From the start, I was drawn into the story and kept reading without feeling bored or distracted. The pacing felt just right, and the plot kept moving forward, making it easy to stay engaged. Even though I didn’t always know where things were headed, it was still enjoyable to see how everything unfolded. There wasn’t anything that felt overly complicated, but the story kept my attention, and I wanted to see what would happen next.

As the story progressed, I found myself appreciating how it never felt like it was just dragging on. It had enough new information coming through to keep things fresh. It wasn’t about big, shocking twists, but more about how things kept moving and how the narrative kept adding pieces to the bigger picture. Even when it seemed like the end was near, there was still more to discover, which kept things interesting.

The way everything fit together in the end was satisfying. There was a clear sense of purpose behind the events and character decisions, and it didn’t feel like there were any random parts thrown in. Everything had a place, which made the whole experience feel solid. It didn’t leave me with any questions or loose ends, which I really appreciated.

I found the characters to be one of the stronger parts of the story. They were realistic and acted in ways that made sense with what was going on. I felt like I could understand their actions and motivations, and that helped keep me invested in the story. Even when things got tough for them, I was still interested in seeing how they would handle it.

In the end, I really enjoyed this story. It kept me engaged throughout and wrapped up in a way that felt complete. It wasn’t a story I could easily forget, and I’m glad I spent the time reading it. If you’re looking for something that’s both entertaining and well put together, this is a great pick.

This book was such a rollercoaster. I kept questioning every character’s motive and found myself constantly second-guessing what was really going on. Dark, clever, and addictive.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire read. Lisa Jewell knows how to engage you in the story so you don’t want to put the book down. I loved this book so much.

Holy Moses! Lisa Jewell knocks another one out of the park! This story was captivating from beginning to end. Fantastic characters kept me burning the midnight oil. Secrets, lies and family ties, OH MY. Deliciously dark and twisted, brilliant storytelling. Do not let this gem pass you by!
Thank you NetGalley, Lisa Jewell and Simon and Schustsr/Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. Huge 5 stars from me.

I’m disappointed to say this book didn’t quite work for me. I went in expecting a gripping thriller, but what I got felt more like a cautionary tale about the dangers of dating men too good to be true. In the age of Google and social media, it’s hard to believe these women were this naive. It required a lot more suspension of disbelief than I was willing to give.

That said, it’s not a poorly written book, and the story has potential—it just didn’t deliver the suspense I was hoping for. The con-man character was more cringe than sinister with his love for himself and I sadly finished the book underwhelmed.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I normally LOVE Lisa Jewell's book, but this one unfortunately missed the mark for me! For one, I didn't find it much of a thriller this time. While the plot definitely centers around a real and rather terrifying, manipulative issue that people face, I found it hard to stay engaged. There are soooo many characters that are hard to keep track of, and I felt like the book was a little too long. Overall, I still love Lisa Jewell, and will always be a reader and supporter of her work, so it's okay that this one didn't work for me!

Thank you so much to Atria for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kinda shocked by how… straightforward this was?! Hopefully this isn’t a spoiler but I kept waiting for the plot twist or shocking/unexpected turns and there just… weren’t any. You basically know what’s happening and where it’s headed from the very beginning. Like no surprises, no big twists… just the unfolding story that you have insight into and know what’s happening the whole time. It was an engaging and relatively quick/easy read but the story ultimately missed the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC.

I cannot even believe I am writing down these words: I did not like this Lisa Jewell novel.

It was predictable, it was infuriating, it was not enjoyable.

This book poses an interesting premise for lovers of true crime, about a con artist who manages to manipulate multiple women, spanning decades all over the UK. While I was interested in how the story would unfold, I didn’t get the thrill, suspense, and mystery that I’ve come to expect from Lisa Jewell. All the cards were laid out pretty early, it was just a matter of time before the lies would unravel.

Lisa Jewell has done it again—with a twisty, compulsively readable thriller that will have you side-eying every charming stranger you meet. Don’t Let Him In is a kaleidoscopic mystery told through the perspectives of three compelling women who are unknowingly connected by one very enigmatic, and possibly dangerous, man.

Nick Radcliffe is the human equivalent of a cashmere blanket—warm, stylish, and oh-so-comforting… maybe too comforting. Nina falls for him in her season of grief. Her daughter Ash, however, has her antennas up from the start (thank goodness for skeptical daughters, right?). And then there’s Martha, a sweet, sleep-deprived new mom whose husband has the kind of job that’s just vague enough to feel fishy. Spoiler alert: things are fishy and frightening.

