Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is an okay thriller with some interesting twists, though nothing feels particularly fresh. The characters are somewhat engaging, but a few of them come across as a bit flat. The pacing moves along, but there are moments that drag and slow the suspense. The plot has some surprises, though they might not fully stick with every reader. Overall, it’s a decent read if you’re looking for a light, easy thriller, but it’s not particularly memorable.

Don’t Let Him In is everything I want in a thriller—creepy, twisted, and chillingly realistic. Lisa Jewell has such a talent for drawing readers into unsettling scenarios that feel like they could actually happen, which makes the story even scarier. The atmosphere kept me on edge, the characters were compelling, and the tension never let up. I couldn’t put it down and found myself thinking about it long after I turned the last page. A brilliant, haunting read. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lisa Jewell for an advance copy of Don’t Let Him In in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up- a quick read, but almost felt a bit predictable but I did really enjoy how it ended.

Three quick thoughts to describe it:
Fast paced- I read this one in two sittings, it was easy to find myself turning the pages as fast as I could.
Creepy- The MMC and all his antics were downright creepy especially with how he justified his own actions.
Character Driven- the different characters made the story more realistic and I definitely found the detail about almost every character to really come alive throughout the pages.

Not my favorite Lisa Jewell but still one you should check out if you like a fast paced suspense novel! This one is out now!

Lisa Jewell’s latest centers on the unsettling presence of a stranger who works his way into a family’s life, raising questions of trust, memory, and what really happened in the past. With her signature multiple POVs and layered timelines, the story sets up to deliver a chilling domestic thriller.

This was a miss for me, and I’m sad about it! I was so excited for this one, but it just didn’t deliver on the thriller aspect I was hoping for. While there were some small twists along the way, I kept waiting for one of Jewell’s trademark jaw-dropping twists, and it never came. Overall, it felt flat and left me disappointed.

When Nina Swann receives a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old acquaintance of her late husband, it soon leads to the two of them meeting up. While Nina is charmed, her daughter Ash becomes immediately suspicious and starts investigating Nick’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets. Meanwhile, Martha, a florist in a nearby town, grows uneasy about her husband Alistair’s frequent absences. As their stories intertwine, Nina, Martha, and Ash’s lives will never be the same.

Lisa Jewell did it again, Don’t Let Him In is full of juicy secrets and suspense. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book, I couldn’t put it down. She seamlessly shifts between multiple POV as well as alternating between past and present and it was executed so well. The eeriest part of the story was definitely how authentic and believable everything was.

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Compelling, Frustrating, and Unsettling in All the Right Ways

Don't Let Him In wasn’t the typical Lisa Jewell-style thriller I expected — the narrative voices and non-linear structure gave it a distinct feel. I found myself completely infuriated by the protagonist, in the best way. It’s easy to say, “Oh, I’d never fall for that,” and then slowly realize... I’m exactly the kind of person he would target. That uncomfortable self-awareness was part of what made the story so gripping.

That said, I’m docking one star for a disappointing ending and one plot hook that never fully wrapped up. Still, a dark, twisty ride that leaves you questioning your own instincts.

Ash's father, Paddy, died tragically after being pushed off a train platform. She lives with her mother, Nina, in their large home overlooking the sea. A condolence card arrives from a man named Nick, who says he worked with Paddy a long time ago. Nina meets with him and soon, Nick and Nina are in a relationship and Ash isn't pleased. Nick seems too perfect, and certain things about him just don't seem to add up. She knows her mother will dismiss her suspicions, especially because of things Ash has done in the past.
Martha has her own florist business and three children. Her husband, Al, has once again gone on a business trip and not checked in. She knows she's lucky to have such an amazing man in her life, but these times, when he's unavailable, are frustrating.
How Ash, Nina, Nick, and Martha's lives entwine is the roller-coaster story in this novel.
Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors when it comes to psychological thrillers. This was definitely a crazy ride. There were so many characters in this book that I found myself having to go back and remind myself of who everyone was. Also, while I've never been in a similar situation, I just couldn't believe how stupid these women were. There were also some parts that were a bit too unbelievable. That said, this book still had me hooked and wanting to see how it all ended. The epilogue wasn't completely surprising, but it was definitely satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Don't Let Him In is the kind of thriller you pick up on a whim, and then suddenly it's 2 a.m. and you're still flipping pages. I flew through this book, and honestly, it was exactly what I needed: fast-paced, addictive, and filled with plenty of twists.

The story follows newly widowed Nina Swann, who runs into an old acquaintance of her late husband: Nick Radcliffe. Nick appears to be exactly what she needs, exactly when she needs it. Except he's not at all who he claims to be. Nick is one of those characters you love to hate: charming on the surface, polished appearance, and about as trustworthy as the Tinder Swindler. Nina falls for it, of course, but her daughter Ash isn't buying it. Cut to Ash quietly digging into Nick's past, which is filled with more layers than anyone bargained for.

Meanwhile, Martha, a florist in a nearby town, is trying to hold her family together - her husband's frequent work trips start raising alarm bells. And rightfully so. You know from the start that these women's lives are going to intersect and not in a good way.

Here's the thing: I'm not a violent person, but I spent most of this novel wanting to punch Nick (or whatever name he was going by that day) square in the face - repeatedly. He's infuriating, which makes him the perfect villain for this kind of thriller. And lately, I've been a little obsessed with romance cons and scam artists, so this story definitely scratched that itch.

