
Member Reviews

First things first, nothing bad happens to the dog.
Alix and Josie meet by chance on their 45th birthday when they realize that not only are they birthday twins, but they were born in the very same hospital. However, nothing else about their lives is alike. Alix is a fairly well-known podcaster with a seemingly picture perfect life with her husband and two young children. Josie is starting to feel disenchanted by her own life with her husband who is nearly 30 years her senior and fraught relationships with her two adult children. Josie approaches Alix and asks her to record a podcast about Josie's life as she looks to make some big changes. However, Josie develops an obsession with Alix and discovers that her life is not as picture perfect as it seems.
I am unsettled, the vibes are creepy as hell. Due to the structure of the novel (we start off knowing that something happens between these women that results in three deaths), none of the plot developments or twists are particularly shocking or earth-shattering, but no one an absolute creep or an upsetting atmosphere like Lisa Jewell. So even though you mostly know what's coming, it's so propulsive I found myself dying to know how things were going to get there.
There's a bit of a mixed media element happening throughout the novel, both with the podcast clips and scenes from a Netflix true crime documentary covering the events in the aftermath. Sometimes that can take me out of a story, but I feel like it worked well here. Mostly because I felt like I would absolutely watch this fake documentary.
My only issue, is that I wish we had gone a little bit deeper and got more character insight into Josie and her husband Walter. Their relationship contributes a ton to the creep-factor in the novel, but I don't think we get full understanding of their dynamic, their motivations, and who they are as people. I also don't know how I feel about the way their power dynamic is depicted given the age difference -- I don't think it was badly done, but I think it's just a bit off-putting.
I do think this is now my second favorite Lisa Jewell (will anything ever hit like Then She Was Gone), it's fascinating, fun, and just the right amount of upsetting.
**eARC provided by NetGalley and Atria

Wow! This was dark and compelling from beginning to end. Like an accident scene you can’t look away from, I couldn’t stop reading. The birthday twin podcast was a unique format and the varying points of view kept me guessing what the real truth was. Highly recommended! Thanks to #Netgalley for the advance reader copy. Beware readers- none of this is true!

None of This is True feels as if it was made to be adapted into a limited series-- and not just because of the interspersed moments describing the fictional Netflix documentary about the events contained within the pages. For me, the story and characters feel as though they've been churned out, combining several 'hot' elements, from the content to the construction: true crime, an investigative podcast, a Netflix documentary, an unreliable narrator, female friendship, 'me too' themes, and a pop-journalist narrative tone that is so familiar at this point that you can almost hear it coming alive as you read the words. In a less talented writer's hands, this could've been frustratingly cliché and unbearable, but Jewell is a master of this particular genre. She takes tired tropes, piles them on top of each other, and somehow still ends up with a page turner. The character work she's done here is commendable, and I really appreciate that the characters all exist in a moral grey area; no one is either all good or all bad, and I always find it much more realistic and compelling when an author is confident enough in her own skills to take chances with messy characters. I would imagine this is already optioned, and when it comes out, I'll definitely watch.

Needing a fresh, fast-paced thriller that will have you like 🫣😯😵💫😵😮💨🥴🫨🤯?! Lisa Jewell is here to deliver for you!
GENRE: Thriller
MY RATING: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.25/5)
Tysm @atriabooks for my gifted digital copy! 🖤
READ IF YOU LIKE:
▫️True Crime podcasts/documentaries 📰
▫️Unreliable narrators (my FAVORITE!!)
▫️Fast-paced reads 💨
▫️Cray cray family vibes 😂
▫️Multiple POV
▫️Alternating timelines 🔁
▫️The book, Verity by CoHo
MY THOUGHTS:
Okay first of all, there is literally no better feeling than “omg what is going to happen” when reading a thriller and this book DELIVERS in that aspect. 🫣 Idk how this book is over 350 pages bc I read it in like two seconds lol (& I ain’t that fast of a reader you guys). That’s how addicting it is!! 🙌 I was obsessing over our two female MCs. Josie was CREEPY AS HELL and had me on the edge of my seat!!! I was terrified and wanted to run away from her 😂, yet she was so dang intriguing??… that’s amazing character development in a thriller 🤌
RATING EXPLAINED:
The podcast/Netflix elements of this plot were GENIUS. 🎥 It was so fun to read and felt fresh & different for a thriller. (FINALLY bc I haven’t been entertained with thrillers lately…) I truly never felt bored while reading this story buttt the last 25% of the book was a little “meh” for me. Unreliable narrator trope is my ALL TIME FAV, so maybe I am being a little too critical? I wanted my jaw on the floor but it wasn’t 🤷♀️ Idk once you read it (or if you have!), plz share thoughts w/ me on the ending!! Overall, this is still a MUST READ. Easily devoured it. 💥
DETAILS:
▫️Publishes: 8/8/23
▫️Pages: 384
▫️I finished this one via e-book format, but once the audiobook comes out I may have to do a reread bc based on the plot content… I feel like an audiobook would SLAYYY. 🎧

