3.25. This thriller focused on a very important topic- extreme narcissistic personality disorder. And before I continue, other important content warnings include stalking, abandonment, sexual harassment, sexual assault, graphic violence, and financial manipulation. The main male character is 100% a narcissist in the most clinical of descriptions. But we also look at the banding together of women and the impacts of manipulation and gaslighting. There was a lot to unpack here! I do think this was a good read but it just wasn’t perfect. The male villain’s chapters often dragged on. The background we learn about him in the end was rushed and a bit hard to believe after all that strife. The writing style was a bit confusing at first. There was also a comment made about not being able to hold a job with severe ADHD that was highly unnecessary and uncalled for.

This is definitely my favorite Lisa Jewell book! I was engrossed in this thriller the whole time, and the excellent pacing, engaging characters, and plot kept me guessing.

Ash is a young woman devastated at the murder of her father, a well-known and successful restauranteur. He’s left behind his wife, Nina, too.

The alternate chapters introduce us to other characters, like Martha and Al.

Another man eventually tries to capture Nina’s heart, much to Ash’s dismay. There’s just something about Nick that bothers her.

That’s all I can give away about this intriguing book with a terrific ending! Don’t Let Him In, but do read this book!

This was my ninth book by Lisa Jewell. Her stories are typically dark and intricately plotted; this one was no exception. However, the pacing was much slower than in her previous works, and the storyline felt more formulaic.

I kept anticipating a significant plot twist, additional suspense, or something truly special, but it never materialized.

While I'll continue to read her books in the future, this particular one didn't resonate with me as much.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

ARC review • pub date 06.24.25

Lisa Jewell’s books are always a hit for me, and this one delivered as well 👏🏻

What starts as a couple different family POV soon comes together and you can see how their stories line up. This is a book about lies, deceit, and the need for revenge

I typically go into books blindly and judge solely by the cover (and the authors that I know I love) and if you’re a fan of Lisa Jewell you’ll be pleased that this one is laid out well, and all the loose ends are tied up neatly at the end!

4⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley + Atria Books for my ARC

Wow! This is the second book I’ve read from this author and she is a master of writing the suspenseful plot line. The buildup. The intrigue. The way the reader roots closure and gasps when details become revealed that makes one want to go back and check for clues. Amazing. Well done.

Question - What defines a domestic thriller? Answer - A book that “relies on interpersonal relationships and the conflicts that arise from hidden secrets, underlying tensions, and the darker aspects of human nature. Domestic thrillers often deal with dark themes like infidelity, money trouble, deception, mental illness, or family secrets.” In her trademark gripping narrative, Lisa Jewel has written a story that fits this definition to a tee and that will have you reexamine what you think you know about sociopathic behavior.

A year after the death of her husband, restauranteur Nina Swann and her twenty-something year old daughter Ash, receive a message from a handsome stranger Nick Radcliffe. With stories about his college friendship with her deceased husband Paddy, Nina is quickly swept up in their blossoming relationship. Martha, a fifty-something small town florist is struggling both financially and in her new marriage as her husband Alistair, is constantly traveling for work, leaving her to run her business while raising their baby daughter and her two sons from a previous marriage. The unexpected twists that tie these characters together will keep your head spinning and your heart thumping. The story is filled with flawed characters struggling with internal conflicts and will keep you riveted chapter after chapter. With a release date of June 24th, this one is worth waiting for!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this domestic thriller lover with this exceptional story in exchange for my honest opinion.

Don’t Let Him In is a suspenseful read about a conman and the women he cons. The lengths he goes to are infuriating. The book was a great read that kept me engaged the entire time.

5 huge stars for Lisa Jewell's! From start to finished, I couldn't put this book down. The characters, the storytelling, the twists, and the turns all kept me reading long into the night. Obsessed!

This is such a hard one to review! On the one hand, I have Lisa Jewell’s new release to thank for busting me out of one heck of a book slump. This was the first book in ages that I could not put down!

On the other hand, I didn’t love this story. The characters are all kind of not great and the book doesn’t compare to a lot of LJ’s other wild rides, in my opinion.

The plot is frustrating and eventually it gets kind of repetitive: bad guy gets away with doing bad things again.. and again.. and again. And, scene.

Overall, this was a quick read for me and while it was far from my favorite LJ and my jaw never once dropped, I had fun with it.

This book had a good premise, but it dragged on and on, with the exact same scenario happening over and over again.

Release: June 23, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books

Rating: 4.25 ★ 

Nina Swann is still reeling from the shocking death of her husband, Paddy, who was pushed onto the train tracks. In the wake of her loss, she meets Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of Paddy’s, who quickly becomes a source of comfort. Despite Ash’s growing suspicions, Nina allows Nick into their lives, and before long, he moves in with them.

Meanwhile, in a nearby town, Martha, a florist, is juggling life with her husband, Alistair, their infant daughter, and two sons from a previous marriage. Alistair’s frequent business trips and their ongoing financial struggles leave her feeling lonely and increasingly doubtful of his honesty. As she starts noticing discrepancies in his stories, her suspicions about his faithfulness deepen.

