This is a dark, disturbing story with unlikable and unreliable narrators. This is also Lisa Jewell's best work and my new favorite of hers! I could not put it down and loved all the suspense, clues that are reviewed. I knew based on the title that aspects of the story wouldn't be true but when it's all revealed I still absolutely loved the direction it all went in. The added interviews of the other characters added another layer and depth to the story and I loved seeing these outside perspectives. This is a very dark story and bingeable book and I could not put it down!! I loved the slightly ambiguous ending, per Lisa's style! This is the kind of story that will make you question everything you think you figured out!

I'm dying to see this adapted one day and to see Josie's all denim-wearing, little dog toting, socially awkward persona!

Recommend if you enjoy
True crime podcasts
Unsettling family secrets
Netflix documentaries
Domestic suspense
Unreliable narrators
Guessing game of truth and lies!

4.5 stars rounded up!

What an absolutely bonkers book! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advanced copy of the ebook; it was an absolutely wild ride to say the least!

Told in a dual timeline, one being the linear story and the other being excerpts from a Netflix documentary, we really get sunk into one of the most twisty plots I’ve read in a long time. You could tell right from the start that something isn’t quite right with Josie and Alix was about to get mixed up in a whole new kind of crazy, and that’s exactly what happened! I was totally hooked the whole time and was dying to know what was going to be revealed next. My only, minor, complaint is that the story felt a bit redundant, mostly in the Netflix clips in the beginning because they weren’t really giving much information and just kept things a little vague (which in hindsight was kind of the point but - I don’t know - it probably could’ve been done a little differently.)

As a whole my thriller friends are gonna love this! None of This is True drops August 8!

Lisa Jewell’s new psychological thriller was so good! I stayed up most of the night reading it!
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Alix Summers and Josie Fair meet while celebrating their 45th birthdays in the same restaurant. They decide they are “birthday twins” when they realize not only were they born on the same day but also in the same hospital.

Alix is a popular podcaster with a not-so-perfect husband, that she still loves, and two small children. Josie is married to a much older man with two grown daughters, one is a recluse who still lives at home and one ran away when she was 16. Josie asks Alix to do a podcast about her life and begins revealing shocking stories about her family. One minute Alix feels a mix of intrigue and pity and, the next, she is completely unsettled by Josie.

Josie worms her way into Alix’s life and family. Is what she is telling Alix about her family true? Is there more to the story? Too late, Alix realizes the threat Josie poses. By then, Josie is gone and the podcast involves Alix too.
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I gave None Of This Is True ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars. It definitely held my attention. It was well written and you weren’t entirely sure what was real with anyone except maybe Alix. It wasn’t so much shocking twists to me as diversions from where I thought she was going with the story. I would definitely recommend it to my fellow thriller lovers!

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Lisa Jewell, you’ve done it again! I really loved this one. Up there with The Night She Disappeared and Then She Was Gone for me, in terms of quality of plot and heart shattering reveals. I have a love/hate relationship with being told early in the book what to expect but it worked well in this book and I loved how the story played out as a Netflix true crime docuseries. Jewell took ordinary characters and weaved together such a sinister and unnerving plot. This was entirely bingeable and I could not bring myself to put it down. The ending was great too and wrapped up in a manner that I particularly like but know some don’t. While I felt completely intrigued, there were a couple key characters I wish I liked more or got to see more of to really be blown away at the end.

I have a feeling this is going to be an extremely popular release this summer and can’t wait to chat about it with my book friends. Absolutely one I recommend to fans of Jewell, mysteries, Netflix documentaries, and unreliable narrators.

4.5 stars.

Wow, I'm speechless! This is Lisa Jewell's best novel yet. None of This is True is such a dark and twisted thriller that you're absolutely not going to want to miss. I was immediately drawn in and could not put this book down. Amazing writing and a perfectly executed novel! Go buy this one today. Your mind will be blown!

