Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
Pub Date: 6/24/25
Format: ebook/audio
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Going to keep this review short and sweet because I love Lisa Jewell, but this specific book just was not for me. As always, she is fantastic at writing an everyday villain, but the way this story unfolded was difficult for me to stay engaged.

This is certainly more character study than thriller, and I don’t mind that! I more felt like the different POVs jumped around too much where I couldn’t get invested in anyone’s story. With the lack of connection and interest, I just didn’t feel compelled to keep picking it up and it took me a while to get through it.

That said, I will always read what Jewell writes. Still a decent book, just not my favorite by her.

Big thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review!

Kind of hard to follow. I listened and read and it was hard to follow all the characters and timelines. I did enjoy it but needed a little help from other reviews to understand better. Ending was open ended. Thank you NetGalley for this arc

I've enjoyed the author's previous books but this one might be my favorite yet! I was completely engrossed in this story the entire time, and I think the back and forth between different POVs really worked to hear the characters' own voices, though it took me a while to keep everyone straight. My theories changed every couple of chapters, and I was suspicious of everyone at some point! I did guess one of the twists and the story went a little off the rails toward the end, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of everything else. Would highly, highly recommend and I can't wait to see what Lisa Jewell does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

”The world, she now knows, is not what it seems. Nobody is what they seem. Everything is an illusion.”

Don’t Let Him In is Lisa Jewell at her best—layered, twisty, and complex, with a truly evil villain at the center of it all. It’s a unique thriller, in that there is nothing grisly or gory or “blood-and-guts” about it, and yet the MMC manages to be utterly horrifying, even without any of that.

”The man she’s loved for four years, been married to for two, the father of her daughter and stepfather to her sons, is a con artist and a fantasist and a liar and a freak.”

This book is for you if you…
* can tolerate a main character that you’re supposed to despise
* watched Lost for Sawyer’s villain story, not his redemption arc
* actively monitor your local “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” page because you’re a girl’s girl and you’ll gladly spill the tea about the creeps you know
* know that sometimes the worst psychopaths don’t have to lay a hand on you in order to absolutely ruin your life
* won’t get confused in a book with dozens of characters, multiple POVs, a slightly-unclear timeline, and unlabeled chapters

”She hadn’t noticed it until it was destroying her life.

I did get a little lost in the complexity of the narrative style, but the payoff was worth it. I really enjoyed this one!

——

A huge thank you to Lisa Jewell, Atria, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lisa Jewell has done it again! The hype is totally real with this one.

The MMC in this book is just... I mean I suppose charming? But also absolutely terrifying! A true con-man who is swindling these (smart?) women and feeding them sob stories, while taking money they don't have. This book was SO GOOD and I found myself hooked on the story from the start, mostly because I couldn't fathom how so. many women could be so stupid?!? I'd like to believe more women than not would kick this guy to the curb after being ghosted for days on end only to blame it on your ADHD? Come on.

I loved how the characters were weaved together because of his deceit, and I mean props to him for being able to keep each of his personas straight? But also, you're a terrible person my guy.

I was a little confused on the ending because... just how? But overall this was a fantastic read

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this one!

Lisa is truly the queen of thrillers, somehow managing to make disturbing reads feel cozy. I’ve never read a book of hers that didn’t cause me to lose at least a night of sleep rushing to finish. This book was no different!

Following the story of a man that is truly too good to be true, and the web of lies and deceit that he has built and the lengths he is willing to go to get what he wants. How do women fall for men like this? Wit, good looks, charisma, and the promise of a perfect life.

This book has multiple POV and multiple timelines which are pretty much a must for me 🤪

I love me some Lisa Jewell so I was STOKED when I received this ARC. I thought this book was good and it kept me intrigued through out. I’m not going to lie all of the different characters and then the different names for the same male character did throw me off a bit but eventually I caught on lol. There was not an “ah ha!” Moment for me, but I thoroughly enjoy this book! Lisa Joel has strikes again!

