Lisa Jewell has hit a homerun with her latest novel None of This Is True!! I was on the edge of my seat from page one. Jewell has a way of setting readers up to feel for the character's even though you know someone is shady. The back and forth tension between Josie and Alix was excellent. Just when you begin to feel sorry for one of them, a twist pulls you away.

Alix and Josie meet at a pub on the night of their 45th birthday. To Alix, it's just a coincident but Josie targeted her from the beginning. The way Josie infiltrate's herself into every aspect of Alix's life will give you goose bumps.

A creepy, twisty psychological story that will take your breath away! Highly recommend if you love a great thriller. This is my book club's September pick. Lot's of great discussion to be had around this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

YES YES YES. This is Lisa Jewell at her Finest. This is a fast paced what the Heck is going on Thriller and is just amazing.
You will be guessing all the way to the end about what is going to happen and just how crazy they really are.
I was in Awe of this book and is my new go to recommendation.

TW: Language, drinking, toxic family relationships, abusive relationships, grooming, rape, verbally abusive relationship, mention of Covid

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.
Release Date: July 20th, 2023
Genre: Psychological thriller
Pages: 384
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3.5)

What I Liked:
1. I absolutely loved the writing style
2. Was sucked into the book

What I Didn't Like:
1. Netflix sections
2. The last 50 pages just were wrecked for me

Overall Thoughts:
I think it's a weak start to how these two women end up working together. Like Alix isn't creeped out that Josie followed her and them ambushed her to talk. She doesn't even give it a second thought. I think its a lame idea for a podcast and I'm not even sure why Alix is putting all her trust into this less than exciting idea of seeing someone change their life because; what if that person doesn't follow through with it? You're out time & money.

Audio skips things that are written in book.

Walter isn't a pedo he's a ephebophile. Pedos are people that like kids before puberty.

Is the author obsessed with the word "drily?"

Definitely a very very slow burn... Seriously it takes a while to get to anything happening. I felt like I had to keep reading and reading.

Sunrise at 5am...

I absolutely hated the sections with Netflix/Docu series. I found it cringe reading about the background sets and all that. Sometimes things don't look as good as written word. Yeah, as an audiobook it'll sound good but as a book it took me out of that I was reading a book. I would be sucked into the story and interpreted 1-3 times per chapter while we would be bounced back to the Netflix thing. If you wanted this to be like a podcast/Netflix series just release it as an Audible only audiobook. It's terrible to sit here and read over and over all the weird 3rd wall stuff.

How did they not know Josie was at the cabins if they had accessed Erin's card? They said there were no more transactions on the card but she had used it there.

Ending was okay. Didn't feel like it was that special. Josie just being able to disappear.

I hate that Walter is described as this sweet kind man and Josie is this 13 year that was able to make Walter go against the strength to say no to her. Come on...hes still gross.

Final Thoughts:
So, when I started this book I was devouring it. Completely obsessed. I fell asleep reading it and when I woke up I read it in bed. Where things went wrong for me was a couple of things;

*You spend a lot of time waiting on something to happen and little of anything happens. When it does happen it feels very meh.

*So much time is devoted to the podcast that takes place in the book. I know the book is about a podcast but I feel like for this book the author choose to value the audiobook experience over the people reading this book. I would get going with the book and then we would have 5 different podcast updates from different pov's and by the end of the book that was pretty much all it was.

*Podcast ends up really being a Netflix doc series.

I honestly just think that the only thing that saved this book for people no like it is that the writing style was really good and people listening to the audiobook. I have this belief that a book is written first as a book and if it can't stand as a book alone then it's not really that good.

Recommend For:
• Complex friendship
• Unreliable narrator
• Podcast stories

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What a page turner! Who were we to believe? I wish the epilogue had just a little more information because it still felt a little bit unfinished. Lisa Jewell had me hooked, though, and now I want to see this as an actual documentary!

What a chilling book!

I love books with batshit crazy characters and this one has one with Josie Fair. She has a crazy and sad back story and convinces popular podcaster Alix Summers that she is turning her life around and to involve her in one of her podcasts. Alix agrees and starts making her podcast about Josie.

That is where this book gets crazy... Josie's story is very unsettling. Reading about her life is like watching a trainwreck in front of you. So horrible but you can't take your eyes off. And plus to add to a Lisa Jewell story, these characters are very well developed and you also get major obsession vibes with Josie towards Alix's personal life.

Quick chapters, well plotted story and characters. This book, while having many triggers to some, was a great read.

I really appreciate Atria Books for giving me a advance copy to read for free for a honest review.

