Lisa Jewell does it again with another twisty, suspenseful thriller! After the unexpected death of Paddy, his wife and daughter are left, devastated, with more questions than answers. Soon after, his supposed best friend swoops in to save the day...but there's something that feels a bit...off...about him.

While this was a fun read, I almost put it down as there is a LOT to keep track of in the beginning. So many characters, timelines, and identities to keep track of. Once I had everything straight it was a gripping ride, but I think it's something to be aware of going into this one. Some parts kind of dragged on and I felt like it would have been a more engaging story if it was cut a bit shorter. That being said, I enjoyed this one and appreciate the ARC!

Lisa Jewell just keeps getting better and better! Prepare to hide yourself away on pub day because this one will grip you until the very last page. There are three story lines and multiple points of view that seem totally unconnected but, unfortunately, they all have one thing in common - They didn't read the title of this book and they DID let him in.
There are so many twists and shocking revelations so I really don't want to give too much info about the plot. All you need to know is that this is a thriller that will stick with you for a while and you're going to want to discuss it with someone when you're finished! I read this with my booksta besties and all of our jaws were on the floor. This one doesn't release until June but I'm telling you now this will be one of the buzziest thrillers of the summer!

Thank you to @netgalley & @atriabooks for this eARC—it’s been a wild ride!

Let’s talk Lisa Jewell. Whew! This woman knows how to craft a thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go until the very last word. I mean, forget the edge of your seat—I was practically hanging off it!

I’ll admit, the timeline and characters had me scratching my head at first. But once I got my bearings, I was all in. It was like a rollercoaster of “I know where this is going... oh wait, WHAT?!” Jewell throws twists and turns like confetti at a parade—unexpected and totally thrilling.

Now, here’s the thing: I’m a tough grader when it comes to thrillers. For me, 4-5 stars are reserved for mind-blowing, can’t-stop-talking-about-it perfection. This one didn’t quite reach those heights, but it was still an incredibly gripping, binge-worthy read.

Would I recommend it? Heck yes! Gather your friends, pour some tea (or wine), and buckle up for this manipulative and captivating story.

Twenty-something Ash and her mother, Nina, are devastated after the family patriarch, Paddy Swann, is pushed in front of a train in a seemingly random fatal act.

When they receive a note in the mail from a man claiming to have been an old friend of Paddy's, along with a lighter he claims was Paddy's, they are intrigued and want to meet this person who knew their beloved father and husband.
What follows is a whirlwind romance with Nina, much to Ash's dislike and skepticism, with this man Nick Radcliffe, who is quite mysterious about his past and who or what he is.
Meanwhile, Martha, a florist in a neighboring town, is in a very happy marriage with Al, a man she met and married and who is seemingly the best stepfather to her boys and the best father to their baby daughter Nala. However, Martha feels increasingly like a single parent when Al disappears for days on end 'claiming' to be working yet never answering her frantic calls and texts.
What follows is a tangled web of fake identities, scamming, theft and murder when Nick and Al are revealed to be not who they claim to be. Something needs to change - and when Nina and Martha start digging after Ash uncovers some dark secrets about Nick and Al , they are sorry they ever 'let him in.'

Thanks so much @netgalley & @atriabooks for this eARC.

I love Lisa Jewell’s books and have read all of her thrillers as well as a few of her earlier novels so when I was approved for this ARC I dropped everything to read it.

There’s a large cast of characters in this one, different POVs and a past and present timeline. So there is a lot to keep track of at first but I did sort it out and had everything figured out. This one wasn’t really a thriller for me and I didn’t realize that until I got closer to the end. I kept waiting for that shocking plot twist but it never came. I was disappointed that my jaw wasn’t on the floor from some twisted reveal after being so consumed with reading this book, I loved the story.

Without revealing too much, here’s the gist of the book. The story begins with the death of Paddy Swan, a restauranteur, who was pushed onto the tracks of an incoming train. He leaves behind his wife Nina and two grown children, Ash & Argo.

A couple of months after the funeral a package arrives at Nina’s home from a man named Nick Radcliffe who says he worked and was friends with Paddy before Nina met him.

