I am a fan of Lisa Jewell and her top notch suspense thrillers, but this one fell just a tad short. The plot was well executed and laid out yet it was the characterization that started to wear on me a bit. Towards the end I did not feel any connection to the characters and had less of an investment in what ultimately happened. Jewell does a great job getting into the mindset of people with psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies and it keeps the reader interested. It was just the far reaching gullibility and insecurity of the female characters that was a little over the top. Still a decent edge-of-your-seat kind of ride. #dontlethimin #lisajewell #netgalley #goodreads

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Don’t Let Him in, by Lisa Jewell. A 5 star read and fast paced thriller that will leave you questioning every relationship you have ever had. Paddy, a popular restaurateur, is tragically killed when he is pushed into the path of an oncoming train, leaving his wife Nina, daughter Ash and son Arlo devastated. I cannot reveal anything else about this story, it is best that you read this not knowing much more. Lisa Jewell just writes the best books and this is one of my favorites. There is amazing character building and you are sucked in to this twisted thriller from the beginning. Lisa Jewell is quite a story teller and as always I look forward to reading more and more.

Often when something seems too good to be true, that's because it is.

Nina's husband recently passed away at the hands of a transient, and she and their daughter Ash are trying to pick up the pieces. When a gift box and card arrive from a former coworker of his, Nina is touched by the gesture and a connection between the two begins to form. Nick Radcliffe seems to be the perfect man, and Nina's vulnerability makes her his perfect target. Something doesn't feel right to Ash, and she begins investigating this new man in her mom's life, and what she discovers changes everything.

Another woman, Martha, is a small business owner, mother of three, and wife to Alistair Grey. She loves her family and has great dreams for her business, but Al begins behaving oddly. He disappears for days on end and turns off his phone when he's away. She begins to suspect he's doing more than going on business trips or caring for his mother. Is it an affair?

This story is told from multiple points of view and goes back and forth between the past and current situations. I was immediately hooked. I really enjoy this style of writing because it keeps me guessing how the story will come together. However, about 60% through the book, I found it starting to drag. Too much was being repeated, too much was overly explained, and I had already (roughly) predicted the ending. The final few chapters and the epilogue describe a situation that's so implausible it is upsetting. The first half of the book was a 5-star read for me, but unfortunately, it tanked in the second half. I'm still a huge Lisa Jewell fan, I just felt like the second half of the book missed the mark for me.

3.5 stars

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC copy.

Oh my goodness!!! I read this through in one sitting (only breaking for lunch) because I HAD to know what was going to happen next! It builds and builds to the conclusion. There are quite a few characters in the novel, but all have an important purpose. The book shifts in time back and forth over four years, but the sequences connect up in the end. The characters' lives intertwine without their knowledge and the climax is superb! Lisa Jewell has written another fabulous suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat (I hate to say that; it's so cliched, but it's TRUE!). I could not stop until I read the last sentence. A great read from a great author. This book is available in June 2025--make sure you order a copy!

Okay, wow! This book had me completely hooked. The short chapters made it impossible to put down, and the multiple POVs kept me on my toes the whole time. The characters were so gripping, there was so much suspense, and the twists just kept coming. It was satisfying to see how everything came together at the end. Such a great read!


Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: .... I don't know where to start. I have more complicated feelings about this book than I have any in a long time. First, I'm not sure what the marketing strategy is for this book but seeing that it is Lisa Jewell people are expecting a thriller. This is not a thriller, it's a contemporary story. There is.... maybe.... light supsense. There is not really a twist, the book goes the exact way you think it will and how it's setup to be. Now, the reason I feel conflicted about this is because it's not a bad book. It's written well, and it's an interesting character study. But it. in no way is thrilling. I did mostly enjoy the book and found it easy to pick up and keep reading. However, I'm extremely irritated about how things unfolded and the book ended given my expectations of the genre, the author and the setup. I'm not sure who this falls on, but I will take some responsibility for my expectations.

Looking at the marking on Netgalley, it is marked as general fiction and not a thriller. I hope people see this. I do know the author writes various different books but I really feel like if people go in expecting suspense they are going to be let down. Overall, this is a good story and again I have no complaints about the writing. If you enjoy "good for her," stories this is one you don't want to miss.

Review wise, I can't really say much else. There is not much to the story except what's exactly in the synopsis. It can feel a bit repetitive at times and the ending (even considering it's not a thriller) felt a bit lackluster. I feel like writing the review for this feels a bit like reading the book. I just feel like meh, it wasn't bad, I kept wanting to pick it up and now it's over and I'm moving on? I am very curious how this will be perceived by the wider audience at release. Probably would make a great bookclub pick TBH.