As the truth unravels, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past, only to uncover a shocking reality—Nick and Alistair are the same man. He has been living a double life, deceiving both Nina and Martha. When the two women finally piece everything together, they unite to confront him, setting the stage for a tense and dramatic showdown.

What stands out most is Jewell’s talent for creating an unsettling atmosphere—every chapter leaves you questioning the motives of those involved and doubting what’s true. The pacing is perfectly balanced, gradually revealing shocking truths without overwhelming the reader. The ending is both unexpected and satisfying, tying up loose ends while leaving just enough ambiguity to linger in your mind long after finishing the book.

Favorite Quote:
"But then she clearly didn't have any idea who she was back then, what she was capable of, how badly she could possibly mess everything up. She'd thought she was normal back then. And now she knows she's not"

I was so intrigued at the beginning of this book, but then I kept waiting for something big to happen, and it never did. By the time I finished it, I felt let down. This book felt repetitive because of the male MC’s double (triple?) life. In my opinion, this did not pack a punch like LJ’s other thrillers do.

I really liked the idea of this book, it was interesting to follow the different relationships, and the main character was so wildly likable and unlikable at the same time. I did find it a little hard to follow at times, and I wish that they put the name of the women he was seeing at the time with the chapter or something like that. But overall good interesting story, but slightly hard to follow along!

Okay, lemme preface this review by saying Lisa is still my favorite despite that this book sadly and bewilderingly wasn’t for me.

Bewildering really is the main word that comes to mind. This just…didn’t feel like other LJ reads. 😭

I’ve talked to a few people who felt similarly, and we all agreed the multiple timelines were confusing and unsuccessful. I’m a big fan when they bolster the plot, but the character + time jumps didn’t add. 😵‍💫

I can’t say I was a huge fan of any of the women (nor were they that memorable). And while it can be super fun to know who the villain is from the get go (see: The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard), our bad guy in this one felt borderline caricature. I just stopped caring about him getting his comeuppance by a certain point.

All in all…meh. I hate feeling this way about an author I typically adore, but you can’t win ‘em all. Wish I could say I loved it but I’m always going to be honest with y’all. 💔

Lisa Jewell is a master when it comes to writing wild and twisty thrillers with ending you won’t see coming. This story is an absolute page turner.

Lisa is absolutely brilliant!! And his book gave me whiplash from an emotional rollercoaster. This one is another page turner. Don’t let him in will be a must read for 2025!! Wow!!!!!

The story hooked me from the very first chapter. Filled with twists and unexpected turns that kept me on the edge until the very end! This was fast paced and a book I could not put down!

I'm a sucker for multiple POV storytelling and different timelines and this book did not disappoint! The MMC was written perfectly to inspire the feeling of outrage. It may not be all men, but it is definitely Nick Radcliffe!

A Kaleidoscopic Thrill Ride!

Lisa Jewell has outdone herself this time, conjuring a binge-worthy tale that captivates like an irresistible spell. Three women, each tangled in their own saga, are linked by what feels like a shape-shifting man. Add two timelines brimming with deceit and manipulation, and my thoughts spun like dark magic dust caught in a storm of deception, desperately trying to untangle the layers of treachery that kept me wide awake well into the witching hour.

Here lies the genius of Lisa Jewell’s craft: she layers each mystery, revealing just enough at every turn to keep you hooked. I should have trusted the magic she wove and let my overactive mind rest, and let the story carry me along

Dark Secrets and Unforgettable Twists

The story blends raw, real-life drama with heart-pounding suspense. Every revelation, every turn, feels fresh, exciting, and unpredictable pulling me in deeper with each page.

Embrace the Chaos!

It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and it’s so satisfying. Once I let go of my frantic overthinking, I embraced the exhilarating fun of this one.

This was a Witches’ Words buddy read with Norma, Mary Beth, Debra, and DeAnn. Without them, I wouldn’t have realized how much I needed to give the overthinker in me a break.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for giving me the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest feedback.

I DNF this book at 50%. I was very disappointed. I can't remember the last time I was this frustrated reading a book. All the women are pathetic and let themselves be manipulated by a man multiple times. They are happy being doormats and being walked all over. The plot is straightforward and frankly, very boring. I usually like Lisa Jewell's books but this was just not it.

Don’t Let Him In
Lisa Jewell
Pub 6/24/25
4☆

Jewell never fails to entertain me and such was the case with her upcoming release. Don’t Let Him in was wholly engaging and had me questioning pretty much everything to the very end.

This was a bit of a slow-burn start but ultimately a jaw-dropping, whirlwind of a read. With alternating timelines and multiple POV’s there is A LOT going on here. But as all of the storylines start to intersect and the puzzle pieces start falling into place I was flipping pages eager to see how it all played out. Jewell effortlessly brings it all together with one satisfying ending.

What I enjoyed
🚪Twisty Mystery
🚪Multiple Timelines/POV
🚪Kaleidoscopic Thriller
🚪Short Chapters

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review