Actual review: 3.5 stars

I honestly don’t know what to feel about Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell. On one hand, it kept me hooked, but on the other, I felt kind of frustrated throughout. The story is told in alternating timelines and perspectives, so we know right away who the bad guy is. That takes away the mystery of who did it, and instead, the story focuses on watching this guy, who seems perfect on the surface, slowly reveal his dark side. It's not so much about solving a mystery, but more about seeing how everything unravels.

I did like how Jewell structured the story. It’s told through the eyes of different women who live with this charming guy—a guy who’s a loving husband, great father, all-around "perfect" man... except he does a lot of shady things. The tension builds as these women start noticing his suspicious behavior, but it’s so frustrating because they all seem to ignore the red flags. The whole time, I was just thinking, how can they not see this? Like, he disappears for days and nobody thinks to ask questions? It felt a bit too naive, and that really bugged me.

What’s also frustrating is how these women come across. They’re smart, they seem capable in their lives, but they just keep falling for this guy’s act. I get that he’s manipulative, but I couldn’t help but wonder: Does it really take a seemingly perfect husband and father to blind you to the obvious signs of trouble?

If you’re looking for a thriller, this isn’t quite that. It’s more of a domestic suspense with a personal investigation vibe. It kind of gave me None of This Is True vibes—another Lisa Jewell book where an outsider invades someone’s life and starts obsessing over it. There’s something about that theme of someone from the outside coming in, disrupting things, and you can’t help but feel a little on edge the whole time.

All in all, it was a decent read that kept me interested, but I wouldn’t call it my favorite thriller. If you like stories about con men, manipulative behavior, and a slow-burn investigation, this one’s worth picking up, but it’s not the most intense read out there.

"Don't Let Him In" had me hooked from the very beginning. There were twists throughout the whole book and I was intrigued with every page. I definitely recommend reading this book.

I just may have found my second favorite Lisa Jewell book! Lisa Jewell is a must-read author for me, but the cover blurb for this book sounded so uninteresting to me. Of course, I read it anyway and WOW!!! No one writes domestic thrillers like this lady! I tore through this one, as I could not wait to see how all these different timelines and POV's would connect! The gist of the story is "Nick" has scammed his way in and out of numerous women's lives over the years and now a few are catching on. But wait, there's so much more! Great characterization! It is really easy to judge and wonder how anyone could be that stupid, but the author does such an excellent job of conveying all the thought processes and explanations, that it makes perfect sense. I also know a woman personally who has a similar circumstance happen to her, so it is definitely out there! I cannot recommend this one enough and cannot wait to see what Lisa Jewell comes up with next! She has not had a stinker yet! And I also credit this author with opening up a whole new world of authors to me, as she is one of the first British authors' that this American girl read with And Then She Was Gone, years ago.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lisa Jewell and Atria Books for this much appreciated ARC!

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

She’s done it again! This book was a fabulous read. It was a little slow to get into and learn all of the characters-and keep them straight but once I figured out what was going on I just couldn’t put it down. What a twist at the end! Loved it. Thanks for the ARC!

Lisa Jewell does it yet again with a well woven novel full off thrilling and page turning suspense. I loved how she weaved so many characters together that were so well liked and for all to come together at the end and tie in so well. Well written and definitely recommended.

This well-written, plot-driven domestic thriller is about my biggest fear: a husband with a double life. While I read DON'T LET HIM IN, Dua Lipa's "New Rules" and flashbacks of Marion Keyes' brilliant THIS CHARMING MAN (which also features a character named Paddy) played in my head.

I tore through this family drama in a little more than a day, determined to see this terrible man get his comeuppance, although I didn't really care if the women got justice since they were so stupid to get involved with an obvious creep, but I wanted him stopped.

Thank you so much Atria books and Netgalley for the digital copy of this upcoming sure to be hit.

Lisa Jewell once again proves she’s the queen of domestic thrillers with Don’t Let Him In. This gripping novel pulls readers into a web of secrets, manipulation, and buried truths that left me breathless until the final page.

3 women all connected to one man. All three women let him in and make relationships with him, even though they shouldn’t. Great thriller with some twists and turns along the way.

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

I have been a fan of Lisa Jewell’s for a while now & never have I been so enraptured by one of her books from the first page. Set from three different perspectives, this story unspools quickly and thrillingly as the character’s lives begin to connect and intersect. Don’t Let Him In was surprising, chilling, and exciting, and Jewell has a way of hooking you in and not letting you go. For fans of psychological thrillers and unreliable narrators, this is a must read with a super satisfying ending!

Overall, a twisty thriller, but seemingly predictable? I enjoyed it but you saw exactly where Jewell was leading you. I expected a hook, and while you could argue there was one at the end, I still anticipated it too.

Short chapters keep it engaging and the swap from first to third person was disorienting until you determined who was telling the first person account. It did make the start of the book extra twisty which I enjoyed.

It did, however, have portions that struck me as far too unlikely. While I can look past this some for the sake of advancing the story, there were too many instances of happenstance that led to knowledge for a character that felt a bit implausible.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a hard book to review as I don't want to give anything away. It was wonderfully maddening. It's the kind of book I had to step away from at points, as it made me feel so much frustration and irritation, but then couldn't wait to pick it up again.

