuster for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm a big fan of knowing as little as possible about a book before I dive in, and this book is a particularly strong example of why it's important to follow this rule. Stop reading reviews. If you want to know what plans one person has for another, just find out the traditional way. The reveals...wow.
Shelley is having a tough time which gets way worse after she, ummm, expresses herself publicly. This book provides many reminders of why social media and tech are ruining our lives, and this is just one. Shelley's faux pas is big, but it'll never be forgotten thanks to the joys of the modern era. Another interesting outcome of this situation is that her fame connects her to a person who, uh, understands her particular predicament: Sophia.
The way things d/evolve in this novel is troubling because of both the extreme and believable nature of the situation. Sometimes we get pushed to the brink and the outcomes can range wildly in their severity. Also, there might be someone for everyone if only for a specific moment.
Transparently, there were times when I was so disturbed by the choices these characters made that I got irritated with them and with the reading experience, but I am also confident this is an intended outcome, so kudos. A frequent response I've had to my reads recently has been that the kids are not alright, but in this society, can any of us be expected to be okay at all? Ever? This book will have me pondering this question for a long time.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Danielle Prielipp at Simon & Schuster for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for review!
i just turned the final page of this book and im trying to catch my breath--from holding it? from hyperventilating? yes.
im always hesitant to share my interpretation of the meaning of a book in case im way off base but to me, this was ultimately a cautionary tale about seeking wholeness and identity in another person, not just between the main characters but between all of the flawed relationships that are exposed as the story unfolds. the relentless pursuit of such wholeness begs the questions: what makes a person genuine, good, and above all else, loveable?
this was a bit of a slow burner for me to start, but once cracks in the too-good-to-be-true foundation start to form, it doesnt take long at all for the landslide to follow, and you won't be able to look away.
i've had a lot of luck with my reading material this month, but this one in particular will sit with me for a while. equal parts haunting and thought-provoking enrobed in painful relatability.
i just turned the final page of this book and im trying to catch my breath--from holding it? from hyperventilating? yes.
im always hesitant to share my interpretation of the meaning of a book in case im way off base but to me, this was ultimately a cautionary tale about seeking wholeness and identity in another person, not just between the main characters but between all of the flawed relationships that are exposed as the story unfolds. the relentless pursuit of such wholeness begs the questions: what makes a person genuine, good, and above all else, loveable?
this was a bit of a slow burner for me to start, but once cracks in the too-good-to-be-true foundation start to form, it doesnt take long at all for the landslide to follow, and you won't be able to look away.
i've had a lot of luck with my reading material this month, but this one in particular will sit with me for a while. equal parts haunting and thought-provoking enrobed in painful relatability.
April 18, 2026
3.5
“Haven’t the events of the last month taught you anything, Shelley? There’s no accountability for men. There’s no accountability for people in places of power. There is no justice for people like us.”
I can’t even figure out how to describe this book. It’s domestic thriller with a touch of magical realism. It’s feminine rage and unhinged spiraling, sometimes with good intentions and sometimes not. It’s very flawed characters doing very flawed things in such a way that the book is difficult to put down.
There are so many relevant themes and topics the author dives into, including culture and heritage (and the pressure to shed one’s true identity in order to be accepted), performative ally-ship (especially in the context of international adoption), privilege and senses of entitlement from people in positions of power, a thirst for revenge, obsession disguised as love, how going viral after one bad day can ruin a life, and characters going to great lengths to feel loved.
Read this if you:
📕 enjoy twisty and dramatic spirals into unhinged chaos
📘 support women’s rights as well as women’s wrongs
📗 love to see the downfall of people who do some terrible things, as the seeking of justice goes way too far
📙 like to think about how little people might actually truly know each other, even living in the same home as
📘 appreciate the power of a pair of glasses and a high quality wig
Overall I enjoyed the book - it was a propulsive and ambitious debut, and while I feel like maybe it was trying to do a bit too much, it was a fun read that also made me think! Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster for the book, through the #SimonBooksBuddy program!
April 30, 2026
2.5/5
This isnt a good revenge story, the blurb lies to you. I get what the author was trying to do, someone out there is gonna enjoy this book, its not doing it for me.
At the center of the plot is Shelley. Shes the one that got screwed over so, in theory, shes the one seeking revenge. But for a story thats supposed to be all about her she is suprisingly inconsecuential to the actual plan. My first issue is that shes not angry enough. Yeah shes pissed, but shes not seething in anger. So when the moment comes that she realizes she doesnt want revenge this revelation doesnt feel monumental, it feels like a logical conclusion.
