Member Reviews

Hmm. I liked this one but I didn’t love it. I felt like it needed more, it seemed kind of slow and predictable to me. I was disappointed, I was hoping to be surprised and wowed.

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Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lisa Jewell’s thrillers are some of my favorites, and this one was exactly what I wanted from a psychological thriller. It’s fast paced, with short chapters. It left me saying, “okay, just one more chapter. Maybe another, since they’re nice and short.” Until I had read half the book in one sitting.

The intricate details of the timeline, personality traits, and interpersonal relationships were so well fleshed out. By the end of the novel I was justifiably furious with the antagonist, and ready for a reckoning. I don’t want to discuss the characters too much, as I feel that it would give away a lot of the plot/ reveals.

I was torn on my rating, and I could see where the book was going throughout and wasn’t as surprised by the twists. 4 very strong stars! I would definitely recommend picking this book up when it releases on June 24, 2025.

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3.75 stars
This was good, but I think I was expecting this to more of an action-packed super twisty thriller and it was more of a mystery layered with good characters and emotional depth.

Don't get me wrong, it's definitely a good book, but having read her last book, "None of This is True" and absolutely loving that one, I was expecting a bit more action.

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As a huge fan of thrillers and psychological suspense, Lisa Jewell is one of those authors who's an instant buy and instant read for me. So, when Don't Let Him In landed in my hands, I couldn't wait to dive in-and of course, she didn't disappoint.

The story revolves around the mysterious death of Paddy Swann, and immediately, I was drawn into the mix of grief, secrets, and lies surrounding it. What I love about Jewell’s writing is her ability to weave together multiple perspectives and timelines, keeping me guessing and second-guessing the characters and their motives. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story would take another twist.

The characters were a big part of why this book worked so well for me. Nina, the widow, struggles with grief in such a real way that I felt for her throughout. Ash, their daughter, brings a lot of tension with her resentment and emotional baggage, and then there’s Martha, who’s stuck in a marriage she no longer recognizes. Lisa Jewel does a great job of portraying the messiness of family dynamics and how they can shape—and sometimes trap—each character.

The pacing was just right, too. The alternating timelines kept me on my toes, and while I initially struggled with some of the jumps, it all came together in the end, heightening the tension. Jewell’s ability to land a satisfying and unexpected conclusion really sealed the deal.

One thing I appreciate with Jewell’s thrillers is that they don’t just focus on the suspense—they also dive into character depth. It’s the perfect mix of gripping plot and emotional complexity. Don’t Let Him In is no exception, and if you love thrillers that make you think and keep you up at night, this one’s worth picking up.

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Woah. This is my second Lisa Jewell novel and I am not even sure what I just read! This was so tense!!! I feel like I should come to expect this from Jewell from now on! There are so many twists and turns as tales of three different women combine together to reveal the ultimate villain. My jaw is on the floor

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3.5⭐️ This one didn’t hit for me like most of her books recently have. I was really feeling it and then the ending was just a huge let down for me. I expected the twist to twist harder I guess. 😂

This is told in multiple timelines and POV’s.

Ash’s dad passes away and a man called Nick Radcliffe who claims to have known and worked with Ash’s father Paddy keeps reaching out to offer his condolences. It eventually leads to a relationship between Nick and Ash’s mother, Nina. But Ash feels there is just something not quite right about Nick Radcliffe.

This story was very engaging and I read through this quite quickly. All the characters were quite bland and we don’t get too much in depth jnto anyone except Nick’s character. We learn ALOT about him. I wanted more from Ash’s character and from the other women.

I just think this really fell short on the ending. It did not give me that shock factor like I look for in these types of thrillers. I didn’t have to pick up my jaw off the floor. I enjoyed the book, but when I read Lisa Jewell, I expect to have the pants shocked off me!

But I am still gonna keep reading my Lisa Jewell!

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria books for this advanced e-copy in exchange for this honest review.

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Lisa Jewell does it again - a well written, captivating novel. Her books are always different, interesting and real page turners. She writes characters so well, with depth, nuance and emotion that you can really feel. I always enjoy reading her books, and this one is no different. Thank you for the advance copy.