Lisa Jewell is so great at creating relatable characters in psycho situations. She draws you into their lives and the unhinged situations in which they find themselves. This book is no different. Martha and Nina are accomplished women. Women who love their children. They work and have normal lives. Until they meet Nick and Al, who turn it all upside down. Ash is a young woman who just misses her dad and feels the inadequacy so many young people feel when comparing their lives to others. But she is one determined young lady who will fiercely defend her mom.

I love that the author doesn't just tell the story from the perspective of the women, but she includes Nick and Al's journey as well. It doesn't make me like him/them any more (probably less), but it adds depth and dimension to the story we otherwise would be missing. It adds history that twists in ways the reader never expects.

I gave it 4 stars, only because the ending was predictable. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It ended how I thought it would, I just wasn't sure how she was going to get us there. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC via Netgalley for my honest review of the book.

Don’t Let Him In 🚪
Thank you, Atria Books, for the gifted copy of Lisa Jewell’s newest novel {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.24.2025
Pages: 384
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

“The world, she now knows, is not what it seems. Nobody is what they seem. Everything is an illusion.”

Lisa Jewell is one of those authors I look forward to reading their new books each year - one of Jewell’s earlier books, Then She Was Gone, is still one of my all-time favorite novels. What I love about her books is how they always offer something new — a fresh layer to the complex, often hidden parts of our world. Whether it’s incels, stalkers, or cults, Jewell has a way of peeling back the layers on uncomfortable, sometimes downright disturbing aspects of human nature. And with Don’t Let Him In, she does it again, exploring yet another chilling type of behavior.

I’ve seen some people mention that the mystery in this book felt slow, and I get it. But here’s the thing: this is Lisa Jewell’s pacing. She doesn’t do the breakneck thrillers or heart-pounding action sequences. What she does is build tension - a slow-burning suspense that grabs you. The unease is there from the start, and it lingers, keeping you hooked, wondering, “What’s going to happen next? Will he get away with it this time?”

The story shows one man’s terrifying grip over three women’s lives, and the lengths he will go to maintain that control. It’s a fascinating, unsettling look at manipulation, obsession, and the darkness that can hide behind even the most handsome of faces.

Read if you enjoy:
😳 Slow Build
🙅🏽‍♀️ Toxic Relationships
😬 Domestic Suspense
🗣️ Multiple POV

I recommend reading Don’t Let Him In if you enjoyed reading Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book. This was a suspenseful page-turner! I enjoy Lisa Jewell’s writing because she pays close attention to her characters. If you enjoyed her recent books, you will enjoy this thriller told from multiple perspectives.

Jewell is always a sure fire hit . This one was good as always. She has a way with pacing her books without a lot of fluff that just keeps you engaged throughout
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

I lovedddd this one. I think Lisa Jewell will always be my #1 author because she really never lets me down!

I say this on every review of her books but she truly is just so good at writing interesting characters that truly feel real to me and that always makes the thriller/suspense more intense.

This book actually made me so mad the whole entire time but I feel like I can’t say anything much because it would spoil it! This is a must read and I will be buying a physical copy when it comes out.

I always love Lisa Jewell. She is an incredible mystery-thriller writer. I will ready anything she writes!

3.5🌟 this was my first book by Lisa Jewell and I’m not sure she’s for me. I enjoyed her writing, but the multiple pov’s and timelines pulled me out of the story at times. I will say at about the 45% mark things picked up and I was interested in seeing what happened, but the book really dragged in terms of plot.

Maybe this just isn’t the thriller author for me because I think some people would really love this one! so don’t let my review sway anyone from picking it up🤞🏼I could see this being really fun to read on vacation or a flight or something

thank you netgalley and the publishers for the arc

Don’t Let Him In, A Novel, by Lisa Jewell. Different POVs, different time-lines, multiple twists.

I rated this 4 stars.

Patty Swann was the life of the party until he was pushed in front of a train, leaving his daughter Ash and wife Nina to figure out what next. Until an old friend of Patty’s, Nick, reaches out and is now getting close to Nina. Martha is a small-town florist living life with her daughter (and 2 sons from a previous marriage) and husband, Al. But lately she is questioning if she really knows what is going on with her husband at all. But who really are Nick and Al?

Your main POVs are from Ash, Al, and Martha. The story is present day and bounces back to 4 years and 2 years prior.

I really enjoyed this book, was hard to put it down. Once one mystery was solved there was another to figure out, even up until the last page. Would definitely recommend to others! Was one of the longer mystery thrillers I’ve read but still worth all the pages.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This marks my third experience with a Lisa Jewell novel, and once again, she delivers a compelling narrative filled with lies and deceit. The plot does shift between different timelines and perspectives, which requires careful attention while reading; this is the sole reason I am rating it four stars.

I prefer not to reveal any spoilers, but this book will certainly challenge your perceptions of truth, prompting you to exclaim "what?" at various points. As a fan of thrillers, I find that any book by Lisa Jewell is sure to engage readers, as she is a masterful storyteller who keeps you on your toes.

Lisa Jewell does it again! This book started out a bit slow for me, but ultimately I could not put it down. The main antagonist was one that I despised. He is easily a man that can live amongst us in the real world, one that blends into everyday life, and one that you can easily fall for not realizing he is a narcissist and abuser.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books (Simon & Schuster) for the ARC of Don't Let Him In!