This might be my favorite Lisa Jewell book. I always enjoy her books and often recommend them to friends and patrons, but this one takes the cake. It was interesting and exciting with a storyline that's quite different. It made me think of the podcast and tv show Dirty John, which I really enjoyed. I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, and I'm excited to recommend it once it comes out. Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

This book will have you on the edge of your seat. The way Jewell portrays the characters of Nick, Nina, Ash, Al, and Martha is detailed and compelling. You will simultaneously hate the villain in the story and at the same time completely understand the motives behind their interactions. Without giving any more details other than in the blurb, the men in the story may not be what they seem to be.

You won’t be able to put down the book until you get to watch the seemingly unrelated characters set on a collision course that will change their lives forever.

Another great book from Lisa Jewell. It was an enthralling read from start to finish. I did feel there were some unanswered questions in the end but not many and not to any extent that it impacted my enjoyment of the book. Highly recommended.

First and foremost, thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for my advanced copy. I wanted to love this book, I really did. Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite thriller writers and I was beyond excited to get approved to read it. Unfortunately, the book fell so flat and was not what I expected at all.

Alternating between points of view and timelines, we follow a grieving daughter and widow, the latter who has just had a new man enter her life; a woman who is becoming suspicious of her husband's whereabouts; and a man who obviously has more than one secret to hide. While I read the book rather quickly, because I needed to know what was going on, the end led me to where I thought it would. One of Jewell's best attributes is her twist and moments that make me gasp. This one, sadly, just elicited an unenthusiastic "huh" from me.

While the story does move at a fast pace, I found the woman characters to be too trusting and gullible, and therefore not believable. I felt as if more character development could've been given to the man with his secrets. For instance, how did he learn to operate this way and, most importantly, why? I was waiting for a reveal on that, and it just fell flat for me.

Another knock out novel by the talented Lisa Jewell. It always shocks me how versatile she is. I have been reading her books since 1999 when Ralph’s party came out. I knew she’d be a hit!
This book is no different, it catches your attention from the start. There are a few different story lines, which all come together so well. The book keeps you guessing from the start. There is a lot of, “oh wow” going on when you finally see the brilliance of Lisa’s story telling pieced together. I highly recommend this book, it’s one of a kind nd so clever.

Lisa Jewell does it again with another twisty, suspenseful thriller! After the unexpected death of Paddy, his wife and daughter are left, devastated, with more questions than answers. Soon after, his supposed best friend swoops in to save the day...but there's something that feels a bit...off...about him.

While this was a fun read, I almost put it down as there is a LOT to keep track of in the beginning. So many characters, timelines, and identities to keep track of. Once I had everything straight it was a gripping ride, but I think it's something to be aware of going into this one. Some parts kind of dragged on and I felt like it would have been a more engaging story if it was cut a bit shorter. That being said, I enjoyed this one and appreciate the ARC!

Lisa Jewell just keeps getting better and better! Prepare to hide yourself away on pub day because this one will grip you until the very last page. There are three story lines and multiple points of view that seem totally unconnected but, unfortunately, they all have one thing in common - They didn't read the title of this book and they DID let him in.
There are so many twists and shocking revelations so I really don't want to give too much info about the plot. All you need to know is that this is a thriller that will stick with you for a while and you're going to want to discuss it with someone when you're finished! I read this with my booksta besties and all of our jaws were on the floor. This one doesn't release until June but I'm telling you now this will be one of the buzziest thrillers of the summer!

Thank you to @netgalley & @atriabooks for this eARC—it’s been a wild ride!

Let’s talk Lisa Jewell. Whew! This woman knows how to craft a thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go until the very last word. I mean, forget the edge of your seat—I was practically hanging off it!

I’ll admit, the timeline and characters had me scratching my head at first. But once I got my bearings, I was all in. It was like a rollercoaster of “I know where this is going... oh wait, WHAT?!” Jewell throws twists and turns like confetti at a parade—unexpected and totally thrilling.

Now, here’s the thing: I’m a tough grader when it comes to thrillers. For me, 4-5 stars are reserved for mind-blowing, can’t-stop-talking-about-it perfection. This one didn’t quite reach those heights, but it was still an incredibly gripping, binge-worthy read.

Would I recommend it? Heck yes! Gather your friends, pour some tea (or wine), and buckle up for this manipulative and captivating story.

Twenty-something Ash and her mother, Nina, are devastated after the family patriarch, Paddy Swann, is pushed in front of a train in a seemingly random fatal act.

