I am a big fan of the author but this book just did not hit. Other readers will love this but it fell flat for me. There were multiple POV’s and dual time lines to keep track of. There were a lot of characters to keep straight too. I was able to figure things out pretty quickly. About halfway through I was asking myself how it’s not almost over yet. I read it fast hoping it would get better or there would be some wild twist. For me it was just okay.

Thank you for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review

This is a clever and suspenseful book by the amazing Lisa Jewell!
I stayed up late, I woke up early to read this book as I was immediately immersed in the story and wanted to know how it would all come together.
There are multiple women who are conned by Nick/Al/and every other name that he goes by. He embeds himself in their life, has children with some of these women, ultimately skims/scams money from them, and lives a lie in every aspect of his life.
Nina's daughter is on to "Nick"...I was so glad she was persistent and kept at it to figure out what was going on.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

This is the most diabolical Lisa Jewell book I’ve ever read! My jaw dropped a few times, and I had a lot of fun with it. I absolutely loved it. And I am usually tough on thrillers, but I wouldn’t change a thing. This was unhinged!

Wow, that was intense! Lisa Jewell certainly knows how to engage readers with her clever prose.


Synopsis: Nick Radcliffe embodies charm and sophistication, and his infectious smile can warm even the coldest of hearts. He effortlessly puts those around him at ease, making him a perfect fixture in Nina Swann's life, especially after the painful loss of her husband. Yet, to Nina’s perceptive adult daughter, Ash, Nick's polished demeanour feels all too perfect, almost too good to be true.


Martha, the heart and soul behind a charming flower shop, had always revelled in the peaceful rhythm of her life in a neighbouring town with her adorable infant daughter and devoted husband, Alistair. Typically, Alistair and Martha's days together were filled with the sweet scent of blossoms and laughter. However, a shadow had begun to creep into her idyllic world. Martha couldn't ignore the unsettling shift in Alistair's routine; his work commitments had him away more and more, sometimes disappearing for days on end.


Nina, Martha, and Ash tread a treacherous path, inching closer to a shocking truth that promises to be darker than their wildest nightmares. Though they think they share an unbreakable bond, an unsettling shadow lurks beyond their awareness, threatening to fracture their connection and upend their lives. The chilling echo of a warning haunts them: don’t let him in. As they stand on the precipice of revelation, the past—like a vengeful ghost—refuses to stay hidden, poised to burst forth in ways they never imagined. The air is tense as they prepare to confront the secrets that could alter everything.

"Don't Let Him" was my first experience reading Lisa Jewell, and I was excited to dive in, even though I had no idea what to expect. I highly recommend going in blind to avoid any spoilers.

OMG, it was brilliantly written! Jewell’s writing captivated me from the very first page and kept me spellbound until the end. I had a hard time putting it down. I stayed up all night reading and didn’t stop until my eyes blurred and I could no longer keep going.

Get ready to encounter one of the most despicable villains! This character's deeply ingrained misogynistic attitude made my blood boil, and I wanted to throttle him multiple times. There were moments when I wanted to scream—"Wake up, give your head a shake!" My eyes hurt from rolling so much, especially at the character's gaslighting and methodical manipulation. An evil, calculating psychopath is the best way to describe him.

I eagerly anticipated how all the characters' points of view would tie together the loose threads, and the ending did not disappoint! I won’t forget these characters anytime soon. It was brilliant how Lisa Jewell gradually revealed their backstories, making you question what was fact and fiction while leaving breadcrumbs for readers to follow. It was a gripping, well-paced psychological thriller that kept me on my toes.

You need to read this! I highly recommend grabbing a copy. Pre-order your copy today! Expected Publication Date June 24, 2025

I want to thank Atria and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I didn’t care about the characters or the story. It felt like a chore to read.

