Every time I read a Lisa Jewel book I feel like I’ve been hypnotized and spellbound by an author who is a master at her craft. I always think I don’t like slow burn suspense until I read one her books and then think, ok wait I actually do like it if it’s done as well as she does it. Not an easy feat but she’s so damn brilliant at writing books about everyday type of characters the end up in odd situations. There was a quiet sense of being unsettled the entire time I was reading this, waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did drop things got really, really good. You hear from both Josie and Alix and there are also occasional excerpts from a Netflix documentary that left me totally dying to know where this twisted tale was headed. If you like dark thriller with well executed twists, fascinating characters and plenty of suspense and dread this was so good.

This was my fourth book by Lisa Jewell, and it just may very well be the best yet! I was hooked right from the beginning, and I loved the unique concept of Josie meeting and forcing herself to have a connection with her “birthday twin.” I questioned the truth the entire time and ended the book with my head spinning. If you are looking for a gripping thriller with a main character that is completely psycho, I highly recommend this one!

This was so hard to put down! A psychological thriller for any true crime fanatic, and made all the more disturbing because there are stories just like this one that have played out in real life.

I particularly enjoyed how the book was formatted. We have Josie and Alix's points of view (and both read very differently), transcripts from the interviews with Josie for Alix's podcast, and we also get to read snippets from the true crime documentary as if it were a script. The documentary is made up of interviews from people who knew or interacted with Josie in some way, so it was a lot of fun putting the pieces of the story together.

My only critique would be the ending. You are made to question the validity of what you've put together up until the end, so some readers might feel a bit cheated, but overall this was an engrossing thriller. This was my first Lisa Jewell and I will definitely be giving her other books a try!

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
LISA JEWELL ABSOLUTELY DELIVERED! I am blown away 🤯 WHEW! I loved every second of this book and how it made me question everything. This is totally a bingeable read that I consumed in two days as I couldn’t put it down! I had to keep reading as I needed to know what happened next. This book was dark at times, twisted, creepy, and had me second guessing everything I thought I knew. I loved the unreliable characters, the secrets, and the twists. Jewell is such a phenomenal and talented writer, and she definitely shows it with this unique, fun, and addictive thriller! Jewell has been an auto-buy author for me for a long time, but she totally blew me away with this one, and it may just be my new favorite book of hers! THIS WAS SO UTTERLY SATISFYING! I loved the fact that it left me with such an unsettling and creepy feeling, and I mean that in the best possible way! This is definitely a top contender for one of my favorites of 2023 so far!

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞?
EVERYONE needs to read this one and I think all thriller fans, non thriller fans, Jewell fans, and anyone will enjoy this twisted, dark, creepy, fun and mysterious book!

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

Thank you to Atria Books for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Lisa Jewell can do no wrong. She really has yet to disappoint me. I put off reading this one because I knew I’d be drawn into not just the story but the characters themselves. This was a highly enjoyable read and if you like unreliable characters then you have a winner. The ending wasn’t entirely surprising to me which is a tiny bit of a disappointment. Overall an engaging read that is sure to please readers and fans.

Lisa Jewell is the absolute queen of psychological thrillers!!! She does not disappoint!! This book had such a unique concept and although I was a bit skeptical at first, I was sucked into this plot and so invested by the very end. I loved the characters, especially the dynamic between Alix and Josie. They had me on the edge of my seat and I was flying through the pages.

This book is full of twists and turns and is such a rollercoaster, but in a good way! I never knew what to expect, but that's what makes Lisa Jewell's writing so special. The plot never lost its spark and kept my attention all the way until the very end.

I highly recommend this one for all of the mystery and psychological thriller lovers out there!! This is definitely one of Lisa Jewell's better books. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

This juicy story was the perfect vacation read. I loved it! I was fascinated by the main characters and their bizarre relationship, and I couldn't wait to find out their secrets. In fact, I couldn't put it down and flew through it. Expertly written, suspenseful, with fascinating characters that you can't decide whether to love or hate. No spoilers so I don't want to say more, but trust me--it's worth it.

Lisa Jewell is an auto-buy author, and None Of This Is True is no exception to this rule. In fact, if I were to rank her books it would be somewhere near the top.

This is the perfect book to lose yourself in when you need a break from real life this summer. I also think it would make a perfect book club book--there is certainly a lot to discuss!

Lisa Jewell has really outdone herself and given a new meaning to a psychological thriller with her new novel! This book is so well written that the reader will have no idea what is true and what's not, even until the end...where you're still wondering who's telling the truth! You will not be able to put this book down! Thanks for the advanced copy!!!

