Leave it to Lisa Jewell to make me question everything about my own marriage (I’m kidding…kind of).

“He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.” And this has to be the perfect tagline for such a book.

Alistair. Nick. Damien. They couldn’t all be the same man…could they?

He comes into your life and makes you think he’s a dream come true. But is it by chance? Or does he know the intimate details of your life before you ever reveal them yourself? In fact…it would be worth wondering just how much he might know to begin with…and why.

This is the epitome of domestic suspense. It’s not one that’s going to throw unexpected twists at you around every turn, but rather casually reveal truths to you that you may or may not have seen coming. The truly masterful quality comes from how it all weaves together—and how it all unravels.

Someone described this to me as a “kaleidoscopic thriller” and that’s honestly the perfect description for it. You get to follow each character, see the entire situation from their POV, zooming in on their lives and experiences before zooming back out to see the bigger picture. The impact it might be having on a larger set of people.

I was definitely able to predict a large portion of the reveals, but that didn’t take away from the experience for me. I enjoyed watching everything play out—I enjoyed seeing how Lisa was able to weave everything together just so we could watch it fall apart. And I loved the amateur sleuthing that strung each individual story together in a way only a brave, scorned woman—or daughter—could do.

But, seriously. Be careful who you trust. And who you choose to let in.

Thank you to Atria books via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh man this is another home run for Lisa Jewell. I loved this book. It had ick and creep factor, it had I cannot believe that happened, and it hit you in the feels for the women subjected to this man. I am a huge fan of Lisa’s work and this had me so engaged and wanting to keep finding out more. It ended with closure which most books don’t have. The character development was great you could see why the women liked this man, but you could also feel the sliminess he gave off. I loved how each woman was different in how they were duped by this man and how they handled it. Definitely recommend reading. Loved it.

As a big Lisa Jewell fan, it's no surprise that I make it a mission to read her books and trust her indefinitely with storytelling that's always made me love her thrillers. Until this one, a slight glitch happened. A big glitch.

This story followed a con artist Nick/Al that specialized in conning middle aged women for their money, assets and affections. Was he super creative with his con ways? Not quite, which was apparent with all the repetitive lies that kept being shared, between the sometimes confusing multi POVs in this book. I really got sick of Nick/Al before I hit halfway into reading. I just can't believe he got away with what he did, poor conning techniques and all. Same with the delulu dumb women he was conning. Ash was also a character I rolled my eyes with a lot, until she started getting smart with following her gut to lead everyone to have that final reckoning at the end. Honestly, I was just happy that Nick/Al got what he deserved in the end.

Back to how painfully slow and lacking this book was though. I almost felt like Lisa Jewell didn't write this because it was very lackluster. Especially compared to her last release, None Of This Is True. This didn't feel like a thriller whatsoever and I slogged through this read, a Lisa Jewell book! I had so much hope for this one and it all died down pretty quick. I'm still hopeful for future works from the author but in this case, this one failed to deliver and I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Even though this book didn't work out for me, many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for supplying me with a digital reading copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book presents many twists and surprising details, and then manages to tie it all up in a way that makes sense. The ending was really satisfying, too. I enjoyed this very much. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story is about a man that is changing his identity and keeps scamming women. The storyline was hard to follow. Not only did it keep going from past and present but it also introduces so many people that it is hard to keep up with who is who. It felt very disorganized. I have read Lisa Jewell books before but this one was not for me:

Huge thanks to @atriabooks & @lisajewelluk for the eARC and the stunning hardback copy of a book everyone needs to read this summer! ☀️⁠
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I’m a longtime Lisa Jewell fan, and Don't Let Him In absolutely did not disappoint. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The story follows a recently widowed woman whose life takes a turn when a handsome and mysterious man named Nick enters the picture. Her daughter immediately gets a bad vibe, and as the main character starts digging into Nick’s past, things unravel FAST.⁠
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Is Nick really who he says he is? ⁠
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This book got much darker and twistier than I anticipated— in the best possible way. There’s a lot going on in this story, but it’s woven together so seamlessly that I never felt confused or overwhelmed. Jewell’s ability to build suspense while keeping the emotional core strong is unmatched.⁠
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It held my attention from beginning to end, and I seriously could not put it down. Buckle up, because this one is a wild ride— and one of my favorite Lisa Jewell books to date!

