Wow! I could not put this book down! It gave me a touch of the heebie-jeebies, and I couldn't get enough! It was absolutely a wild ride.

I don't want to give anything away. It's worth the read! The end.

Wow. I can honestly say I did not see that twist coming. Lisa Jewell is a master at writing page-turning suspense, but she's outdone herself this time. Once again, Jewell proves you really never know what goes on behind the closed doors of someone else's home. Lisa Jewell's best book to date.

This was just okay for me. I have read a few books from this author, and have given 4's and 2's to those books.

This is a 2. The podcast aspect (turned into documentary) didn't come across realistically. Or, it wasn't as well developed as other books featuring podcasts.

The one character (Josie) has a horrific background, or does she? Alix does many (in my opinion) stupid things. I don't even get why this would be a podcast (birthday twins? I mean maybe a 15 minute conversation, but a podcast? Don't see the allure, especially since she had a great podcast already with a relevant theme).

It took a bit to get into, but I finished it. Ending was okay. So, a so so read, that I wouldn't necessarily classify as a thriller. Maybe a psychological mystery for lack of a better genre.

WOW!!! Where do I even start?! I thought it was going to be downright impossible to top "Then She Was Gone" but Ms. Jewell just may have done it with this book. She had very relatable characters as well as characters that were easy to hate. Not very far into the book I could tell I wasn't going to be a Josie fan. At first I felt sorry for her until her true manipulative personality started to show. My heart goes out to Alix. I like that the author made such a relatable character. As a podcaster myself, I am always trying to put on the perfect front, but much like Alix, we all have our own troubles going on at home and in our family life. This book is a winner and I will be thinking about it in the days and weeks to come. Without any hesitation at all, 5 stars.

This was a page turner with a unique plot! I read a lot of thrillers and they all start to sound the same but this was unlike any plot I'd ever encountered before. Unreliable narrator and lots of twists and turns. This kept me guessing until the very end.

I love Lisa Jewell, her way of writing a good mystery/thriller is just amazing! However, this one just did not work for me. I know that lots of people will love it, but I expected much more excitement and plot in this one, which turned out to be a bit bland for me and fell flat. I did love the formatting with the Netflix show and podcast integrated seamlessly within the story, but I feel that multi POV would have been better. The part that did not work for me was mostly that it had a lot of things added for shock factor (like the supposed sexual abuse) and the end was just like a giant "gotcha' to the reader in that it was all fake.

Oh wow...

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SYNOPSIS: "None of This is True is a psychological thriller about two women who, through a chance encounter, learn they are birthday twins. Their unlikely meeting turns into a podcast in which shared confidences become the motive for murder."

MY THOUGHTS: Hands down, my favorite @lisajewelluk book to date. She certainly knows how to write a thriller. My heart was pumping, and I consistently didn't know who or what to believe during the entirety of this book. The twists and storyline 🤌 amazing! You will binge this.

None of This Is True is available August 7, 2023, and you do NOT want this one to hang out in your TBR shelf.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @atriabooks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

thank you netgalley for the arc !

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 3/5 stars *ੈ✩‧₊˚

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me : i’ll write a brief actually possible to understand review this time
(30 mins later)
me : nvm

compulsively readable, you’ll be teetering off the edge of your seat with lisa jewell’s new domestic thriller. in none of this is true, two women who couldn’t possibly be anymore different cross paths celebrating their 45th birthdays at the same pub - is this to be a platonic meet-cute or perhaps, a violent, tailspinning collision? on the heels of this innocuous chance encounter, the very milquetoast, unassuming housewife - recently returned to the workforce - josie fair, petitions her foil, the glamorous has-it-all alix summers in a bid to have josie’s story finally thrust into the light as she claims to be on the verge of effecting a great change in her life. it quickly becomes clear that all is not what it seems when it comes to josie fair as the two women take a deep-dive into her personal history.

in a story where the truth is unctuous, sinuous and slippery all too easily conflating with lies - red-herrings are hurtled in our direction relentlessly, leaving us in pitiful attempts to unravel these tangled threads of mystery. told by means of a collage of transcript recordings from a netflix show developed from alix’s podcast and conventional chapter form, jewell takes no prisoners in keeping us on our toes. is josie telling the truth? and if she is not and is in turn a liar, is she merely that? or something far more sinister?