Finally read my first Lisa Jewell!! This one was definitely worth it! 🙌

This one is multiple POV with lots of characters so a bit confusing at first but it kept me hooked all the way through! You quickly realize what’s going on but you see just how worse the MMC is as the story progresses. I did not see the twist coming and the epilogue was satisfying! Pick this one up, book peeps! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lisa Jewell for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! I need to finally get to The Family Upstairs that’s been on my TBR forever!! ❤️

Another twisty thriller from Lisa Jewell! I want to start by saying- I love her writing style. It’s fast paced with short chapters and reads like an easy flowing conversation with just enough detail. 🤌🏻Don’t Let Him In stays true to this style. It may seem a bit confusing at first with the introduction of many characters and storylines, but it is all nicely pulled together by the end. I found the plot unique (con artist); however, the number of women included felt a bit redundant (Laura, Tara, Amanda, Nina, Martha, Ash, Jessica, etc😅). It made me wonder how someone could possibly have had so much time to build that number of relationships. I just kept waiting for the MC to get what they deserved.


SPOILER ‼️



I would have liked to have heard more about Simon’s obsession with Ash (why pretend to be her teacher? Why get her committed? Was this just a way to antagonize her father?)

Don’t Let Him In was a very fun and quick read for me, but then again all of Lisa Jewell’s books have been that way. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Thank you Atria Books and Net Galley for providing me with the ARC of “Don’t Let Him In” by Lisa Jewell.

I was underwhelmed by this book. Although I was able to read it fast, it felt as if I was ready it with the intention/ hope of being shocked or surprised. However, that didn’t happen. I feel that in my past reading experiences with Lisa Jewell’s books, I have found the story, itself, dark and shocking, and didn’t expect a plot twist; but with this one, nothing was shocking at all. It was honestly not very fun to read because you are in the bad guys head and know how and why everything happens as it happens. Even the small things that were left to be small surprises, I found easy to figure out. Slightly disappointing, as I love many books by this author. I think I hold her to a higher standard because of this, however this was just really not that good and if anything, confusing for no reason:(

What did I just read!?! Lisa Jewel has done it again. Don’t let him in is a thriller that you can’t put down. The main character is a psychopath preying on women. It’s infuriating that these women can’t seem to see through him. How many victims will it take? Thank you Lisa Jewel , NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and early copy of this amazing book.

I absolutely loved this book. I devoured it. My heart rate was high the whole time. It’s an infuriating story with characters that make your eyes go a little wide — a well-written thriller.

Jewell writes clearly, making these things feel much closer than anyone wants them to be.

If you’re looking for a web of confusion, unreliability, and concern, this is the book for you.

My biggest qualm is that I wanted more at the end.

The entire time I was reading this, I couldn’t help but think of Dirty John (if you know, you know). The women in this story were so incredibly oblivious to red flags that it was hard to believe. The chapters from the main male character’s perspective were so ridiculous that they were almost comical. Overall, this story failed to meet my expectations.

Thanks, NetGalley for the arc.

I flew through this book. I loved the writing style and switching between points of view. The daughter and ex girlfriend were an unlikely pair but I found them both endearing. The pace of things fell a little apart for me towards the end. It seemed like it was moving too quickly to tie everything up before the last page, and it felt rushed. Overall though I really enjoyed it.

Trigger warning to anyone who ever dated an absolutely toxic and narcissistic white man.

All jokes aside, this was a fun story. The first 3-4 chapters were a bit confusing when it came to figuring out whose POV you were reading from. After learning about all the main characters in the book, it got much easier to figure out. Overall, I had a good time reading! A bit frustrating at times, but I feel like that's expected and part of thrillers. If you liked the Dirty John podcast/show, you'll love this book.

Wow so many different stories I was a bit confused in the beginning but then it all started to come together and make sense. So many lies and deception for these women to deal with it almost made me feel sorry for them.

Don’t Let Him In is certainly a standout novel in the mystery/thriller genre. Linskey masterfully builds suspense, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease. The narrative is compelling, with well developed characters and a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The pacing is steady, allowing for character development while maintaining a sense of urgency. I will recommend this book to ALL of my mystery readers

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, but this book wasn't one of my favorites.. That said, I’d still recommend it! The shifting timeline and multiple perspectives made it hard to follow at times, especially keeping track of which woman Nick was conning at any given moment. I already disliked him, but by the end, I absolutely loathed him—total creep!
Overall, I’d give this book 3.5 stars.

