Queen Lisa does it again! I have read a majority of her books & this one did not disappoint! I was hooked from the first page. I finished this book in a day! I am obsessed with Lisa Jewell and can’t wait for the next book!

WOW! Three women's lives collide as they find out they have been married to the same man! The way the author weaved in the man, all his different persona's was crazy. I kept thinking to myself, these women can't possibly be fooled by him.
Recently widowed, Nina and her daughter, Ash, get a letter from a man who claims to have been friends with Nina's husband. Nina becomes interested in finding out more about him, while Ash is very suspicious. When we find out all the misdeeds of Nick/Al/whoever else he is, the craziness ensues!

Thank you to Netgalley and atria books for early access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

While Don’t Let Him In wasn’t my favorite of Lisa Jewell’s novels, it still highlights just how incredibly talented she is as a writer. One of the things I admire most about her storytelling is the way she weaves together multiple perspectives so seamlessly. In this book, we hear from a variety of characters, each voice distinct and purposeful, which really enriches the reading experience.

What stood out most to me was how deeply she leaned into Nick’s character. Getting a glimpse into the mind of a villain is always unsettling, but Lisa Jewell handles it with such nuance and control. She doesn’t just write a bad guy—she fully inhabits his perspective, making it both chilling and compelling.

Even if this one didn’t hit quite as hard for me as some of her others, I can’t deny the skill and craft behind it. Lisa Jewell remains a master of psychological suspense.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC. I have been a Lisa Jewell fan since I discovered her books about 8 years ago. I was so excited for this ARC. However, for whatever reason, this novel was not for me. The best way I can describe this novel is to say it's about a toxic man that manipulates women to give him money to afford the lifestyle he believes he deserves. To be honest, I wouldn't even call it a thriller. I trudged through this novel and couldn't wait to finish it. There were so many characters involved, sometimes I forgot which character was which. I also couldn't connect with any of them. The women seemed easily manipulated and I just didn't really care to learn what became of any of them. In the end, I did finish it but it just wasn't for me. 2.5 stars

Don't Let Him In follows a MMC and numerous FMCs through a web of lies and deceit. I genuinely hated the MMC, which is expected, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth for the book. There have been novels that I've enjoyed following the villain, but this one didn't work for me. I think maybe because I was disappointed in the number of weak FMCs and lack of twists.

I received an ARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third Lisa Jewell novel, although she has written many more. I enjoy her thrillers so I was happy to pick this new one up.

Description:
Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. He’s just what Nina Swann needed in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…

“Because there are things that don’t make sense, and I’ve been so patient, so very patient…”

Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn't right.

“You know that’s mad, don’t you? I’m your husband. We know everything there is to know about each other.”

Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.

My Thoughts:
Nick and Allistair both seem like great guys - at first. This book brings us a most detestable creep of a man. Women fall for him easily. He glides through life seeming the perfect gentleman in every way - loving and caring, taking care of all the needs of the woman he is with. But all it not what it seems. The read was increasingly tense and I couldn't read fast enough. It was shocking fo find out what was actually happening. The ending astonished me. This is a really good domestic thriller and anyone who likes this type of book will enjoy it.

Thanks to Atria Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Don't Let Him In tells the story of different women all connected by one man. After Nina's husband dies she meets a man named Nick who says he worked with her husband many years ago. On the surface, Nick seems perfect. Too good to be true, Nina's daughter Ash thinks. Ash doesn't trust Nick and starts to dig into his history. We find that Nick is also known as Alistair and has a wife named Martha. Martha is becoming frustrated by Al, one minute he is perfect and the next he disappears for days without answering his phone. The women find that Nick isn't who he says he is and has a dark past.

If @lisajewelluk writes it, I'm going to read it! She is one of my all time favorite authors, and there hasn't been a book of hers that I haven't enjoyed, this one being no exception. Even though you figure out early what is going on, it didn't take away from the story, instead it kept me intrigued on how the character got away with conning so many women and how it was going to end for him. Sometimes it was a little hard for me to keep up with who is who but I did enjoy the past and present viewpoints in the story. Overall I really did enjoy this one!

This book had so many wonderful narrators. I loved listening to them all! The book itself was so messed up. This dude ranks up with the most detestable characters of all time. You have to be ready to cringe the entire time you’re reading or listening to this book. I applaud the author fully leaning into it all because it couldn’t have been a pleasant writing experience- especially making all of those women being almost unrealistically gullible.

Don't Let Him In was my first Lisa Jewell book and while I didn’t love it, I can see why she has such a loyal fanbase. The plot is solid. A charming man with too many names and too many secrets, worming his way into the lives of vulnerable women. It had all the makings of a twisty domestic thriller but the execution didn’t fully land for me.

I had a hard time getting into the writing style at first. The book alternates between first and third person and bounces across timelines, which made it hard to find my footing. Eventually, I got into a rhythm, but the format remained a little tough for me to follow throughout.

Nick (or Damien/Jonathan/Al… take your pick) is a deeply loathsome character (for all the right reasons) but I found myself growing increasingly frustrated watching him recycle the same excuses and manipulation tactics across the board. Maybe that repetition was intentional, but it made the story feel unnecessarily long. I kept wishing someone, ANYONE, would see through him sooner.

