Another good thriller by Lisa Jewel! Don’t Let Him In is a psychological thriller about a too good to be true man living multiple lives. Nina meets Nick not too long after being widowed and she can’t believe her luck—how is such a great man still single? But Nina’s adult daughter thinks something is off with the new man in her mother’s life and starts investigating.

Told from multiple points of view, this novel has many twists and turns. Nick is definitely a creeper and you definitely want to keep reading to find out how many women is had and is manipulating. Enjoyable read!

With so many twists and turns, this was a magnificent thriller. Right when I thought it was all coming together, there was another puzzle piece to solve. As the man of many names moves from one woman to the next, and as his lies catch up with him, the story escalates. One is kept wondering how he did it right up to the last page. This was a fun novel full of rich characters and a thrilling plot. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great thriller.

Wow—I could not put this down. Every time I thought the main character couldn’t possibly do anything worse, he somehow managed to shock me again. This psychological thriller follows the lives of several women and their entanglements with the mysterious and manipulative man referred to only as "Him" in the title.

The plot moves quickly and keeps you hooked with twists, red flags, and puzzles to piece together as you read. While you do have to suspend disbelief at times—there are definitely a few plot holes that made me think, “Wait, wouldn’t that have solved everything?”—the fast pacing and tension kept me fully invested. Some parts felt a little cliché, and I occasionally questioned how the characters could be so gullible… but then again, I’ve seen real-life crime shows with similar stories, so it’s not entirely unrealistic.

I read this while on a beeach vacation and found it to be a fun, fast-paced thriller that was perfect for pure entertainment. If you’re a fan of Lisa Jewell or love true crime podcasts, this book has a similar vibe.

It took me awhile to read this book but man it just kept me coming back and I’m glad I finished!!!

This is the kind of book that you have to read it in increments because it really hits home and you can’t stomach it all at once.

The ending really started to make me upset but man that epilogue tied it up nicely with a bow. Chefs kiss. Definitely would recommend!

A solid thriller filled with empowered women done wrong by the same man. Not my fav of this author but still really good.

Ok this may be a hot take on this book and one that I really hate to give because Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors but I made it through about 52% of this and had to DNF. I just could not get into this one and that 52% took me over a month to read because I wanted to pick up anything but this. I found it hard to keep the characters straight and I wasn't invested in any of them or the mystery that was happening. It really does pain me to DNF a Lisa book but I'm still very excited for what she has next!


My early e-copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Atria Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There aren’t many mystery/thriller writers I appreciate as much as I do @lisajewelluk. She doesn’t just craft a mystery well, her writing is engaging and entertaining. This certainly still holds true with Don’t Let Him In.

Nina Swann and her adult children, Arlo and Ash, have just lost the gregarious patriarch of their family. Paddy Swann has died tragically and suddenly. An old friend and coworker of his sends his sympathies and he and Nina begin to strike up a relationship. Ash doesn’t have a good feeling about Nick Radcliffe. Something’s not right, but Ash has had a rough good things herself, so maybe she’s not the one to know what’s right anyway.

Martha, a harried mother and business owner, is starting to wonder about her husband, Alistair. His job keeps him traveling all the time, but why is it always last-minute and why is all communication off the table when he’s away?

I read this book Sunday. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what was going to happen next. I vaguely knew the big story this was clearly inspired by, but not enough to dampen my enthusiasm. This villain is heinous. Creep factor kicked up to eleven. I’m shuddering just thinking about it now.

Highly recommended for crime aficionados, Lisa Jewell fans, and people who can read a book in one sitting!

I received this book via #netgalley and @atriabooks. Allison thoughts are mine alone.

#mystery #mysterybooks #contemporarymystery #dontlethimin #lisajewell #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram

A women's safe world begins to crack when someone from her past shows up, someone who should never be let back in. Twists are sharp, emotions run deep and the ending is both shocking and satisfying. This was impossible to put down and when you thought you knew what was going on, Lisa Jewell throws a curve ball. Dark secrets, unreliable characters this is a must read, you'll question everyone in the book.

I enjoyed this book!
It was a solid 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to 4.
I enjoy Lisa Jewell's books; they are sometimes hit or miss for me, but I enjoyed this one.
She wrote the antagonist so well that I literally could not stand him! Oh, he made me so mad!
Two plot lines are happening.
I don't want to spoil this one, but Paddy Swan suffers a tragic death. He was a successful restaurateur. He left behind his wife, Nina, and his daughter, Aisling. Aisling (Ash) is home, status post psychological breakdown. He also left behind a son, Arlo, who was in his early twenties. Nina gets a package from Nick Radcliffe, a former colleague of Paddy's, with a lighter enclosed. Nina and Nick begin writing to one another, and this escalates into a romantic relationship.
Martha is a florist who has two teenage sons from a previous marriage, and a baby girl who gave birth at 47. She is married to Al, who constantly travels and is not an emotional support. The couple struggles financially, and this is taking a toll on their relationship.
Both of the plot lines start to come together. There are twists, turns, and revelations that shock you, and things are so unpredictable!
The characters are fairly well-developed.
The plot is fairly well structured. When both come together, it becomes much easier. The pace was perfect for a mystery/thriller.
I think this is a book you should give a shot on your summer TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Lisa Jewell for the opportunity to read another ARC!
Happy Reading!

I was so excited to jump into Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell.
This girl never disappoints!
This book gripped me from the very first page and I ended up reading it in just two days! This was unlike anything I had read by this author previously, but in the best way. It was fast paced, intriguing, and it kept me engaged until the very last page.
Jewell's characters were so well-developed.
They are richly developed.
Hey writing is just brilliant and I know when I pick her books up I’m in for a thrilling ride!

