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.

I love Lisa Jewell. You can always expect a good thriller from her. This one was no different, although at the beginning I was a little worried with all the characters to keep track of and making sure you knew who was who. Overall, this was a good quick thriller!

I freaking loved this book. I devoured it. Couldn’t put it down if I tried. The short chapters made this thick book fly by, and I was completely hooked from the beginning. Even though this one leans a little more into drama and psychological suspense than straight-up thriller, the tension is relentless. It’s a slow burn, but trust me, it’s addicting. I don’t usually go for domestic types, but this one had me fully invested. I just needed to know what was going to happen. The story jumps between different time periods and multiple POVs, which was a little confusing at first, but once I settled into the rhythm, I saw how essential it was to building the suspense. Lisa Jewell is a master at creating characters that feel disturbingly real, and you’ll be left in rage, disbelief, and honestly? You’ll want to fight that guy, lol. Even if you think you know where it’s going, Jewell keeps you on the edge of your seat. This one had me tense, shocked, and completely absorbed. She never misses—and I’ll continue to read everything she writes. Highly recommend checking this one out!

Lisa Jewel’s books have been a bit hit or miss for me. The idea of Don’t Let Him In intrigued me for sure.

In Don’t Let Him In, we’re introduced to the Swann family. They’re grieving the death of their patriarch Paddy, whose death had been an unsolved homicide. In their grieving process, they receive a letter from Nick Radcliffe, a man who said he’d known Paddy in his past and wanted to pass along his condolences. Nick forms a bond with Nina Swann, Paddy’s widow, but Paddy’s daughter Ash feels there’s something odd about this guy. The facts don’t add up. He seems a bit too perfect. His answers to her questions are too neatly packaged up. Elsewhere, Martha lives with her husband Allister, two children from her previous marriage and their baby Nala. Lately Allister seems off. He disappears for days, doesn’t answer his phone and blames it on his ADHD. Something feels off and Martha’s looking to figure it out.

Unfortunately, this novel was a miss for me. I didn’t like the way this story was set up, with chapters from Ash, Martha and “Nick’s” perspectives, but not always alternating evenly. This is a story about women being taken advantage of and to get the perspective of the man just felt icky to me. I didn’t want to be in his head, seeing what he does. It just ruined any magic this story had for me. I’m also not sure this book is really a thriller. The twists, if you can call them that, just didn’t hit for me. I think this is much more of a family drama. Felt a bit stolen from “Dirty John” at times.

Just a frustrating novel. Maybe Lisa Jewel’s novels just aren’t for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Dark, twisty and you really feel the suspense build with every page. A serial psychopathic scammer infiltrates and ruins the lives of many women across England. It makes you think of the recent trend of misogyny and the forms it takes in society. You read the perspective of the women as well as the main character in varying chapters. It's a masterpiece of suspense!

Ok.

This book took awhile for me to get into it. I was trying, but for a while early on I kept distracting myself with other things…I just wasn’t pulled in like I wanted.

This isn’t the first book I’ve read by this author, and I like her books. This one just seemed to drag on a bit in the beginning/middle. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and I kept waiting for the plot to move to the point where the women take this man down. I mean, I knew that had to be coming but I kept wondering how much longer I was going to have to read about his back and forth before the ball got rolling.

In case you haven’t read a summary, this book follows a con man and his many lies and scams that he pulls on women. We see multiple points of view from the women, and then watch it slowly converge to the inevitable. Which, to be honest, was a little lackluster.

I also had a hard time believing that some of the women put up with his shenanigans for SO long. I mean, disappearing for a whole week with a phone switched off and he’s your husband? I’d have been reporting him missing at the very least.

I still enjoyed getting to the end of this book, and I look forward to the author’s next endeavor. Thank you #netgalley and #atriabooks for the chance to read this arc.

I have enjoyed many books by this author and this book did not disappoint. It is not my favorite of her titles but keep me engaged and was difficult to put down.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

I absolutely devoured this novel. I’ve been a fan of her writing style for a while, but this was a fresh and feisty ride that may be my favorite so far. The competing perspectives and timelines added to the fun - it was extremely entertaining to watch all the pieces come together and fall into a satisfying ending. Excellent read!

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I was super excited to receive the eARC of Don’t Let Him by Lisa Jewell, one of my all time favorite suspense thriller authors! Right from the start, we find out there was a tragic accident where Paddy dies and Nina is now a widow. Enter Nick, a man from Paddy’s past who charms his way into Nina’s life. But Nina’s daughter, Ash just doesn’t trust the guy. Ash is determined to catch Nick in a lie and starts digging into Nick’s past. The more we read, the more we find out who Nick really is. Told in multiple timelines, and multiple POVs, there were a lot of characters to keep track of early on. The storyline kept me going wanting to see if Nick gets caught up in his lies. In true Jewell style, the last quarter of the book is full of reveals and twists! Thank you @netgalley @atriabooks @lisajewell for the ebook Arc of #DontLetHimIn Comes out June 24.

My thoughts while reading this entire book: THE AUDACITY.

This is a story about a conman, told from three POVs: his wife, the daughter of a recently murdered man who’s starting to suspect her mom’s new boyfriend, and the conman himself.

Con stories can be hit or miss for some, but I always have a blast with them—and this one was no exception. I flew through it in about 2.5 days because I could not put it down. It was propulsive, maddening, and wildly entertaining.

With the shifting timelines and multiple characters, it’s a little confusing at first, but once you settle in—buckle up. I have whiplash from what I just read!

This is definitely one of my new faves from Lisa Jewell because this was binge-able, twisty, and gripping. I did predict a few twists but I didn’t mind being right. This was a well done thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy of Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell. I initially thought this would be a psychological thriller, but it’s more of a domestic suspense story. The novel features Nick Radcliffe, a sociopath that readers will love to hate. Handsome, smooth talking Nick burrows his way into the lives of multiple unsuspecting women. He always seems to have a plausible enough explanation for all of the holes in his stories.
I found the novel to be quickly paced, with short chapters and alternating time lines. The narrative unfolds predictably, keeping the reader well-informed. It’s more of a matter of time when the truth will catch up to Nick. I hoped that the various women would catch on to Nick more quickly, as his crimes became more repetitive. The ending is equally implausible and satisfying. Readers who enjoy suspense but prefer less intense or complex plots will find this a satisfying and rapid read. 3/5⭐️

I am usually a big fan of Lisa Jewell but "Don't Let Him In" was not a big hit for me, unfortunately. This book introduces several different woman who seem to all be connected by the same man, and the story is filled with a lot of lies, manipulation, and gaslighting. While there were several moments where I felt like maybe the story was starting to pick up a little, it then very quickly fell through again. I don't think this was unique, it was definitely not a story I haven't heard before in one way or another, if that makes sense? Overall Lisa Jewell's writing is still very captivating and even if the story was a bit dissatisfying, her writing always keeps me interested enough to make it through to the end.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Don’t Let Him In is an amazing book!! This book had me hooked from the start! I could not put this book down and finished it in one day! I love Lisa Jewell writing style. She is one of my favorite authors.

At first there were honestly too many characters and too many storylines to follow. Luckily there really was one clear bad guy, and halfway through things started linking together so well. While the reader knew what was happening, it unfolded so brilliantly well.

Another banger from Lisa Jewell OBVIOUSLY. This book had my pulse pounding and I found myself nail biting multiple times!
Three women connected by the most detestable man you’ve have ever read of and their journey to uncover the truth.
Loved This probably my favorite book of hers to date! Super compulsive read as always a perfect thriller!