'm flabbergasted at this astonishing book Lisa Jewell has written. By far one of her best and I've read almost every one of them. This psychological thriller will catch in your throat. It is hard to put down and deeply disturbing, but that ending you cannot prepare for. My jaw dropped instead of the mic! It is unbearable at times, but will leave you intrigued! The characters are well thought out and felt. The main character is Alix, a true crime pod-caster, that absorbs you into women's lives that have overcome extreme situations to go on and lead successful lives. Her biggest mistake was recording "Hi! I'm your birthday twin!" after bringing a complete stranger into their home to interview for a podcast. Her husband and children were a little wigged out by this stranger, Josie. Josie and Alix met at a restaurant when they were celebrating the same birthday.

Josie's life is a betrayal of her own mind, which her husband elaborates she likes to blow out of proportion. I wasn't sure where this was headed, but I knew it was my kind of thriller. The story turns into uncomfortable scenarios consisting of dysfunctional relationships and twists that will blow your mind. You will not be disappointed! The title reflects none of this is true!!!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Birthday Twins! So begins Alix Summers’ newest podcast.

After randomly meeting Josie Fair while each was out for their forty-fifth birthday celebrations, Alix barely registers the unassuming petite woman. When she runs into Josie again a few days later, the quiet and odd woman pitches her life as a podcast. Alix wonders what could possibly be interesting about an all-denim wearing, little dog toting, socially awkward woman.

The answer: a lot. Josie goes from a few recording sessions a week, to full infiltration of Alix’s life in a matter of weeks—even staying with her when things go dreadfully wrong at home. As she reveals her traumatizing story, Alix is sure she has the makings of a great true crime podcast. Little does she know how big of a role she will have in the story herself.

With a couple of unreliable narrators and tons of dark twists and turns, its truly difficult to guess how this tale will end. This unsettling story is full of lies and half truths, that have the reader questioning everything they think they have figured out. Lisa Jewell has us rapidly turning the pages to find out what could possibly happen next. She’s proven again she’s a master in the domestic psychological thriller genre.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and of course Lisa Jewell for the advanced copy of the book. None of This Is True comes out on August 8th and should be quickly added to your summer reading pile. All opinions are my own.

A masterclass in dread. However, that awful feeling that things are going to go up in smoke at any point? Not so enjoyable over a large portion of the book. I admire the craft but not a book I'd want to reread. Genuinely stressed me out, ha!

This novel delivered a twisty summer thriller that will satisfy Jewell's fanbase.

Her latest novel follows Alix Summers, a popular podcaster celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at a local pub, who catches the attention of another patron at the restaurant. Josie, Alix's birthday twin, is also celebrating her birthday that night in an uncharacteristically fancy night out at a local hot spot with her husband.

After this chance meeting, Josie convinces Alix to feature her on her podcast, claiming to be on the verge of crucial changes in her life. But as Alix delves deeper into Josie's world, she realizes that there is more to Josie than meets the eye, and she may be hiding some very dark secrets.

Despite her uneasiness, Alix continues to pursue the story, and before she knows it, Josie has coaxed her way into Alix's life and home. But just as quickly as Josie arrives, she disappears, leaving behind a hidden backstory that puts Alix and her family's lives in mortal danger.

As Alix investigates Josie's past, she discovers shocking truths that lead to her becoming the subject of her own true-crime podcast. The chapters alternate between the plot and the written transcripts from the Netflix original series, based on her life, called "Hi! I'm Your Birthday Twin!" This helps foreshadow what's to come and keeps the reader engaged in the slow unspooling of Josie's secrets.

This novel is another fast page-turner with unlikeable and unreliable characters. However, a reader must suspend disbelief often when it comes to the police procedural elements and how many clues are given to Alix without hesitation. She is easily given admittance into hotel rooms and video transcripts, and insider information from the police. It kept the plot moving forward, but sometimes at the reader's expense as we suspend reality.

