ABSOLUTE BANGER. Lisa, you are a star. Never let down and this gave such Dirty John vibes without being a ripoff or a cheesy adaptation.

This story was good but not Lisa Jewell’s best. I enjoyed the characters but it did take me a little bit to really figure out who was who as the story jumped from the past to the present and through different people. I felt the end was predictable but was cheering for all of the ladies!

LISA JEWELL DOES NOT MISS. I don't know if this will be for everyone, but her thrillers are SO gripping and you can not put them down. I really enjoyed this one!!

📚 Don't Let Him In
✍ Lisa Jewell
📖 Mystery
⭐4/5
📆Pub date: 6/24/25
🙏 Thank you to Atria books for an advanced copy of Don't Let Him In. All opinions are my own.

🎯 What I loved: Lisa Jewell has written a character so loathsome, so selfish and so cruel that he'll be permanently engrained in my brain. This book was absolutely unhinged and I'm not sure I've ever loathed a character as much as the main character in this one but I could not put this down. Honestly, I wish people could have been flies on the wall as I was trying to describe the plot of this to my husband because I think he thought I'd lost it. It was warped and cringey and winding and probably less of an action packed thriller than most Jewell fans are used to but was still shocking. There are a LOT of characters and timelines to keep track of and they're only labeled by time increments (i.e. 4 years ago, 21 months ago, etc.) so it takes a little while to put together what is actually happening, but the way things unfolded was intentional and well thought out.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: I think I was slightly disappointed in the resolution and was hoping for a bit more drama at the end but in true Jewell fashion, was very entertained by this book and can't wait to chat about it as more folks read it!
◾
Read if you're intrigued by:
*long cons and career crime committers
*jealousy
*bizarre relationships with lots of secrets
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See also: The Night We Lost Him, Till Death Do Us Part, Like Mother, Like Daughter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another Gripping Thriller from Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell delivers again with this twisty, tension-filled domestic thriller. Told from multiple POVs, the story follows several women slowly uncovering the truth about the dangerously charming Nick Radcliffe. The way their stories intertwine is gripping, and Jewell masterfully captures the creeping dread of realizing someone isn’t who they seem.

The characters are flawed, layered, and painfully real—making it easy to care about them even when you want to shake some sense into them. The tension never lets up, and the realism of Nick’s manipulation is chilling. One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year. Unputdownable and unforgettable!

This was my third Lisa Jewell novel, and she hasn't disappointed me yet! This was a nice domestic thriller with multiple POVs that were all compelling in their own ways. While it was frustrating at times reading about these women getting fooled by this awful man, I loved following Ash's storyline of figuring him out!

Reader beware … once you read this, you can’t un-read it.
This story primarily follows a family who has lost their patriarch in an act of murder. As they grieve, a friend from his past turns up to offer his condolences, and quite a bit more …
While this is going on, we are also introduced to quite a few other couples. All once happy and thriving, but now falling apart at the seams.
Lies. Deceit. Forgery. Scams. Debt. Love. Bullshit. Murder. This story has so much going on that I can’t even begin to describe it. You should just read it for yourself!

—————————

Thank you, Lisa, for making me never want to date or trust a man again (after already being wary of them, because they’re men)!

This book is a nightmare for women everywhere, but I bet after reading it, you’ll be more cautious.

It started out slower for me and I felt as though it was hard to keep track of the different timelines and stories at first. However, once I got into the thick of it (about 35-40% of the way through) I couldn’t read quickly enough. The twists and turns, the satisfaction of guessing correctly (which I rarely am able to do), and the ending … job well done, Lisa. Well freakin done.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC ✨

This is the second Lisa Jewell book I’ve read, and I had high hopes! But unfortunately this one just didn’t hit for me.

I had a few problems, but mainly, the writing in this book felt like script notes and not prose. It was blocky, robotic and served one function: what is happening in the scene? It had no soul, and even with obvious tonal changes between POVs, this book relied heavily on the “tell, don’t show” in laying out the scenes. I felt like I was reading the script notes, the scene laid out in almost clinical terms for the actors and directors to understand where they are in the story.

