This book was a fast read. Lots of characters so you have to really pay attention. I found some of the back and forth with the chapters and who was narrating a bit confusing. You could eventually figure out what was happening in the story but there were a few surprises here and there.

An interesting tale of a man who is really a chameleon. So many lies told by Nick (or whatever his name is). How he doesn't see that all the lies are harmful is crazy to me.

This book tries too hard and is bogged down by typical tropes and underdeveloped characters, especially the female ones. This book just made me angry. Three stupidly weak women (view spoiler). This narrative was very underwhelming in my opinion. The premise and execution falter.

The plot felt formulaic and was not surprising at all. This mysterious man with secrets trope is getting old. Jewell is much better than this, and I am so disappointed. The male’s manipulations and the way the women weakly respond are tired and overdone. This is such a cliche. Jewell’s style of writing is her strength, and is engaging as usual here. But the toxic relationships and the paranoia of the female leads feel repetitive.

If you’re a big fan of the author, you might enjoy this, but I have read many of her other works that put this to shame. You want Jewell at her best, check out her The Family Upstairs Series. This one promises more than it delivers and was a missed opportunity, to say the least.

At first, the chapters feel a little short and disjointed in a way that I’m not entirely sure I know what is going on. But I was still intrigued and wanted to keep reading. Eventually it started to make more sense and I could follow the plot. Around halfway through the book it also started to get exciting. It had been a slow burn before that. The conclusion, instead of being a typical suspense cliffhanger, was very satisfying.

It didn’t have that thing that sucks you in like her other books do. I’m glad I read it and I enjoyed myself. But if someone asked me recommend a Lisa jewel book for them, this would not be the one I chose.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for this ARC

Lisa Jewell is an automatic buy for me and Don't let him in is no exception! This was a wild ride from start to finish. I didn't want to put it down.

Well, that was fun. Seriously, that was FUN. Lisa Jewell, this might be my favorite of yours so far.

The premise follows Nina Swann and her daughter, Ash, as Nina embarks on a new relationship with Nick Radcliffe, the perfect silver fox who can do NO wrong. Just a year after her husband's death, Nina is finally open to love again. Ash, however, is not so sure he's the right man for her.

A few towns over, Martha, a local flower shop owner, feels her four-year marriage is falling apart, as her husband, Alistair, becomes more elusive. He's out of town for work far too often, unavailable for phone calls and mysteriously vanishes when she needs him most.

With these three women harboring feelings towards these men, their lives are about to collide in the most suspenseful, intriguing way possible.

Lisa, I ATE THIS UP. There was a lot of changing of viewpoints and timelines but once I got the hang of the characters and their connections, I was sucked right in. While this might not be considered your typical thriller, it was incredibly uncomfortable and kept me uneasy through the epilogue. And for once, the epilogue was SO IMPORTANT!

Let's just say, YES, I understand the characters in this book make you want to absolutely shake them and say "what the heck are you thinking?" but hey, that's the human experience, right? Otherwise, the chapters were well laid-out and the premise of the book goes far beyond what you might expect.

This just solidified Lisa Jewell's status as one of my favorite domestic thriller authors and it's not even close. Definitely check this book out when it's released on 6/24/25.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the e-ARC of this phenomenal book. A twisty summer thriller you'll absolutely fall for over and over again!

Thank you Netgalley & Atria Books for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

Okay, I need to talk about this book because it *got* me. You know that feeling when you start reading something and within five pages, you’re already side-eyeing a character so hard your brain starts whispering *”nope, nope, absolutely not”*? That’s Nick Radcliffe for you—the kind of guy who shows up with a perfectly timed condolence card and a smile that’s *just* a little too smooth. Lisa Jewell is a pro at crafting these unsettling, too-good-to-be-true figures, and Nick might be her most skin-crawling yet.
The story weaves together three women—Nina, her daughter Ash, and Martha, a florist with a mysteriously absent husband—and at first, their lives don’t seem connected at all. But oh, they are. And the way Jewell slowly tightens the threads between them is perfecto 🤌🏽 Nina’s grieving, Ash is suspicious (bless her, she’s the voice of reason we all need), and Martha’s stuck in that awful spiral of *”Is my husband lying, or am I losing it?”*
There’s no over-the-top violence or cheap shocks—just this growing sense that something is *off*, like a shadow you can’t quite make out.
Lisa Jewell’s writing is sharp as ever, balancing emotional depth with that page-turning thriller urgency. If you’re a fan of stories where the danger wears a friendly face, this one’s for you.
. And seriously—take the title’s advice. **Don’t. Let. Him. In.**

We meet a heartbroken family after the untimely death of Paddy Swann. He leaves behind a wife named Nina, a daughter Ash, and a son Arlo. A new man, Nick Radcliffe, comes into Nina's life and Ash has her suspicions. Nick seems too perfect and swooped into Nina's life too continently. What follows is a tangled web of characters, history, vendettas and secrets.