It was an absolute page turner for about 95% percent of the book, but it fell a bit flat at the end in my opinion. Regardless, I would definitely recommend reading this if you like podcast/documentary style novels. I thought the redaction of the documentary as a book style was amaziing. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Mystery/Thriller📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This book will take you for a wild ride, its faced paced and creepy. If you’re a fan of thrillers you need to read this one.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Psychological thrillers
True crime podcasts
Unreliable narrates
Dark and twisty reads
Weird characters
Multiple POVs

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Podcast/show transcripts
It was addicting and hard to put down

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I was expecting more from the ending.

5 stars
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TW: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Murder, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse
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As a huge Lisa Jewell fan , you won't be let down by this one at all! The plot had me hooked from the moment I started reading, although Alix and Josie are birthday twins, the two women have never met. That is, until one night out the two connect by chance. The once again a few days later outside of Alix's children's school. Josie has been listening to Alix's podcast and feels that her life story, the truth, would make for a great next installment. Alix agrees to interview Josie, not knowing where it would lead. This true-crime podcast hit, eventually leads to a Netflix special. I loved the format of the book, it really helped with the flow of the book to have excerpts from the Netflix special, it really set the scene for what was to come.

As we dive into Josie's life story, we start to realize that things aren't as they seem - in fact, her life is quite sinister and odd. Alix can't help but want more of the story, but doesn't realize that being connected to Josie will cost a price (and put her life into danger). Being the reader, I was hooked on everything Josie had to say, it really brought in the whole "things aren't always what they seem" plot. Josie is a smart, manipulative character who find herself unhinged most of the time, it's hard not to feel bad for her at times, but then again you really don't know what part of her story you can fully trust.

None of This Is True is the perfect fast-paced thriller that will keep you on your toes, just when I thought I had it all figured out. Another element was added to the plot that would change up the entire thing. This is Jewell at her best, and does an amazing job at creating multi-dimensional characters. It's hard for me to give out five stars to thrillers now as they all seem so similar, but None of This Is True certainly deserved it!

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I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

LISA! LISAAAAA! MS. JEWELL?! You never miss.

This book was insane. In the best way possible. It's hard to explain the plot without giving too much away. Lisa has such a way of telling a story and writing characters who are so peculiar, it's hard to look away, or guess the ending!

What I liked:
- Netflix documentary podcast-esque scenes
- Odd and at times unreliable characters who make questionable decisions
- The suspense! I was constantly trying to figure out what was going on
- Truly unputdownable
- Ending up for interpretation

5 stars! One of my new favorites by Lisa Jewell!

Lisa Jewell's None of This is True is dark, so deliciously dark. During a chance encounter at simultaneous birthday dinners, 45 year old Josie Fair meets Alix Summers, a podcast star who happens to have been born at the same hospital on the same day as herself. Eager to break free of her frumpy image and difficult family life, Josie sees Alix as the perfect ticket out. As Josie increasingly takes root in Alix's life while revealing her own life story through podcast interviews, Alix comes to terms with the fact that none of this may be true and that her own life will be changed forever.

'None' is a stunner from the very first to the final page. Interspersed are interview transcripts from an in-story Netflix documentary eventually made about the events, and these are written extremely well. If this documentary were real as Jewell writes it, it would be a standout among the likes of Keep Sweet Pray and Obey, Wild Wild Country, and Evil Genuis. Each of the characters is highly dynamic, and the major plot points and disturbing details are all enthralling. 5/5 all the way, I wish I could give a higher score!

Note: I received a free ebook copy of None of This is True from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I’ll start this review by saying I’m a Lisa Jewell fan girl. Her books never disappoint, but None of This is True is a new favorite! I was wholly entertained and did not want to set this book down. More importantly, the ending left my head spinning, and I immediately wanted to discuss it with someone which is my favorite.

Popular podcast host Alix Summers crosses paths with her “birthday twin” Josie Fair, while they are both out celebrating their 45th birthdays. When they run into each other again, they decide to collaborate on a new podcast, and madness ensues.

I purposely kept the synopsis brief and vague because it’s more fun to go into this book knowing very little! There is a sense of unease that permeates this book and makes you hesitant to trust anyone. I hadn’t read a truly satisfying thriller in a long time, but this one delivered. A few minor issues kept me from giving it five stars, but it is 100% something you should read if you enjoy thrillers and is the perfect page turner to pick up this time of year! Definitely recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

None Of This Is True - Mini Review 🎙️⬇️

ARC - Pub Date August 8th

I can’t even begin 🤯🤯🤯. You all know I don’t normally like Suspense/Thrillers but @lisajewelluk knows how to write a great story 😊

This book is creepy and addictive and pulls you in from the second you start reading it. And then leaves questioning everything you just read. As the title states "None of this is true" 💀

Lisa Jewell is the MASTER of incredible, jaw dropping, talk to myself outloud while I am reading, amazing suspense writing! This book was something I could not put down and absolutely neglected the responsibilities of my life while reading! I could not get enough. There are twists and turns around every corner and my family thought I was nuts with the audible gasps that I would make when she would throw another loop into the mix! I cannot recommend this book enough as it is SURE to be a gigantic hit!

