This book really took me by surprise. It felt so different from some of the other books I have read by the author. While some things still clearly felt the same and the writing style was what I expected… this book almost felt more like a drama/mystery than a thriller. That’s not to say that I did not enjoy it. It was very easy to read and kept me engaged the whole time. I had a good time! It was definitely different than I expected it to be though.

3.75 stars!

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story!

This book time jumps and bounces from different people’s pov’s. One thing I would suggest at the beginning of the chapter if there’s a time jump it’s noted but I feel like it should also say who’s pov the chapter is about because there are a lot and it got confusing at points.

Nick is reaching out to an old friend’s family after he passed to reminisce and send his condolences. He gets close to Paddy’s widow Nina and develops a relationship to the point where they start dating. But Nina’s daughter feels things are very suspicious and starts investigating who Nick really is. Al is Martha’s husband, she’s a thriving florist but Al is always going away on business and can’t be reached while she’s juggling her business and children. Martha, Nina and many others find themselves being taken advantage of, money stolen, stalked, some have even lost their lives over this man who weaves so many lies and identities.

I was really excited for this one but unfortunately it just missed the mark. I thought it would be a bit more of a psychological thriller and while it wasn’t, the suspense and story definitely hit.

One thing I couldn’t get past was the alternating POVs. I just found it to be a bit too much. I liked the story but around 50% of the way I found it harder to figure out what was happening when and with who. The short chapters were great and J loved the writing style, I just wish there had been one less POV.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for this ARC!

Lisa Jewell’s Don’t Let Him In is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Twisty, thrilling, and oddly touching, it delivers relentless tension while crafting a villain so wicked yet strangely sympathetic. The vindication is satisfying, the emotions unexpected. Jewell once again proves her genius at blurring the lines between horror and humanity.

3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Outlier alert!!

I don’t really like being on outlier island, but here I am. After reading and loving None of This is True, maybe my expectations were too high - I mean it’s Lisa Jewell after all - but this was just ok for me.

If you are expecting a psychological thriller, this is not it. However, I did like the suspense and I LOVE to hate despicable, revolting characters! The short chapters are always a plus for me and I liked the ending.

The main thing I didn’t like about this book - the alternating POVs - something I usually love. It was confusing at first, but once I was able to keep up with them I was bored. I grew tired of waiting for something to be revealed. I guess it was too much of a slow build up for me.

There are tons of glowing reviews for this one, so maybe it just was wasn’t the right book for me at that time.

I do enjoy Lisa Jewell’s books and I’m looking forward to the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review.

This one took a bit for me to get into but once I was in, I was hooked!! Suspenseful and loved the domestic elements of the plot line. Fans of this author will enjoy!

Lisa Jewell is a spectacular author and this new book did not disappoint. I love all the different perspectives and characters and how they all weave together. Nick is an absolute snake in the grass, opportunistic character. This book will not disappoint!!

In the oversaturated thriller genre, Lisa Jewell always finds a way to stand out and deliver a consistently engaging well written read.

The story felt a little predictable, but was ultimately told an engaging story and wrapped up with a satisfying ending. You find yourself rooting for the main characters, and the women she writes are complicated and multifaceted . I'll never say no to a Lisa Jewell book!

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
The book immediately caught my attention. I was a little confused because there were several story lines introduced at once. The story also does time line jumps. Although I was originally confused, I really thought that the way the book was written was interesting. It kept my attention and each chapter left me wanting to know more. I liked the character Ash and had sympathy for her. I also really liked Jane and thought she was a fun character. 4 stars for me!!!

I was almost so mad at the ending of this book and then it ended alright! I have to repeatedly remind myself that it’s fiction because I was so upset. There was a lot of characters but it felt like it got all wrapped up in the end.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of this book. This publishes June 24th.

What to expect in this book:

-Domestic mystery
-England setting
-Dual POV
-Various timelines
-Untrustworthy characters
-Amateur sleuths

Thoughts

This is my third Lisa Jewell thriller and this one felt the least 'thrilling' to me. While I did not LOVE it as much as None of This is True, it was a nice change of pace from some other books that I have been reading recently and I enjoyed reading it. The story begins with the tragic death of restauranteur Paddy Swann at the hands of a mad man. After the death of her father, Ash is devastated and trying to pick up the pieces of the life that she once had. An unexpected gift from a friend of her father's sends a new man into Ash's mother, Nina's life, and therefore Ash now has to adjust to Nick being a fixture in her mother's life and very quickly, in their home. Ash has a feeling that she cannot trust Nick and not just because she is still grieving her father's death.