It all sounds good, but honestly, this booked dragged for me. The set up was too long. The characters were dull. It only really got interesting 2/3 of the way in and I'm shocked that I finished it. The ending itself was rushed and fell flat for me. Sure there were some good twists, but nothing that was a shocker. I've read one other Lisa Jewell book and really enjoyed it which is why I requested this one. Hopefully others find it more enjoyable than I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

Lisa Jewell is an auto buy author for me so I was very excited to receive this ARC. Whole the premise of the book appealed to me i struggled getting into the novel. There were so many characters and it was hard to keep track of who was who at the beginning. While I struggled with the first half I really flew through the second half and ended up enjoying it. It definitely featured a unlikable character which I really like in a thriller. It was frustrating at times that all these women kept getting fooled by this guy but the end was satisfying. This one wasn’t my favorite from the author but I still liked it.

I could not put this book down! I haven't read any of Lisa Jewell's other books yet, but I can see why she is a popular author.
The exposition was a little confusing, but it became apparent that there was a reason for that.
If you liked the show, "Dirty John", this has similar vibes.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It will be published on 06/24/2025.

Lisa Jewell’s Don't Let Him In is a psychological thriller that grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go. From the opening chapter, there’s a palpable tension humming beneath every word — the kind that makes you "hold your breath without realizing it". LOL. Jewell masterfully balances suspense with emotional depth, creating characters that feel disturbingly real.

The central mystery is chilling and cleverly constructed, but what really impressed me was how Jewell weaves trauma, trust, and manipulation into a tightly coiled narrative. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another layer peeled back — darker, more personal, more devastating.

The atmosphere is claustrophobic in the best way, and the themes of isolation and gaslighting felt all too believable. Without spoiling anything, the ending is both shocking and satisfying — the kind of twist that forces you to reevaluate everything that came before it.

Jewell has always excelled at walking the line between domestic noir and full-blown psychological horror, and Don't Let Him In is a terrifying triumph. A must-read for fans of Gone Girl, Behind Closed Doors, and The Push.

If you're waiting to read this book, you won't have to wait long because it hits shelves on June 24th! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for gifting me an arc in exchange for this review.

I need to start by saying that I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan. I enjoy her style of domestic thrillers that take many twists and turns and have you questioning what you know. Her newest book, “Don’t Let Him In,” had me hooked from the very beginning.

Ash finds herself struggling to move on after her father, Paddy Swan, dies tragically. Ash’s mom falls for a man named Nick Ratcliffe who has a past connection with her dead husband. This love story is told through Ash’s voice, who becomes suspicious of Nick early on.

Martha owns a floral shop. She is married to a man named Allistair. Martha thinks that her husband is perfect, except he has a habit of disappearing on a whim for business trips.

From the outside, it looks like Jonathan has it all, except for he has becoming increasingly unhappy with his wife and is looking for a way out.

Who is Nick? Alistair? Jonathan? How are these storylines connected?

From the very beginning I was questioning who these people are and what is the common tie. Every time I had a theory, Lisa would throw in a plot twist that kept me questioning what the hell was going on. You will be taken on a dark path that will lead to you yelling at the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this book for review. My review can also be found on Goodreads, http://goodreads.com/sara_chisholm.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, and once again, she never disappoints! Don’t Let Him In might just be her best book yet.

Summary:
Don’t Let Him In is a tense cat and mouse thriller that follows three women whose lives are upended when a charming but dangerous stranger named Nick Radcliffe begins to insert himself into their worlds. As secrets unravel and trust erodes, they must confront the terrifying truth: they may already have let the wrong man in.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the multidimensional villain — a character so compelling and layered that you can’t help but want to learn more about him, even as you dread what he might do next. And I absolutely love Lisa Jewell’s approach to storytelling — she completely immerses me in the story, and I can so vividly picture everything with my mind’s eye. It’s the kind of book you feel as you read it.

Read this if you enjoy:
• Gripping psychological thrillers
• Complex characters with dark secrets
• Twists you won’t see coming
• That signature Lisa Jewell unease that keeps you hooked
• The world of con artists and griffs
• Trust eroding within family relationships
• Major gaslighting
• Alternating points of view and several timelines that add dimension to the storytelling
• WOW endings that are very satisfying
• Various areas of England, including London and the quaint countryside
• Themes of obsession, secrecy, revenge, and reinvention
• Cat and mouse thrillers

Rating: 5 out of 5

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this e-ARC. The official release date is June 24th, 2025. I can’t recommend this one highly enough!

