This book had a lot going on and had me hooked from the beginning! Lots of twists, lots of lies and betrayal. I enjoyed the dual time line/POV and how the two time lines eventually merge. There were quite a few characters in the book and I think the author did a great job keeping their stories separate, yet intertwined when needed.
I was expecting a little more for the ending, but overall I really enjoyed this book!

Nina and Ash are mourning the loss of Paddy, who died after a man pushed him in front of a oncoming train. Soon after his death, they receive a beautiful package that contains a lighter that Nick Ratcliffe claims belonged to Paddy when they worked together along with a nice note from him. Nina, Paddy's widow, reaches out to Nick and he is soon visiting their home. Ash, Nina's and Paddy's daughter, does not appreciate Nick stepping into their life and is concerned something is off with him. Meanwhile, Martha is very much in love with her husband Al and thinks they have the perfect life with their daughter and her two sons from a previous marriage. Al's job takes him away frequently and after Martha is stuck having to deal with everything on her own too many times, something has got to change.

This story is told from multiple POVs, mainly the women's, and in both present and past tense. It does have the same eerie feeling I've gotten from Jewell's books before - especially when it takes a bit to realize who the narrator is for the chapter. As the book progresses, the women's lives start to twist together - but will they hate each other or band together? While the reader learns pretty early on what the major deception is, there are so many more that get sprinkled throughout to keep you hooked. The villain is an absolute slime ball who, of course, thinks that he's the one who has been mistreated. I absolutely loved reading this!

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is an absolute 5-star thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With her trademark ability to craft intricate, compelling characters and spine-chilling suspense, Jewell delivers a gripping, emotionally charged novel that you won’t be able to put down.

The story follows the eerie events that unfold when a stranger knocks on the door of a seemingly ordinary house and disrupts the lives of those inside. What begins as a simple encounter quickly spirals into a dark and disturbing series of events, as secrets unravel and hidden truths come to light. The tension builds so slowly and masterfully that every chapter feels like a step toward an inevitable, unsettling climax.

Jewell’s talent for creating complex, multi-layered characters is on full display here. The narrative dives deep into the psyche of its protagonists, exposing their fears, insecurities, and desires, making their reactions to the increasingly sinister situation feel authentic and relatable. The twists are unexpected but believable, keeping you guessing until the very last page.

What really sets Don’t Let Him In apart is Jewell’s ability to seamlessly blend psychological suspense with moments of deep emotional insight. The story isn't just about the thrills—it's about human connection, trust, and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of everyday life.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with complex characters, unpredictable plot twists, and an atmosphere that is as chilling as it is fascinating, this book is a must-read. Don’t Let Him In is a perfect mix of suspense, mystery, and heart-stopping tension. 5 stars without hesitation!

Good old Lisa Jewell. She can do no wrong.
I found this one to be different from some of her other books. I kind of love how she allows the readers mind to be open to unlimited possibilities. I read this book thinking I knew exactly what was going on, and I did, but I doubted it the whole time.
When Ash loses her dad to tragedy, the last things she expects is for her mom to move on quickly. Spoiler alert, she does. Nick seems like the perfect man, but there is something strange about him that Ash can’t put her finger on. The rest of the story is just a domino of crazy.
Jewell is a master of her craft and an audio read for me. Excited for you all to read this on it’s release in June!
Thank you netgalley!

TL;DR: Lisa Jewell puts her own twisty spin on DIRTY JOHN in this fun, fast-paced thriller about a grifter and the women he's wronged getting justice. It's not going to change the world, but it's really entertaining.

I kept waiting for twists and turns that never came. I did continue wanting to find out what would happen next, but there was never anything that made my jaw drop.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Don't Let Him In is the perfect message for this story. Red flags are all over the place but love is stronger than the warning signs for these women. A good read containing murder, mystery, and a common denominator.
Thank you to the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I recommend to those who love Lisa Jewell and an entertaining storyline.

First, I happily give Lisa Jewell’s “Don’t Let Him In” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Here’s why, I loved and hated the characters. I screamed throughout the book and I screamed reading the epilogue.

I had no clue how it would all end. I’m questioning as I write this review did it end. Have we heard the last from “Him.”

Reading my review will not give you any idea about what this story is about. I think you should go into this one blind.

My review about this book is mine alone. You have to read it for yourself to see if you agree with me.

Thank you Ms. Jewell for a great read.

Let me first start by sharing that Lisa Jewell has to be my favorite thriller/suspense writer. I started reading a couple of books in 2023 that I had on my shelf when I was trying to get back into reading and I quickly devoured her entire catalog of thrillers. Since I've read all of her other suspenseful books I was thrilled to see the announcement about her upcoming book Don't Let Him In and so excited when I was accepted for an early read by NetGalley and Atria Books.

As the book begins we meet the Swann family; specifically mother Nina, daughter Ash and recently deceased father Paddy. Following Paddy's senseless murder on his way home from work, we start seeing what the grieving process looks like for Nina and Ash. In the aftermath of his death we meet Nick, an old friend of Paddy's, who had heard about his passing and wanted to share some momento's he still had from his years working with Paddy. While the introduction seemed strange at first, Nina begins finding comfort in Nick and spending more time with him. While Nina is growing attached, Ash can't help but get more suspicious, feeling like it's all too rehearsed and convenient. As readers, we can't help but wonder if Ash's feelings about Nick have foundation or if perhaps her grief is making her see problems that aren't really there.