If you decide to read this one, opt for an audiobook version, as I'm sure that the transcript element will enhance this experience, but know this takes some dark and disturbing turns. If you have yet to read Jewell, Then She Was Gone is my pick for a solid place to start.

This has to be one of my favorite Lisa Jewell books so far!!

Jewell tells the story of Josie, a woman looking for change, who meets her birthday twin, Alix, on the night of their 45th birthday. It so happens that Alix is a podcaster and Josie proposes they work together on a podcast, kind of a woman on the brink of change, or a what-if your life turned out differently... Alix soon sees that there's more to Josie's story. As she begins to tell of her teenage romance with a much older man. And the difficult relationship with her daughters.

Jewell does such a wonderful job unraveling this story. She allows the reader to feel uncomfortable and suspicious enough that I couldn't put the book down, but holds back on the big twists until. just the right time.

Highly recommend this one for fans of Lisa Jewell and fans of any psychological suspense!

*Warning: contains topics related to pedophilia
If I had known None of This is True dealt with such abhorrent topics, I would not have read it. It took me a long time to get through the book because it was so intense and the structure did not flow smoothly. It felt very piecemeal and the jumping around made for a very disjointed story.

While I'm sure some people loved it, it was a miss for me.

I think @lisajewelluk writes incredible thrilling reads. This was equal parts slow burn, and an adrenaline rush, that did not disappoint. I love how the settings are London based, which most definitely added to the enjoyment factor. What I most enjoyed is that these are middle aged characters whose life circumstances are shifting and changing and I think those of us at this stage can all relate a bit to that. A solid storyline with unreliable narrators, a guessing game of truth and lies and as the story gains momentum it pulses with intensity. I am going out on a limb to say it is likely the best of Jewell’s that I’ve read.

Two women are celebrating their 45th birthdays in a restaurant. Oddly they connect in the bathroom and discover they are “birthday twins” born on the same day, the same London hospital. A coincidence, and what unfolds is a wild ride of the two coming together with Alix interviewing Josie for a new podcast series upon Josie’s suggestion. As Alix gets into the thick of learning about Josie’s life, she has a very unsettled, disturbed feeling about Josie and the dark secrets she has revealed. Creepy, chilling.

I burned through this at top speed. I was up early and finished late in the evening. Definitely look for this in August if you’re a thriller lover! Easy 5⭐️’s from me!

Okay, so lots of you have asked me for my review on this one…. And I’m so happy to say - it’s an all star, home run, chefs kiss masterpiece from the queen Lisa herself, as always. This is a deeply psychological, twisted, downright creepy story of a bunch of people that you somehow hate but pity/grow to like/feel hopeful for, all at the same time? So weird. There were times I was disgusted, freaked out, antsy, anxious…. I went through the whole gambit of emotions reading this. As in any solid thriller, there were times I wanted to throttle some of the characters, but then they turned out to not be as bad as they seem (IYKYK) and other characters that I was truly scared of. I won’t spoil it, but the death in this one really made my heart hurt. Also, it’s written in the context of a true crime podcast AND Netflix documentary (it’s like Lisa knows I’m OBSESSED with true crime media lol), I loved the style so much - I couldn’t put it down!

I don’t have much else to say except if you love Lisa, you’ll love this. Full stop. Pick this book up.

💜𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💜
NONE OF THIS IS TRUE
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5 ⭐️
📖 384 pages
𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🎙️🐶🎉🎬😱🏡
🥳 𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 8/8/2023

Wow, just wow. I couldn’t put this down. Lisa Jewell does it again, another 5 star thriller!

Ever wonder what getting involved with a crazy, obsessive lady who shares your birthday looks like?? Yeah, me neither but you’ll find out if you read this one and you’ll be hooked!

I had so many theories and thoughts while reading and I couldn’t figure it out. I promise this will suck you in from the start and you don’t be able to stop reading.