This book is confusing at first until you start to put together what's going on, who's who, and keep track of the timelines. It's a very interesting psychological thriller that really looks into the psyche of a psychopath and the effects that kind of manipulation might have on the lives of others (it could have actually been a tad darker and more disturbing though, to be honest).

The story was intricate and well thought out. Things may have come to light a little too easily, but I still enjoyed it.

I recommend to anyone who is interested in psychology.

I had a hard time getting into this book at the beginning, but once I was about 1/3 of the way in I couldn't stop reading. The story is written in multiple perspectives over different timelines. I feel like it was easier to keep track of each of them while reading the physical copy than it would have been listening on audio. It is fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. While many of the twists were predictable, it was fun to see how all of the characters were connected in the end. I would recommend this to anyone that loves a page turning thriller and will probably read it again!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This book was cray - in such a good way. The MMC reminds me so much of the narcissistic men I've dated. Ego flying high, thinking he's God's gift to the universe. Finds himself undeniably attractive it makes you want to barf. He's so unlikeable but that is what makes this book so good. Love the female characters that never give up once they realize what is going on - it's so easy for a lot of women just to push things aside thinking they an change the man. This is probably going to be my most favorite Lisa Jewell book.

4.25

This was another page turning thriller from Lisa Jewell!

Nick Radcliffe enters the lives of Nina, a recent widow, and her daughter, Ash. Charming, hunky, kind, and seemingly ambitious, Nick sweeps Nina off her feet. However, Ash senses that something is off. She starts to do some digging only to uncover a series of concerning events.

I’ve been in a reading funk lately and this book got me out of it. The quick chapters made for a quick read that kept me turning the pages, anxious to see what would happen next!

My only criticism is that the first 25% of the book was confusing as I was sorting through the different lives that “Nick” was leading and all of the characters involved. The extensive cast of characters had a purpose, but I could’ve done with a few less. It also jumped back and forth between past and present and often was hard to keep track of.

However, once I settled into the rhythm of all of the storylines, it was every part of a bingeable thriller. Nick is a clever con artist and a really slick one at that. It was suspenseful, yet horrifying to think that this is something that could happen in real life.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for this review. This thriller is definitely worth the read!

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell opens when Nina receives a condolence gift from Nick Radcliffe, claiming to be an old friend of her recently deceased husband Paddy. As Nina falls for Nick's charm, her daughter Ash grows suspicious and starts investigating his past, while across town florist Martha struggles with her frequently absent husband Alistair's increasingly suspicious behavior. Maybe it sounds smugly naive to say this, but I genuinely do not get how all these smart women got taken in by this man who manages to be both incandescently diabolical and audaciously mediocre at the same time. The manipulation tactics were so transparent and the red flags so abundant that I spent most of the book wanting to shake sense into everyone involved. That said, I love Lisa Jewell's work, so I had to see where this story was going, and she does deliver her signature twisty plotting and satisfying resolution. Even if I couldn't buy into the premise, my affection for Jewell kept me reading through to the end.

Nice, quick and fast paced. My attention was held, and I kept turning pages.
Multiple POV's shows the layers of all these characters and the intent they have.
The story line is full of deceit, secrets, and manipulation. The story starts when a package arrives with a note and a series of events that slowly unravels the secrets of the past. Twists and turns keep the reader invested in finding out what happens next.
The ending is predictable I still enjoyed it overall.

Lisa Jewell is one of the best ones doing this thing! She reels you in right away and doesn't let you go until you read the final page.

Nina Swann gets a letter and a box with a lighter in it that the sender says was from her late husband. Nick Radcliffe is smooth and charming and knows just how to talk to a woman. He has so many, it's not surprising. He has been a number of different men in his life, leaving behind a trail of desperate, sad women. Nina's daughter Ash, doesn't believe his story or trust him as far as she could throw him and she is right! He has killed, hurt and left many people behind. She starts looking into him along with her late father's ex-girlfriend. She is shocked by what she uncovers. There is never just one woman in his life. He believes he is above everyone else. I was a little worried at the end but then Ms. Jewell renewed my faith in the book.

