Lisa Jewell's "Don't Let Him In" is another slow-burn thriller full of twists, suspicion, grief, and deception.

The story follows Ash Swann, who is still grieving over the loss of her father. When her newly widowed mother Nina begins dating again, Ash becomes suspicious of her mom's new suitor, Nick Radcliffe, who is a bit too perfect and polished. In a parallel timeline, we follow an unnamed man whose charm hides a chilling pattern of manipulation and lies. It’s evident from early on that the two timelines are connected somehow, but readers are kept guessing how and when they will intersect.

Although experienced thriller readers may be able to guess a few of the twists beforehand, the dual perspective helps build tension along the way. The sharply written characters, slow reveal of clues, and sense of dread throughout will keep readers engrossed in the story. What makes this narrative really resonate is the realistic depiction of grief and how it's expressed by the member of the Swann family.

Thriller readers may find the depiction of a manipulative, too-charming man a bit familiar, but Jewell's psychological insight and layered female leads manage to keep the story compelling. "Don’t Let Him In" is not a groundbreaking thriller, but it is thoroughly engaging and chilling enough to make readers want to binge-read it.

4.5/
"Over my lifetime I have developed the unique ability to see and understand within a second exactly what sort of man a woman is looking for and to offer it to her. After that it is up to the woman to set her boundaries, because if I'm giving a woman what she wants, then she has to give me what I need. That doesn't seem unfair, does it? "

So, I'll start by saying that None of This is True is my gold star of thrillers and it's been hard to give a full five stars on any thriller for me since reading it. I've seen some mixed reviews for this one, but I gotta say, I love it and it's probably my favorite since NOTIT. The biggest mystery is whether or not the POS will get caught, so I can see where those who enjoy the mystery of who is really responsible may feel underwhelmed, but I think if you enjoy "You" or similar shows, you will enjoy this book. 

The layers and decades of deceit, extortion, and abuse continue to go deeper. The female characters who see past the facade are brilliant. AND the chapters from his POV completely lacking any self reflection or sense of responsibility for his actions and full of unearned superiority and disdain add a lot (again, very reminiscent of a Joe Goldberg type).

At this point, I'm all in on my Lisa Jewell fandom. Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the eARC. Publishing 6/24!

After her husband’s death, Nina falls for the charming and seemingly perfect Nick, but her daughter Ash grows suspicious and starts uncovering disturbing secrets about his past. Meanwhile, Martha suspects her own husband is hiding something sinister until all three women are drawn into a chilling web of deception and danger.

Don’t Let Him In was one of my most anticipated reads for June! I really loved the premise and was intrigued from the start, but I had mixed feelings about the execution. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the way the story slowly unraveled. This felt more like domestic suspense than a full-on thriller which I didn’t mind and there were a few twists I genuinely didn’t see coming. However, the portrayal of certain characters leaned heavily into misogynistic tropes, which felt uncomfortable and unnecessary. The generational divides also seemed exaggerated and out of touch. That said, the final 20% of the book really picked up and I enjoyed seeing how everything came together. Overall, I’d rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 on Goodreads.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Atria and Lisa Jewell for the opportunity to check out this summer thriller early with this gifted arc. While this was not my favorite Lisa Jewel thriller, I did find myself wondering how this awful man kept all his lies in order. This tale of con artistry flipped from current date to 4 years prior. Due to the nature of the con, I found it difficult to keep track of the multiple story lines. Additionally, it changed POV often ( as indicated by change in font) and these coupled together made following the relationships difficult. This was a slow build and intriguing, but I felt like the ending was lackluster and rushed. I will continue to read everything Lisa Jewell writes, despite this being one of the few I have not raved about.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Atria for this advance reading copy. Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell delivers a pacy, entertaining thrill ride that kept me hooked from start to finish. While it didn’t quite hit the emotional depth of my favourite book by her (None of this is True), it’s still a gripping, well-crafted psychological suspense. The twists landed effectively for me and the tension never let up. Strong 4/5 from me.

