Josie is about to change her life. To honor her great change, she engages successful podcaster and birthday twin Alix to come along for the ride. What ensues has more unexpected twists and turns than the Coquihalla highway.

Alix’s instincts tell her very strongly to walk away from the project, but the journalist in her can’t do it. As Alix, gets sucked further into the intrigue of Josie’s story, she begins to see the potential for this podcast to be a career maker. Besides, everyone has secrets.

Things change when Josie shows up on Alix’s doorstep looking for help. She is somehow both histrionic and completely detached when faced with complex trauma. Her behavior becomes alarming on a number of levels. Josie begins referring to it as “her house”, “her room”, “her family”. When Alix or her husband ask her what her plans are, she feels it’s none of their business. It becomes clear that Josie is at a minimum embellishing parts of her story, at most telling outright lies. But why?

Jewel is a seasoned suspense author and it shows. This book is stylistically different than a lot of Jewel’s other work, it lacked her typical multiple timelines and almost all the characters were women (which I loved).

My main criticism is the use of the COVID pandemic as a narrative device. I’m sure the light touch of the pandemic in this book will age well and keep it historically accurate, but having lived through it so recently, it really interfered with the escapism I was looking for.

This book will leave you wondering if you just had a fever dream, as well as whose truth is THE truth. I would recommend this to anyone who tends to find suspense novels predictable, tedious, or low stakes. I found it very outside the box.

Could not put this down!
The eeriness of the story, behaviors of the characters and the depth of the storyline kept this book at a fast pace. They way the story is told, through a podcast, Netflix doc clips and current events, was done beautifully. I enjoyed how we got to see the past, present and future in this different way.

Jewell does an incredible job of building the readers feelings towards each character - sympathy, anger and even feeling creeped out. I often found myself making faces while reading about the actions of both Josie and Nathan, and thinking about Josie's daughters long after I had finished the book. I think the elusive ending leaves the reader with a loose sense of closer about who Josie really is.

Well, that was a wild ride! 😳 I had a blast shaking things up by reading a thriller, and this one did not disappoint! It was twisty-turny, fast-paced, and creepy! I said, “What?” a ton and didn’t know what was happening or who to trust or believe. But that was part of the fun! I also enjoyed the snippets of the podcast and Netflix show throughout the story. They never felt like a distraction and helped move the plot interestingly.

And omg, THAT ENDING. I can’t stop thinking about the ending. My jaw was on the floor, and I need more!

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, Lisa Jewell’s new novel, None Of This Is True, is one you DO NOT want to miss. Alix and Josie are complete strangers but each just happen to be celebrating their 45th birthday at the same pub.

Alix has a successful podcast about women who have overcome hardship in their life to become successful more improved version of themselves. On her 45th birthday, Josie, a wife and mother of two, decides she is going to take this opportunity to make changes in her life. When Josie approaches Alix, who is ready for a new challenge, with an idea to cover a story about the changes Josie is ready to make in her life, Alix decides to embrace the challenge.
As Josie's dark story begins to unfold, Alix begins to have an uneasy feeling about this project.

This riveting , deliciously, creepy psychological thriller is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It has the same dark, suspenseful feel as Gone Girl. The characters are so authentically flawed and the plot line so engrossing, I couldn’t put it down. In my opinion, this will be one of the best books of the summer.

'None of This is True' is a psychological thriller that kept me guessing and sleeping a little less soundly at night (but in a good way). Two women's paths cross and both of their lives are never the same. For me, the book had overtones of the 90s movie 'Single White Female,' as well as Steven King's 'Misery.' I find myself wanting to read it again to catch more clues (now that I know the ending). Very enjoyable page turner!

*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

I always try to describe to my husband what I am reading and this one left him with many follow up questions for me. I would tell him the premise, but then say, according to the title, none of it is true! This book was so easy to pick up and hard to put down. I received a book I had been waiting months to read, but haven’t even started it yet because I just had to finish this. Well done, Lisa Jewell!