If you are a fan of con man stories, then this book is for you. I would consider this a con man story on steroids. While the initial part of the story is a slow burn while you learn about all the characters and transition between each of their narratives, once you get the lay of the land, this becomes a propulsive page-turning fun read.

For Nina and Ash, Nick shows up on their doorstep not long after the death of their husband/father, Paddy. He's an old friend and wants to return something he had of Paddy's from years ago. Nick and Nina slowly develop a romantic relationship, but there's something about him that raises the antenna of Ash. Then you have Martha and Al, married a few years with a young child. They couldn't be more in love, but Al disappears regularly, especially when Martha needs him the most. He has a ready excuse every time he comes home.

This book requires the reader to pay attention to each story carefully, as what is obvious unfolds throughout the story in such a way that still leaves you guessing in the end what you've just read. You want to go into this story blindly and trust that Lisa Jewell will do her best to lead you through the winding narratives.

Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review.

For Fans Of: Ruth Ware, Peter Swanson
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Genre: 🔪 Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓
Triggers: Death of parent/partner, gaslighting, mental breakdown

Premise: Ash fears that the man her recently widowed mum is dating is not what he seems. As she begins to uncover the lies at the heart of his life, she discovers that he is much more than a con man.

Thoughts: The gift that makes Jewell so skilled at her craft is her ability to give life to such nuanced characters. A feat she delivers in spades in Don’t Let Him In, a puzzle box of a thriller. In particular, Nick, the novel’s villain, is incredibly well-developed and so meticulously revealed to us. This is not the 1st novel that allows us to delve into the mind of a psychopath through 1st person narration. Where many books let us glimpse the intelligence that makes them so insidious, Jewel shows us the full scope of the man, revealing the narcissism, myopia, and lack of personal responsibility that are really at the heart of the danger he presents. But while Nick claims much of the focus, this is ultimately a book about women: the vulnerability, the struggle for control of one’s lives, the rage. There is a great scene toward the end where Jewel offers her readers vicarious vindication. As Jewel takes the reader back and forth between the present of a grieving family and the past of Nick’s origin story, she gradually unveils the broader plot in a way that constantly takes unexpected turns. This triumph requires a complex story structure. While I never lost the plot, my mind whirled at times as I tried to piece the threads together, and a 2nd reading will doubtless expose more of Jewel’s genius.

Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This man is every woman’s worst nightmare. Ugh, he is repulsive.
Lisa Jewell newest book Don’t Let Him, focuses on a recently widowed woman named Nina and her adult daughter Ash. Nina meets a charming fellow named Nick Radcliffe. Nick is the epitome of “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”.
As Ash grows suspicious of Nick and her disdain for him grows daily, she tries to figure out who really is the man that has stolen her Mothers heart.

I’m a huge Lisa Jewell fan. She is an auto buy author for me. Although I enjoyed this one, I didn’t love it. I found the back and forth with the time frames and the different POV’s to be too much sometimes. I had to reread parts of the book often, because I had no idea what character I was reading.
The overall story was good, I actually enjoyed “Nick’s” POV the most. Jewell did a fantastic job of making him more unlikable with every chapter.

Would I recommend this one? Yes. Did it knock my socks off? No.

Thank You to NetGalley and Atria books for the early copy.
This book publishes June 24th, 2025.

Lisa Jewell delivers another gripping psychological thriller with Don't Let Him In, a story that will spark strong reactions and even stronger book club discussions.

The true standout of this novel is the antagonist, Nick. Jewell writes him with such unnerving precision that I found myself having visceral reactions to his every move; reactions that lingered long after I closed the book. The women who orbit his life are equally compelling, each richly drawn and layered with complexity. Their stories are deeply affecting, their trauma palpable.

While the pacing and tension kept me fully engaged, I couldn't give it a full five stars. Why? Frankly, Nick deserved a worse fate. The ending left me slightly unsatisfied—not due to poor writing, but because my emotional investment demanded more justice than the story delivered.

That said, this book is tailor-made for book clubs. It raises thorny questions about manipulation, complicity, and survival that will fuel hours of discussion. Jewell once again proves her mastery of the domestic noir genre.