The dialogue was word vomit every time, just breathless spewing, and it was totally unrealistic. Would people really just sit and listen to a long speech without interjecting ever? Without the character who was speaking pausing to notice something about the character they’re speaking to? It was bizarre. This on top of the robotic scene building solidified my sense that this book read like a script and not a novel.

It all felt a little soulless, and not the good kind fitting for a thriller.

Another problem I had was the sheer amount of characters. They all had names, backstories, and too many had POVs. It was really hard to keep them all straight in my head.

I did enjoy the premise, however. This story had strong appeal to me, I thought there was promise. But the storytelling left much to be desired. I also hoped for a more thrilling climax to the story, but it was a little bit of a letdown there too.

I hoped for much and unfortunately this wasn’t a win for me this time.

2.5 stars. ⭐️⭐️💫

Lisa Jewell never disappoints and this book is no exception!! I read this on vacation and finished it in less than a day as I could not put it down. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars! I can’t wait to read her next one!! Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my e-ARC of Don’t Let Him In!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👀 multiple POVs
🤥 are a great liar
🔪 enjoy men getting what they deserve
🐺 have ever known a wolf in sheep’s clothing

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

“Who are you? Who are you really?”

Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. He’s just what Nina Swann needed in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

“Because there are things that don’t make sense, and I’ve been so patient, so very patient…”

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn't right.

“You know that’s mad, don’t you? I’m your husband. We know everything there is to know about each other.”

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a twisty, turny, where could it possibly be going thriller! I loved the different POVs and the fact that the women were all slowly catching on to him in their own ways. Women won’t allow you to pull the wool over their eyes for long. The interconnected stories were a lot of fun, as we get to know the inner workings of this man’s mind. It was scary how realistic he was and could truly be. As someone who has dated a man who lied and cheated, yes, the possibility of this happening is too much. Another great one by Lisa!

Lisa Jewel has done it again. She has woven mystery with suspense once again. You must pay close attention to the details this round as there is a lot going on in this novel. It doesn’t disappoint at all. There is some back and forth with time so if you miss it, you may get a little lost at times. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Lisa Jewell’s 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘐𝘯 was my most anticipated book of the year and it more than lived up to the hype. Tense, twisty, and utterly compelling from the very first page, this domestic thriller is a must-read for your summer TBR.

This story begins with the aftermath of Paddy Swann’s sudden death. His daughter, Ash, is still living at home, grieving alongside her mother, Nina. When a mysterious gift arrives from someone linked to Paddy’s past, Nina invites the stranger into their lives, setting off a chain of unsettling events.

Meanwhile, we meet Martha, a florist in a quiet town. She’s four years into what appears to be a happy marriage with her husband, Alistair, raising their young daughter, Nala, alongside two older sons from a previous marriage. But cracks begin to show. Alistair frequently disappears for days without a word, not answering his cell or texts. Martha starts to suspect that something isn’t quite right and that he may be hiding a secret.

At first, I found it a bit tricky to keep track of all the characters and shifting timelines, but once I found the rhythm, I was hooked. The way Jewell weaves these seemingly separate lives together and the bombshell reveal that follows, makes for an absolutely gripping read.

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Nick Radcliffe  reaches out to Nina Swann after her husband's death with an old memento and kind words, Nina's daughter Ash tells her to write back. When she later learns that the letters has sparked a romance and Ash meets Nick, she has a gut feeling that something about him is up to no good. Unfortunately for Ash, she has recently had a bit of a mental episode so she doesn't think anyone will believe her so in order to get some evidence, she begins to dig into Nick's past.
At the same time in a close-by neighborhood, Martha is beginning to suspect that something is off with her husband Alistair. Once a devoted husband and father, he has now begun travelling a lot for work with no communication for days. Alistair always has a reasonable explanation for all of her suspicions, but Martha can't stop herself from fully believing him and decides to do some snooping of her own.
In their separate searches for the truth, both Ash and Martha discover the dark truth that they can never unlearn.

