The book begins with Ash, whose father has recently passed away. When Nick, a man from her father’s past, makes contact with and begins dating Ash’s mom Nina soon after the funeral, Ash is instantly suspicious. Is Nick who he says he is? Does he have Nina’s best interest in mind? Will her mother side with her or the new man in her life?

As usual, Lisa Jewell is great at choosing an interesting premise and pulling the reader in immediately. I loved getting the different perspectives from a few different characters and enjoyed how Jewell used the flashbacks to slowly clue the reader in on things. I can’t say too much more without spoiling things, but it you are a fan of Jewell’s other thrillers I think you’ll really enjoy this one as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Lisa Jewell does it again with Don't Let Him In, delivering a taut, character-driven thriller that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The novel is a dark exploration of grief, secrets, and deception, with a layered narrative that masterfully weaves together the lives of three very different women, all connected by one man—Nick Ratcliffe.

When restauranteur Paddy Swann is tragically killed, his wife Nina and daughter Ash are left grappling with their loss. But when an old friend of Paddy’s, Nick, unexpectedly reaches out with a package that includes a lighter once belonging to Paddy, the two women are pulled into a web of mystery and unsettling emotions. What follows is a gripping exploration of how secrets from the past have a way of resurfacing at the most inconvenient times, and how one man’s influence can forever change the course of several lives.

Martha, a florist with dreams of growing her business, adds another layer of intrigue to the story. As her relationship with her second husband Al begins to unravel, the presence of Nick—and his true nature—starts to become more and more questionable. Jewell expertly navigates these intricate relationships, building suspense and tension with every chapter.

The pacing of the story is spot-on, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing without feeling overly convoluted. The characters are well-drawn, and while none of them are entirely likable, they are all deeply relatable in their flaws and struggles. I particularly appreciated how the author developed Nina and Ash’s relationship, showing how grief and unresolved emotions can fracture family bonds in unexpected ways.

While the novel’s conclusion was satisfying and left me thinking about the story long after I had finished it, the pace did slow down a bit towards the middle. However, this minor lull didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Don't Let Him In is a fantastic psychological thriller that masterfully examines human relationships, trust, and the repercussions of our past actions. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a slow burn that builds to a powerful, unsettling conclusion. It’s a must-read for fans of Lisa Jewell and psychological suspense in general.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Lisa Jewell is hands down one of my favorite writers, and an auto read author for sure! That being said, “Don’t let him in” was… not my favorite read of hers. Al/Nick/Damian/Simon/whatever was an infuriating MC whose internal monologue had me rolling my eyes the whole book. Like we get it guy, you’re obsessed with yourself and these woman could never be on your level. Obviously the point was to hate him but it seemed repetitive at times. Immediately what came to my mind when reading this was The Tinder Swindler. The Netflix documentary about a guy who creates multiple identities to defraud multiple women and they all fall for it, almost without question. I tried hard not to victim blame but come on ladies. Your man doesn’t have his phone on for days at a time and you’re just okay with that? Too many tolerant women in this book. Not enough karma.

The first half was 4 stars and then it dropped to 3.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

At the beginning of the story, I didn't pay enough attention to the characters and their names. I had to do a bit of flipping back and forth once I realized what was happening. This is a story that every woman should read! It's hard to believe that someone could actually fall for that scheme, but beginning "love" is very powerful no matter what age you are. The amount of thought and control the main character had and his knowledge about what women want and need made the story very believable.

I LOVED this book! Lisa Jewell always hits for me so I guess I shouldn’t expect any less. Her books are so unique! This book drew me in, chapter after chapter. At some points I could not make myself stop reading, I was so captivated by it. I don’t know how she thinks of these crazy people she writes. If you love her other books, you are guaranteed to love this one!

Phew! This book had me absolutely infuriated, and I’m not sure if that’s a testament to the author’s talent or just the sheer number of red flags that made me want to throw it across the room and scream at these women to wake up.

Let’s backtrack. This story follows a narcissistic con artist who thrives on deception and manipulation. He preys on financially stable women with uncomplicated lives, effortlessly slipping into their worlds and making them believe they’ve hit the jackpot with him. At first, he treats them like goddesses, dazzling them with his charm and spinning elaborate stories of his financial success. With his good looks and perfect act, they fall for him—no questions asked, even when he spins intricate lies to have them give him sums of money. Then, just as quickly as he appears, he vanishes, leaving them drowning in debt while he moves on to his next victim. And there were many. So many, in fact, that between the shifting timelines of the book and his countless aliases, I had to take notes just to keep track.

Without giving too much of the story away, one person finally catches on—Ash, the daughter of his latest target, and another character whose POV we get. She senses something is off, and when she starts digging, the truth is even worse than she imagined.