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I love Lisa Jewell! She is my favorite author in the thriller genre and I find her books to be so smartly written and engaging. I was thrilled to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of her new book, Don’t Let Him In, which is scheduled to be published in June of 2025. Luckily I didn’t have anything too important to do yesterday because I devoured the whole thing in one day and I loved it.
As usual, Jewell weaves lots of different stories and storylines together beautifully. While it took me a little while to figure out who was doing what and when, as soon as I did it was hard to put this book down. There are lots of different characters but we soon realize they all center around the same conman.
I truly enjoyed this book and am sure it will be another success. Thank you to Simon & Schuster & NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early!

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Lisa Jewell’s Don't Let Him In is a captivating thriller that intertwines mystery, suspense, and emotional depth. The story keeps you hooked at every turn. Jewell’s characters are richly developed, and their intersecting lives build a tension that is both riveting and unsettling. The unexpected twists and the ominous warning at the heart of the novel make for a great read..

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4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for goodreads!

When this book releases in June 2025 , you have to not only grab one copy , but grab two . One for you and one for a friend. Plan on reading it together so that you have someone to discuss with while reading this cause I simply cannot imagine reading this on my own. I constantly needed someone to discuss with during those WTH?! moments!

This book was soooo good! So twisty, so crazy and so mind blowing ! Told from past and present and multiple POV's , quick chapters that made it nearly impossible to not keep reading - I could NOT put this book down . I abandoned all responsibilities so that I could just read this!

This book is best to go in blind, I don't want to say too much about what it's about . But it is definitely a wild wild ride! People who love to read psych thrillers about secrets, lies, and deceit will looooove this ! I sure did !

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WOW – Lisa Jewell has done it again! Don’t Let Him In is a captivating, edge-of-your-seat psychological domestic thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. This book had everything I love: short chapters, an unpredictable plot, and an unforgettable antagonist who will haunt you long after you turn the last page.

What makes this book so compelling is the perspective of the antagonist, Nick Radcliffe. He is a walking red flag, yet somehow he manages to manipulate the women around him—Nina, Martha and several other women—into falling for him, slowly unraveling their lives in the process. It’s unsettling to watch him work his charm while knowing how dangerous he is. This exploration of psychological manipulation and the way people can be drawn into toxic relationships was both chilling and fascinating.

The dual timelines kept me guessing throughout the story, and I loved how each twist brought new revelations about Nick’s past and the women’s fates. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say that when the truth finally hit me, I actually gasped! The way Jewell keeps you questioning what’s real and what’s a lie is brilliant.

If you’re a fan of Lisa Jewell’s books, Don’t Let Him In is an absolute must-read. It’s fast-paced, unpredictable, and filled with twists that will have you hooked until the very end. Highly recommend!

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! This comes out June 24th, so keep this on your radar as a TBR.

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Somewhere between 3.5 & 4 for me. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This was a good book to start off the year! There were parts of that pulled me in, but overall it did feel a bit verbose. I wish there would’ve been more action because the middle dragged for me. Bonus points for the ending because I was satisfied. Looking forward to reading more Lisa Jewell soon :)

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Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell starts with a bang—a shocking tragedy that sets the stage for an intense family drama with dark undertones. The intertwining stories of Nina, Ash, and Martha are compelling, and Jewell’s talent for crafting multifaceted characters is evident. The mystery surrounding Nick and Al adds an eerie, suspenseful layer to the narrative, keeping readers guessing their true motives.

The book’s strength lies in its atmospheric writing and how it explores the complexities of grief, trust, and deception. Jewell excels at building tension, particularly in the first half, where the plot moves briskly and raises tantalizing questions.

However, the second half feels uneven, with too many loose threads and underdeveloped revelations. The climax, while shocking, comes across as rushed, leaving some character arcs and motivations feeling incomplete. Additionally, the connection between the storylines of Nina, Ash, and Martha isn’t as seamless as it could be, which weakens the emotional impact of the final twists.

While Don’t Let Him In has moments of brilliance and showcases Jewell’s flair for suspense, it ultimately doesn’t deliver the payoff one might expect. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of domestic thrillers, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Jewell’s best work.