OMG, what did I just read? Lisa Jewell does it again!
NONE OF THIS IS TRUE is a cinematic masterpiece and completely addicting. I loved how the book was laid out and the inclusion of the Hi! You're my Birthday Twin "podcast" and "Netflix Documentary" scripts. Just like the title states, I'm honestly not sure what parts of Josie's narrative were "true" but I do think that there were small kernels of truth (and lies) sprinkled in throughout. I am definitely still thinking about this one after the fact!
Thank you to Netgalley for my #gifted #arc

This book provided a unique look into domestic relationships and complicated relationships between women. The story gave us glimpses into differing family dynamics as we followed Josie and Alix on their journey. I enjoyed the format setup that kept this story interesting and unique to read. Filled with secrets, lies, deceit, trauma, change, and mystery. I continued to wonder who I should trust throughout the book. True-crime fans would devour this book!

None of This is True follows the stories of Josie Fair and Alix Summers, women who are "birthday twins" and whose paths cross in a neighborhood restaurant/pub on their birthday. After that first chance meeting, Josie pitches to Alix that the latter produce a podcast centering around Josie's life and how she is working on changing it for the better.
We're told at the beginning of the novel that there are 3 people who have died as a consequence of the relationship between Alix and Josie, and the novel is told through the perspectives of Alix and Josie, as well as podcast snippets from interviews Alix conducted with Josie, and interviews with other characters central to the story and on its periphery for a Netflix documentary on the twisted events.
I really enjoy Lisa Jewell's novels and loved the twists and turns of this story as well. I could not put it down and wanted to see where things were heading. It is a very eerie and chilling tale. Josie is a very complex and interesting character, who leaves everyone who interacts with her uneasy. She met her current husband when she was only 14 and he was 41, and their fraught relationship is also central to the storyline.
My one criticism of the book is that the ending was a little unclear and I was hoping for more finality and certainty.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my free digital ARC.

Talk about a whirlwind of a story! I guessed some of the ending, but the way it unfolded had me on the edge of my seat for hours. In my opinion, this is the quintessential example of a good psychological thriller. You know just enough to get invested, then you let the plot take you away.
While celebrating her 45th birthday at a pub, podcaster Alix Summers meets Josie Fair, who also happens to have the same birthday day. The latter learns that Alix is a podcaster and asks her to tell her story. Alix hesitantly agrees, but the more she gets involved with Josie, the more she regrets it and feels unsafe, even in her own home.
Twisty, Enthralling, and Fast-paced, this was my first read by Lisa Jewell, but I will definitely be coming back for more.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC of None of This is True by Lisa Jewell in exchange for my honest review.
Buckle up everyone, this book is absolutely wild!! I loved this so much! Well, maybe loved is the wrong word because I felt disgusted for most of the book, but it was so masterfully done that I couldn’t help but devour the whole book in one sitting.
This book follows two women who are “birthday twins,” Alix and Josie. It is set up like we are watching a Netflix documentary so you already know that the whole thing is going to go off the rails. This book has one of the most unreliable narrators that I have ever had the “pleasure” of reading a perspective of.
Genuinely an insane ride from start until finish.

None of This is True tells the story of Josie and Alix after they meet while celebrating their 45th birthdays. Josie and Alix are in fact birthday twins. Born on the same day in the same hospital. After their initial meeting the two women run into each other again and their lives quickly become entwined leading to shocking and devastating conclusion.
This is my favorite Lisa Jewell novel so far! The story is fast paced and the twists are shocking. The level of tension and suspense make this novel impossible to put down and the characters emotions jump off the page.
This is a great book to go into blind so I don’t want to say too much. If you are a fan of thrillers, None of This is True is a must read!

I haven't found a Lisa Jewell book I didn't like. This one is probably one of my favorites. I love the mix of true crime documentary with domestic suspense. And the final chapter makes you doubt everything you thought you had figured out. Lisa Jewell knows how to write deep characters that you love to hate.

I’ve always loved Lisa Jewell’s books because of the multiple viewpoints she uses to tell a story. This one was no different and every bit as excellent as her previous work!