That said, I won’t let this stop me exploring more of Jewell’s books. This one may not have been for me, but I’m still curious to see what her backlist has in store.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. A new Lisa Jewell is usually on my must-read list, but Don't Let Him In may be my last Jewell for awhile. Three women - Nina, her daughter Ash, and Martha - are linked by their relationship to a mysterious conman. The story is predictable, with many tired cliches about the vulnerability of women and their need for male attention. Jewell's actual writing compelled me to finish this book, but the twist one has come to expect just isn't there. As with The Family Upstairs, Jewell verges on homophobia and this time a hint of transphobia in her descriptions of the sociopathic villain. It's a shame that a reliable crowd-pleaser has turned clunky.

“His bright blue eyes are wide and eager. But she’s seen the brightness of his eyes enough times before to know that they are a trap, designed to be fallen into.“

“I am always the unreliable narrator in my life. People always question my motives, question the accuracy of my opinions or retelling of things.“

“But, as I say, this woman, this ridiculous, broken, sad-eyed woman who put her life on hold after I disappeared, was in many ways my blueprint for managing women, for learning how to navigate and bypass their natural defences (so much easier than they want you to think it is).”

“They are my puppets now in so many ways, and I am their master.“

This is basically a masterclass in narcissism, gas lighting and love bombing. In true Lisa Jewell form, we also have many unexpected reveals throughout the way. I did find this one a little repetitive and lacking real “action”. I’d maybe call it a domestic mystery over a true psychological thriller. But if you’re a Lisa Jewell fan I’m sure you’ll enjoy the ride!

Lisa Jewell does it again. Don't Let Him In was twisty and compelling and a great read. My only complaint is all the different timelines got confusing at times.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Lisa Jewell has done it again with this one. Complex characters, a thick plot, a story that weaves together even better with every page. Don't Let Him In was a definite page turner for me and I found myself falling completely into the story as I read, trying to figure out what would happen next.

This isn't the typical thriller with huge, action-fueled chapters, it's a slow build but the alternating perspectives and pacing make it just as addictive.

Nick Radcliffe is a character you will likely love to hate- just like a train wreck you can't look away from. As the synopsis of the novel says: The characters are "on a collision course with a shocking truth...." this Radcliffe guy is at the center of it all.

Pick this one up, sit back, and enjoy. 5 stars for creativity and addictiveness!

Whether it be Simon Smith (his true name) or Alistair and Nick ( his aliases), he was a true psychopath in all sense of the word. He purported himself to be a victim and therefore entitled to a better life. He had no qualms of walking away from his families to move on to what he perceived to be better. As a result, he drained his "wives" and his girlfriend emotionally, financially and in the case of Tara, violently. He made the women feel like a queen at first and beautiful. He made them feel seen. Once he felt that they were under his wing, the lies began whether it be a sick mother or his need for an operation. He made up his job so he could jump from woman to woman. He was a sick and evil man. Ash saw it from the beginning as she never trusted him and with the help of Jane and a Facebook page, was determined to bring him down. The ending was captivating from him jumping in the ocean to walking to see Amanda. I applaud her strength at the end as she truly saw who he was and if left as a free man, would continue the exact same patterns of behavior.

Holy con-man! The main character Nick - or whatever his name was - creeped me out! This book was a solid read, but in the beginning was slightly confusing with all of the characters and the time jumps, but I am glad I kept going! Hard to believe all of those women fell for his crap, but he was the king of lies and gas-lighting. This was my first book by this author and I will read more!

I became a Lisa Jewel fan after finishing "None of This is True" (so good, go read it if you haven't!), so I was super excited to get this ARC.

I'm not gonna lie, it took me a hot minute to get into this one. I felt like, at the beginning, there were some jumps around to different times and characters that left me a little confused about what was going on. But I was also so curious so I kept going and I'm glad I did. I'm not sure this has the classic thriller twist - it's pretty obvious from very early on what's happening. So it doesn't have that element of suspense or surprise. It more so leaves you with a desire to want to understand the villain's perspective while also being sickened by him.

As someone who works extensively with victims of DV, the gaslighting in this was SO REALISTIC and made my skin crawl. The idea that there are men like this out there made me want to hide under my bed forever.

4/5, worth the read but don't expect it to be super twisty or pick up immediately.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Lisa Jewel book and man am I glad that I’m back!
This was everything I needed in a thriller and then some when a child knows something is off about a person listen to them the first time. I was on the edge of my seat with this book rooting for Ash and that evidence. Definitely the perfect summer read.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this Arc in exchange for my honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lisa Jewell does it again. She creates a great villain- a conman who has managed to wreak havoc, financially and emotionally, on many women over several decades while also committing heinous crimes. Of course, that was just the ingredients I needed to stay parked on my deck swing. I NEEDED him to be caught. The reader gets inside his head( a terrible place to be), and I would breathe sighs of relief when it focused on the women trying to hunt him down. What a cathartic moment it was when the big showdown occurred.

Gift this one to your recently divorced or widowed mother, sister, aunt, or daughter.







Publication Date 24/06/25
Goodreads Review 28/06/25

I just finished Lisa Jewell's latest thriller, "Don't Let Him In." I was captivated by the charming Nick Radcliffe from the get go. But when one of the recently widowed women that he is dating daughter grows suspicious of who Nick really is and starts her own investigation. The story is told in multiple time lines, (I always love a back story) The constant twist and turns will keep you captured to turn each pages as fast as you can. Thank you #Netgalley and #Atriabooks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.