When Alix and Josie meet on each of their 45th birthdays it seems like fate. Josie has a life she wants to change and Alix, a podcaster, thinks her story could be worth broadcasting. But when Josie’s story becomes more unbelievable Alix is unsure who she is and if her family is safe by allowing this woman into their lives.

I LOVED this one. I don’t give 5 stars easily. And I don’t read books in one day (because hello children). But I devoured this one and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish because I could not put it down. It is twisty and told in such a captivating way. Although I read the book this is set up in a way that I think an audiobook could be fantastic as well. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC!

“None of this is True” by Lisa Jewell is a meta fiction multiple murder mystery within a meta fiction ‘Made for Netflix Show’ that just doesn’t work for me because as the title says it all — none of this is true. Unreliable narrators are one thing, but multiple unreliable narrators and unreliable narratives are just too weird for my taste—especially when the reader is left more confused at the end of the book than at the beginning.

TheBookMaven graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Lisa Jewel, and Publisher Altria Books for this Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) for review.

This was one of my favorite books from this author. It was an interesting concept to have the story be told through a podcast lens and I like the way it slowly revealed information based on who was being interviewed. I admit I didn't love the interview format at first (just like I didn't like it in Daisy Jones). but it grows on you and then it gets into a rhythm. The pacing was great and I kept wanting to go back to this book to find out what WAS true amongst all the lies. Definitely recommend for a fast-paced read!

Thank you @netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Whew- this one was a wild ride yall! I hadn’t found a thriller in awhile that I couldn’t put down and kept me guessing, and this one was definitely that! I went into this one blind and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
This has all of the twists, unreliable characters, and questionable actions that make for a great suspense read. It’s also very dark, so check trigger warnings if needed. I’ve previously read novels by @lisajewelluk , and have always loved her writing! I highly recommend grabbing this one when it releases on August 8.

Josie Fair is celebrating her 45th birthday. She and her much older husband Walter have dinner at a chic London pub, not their typical fare. Nearby is a large boisterous group of people also celebrating a woman’s birthday. The birthday woman is beautiful and sophisticated and Josie cannot stop staring. They coincidentally wind up in the loo at the same time and Josie introduces herself. Immediately announcing that they are birthday twins and it turns out - born at the very same hospital. Josie begins a little innocent online stalking of this perfect woman named Alix Summer who has a very successful podcast with a large following. She gets the idea in her head that Alix should do a podcast about her life. Josie thinks it is time to be truthful with the world and her birthday has prompted her to reveal the dark secrets that have been lurking since the day she met her much older husband. Josie quickly reappears and smoothly persuades Alix to the podcast idea. She immerses herself fully into Alix’s daily life and her psyche. Alix admits things are not as perfect in the Summer home as they appear. As the women work on “Hi! I’m Your Birthday Twin!” podcast their power struggle for who is in charge of the narrative becomes apparent. Alix gets pulled deeper and deeper into this horrifyingly dysfunctional family and no longer knows who is telling the truth. Unable to let go, Alix tries her best to complete the podcast as the race to the finish line becomes deadly. This page turner is full of unexpected plot twists and turns at every chapter. It moves really fast and is an addictive summer thriller!

my second thriller and WOW did it blow me away!

alix and josie’s relationship dynamic KILLED me and guys i don’t even want to say anything all you need to know is that you should pick this book up immediately and find out for yourself just how thrilling it truly is

You know how they call drivers who stare at car accident rubber-neckers.

This is that in a book.

You know things are absolutely insane, a dumpster fire, and a cluster BUT you can't stop reading. You need to know who puts out the fire.

It is bananas. The shit that happens is so unbelievable it is amazing.

Loved this.

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE
Lisa Jewell

I read this book with the UNDER THE RADAR BOOK CLUB this month. If you’re not a member of the club, you are missing out. We read all the best upcoming new releases in fiction and nonfiction.

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE is really good. It may be the best of Jewell’s career which is saying a lot. It’s my favorite of hers and it deserves all the attention it’s going to get this summer and the rest of the year.

Let’s talk about it.

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE is about Alix Summers. Alix is a popular podcaster that features women who have been through transformative moments in their life only to overcome all obstacles and become their best selves. On Ali’s 45th birthday she “bumps” into Josie Fair in the restroom who is surprisingly also celebrating her 45th birthday.

They are birthday twins.