When they receive a note in the mail from a man claiming to have been an old friend of Paddy's, along with a lighter he claims was Paddy's, they are intrigued and want to meet this person who knew their beloved father and husband.
What follows is a whirlwind romance with Nina, much to Ash's dislike and skepticism, with this man Nick Radcliffe, who is quite mysterious about his past and who or what he is.
Meanwhile, Martha, a florist in a neighboring town, is in a very happy marriage with Al, a man she met and married and who is seemingly the best stepfather to her boys and the best father to their baby daughter Nala. However, Martha feels increasingly like a single parent when Al disappears for days on end 'claiming' to be working yet never answering her frantic calls and texts.
What follows is a tangled web of fake identities, scamming, theft and murder when Nick and Al are revealed to be not who they claim to be. Something needs to change - and when Nina and Martha start digging after Ash uncovers some dark secrets about Nick and Al , they are sorry they ever 'let him in.'

Thanks so much @netgalley & @atriabooks for this eARC.

I love Lisa Jewell’s books and have read all of her thrillers as well as a few of her earlier novels so when I was approved for this ARC I dropped everything to read it.

There’s a large cast of characters in this one, different POVs and a past and present timeline. So there is a lot to keep track of at first but I did sort it out and had everything figured out. This one wasn’t really a thriller for me and I didn’t realize that until I got closer to the end. I kept waiting for that shocking plot twist but it never came. I was disappointed that my jaw wasn’t on the floor from some twisted reveal after being so consumed with reading this book, I loved the story.

Without revealing too much, here’s the gist of the book. The story begins with the death of Paddy Swan, a restauranteur, who was pushed onto the tracks of an incoming train. He leaves behind his wife Nina and two grown children, Ash & Argo.

A couple of months after the funeral a package arrives at Nina’s home from a man named Nick Radcliffe who says he worked and was friends with Paddy before Nina met him.

They keep in contact and a year later Nina agrees to go on a date with Nick. Their relationship turns romantic and Nick becomes a part of her life.

Storyline number two follows Martha, mom of 3, florist, married to Al who works all the time and is often away from home on work trips. Their relationship is struggling.

Eventually these two storylines intertwine. And this is where perhaps I ruined the read for myself because I already knew what was going on here, I thought that we were supposed to know but I’ve read some other reviews of people being completely duped. 🤷‍♀️

I’m really looking forward to reading more reviews to see if others have the same experience reading this one that I did.

I will always jump through hoops to read a Lisa Jewell book and I was obsessed with this read, I was just expecting a shocker and there wasn’t one for me.

4⭐️

This was twisty and turny, it took me a little bit to keep everyone straight, but once I did, I was hooked.
Diving into the life of this criminal was exactly the way I wanted to spend my day once I started.

I loved seeing women coming together to support women, and that the tables kept shifting and flipping.

☽｡⋆ arc review ☽｡⋆

𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!

review: genre- thriller

it’s always a privilege to be able to read a book an advance!! thank you Atria Books + NetGalley for the arc for an honest review in return!

this book did have me stay up late just to see what would happen next. it truly was a page turner. i felt my brain connecting the dots, this man was sinister i will say!!! he was always one step ahead and was playing people like a FOOL!!! i was like there’s no way he thinks he is a good guy, he was leaving everyone in DEBT(you’ll have to read to know why & how). my favorite thing about the book was seeing women coming together to take this man down. one of the ladies in particular i thought was gonna let us downnnnn but homegirl pulled through eventually! so if you want a page turner i definitely recommend this book. the only reason for my 3.5 rating, was because once we got to part 4 & 5 it became very wordy, over explaining, and extra things added that did not feel necessary so it felt a bit dragged out. other than that i still recommend this book and think it’s a good read.

𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 !! ꕥ

⭐️ 3.5
I was lucky to get ARC for this book(Thank you NetGalley). It was last year when I discovered Lisa Jewell, and she quickly became my favorite author. I inhale her books and can’t put them down. She’s absolutely the best at writing suspense, with shocking twists, and the worlds she creates are twisted and mind-blowing.

Without giving too much away, this is another story that I’m sure will get much love. I rated it slightly lower only because some other books I read by her were, to me, personally better. It was more predictable to me, but again, I read a lot of these kinds of books, and I also think that was done intentionally.

Everyone who loves show You will enjoy this one.

First book hangover of 2025! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I loved the various POVs and loathed Nick. I was hitting my fiance because I was getting so angry. That's how you know its a good book and written by an amazing author.