This Is the Twisty Thriller Mindy Kaling Couldn't Put Down
This Is the Twisty Thriller Mindy Kaling Couldn't Put Down
Sara Levine Wed, February 25, 2026 at 5:54 PM UTC
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This Is the Twisty Thriller Mindy Kaling Couldn't Put Down
We think the best way to find a great book is by getting a recommendation from someone you trust. (That's why Katie just started her very own book club.) And if you're asking whose bookshelves we're especially dying to take a peek at, Mindy Kaling is very high on the list.
You know Kaling for her laugh-out-loud performances in The Office and The Mindy Project, her big-screen turns in Ocean's 8 and A Wrinkle in Time, and her behind-the-scenes work on The Sex Lives of College Girls and Never Have I Ever. But she's also a lover of literature, and is on a mission to boost diversity in publishing via her own imprint, Mindy's Book Studio. “There's tons of women of color who are interested in comedy and write these incredibly funny books, and I just want to help people get to see them,” she told WBUR.
The latest book from Kaling’s imprint is Read Between the Lies by Jesse Q. Sutanto, a thriller Kaling says is “a dark, delicious takedown of cancel culture and the publishing industry.” She says she read it in just long two sittings — which is what we call a real page-turner.
Intrigued about what makes this book so irresistible? We asked Kaling why Read Between the Lies stuck with her, and what to expect from this twisty tale.
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How did you first become aware of Jesse Q. Sutanto?
I first discovered her through Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I loved the character of Vera Wong so much that we even pursued it for my film and TV production company, Kaling International. It’s such a clever story: funny, character-driven, organically diverse, and so suspenseful and gripping. That combination of heart and high stakes is rare, and Jesse is excellent at it.
What drew you to her latest book, Read Between the Lies?
I love a revenge story. And I knew Jesse would write one that’s not just fun and page-turning, but also set against a rich and interesting cultural backdrop. I’m also always excited by stories that explore the dark side of ambition. I'm obsessed with the kinds of characters that want something so badly, I start to question their ethics — but at the same time, I can't help but respect their hustle.
What makes stories about female friendships so compelling?
Female friendship is nuanced and fascinating, and we don’t see enough of those elements represented in media! Women are incredibly smart, emotionally mature, and we get things done. We can also read the subtext in a micro expression, and we can clock the real story behind a fake smile. So one-dimensional portrayals where everyone gets along perfectly, or where there’s mindless hatred between girls, have never felt authentic to me. Jesse understands that so well. She shows the affection, jealousy, loyalty, and resentment all living side by side. It’s dark, but it’s also honest.
The post This Is the Twisty Thriller Mindy Kaling Couldn't Put Down appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