I felt like this story was easy to figure out from early on. There are several POV and without chapter titles by narrator, it makes it a little confusing to understand the characters' back stories at first, but once I understood who the characters were, I found it all a little contrived. I am a harsh critic of thrillers especially and while I love a good mystery, I felt like there were no true twists in this that did not have foreshadowing that led right to them. While it was predictable, it was an entertaining read and I cannot say that I did not enjoy it. I loved the coastal english towns and the variety of characters. I especially loved the chapters from Nick's POV and better understanding his character.

Ultimately there were just so many parts of this that felt like I could see the writing on the wall. While that does not bother me too much, I just expected a little more, especially from a book with such a sinister title. I look forward to reading more of Lisa Jewell's backlist. If you have read her others, what do you suggest next?

Lisa hits it out of the park with this one!!!! Probably one of my top favorite books from her. Highly recommend!!!!

Well well well. Another solid Lisa Jewell book. This story gripped me immediately. A perfect combination of a slow burn thriller all the while keeping the reader intrigued. This book made me absolutely question all men, including my husband. Joking. But dang, this MMC was a real piece of work. I loved how this all tied together at the end.

Hot damn I am so glad that’s over.

All that… for what? What is there to show for it?

I’ll start off by saying there are no character tags at each chapter and there are way too many names and aliases to keep track of with no direction, and the time flop literally made my brain feel like scrambled eggs. Too much, too boring, too long.

The way this didn’t focus on one specific character or the past/present was the downfall. I don’t know why she was trying so hard to be ambiguous for the first 10-15 chapters when it all unfolds rather easily. There are no “aha” twist moments, except at the end when <spoiler>you learn he was sabotaging Ash’s situation with her boss (shit, her teacher? I don’t even remember or care) and sending letters on his behalf to make her feel crazy.</spoiler> Like what a half-assed “twist” that was legit thrown in in the last chapter. For shock value? I dunno. I kept waiting for a big wave of “holy shit” to sideline me, but this book relied solely on manipulation and falsities.

The only thing that made me go W-T-F is the fact that <spoiler>he/Al/Nick/Jonathan/Andre impregnated so many damn women. I was shocked Jessie, the old lady he was banging for money, didn’t confess she had a baby at 65 and it was his. I think he had 5 kids? The baby, Nala (what in the ever loving lion king name is that) the two older boys and the two older girls. So many kids and zero attachment.</spoiler>

This felt more like a fictional book about Dirty John, the true story about the guy who also scammed women out of money and made them fall in love with him. Like a long winded, elaborate, detailed account of how he made this all happen. Because holy shit, if I had to read his pathetic, needy, whiny excuses one more time… I almost DNF. I don’t mind characters you love to hate or hate to love. But he was just one of those you hate to hate.

Another thing:
<spoiler>How did Ash not realize the delivery driver was the dude her mom ends up dating! What?! Plot hole? </spoiler>

Just… no! And it sucks because I loved her previous books. But like what was she going for here?
<spoiler>I kept waiting for the dad to be involved somehow as one of the personas/chapters or something. No. I think that would have made for a better ending.</spoiler>

Spoiler that will probably get me canceled:
<spoiler>I have zero issues when an author adds relevant current events or issues to a book when it feels authentic. There was the briefest mention that one of the MC’s sons said someone told him he looked like a girl and how happy that made him feel, and how, in so many words, maybe he was trans. It felt so thrown in for literally no reason because it was never really mentioned again, that it was almost offensive. Don’t just do it so you can check a box and virtue signal your readers. Maybe add that storyline to another book that actually explores that topic instead of an off handed “throw away” comment to look like an ally.</spoiler>

<spoiler>Why even add that Ash’s parents were both having an affair? I think that was unnecessary.</spoiler>

<spoiler>What was the point of him “surviving” that underwater suicidal sea voyage just to be apprehended a chapter or two later? To prove that Amanda was still alive? She should have shown up at the beachside intervention. That would have been better. Instead, it was like a cop out that he managed to survive and escape and eventually got caught anyway. Like yay Amanda didn’t get chopped into pieces,</spoiler>…But it was also hard to feel for or connect with any of these women because they were so damn weak. I know this is a book and I’m just ranting about some fictional people, but if I can’t root for someone, it’s hard to enjoy the ride. Ash was slightly tolerable? She was legit the only one I was able to differentiate from the “victims” because she didn’t tolerate his bullshit. All the women were one in the same but with different names. It was honestly a blur when I went from POV to POV/chapter to chapter. Hard to keep track between all the people he screwed over that it all started to blend together.