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I enjoyed this book until I was half way through and couldn’t stand my hatred for the main character and women without a backbone anymore. The ending made up for the second half of the book, and I’m glad things came together the way they did. However, this book was just not for me.

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Thank you so much to Atria Books for the eARC!

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

Whenever someone comes up to me and says "Riley, I'm looking for some book recommendations and you're the only person I trust with this task" my heart skips a beat (though I will admit I'm slightly exaggerating). While it's great to enjoy a book by yourself, it's an even better experience to share that feeling with others. Usually, there are a couple of books that tend to be crowd-pleasers and I know there's a very strong likelihood that they'll be appreciated. One of those books just happens to be NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell. This book tends to be one of the top thrillers that I recommend to those who are fans of the genre and the reactions I get once they finish the book never disappoint. So when I saw that Jewell was publishing another book I immediately added it to my TBR and mentally started a countdown to her publishing date. Well, the readings gods must have been looking down on me that day because I somehow was granted the privilege of accessing an eARC (eeeeek!). I thoroughly enjoyed this read and it made the "post-holiday blues" not seem so horrible as I snuggled up on my couch and cozied up with this book. If I could pick three words to describe this read it would be: rage-inducing, hair-raising, and stomach-clenching. I have this mental list of male characters that I absolutely despise and would love the opportunity to meet in a dark alley one day (if you catch my drift), and after reading this book, Nick is at the top of this list. This man is quite literally the physical embodiment of a red flag from start to finish. At no point did I feel sympathy for this man and it made me so upset when I saw the other female characters fall into his trap. I just wanted to take them by the shoulders, give them a good shake, and scream, "WAKE UPPPPP!". There were so many twists and turns throughout this whole book that I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time. I appreciated the altering points of view and timelines of the plot, but there were times I found it a bit confusing cause there was no transition or distinction. I think if Jewell had just named who was speaking in which chapters, I would have had an easier time following along. But other than that, there's little to nothing else I can complain about. Even though I already have one Lisa Jewell book on my recommendation list, I might just have to add this one too!

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What happens when a charming con man's different lives intersect and threaten the vision of his life he has created for himself? I enjoyed Lisa Jewell's newest a lot! Well-drawn out and darkly humorous (at times) characters that kept me turning the pages. Would have liked a little more from the ending and the sudden change in POV, however., but I find that a common theme for me with thrillers.

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Don’t Let Him In
By Lisa Jewell
Pub date June24, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of this book! I have read all of Jewell’s books and could not wait to read this one. It was very well written and kept my interest as I finished it in two days.
I liked the perspective and theme of the book although it wasn’t really a thriller for me. It was suspenseful and there was that final satisfying twist at the end that I loved! I recommend this book for those who enjoy mysteries.

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Thank you to Netgally, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for an EARC in exchange for an honest review.

Don't let him gets lots of points for entertainment value i could not put this book down even if I tried! I had the opportunity to buddy read this with 3 other friends who also got the ARC and this made reading Don't Let him so much better. The amount of times we all thought we had it figured and were so wrong so many times! I personally love unexpected twists, playing detective as the reader only to become totally mind blown is my favorite!

Ash's mother has a new boyfriend only a year after her father has was k*lled unexpectedly. Ash knows somethings amis but because of her own past her mother dismisses her, but she doesn't give up and she continues to look into this mystery man's past. The amount of havoc that is unearthed. The twists and turns all throughout! Fantastic way to ring in the new year with a great new thriller!

Review will be available on my Instagram @letsreadandreview89 in a few days

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Lisa Jewell's new releases have always been must-reads for me, and this one was no exception! I immediately connected with the characters of Ash and Nina, and was very invested in learning what happened to their beloved Paddy. The dual timelines had me guessing for most of the book, and I audibly gasped when I realized what happened! This book is another must-read for all Lisa Jewell fans and I would highly recommend it!

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As expected, this one was phenomenal! All the classic Lisa Jewell twists and curveballs! You get to read this one from multiple perspectives, which gets you invested in all the characters right away. I found myself enthralled in this story. Well done! Love is a tricky thing to capture in words, but Lisa always makes me feel her characters feelings!

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