Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ebook ARC of this book. I love a book that begins with a lot of characters and different points of view. A book that begins with many different, seemingly, unconnected stories. A book with different timelines. A book that keeps the reader on their toes as they try to figure out who’s who and how they each fit into each other’s worlds. And what even are the stories? What is going on!? I Love the way this book begins. Don’t worry. It’s not too confusing. Just enough to keep you reading in order to connect all those dots. And all things do come together pretty quickly. And then this fun, tense, thrilling ride begins.
I do not want to say much about the storyline of this book, and I advise you not read any synopsis of it because I feel they give too much away. It’s best to go into this one blind. Suffice it to say about a year before the main story begins a man is murdered by being pushed on to the tracks of the subway as a train approaches. Leaving his wife and young adult daughter devastated. We also meet Martha, who is living a happy life with her husband and baby daughter. Soon, Nina receives a message from an old friend of her husbands, who has just heard of his death. Enjoy this ride! I did very much.

I don’t often give ARCs bad reviews as I am super picky about the ones I request and accept as I don’t want to be that person that has to rate an author’s work badly before it is even out, but this book was confusing to keep up with and bored me.

Another reviewer told me it ended up getting better for them, but I just couldn’t get into it. I ended up just stopping it. I think one of the biggest mistakes an author can make is not properly drawing in their readers from the beginning.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

ooo heck yes one of my favorite Lisa Jewell’s and I pretty much like all her books. Creepy and scarily realistic in how it could happen irl. We’ve got a conman to the extreme level and it’s a wild ride yall.

Thanks to netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

*Don't Let Him In* by Lisa Jewell is a thrilling, fast-paced psychological suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seat. The story is full of twists and dark secrets, with well-developed characters and a gripping atmosphere that makes it hard to put down. Jewell excels at creating tension and building mystery, though some plot points feel a bit predictable. Still, the suspense is high, and the pacing never lags. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, this one delivers a tense, satisfying ride.

📚 ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Don't Let Him In By Lisa Jewell
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Lisa Jewell is always a good idea -- and with Don't Let Them In, she returns with nail-biting suspense in a wildly fun domestic thriller. This book gives off massive Dear John vibes and kept me enamored with its characters from start to finish.

This was one of those reads where I figured out what was happening pretty quickly, but I had no idea just how wild this story would become! I raced through the pages and stayed up WAY past my bedtime to finish this one, because I just had to know how it all was going to end. This is a read-in-one-sitting kind-of book, so settle into your favorite cozy reading corner and get comfortable.

This story features multiple POVs and it takes a little bit to get into the groove of all the characters. But as I caught on to details within each story and started to piece things together, I found the flow of the book to be a fast page-turner. What was particularly fascinating about this read was, despite the fact I knew what was going on, I was still on the edge of my seat as I read. There's something so compelling about knowing how diabolical someone is, and just watching and waiting for their house of cards to fall down!

I loved the way this book's layers peeled away gradually and exposed the dark manipulation of the male character. I also really enjoyed the character of Ash, whose intuition and quiet resilience was a highlight of the book for me.

If you're a fan of domestic thrillers or popcorn thrillers that are fast reads, and which will entirely captivate you, you're definitely going to want to add Don't Let Him In to your TBR list. This is a character-forward read that is so much fun ... And reminds me again about why I love Lisa Jewell's books so very much.

#DontLetHimIn #LisaJewell #AtriaBooks #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

I wanted to love this one, I really did. The beginning is very frustrating as a dozen of characters are named in indefinite POVs/ timelines. Once the story becomes more clear, the mystery fades and it’s a lot of hateful domestic abuse. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I've only read one other Lisa Jewell book, "None Of This is True", and loved it! Received an ARC of "Don't Let Him In" and was pleasantly surprised by how different it was while also scratching the same itch. Going into this book, I would say it is better to discover how everything is connected rather than waiting for any big twists. Which in a world of thriller authors trying to out do the other, was a warm welcome.

Also, if you're looking to be angry at a man, this is the book for you!