Lisa Jewell never fails to thrill!

Three women become entangled in one man’s dangerous web of lies—and he’s about to be exposed.

Nina Swann is still reeling from the murder of her beloved husband, Paddy. As she and her daughter Ash struggle to move forward, an old friend resurfaces. Nick Radcliffe claims to have worked with Paddy in the restaurant industry years ago. At first, he’s simply a comforting presence. But soon, he and Nina grow closer—too close, if you ask Ash, who begins to suspect that Nick’s intentions may be more manipulative than sincere.

Meanwhile, a few towns over, Martha seems to have it all: a thriving florist shop, a beautiful home, three lovely children, and a husband who treats her like a queen. Alistair appeared in her life like a dream—handsome, devoted, and effortlessly supportive of both her and her kids. But lately, his frequent work trips and unreturned messages raise red flags. When Martha digs into his absences, what she uncovers shatters the carefully curated life she thought was real.

As Ash teams up with an unlikely ally from her father’s past, they begin to unravel the disturbing truth about Nick Radcliffe. The lies are deeper and darker than anyone imagined—and they may only be scratching the surface. Letting him into their lives may have been the biggest mistake of all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and of course the author Lisa Jewell for the advanced copy of the book. Don’t Let Him In is out now. All opinions are my own.

Welp Ms Jewell has gone and done it again. This is what you want in a thriller-short chapters, multiple POVs, super fast pacing, twist and turns galore. I was flipping pages faster than my little fingers could keep up.
Paddy is pushed to his death in front of a train and his family is left reeling. Not long after, a package arrives claiming to be from an old friend, Nick, and he soon weaves his way into Paddy’s family’s lives. But Paddy’s daughter Ash is skeptical and thinks it’s too soon.
Meanwhile, Martha is married to Al and is struggling to keep life afloat despite him claiming to be successful and his many business trips. Soon these families will intersect in the wildest of ways.
I don’t want to give anything away but as their stories intertwine there are some jaw dropping moments as we see just what gaslighting looks like at its finest. This is one you’re not gonna want to miss this summer!
Thanks to Atria Books and netball for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Of course! Here’s a polished NetGalley review for Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell, rated 5/5 stars:

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lisa Jewell does it again!

Don’t Let Him In did not disappoint. From the very first page, I was completely hooked. Jewell masterfully blends suspense, emotion, and psychological depth in a way that kept me on edge the entire time. The twists were perfectly timed, the pacing was spot-on, and the characters felt so real and complex.

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, yet I didn’t want it to end. This is exactly what I expect—and love—from Lisa Jewell: a dark, gripping thriller that lingers in your mind long after the last page.
Highly recommend for fans of twisty, well-written psychological suspense!

I tried to read this book 3 different times and could not keep up with all the characters. I didn't love that it wasn't really a thriller, either. It was predominantly a character study of a sociopath treating women badly.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lisa Jewell for early access to Don’t Let Him In.

This book made me furious—and I’m pretty sure that was exactly what Lisa Jewell intended. Every time that man appeared on the page, I felt a very real, visceral rage toward a fictional character. It’s a testament to how well Jewell writes emotional manipulation and psychological tension.

The plot itself isn’t overly complex, but the shifting timelines and multiple points of view can be disorienting if you’re used to linear narratives. Personally, I appreciated the layered structure and especially enjoyed the different female perspectives throughout the novel.

The story begins shortly after the funeral of Nina’s husband, a celebrated local chef. At the service, Nina is sent a letter from Nick, an old friend of her husband’s, who offers condolences—and returns a metal lighter that once belonged to the deceased. From there, the narrative spirals into past and present timelines, weaving together the lives and voices of several women connected by this enigmatic, increasingly unsettling man.

