A Little Bit Bad

by Cassandra Neyenesch

“Pretty much the platonic-ideal beach read.” —Ada Calhoun, New York Times bestselling author of Crush

I had tried to be a good person and live a nice, normal life. It wasn’t working out. Why was I such a no-but-er? I would be a yes-ander!... And after that moment, I didn’t give another little f*ck what I did.

Perdita Jungfrau thought she was going to be married to her husband forever, so falling in love with Nando, her neighbour's anarcho-Marxist roofer, is a crisis. Life seems to put every possible obstacle in their she’s pregnant, he has a girlfriend, he’s fifteen years younger, she’s terrified of messing up her children and equally drawn towards this magnetic man who entrusts her with his deepest secret.

Now it's three years later and Nando has been murdered.

As her bewildered husband tries to make sense of the wildly unpredictable person his wife has become, Perdita has other things on her mind. For starters, who is the mysterious woman sitting outside her house in a parked car all day? How can she stop her adored baby brother from being pulled under by his opioid addiction? Can someone with a childhood like hers ever be the mother her children deserve?

And most of all, what should she do with the searing memories of the affair which turned her life upside down?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Cassandra Neyenesch has written for Art in America, The Guardian, Huffpost and Public Books, among other publications.

Reviews

[‎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book!)

I approached this novel slowly, as I wanted to fully absorb its ideas and narrative choices. The premise is definitely intriguing and was what initially drew me in. In particular, the author’s approach to the mystery feels refreshingly unconventional, offering a perspective I have not often encountered in similar works. That originality, in itself, I feel like is one of the novel’s strengths. However, the book did not fully align with my personal reading preferences, though I can easily see it resonating with a specific readership and being well received by many.

For me, the pacing felt uneven, often leaning toward the slow side. At times, several chapters came across as transitional or filler-like, with the central premise only truly coming into focus on a handful of occasions. I also struggled to form a meaningful connection with the characters, which likely contributed to my sense that the narrative occasionally dragged.

Nevertheless, the novel does succeed in delivering moments of drama, which provided a compelling element and offered something to stay invested in.

[Christie Guillory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride through mental health awareness this was. The main character tells a dual timeline story through multiple POV as her internal perspective shifts through different emotional lenses. Perdita is insightful and therapeutic even while her life is messy and chaotic at times. I kept changing who I thought the killer was and then circled back around.
The book took me by surprise, challenged me to think more deeply about mental illness versus internal conflict, and moved me as I reflected back on it.
Thank you, Summit Books and NetGalley, for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[Bre Clem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This. Was. Messy.!!!! In the best way lol! What a crazy time line of events - although I know this totally unfolds in real life - the main character shares open and real thoughts about parenthood, having an emotionally distant husband, a brother struggling with addiction, and a never-present dad turned Monk in his later years of life while having an affair with the roofer her neighbor hired for work. If you are into family drama, secrets, “who done it” murders… this one is for you!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassandra Neyenesch’s A Little Bit Bad is one of those novels that slips a hand around your wrist and pulls you into a life already in motion—messy, magnetic, and impossible to look away from. At its centre is Perdita Jungfrau, a woman who has spent years trying to be good, sensible, and predictable… until she isn’t anymore. What begins as a reckless, intoxicating affair with Nando—her neighbour’s anarcho‑Marxist roofer, fifteen years her junior—spirals into a tangle of desire, guilt, and self‑reckoning that feels startlingly human.

The book moves between the heat of their affair and the cold aftermath: Nando has been murdered, Perdita’s husband is bewildered by the stranger his wife has become, and Perdita herself is juggling motherhood, grief, and the slow‑motion collapse of her younger brother to addiction. Neyenesch writes these tensions with a confiding, conspiratorial tone—almost as if Perdita is whispering her worst impulses to you over a glass of wine.

What makes the novel so compelling is its emotional duality: it’s sharp and funny in places, then suddenly tender, then quietly devastating. Perdita’s voice is charismatic, flawed, and painfully self‑aware. She’s not always likeable, but she’s always alive on the page. And the mystery—who’s watching her from the parked car outside, what really happened to Nando—threads through the narrative with a slow, simmering unease.

This is a story about desire and consequence, about the versions of ourselves we try to bury, and the ones that claw their way to the surface anyway. It’s messy, bold, and surprisingly moving—a novel that lingers like the echo of a confession.

My thanks to Cassandra Neyenesch, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Kassondra Cloos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perdita is married to a man who doesn't appreciate her or proactively care for her or her children in any way, and she's grown to loathe him. It's no wonder that she falls for the contractor, Nando, after he falls, literally, from the roof. As she rushes to help him and call an ambulance, he maintains his wit and charm through a bloody face; he sees her, when it is he who is most in need.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher and enjoyed the narrator's voice right from the beginning. I read the first third of the book extremely quickly. We flit back and forth between present-day Perdita, who is fretting over the unknown details of Nando's recent murder, and past Perdita, who is pursuing an affair with this man, and at first these transitions are deliciously frustrating — just as it starts getting somewhere, we flash forward or backward, and we have to return to the previous mystery before we can move forward again. It starts to slow down after the first few chapters, however, and it takes a while before the action picks back up again. If you're looking for a slow and poetic "true crime" fiction, this one's probably for you.