This is a brilliant new thriller offering readers an inside glimpse of a psychopath’s thoughts as he cons his way through multiple relationships. I listened to the full cast audiobook which deeply enriched my reading experience as it helped to keep the variety of characters’ voices separate and distinct. Ultimately, this book centers on how smart, independent, and capable women fall victim to the ‘perfect man’ and how their lives begin to overlap in devastating and dangerous ways. From the opening chapter, Jewell’s tone was foreboding and had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up! Her portrayal of gaslighting was intensely realistic and relatable, and while I spent most the book shouting at these women to see the red flags, I also found myself empathizing with how hard it can be to trust your own instincts in the face of your loved ones or families. Taught, suspenseful, and with increased stakes, this propulsive thriller was one I found hard to set aside and binged within two days.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio for this excellent production audiobook. Voice actor Richard Armitage absolutely nailed Nick Radcliffe’s POV from his calm, cool perfect man mask to his deeply disturbing inner feelings and motivations. All the stars!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLIcrfJO6zJ/?igsh=MXNtMHF0cXd4cDB4OA==Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
*Advanced Reader Copy*
Publish Date: June 24, 2025


Ash has just had the unthinkable happen. Her father has died in a horrific way. He leaves behind a thriving restaurant business and a hole in the heart of all that knew him. Ash was already barely making it after having to leave London in disgrace and move back in with her parents, how is she supposed to survive this? She throws herself into supporting her mother who is now the sole heir of the business. What she doesn’t know is that her mom is on a collision course that will change all of their lives.

Nina (Ash’s mom) is finally read to date again. Enter Nick: handsome, smart, says the right thing all the time. What could possibly go wrong? Remember the saying, when things are too good to be true? This applies to men too. What happens when you let in Mr. Right and he turns out to be Mr. Wrong?

Lisa Jewell’s latest arrives this Tuesday and it is a fun ride. If you love a Lisa Jewell thriller this will be right up your alley. It is a great summer thriller with an interesting setting, characters you love to hate, and twists and turns you never saw coming. Make sure to get this book when it publishes this Tuesday.


Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Three women at various stages of life are all connected to one chameleon of a man. He has infiltrated their lives using different aliases, with one common thread-money. The male character was despicable in the best way, and the women held their own in this gripping psychological thriller!

I went into the book blind but quickly caught on to what was happening. While I found some parts of the storyline to be a bit predictable, this didn’t take away from the pure entertainment value of seeing this man become unhinged! There were some sinister twists that I didn’t see coming, which kept me fully captivated through to the satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I could not put it down! Lisa Jewell did not disappoint me in this book! I loved the storyline and thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Aisling (Ash) Swan’s father has suddenly died, and her mother begins to date again. Ash quickly becomes suspicious of a new man who has shown up in her mother's life. As she begins to investigate, Nick Radcliffe's life slowly unravels revealing a ghastly trail of mystery, murder and mayhem!

This is a well written psychological thriller that is told in multiple points of view. Full of secrets, fraud, and deception, this is another great read that explores themes of trust, truth, deception, obsession and the complexities of relationships.

3.5⭐️ This wasn’t my favorite of Lisa Jewell’s, but I still think it’s worth the read. The plot was complex and interesting, but you have to be a fan of multiple characters and points of view! For me, it felt a little repetitive. Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lisa Jewell for the ARC

I enjoyed this book! I was a bit confused in the beginning, but once I finally figured out what was happening I really started to get into it. The second half flew by!

This was another Lisa jewell masterpiece. It’s fast, engaging, and keeps you on your toes. It’s well written with multiple POVs. I really enjoyed getting to hear from the protagonist’s side and it was well written too- to the right amount a crazy. I would recommend this book.

This is the type of thriller where the story just keeps spiraling and spiraling. You know the direction the plot is heading but you’re waiting for the chaos to start.

If you like an unreliable narrator in a thriller, this is a good one. The plot of this story reminds me of TV shows that I love with shady husbands and intertwining lives. I could easily visualize this in my head and it would make a great movie!