Because this is a thriller, I won’t spoil the twists. But I will say this: if you’ve ever experienced gaslighting, particularly from a man, this book may hit a nerve. I often had to put it down and take a breather because of how strongly it made me feel.

Despite the emotional frustration (or maybe because of it), I really liked the book. And unlike many thrillers that falter in the final stretch, Don’t Let Him In delivers a satisfying ending. I’m giving it 3.5/5 stars—an emotionally charged, well-crafted thriller that lingers after the final page.

Are you ready to be on the edge of your seat for however long you take to finish this book? Jewell really knows how to write a villain that makes you unsettled. I think if you liked Then She Was Gone, you will love the way this book is written.

Don't Let Him In follows Ash, whose father was just murdered, dealing with her mom dating again and Martha, whose husband is becoming increasingly absent. I had to keep reading this book to find out how their lives intersect.

Lisa Jewell is the queen of suspense so I highly recommend picking this book up.

Another Lisa Jewell that readers will eat up. I wished for more mystery/suspense as most of the major reveals were given up front and would have liked more likeable characters. However, I know that fans of Jewell’s will no doubt love this too.

I am so thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and ARC of this book!

However it absolutely did not work for me. Being in our MMC's head for over half the book was one of the most insufferable things I have ever read. This book was not twisty, it simply followed a terrible and narcissistic man, and all of the people he completely screwed over. This book literally felt like it was written by a man, because all of the women were so unbelievably stupid and naive.

Unfortunately this was a 1.5⭐️

“Don’t Let Him In” by Lisa Jewell was one of my most anticipated reads and I have to admit I was a little let down by this one. There are several plot points and timelines and I feel like it would have been more suspenseful if it would have been more contained. The end fell flat for me overall. This was only a 3 out of 5 stars. I didn’t hate it but I also won’t be recommending it

Lisa Jewell does it again!!! Don't Let Me In is twisty, suspenseful and engaging. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the way the story just came together. It was a really fast read. Definitely recommend!

Let me start this review off by saying that this is the 2nd Lisa Jewell book I’ve read and it completely wowed me. This story was complex and twisty and incredibly detailed and engaging.

I loved how us as the reader got to see multiple point of views for this story. I think most thrillers keep details under wraps to have the reader guessing. This book didn’t do that and it made it even more entertaining. This book is quick paced so no time is wasted in giving the story.

I found all of the characters complex and damaged but it makes sense with the themes of this book.

I do feel like the conclusion was rushed a bit. I got towards the last half of the book and things escalated quite quickly. That was honestly my only gripe with the book.

I’m not sure if all of Lisa Jewell’s books are like this one but it kept me interested in turning the page over and over.

Definitely worth a read!

I received this ebook as an ARC from NetGalley.

This twisty book had me questioning every single thing I read. I had to question the point of view I was reading and then try to remember where they fit into the storyline. Then I had to try to determine if they were a reliable narrator or not. The plot was fun and twisty and kept me on my toes the entire time.

this is my first read by this author and won't be my last! i really loved the plot and the intense, thrilling aspects of it all. very addictive and didnt want to put it down

I just finished what ended up being a pretty big letdown from one of my go-to thriller authors. This was her latest release, and I truly wish I felt differently…but it just did not land for me. 😞

The manipulation and mind games felt more repetitive than tense, and instead of building suspense, it all started to feel overdone. The plot itself was too predictable, and by the halfway point, I found myself skimming just to get to the end.

And that is the frustrating part because this story had potential. The setup was solid, but the execution did not deliver the twists or tension I was hoping for. I kept waiting for that addictive, can’t-put-it-down moment…and it never really came.

If you have read this and think I missed something brilliant in the second half, honestly, I am okay with that…but feel free to shoot me a DM and share your take! This one gets a sad 1/5 ⭐️ from me!

What has been your favorite Lisa Jewell novel? Mine were:
None of this is True ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Then she was Gone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

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