They keep in contact and a year later Nina agrees to go on a date with Nick. Their relationship turns romantic and Nick becomes a part of her life.

Storyline number two follows Martha, mom of 3, florist, married to Al who works all the time and is often away from home on work trips. Their relationship is struggling.

Eventually these two storylines intertwine. And this is where perhaps I ruined the read for myself because I already knew what was going on here, I thought that we were supposed to know but I’ve read some other reviews of people being completely duped. 🤷‍♀️

I’m really looking forward to reading more reviews to see if others have the same experience reading this one that I did.

I will always jump through hoops to read a Lisa Jewell book and I was obsessed with this read, I was just expecting a shocker and there wasn’t one for me.

4⭐️

This was twisty and turny, it took me a little bit to keep everyone straight, but once I did, I was hooked.
Diving into the life of this criminal was exactly the way I wanted to spend my day once I started.

I loved seeing women coming together to support women, and that the tables kept shifting and flipping.

☽｡⋆ arc review ☽｡⋆

𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!

review: genre- thriller

it’s always a privilege to be able to read a book an advance!! thank you Atria Books + NetGalley for the arc for an honest review in return!

this book did have me stay up late just to see what would happen next. it truly was a page turner. i felt my brain connecting the dots, this man was sinister i will say!!! he was always one step ahead and was playing people like a FOOL!!! i was like there’s no way he thinks he is a good guy, he was leaving everyone in DEBT(you’ll have to read to know why & how). my favorite thing about the book was seeing women coming together to take this man down. one of the ladies in particular i thought was gonna let us downnnnn but homegirl pulled through eventually! so if you want a page turner i definitely recommend this book. the only reason for my 3.5 rating, was because once we got to part 4 & 5 it became very wordy, over explaining, and extra things added that did not feel necessary so it felt a bit dragged out. other than that i still recommend this book and think it’s a good read.

𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 !! ꕥ

⭐️ 3.5
I was lucky to get ARC for this book(Thank you NetGalley). It was last year when I discovered Lisa Jewell, and she quickly became my favorite author. I inhale her books and can’t put them down. She’s absolutely the best at writing suspense, with shocking twists, and the worlds she creates are twisted and mind-blowing.

Without giving too much away, this is another story that I’m sure will get much love. I rated it slightly lower only because some other books I read by her were, to me, personally better. It was more predictable to me, but again, I read a lot of these kinds of books, and I also think that was done intentionally.

Everyone who loves show You will enjoy this one.

First book hangover of 2025! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I loved the various POVs and loathed Nick. I was hitting my fiance because I was getting so angry. That's how you know its a good book and written by an amazing author.

WOW! 4.5⭐️/5⭐️

First I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the complementary advanced digital copy of this fast-paced thriller! Thanks to Jewell, my Kindle and I got reacquainted for my first read of 2025.

It took me a few chapters to get my bearings and my characters straight, but once I had my footing it was off to the races. Jewell barely gives the reader a chance to breathe with the whiplash-like perspective shifts, twists and turns, and “oh shit” realizations. I burned through this thriller and it’s the first book in a while that I’ve thought about between reads and was genuinely excited to dive back into.

I will be honest though, the ending wound up being pretty predictable and all signs led to it. I almost felt like I was on the edge of my seat for all the clues to be revealed as red herrings, but they were not. However, the book stood out regardless of the anticlimactic ending and I would definitely recommend it!

coffee run & arc review✨

I have to preface this by saying-I LOVE Lisa Jewell, but this one didn’t do it for me. I felt the plot was great, and I even enjoyed the book; it just didn’t leave me with that five star feeling. I liked the characters and the writing style, but something about it just fell flat for me. Overall, I would have to rate this three stars (and I still love queen Lisa). I would still recommend trying this one out-just because I didn’t love it, doesn’t mean that you won’t!

Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read and review this ahead of time!

Pub date June 24, 2025 📖

This book was so disturbing (in a good way, if you are into psychological thrillers). The "men" in the narrative really got under my skin and I wanted to scream at the main protagonist to get out (or rather "don't let him in!"). It was fascinating to follow all of the twists and turns and this was a unique book. Highly recommend!