This was a “read in less than 24 hours” thriller, and it was a goooood one!! It kept me guessing the whole time, didn’t have an overly contrived twist, and was just good! Fast paced, drew me in right away, and kept my attention until the very end!

Loved this twisty tale! Different points of view from characters through the book leaves the reader not quite feeling they know what is really happening.

WOW! 🤯 4.5 stars rounded up!

Thanks, NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy. I’m still reeling and unsure of what’s true and who to believe… which I guess that was the point and why it is SO good.

I’m conflicted, though, on my sympathy for Alix. Like there were so many red flags and she just ignored them? It was frustrating to see her continuously make poor decisions, but no one deserves what happened to her.

Long story short: People are crazy. Don’t trust them.

Got this ARC from NetGalley in lieu of an honest review. This is definitely a Lisa Jewell novel, with characters that are creepy, mind blowing, and overstay their welcome. I could have used a little less of the “interview” portions throughout the book, and more of the MCs so the pace and stakes intensified throughout - the build up would suddenly disappear when you got thrown into new characters you’d only see once and their relationships to the MCs. This all being said, I enjoyed the author’s ability to make you feel so unsettled and it’s a great thriller to read once it hits shelves this summer.

Thank you so much @AtriaBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 08 Aug 2023)

SYNOPSIS | Josie is 45 year old seamstress who is married to a significantly older man & when she meets Alix (a podcast host) at her local pub she approaches her deciding it is time to tell her story.

WHAT I LIKED:
- that I questioned whether Josie was a reliable narrator on multiple occasions
- how the story slowly unravels & the tension builds steadily throughout
- the interwoven Netflix interviews
- embraces the 'ick' (TW: pedophilia, grooming, child abuse & incest)

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- open ending leaving readers with more questions
- some loose ends

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of a digital advanced reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review!

The book follows Josie Fair who's with her husband celebrating her 45th birthday at a local pub when a large group walks in. In that group is Alix Summers, a popular podcaster, who just so happens to also be celebrating her 45th birthday. Josie strikes up a conversation with Alix in the bathroom and the next day, and Josie pitches the idea of doing a 'Hi! I'm Your Birthday Twin!' podcast with Alix. Alix thinks it is a great idea because she wants to dive into a new angle of her podcast of following women that have come up from the ashes into success. They get started interviewing and more interviews she does with Josie, Alix realizes what Josie tells her just is unsettling and that she's hiding some very dark secrets.

I have to give it to the author, I could never have predicted that twist in a million years. As a true-crime podcast listener, this book peaked my interest because the reader isn't privy to what is going on in the actual interview, but many of the chapters begin with the interview's re-creation into a Netflix series that seamlessly flows with the storyline. My only criticism is that I just wish the author began wrapping up the loose ends of this book sooner. The ending felt like it was 3 chapters too long because the author had to keep adding storyline in order to tie up the loose ends. If not for the drawn out ending, this book would have been a 5-star read, hands down.

If you ever meet a “birthday twin” in a restaurant bathroom, do not, I repeat, do NOT give them the time of day. Just ask Alix Summer. ☺️

What in the world? I read this book in one sitting. It has a great podcast format. Some parts will make you cringe, some parts will make you angry. Don’t you just love it when books can do that? Don’t read the long synopsis (why do they make them so long?), it’s better to just pick it up and go! Lisa Jewell is an auto-read for me (since Then She Was Gone) so if you haven’t read her yet, this is a good one to start with.

Releases August 8, so preorder your copy!