So wonderfully written with just the right amount of surprise and intrigue. She never fails to impress me. I will be a faithful follower forever.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for this copy for review.

If you’re a fan of Lisa Jewell’s style, you’ll love this one; it’s classic Jewell through and through. Don’t Let Him In is a twisty, fun thriller where the surprises and hits just keep on coming. It starts out slow but steadily picks up steam, rewarding patient readers with an addictive ride.

Told through multiple POVs and timelines (which could be a lot to keep track of at times), the story follows three women connected by one man. After the unexpected death of Nina’s husband, she gets a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend with a charming smile and seemingly perfect manners. Nina is drawn in, but her daughter Ash is instantly suspicious and starts digging into his past, uncovering disturbing truths.

Meanwhile, Martha is a florist in a neighboring town, growing increasingly uneasy about her husband Alistair’s frequent absences. As these women’s paths converge, they’re hurtling toward a shocking revelation darker than they could have imagined.

If you love layered thrillers full of secrets, suspense, and classic Lisa Jewell slow-burn tension, add Don’t Let Him In to your TBR.

Lisa Jewell's thrillers never fail to captivate, and this one was no exception. From the very beginning, I was drawn into the lives of the different women each with her own compelling story, all mysteriously connected to the same man. As the narrative unfolded, it felt like assembling a gripping puzzle, with each new chapter offering a clue that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The twists came at just the right moments, adding layers of intrigue and suspense. And the ending, unexpected and satistying delivered a powerful punch. It felt a little different from typical thrillers, in a good way. I here was a strong sense of justice by the end, a quiet but satisfying reckoning for a man who truly deserved it.
If you're a fan of twisty, character driven thrillers, this one is a must read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I enjoyed this quite a bit, i love Lisa Jewell, because her thrillers always have plenty of detail and layering, and this was no different. It did start a little slow, and got confusing at some points, but i know she always lays it all out through the back half, so stick with it and itll come!

This wasnt my favorite, but it was still enjoyable and had that Lisa flair. I just never connected to the individual characters and the larger story like i have with her others.

Lisa Jewell has been one of my favorite Authors for many years. I don’t think I’ve ever met a novel of hers I haven’t liked and Don’t Let Him In not only continues the trend, I think this is the best yet!

I was immediately engrossed with the story and couldn’t wait to find out more about Nick and who he is. I loved the setting and couldn’t get enough as I watched this man’s world just build up and start to unravel.

Earlier this year I watched a miniseries called Fake about a Con Artist that I really enjoyed and initially this story reminded me a bit of that, but this was so much better! Everything that Lisa writes is so intricate and well thought out. It always amazes me that nothing is missed in her books. She’s just an exceptional writer and storyteller.

This book will have you shaking your head in disbelief over and over. It makes you feel such a range of emotions over this man, his antics, and the women he affects. Those are the best kind of stories in my opinion. It’s just so good!

So many thanks to Atria Books & NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to recommend Don’t Let Him In to everyone!

Don't Let Him In, by Lisa Jewell is fresh off the press and Jewell is a must read for me. While this one wasn't my favorite book by her, it still had all the layers of a Jewell title. A conman who's reach is far, preys on unsuspecting woman with intense preparation in his search for having it all. The ending was a bit of a quick sum up for me, with so many details to unpack. I enjoyed this latest hit from Jewell and could most certainly see it as a film adaptation for sure.

Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC was provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows three different time lines where each woman is in a relationship with a terrible man who is a liar and manipulator. The three the timelines/ female perspectives connect and we learn about how they are all connected. Overall I really enjoyed this story. There is just something about Lisa Jewel's writing that I really like and I find very easy to get into and keeps me coming back. The story didn't have any profound twists or turns but overall I quite enjoyed myself and I would recommend to those who enjoy her writing.