Lisa knows how to write a story that keeps your interest throughout the story. I was glued to my kindle while reading this one.

Lisa Jewell has done it again, with yet another captivating, addictive psychological thriller. I have read so many of her books and this one is quite unlike the rest but equally as thrilling.

I think most thriller readers can guess where this story is going after reading the synopsis. What they cannot guess, however, is just how deep the evil runs in this story. I truly was unable to put this book down and read most of it in one sitting. I loved the alternating POVs and the fast-paced nature of the plot. I do wish it had more of a twist and more of the mystery Lisa Jewell’s books often have, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lisa Jewell for this providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Stay tuned for the release of Don’t Let Him In on June 23, 2025!

I spent my afternoon and evening of New Year’s Day absolutely engrossed in this soon-to-be-published thriller by Lisa Jewell. I am going to try to be vague in the review, because I don’t want to give anything away. I like to go into books, especially suspense novels, knowing as little as possible, and I assume everyone else does, too.

Paddy Swann, a beloved chef and restaurant owner, dies when he is pushed in front of a Soho train. He leaves behind a grieving widow, Nina, and two adult children, Ash (Aisling) and Arlo. When Nick Radcliffe , an old friend of Paddy’s, reaches out to offer condolences and stories of Paddy’s early career, Nina and Ash are initially charmed. But as Nick and Nina get closer, Ash wonders if he is too good to be true, or if it’s her own sad history with men that makes her suspicious.

Small town florist Martha is married to Alastair, the father of her two-year-old daughter and the man of her dreams. The only thing that would make it better would be if he could just stop traveling so much for work and if all the money they made didn’t disappear so fast.

The story is told in shifting timelines and several POVs, but is easy to follow. When Ash and Martha narrate, the timeline is the present. The third POV starts four years before Paddy’s death and moves toward the present.

The villain of the story is a narcissistic, manipulative piece of work. Parts of the story were hard to read because the villain is such a smooth liar and it reminded me of various people I’ve known. If you are triggered by gaslighting and manipulation, beware. Jewell writes believable, realistic characters and it’s easy to see a lot of this happening in real life.

It’s fairly clear early on who the villain is, but this is a thriller, not a mystery. As all the pieces of the backstory began to fall in place, I couldn’t put down the book because I had to see how…if…justice would be served. Other reviewers have said the beginning was a little slow. I didn’t that, but I do agree that the pace really amps up around the 60-65% mark.

In honor of the late Paddy, I give it 5 chef’s kisses.

What a wild, twisty book! It started off kind of slow, but once you piece together what’s happening, you’re hooked. Every time I figured something out, Lisa Jewell still found a way to shock me and make this book so addictive! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book!

Thank you for the ARC !

This book was so good ! Could not put it down and it had my attention from the beginning . At first I was a little confused on who was who but then it all started coming together . Lots of twists I didn’t see coming. Definitely recommend!

“Don’t Let Him In” is perfect for readers who love domestic thrillers. It’s a quick, engaging read that delivers on suspense and entertainment. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Lisa Jewell's Don't Let Him In is a gripping and intricately woven tale of suspense, deception, and complex relationships. The accessible writing style draws readers in effortlessly, making this a book you can devour in a single sitting.

The plot is brilliantly crafted, intertwining the lives of Ash, Nina, and Martha with precision and intrigue. Jewell masterfully builds tension as secrets unravel, leaving you questioning every character's motives. The shifting dynamics between Nina and Nick, and the layered revelations about Al, keep the narrative unpredictable and deeply engaging.

While the characters are compelling, a deeper emotional exploration of their internal struggles could have elevated the story even further. Nevertheless, the book’s fast pace and clever twists make it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of domestic thrillers will find this an absolute treat.

I had the pleasure of getting an ARC of Don’t Let Him In. I read it in two sittings and I am pretty sure I had heart palpitations the whole time. It is amazing how much I can loathe a character and be impressed by their cleverness at the same time. It was full of twists that I didn’t see coming and it pulled together greatly at the end. I highly recommend this book!