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Tell Me I'm Not The Villain

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Literary Fiction meets Romance in the most gut-wrenching addicting way.

Lydia isn’t looking to be saved.

Bash isn’t looking to be her savior.



After a constant string of loss and trauma in her life, Lydia has mastered the art of quiet destruction. She’s losing herself one hit at a time.

After surviving what no one should have to, she’s drowning in the only thing that makes life bearable—whatever she can take to quiet her mind and keep her heart from remembering the pain.



Then there’s Bash.

A boy with his own ghosts. Grief he can’t shake, guilt he can’t confess, and new faith that’s still learning how to stand. Yet, he still carries light like it’s something he was born with, and no matter how far Lydia goes, he keeps showing up—through the walls she built, the sharp words meant to cut deep, and the darkness she thinks will swallow her whole, he holds on to her when she can't hold on for herself.

He doesn’t try to fix her.

He doesn’t run from her darkness.

He stays. Steady. Unmoving.

And in the quiet wreckage, Lydia starts to experience what love looks like when it doesn’t hurt…

736 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

20 people are currently reading
50 people want to read

About the author

Faith Pincay

2 books24 followers

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5 stars
23 (71%)
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9 (28%)
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Ra’Sheda.
113 reviews
January 10, 2026
6 ⭐️
TMINTV read like a letter written from the brain to the heart, then transcribed to the soul so that it could be permanently etched and shared across all spans of places and time.

From the moment you start reading, you’re sucked into a contextual historic narrative of the FMC that is quite literally equivalent to watching a car crash— you see the danger right away and you want to do something, but not only are you frozen in time, but you also aren’t equipped to provide the support that is truly necessary.

Every time that you think you’ve gotten relief throughout the book, your heart will be cracked open like a pomegranate, each piece being carefully but impossibly messily extracted and no surface will be spared from evidence of the process that is and was taking place.

It’s a book about everything— grief, love, trauma, addiction, generational curses, healing, friendship, family dynamics, redemption, the power to write your own story, faith, and so much more. TMINTV was an experience in coming home to yourself, analyzing the bare bones of your foundation— deciding what stays, what is removed, and what is necessary to refurbish. I felt rage, immense joy, disappointment, redemption, kick-your-feet giddiness, and the mercy of true grace and love. The characters are so very real, relatable, and comparable to people you know or stories you’ve heard.

Through this book, you get a glimpse of what life can be like to live loved, and how little that has to do with what you do but rather who you are. You see the process of stripping away power from undeserving factors (including ourselves in some ways) and returning it back to where it belongs. When you get it, you’ll get it; you may have to read to understand.

Grace, and the discovery of/belief in it as a force in your life, really changes the trajectory of your path. It’s experiential guidance, warning, and circumstantial truth through lived experiences. A true transgression from darkness to light. How powerful is it to know that as long as you’re here, there’s a way to turn things around and get back on track in your life? It was pretty incredible to see how that looked in the lives of the characters.

I’m really grateful to have been a part of this journey! I’m fully on the edge of my seat just thinking about book 2 as the focus shifts to the paths of some of the other beloved characters introduced here in book 1.
Profile Image for Lizzy.
60 reviews3 followers
January 15, 2026
4.5 ⭐️

A rollercoaster of real life hard topics handled so raw yet with genuine care. I have never read anything like this before. The way the characters faith is woven felt realistic. I stayed up all night reading the first 40% and did not want to put it down at any point. I loved the relationships between the characters. Some elements gave me the suspense of Euphoria and the emotional depth of Boys of Tommen, especially with the glimpses we get into the side characters’ lives. I cannot wait for the next book and I am so glad this series is not ending here.
Profile Image for Fedline.
90 reviews3 followers
December 17, 2025
4.5/5 stars ⭐️

I loved how beautifully written this was. All the painful topics were handled with care and sensitivity. This was a heavy read incorporating topics including loss, grief, anxiety, depression, and more but it never felt careless. I also appreciated the recovery focus and the thoughtful mental health insights throughout the book. I loved how faith and belief was weaved into the story in such a meaningful way. Lydia and Bash (ugh this author writes the best couples). The characters had so much depth and I loved the found family aspect. I’m so excited this is becoming a series and I cannot wait for the next two books! I’m so grateful to have received an ARC copy of this book.
Profile Image for Allison •  Alli’s Fairy Tales.
279 reviews20 followers
October 28, 2025
• My Reading Experience: Loved It!!!!
• Book Spice: None
• Adjusted Rating: 4.5 stars!!
• POV: 1st Person / Dual

• Content Thoughts:

This book is such a beautiful exploration of redemption and self-definition. It captures the idea that you don’t have to be who people assume you are based on rumors, mistakes, or their limited understanding of your story. Watching the FMC fight to reclaim her narrative and rebuild herself was incredibly moving.

The way her journey unfolds—where it feels like she’s destined to lose the people and things she loves no matter how hard she tries—is both heartbreaking and captivating. You can’t help but root for her and feel that ache right alongside her.