A couple of days later Josie shows up at Alix’s children’s school and proposes that Alix feature Josie on her famous podcast as her life is about to change in miraculous ways.

This is such an interesting concept that Alix can’t stop thinking about it or Josie. She has never approached a subject in this way, and she quickly grasps the idea and agrees. We follow along as Josie shares her story, her life, her everything with Alix. Who unknowingly starts to play a part in her very own podcast.

The way NONE OF THIS IS TRUE unfolds is perfection. There were moments that I literally could not put it down and needed to keep reading to hear Josie tell her story. The writing is smooth and easy to read. I bought into every character and was on the hook the entire time the story was unfolding.

I read this in ebook format and I can’t tell you how long it has been since I’ve read in that format. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE kept my attention the entire time and I found myself reaching for it over other books that I had in my rotation at the time.

If you haven’t picked this one up yet now is the time!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!

NONE OF THIS IS TRUE… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anticipated post date: August 2023

Title: None Of This Is True
By: Lisa Jewell

Genre:
Adult Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Crime

Red Flags:
Dark-- Profanity, Grooming, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Physical and Emotional Abuse

Favorite Quote:
“I’m not a bad person…I’m just a normal person coping with bad things.”

Summary:
Josie and Alix are birthday twins who meet while chatting in the ladies room, the women learn they share a birthday, born in the same hospital, in the same town, on the same day to the year! Is this a coincidence? Alix is a famous podcaster, and Josie wants Alix to interview her for the next show. Josie is the exact opposite of Alix in personality and character so Alix is reluctant at first, but caves to Josie’s desires and the ladies begin to work together.

Review:
This book is nothing as I expected. I loved the last novel by Lisa Jewell, however, None Of This Is True is tense, dark and has rather disturbing elements. A few times I found the characters weren’t really relatable, and struggle to continue reading, but somehow, even amid all the darkness, I was pulled in enough to keep reading. As an avid book lover of psychological thrillers, and mystery crime novels, I could see many of the plot twists. The last plot twist at the very end, and the last 25% of the book felt rushed. I was hoping for the same deep supporting detail as the beginning of the novel. Overall, Jewell is a very talented writer, and if you are a fan, I would love to hear your feedback when you finish "None of This Is True." I'm giving it a 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Simon and Schuster, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#LisaJewell
#Noneofthisistrue
#Simonandschuster
#Atriabooks
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

Famous Podcaster Alix Summers is celebrating her 40th birthday with her husband, friends and family when she runs into her birthday twin Josie Fair in the restaurant’s bathroom. When Alix meets Josie again, Josie asks her to do a podcast about her life. As they continue to meet to talk about the podcast, Alix realizes Josie’s life is strange and complicated. However, she doesn’t know how much of it is true especially when Josie’s husband warns Alix about Josie’s touch of reality.

From the moment I started this book, I immediately was sucked in. I was drawn to Josie’s narrative in an odd and creepy way. Jewell is a genius for how she wrote Josie’s character, it was so complicated. I felt a little frustrated with the decisions Alix makes but I think that’s what drives the story along. I truly enjoyed this book and I hope you do too!

TW: pedophilia, alcoholism, physical and emotional abuse

Lisa Jewell has always been a favorite author of mine, and I have a new book of hers to add to my favorites list…this one!

You guys this book blew me away! Soooo good!

As soon as I opened this book I became completely lost in this twisty and wild world and binged every second of it.
I questioned everything I read and this story could have gone so many different ways. My mind just kept spinning with this one and I loved every second of it.

The characters were fantastic…I felt like I knew a lot about them and was completely invested in their stories. Josie and her stories kept me on my toes and the more I learned about her the more shocking things became.
You get to hear from different POVs and I loved how there were excerpts from podcast recordings and a Netflix show sprinkled in. The timeline shifts with these two elements also made this a fun read.

The ending completely surprised me, and even though I finished this one a few days ago, I’m still thinking about it…and probably will be for awhile.

This has such a great plot, I can’t recommend this book enough…it’s a thriller I think everyone will enjoy.

Forget about the last thriller you read, None Of This IS True is a pulsating, nail-biter and full of twist and turns that you won't want to put down. I was hooked from the beginning and I would NEVER have guessed the ending, which left me with a WOW!

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?(from the synopses) is going through my mind the whole time I am reading this, with her sneakiness and manipulation to suck you in.

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading her books. The Family Upstairs is my favorite, but after reading None Of This Is True, it is by far at the top! I would highly recommend this book to be purchased for my library and I give this book a 5-star rating!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!