[Liv Delturco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wooo-eeee, this was a wild one. At no point in time did I know where this book was headed. A Little Bit Bad stands apart because of its ability to combine genres in an authentic way. Neyenesch writes in a way that feels personal and real, almost like you’re inside the main character’s thoughts. The story doesn’t try to make anyone completely good or completely bad, which makes it feel more realistic and relatable.

What makes this book unique is how much it focuses on the character’s inner struggles, but also the way that she's an unreliable narrator. You're on your toes for the entirety of the story, and you won't able to exactly pinpoint why until the end. The female main character is just a little off-putting, and the power of the story comes from the small details.

My only complaint comes from some of the writing being a tiny bit stereotypically "edgy" to me. While most of the book is written in a way that's incredibly relatable and thought out, some random lines will sneak their way in that make me roll my eyes a little, mostly in relation to the romance aspect. But that very well may just be me experiencing post art school PTSD.

Overall, A Little Bit Bad is a novel with a strong literary voice and a plot line that makes it different from typical contemporary fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[C Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5) – A Little Bit Bad by Cassandra Neyenesch

A Little Bit Bad had an intriguing premise, but my overall experience landed somewhere in the middle.

The concept itself has potential, and I can see this working better for readers who enjoy character-driven stories and don’t mind a slower burn or a protagonist who’s hard to root for. This is also great for readers who love satire/humor in their thrillers. While it didn’t completely hit for me, it wasn’t a bad read ,just not a standout.

My biggest struggle was the main character. I found her frustrating in ways that made it hard to fully invest in her story. While I can appreciate flawed and morally gray characters, her choices didn’t always feel compelling enough to keep me engaged.

I also found parts of the plot to be predictable. I was able to anticipate several key developments fairly early on, which took away some of the tension and impact as the story unfolded.

Thank you to Cassandra Neyenesch, NetGalley, and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amber Boos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perdita plans to be married forever. Then in walks Nando, the neighbor's roofer. They begin an affair. But that's not all. He has a girlfriend, is much younger and oh yeah, Perdita is also pregnant. Then as if that's not enough, Nando is murdered. Messy, messy, messy. Okay, and super-fun! As a long-time old married lady with no plans on having an affair, the author did a good of making me understand where Perdita was coming from in her questionable choices. We also see her struggles with guilt and wanting to be a good Mom for her children. But enough about all that! We get a fast-paced and twisty story told in a way that felt different and fresh, a lot of cool characters and even something in there I didn't see coming! I am excited to read more from Cassandra Neyenesch!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Cassandra Neyenesch and Simon & Schuster | S&S/Summit Books for this ARC.

[Sara Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perdita is 40 years old. She’s married with a toddler. The prime of her life seems to be over and now things aren’t fun anymore. Being a mom is all consuming and her husband doesn’t help much. Sound familiar? She’s sick of it and trying to figure out what to do. They had five good years together but now it just feels like they are stuck in a bad spot. She meets the hot young roofer and has an immediate connection. She’s trying to decide whether she should blow up her fairly normal stale life. I LOVED this book. I love dark comedies with quirky characters. I also love thrillers but get tired of reading the same old stuff. I was so hooked on this book and these characters that I was blindsided as the events of the book happened. I can’t say enough good things. Go read it!

[Danna Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was one of those books you’re reading and screaming “ Yes! This is fantastic!” the whole time. It’s funny (Hilarious) and relevant and touches on so many things in a woman’s life and loves. Cassandra Neyenesch is an exciting new voice. Straight to the point and unguarded. Voicing thoughts I’ve had before that I never dreamed someone else was thinking. This story is many things. Most of all it’s a great read. I predict this will be one of those books everyone is talking about. Read this and enjoy the ride.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy. Shit. HOLY SHIT. This book was twisty, sexy, fun and dark.

85% of the way - that twist. UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. So well-executed. It was like a really elaborate, sick and interesting ending to a movie where they explained who did the crime and how they got away with it. Wow Perdita was interesting and unlikable but so insanely compelling.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. The characters are not relatable or enjoyable for that matter. Perdita makes some very questionable choices and is just over all messy. The ending did shock me, I did not see that coming.

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster, and Cassandra Neyenesch for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date for A Little Bit Bad is May 5, 2026.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spent my day reading this one. Obsession, affairs, and daily life.

I felt for the main character and her life. A little too long. I know life changes for many people, but sometimes you need to just move on from a marriage or work it out.

[Remi]

i smell drama, i'll be at the front row of the show

*thank you to S&S/Summit Books for the ARC*

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic and twisty semi-thriller book about a very interesting protagonist and some awesome other characters. Nando, in particular, was written well. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Trisha]

I love this cover! Can't wait to read it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Kaity Weidman · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of TJR - this is for you! A wonderful love story surrounded by mystery bounded by beautiful writing. I loved following Perdita’s life and love.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC