Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, and her latest novel, Don’t Let Him In, delivers much of what I’ve come to expect: suspense, twists, and compelling characters. However, I found this book a bit more challenging than her usual works.

The story unfolds across multiple timelines spanning a few years, which, while intriguing, made it difficult to keep track of the chronology. Additionally, the large cast of characters, though each well-developed, added another layer of complexity that sometimes made it hard to follow the plot.

That said, the book redeems itself with a fantastic twist at the end—one that I didn’t see coming and that stayed with me long after I finished reading. While not as seamless as some of Jewell’s other works, Don’t Let Him In is still a gripping read that fans of psychological thrillers will likely enjoy.

Omg!! What a wild ride this was! Fresh after the death of Ash's larger than life father, Paddy, her family receives a very nice letter from a man named Nick offering his condolences. He claims to have once worked with her father and Ash wants to learn more. She encourages her mother to reach out to him and a year later the two are dating. Ash's mom Nina looks happier than she's been in a long time with Nick but something about him doesn't add up.
He seems very elusive while also seeming to have an answer for everything that Ash questions him about. But who is she to say anything to her mother after Ash herself has struggled with mental health issues. Her mom wouldn't really give weight to her suspicions without hard evidence anyway. So Ash undertakes an investigation of sorts to find out more about Nick's past and if he is who he really claims to be or if he has more sinister intentions and maybe is only after Nina for her money. What transpires is a web of lies and a wake of devastation that follows Nick's victims. Ash seeks to uncover him for the fraud he is and seeks the help of others. This story is riveting and as more is revealed about Nick, I just read on with my mouth hanging open for most of it.
One of Lisa Jewell's finest novels.

Wow, that was intense! Lisa Jewell certainly knows how to engage readers with her clever prose.

"Don't Let Him" was my first experience reading Lisa Jewell, and I was excited to dive in, even though I had no idea what to expect. I highly recommend going in blind to avoid any spoilers.

OMG, it was brilliantly written! Jewell’s writing captivated me from the very first page and kept me spellbound until the end. I had a hard time putting it down. I stayed up all night reading and didn’t stop until my eyes blurred and I could no longer keep going.

Get ready to encounter one of the most despicable villains! This character's deeply ingrained misogynistic attitude made my blood boil, and I wanted to throttle him multiple times. There were moments when I wanted to scream—"Wake up, give your head a shake!" My eyes hurt from rolling so much, especially at the character's gaslighting and methodical manipulation. An evil, calculating psychopath is the best way to describe him.

I eagerly anticipated how all the characters' points of view would tie together the loose threads, and the ending did not disappoint! I won’t forget these characters anytime soon. It was brilliant how Lisa Jewell gradually revealed their backstories, making you question what was fact and fiction while leaving breadcrumbs for readers to follow. It was a gripping, well-paced psychological thriller that kept me on my toes.

You need to read this! I highly recommend grabbing a copy. Pre-order your copy today!

I want to thank Atria and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

read if you like:
👯 double crossing
👮‍♂️ conmen
💁🏻‍♀️strong women

summary:
Lisa Jewell is a must buy for me, so I was so excited to get an advanced copy of her next book, DONT LET HIM IN. This story is intense! It follows three different women — Nina, Ash and Martha, and their unlikely connection. The book starts with restaurant owner Paddy Swann dying after being hit by a train, and while his daughter, Ash and wife, Nina are devastated, a man from Paddy’s past, Nick, connects with them and shares that he was one of Paddy’s old friends. Simultaneously, we read about Martha, a new mom living with her husband, Al, who is constantly traveling for work as a hospitality trainer. Without giving anything away, we follow their stories and realize the women are closer than they would appear.

While I sometimes struggle with books that skip between stories, this one is well written, going deep into the lives of the various female protagonists and building out their characters. We follow them through various chapters in their lives through the ups and downs, to better understand the challenges in their various relationships. The book is separated into parts, although I won’t lie, I didn’t totally understand what separated each section. The stories also cut between present day and the past, so you have to pay close attention to timing and sequencing. If you’re someone with a bad memory like me, I actually recommend jotting it down!

The stories though center around women who are lied to, cheated on and deceived, and more importantly, the work they do individually to overcome all of this. I love a strong female protagonist, and even more several of them, and the way these women stand up to the men in their lives is admirable. Most importantly, the ending is SO SATISFYING, with a bit of a twist!

This ARC was provided to me by the publisher for free in exchange for my honest feedback. I highly recommend checking this book out when it releases on June 24!

Thank you netgalley for letting me read an early copy of this book! I’ve read Lisa Jewell before and while I admire her ability to write addictive stories I do feel that this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

This story made me feel all the feels. In my heart i would hope so many woman wouldn’t fall for men like this, but i know they are out there. It was an entertaining story. I did enjoy the dual timelines, but sometimes found all the names hard to follow.

Lisa Jewell never disappoints. This book has murder, mystery and misogyny a plenty. But it also makes you question yourself and your relationships. If your partner adored you and made that clear, would (or do) you overlook their many flaws and constant disappearances?
The story begins with the death of a famous restauranteur, Paddy. We are introduced to his family, including his widow (Nina) and his daughter (Ash). Some of the story is told through Ash's point-of-view, although it changes from chapter to chapter.
The story is also told through the perspective of Martha, who is starting to have some suspicions of her husband (Alistair...what a name!), who is also in the restaurant business and constantly traveling for work...with his phone off. How blind we can be to the faults of our partners when in love.
Twists and turns aplenty, love the characters and their lives, that are messy but beautiful at the same time. One of my favorites that Lisa Jewell has come out with. Could not put it down. Highly recommend.