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on the surface this is a very run-of-the-mill domestic thriller; the disillusioned, down-trodden housewife pitted against her more enviable ‘golden girl’ counterpart whose life is also more than meets the eye. however, if we take a closer look there is an element of double exposure in that yes, this is that garden-variety nail-clenching cringe-inducing thriller the premise forecasts it to be and yet there is a simmering texture beneath of bitingly clever satire. it is an interrogation of the ‘unhinged’ woman and the whole i support women’s wrongs meme (a meme i still abide by as gospel). we have josie who is the avatar of housewives and mothers frustrated with their lot in life and indolently useless husbands, ravening for a way out of the grave they feel they’ve dug themselves. her yearnings, although meriting sympathy from us, are scored with a seemingly disproportionate sense of violence. conversely we then have alix who whilst frustrated with her husband who may or may not be having an affair amidst his indefatigable benders, reacts with an implicit trust and empathy. then when we delve further into why her patience is so unassailable and why she allows this man to martyr her every night, she confesses that there is an element of shallow materialism at play. an element which she herself can’t quite discern the scope of. these semi-parodic takes on tropes of women in domestic thrillers, especially in the current trend of sad girl fic lit are what gild this novel for me.

as for the mystery itself… i actually wound up feeling pretty disappointed. the suspense failed to act as a driving force for my continued reading and i mostly just got stressed out from how out of touch josie was. the big reveal was okay but very predictable up until the last page where it did throw a little spanner in the works, although that will depend on how you go about interpreting it. i appreciated the fast-pace even though at times it wracked josie’s actions with a bit of implausibility. if you take her character as a satirical parroting of past tropes then it tracks but otherwise it’s pretty on the nose and ridiculous. i’m jealously guarding an optimistic take that it’s the former…

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conclusion:
although uninspired in the mystery department this was still a delicious, fun read. unfortunately it also gave me heart-burn in the too frequent for my poor heart’s amount of horrifyingly awkward scenes! if you’re a connoisseur who sees value only in plot twists i’d give it a thought or two first before embarking on this journey to the i support women’s wrongs especially when they’re terribly terribly wrong camp.

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I love a thriller that keeps me guessing, and this one absolutely did that! I always enjoy when a story has multiple POVs throughout, but the tie in with the Netflix documentary/podcast element was so good. The various hints dropped at what the untoward behavior in the book really is and who to trust (!!??) keeps the reader guessing which I. LOVE. The title “None of This is True” really should say it all, but I still found myself shocked trying to put the pieces of the mystery together in my mind. Thank you so much to Atria and NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had to stew on this one a while. My knee-jerk reaction was lukewarm, but the more I think of the end, the more I can appreciate Jewell's brilliance.

This is a slow burn thriller versus a nail-biting, action-packed thriller. A chance encounter leads all characters down a spiral of lies with devastating consequences.

By the end of the story, there really isn't one character who comes off completely innocent. Obviously, some transgressions are a lot worse than others, but I would think that's one of the points Jewell makes: what makes one a victim or a villain? Josie whole-heartedly believes she acted on everyone's best interest, especially Alix. Walter might agree he sometimes acted untoward, but is innocent? I don't ask if anyone deserves what happens to them; instead I ask if, as twisted as most of the actions are, are they done with good intentions?

Because, honestly, by the end, Josie’s vision and plan for Alix comes to fruition in the most spectacular way through the podcast and Netflix series. It could easily be argued that Erin is doing better, out of the house and mega successful. So, yes, Josie’s reasoning is twisted, but…

Because of how well they adapt to their situations, Alix and Erin are kind of suspect, too. There’s even something about Roxy that feels disingenuous. By the end, I wouldn’t have been surprised by a dramatic twist that exposed any or all of them as the evil genius behind all this. Jewell is much too nuanced in her examination of human behavior for cheap tricks like that, but that’s how suspect everyone is, no matter how much devastation they’ve endured.

So is Josie, ultimately, a hero?

I really think that’s why this book works; it appears to be a cut and dry story about an evil person out to ruin all the lives around her, leaving a trail of victims in her wake, but it doesn’t turn out that way. No one has intentionally done anything they regret and there don’t appear to be as many victims as one would think.

Another wonderful book by one of my favorite authors!

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true-crime podcast.

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 realize 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.

Lisa Jewell can always be counted upon to write an excellent book and this one did not disappoint at all. So popular that it's ridiculous TV shows based on podcasts: drama shows, documentaries, etc-etc-etc (A little "The King and I" reference there for you....) but to find yourself the subject of your own true crime podcast must be awful. The book was wonderful to read and kept me hanging until the last page I will highly recommend it to friends family patrons and book clubs alike. (BTW this is on Netgalley twice for some reason so it is reviewed there 2x) #shortbutsweetreviews

I really enjoyed the format of this story with the podcast element. The Netflix series snippets were a nice addition as well. Josie is such a horrible character and really makes you feel uncomfortable which adds to the creepy atmosphere. There is claustrophobic tension that builds the dread and I couldn’t stop reading because I wanted to see how everything would unfold. I don’t always enjoy unreliable narrators but really liked how this was done. Nothing was shocking or surprising and I think a lot of that has to do with the title of the book which should have been something different. Overall a very enjoyable and well done thriller.

I really liked this book. I never read anything by Lisa Jewell but now I will check out anything new from her. I loved this book.