I have a hard time defining what exactly Shelley contributed to the revenge plan, for what I can see she didnt do anything. Sure, she helped sent incriminating photos and infiltrated the marketing company. But neither of those things worked. What actually ended up serving revenge was the water spirit Sophia sent. Shelley had no influence over this, so what did she even do?
Because theres this disconect between Shelley and the plan when the revenge happens it doesnt feel cathartic.
Most of Sophias pov back in collegue was so boring. It got better when she started drowning people but that was towards the end. In fact, the last 4th when we finally see how crazy Sophia is is by far the best part of the book.
I like the themes the author was trying to explore, about the dificulties of being an asian woman. Mostly in the US but also everywhere. I think its bitting more than it can chew. It tries to cover all the problems at the same time so a lot of them fall throught the cracks.
This isnt a good revenge story, the blurb lies to you. I get what the author was trying to do, someone out there is gonna enjoy this book, its not doing it for me.
At the center of the plot is Shelley. Shes the one that got screwed over so, in theory, shes the one seeking revenge. But for a story thats supposed to be all about her she is suprisingly inconsecuential to the actual plan. My first issue is that shes not angry enough. Yeah shes pissed, but shes not seething in anger. So when the moment comes that she realizes she doesnt want revenge this revelation doesnt feel monumental, it feels like a logical conclusion.
I have a hard time defining what exactly Shelley contributed to the revenge plan, for what I can see she didnt do anything. Sure, she helped sent incriminating photos and infiltrated the marketing company. But neither of those things worked. What actually ended up serving revenge was the water spirit Sophia sent. Shelley had no influence over this, so what did she even do?
Because theres this disconect between Shelley and the plan when the revenge happens it doesnt feel cathartic.
Most of Sophias pov back in collegue was so boring. It got better when she started drowning people but that was towards the end. In fact, the last 4th when we finally see how crazy Sophia is is by far the best part of the book.
I like the themes the author was trying to explore, about the dificulties of being an asian woman. Mostly in the US but also everywhere. I think its bitting more than it can chew. It tries to cover all the problems at the same time so a lot of them fall throught the cracks.
March 14, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
This started off really well for me, but as I kept reading it just felt like it was losing its way.
I love a revenge plot, but what threw me off with this one is that I felt that there were TOO MANY twists, some were predictable and some I felt that they were the perfect example of “less is more.”
Overall, a good read and debut. Will keep an eye for other books by this author in the future.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
This started off really well for me, but as I kept reading it just felt like it was losing its way.
I love a revenge plot, but what threw me off with this one is that I felt that there were TOO MANY twists, some were predictable and some I felt that they were the perfect example of “less is more.”
Overall, a good read and debut. Will keep an eye for other books by this author in the future.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
May 7, 2026
good enough psychosexual drama but it was missing that thing that would’ve made it pop. maybe because the main character was a bit of a wilting flower who kept trying to hold on to shallow notions of good and right and wrong despite everything she’d been through?? idk if that was meant to come off as noble because it only came off as scared and unable to see reality to me.
because if id been intentionally humiliated and posted on the internet for years to come, there’d be no limit to my revenge.
here though, it was like the author wanted shelly to get mad and weird, but not too much. just enough the more judgemental ‘protag must always be good in the end blah blah’ readers would still root for shelly, which made all the maneuvering a bit halting and obvious. the writing style was also pretty pedestrian (felt like a new adult book for the most part, with all the overexplaining) but it was a good enough diversion. ill probably read the next book she writes granted it’s a topic i care about.
because if id been intentionally humiliated and posted on the internet for years to come, there’d be no limit to my revenge.
here though, it was like the author wanted shelly to get mad and weird, but not too much. just enough the more judgemental ‘protag must always be good in the end blah blah’ readers would still root for shelly, which made all the maneuvering a bit halting and obvious. the writing style was also pretty pedestrian (felt like a new adult book for the most part, with all the overexplaining) but it was a good enough diversion. ill probably read the next book she writes granted it’s a topic i care about.
May 1, 2026
This is a dark, disturbing story and I can't remember why I picked it up but also couldn't stop reading it to find out what the main characters were plotting next. The low rating is because I don't think I'll recommend it to others but if you are interested in someone's dark mind and how people take revenge on each other, this is the book for you.
March 21, 2026
2.5 rounded up
March 31, 2026
On the surface this is a story about obsession and revenge, but it’s also a story about race, culture, identity, privilege and trying to find your place in the world. I will say I found it hard to like any of the characters, but I feel like that was by design. Overall a super enjoyable read.
November 6, 2025
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
There’s so much going on in this novel! On the surface, it’s a revenge thriller, and read in this way it’s wholly successful, as you’d expect. But Simon & Schuster aren’t giving book deals to debut authors for one-dimensional stories, and this is where The Plans I Have For You really excelled for me.
In my view, this book opens with the question “What if you listened to that little voice on your shoulder telling you to get your own back on all the people who’ve wronged and diminished you?” On one level, we’ve all secretly dreamed of doing it, which is how it’s sufficiently believable for Shelley Hu to meet Soyoung Kim (or is that Sophia Moon?) in an early pivotal scene and make a Faustian pact to ‘save’ her soul.
That’s the jumping-off point for the revenge plot. But underneath that, what follows feels to me like an interrogation of human suffering and societal disfunction that, from the first-person perspective of the main character, is rooted in anger, cynicism and bewilderment. “Why isn’t the world like I want it to be?” she seems to scream. “Where is the equity?”
There’s a pervasive sense that everyone out there is battling some kind of trauma, grief or pain, and the results don’t reflect well on any of us. People feel emotions deeply and intensely, dialled up to the infamous 11, and struggle to cope with all the mental baggage that weighs us down. The systemic rough ride endured by women and anyone considered ‘other’ is a constant presence throughout the story.
There’s also a spiritual element, mentioned by some reviewers, that I’m not equipped to fully understand but other readers might. I found that thread fascinating and would love to know more.
As you can tell, I loved it, especially when thinking about what lurks beneath the surface. It feels like a story about all of us. About how we and our world are broken, and I urge you to read it and take in all its depth.
There’s so much going on in this novel! On the surface, it’s a revenge thriller, and read in this way it’s wholly successful, as you’d expect. But Simon & Schuster aren’t giving book deals to debut authors for one-dimensional stories, and this is where The Plans I Have For You really excelled for me.
In my view, this book opens with the question “What if you listened to that little voice on your shoulder telling you to get your own back on all the people who’ve wronged and diminished you?” On one level, we’ve all secretly dreamed of doing it, which is how it’s sufficiently believable for Shelley Hu to meet Soyoung Kim (or is that Sophia Moon?) in an early pivotal scene and make a Faustian pact to ‘save’ her soul.
That’s the jumping-off point for the revenge plot. But underneath that, what follows feels to me like an interrogation of human suffering and societal disfunction that, from the first-person perspective of the main character, is rooted in anger, cynicism and bewilderment. “Why isn’t the world like I want it to be?” she seems to scream. “Where is the equity?”
There’s a pervasive sense that everyone out there is battling some kind of trauma, grief or pain, and the results don’t reflect well on any of us. People feel emotions deeply and intensely, dialled up to the infamous 11, and struggle to cope with all the mental baggage that weighs us down. The systemic rough ride endured by women and anyone considered ‘other’ is a constant presence throughout the story.
There’s also a spiritual element, mentioned by some reviewers, that I’m not equipped to fully understand but other readers might. I found that thread fascinating and would love to know more.
As you can tell, I loved it, especially when thinking about what lurks beneath the surface. It feels like a story about all of us. About how we and our world are broken, and I urge you to read it and take in all its depth.
April 6, 2026
Did Not Finish @ Page 188
I wanted to love this. Atlanta-born writer? Social commentary thriller exploring themes of race and privilege? The Plans I Have For You was sounding right up my alley, and I was the first to check it out from the library when it dropped.
And yet.
While the novel’s premise holds so much promise, the story quickly became more and more unbelievable. The life of a Columbia Law student is derailed when an incident on a NYC train goes viral. Cool, I’m in. But then another woman who was similarly “cancelled” tracks her down at her dead end job several states away, reinvents her, and pulls her into a revenge plot, no questions asked? With some magical realism mixed in? The book math was not mathing.
I kept waiting for the sharp social commentary to kick in, but the chapters just kept escalating into “what is happening?” territory. 🥴
Man, oh man, did I try to finish this. 188 pages before calling it is a feat, if I say so myself. Ultimately, though, this was not for me.
I wanted to love this. Atlanta-born writer? Social commentary thriller exploring themes of race and privilege? The Plans I Have For You was sounding right up my alley, and I was the first to check it out from the library when it dropped.
And yet.
While the novel’s premise holds so much promise, the story quickly became more and more unbelievable. The life of a Columbia Law student is derailed when an incident on a NYC train goes viral. Cool, I’m in. But then another woman who was similarly “cancelled” tracks her down at her dead end job several states away, reinvents her, and pulls her into a revenge plot, no questions asked? With some magical realism mixed in? The book math was not mathing.
I kept waiting for the sharp social commentary to kick in, but the chapters just kept escalating into “what is happening?” territory. 🥴
Man, oh man, did I try to finish this. 188 pages before calling it is a feat, if I say so myself. Ultimately, though, this was not for me.
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