Lisa Jewell made a character so awful that even though the book was written so well, I had to force myself to read it. I hated it that much. The ending helped, but I could not get over seeing so many people get steamrolled and gaslit by such an terrible human being. This story was told in 3 points of view- Ash, Martha, and "him". Reading his inner monologue was so infuriating but I can see the value it added in the story. I'm glad I finished, but this was definitely emotionally draining.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Lisa Jewell’s writing and characters as always is phenomenal. The characters (aside from the psycho) seemed truly realistic, flaws and all. I really love the dimension of Ash & her mother, their family story was moving and they felt like real people with real relationships.

I really enjoyed the first 60%. Where it fell flat for me is that there was no big plot twist. It’s like watching a “Who Did I Marry?” Documentary. While the content is wild, it didn’t give me the satisfying ending feeling. I would still recommend this to some but make it clear there is no huge big twist so they can limit their expectations. I will still stan Lisa Jewell because I’ve loved and rated many of her novels 5 stars. Never has one been below 3 star rating, she’s a jewel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Lisa Jewell is one of my go to authors and Don’t Let Him In did not disappoint. It is told from the POVs of multiple different characters. We meet Nina and Ash as they are recovering from the loss of their husband and father. A year after his death, Nina begins to date Nick Radcliffe when throws their life out of whack. At the same time, we are introduced to Martha and Al, another couple who have financial troubles. They are connected in ways that you cannot image. I really enjoyed the writing of this one. I was very intrigued by the storyline and I feel like the characters were very developed. I did guess the twists, but overall it was a good story.

Lisa Jewell, you are my favorite!

‘DON’T LET HIM IN’ will hit shelves June 20th, thank you @atriabooks for sending this copy my way! I love everything @lisajewelluk touches.

This new book is so fun, and classic Lisa. So twisty & turny. 🤯 I won’t give much away but the premise is a deceitful man with many identities who steals money from his lovers and leaves them high and dry.

At first I was confused by all the characters but once I figured out who’s who, BAM! It came together. The chapters are short, the story moves quickly, and I enjoyed it so much. I found myself screaming at the pages- stop it! Stop! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!

If enjoy Lisa like I do, you’ll enjoy this one! It will be a sure hit this summer.

Captivating. Twisty. Dark and dramatic. Whew, in a true immersive fashion, this psychological thriller left me wanting to question everyone that enters into my life. The character connections started clicking as the story was nearing the end, unraveling the crazy, woven depths a man would go to hide his secrets. I don’t want to have spoilers in my review so let me just say to read it and possibly be wary of trusting anyone?!

I'm a massive fan of Lisa Jewell and this book did not disappoint. It had all the twists and shocks you can expect from a Jewell novel. As someone who loved her last book - NONE OF THIS IS TRUE - I really enjoyed this one as well. I devoured the book in two days!

When is that new guy too good to be true? Nina Swann is about to find out.
Nick comes into Nina and Ash’s life at just the right time. He says he used to work with Paddy, their husband & father who had tragically died recently. He brings them gifts, swoons over Nina, practically moves in, and then disappears.
Meanwhile, Martha navigates running her flower shop and raising her daughter Nala that she shares with her new husband, Alistar, while he runs off to the country every few weeks with different excuses. And of course, there is no cell coverage out there so he can’t answer her calls or texts. This isn’t the guy she fell in love with and married.
An older lady with millions for her children to inherit takes up with a male escort. When he shows up looking for shelter and help, she lets him in.
Questions. GPS trackers. Strange gifts. Lies. Unidentifiable remains found. Lisa Jewell takes the ‘Are we dating the same guy’ forums on social media to the extreme, yet plausible in this page-turner.

Lisa Jewell sure delivered with Don't Let Him In! Fast paced and such a page turner. I read in one sitting and wished there was more. Well done, Lisa Jewell!