this was such a good thriller (& so twisted)!! i dont think i've ever hated a male main character more and i applaud lisa jewell for making this so page-turning & thrilling!!! the ending was really good & i loved reading the two POVs we got! highly recommend!!

thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review <3

Don’t Let Him In follows a dangerous con artist and several of his wives through the years. It is told from multiple perspectives and from a couple of timelines. In true con artist fashion, the man’s name changes with each new endeavor. I would say the main story line follows Ash, a young woman whose father has recently died leaving her mother with his restaurant dynasty to run. When a man claiming to have been a friend of her late father contacts them and grows quite close to her mother. Something just feels wrong to Ash, so she starts digging. She is not prepared for what she uncovers.

By its very nature, this book is a bit confusing. The chapters are mostly short and perspectives and/or timelines change as frequently as every chapter. This makes for initially choppy reading and a sort of “whiplashed” feeling for the reader. That said, once I settled into the story and came to understand the order of events, it became a very interesting read. The main character, let’s call him “Nick” is unlikeable and just the worst kind of man but getting his perspective made for some chilling insight into the crimes outlined in the story. I found the ending to be overall satisfying but I wanted to see more. I felt like it almost ended too soon for me.

Overall a well-written thriller with a few twists and turns, it just took me a minute to really get into it. It is not my first book by Jewell and it will not be my last. Huge thank you to Atria books for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Overall I enjoyed this book but it wasn't my favorite from the author. I was able to figure out the plot points pretty quickly so the shock or thriller factor wasn't there for me. Lisa Jewell always brings you back with solid writing and an interesting premise. I wish the plot had moved forward a bit quicker and the ending was more surprising but still think suspense readers will have a good time with this read. I am excited for what the author writes next because her other books were a great match for me! Thanks to Lisa Jewell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

A big thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review. Lisa Jewell has been one of my favorite thriller writers for quite some time and I was ecstatic to receive a copy.

3.5 stars for this one. I was slightly disappointed that this novel wasn’t as suspenseful or thrilling as her prior work, but still a very captivating read. It did seem to lose a little steam in the middle when you knew exactly what the issue and the outcome would be and it was just taking forever to get there.

Still would highly recommend any of her books.

This was a good popcorn thriller. The twists were fairly obvious, and the ending was… interesting (no spoilers). I didn’t hate it and it was entertaining but it wasn’t shocking or memorable to me.

Lisa Jewell does it again!!

He's the perfect man. He's sweet and kind. He says all the right things and says yes more often than he says no. He's smart and driven, and incredibly compassionate. But who exactly is he?

Nina is recently widowed from a popular restaurant owner. One day receives a package in the mail from her someone who claims to be her late husband's former coworker. The gesture was so sweet that Nina reaches out and a budding relationship starts. Her daughter, Ash, immediately thinks there is something off about Nick and she can't quite put her finger on it. But she's determined to keep her mom, and her dad's memory, protected.

Martha is a married mom of 3 who owns her own flower shop. Her youngest daughter she shares with her current husband, Alister. She can't believe how lucky she is to have found him. But lately he's been going away on work trips more often and can't seem to remember to turn his phone on. Martha can't reach him for days on end. But he's just a hard worker, right? Her loving husband has to have a good excuse.

These 3 women are on a collision course to find out the truth behind this wonderful and charming man. Where did he come from exactly and where does he keep going?

There are A LOT of characters in this one. It probably wasn't necessary but all in all I really enjoyed this book. Ash is a fierce protector of her family and Martha is a loving wife and mother just trying to get by with her dream business. You root for every single woman in this story. The twists and turns are concurrent and you're constantly left asking "what?!" What a great domestic Thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for the ARC! Don't Let Him In publishes on June 24, 2024

Don't Let Him in is Lisa Jewell's latest novel. While it ended up being more of a domestic suspense than a thriller, I was immediately hooked and ended up really enjoying it. Lisa Jewell once again delivered for me.

Its plot is Dirty John with a very sleazy MMC and a couple of twists, most of which I was able to figure out beforehand. It has a very large cast of characters, but I found it easy to keep track of who was who. While there are a few parts where I had to suspend my disbelief, for the most part, I found the plot plausible. If only because the same things have occurred in real life and as always, I appreciate that Lisa Jewell does not sacrifice the plot for outlandish twists.

What a fantastic book. Lisa Jewell has done it again. I love the twist and turns. She really knows how to keep the reader on their toes.

I thought the plot was interesting and fresh, but I was hoping for more twists and turns in this thriller.
I felt like I saw it all coming about halfway through.
I would still recommend it as an entry into the genre; it was engaging!

I appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced copy for my review!

I typically love Lisa’s books, but this one just didn’t hit home for me. The quality of writing remains strong, but the storyline wasn’t as engaging as typical.