If you're familiar with Jewells writing style, then you know there's always going to be a question of whether or not the main character is a reliable narrator; this book is no exception. Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and knowing Jewell's writing style it always felt like I was waiting for the next shoe to drop or for the little piece of information that would twist the story. While reading, I found myself absolutely loathing Nick while fully understanding why some of the characters were so infatuated with him. The psychological components of Nick's character are so well written that I anticipate readers will either love him or hate him which aligns directly with all the characters in Don't Let Him In. Overall, while I enjoyed this book I find myself preferring physical suspense and paranoia over psychological manipulation which lowered my rating slightly but I anticipate others will love it. Another struggle I had with the story was that it unfortunately feels too relatable to what women are experiencing regularly which makes reading story about it a little bit harder. All this being said, I will definitely be recommending this to readers who enjoy mystery and suspense - specifically psychological thrillers and people who loved Jewell's last book None of This is True since they both incorporate social platforms into the storyline.

P.S. The sweet justice of that epilogue made me love the book just a little bit more - con the conman, iconic!

My review has been updated on Goodreads and I will update links as my reviews are posted on my Instagram, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

I absolutely love Lisa Jewell books and this one was another winner! Told from alternating perspectives of a con-man and some of the women that he conned, this book is thrilling and fast-paced. I couldn't stop reading it and thought that it was so unique and fun. I can't wait for another one of Jewell's books to be released!

Nina is recently widowed. One day she receives a gift box containing a lighter and a letter from a man named Nick who claims he used to work with her husband and the lighter had belonged to him. Nick and Nina get together and eventually start dating. Ash, Nina’s 26-year-old daughter, feels something is off about Nick—he seems too good to be true. Martha is married to Al. They have a daughter together and two sons from Martha’s previous marriage. Al is the perfect husband except when he disappears on business trips and can’t be reached. Four years earlier, Tara’s once perfect marriage of four years is starting to unravel as she’s questioning some her husband’s mysterious behavior.

Is the handsome man in these lives really who he says he is?

The beginning of this book moves a little slow as there is a lot to set up. The second half moves quickly as more is revealed, and I was hooked and turning pages. I found some of the women characters to be quite frustrating at times as they were supposed to be successful women who seemed to be making bad choices. The male character was so sleazy and conniving that he was fun to hate.

Overall, this is a good thriller once it gets going, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good cringe-worthy, suspenseful read.

Don't Let Him In is yet another compulsive read by Lisa Jewell. While you will probably figure out where the story is headed early on, her writing makes it hard to put down because you don't want to look away from the train wreck that is coming.

After being very disappointed in her last title, None of This is True, I was hesitant but wanted to give LJ another chance. Don't Let Him In signals to me that maybe Jewell received some of the negative feedback for NOTIT as this is that story flipped on it's head in some ways.

This is the story of a man who has many names, many wives and girlfriends, and somehow manages to charm and cheat his way into women's hearts and bank accounts. And just when you think you know the depth of his crimes, LJ will surprise you again.

Overall this was an enjoyable read for me and I recommend it if you like her writing style.

A slow burn and felt more like a drama. Story unfolded gradually and had great character progression. Very enjoyable nonetheless and would recommend.

This author is usually hit or miss for me but I wasn’t expecting to hate this lol. I’m very confused by the good reviews?!

I loved this book! It was such a fantastic psychological read and it holds your attention. Has quite a few different characters but it’s so well written that each character is well developed and the stories are all intertwined together. I recommend it and believe it’s a book for everyone,

This book is perfect for people who love a psychological thriller that will keep them up at night reading “just one more chapter.” Lisa Jewell knows how to write books you know could actually happen and you hope never happen to anyone you know. This book in particular shows the vulnerability of women who are manipulated by narcissists. We may all think, “oh, I wouldn’t fall for that kind of man.” But the reality is different.

There were many times when I was reading this, I was literally talking out loud to the women warning them. The ending was well worth the stress of this suspenseful read.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Nick is everything a woman could want in a partner. He’s handsome, worldly, charming, and a smooth talker. He’s made a life out of finessing his way into women’s lives. So when Nina’s husband Paddy is killed, she instantly becomes the type of woman he’s drawn to. He seems perfect for this grieving mother of two. But Nina’s daughter, Ash, is suspicious. He’s just a little too polished, a little too ready with an answer for everything. Ash is determined to look out for her mother's well being. And the more she digs, the more she realizes that he’s hiding more than one secret. This was a good story from one of my favorite authors. The beginning was a little cumbersome as it worked through setting up the different characters and storylines. But everything came together in the end as a great thriller.

A year after her father’s death, Ash and her mother Nina are grieving when Nick Ratcliffe walks into their lives - to Ash’s dismay. Not far away, Martha lives in a small town in her cozy cottage with her two sons and daughter as a florist. Her husband Al, is often away and turns his phone off leaving Martha feeling very alone. With his promises of a better life, they only seem to continue to have no money. However, both Nick and Al may not be who they are they are, leading the women into wishing they had not let these men into their lives.

My first 5⭐️ of the year. Also, the first time I’ve loved a Lisa Jewell book this much it almost competed with my love for Then She Was Gone. I was hooked from the very start and never ever wanted to put this book down. I feel like it reignited my love for thrillers.

What a thrill ride of a book! I stayed up all night reading this one. I’m a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and have read all of her books so I was beyond excited to be able to read her latest thriller, Don’t Let Him In. I have no idea how she does it but she manages to successfully write books that capture the readers attention right from the start. I will say that the plot in this book does alternate through timelines and perspectives which can confuse certain readers so I advise that you read this book with meticulous attention since this isn’t one you can skim or skip through. I will also say that there are some trigger warnings for this book without going into detail or giving away spoilers just know it isn’t for the faint of heart. I was anxious reading through this and my heart was seriously palpitating because I needed to know what happened next! You get caught up in all the drama of the characters and can really visualize everything playing out. This is a book you can’t put down and I will be purchasing the final copy once it publishes on June 24 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

Lisa Jewell is an auto buy author for me and this book just confirmed it. I loved it so much, it kept me engaged the entire time!