Thank you for this ARC @atriabooks and @netgalley ❤️

I have to start by saying I’m a HUGE Lisa Jewell fan. I’ve read so many of her books, and unfortunately, this one lands as my least favorite 😬

I can talk and talk about my frustrations here, but in order to prevent spoilers I’ll keep it simple:

* Not sure this one should be called a thriller... there was really nothing thrilling about it. A super slow and repetitive story that I struggled to finish.
* I kept waiting for something to make me gasp or turn the pages faster, no luck.
* There were so many characters introduced at once I couldn’t see straight.
* I like unlikeable characters, but almost everyone here had me beyond frustrated.
* It feels like Jewell rushed this one. I didn’t get any of her usual cleverness and suspense.

Perhaps my expectations were set too high, but after reading so many of her books I think those expectations were appropriate. Such a bummer, but we can’t win them all.

Be ready to follow multiple timelines with multiple characters!

Current timeline: Nina’s husband was killed in a tragic, seemingly random attack. He leaves behind his wife to manage his restaurants, his daughter, Ash, who is numb in her grief and just skirting by. And also his son who is moving on from the loss of his father. But Nina is moving on with Nick, a former associate of her husband. But Ash is suspicious of Nick, who is he really?

Previous timeline: Martha and Al are swooning for one another. Martha divorced when two kids and running her business on her own. She’s smitten with Al who keeps coming over for the weekend, but is so unpredictable with his restaurant trainings.

Current timeline: Martha and Al are now married and have a newborn baby at home with Martha’s two older children. She runs her flower business, while her husband still works the restaurant business and dodges his family life for days at a time. Starting to see unhappiness creep in from Martha with her husband gone so often.

Previous timeline: Jonathan and Tara are unhappy. Tara is about to be a grandmother and her husband keeps just disappearing days on end.

Previous timeline: Insert new couple. Amanda. And her husband, Damian, just arrived back from the dead.

There’s more women now.

Bottom line: don’t date men. That’s what I’ve learned and been scarred with. lol

Thanks @NetGalley and @Simon&Schuster for the advanced digital copy

I have enjoyed Lisa Jewell’s books in the past so I was excited to read this one. Just like all of Jewell’s past books that I have read, this one was so good! It kept me wondering what the ending would be the whole time. I liked the characters in the book and I couldn’t put the book down!

Solid 3.5 for me.

Several women, not just the 3 mentioned in the description, are connected by 1 sly, handsome man and while this tale is a great one, it dragged a little for me in the middle. I kept wanting to see justice brought to him. I was sick of him, whatever his name was. I wanted to see him perish.
The daughter, one of our narrators, she is wonderful. Driven, and I love how she wants to save her mom. She is such an armchair detective, and I love her for everything she does.

I would suggest this book to friends because the ending is so wonderful. Lisa Jewell always does a great job wrapping things up and leaving the reader satisfied. At least, this is how I always feel when I am done with her novels.

This would be a 5 star for me, but I just felt like middle was a bit of a drag. Recommend it though!

Unfortunately this was one of my least favorite. There were a lot of slow parts to this book. I am usually such a fan, but this left me bored.

Lisa Jewell does it again. The queen of thrillers is back. This book did not disappoint, you need to pick it up!

"Lisa Jewell's 'Don't Let Him In' begins with a compelling premise, expertly weaving together three distinct points of view that gradually converge, revealing a chilling and complete picture. The way these perspectives overlapped and illuminated hidden facets of the story was particularly effective.
Jewell's talent for crafting deeply unsettling characters is on full display. From the very first page of the man's narrative, I felt a visceral sense of unease, a feeling that persisted long after finishing the book. Her ability to evoke such a strong emotional response is truly remarkable.
For the most part, I was thoroughly engaged, captivated by the intricate character development and Jewell's masterful storytelling. However, the middle section of the book suffered from a noticeable slowdown. The pacing faltered, and certain scenes felt unnecessarily drawn out, creating a sense of stagnation.
While I enjoyed a significant portion of 'Don't Let Him In,' I would recommend it primarily to existing Lisa Jewell fans. For those new to her work, I suggest starting with 'The Family Upstairs' or 'Then She Was Gone,' which I found to be more consistently engaging and impactful. 'Don't Let Him In' is a good book, but it does not represent her absolute best work."