This was my first Lisa Jewell book , even though I have a few by her in my TBR!! And now can’t wait to read ! When I first got into reading thrillers , she was the one everyone told me to get ! So anytime I was out and saw a Lisa Jewell book I grabbed it!

I went in completely blind! I was hooked from page 1 and couldn’t wait for answers !! I didn’t trust anyone because of the title of the book , I didn’t know who to believe and I’m still not sure who I believe 😅

The format of this one is really different and fun too ! I loved the podcast recording element to it ! I’d actually love to listen to this one on audiobook too!! ( and I’m not an audiobook girl) but for this I think it would be perfect !! So I’m 100% going to do that!

If you’re looking for a thriller that makes you feel like you’re watching a real life documentary, this one is for you !!

I gave this one a 3.5 ⭐️( rounded to 4 on here ) because for me it wasn’t “mind blowing” by any means, which is what I love in a thriller. I need heart racing , eye popping , hold your breath twists and turns, which I didn’t get from this. But it was a fun read! And I still highly recommend it!

Review will be up on my IG soon! Thank you so much for the ARC !

@books_andmakeup

🏡𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞🏡

Loved it. Thriller lovers- you NEED this book. It blew me away. All the stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘In this edgy thriller from bestseller Jewell (The Family Remains), meek housewife Josie Fair and true crime podcaster Alix Summers meet by chance in a pub where both are celebrating their 45th birthdays. Immediately obsessed with her more successful counterpart, Josie engineers several “chance” meetings with Alix—including one outside her children’s school—in order to forge a friendship. Instead of feeling threatened, Alix decides to feature Josie on a podcast about the lives of ordinary women. Before long, though, Josie divulges that beneath her modest middle-class home life lie instances of pedophilia, child abuse, and even murder. But are any of Josie’s stories true? As Alix digs deeper, she begins to question her new friend’s motives for meeting her in the first place, and through a series of reversals, comes to fear she’s been set up in a twisted game of cat and mouse.’

VERY few thrillers surprise me at the end and this one did not disappoint. THE RISING TENSION!! Ugh chefs kiss. It was so good!!

I do just FLY through Lisa Jewell's prose and this was no exception - I truly never got ahead of it.

I loved the warped relationship between our two main characters, and found myself oddly rooting for the "bad one". And I was STILL shocked by the end.

Though more tightly contained than her other books, the deeper dive into the individual characters supported this structure. The rare psychological thriller that doesn't make you feel cheap at the end.

This book was fantastic!! Twisty and dark, this thriller by Lisa Jewell held my attention all the way through till the end!!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is exactly the type of thriller I like to read - one that keeps me on my toes and keeps me guessing at each turn of events. Josie makes her way into Alix's enviable life and ushers her into starting a podcast on Josie's life. The story Josie tells eventually unfolds into a true crime podcast Alix didn't see coming. A lot of did she or didn't she, this girl is crazy, sprinkled with twist and turns up until the end. Definitely recommend for my thriller-reading friends!

In None of This is True by Lisa Jewell, we meet two women, Josie and Alix. Josie is out for dinner with her husband to celebrate her 45th birthday, when she sees Alix across the room, also celebrating her 45th birthday. Here starts Josie's intense obsession with Alix, where she discovers she's a famous podcaster. After putting herself in several coincidental run-ins with Alix, she convinces the woman to interview her for her new podcast. She tells her she has an extraordinary story and is ready to tell it. What Alix discovers about her new friend, however, is way more than she ever bargained for, for it seems Josie is not the person she is portraying herself to be. I really enjoyed this premise, with the Netflix and Podcast episode scattered throughout the chapters. The pacing of the information revealed I thought was very clever and grasped the reader's attention. Lots of plot twists in the end, some I saw coming and others I didn't. By the ending, I felt like there was something missing from the overall story, but I can't put my finger on what exactly. It seemed unfinished. There were a few questions I didn't feel were fully answered (like what was up with the baby food bit, and what about the other trinkets in Josie's drawers that weren't Alix or Brooke's), but nonetheless I give this 3.5 stars (round to 4). It would be awesome if Netflix actually picked this novel up, because I think it would play out on the screen really well.

This was an exceptional novel. I chose to listen to it on audio and by far it is the best audio performances uni have ever heard. I’m familiar with the author’s name but assumed she was writing another one of those Gone Girl books. But from the first few lines I was completely enraptured with the story. My all-time favourite writer is Ruth Rendell and this book comes the closest to her type of writing and wonderful odd,creepy characterizations. I will recommend this book to everyone I know. Just a riveting read. I can’t wait to read other books by this author. Fantastic experience!