Oh gosh, do NOT let him in. Not this narcissistic insane Jonathan/Alistair/Nick/whatever new name lying fellow.

I’ll start by saying this isn’t really a thriller? More a domestic mystery. There are a ton of lies and things aren’t quite adding up…and it goes even further than you think. I ended up really liking Ash, Jane, and Nina; Ash did an amazing job at being an amateur sleuth all to protect her mom. I feel so terribly for all the many women this psychopath manipulated.

I’ll be honest: the first half of this book was 3 stars at best. I found it confusing at times, repetitive, and infuriating (though it was meant to incite fury). It took me awhile to get through the first half. But then, as more is revealed, it really picks up and I flew through the back half and ended up loving the ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up for GR)

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is not "literature" and it most definitely is NOT a thriller. It didn't raise my heart-rate or make me dive under the covers at night, but it IS a specific type of creepy. Namely, the creepiness of a charming, handsome, psychopath of a man who worms his way into multiple women's lives in order to manipulate their emotions and steal their money. And occasionally, he goes a bit farther. A gaslighter, extraordinaire.

It was an enjoyable, fast read. I ended up really liking a few of the characters - Ash, Jane, Nina - and got annoyed by many of the others. Ultimately, this entire book felt like the personification of why women will "choose the bear".

Please note: I received a digital copy from NetGalley & Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

I do love me some Lisa Jewell and this book did not disappoint. I loved the varying viewpoints in the book and almost a dual storyline through most of the book. While some things seem like you have everything figured out - ahhhh no you don't. This was a quick fast paced read for me - highly recommend

Wow! Lisa Jewell has done it again! This is the kind of thriller that creeps under your skin and doesn’t let go—even after the final page! I started this one late in the evening, thinking I’d just read a chapter or two before bed. Huge mistake. I stayed up way too late, completely sucked into the twisted lives of Nina, Ash, and Martha.

At first glance, it’s a story about grief, new connections, and suspicions—but oh, it turns into so much more. Nina, reeling from her husband’s death, reconnects with the charming Nick Radcliffe—a man with impeccable manners and just the right words. But her daughter Ash senses something darker beneath his polished surface and quietly begins digging into his past. Meanwhile, Martha, a young mother in a seemingly happy marriage, starts to suspect her husband Alistair is hiding something behind his business trips. It’s the slow burn of all these narratives converging that makes the tension almost unbearable—in the best way.

The pacing is great: it starts a bit quietly but builds into a gripping, goosebump-inducing ride. Each woman felt incredibly real—strong, flawed, smart, and layered. And Nick… well, he’s absolutely chilling. Jewell is brilliant at creating characters who feel like people you know—and then revealing their darker sides piece by piece.

The multiple timelines and perspectives are seamlessly woven, and the reveals are jaw-dropping. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, the story veered in a completely different direction, and I was hooked all over again.

If you love psychological thrillers with strong female leads, disturbing secrets, and that signature Lisa Jewell twist—you need to read this. Highly, highly recommend!

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Atria Books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've loved Lisa Jewell in the past, but this one felt like it was totally phoned in. So repetitive! I LOVE a good conman character, but I loath when I find myself mentally editing a book while reading. I wanted to re-arrange chapters, cut dialogue, and change the third person POV to first. Nick's revelations came at the wrong times for me to be shocked or surprised, and I just felt so terrible for Ash the whole time because I could see exactly what was happening/had happened before it was brought to light. And her brother was such a throw-away character that could have brought way more to the story as the male heir to the Paddy Swann empire. I liked the fact-finding mission that finally began half way through, but felt this also had many missed opportunities for added suspense.

As always, many thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC. I'm eagerly awaiting Lisa Jewell's next work!

Another page-turning thriller from Lisa Jewell!
I will say I had a little trouble in the beginning keeping the names and characters straight and sorting the timeline. Once I got into it though, it was a quick read. The male main character was infuriating. A con man who thinks women owe him for being a 'nice guy'. I really enjoyed getting to know the women that surrounded him in his life though.
If you're looking for a twisty, fast-paced thriller, pick this up!

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 368 / Genre: Domestic Thriller
Audiobook Narrators: Richard Armitage, Joanne Froggatt, Tamaryn Payne, Gemma Whelan, Louise Brealey, Patience Tomlinson
Duration: 11 hours 58 minutes
Release Date: June 24, 2025
🥳#HappyPubWeek!🎉

Nick, Alistair, Simon, whatever name he’s using at the moment, is a conman. He’s been conning his way into the lives of different women for years. Has he found one he can settle down with forever or will he finally get what he get what he really deserves once and for all?

This was such a tense thriller. And it didn’t matter how handsome and charming he is, he was such a creep deep down, I couldn’t stand him. And the women were so gullible and desperate, it really made it hard to enjoy this one for me. I also didn’t care for all the timeline jumping. Not my favorite by one of my favorite authors.

Thank you, @AtriaBooks for my free advanced copy, although once I heard that the audiobook was narrated by a full cast, I had to wait to listen to it thanks to my trusty @Libby.App. The cast was amazing and made it so easy to binge.

I think I need to accept that con men stories just aren't for me. I had trouble getting into this one and it didn't really hold my attention. The plot was interesting enough but it felt like it took too long to really get going for me? Also the ending was a little out of nowhere?? Like how did he get out of the water and all the way to Algarve when he was taken by surprise by the whole thing?? Just wasn't for me but I did really enjoy the writing and know a lot of people will enjoy this story!

Do not start this book unless you have time to finish it! I stayed up way too late reading this, I could not put it down. Lisa Jewell is becoming an automatic buy author for me. She has the ability to quickly get you hooked and her writing style makes you want to keep reading.

Another great twisty turny book from Lisa Jewel. Her characters are so good and realistic. I enjoyed this book a lot