Anyway, if you’re in the mood to read about a manipulative male who is so goddamn infuriating, take a chance on this. Let me know if I somehow missed a huge twist that went over my eyes. I could have quite possibly skipped something because I could not keep track of the names and timeline.

The latest thriller from Lisa Jewell is not one to miss! A charming man comes into Nina and her daughter Ash's lives, who are still reeling from the death of their husband and father just over a year ago. Or is he what he seems?

As we hear from multiple women, told in different timelines, I had a little confusion keeping the storylines straight. However, it is still a great, fun read.

An infuriating man who thinks far too highly of himself is used to manipulating and taking advantage of women of means in this dark novel. After the tragic death of Ash's father, her mother starts seeing an old friend of his - Nick - but something about Nick doesn't sit right with Ash. But who would listen to her? She's a mid-twenties failure; working at a fancy thrift store and living with mom again after an incredibly embarrassing and reputation-ruining attempt at an affair in the big city. She almost reluctantly starts digging, and what she finds is eye-popping. This is a great book for fans of the Apple show Bad Sisters - though this character is a lot more charming than the awful John Paul, he is just as worthy of an epic take down. Set aside time for this one because it's hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the digital ARC of Don’t Let Him In! This is the third novel I’ve read by Lisa Jewell and it is another entertaining psychological thriller.

This novel has multiple storylines, twists, and turns that left me guessing throughout the story. I found parts in the beginning to be more choppy and harder to follow, but over time blended into the story.

The main character is detestable throughout, which kept me thinking: Is this story based on real life events? Could these twists and turns be seen in a news headline? It probably could be and you probably have.

This thriller comes out on June 24, 2025.

So... I was definitely influenced to DNF this one.
I have always been such a fan of Lisa Jewell throughout the years, but I feel as though the quality of her work has significantly gone down and I just can't hang anymore unfortunately.

Jewell masterfully crafts a slow-burn thriller packed with misdirection and emotional depth. Nina, Ash, and Martha—a small-town florist caught in the chaos—each face their own struggles, but their lives become dangerously entwined with Nick’s charm. The fallout is intense, showing how easily people can be manipulated when they let someone in without truly knowing them.

That said, after the initial a-ha moment, there weren’t any real twists—just a tangle of bleak storylines about really sad people. I didn’t hate it, but I never connected with the characters. Still, if you love Jewell, this one might be for you!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this novel, that's coming out in June of this year.
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This book..... What can I say about this book? For starters, I was SO excited when I got the NetGalley e-arc of it because I have read Lisa Jewell books in the past and for the most part I have liked them. I wouldn't say I absolutely loved them but they were still pretty enjoyable to me. The anticipation was definitely there and I couldn't wait to start it.

Well, as much as it pains me to say this- it was just okay. Maybe a little above okay for me. I mean, to begin with, why was it this long? We're talking EXTREMELY long. I think this book could have been improved by cutting out at least 50 to 100 pages of it. I think the reason it was this long was because there were three storylines following the same character in different points of his life. And even though I get what this was trying to do, it made the reading experience tedious and rather drawn out for me. I would say Lisa Jewell is a very character driven author and if that's what you prefer in your mystery/thriller books then you would probably really love this. For me, I need a combo of plot and character driven stories because I didn't find this book exciting enough and it didn't have nearly enough twists and turns. Also, this book is a lot more suspense than it is thriller as well, so keep that in mind.

Further on, talk about an unlikeable main character! I actually usually don't mind those in my books but for some reason this one just really got on my nerves and in turn made it that much harder to get through this lengthy book.

Also, am I the only one that doesn't vibe with Lisa Jewell's writing? I remember thinking this in the past when I was reading another book of hers and it was definitely evident again in this one. It might be because the author isn't from America but I found some of the prose a little choppy and the terminology unfamiliar to me. Once I got the hang of it, it wasn't a big deal anymore but I had to get a good way into the book before this particular thing stopped bothering me.

The ending of this book was what brought the rating up to three stars for me. Whereas 70 percent of it was rather boring and took me over two weeks to read, the last 30 perfect kind of made up for it. I wasn't expecting the book to take the turn that it did and I was definitely here for it. I just wish it would have been that exciting all throughout the story.

In conclusion, even though this wasn't my favorite Lisa Jewell by any means, I still think it's a quality character driven story and would recommend it for those who prefer those types. I will still be picking up Lisa Jewell's books in the future because they are somewhat always enjoyable to me, however, it will not be for a long while.