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Table of Contents
About The Book
Lai Sanders’s debut novel is a timely, razor-sharp thriller exploring race and privilege, perfect for fans of R. F. Kuang.
One of Publishers Weekly’s Most Anticipated Thrillers of 2026
“A strangely dark, seductive debut novel.” —Kirkus Reviews
Shelley Hu’s life is over. A viral video cost her a spot at Columbia Law, her prestigious Manhattan law firm internship, and her hopes to build a better life for herself and her mother. Now 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 while those who caused the incident that cost her everything have been free to happily move on with their lives. But one night, the beautiful, enigmatic Sophia Moon checks in to Shelley’s motel with her husband and young son. Sophia’s appearance is far from random—she too has experienced a public shaming, and she proposes a plan to help Shelley get back what she deserves and enact revenge on the three people responsible for the worst day of her life.
Shelley returns with Sophia to New York with a new identity, new career, and new ambitions. Shelley ingratiates herself in her targets’ worlds until they begin to suffer one odd calamity after another. Soon Sophia’s support turns to obsession, as Shelley is forced to reckon with Sophia’s dark and mysterious past and the chilling truth that Sophia’s real plans are far beyond what Shelley ever imagined.
One of Publishers Weekly’s Most Anticipated Thrillers of 2026
“A strangely dark, seductive debut novel.” —Kirkus Reviews
Shelley Hu’s life is over. A viral video cost her a spot at Columbia Law, her prestigious Manhattan law firm internship, and her hopes to build a better life for herself and her mother. Now 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 while those who caused the incident that cost her everything have been free to happily move on with their lives. But one night, the beautiful, enigmatic Sophia Moon checks in to Shelley’s motel with her husband and young son. Sophia’s appearance is far from random—she too has experienced a public shaming, and she proposes a plan to help Shelley get back what she deserves and enact revenge on the three people responsible for the worst day of her life.
Shelley returns with Sophia to New York with a new identity, new career, and new ambitions. Shelley ingratiates herself in her targets’ worlds until they begin to suffer one odd calamity after another. Soon Sophia’s support turns to obsession, as Shelley is forced to reckon with Sophia’s dark and mysterious past and the chilling truth that Sophia’s real plans are far beyond what Shelley ever imagined.
About The Author
Bernard Khalil
Lai Sanders is an American writer and nonprofit worker living between Lebanon and France. The Plans I Have for You is her debut novel. Her first name is pronounced like the English word lie.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (March 17, 2026)
- Length: 352 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668087947
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Raves and Reviews
“The Plans I Have For You is a gripping tale of obsession and desire centered around the idea of taking back what’s rightfully yours, no matter what you have to do to make it happen.” —CRIMINAL ELEMENT
"[A] sizzling, slippery debut about cancel culture, reinvention, and revenge." —AMAZON REVIEW
"The Plans I Have for You functions perfectly as both classic tale of revenge and haunting meditation on modernity." —CRIMEREADS
"How far is too far? This is the question Lai Sanders dives into, along with conversations of privilege, race, gender and heritage, in this stunning debut revenge thriller about two women determined to reclaim what they believe they deserve." —MS. MAGAZINE
"Two young Asian American women plot revenge against the people they blame for derailing their dreams... The story intertwines two timelines: the present, where Shelley and Sophia enact their elaborate plan, and the past, where Sophia’s origin story unfolds. It’s hard to say which storyline is more unhinged. Both twist and turn in wild and unexpected ways. Are parts of the book borderline absurd? Absolutely. But that doesn’t make it any less thrilling—and it’s not without depth, either." —KIRKUS REVIEWS
"A chilling novel... Fans of stories about serial killers and their psychological make-up will enjoy this book." —LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Sanders proves adept at building tension, and she offers a meaty exploration of feminine rancor. It’s a wild ride." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Resources and Downloads
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