I also really enjoyed how the author structured the story. Even though there aren’t explicit section markers, the book flows almost like a Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 delves deep into the FMC’s struggles, backstory, and motivations, while Part 2 focuses on her redemption arc and the romance. The shift is seamless and emotionally satisfying.

The connection between the main characters felt genuine, and I loved watching it grow. I actually found myself wishing for even more moments of them bonding—it was that good. The side characters also deserve a shoutout; they were warm, supportive, and the kind of friends everyone should have in real life—the ones who want to see you win.

Overall, I loved it! 🥰 It’s heartfelt, hopeful, and a reminder that our past doesn’t have to define our future.

🧚Disclaimer: My reviews and ratings are always honest and based on my own reading experience. Your experience might be totally different—and that’s okay!🧚
Profile Image for Tatiana.
2 reviews
January 4, 2026
6 ⭐️ read for me! Pincay's 2nd novel took me on a journey where I laugh, cried, and enjoyed every minute of it. After spending 700+ pages together, the characters felt incredibly real and I loved watching their growth. TMINTV is a story that I will never forget and I cannot wait for future books in the series. Many thanks to the author for this ARC!
Profile Image for Prescious Patterson.
151 reviews5 followers
November 10, 2025
First off this is the longest book I’ve read since getting back into reading and how fast I finished it should be studied!

This book is kinda split into three parts- not clear but you’ll know.

Lydia’s story before she went to college is a lot! Everything she went through was so hard to read. But Faith being able to write all the tough and emotional parts so delicately but raw is amazing!

College Lydia while heartbreaking some to read- it felt so real. Like I see the choices she made and why.

Her redemption arc is messy but worth it!

I loved the friendship of Lyd, Simone and Lani! Having people who you care about and care about you equally is so important when you’re going through so much!

I really enjoyed bash and how patient and kind he was- how understanding he was of lyd. While also going through his own struggles!
He’s book boyfriend!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Thank you so much Faith for allowing me to read this early!
Profile Image for Kelsei Favors.
109 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Faith Pincay has done it again. This is one of those emotional roller coasters that will have you questioning your own life, your own faith, your own struggles. It truly was a work of art. She handles mental health, substance abuse, and the dynamics of trauma SO WELL. It was worth every moment and every read. Thank you to this beautiful author who sent me this ARC. January truly can’t come fast enough!
Profile Image for Renita.
70 reviews2 followers
November 23, 2025
4.25 ✨

Wow… this book is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. This book is real and raw. It shows all the ugly parts of healing that are hidden under the surface. As someone who grew up with people that were alcoholics, it was so interesting to get a different point of view, and enter the mind of an addict. I loved how religion and Christianity were talked about in this book without it being overbearing. Religion was talked about but it wasn’t an unrealistic “oh she found God and instantly everything was better”. It was still real and showed how much Lydia had to fight to just survive and how even after you find God, you still struggle and you will question your faith. I also absolutely love how Faith divided this book.

Part one goes through ALL of the trauma. It starts from the very first page and it just feels like heartbreak after heartbreak. Lydia goes through abusive parents, death of loved ones, bullying, an abusive relationship… you name it. My girl went through it, and your heart will absolutely shatter while you read part one.

Then we enter part two which follows her healing journey. Faith kept it so real and showed the ups and downs that go into healing. The amount of effort and work that Lydia had to put in just to be a functional person without substances. But don’t get me wrong, majority of part two still doesn’t feel good. We see suicide attempts, drug and alcohol abuse, relapse… and so much more. We watch how the MMC enters her life like he was literally made for her. The love that those two have, the way they can read each other, communicate without words, was incredible. This man was so patient and so unbelievably kind and understanding. If real life men need an example of how they should be, read this book and be like Bash 😭 Side note, I freaking love Atlas with my whole heart, though.

Then we absolutely need to talk about that extended epilogue. 10 out of freaking 10. That extended epilogue was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. We got to see the point of views of all the people who had passed and wow. I loved seeing other people’s side of the story. Ugh absolutely amazing.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Faith is such a talented writer and I can’t thank her enough for giving me the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book. 🩷
Profile Image for Jasmine.
128 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2026
If you enjoy having your heart stomped on and put back together, this is the book for you. The last time I felt this kind of pain and suffering was when I read the Boys of Tommen series.

Lydia’s story is so raw and painful. She was dealt an awful hand in life, and she pushed through the best she could despite everything. Her growth and development was so wholesome and heartwarming to watch. This story was about friendship, overcoming trauma, healing, and accepting. I am so proud of Lydia and grateful she had such an amazing support system. I love Bash. I love the way he didn’t stand down from Lydia and helped her find her way. This story was so beautiful and so traumatic all in one.
Profile Image for Kassie Bates.
105 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2025
This is up there in one of the most emotional roller coasters I’ve ever read.
The way I connected with Lydia’s upbringing hurt. Her story, the trauma.. 😮‍💨 this one was deep, like soul searching deep.

Bash, you obviously are heaven sent.

Lani & Simone? Easily my favorite side characters and i can’t wait for their stories. Truly. Simone’s steady, never giving up friendship will hold a spot in my heart forever

On the bright side i also think i learned so much from their therapy & coping skills to apply to my own life 😭🤣
Profile Image for Courtney.
15 reviews2 followers
October 21, 2025
Finally a book with some depth! The characters of this book felt like my own friends. I loved the development of the plot! This books shows the real and raw emotions those struggling with mental health and other issues have to go through. Make sure you check any trigger warnings before reading. This book will have an everlasting imprint on my heart! Beautiful read. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to beta read and enjoy this ARC.
Profile Image for JeneeReads_.
41 reviews48 followers
November 19, 2025
First off I absolutely adored this book, the realities of life and pain and struggles, growth and love, with friendships, romance, and faith was beautifully done. I mean this as a huge compliment, the boys of tommen series is one of my favorite series ever and this story reminds me of that, getting so attached to flawed human characters and experiencing their lives with them, feeling every single emotion under the sun. I wanted to scream, throw my kindle across the room, cry, giggle, kick my feet and wanted the best for them. I am also so excited for future books with these characters, I loved the friendships, the romance and I loved the faith aspect in a realistic human way without forcing it but it comes naturally. I've never read a book that incorporates that in it and I loved it so so much. The relationship drove me insane but a realistic depiction of what it's like being in a toxic relationship and being in a continuous cycle you hope will change, feeling stuck, feeling like you need to isolate yourself from others. Those who have been there can understand her thought process even if we're wishing for it to end, and will let others who haven't experienced it understand what it can feel like and look like. It added to the attachment to the characters and growth and wanting to see them succeed and break the cycle. I also like how things weren’t resolved perfectly and immediately. The MMC I LOVED. Thank you for this amazing, gut wrenching, beautiful story and being able to read it before it comes out.
Profile Image for Maj Protacio.
51 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2026
Wow. Just... WOW. Tell Me I’m Not the Villain is a heavy, visceral read that demands your full attention. It took me longer than usual to finish, but I’m actually grateful for the slow pace—I found myself needing to step away often to process everything Lydia was going through.

Watching her navigate these different levels of loss was heartbreaking but deeply authentic. What I loved most was her gradual journey toward faith; it felt organic and earned, never forced or 'preachy.' The writing is incredibly poetic, turning a story of immense pain into something beautiful and hopeful. This one will stay with me for a long time. I wouldn't have wanted to experience this story any other way 💞

Other things that really stayed with me, though, were the side characters. The best friends Simone and later Lani, were such a vital part of the story, providing a backbone for Lydia when things felt impossible. And then there was Atlas—her dealer. Their dynamic was so complex and deeply human; their goodbye absolutely broke my heart 🥹

I gave this 4 stars because I loved the journey, but I found myself wishing we had just a few more chapters of Lydia in her 'better' life. After so much beautifully written pain, I was so invested that I just wanted to dwell in her happiness a little bit longer 🙂‍↕️
Profile Image for Armoni.
47 reviews
January 10, 2026
Immediate five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book wrecked me in the best way. I cried real tears, multiple times. I won’t even pretend I didn’t. There were moments I had to physically put the book down just to breathe because it mirrored pieces of my own life so closely. The writing was beautiful without being TOO heavy or drawn out. Nothing felt repetitive or unnecessary every page had purpose. The characters were layered and unique, and watching the two main characters grow into themselves while acknowledging their imperfections felt raw and incredibly real. And the epilogue? Chef’s kiss. Absolute perfection. I was left staring at my Kindle through tears, emotionally unwell but deeply satisfied. This story stayed with me long after the last page, and I already know it’s one I won’t forget.

Eli…count your days. Oh, wait🥱
Profile Image for Jayden Ellison.
85 reviews6 followers
November 22, 2025
i have truly never connected more with a book in my entire life. this book is both heartbreaking and heart warming all wrapped into a beautiful story.


i cried, i laughed, i was happy for the characters, i felt their anguish. i was there in their decisions, in their lives, and i feel grateful for reading this book.


i have never learned as many things from a book as i have with this one- the psychology is truly fascinating and researched to a T. the testimony and God’s word that is written so eloquently within some of the chapters flows effortlessly with the story, character plot, and the progression.

truly read this book and savor it.
Profile Image for Lyndsey Olzacki.
154 reviews2 followers
Read
December 13, 2025
This story moved me in so many ways. Part One is toxic and traumatic and makes you want to jump through the pages. Abuse (emotional and physical) is such a difficult topic and was handled with such care. The amount of things Lydia goes through before she is 18…. i want to give her a hug. Part Two was a little slower for me personally, but after finishing I can fully appreciate the journey of addiction and healing and how emotional and taxing it is. The love and care that was poured into this book will not be overlooked.

Triggers:
Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Substance abuse
Manipulation
Suicide
Death
42 reviews3 followers
October 13, 2025
6⭐️

This book was everything I wanted and more. It made me cry 5x, had me kicking my feet in the air and laughing out loud multiple times.

I have no notes. This book was absolute PERFECTION!!!

It felt like you were right there with the characters as they experienced every thing, small and big.

Beyond excited for the next books in the series!
Profile Image for Jamiee.
6 reviews
January 12, 2026
70% in currently and already rating it 5 stars. I can't wait to recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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