I had to sit with this one for a week or two to get my thoughts straight before reviewing it, and I'm still not completely sure how I felt about it!

Jewell's latest book is about an untrustworthy man and the women he ensnares, damaging them in financial and emotional ways when he leaves. The latest target is Ash's recently widowed mother, and Ash is positive that something isn't quite right about her mother's new beau.

First off, I wouldn't categorize this book as a thriller. A thriller to me implies twists and surprises and something that gives me chills, and none of that happens in this book. I'd call it a domestic drama rather than a thriller, which would set expectations for it more realistically!

This book made me so, so mad. I was just plain infuriated with one character and the insane amount of gaslighting and love bombing that occurs over and over again, and possibly just as shocked by the victims falling for it.

The good: I was definitely captivated by this book the way you are captivated watching some crazy drama unfold when you aren't part of it. It had moments where I wanted to shake some sense into the characters, and parts where I was just gobsmacked by what they were fooled by. I also really enjoyed the ending chapters as all the bits and pieces pulled together.

The not so good: I felt like the middle got bogged down by repetitive moments and repetitive phrases, particularly in one POV. The book also switches between first person and third person POV, a somewhat odd choice.

Overall, this was an engrossing book by Jewell but won't be my new favorite by her! Thank you to Atria for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ms Jewell I’m so disappointed. An auto-buy author severely dropped the ball on this one. Very drawn out, predictable and lacking in any thrills.

Don’t Let Him In had me hooked from the first page! The suspense builds so gradually and skillfully that you can’t help but feel the tension between the characters. Nick Radcliffe seemed perfect, but as Ash digs deeper, you realize there’s something much darker lurking beneath the surface. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. The way the stories of each character intertwine is nothing short of brilliant. I couldn’t put it down. I really liked the twist with Ash at the end. Highly recommend this for anyone who loves psychological thrillers. Lisa Jewell has another hit on her hands with Don't Let Him In.

Lisa Jewell does it again! She never lets me down! This was such a good, entertaining read that had my attention from the first few pages.

There is a pretty large cast of characters, but once you figure out who's who it all works well. Each character is really well developed and the way they are all connected throughout the story was really great. Lisa Jewell always writes such sinister stories! While it had a few predictable moments, some of the twists really got me and had me on the edge of my seat.

If you like domestic thrillers, this one should be on your list. Featuring multiple POV's and a past/present timeline, this one is a wild ride!

As a quick synopsis, we are introduced to Nina and her daughter Ash grieving the death of their husband/father, Paddy. Fast forward a year and Nina is attempting to move on with Nick, someone that had known Paddy in his younger years. As they always say if something is too good to be true, maybe it is and in this case that too good to be true would be Nick. Ash is convinced he is not who he says he is and makes it her mission to investigate this man further.

As for what I liked. The chapters were short and it was a quick read. Everything flowed seamlessly, and I was able to keep track of who is who, as there were multiple timelines and different characters. As for what I didn’t like. Not much happened. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat chomping away at my nails. I found with the amount of characters and the different avenues that were explored with each character it became repetitious. There really wasn't any mystery surrounding Nick. We knew very early on what was going on. It was just a matter of how everything was going to be closed out.

While I have a lot of things, I didn’t like that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good book. I just went in with different expectations and without getting into any spoiler territory, this is reminiscent of something I’ve seen recently. There are a ton of glowing reviews already out there, and I am certainly one that is of an outlying opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This book had me absolutely sucked in from the start! Jewell has a way of weaving a mystery so compelling it's hard to step away. The pacing was well executed, and filled with edge of seat moments. This is considered a domesticated thriller and might be my favorite by Jewell to date. I would recommend!