Thank you NetGalley and AtriaBooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Jewell hits the ball out of the park with her newest psychological thriller, None of this is true. Alix, a successful podcaster meets Josie out at a local restaurant. Alix and Josie do not know each other, but are connected by one thing, the same birthday. They have a brief conversation at the restaurant and surprisingly enough a couple of days later, they see each other again on the street outside of the school that Alix’s children attend (and Josie’s children attended when they were younger). Could it be fate? They are connected by a date, but could that be a segue into a friendship? Josie proposes that she participate in Alix’s podcast. Before she knows it, Alix is drawn into a situation that she never imagined. Her life and that of her family’s is at risk all because of a shared birthday. I couldn’t put this book down. The development of the characters was superb. The information provided allowed me to get to know them inside and out. I couldn’t wait to keep reading to see what twists and turns were coming. This book was addictive and impossible to put down. I highly recommend it to anyone that loves a good psychological thriller. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would!

None of this is True is a read that will stick with you for years. It is a psychological thriller that has twists and turns and brings a sense of unease as well as a sense of urgency to see what happens next. Lisa Jewell does not disappoint with her latest novel. It will leave you guessing until the very last page! The story follows two women, Josie and Alix, who share a birthday and the hospital they were born at. Josie sees Alix across the room at a restaurant while they are both celebrating their 45th birthdays. Josie approaches Alix, a podcaster, and this is where her obsession with Alix starts. She broaches the idea of creating a podcast based on her life, and Alix agrees to do it. From this point on, the reader is trying to figure out what Josie is up to and how the story ends. The novel goes back and forth between the past and present and gives us the perspective of each of the women. There are also snippets of a Netflix show based on their story. This keeps the reader guessing about what transpired. I highly recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!!

I could not put this book down! Lisa Jewell has created a psychological thriller with intriguing characters and a suspenseful plot. Alix and Josie are birthday twins who come across each other at a restaurant on their birthday. Alix is a popular podcaster who isn't sure what direction to go next with her podcasts when Josie suggests that she her interview her. Josie said she has some major life changes she wants to make. Against her better judgement, Alix agrees. The story Josie tells over the next few weeks gives Alix an uneasy feeling, but she keeps setting up more times to hear the rest. Josie tells of a much older husband who she met at 15, abuse, a narcissistic mother, and a daughter who ran away from home. But is any of it true and what kind of person is Alix inviting into her home?

A great thriller! I flew through it in two sittings and could not put it down once I got over halfway! While I'm not super content with the ending events, or the lack of creepy elements throughout, I get what Jewell was trying to do and it was sufficient! Still a 5-star, and I'm pretty picky.

After just the first few chapters of this story, I knew I was going to be hooked and wouldn’t want it to end. This was a fast-paced book throughout and at the halfway point it got even more shocking and wild. I just couldn’t put it down. I don’t have enough words for how Jewell ended this story, but I’ll leave you with these few words - you’ll be heartbroken, disturbed, and angry all at once.

I recommend this book if you enjoy reading:
- Lisa Jewell books, of course!
- Psychological, fast-paced, and sinister thrillers
- Dark, messy, unsettling, strange, and mind bending stories
- - True crime podcasts interwoven into the story
- Twisted, eerie, and suspicious characters
- Family drama
- Stories that’ll leave you thinking ‘What the heck did I just read?’

Lisa Jewell did it again! What a great book! The story had me from the beginning and I got up 2 hours early just so I could read before work. Wow! Just wow! If you like a good thriller with the perfect plot twist-Look no further!

Lisa Jewell has done it again! Another suspenseful mystery that I couldn't put down!

Alix, a popular podcaster, and Josie meet by chance at a restaurant while celebrating their birthdays. As it turns out, they share a birthday. Josie believes that this makes them "birthday twins" and thus, connected. She orchestrates further "chance" meetings with Alix until she convinces Alix to make her the subject of her podcast. Alix is unsure of Josie but thinks that her story is compelling. As they spend more and more time together on the podcast, Josie's story becomes more disturbing. Josie demands more of her time and quickly becomes a bigger part of her life than Alix ever intended. As Alix starts to become uneasy about Josie, things turn from uncomfortable to horrifying.

Jewell has created a story that begged me to keep reading. I couldn't wait to see what would be revealed next and how the story would twist and turn. The ending is satisfying but also leaves open the possibility of a follow up book.