If you're a Lisa Jewell fan, like I am, I'd highly recommend this twisty mystery thriller!

It hooked me right from the start and had me constantly wondering what was going to happen next.

The story follows three women: Nina, a widow who's finally starting to heal thanks to the charming and perfect Nick; Ash, Nina's adult daughter who doesn't trust Nick and starts digging into his past; and Martha, a florist with a baby and a husband who keeps disappearing on business trips that don't quite add up.

At first, the book can feel a bit confusing with the switches between their POV's (the font changes helped), but once I figured out who was who, I flew through the pages. The tension builds fast, and it becomes totally addictive.

I was rooting hard for Ash to uncover the truth, and the twists kept me guessing. This was such a fun, gripping read with a dark secret at the center. What more could we ask for?

Highly recommend it if you like your thrillers full of suspense, secrets, and characters you're not sure you can trust.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for feedback.

A little disappointed in the latest book from Lisa Jewell. By chapter 2 I had already figured out the angle and I could easily foresee all the plot twists ahead. Also the first 30% of the book kind of dragged on. There’s a lot of flashbacks in the first half and I think some of it could have been cut or edited down because eventually it’s nothing more than a footnote in the later half of the book.

I’m giving it 3 stars because while it was very predictable I did find myself interested in the story once I got beyond the first half of the book.

3.5 stars from me!

I did really enjoy this book for the most part. It’s giving Dirty John podcast meets Joe Goldberg and I don’t hate it lol. There were a few points that I had to make myself pick it back up. I am glad I stuck with it though because it was decent read!

Thank you NetGalley 🫶🏼

This one had so much potential but the execution fell a little flat for me. I found it difficult to follow at times. I liked the direction this went at the end even though it felt a little predictable. Give this one a go, it might be for you!

an honest review of the first 45% of this book—i couldn’t get through the rest. there’s not one singular thing i enjoyed about this. i didn’t care at all about the storyline or the characters, and it got to the point that i genuinely didn’t care what the outcome of the book was, i just wanted it to be over. i typically enjoy lisa jewels books, so this was a real letdown for me :(

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this arc.

We all know Lisa Jewell is the queen of the psychological thriller and this book is no different! It is written very well in that signature Jewell way. I was confused for the first couple chapters I have to admit, but then things started falling into place and I really got into reading it!

Don't Let Him In is a twisty psychological thriller that pulls you in with unsettling charm and never quite lets you feel safe. Lisa Jewell expertly weaves together the lives of three women—Nina, her cautious daughter Ash, and the seemingly unrelated Martha—into a slow-burning mystery that steadily gains momentum until it crashes into a chilling conclusion.

Jewell’s signature style is on full display here: rich character development, creeping dread, and the kind of domestic suspense that makes you question everyone and everything. Nick Radcliffe is the perfect villain—smooth, charismatic, and terrifying in his ambiguity. The novel plays with trust and intuition in a way that’s both smart and frustrating (in a good way), especially as Ash’s suspicions mount and Martha’s story begins to unravel.

The pacing is strong overall, though it occasionally lingers a bit too long in certain character introspections, slowing down the forward motion just when you’re craving more reveals. That said, the final chapters deliver, tying the threads together in a satisfying—and disturbing—way.

If you're a fan of Lisa Jewell’s darker work, or enjoy thrillers with complex female leads and layered timelines, this one won’t disappoint. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself side-eyeing any overly charming strangers for a while.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you Atria & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was well-written and a great character study of a deeply disturbed man.

What I liked:
Very well-written
Hooks were solid

What I didn’t like:
Twists felt expected.

I would recommend this for people who enjoy being hooked in with a book and want to be very engaged with a book about a truly terrible man.

As someone who has read and enjoyed several of Lisa Jewell’s books, Don’t Let Him In wasn’t my favourite,but it was still a solid, engaging read. The plot was interesting and unsettling in that signature Jewell way, exploring just how little we sometimes know the people around us.

While it didn’t quite keep me on the edge of my seat the way some of her past thrillers have, I was definitely invested especially in the storyline of Ash and Nina, which was the standout for me. Their dynamic felt layered and tense in the best way.

This book gave me a lingering sense of unease ,not from suspense necessarily, but from the haunting idea that the situation in the book could very well happen in real life. It’s a quiet, creeping kind of dread that sticks with you.

If you enjoy slow-burning psychological suspense with complex characters and real-world plausibility, this one’s worth picking up.

I absolutely couldn't put this one down. I've read a lot of Jewell's prior novels and have enjoyed them, but this one is just a masterpiece of the genre. It's unexpected and so layered. Be warned: you will likely be confused for the first...25% or so of the novel. This is by design. You're not meant to know who is narrating or how the various characters intersect.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.