This is not a thriller with a big twist ending but I think that is why it is so good! You know that something is not quite right about Nick and Alistair and you’re slowly seeing the web of lies unravel. Lisa Jewell did a great job making sure all the pieces connect at the end of this one!

I liked this one a lot but I do think it is just too long. It honestly dragged on until about 60% of the way through it. Since the ending felt inevitable, I wished the plot had moved much faster.

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell releases on June 25, 2025, and was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2025! Lisa Jewell just KNOWS how to write a twisty, fast-paced, bingeable thriller and proves yet again why she's secured a spot on the top of my list of suspense & thriller authors. 💘🚪

Don't Let Him In is yet another masterpiece in LJ's repertoire. Three women are connected by one man, a man who seems perfect and full of charm. I don't even know how to summarize this book without spoilers, other than to say that this man disappears from these women, often for days and without a peep, and these women all get to a point where they feel like something just isn't right. All women find themselves wishing they had listened and hadn't let him in. He knows how to love-bomb and bamboozle and lie and manipulate at a level that leaves otherwise normally functioning women falling for his trap.

I tore through this book and found in her signature style that this book was unputdownable. 😮‍💨

This is the perfect summer thriller even when I sometimes was shaking my head at the decisions of these fully-grown-competent-women. I will also say you do have to come into this one with some patience, there is a bit of a learning curve with timelines and POV switching and characters galore, but once you're settled in, seatbelts on!! 💺

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 💖

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is as you may have guessed - it’s another great read from one of my favourite thriller queens!

This fast-paced, eerie, and deeply unsettling read pulled me right in and didn’t let go. The plot? Completely realistic! The male lead? Chilling — I've listened to enough true crime podcasts to say with confidence: he's out there somewhere.

I read this while on a backcountry canoe trip (yep, in the middle of the wilderness ), and while the book has nothing to do with the woods, I was still on edge while I slept.

There are lots of characters — some better developed than others. It actually added to the experience, since it felt like even Lisa herself was doing mental gymnastics trying to keep them straight… just like the villain himself might’ve done.

A bit more predictable than her usual twists and turns, but still absolutely worth it — especially if you're into realistic, psychological thrillers that could totally happen.

Another amazing read added to what’s turning out to be an incredible year of books for me!

Would I recommend it? YES. If you're a Jewell fan or into disturbingly realistic thrillers, this one’s a must-add to your TBR.

Thank you to @atriabooks and @netgalley for the e-ARC!

I love all things Lisa Jewell and the premise had me intrigued. This is a not scary thriller, which is usually my favorite kind. There were a lot of character to keep track of, and it felt confusing. I think that was kind of the point but it mostly frustrated me and I kept waiting for the story to get to the point. This one was just okay. I can't wait for the next Jewell read!

Thanks for the advanced reader copy Atria Books & Netgalley.

I have several of Lisa Jewell's books on my to-read list but never got around to them. But boy, after this one, I think I might've been missing out! I really enjoyed Don't Let Him In. It really sent me on a ride with all the craziness that happens/happened.

Martha is a married mother who owns a floral shop but her husband Alistair keeps disappearing for days/weeks for work. As her suspicions grow, she unravels secrets and finds her life intertwining with other women.

Nina's husband Paddy recently passed away but she finds love again when Nick, a old friend of Paddy reconnects with her. Ash is skeptical about this new, perfect man in her mother's life and she deep dives into an investigation on who this Nick really is.

The story picks up right away and from the moment Nick steps into the book, there is no turning back -- prepare for an adventure and a complete web of scandal and lies. This book was entertaining and also so crazy that I found it funny but stories like this do really happen in real life.

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher Atria Books, and author Lisa Jewell for providing me with an ARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

This is think my 5th Lisa Jewell book and I really loved it! The way she does suspense is unique in a somewhat over saturated market and each of her stories stand out from the other which isn’t always the case for authors who’ve been writing as long as Lisa

This author never disappoints and this book is no exception. I loved the way the author writes. It keeps the reader hooked.