There is something that just excites me when reading a book where the characters interconnect, and this book was exactly that. Throw in some nail biting moments and short chapters that will keep you wanting more. The antagonist will piss you off, so be warned. This had the pace of a slow burn, but it was absolutely worth it in the end.

This book has many characters (which can be confusing) but mainly follows two storylines of women who have different lives, similar losses, and a connection that may ruin their lives and put them in danger. I'm not going to say anymore because I do not want to ruin the story. I will say that I was fully invested in the characters and driven by an intense desire for revenge that consumed me throughout the novel.

There's a tone of women empowering women too which I just am so here for. I actually predicted the ending which surprised me because normally I'm not quick on picking up on twists. However, I throughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to any thriller lover. Also it's a Lisa Jewell novel so why would you not run to grab a copy this summer?

(My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is it felt a bit lengthier than it needed to be, but all in all just an amazing story and another well done job by LJ)

Absolutely wild ride of a book. I don’t want to say too much because it was so fun going in knowing very little, but if you loved None of This is True then you’ll love Don’t Let Him In.

I will admit that I am a Lisa Jewell fan, but I think that this is my favourite book of hers. I’ve been in a reading slump lately and this book got me out of it. I couldn’t put it down.

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, and Don't Let Him In is another testament as to why. Simon Smith/Nick Radcliffe is the central character in this gripping novel. The women who come into his life are at first charmed, wooed and under his romantic spell. Little do they know that the charming facade covers an amoral, selfish narcissist who will take their money, their self respect, and for some, their life. Nick leaves devastation in his wake, and as a reader, we hope that he is exposed and brought to justice. This book is one I could not put down!

loooved!!! I went in with high expectations after a one of This is True, and i was not disappointed! This is a fictional novel version of “Dirty John”- if you listened/watched that and enjoyed then you will love this story.

Thank you Atria for an ARC copy of Don’t let him
in.
Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, her latest story might be my favorite.
In this story we are following a few different POV’s one being a mid 50 year old very handsome charismatic husband and father. We’re also following a grieving family that has just lost their husband/father in a horrible act of violence.
This story had so many twists and turns, I loved the character development. I was truly invested in the outcome for these characters.
In true Lisa Jewell fashion the ending was tied up perfectly in the best satisfying way.
I would and will definitely recommend this book.

Lisa Jewell!!!!!!!!! This was insane 🤯 I literally couldn’t put this down and I read the whole book in one sitting. This book has everything you would expect from a Lisa Jewell thriller. There’s a manipulative sociopathic antagonist (who is truly so much fun to hate), multiple twists, and a very satisfying ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC 💛

(This review is posted on goodreads as well)

Fast paced domestic thriller. Twisted story of the ultimate con man and all the families and victims he has left in his wake. This book is fascinating as it explores toxic relationships and the damage they do. Definitely one of Lisa Unger’s best books yet. Literally could not put this book down. Would give way more than 5 stars if possible, not to be missed.

This book starts a little slow and has multiple POV’s. It picks up about halfway through when everything starts to come together. Not the usual psychological thriller by Lisa Jewell, but it ended up being enjoyable.

Another winner from Lisa Jewell. Suspenseful and definitely a little creepy with a stressful yet satisfying conclusion. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I read this book in 48 hours- it was such a good read! If you like the premise of the reality podcast Dirty John, then you will love this! I highly recommend!

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is set to be published on June 24, 2025, and I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC—it did not disappoint! This was my first 5-star read of the year, and it absolutely earned that rating.

The plot centers around a manipulative con artist who scams several women, and the story of how these women come together to uncover his schemes and take him down is both fascinating and addictive. The pacing is fast, and the tension builds beautifully, keeping me hooked from start to finish.

In true Lisa Jewell fashion, the twist at the end is jaw-dropping—you won’t see it coming! This is a must-read for fans of thrillers and anyone who loves a clever, gripping story.

You can always count on Lisa Jewell to come through on a creepy unforgettable character. Don’t Let Him In starts off slow but keeps you drawn in with Jewell’s undeniable ability to give complexity and layers to her antagonists. There’s something so fun about a character you love to hate.

Some of the plot is evident from the get go, but Jewell manages to up the stakes as the story unfolds. The ending here was the low point for me, it leaves you feeling like it just is too unlikely to be plausible. But despite that, Lisa Jewell is always worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books.