As a longtime fan of Lisa Jewell, I was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of Don't Let Him In, and as always, she did not disappoint! This book had everything I love about her writing—compelling characters, an eerie sense of unease, and twists that keep you flipping pages late into the night.

What stood out most to me was the antagonist’s perspective. Jewell doesn’t just present him as a villain; she lets us inside his mind, where his warped perception of reality makes things even more unsettling. He doesn’t see himself the way the rest of the world does, and that distorted self-image adds a whole new layer of psychological suspense. It’s chilling, unpredictable, and had me questioning everything.

The story itself is layered and engaging, weaving together multiple perspectives and secrets that slowly unravel in classic Jewell fashion. It’s a gripping read that kept me hooked, and I loved how the tension built up until the final reveal. If you’re a fan of her books—or just love a thriller that gets inside your head—you’re going to love this one!

I am usually a big Lisa Jewell fan but this one missed the mark for me. I found it hard to follow the storylines and keep the many characters straight. As a result, it felt a little drawn out. I was interested to see how it all came together though and the epilogue was surprising!

Lisa Jewell really has outdone herself again! I was elated to read Don't Let Him In. The story line of many women that are living their lives and pulled into love, marriage, and building their famillies around a con man, who they don't suspect until much later on. There are so many layers to the many female characters, this book overall immediately pulled me in. I was working to anticipate the ending and the twists and couldn't get enough. There were many moments that I liked the lose ends being tied together and fixed.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. It was a dynamic book and I am excited to recommend it to my friends and colleagues.

Thank you netgalley for my arc copy. I am a huge Lisa jewel fan! I also loved the Tinder Swindler documentary and this reminded me of that.

What I liked :
- reminded me of tinder swindler
- never saw any of it coming
- the twist!

What I didn’t
- the chapters jumped around to different characters and it took me awhile to figure out in each chapter who was talking and what his name was to them. I think they should put at the top of each chapter the characters name .
- I was confused.
- it kind of felt like a chore to read

Oh, my! Fans of Lisa Jewell are in for the ride of their lives! This psych thriller had me hoping the main character would ‘get his’, along with feeling sad that there are so many women in real life who are desperate for the attentions of a man, just as the women in this book were. Great read and I so appreciate being given the chance to read it early. It’s a winner.

3.5 stars!
This is the sixth Lisa Jewell novel I’ve read, so it’s safe to say I’ll be picking up everything she writes. I was hooked right away with “Don’t Let Him In”—this was such an easy read, and it kept me engaged the whole time. I really enjoyed the different perspectives and the overall mystery. That said, I was hoping for a bit more of the “thriller” elements Jewell is known for. Also, the ending left me a little confused—did he or didn’t he survive? Still, I always enjoy Jewell’s work and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of “Don’t Let Him In” by Lisa Jewell.

No, no, no, no, no. This is the type of thriller that sends my spidey sense into high alert, because you hear of “it” happening, but think that no way will you ever fall for it. And then you read a book like this, and you’re like, I get it. Guards up, ladies (and gents)! I’m out, otherwise there will be spoilers.

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This book gives you all the feels. Hate, frustration, love, and women coming together to help each other out. Great read!

Lisa Jewell does it again. OMG was this good!! It had me in a chokehold. I read this in all my free time and finished it quickly.
Get ready to encounter one of the most despicable villains.
This character drove my absolutely mad. I wanted to throw my book across the room over and over again. My eyes hurt so bad from rolling them with the characters gaslighting and manipulation. An evil genius psychopath about covers it.
I was curious on how all the POV's were going to connect but once it did it ended on a high!
You are going to want to read this. Go ahead... you'll want to preorder this one. Thank you @atriabooks for this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Jewell does it again. Her writing is flawless and keeps you guessing . When you think you have it figured out she turns you upside down. Rich character development, plot is interesting and the twists make you gasp

What a privilege to get an advance copy of the latest gem by @lisajewelluk! Thank you to @atriabooks, @atriathrillers and @netgalley for early access to one of my very favorite thriller writer’s newest novel! Clear your calendar in June 2025!

DON’T LET HIM IN by Lisa Jewell
Pub Date: 6/24/25

His name is Nick. Or Alistair. Or Simon. Depends on who you might be.

He’s handsome. Cosmopolitan. Successful. Devoted. You never dreamed you could find someone so wonderful. You are so lucky.

Except that sometimes he doesn’t answer his phone. For days. He blames a crazy work schedule. An elderly mother. His ADHD. You forgive him. He loves you so much, and what you have together is so special.

He’s a little short on cash, but just for now. He’s absolutely good for it, so you don’t mind advancing him some personal funds. After all, it’s for his elderly mother’s care. The business of your dreams. An obscure clinical trial that he must venture to unaccompanied.

He’s devious, and he’s dangerous, and by the time you catch on, it might just be too late. You never should have let him in.

This rollercoaster thriller is everything we’ve come to expect from @lisajewelluk. Multiple narrators. A spiderweb of suspense. Short POV chapters that keep you reading until late into the night. Lisa Jewell is the mastermind behind the twisty psychological novels NONE OF THIS IS TRUE and INVISIBLE GIRL. Put this “Dirty John” pageturner on your TBR for June 2025!

Lisa Jewell is just so good at what she does! I was fully engrossed in this one and was shocked she could intertwine so many lives and lies without skipping a beat. I 100% would have become confused while writing and messed up 🤣

This one was thrilling, twisty, and suspenseful and I couldn’t get enough. Can’t wait for more from her!

WOW! I can already predict this is going to be the best thriller of the year. This book gripped me from the beginning with the elaborate main character who is the ultimate scammer. I loved the different point of views and time frames and how they all connect in the end perfectly. This book is fast paced and will have you at the edge of your seat screaming at the characters to open their eyes! My first 5 star read of the year