Jewell masterfully keeps the threads tangled just enough to make you question everyone’s motives (yes, even yours at some point). The pacing is pitch-perfect, building slowly but never dully, until the pieces begin to click into place with a satisfying, if unsettling, snap. You may think you know where this is going—but trust me, you don’t.

The only reason I’m not giving it a full five stars is because I found myself wanting a bit more time with Ash’s arc in the final act—it wrapped up a touch too quickly for my taste. But otherwise, this was signature Jewell: addictive, atmospheric, and buzzing with unease.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy—I was thoroughly creeped out and absolutely entertained. I’ll be locking my doors and recommending this one all spring.

- skip this book
- nothing really happens… like at all
- had to read through pages of a con-man tricking women into giving them money and disappearing
- very confused as to why this is rated so highly
- i was waiting for something to happen, but literally nothing happened
- the “twists” weren’t great and you could see them coming from a mile away

“He lies with passion and self-belief, this man. He lies like a man who has never been caught out in a lie, who thinks he is invulnerable.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5 star thriller! No notes, this was fantastic! If you liked None of This is True, I think you’ll enjoy this one too.

I was a little confused at the start of the book as to what was going on, but after about 20% of the way in, I got it! I think Lisa Jewell does an excellent job of giving you just enough to pull you in without spelling it out in capital letters. I also really enjoy her writing style. Often with thrillers, the writing can feel meh…but I think this book was well done. An example:

“The seasons come and go through the windows of her cottage like greetings cards: cherry blossom, sunset-hued roses, rhododendron, holly and ivy, a curtain of Virginia creeper on the wall opposite the kitchen window that turns bonfire red in early autumn.”

Beautiful.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely and I think this will be a popular “read by the pool/beach” book for this summer! Definitely add it to your TBR!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's hard to describe this story without giving too much away. I read it quickly, curious to know which clues would be discovered next and how the story would escalate. It is not so much a twisty thriller, but there are unexpected developments along the way and you are never really sure who to trust. While this book is different from other Lisa Jewell thrillers, I did find it enjoyable.

I had some trouble keeping the timelines straight, as there are a lot of jumps back and forth. There are also a lot of names to keep track of in this story, which does come into play as the clues are being revealed. The ending also left me with some questions.

Don’t Let Him In is a darkish story of a charismatic con man and the women his prey. This was a pretty quick read. The main character was truly horrible, and the story has the twists and turns you would expect from Lisa Jewell.

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

Lisa Jewell is one of my all time favorite authors and for good reason! Don’t Let Him In was obviously one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 and it did not disappoint! Definitely one of LJ’s best. I always think her books cannot possibly get any better, and yet sometimes they always somehow do. This story had me hooked in right from the beginning which is one of things I love most about LJ’s books, and it kept me turning the pages furiously to figure out what was going on. It was such a bingeable read, and I read it in just a couple sittings. Full of twists and turns, lies and secrets, Don’t Let Him In will keep you hooked and will absolutely be one of the top thrillers of 2025! This book put me in a slump after reading because very few authors write as captivating as LJ and I just can never get enough! I can’t wait to see what’s next from Lisa Jewell.

Thank you so much to Atria and NetGalley for the early digital copy for my honest thoughts and review. All opinions are my own.

Such an exciting and dramatic book! I loved it and would definitely recommend it to others. I can totally see this becoming a movie or short series.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC! Don’t Let Him In releases June 24, 2025. While I love a good thriller, this book infuriated me. I hated the main character (as anyone who reads those books should), but I was also constantly irritated by the lack of intelligence of the sub characters who allowed this man in their lives. It was very difficult to keep the characters straight. I did like how many of the loose ends were tied up at the end of the book.

Lisa Jewell has done it again! This page turner had me guessing who was going to be the next victim and who would outwit the main character. Her quick chapters give you just enough but wanting more.

Lisa Jewell has written a novel about a man who is deplorable and loathsome. He’s a con artist and manipulator and there’s not one single thing to like about him. He makes it hard to even read about all the horrible things he is doing without also feeling like the woman he is taking advantage of are somehow complicit.
I’m going to have a hard time rating this book because the main character was so unlikable and disgusting. Let’s just say you are hoping that the author gives him his just due and that’s about the only thing that sees you through all of these terrible stories.

This was very good, but I felt very similar to her others. I did have to finish in one sitting which is always a great sign!