If you need a book to get you out of your thriller reading slump, it is THIS book! It will leave you asking, "what on Earth did I just read," but in the best way possible.
Alix is a semi-famous podcaster, living a normal happy life. She has a husband who has some flaws, but is overall a good guy, she has two small children, and she has friends and family. Alix goes out with friends and family to celebrate her 45th birthday. In the bathroom of the restaurant, she meets Josie, who blurts out, "Hi! I'm your birthday twin!" We immediately get the sense that something is a little off about Josie. Both women are out celebrating their 45th birthdays, but in different ways.
Josie and Alix "coincidently" meet again a few days later, and Josie proposes a new idea for Alix's podcast, a story about her and her life.
Josie and Alix meet over the course of the summer, to record Josie's story, which is an absolute wild ride. She met and started dating her husband when she was 13, and he was 42. She has two adult daughters, one of whom is missing, and the other doesn't leave her room, and only eats pureed baby food. Alix knew Josie was a little off to begin with, but the more she talks, the more things stop adding up and the more absolutely unhinged we realize she is.
This book had me absolutely captivated right from the beginning. The narrator flips between Josie and Alix, and the juxtaposition is fabulous. Alix is a reliable narrator, but we know Josie is unreliable from the beginning, but we just don't know how unreliable until it begins to unfold. Josie's "truth" is a little different than everyone else's, but the story of her life is wild no matter which version is real.
The ending of the book is not what you hope for, but I appreciated that. I certainly would not mind a prequel detailing the real story of Josie's life before she meets Alix.

Wow. This book. Just wow. Crazy. Mind boggling. Strange. Curious. Addled. A bit psycho. Just wow. None of This is True by Lisa Jewell is a true crime podcast taking place while filming a podcast. It’s just crazy. It will keep you wondering and guessing and trying to figure out what’s happening. If you like twisted and a bit nuts, then this is definitely the book for you! #NetGalley

I absolutely LOVED this book. I have read a few Lisa Jewell books but this one is by far the best one!!! Her writing style really draws you in to the story and the characters. This is a one sitting book!! the podcast aspect was an interesting one and the revelations revealed during the recordings is mouth dropping. the book revolves around two main characters, Josie and Alix. They are birthday twins, and both of their lives have many obstacles. The way their lives are intertwined will keep you reading and then ending leaves you numb, but in a good way. I will be buying a physical copy of this book when it is released. I highly recommend everyone run to your local bookstore on release day and pick up a copy, you will not regret it!!!

This is the first Lisa Jewell book I've ever read, which now seems ridiculous to me. None of This Is True is a chilling, well-crafted thriller, one that hooked me on Jewell's writing. The central premise is about a podcaster, Alix Summer, and her birthday twin, Jose Fair, who cross paths on their 45th birthday. Josie develops a fascination with Alix, and soon the two of them are working on a podcast together, in which Josie promises that she's about to make a major life change.
The true crime obsessive becoming the true crime, uh, -ee, isn't exactly new, but Jewell does such a great job with pacing, and with a series of twists that are as brutal as they are compulsive to read. After reading None of This Is True, I immediately read two more of Jewell's books and added the rest of her catalogue to my library. holds queue. Jewell is filling the Tana French-shaped hole in my heart, and I'm thrilled to have another smart thriller writer to watch.

This book is the definition of fast-paced! I flew through it in a day. I haven’t been the biggest fan of thrillers lately as they all seem the same to me. But None of This is True sets itself apart by incorporating transcripts from a podcast and Netflix series. I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers!

None of This is True is a fast-paced thriller that alternates between the present and several years prior. When Josie Fair has a chance run-in with the well-known podcaster, Alix Summer, on their mutual 45th birthdays, she sees it as a sign that she needs to change her life. She propositions Alix to interview her for her podcast and promises that she will be making changes to her life that Alix’s listeners will want to follow. As Alix begins to interview Josie, Josie reveals far more than just a midlife crisis. Her revelations include her husband entering a relationship with her when she was 16 and he 43. A daughter with severe violent tendencies who ran away from home and another daughter who stays locked up in her room. As Josie spends more time with Alix, she seems to fall more and more in love with the life Alix has built for herself and longing to replicate that life for herself. Not even Alix knows how far Josie will go to “free” herself and Alix from their troubled marriages.

✨ARC Review✨
“But when you think about Nathan dying, how does it make you feel? Really? Inside? Does it make you feel sad? Or does it make you feel…free?”
Alix, a podcaster with a less than perfect husband, ends up doing a podcast of her “birthday twin” Josie, whom she meets at random. Josie also seems to have a less than stellar husband, and feels confident that she can convince Alix that their lives are very similar. When red flags start showing up, everyone in Josie’s life is questionable about who is really being truthful.
“Believe me, I know Josie better than anyone, and she’s a control freak. And you don’t even realize you’re being controlled until it’s too late.”
While I thought this was a decent thriller, I hoped for it to be a bit more twisted. I found it to be a bit difficult to follow at times, as it jumps frequently and dumps lots of info. It moves from the podcast to a Netflix documentary frequently. I feel like this is done intentionally to seem fast paced, but I constantly felt like I was overlooking small details that might add to the twist, in an effort to keep up with the story.
What’s On The Pages:
-podcast and documentary
-psychological thriller
-jealousy
-dysfunctional family dynamics
-gaslighting
-a master manipulator
⚠️CW/TW: implied grooming, abuse, death
✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC! None Of This Is True is out August 8th!

I loved this book! I feel like it was the best Lisa Jewell I've read in awhile as most of her latest novels were not that great for me. Loved the unreliable narrator and the timeline. Great book!