Woah. I expected a stellar ending from this one after The Family Upstairs left me gaping, and Jewell certainly delivered again.

I loved the way this was written. The screenplay and podcast sections were eerie and perfectly timed. I found myself wishing I could watch the show. I couldn't put it down and despite some arguably problematic takes, I think any one who has a love for the dark and twisted will enjoy this one.

Title: None of This is True
Author: Lisa Jewell

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Review:

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell is a captivating psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This story revolves around Josie Fair and Alix, two women who discover they are birthday twins and embark on a podcast that uncovers dark secrets, leading to a chilling crime.

The narrative unfolds through alternating chapters from Josie and Alix's perspectives. Josie's character is intriguing and enigmatic, evoking a mix of fascination and unease. Readers will find themselves questioning her reliability throughout the story. On the other hand, Alix brings stability to the plot, although her chapters are not as captivating as Josie's.

Interwoven between chapters are interviews from the Netflix series "The Birthday Twin," adding an extra layer of depth to the events. These snippets gradually reveal the truth behind the story, building anticipation until the shocking revelation in the end.

Lisa Jewell's distinctive writing style shines in this novel, showcasing her talent for creating quirky yet well-developed characters. Josie's train wreck of a character is both captivating and disturbing, making her a standout element of the book. However, it is important to note that the themes explored in the story, including pedophilia, alcoholism, and abuse, make it a dark and unsettling read.

As a fan of Lisa Jewell's previous works, I can confidently say that None of This is True marks a return to her signature style. She fearlessly delves into uncomfortable subjects, adding an "ick" factor to the story while skillfully avoiding explicit details. The author's ability to tackle sensitive topics while maintaining suspense is commendable.

This addictive page-turner had me hooked from start to finish. Lisa Jewell's storytelling prowess shines through, as she masterfully builds tension and delivers a chilling ending that will leave readers with a sense of unease. While not a lighthearted read, fans of domestic thrillers will find themselves immersed in Jewell's skillfully crafted narrative.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Lisa Jewell's None of This is True is a must-read for fans of the author and anyone seeking a suspenseful and thought-provoking psychological thriller. Prepare to be captivated, unsettled, and thoroughly engrossed in this dark and twisted tale.

Alix Summer is a podcaster. On her 45th birthday she meets Josie Fair at the local pub. It turns out that Josie is also celebrating her 45th birthday. They are birthday twins. Josie thinks it would be a good idea for a podcast so Alix begins the interviews. Josie's life is disturbing and Alix finds her unsettling, but the lure of having a successful podcast is too great for her to quit. Then Josie disappears and Alix finds her life under threat. Who is the real Josie and what has she done?

Lisa Jewell is an author who I know I will read each and every new book without even needing to read the synopsis. She has a wonderful way of spinning a story, creating characters and setting them in situations where it seems that no one can “win”.

This story focused on two 45 year old birthday “twins” and one has very different intentions in forcing a connection between them. Her motives and underlying reasons seem to be out of meeting a twisted need of her own, but you find at the very end that maybe she wasn’t as bad as we all thought.

This was a quick read and sucked me in from the start. I always love Jewel’s books and this was no exception!

While celebrating her 45th birthday popular podcaster Alix Summers is approached by a woman who shares her birthday. Josie suggests that Alix do a popcast on birthday twins with her as an interviewee. Looking for a different subject Alix agrees. What follows is a series of talks that grow steadily darker. By the time Alix realizes that Josie is obsessed with her and is not who she seems it is too late. When Alix's husband Nathan disappears as well as Josie Alix becomes the center of a true crime podcast and Josie's deadly secrets are revealed. This was one of the most compelling, tension building narratives that I have read in a while. Alix is the ordinary suburban mom we can all relate to but as the author slowly peels away Josie's disturbing secrets like the layers of an onion the reader appalled and astonished. I really enjoyed the unique format of inserting podcast interviews with contributing characters into the main storyline leaving tantalizing bread crumbs of what was to come. If you are in the market for an edge of the seat, twisty psychological thriller Lisa Jewell delivers.

This book was a tricky one for me, entirely my own fault. I am a huge Jewell fan so dove into the galley without reading the synopsis. One of the few tropes I do not like reading is unbalanced women who are also unreliable narrators. So I realized my mistake fairly quickly but honestly, Jewell's story-telling and writing kept me going, even when I didn't like what I was reading. (Again, this is my own personal taste and own fault.) But. BUT! About half way through the book, something turned for me (I won't give away spoilers) that completely sucked me in, and I sat on my couch and read the second half in a day. So this remains a 5-star read for me because despite my personal issues with one of the characters, I devoured it and her writing is exceptional. If you don't mind screwed-up women who manipulate other cast members, you will love this one. It turns out that I do mind screwed up women who manipulate other cast members, and I still loved it.