At 4.25/5 stars, this one is an easy recommendation. If you're in the mood for a twisty, bingeable thriller that will make you want to yell at the characters while simultaneously turning pages, Don't Let Him In should be at the top of your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Lisa Jewell has done it again! I love her mystery/thrillers! I couldn’t put this one down! It was an interesting and unique story that kept me coming back to figure out what happened next. I can always count on her books to be entertaining and clever. Just the right amount of creepy mystery!

I absolutely love Lisa Jewell’s books because she always takes readers to unexpected places. Her stories are full of twists and surprises that keep me on edge, and Don’t Let Him In was no exception.

This book was a WILD ride! At first, I was a little confused with the multiple characters, points of view, and shifting timelines. But once it clicked that the story centered on one man running cons on several women, everything fell into place and became incredibly intriguing. The lies he spun and the elaborate stories he used to keep each woman hooked were both fascinating and disturbing. The way he manipulated them felt chilling, making this a perfect example of a psychological mystery and thriller.

The short chapters made this book very quick to get through, and I found myself flying through it. It was a true page-turner because I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. I loved rooting for each woman to uncover the truth and expose this man for the manipulative fraud that he was. While the murder does not take place until much later in the book, the suspense of waiting for it added to the tension. It felt more like a mystery than a traditional thriller, but it was gripping from start to finish.

Although this is not my favorite Lisa Jewell novel, it was still thoroughly entertaining. The ending left me wanting a little more closure, but the journey was so compelling that I still count it as a strong read. Lisa Jewell is a master at writing suspenseful stories that pull you in and keep you hooked until the very last page. I definitely recommend this one and will continue to read anything she writes. She is one of my favorite authors in this genre!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

Overall the story was ok. The story follows Nina who recently lost her husband amd receives a letter from a man named Nick with his condolences. After some time Nina begins dating Nick and her daughter Ash thinks things are not what they seem. Ash begins digging into Nick. Another woman named Martha, who is married to Alistair, begins to question where her husband goes all of the time. The story was just a bit predictable.

This may be my favorite Lisa Jewell book that I’ve read! This book follows Nick Radcliffe who enters Nina & Ash Swan’s life after losing father Patty. All with Nick though is not as it seems. This book has twists and so many elements that kept me engaged till the end.

The multiple POVs took a while to settle into, but when I did, I couldn't put it down. Kept me guessing the whole way.

This was my second Lisa Jewell title to read. She has a way of drawing you into the story, like someone gawking at a reality TV show where the reality is so twisted you can't believe it is true.

The story has you bouncing between times and three women who are all connected to the same conniving man. They don't know it, in part because he has a different alias with each of them. Martha is a florist who finds her husband disappearing more often with a laundry list of excuses for why he is unreachable. Nina is a widow, now pursued by him. Her daughter, Ash, is incredibly suspicious and begins digging with the help of a wealthy woman in her father's past. As the story progresses, they begin to put together the pieces. What they uncover is darker than any of them might have expected. And, they all wish they hadn't let him in.

Overall, a good read with excellent storytelling.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital advance reader copy to review. All opinions are my own.

This was soooooo dirty John coded. Which is fun. Not my most fave Lisa book but not the worst either. Because I had a galley copy I was missing the change in font for different POVs so that sucked but I’m sure isn’t an issue now. It did make it hard to keep up a bit. It also wasn’t sooo thrilling but like I was never on the edge of my seat. Fun to see how it all came together at the end though

Lisa Jewell NEVER disappoints. I simply could NOT stop thinking about the book once I started it. I haven't read a book that made me want to call out of work so I could spend all day reading in YEARS.

I sadly had to dnf this book at 20% and didn’t pick it back up after its release date. I am a huge Lisa fan but this one simply wasn’t for me. I could not get into the plot of this one at all

Don't let him in has many twists and turns. It is told as a multiple POV story with more than one victim.

You will be racing through the pages to find out what happened to each character. The main characters is an ultimate con man going from woman to woman and leaving a pile of destruction in his wake.

The ending is absolutely supreme. I loved it and cackled to the last page.

Thank you to Lisa Jewell for another great novel and NetGalley for this arc

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lisa Jewell is a go-to author for me because each book is fresh, unpredictable, and keeps me guessing until the very last page. Don’t Let Him In was no exception. The buildup of tension as “Nick’s” web of lies and transgressions slowly unraveled was masterful, and I truly could not WAIT for the takedown. Another thrilling ride from Jewell that you won’t be able to put down.

This was my second Lisa Jewell book and I can't wait to read more from her!

This book is about a very messy, very infuriating man and so many people (mostly women, of course) he's wronged in some utterly insane ways. It follows a few women, telling their version of things, perfect lives with their perfect man. Sure, he likes to randomly disappear for days with his phone off, but that's okay, because he's so thoughtful and sweet when he's there. AND he's helping them so much with all their money and finances 🙄. In between the women's chapters, we get to follow that actual bad guy and see how he's feeling about each of these lives he's living and he is truly the WORST person ever! He "falls in love" and then drops the current wife to move on to the next, with some horribly shady things in the background keeping him afloat.

It's so easy to hate this man and his chapters are so well written that I have to be a little concerned for Jewell's mental health 😬. There aren't too many twists and turns, just shockingly bad things this guy has done. And every time you think he's hit the lowest low, he pulls out a shovel. All of the women characters were so different and it was interesting to see how they met and then learned of the lies. It was so hard to stop reading and go to sleep!

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone that likes a good, edge of your seat, hope the bad guy gets busted, thriller. Or if you've gotten into the new true crime section of scammers, this is for you! Or if you want to hate on a man a little bit, and no judging there, enjoy the hate because there's going to be lots here.