It was a ride, to say the least. However, while the book is gripping and unsettling, it drags in places and lacks a big plot twist. After such a long, intricate buildup, the ending feels rushed and underwhelming. Still, it’s a fascinating (and maddening) look at just how far a master manipulator can go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a book! I loved the pace and the twists that came with it… I could NOT put it down once I started reading it! Definitely will read more from this author and I cannot wait!

This is more of a domestic thriller but it was very good! I couldn’t put it down. The way everything was crafted and came together was flawless. This story starts out with several different characters but slowly you start to see it all unfold. There are a few twists and the second half the book goes very quickly. Really good read.

This work delves into the terrifying realm of a sociopathic serial fraudster, weaving together many POVs and different timelines without ever becoming complicated. Jewell expertly demonstrates how readily even the most intelligent people may fall for a well-crafted deceit. The pacing is good, with plenty of surprises, and the characters—whether victims or the scammer—feel extremely human.

What distinguishes this work is how smoothly the plot progresses. Jewell does an excellent job balancing the many perspectives and periods. The psychological complexity of the fraudster, along with the victims' developing sense of fear, makes for an extremely compelling read.

Lisa Jewell does it again with Don't Let Him In, a gripping thriller that keeps you intrigued from start to finish. This novel dives into the chilling world of a psychopathic serial scammer, weaving together multiple POVs and dual timelines without ever feeling confusing. Jewell masterfully shows how terrifyingly easily even the smartest people can fall for a well-crafted deception. The pacing is good with lots of twists, and the characters—whether victims or the scammer himself—feel very realistic.

What makes this book stand out is how seamlessly the plot flows. Jewell does a great job balancing the different perspectives and timelines. The psychological depth of the scammer, along with the victims' growing sense of dread, makes this a truly engaging read. If you’re a fan of Jewell’s work or psychological thrillers in general, this one is a must-read. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.

What a twisted tale! I went in blind because I’ll read anything that LJ writes. So I wasn’t sure what to expect. This is a slow burn story but the story is continuously moving forward. The beginning is a lot to keep up with the multiple characters. It was hard in the beginning to keep everyone straight but it levels out. I had a lot of questions on where this story was going .. and why. I think the middle kind of drags slightly because i wanted to know what was going on. It really does all come together in the end tho. At some point in the second half, it gets WILD! Things really pick up and it’s sinister!! This guy wasn’t at all as I imagined.. but worse. A twist or two I may have guessed but the full scope was surprising. It really was just a twisted tale. I really enjoyed how everything ended. 4.5 stars for me.

Lisa Jewell has once again delivered a gripping, can't-put-it-down novel. The story kicks off with an explosive start, as Ash is still reeling from the sudden and tragic death of her father, Paddy, who was pushed off a train platform. Struggling with grief, Ash's emotions are further complicated when her mother begins dating Nick, a man who claims to have known Paddy from their "old days" working together. When Paddy passes away, Nick sends a letter and some of Paddy's belongings to Ash’s mother, Nina, which raises more questions than answers.

The story also introduces Martha, a devoted mother, wife, and flower shop owner, who is desperately yearning for her husband, Al, to find a more stable job. Al's constant absences are taking a toll on their family, and Martha longs for him to be there for their beautiful baby.

As the narrative unfolds, these characters’ lives collide in unexpected and thrilling ways, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. This novel is full of twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what comes next.

Overall, Don't Let Him In is a masterful blend of suspense, emotion, and intrigue. Lisa Jewell has crafted a perfect "chef's kiss" of a story—pun intended. From the very first page, you'll be hooked and left eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC!

A fun, quick read with great characters and an interesting mix of points of view, which I always appreciate in a book! The ending ties everything together nicely, which is satisfying. However, there's not much in terms of mystery or twists, so it’s a bit predictable. Overall, it’s an easy, enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advance readers' copy!

This was a “read it in one day” kind of book for me. I really enjoyed the twisty time line, and how well Lisa Jewell told the story. I don’t typically enjoy books with too many characters but for this one, it just worked! The more victims he left behind, the more diabolical he actually was!

This book grabbed me right away and I really enjoyed the different perspectives and experiences.

I think the only thing missing for me was an explanation as to why he was the way he was - what makes someone do the things he did?

Thanks NetGalley and Atria books for the arc.

Oh, this was excellent -- classic Lisa Jewell!

Ash is reeling after the sudden death of her father, Paddy, who was pushed off a train platform. She's not thrilled when her mom, Nina, starts dating again: the charming, Nick, who knew Paddy when they worked at the same restaurant together and comes into Nina's life after sending her a note and a few of Paddy's things.

Meanwhile, Martha is a tired mom of three and a busy owner of a local flower shop. She loves second husband, Al, desperately, but wishes his job kept him home more, or that there was extra money to go around. She'd love to expand her shop, or go on one of the holidays Al is always promising her.