Publishes 2/24/2025, I 1/2 read an advanced copy. Didn’t finish, read over half. I like Lisa Jewell but if there is no mystery, no murder, no psychological maelstrom by the time I am half through, I am really through with it. Handsome charismatic guy making vulnerable women fall for him and his fraud…over and over annd over again. Only thing worse is that it flips back and forth in years only to cover the same thing. I get it, but what are you aiming for? If it’s him finally getting caught out and retribution, it is taking too long and I just don’t care. I know this stuff happens but I also find it hard to believe in our tech age that it could be so easy I can’t believe I am giving one star to a Lisa Jewell novel.

This is a woman's worst nightmare when it comes to relationships. You can never trust men! I can easily get hooked into psychological thrillers that center around toxic relationships. This one has you questioning the men and women throughout this book.

Nina's husband Paddy was recently killed, and she started a friendship with one of Paddy's friends from years ago, Nick. However, Nina's daughter Ash starts getting suspicious about how 'perfect' Nick seems, as well as how he's weaseled his way into Nina's life. As she starts to dig, she starts to find out more than she bargained for. There are also a few other women's POV, as well as a man's first person POV. It all becomes really entertaining when all these worlds collide and sh*t hits the fan.

A book that will spike your anxiety about trusting people. Many good twists that keep you guessing!

I devoured this book. I had to keep reading to see this man finally face the consequences of what he’d done. His POV made my blood boil (in the best way): narcissistic, manipulative, and disturbingly self-assured. But that perspective also pulled me in even deeper and made the story more powerful. It was heartbreaking to see how many people he conned over the years, especially the women who trusted him. Jewell does a great job showing how these manipulations happen. Not because of weakness, but because of vulnerability, longing, and the deeply human desire to be seen. It’s easy to say “I’d never fall for that,” but this book reminds us how complex these situations can be.

No one builds to a crescendo quite like Lisa Jewell. Don’t Let Him In is a psychological pressure cooker that is told through multiple perspectives and simmers with unease until it finally boils over.

The novel follows Nina, a widow adjusting to life without her husband; her teenage daughter, Ash, who’s instantly suspicious of the charming new man in their lives; and Martha, a woman whose seemingly perfect family is beginning to fracture. At the center of it all is Nick - a man who seems too good to be true, because he is.

This isn’t your typical scary thriller. It’s quieter, more insidious. A slow unspooling of three women’s lives as they’re drawn into the orbit of a manipulative psychopath. It’s a character-driven, deliberately paced story that left me thoroughly rattled.

Lisa Jewell has long been one of my go-to authors - an auto-read whose unique plots and unexpected twists usually has me finishing within a couple days. Naturally, I dove into her latest release, Don’t Let Him In without reading any reviews or even looking at the blurb. I was anxious to experience the story fresh, trusting in Jewell's talent to deliver a gripping story.

The novel follows a man who appears charming and confident - someone who believes he's irresistible to women - but beneath that facade lies someone far more sinister. He preys on women from various walks of life, manipulating them with ease. As suspicions grow, the truth about him begins to unravel piece by piece, like a jigsaw puzzle slowly taking shape.

While the premise had all the ingredients of a compelling psychological thriller, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The pacing was so slow, there were many characters to keep track of and the execution - jumping between similar characters and multiple timelines - made it difficult to stay engaged. By the time the story picked up, I found myself emotionally detached from the characters and their outcomes.

Don’t Let Him In had promise, and I appreciated the clever setup of its central mystery. But overall, it didn’t captivate me the way Lisa Jewell’s previous books have. Longtime fans might still find elements to enjoy, but for me, this one fell short of the mark.

My thanks to Atria Books for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Lisa Jewell’s Don’t Let Him In is a psychological thriller that drags you into a slow-burning horror—not the kind with jump scares, but the kind where you feel trapped alongside the characters, watching something awful unfold in real time and being utterly unable to stop it. The book begins with uncertainty and then becomes repetitive. The repetition, however, might be intentional. It mirrors the sense of entrapment the female characters feel—caught in a cycle of powerlessness and manipulation. The antagonist feels like a Frankenstein’s monster of every red-flag date you’ve ever had or heard about—manipulative, insidious, and chillingly real. The female characters are relatable in their vulnerability, which makes their situation all the more horrifying. While there isn’t a lot of traditional character growth, the emotional realism makes up for it. You care, deeply—even when you're frustrated with their choices. The central tension—trapped in emotional and psychological abuse—is palpable. While the drama occasionally feels like it circles back on itself, it reinforces the claustrophobic dynamic. You feel stuck with the characters, which, again, may be deliberate. It’s unsettling, but effective. Don’t Let Him In explores emotional manipulation, gaslighting, and the subtle ways coercive control can manifest in relationships. This book had me yelling internally at the characters—please just see it, please leave. A compelling, frustrating, and emotionally engaging read that does a great job showing the slow, suffocating nature of psychological abuse.

i thought there would be a lot more action in this book than there was. i felt like nothing really happened for the first 50% and then i thought we were finally getting somewhere, but it slowed down again at the end. it was fine, but could’ve been 100 pages shorter.