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is a fast paced thriller set in the UK. Paddy Swann has tragically died leaving behind his wife Nina, twenty something daughter Ash and son Arlo(who takes a backseat in the story). We learn he was pushed in front of an oncoming train by a mentally disturbed young man. The Swann family receives an onslaught of condolences, one being from an old friend of Paddy’s Nick Ratcliffe. Nick then becomes a closer part of Nina’s life.
Meanwhile, readers are also introduced to florist Martha and her husband Alistair and their family. Al travels constantly for work, always needs money, and just overall is unreliable. Martha is frustrated but forgiving.
Several other women are introduced to the story, and we hear from Nick a lot in the first person, and it’s quite clear right from the start what’s happening (but I won’t give it away). I kept waiting for the surprise twist, but there was no surprise twist. It was exactly as assumed right from the start and nothing shocking happened. I was a bit let down in this respect. The good notes- it was fast paced, and kept you reading page after page (searching for the twist), and chapters were kept short. Multiple points of view and an alternating past and present timeline were easy to follow and put the pieces together.
Overall, this was probably my least favorite read from Jewell, but I can see how if you want a quick escape from reality, this could be enjoyable to pick up. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC.

I can’t believe how many times I actually yelled in my book “noooo, don’t let him in” - what a fitting title.

It’s no secret that Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite authors and that admiration continues with every new release. This fast-paced thriller is heavy into themes of deception, manipulation, and the intricate dynamics of human relationships. Jewell, as always with her multiple POVs, expertly intertwines the lives of three women - each connected in a certain way which gradually comes to light.

Don’t Let Him In kicks off with the tragic death of Paddy, a successful restaurant owner, who was pushed into the path of an oncoming train. He leaves behind a grieving wife (Nina), daughter (Ash) and son (Arlo). After Paddy's funeral, Nina receives a note and a package from a man named Nick Radcliffe, who claims to be Paddy's former colleague. I highly recommend this be a blind read from here so I’m going to stop there (just trust me).

It was a bit of a slow start for the first couple of chapters; however, it picked up very quickly and I ended up reading this in one go well past 2 AM. I also found figuring out the who’s who of POVs took a while as they weren’t labelled by character. Once I got used to the personalities and timeline though, we were rolling.

All in all, this was a gripping and delicious addition to my collection of Jewell novels & I can’t wait to get a hard copy for my bookshelf. Recommend to readers looking for a dark and twisty tale that explores the dangers of letting the wrong person into your life!

Another win for Lisa Jewell. At times it felt like the story could have moved more quickly, but by the end I was racing through to see how she would tie things up. Absolutely loved it.

What a douche. This just kept getting messier and messier. I will say I felt like it dragged on or got a bit confusing because of all of the different mini storylines. However, that’s the point of the book. All. Of. The. Story. Lines.

I did enjoy it. Felt very classic Lisa Jewell, though probably the slowest reading of hers so I diner get confused.

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

maybe we just shouldn't trust men ever: the novel

this was my first lisa jewell and i can see why she is such a beloved author in the mystery and domestic thriller space. the pacing of this novel was just right - propulsive short chapters and differing perspectives and alternate timelines kept the plot moving quickly. nothing in terms of the plot was incredibly surprising or twisty but was certainly interesting enough to have me hooked. the characters were serviceable but a little bland, with some of the large cast getting a little lost in the shuffle. i wish some of the loose ends of the plot that were dealt with in the last chapter and epilogue had gotten a little bit more narrative time to tie up. i know this book will be a crowd pleaser at it's june release and can see it being a fun beach read for the summer!

I have so many mixed feelings about this book. First of all, I LOVE Lisa Jewell and was so excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books. I feel as if this 384 page book was closer to 600 pages. It felt VERY long. A ton happens and we go back and forth through different timelines as well as different perspective shifts. This is definitely a slow burn "thriller." I do appreciate the shorter chapters though. I would also not really call this a thriller, but more so a domestic drama / psychological drama? There are only a few twists I didn't see coming - everything else you can assume by context clues given. All of that being said the main word i would give this book is "icky" It made me feel "icky". The premise is "icky." Nick (or whatever of his 100 names you want to call him) is icky. While I did not like the feeling I got every time I picked up the book - I do believe that was the point. Although this is not my favorite Lisa Jewell book I have a feeling it's one that will stick with me and I will think about for a long time. I'd give it a go if you're a Lisa Jewell or Sally Hepworth fan. 4 stars