Thank you @netgalley @atriabooks for the #gifted digital arc in exchange for an honest review!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
🎮 a mysterious daughter who never leaves her room
😳 a significant age difference between a couple
🎬 Netflix documentaries- in between the story, are snippets of a future documentary that was made about the wild story of the 2 women
🎙️ true crime podcasts
🤪 a crazy lady who steals your soap

𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: The story follows Alix and Josie who meet while both out celebrating their 45th birthdays. What starts out as a fun discovery that they were born on the same day, in the same hospital, turns into a cuckoo story. Josie seeks Alix out, who hosts a well known podcast, asking if she can be interviewed for it. The plot quickly turns sinister as it is obvious that Josie is obsessed and may not be telling the whole truth.

But what is the truth???

I’ve always been a fan of Lisa Jewel’s books, but I think this is my most favorite one of hers yet! She just keeps on getting better and better with her writing as well as her twisted storylines. None Of This Is True grabs you right from the start and keeps you guessing all the way til the very last page. The story is basically about a podcaster, Alix, who meets another woman, Josie, one night at a pub while they are both out celebrating their birthdays. Josie convinces Alix that she would make an interesting subject for Alix’s podcasts and while Alix is hesitant at first, she finds herself becoming more and more fascinated by Josie’s unconventional life and marriage. Before Alix can even realize what is happening, Josie becomes closely involved with all aspects of Alix’s life. This is Lisa Jewell at her best - weaving so many plot twists into her story that even when you think you have it all figured out, she throws in a little zinger at the very end.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️

Lisa Jewell has done it again folks!
I just know that everything this woman writes I will love! She has a way of building suspense throughout the entirety of a book and still surprising you in the end.
This book had me questioning every single character. I felt they all were hiding something. Whether it be something big or something small. And twist after twist I still couldn’t guess the ending. I loved the podcast/Netflix series vibes - it kept this story so interesting for me. (I’m a sucker for a podcast plot).
This one comes out in August and I highly suggest getting yours preordered!
Thank you so much Netgalley and Atria books for the #gifted ARC of this one.

This book is definitely a page-turner. I was hooked from page one and had difficulty doing anything else. Alix Summers is a podcaster who focuses on women who overcome obstacles and achieve success. She has a seemingly perfect life, living in a beautiful home with her successful husband and two children. On her 45th birthday, she meets her birthday twin, Josie Fair, a woman who married young and is dissatisfied with the way her life has played out. When Josie later approaches Alix with the idea for a new podcast, Alix is intrigued, but once she invites Josie into her home, Alix’s life is forever changed.

really good! loved so many aspects of this thriller. twists and unexpected turns without introducing too many characters and losing the reader along the way. loved the interview and general layout of the novel, broken into parts, etc.

Wow!! What a dark, twisty, and mind blowing psychological thriller!! Jewell has truly outdone herself!

Josie Fair is out celebrating her 45th birthday with her husband Walter, who is much her senior, at a local pub when another birthday group walks in. She meets the other birthday girl, Alix Summers, who is also out celebrating her 45th, and they realize they were born in the same hospital as well and that they are birthday twins! Alix does podcasts and is growing bored of her current series, and when Josie proposes Alix does a podcast about her and her life on the cusp of big changes, Alix can’t resist. She becomes unsettled by Josie’s strange and complicated story, but the temptation for her podcast is too great to back out. Dark revelations start to come out, and before she knows it, Josie has fully infiltrated herself into her life and her home.

Jewell weaves an intensely intricate story, and it’s impossible to put down! I loved the inclusion of the podcast snippets and the eventual Netflix docuseries. It keeps you hooked from start to finish and left me wondering what the actual truth was! This was an easy 5 stars for me. I will include that there are some major triggers in this book tho, including descriptions of grooming, Pedophilia, and abuse.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

I was hooked from start to finish!! Loved the writing and how everything built up. The podcast and Netflix parts were an amazing addition! I love how the jaw dropping moments were so subtle! Just really really good! Highly recommend.