Soon, though, the lives of these two families will collide in unexpected ways, as Jewell weaves an amazing, tangled web! The beauty of this story is that, in some ways, it's quite simple: there's a terrible man doing horrible things to some good people. Rarely have I hated a villain so much, or found myself screaming at the characters to figure things out, to stop, to realize something!

Go into this thriller blind and lose yourself in the tale of a demented individual and so many secrets and lies. I read the second half of this book straight through--I was totally hooked! A really enjoyable, twisty read and total page-turner! 4.5 stars.

After reading her last book, None of This is True, I was excited to get my hands on her new book. Having been a Lisa Jewell fan since her debut, Ralph's Party, my experience with her books is very up and down. One can be an absolute firecracker while the next can fall flat for me. Unfortunately, Don't Let Him In fell very flat for me to the point that I put it down after reading about 20% of it. None of the characters were enjoyable, the whole conceit was pretty obvious from the get go, and it was generally a tough read because there was no one to really be a cheerleader for except perhaps for Ash who is the only one initially who is connecting the dots.

I'll always give Jewell's stories a shot, but am fully aware that not all of them will land.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️’s for this latest Lisa Jewell novel.

Following the inexplicable murder of her father, Ash is upset when her mom begins dating a new man, Nick Ratcliffe. Something about Nick doesn’t seem quite right, so Ash goes digging and ends up finding more questions than answers. Ash’s mom does not take her concerns seriously, which leads Ash to enlist the help of her father’s ex-girlfriend and together they uncover the truth about Nick and his double life.

This book sucked me in from the very beginning and was just what I needed to get over my book rut. I really enjoyed the short chapters and multiple viewpoints (although, there were times when I was a little confused about whose point of view I was reading as the chapters are not labeled). My biggest takeaway of this book is always trust your gut and if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.🚩🚩🚩

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. (less)

Infuriating and exhausting as fahk.

Nick Radcliffe meets Nina Swann, a widow who tragically and unexpectedly lost her husband. Nick is exactly what Nina needs to help her heal and move on. Nina’s daughter, Ash, is suspicious of Nick from the start. He’s too perfect, too good to be true. And Ash has lots of time on her hands to dig around.

Martha is a successful business owner running her flower shop and married to the love of her life, Alistair. But, as Alistair’s job takes him away from home more and more, Martha starts to feel that something isn’t right.

They don’t realize it yet, but they’re all headed down the same twisted, mind-blowing path.

Listen lol. I’ve read one book by Lisa Jewel prior to this one years ago, and I don’t even remember it, so this is like my first one. I didn’t DNF we have that going for us, but damn did I want to several times.

I truly don’t understand this being considered a thriller? It wasn’t thrilling nor twisty. It was 384 pages of a sociopathic liar getting over on dumb ass women. If you have even been in a questionable toxic relationship in your day, you’ve read this story before lol.

This story had more characters than all 8 seasons of A Game of Thrones. I kid you not! It didn’t feel necessary and it felt sloppily done. It’s like all the characters are there to confuse you, and they did at first and I had to use way too much brain power than I care to with a thriller, so I found that I was often waiting for something to happen. A “come on already” feeling that I just wanted this guy would shut the fuck up and carry on.

Gaslighting, word salad and utter bullshit fill these pages and I loathed the main character. I’m sure I’m supposed to, however it made for an unpleasant and chore of a read.

I’m not sure if the dialogue was character specific or if it’s Jewel’s style, but the repetitive nature sent me straight up a wall.

I didn’t laugh, I didn’t gasp, I wasn’t shocked. My hope was that Jewel would pull off some kind of epic ending to make the first 380 pages more tolerable, but no. The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic.

If you typically enjoy Lisa Jewel novels, I’d give it a try, maybe she’s just not an author for me.


Expected Release Date - 06/24/25


Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the complementary advanced digital copy. All thoughts are my own. 💐

Wow I finished this in one sitting. I was hesitant but ended up on the edge of my seat the entire time. I think one of the highlights for me is that each chapter was 3-5 minutes long which kept it fast paced!

*Alexa, play The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived by Taylor Swift*

Oh Lisa Jewell, you sly fox! You always know how to weave such an intricate web of deception, red herrings and mystery that keeps me furiously flipping the pages to see what happens next. Don’t Let Him In was SO STRESSFUL that I had to keep reminding myself to unclench my jaw and drop my shoulders. 100% worth it though. The non linear timeline was done so well here and gave such a classic Lisa Jewell ominous vibe to the book. It wasn’t necessarily a jaw dropper, but it was certainly full of fun twists. I will say this, if you’re in the dating pool, it will certainly make you even more cautious of men, which is maybe not a bad thing. The ending was fantastic too. Abrupt, but honestly that just added to the insane ride that I just went on. Definitely recommend for fans of Lisa Jewell and anyone looking for a suspenseful story!

CW: death, violence, stalking

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital reader’s copy!