I was SO excited to get the opportunity to read Lisa Jewell’s newest novel before its publication! I’ve read many of her books and always find them twisty and engaging. This one was less of a thriller and more of a domestic/psychological suspense with some mystery.

There were a lot of characters in this novel and it took some time to wrap my head around all of them, the jumping timelines, and their intertwining plots. A lot of the characters are very aggravating and I found myself saying “oh for f’s sake!” more than once. It’s truly alarming how the characters portrayed as “smart” could become so vulnerable in the right situations! Although a bit confusing at times, I’m glad I stuck with it because it all comes together in the end. Unlike some of her other novels, this one will not leave you scratching your head with its ending!

Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley & Lisa Jewell for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Publication date June 24, 2025.

How well do you truly know someone? For the women in Nick Radcliffe's life, he is an attentive partner, a workaholic, and a charming gentleman. And everything that they think they know about him is a lie.

I have read a number of Lisa Jewell's books over the years, and I really enjoy her way of gripping you into her stories and pulling the rug out from underneath you in the end. Unfortunately for this one, the pacing of the storyline was a touch too slow and repetitive for me. I also became unnerved by the sheer amount of ways Nick was able to juggle all of these women with such flimsy excuses and horrible behaviors. By the time the story came together in the end, it felt rushed and predictable.

Many thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley, and Lisa Jewell for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Don’t Let Him In is a gripping, layered thriller that pulled me in from the first chapter. Lisa Jewell masterfully builds suspense through the perspectives of three women connected by one disturbingly charming man. I had a bad feeling about Nick early on, and watching that suspicion unfold was both frustrating and fascinating and in the best way.

I loved the protective instincts of Ash and Emma. Their intuition and concern added emotional depth and made the story feel all the more real. While I initially wasn’t sure how I felt about the ending, it ended up being the perfect conclusion.

The pacing kept me engaged throughout, with tension building steadily as the connections between characters deepened. Don’t Let Him In is a chilling reminder that charm can be dangerous, masks can hide monstrous truths, and intuition should never be ignored.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book for review consideration and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

Lisa Jewell is an auto-buy author for me. I know this might be an unpopular opinion, but I actually didn’t enjoy her last release. I’m not sure if it was a reading slump or something else, it just didn’t hit the way it did for others.

That said, I’m so happy to report that I loved this one! I couldn’t put it down. I was constantly trying to piece everything together, flipping back through the pages to keep up with the different timelines. It was such an enjoyable read, and the ending really worked for me. I can’t wait to have this one on my shelf when it comes out on June 24!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for my advanced e copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received an arc of this and had high hopes, because None of This is True was so captivating. Overall it was 3.5 stars. I was interested but I felt like there was no huge plot twist. It was all predictable

How well do you really know your partner? I love this story because as you are reading and traveling back and forth between all of these relationships - but you really have no idea. What makes a woman love a man so much that she will deal with his lies and betrayals over and over and over again. Moral of the story - your secrets won't stay buried forever!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Gripping, Twisty, and Full of Suspense

4 stars -Don't Let Him In kept me hooked from start to finish! The story is packed with twists and turns that kept me constantly guessing. I loved the sense of mystery and intrigue—it was like peeling back layers of secrets with every chapter. The pacing was great, and the plot never let up. I’ve really enjoyed all of this author’s books, and this one didn’t disappoint. A solid, suspenseful read that’s perfect if you love psychological thrillers with a dark edge.

3.5⭐️

Nick Radcliffe hadls lived many different lives, with many different women, over the course of his life. All the while being the perfect husband, perfect father, perfect man. . .and a total swindler.

I liked the idea of this book, but because there were so many characters involved, because he screwed over so many different women. . .it felt like it took too long to get to the point where they started to meet and put the pieces together that Nick/Al/Jonathan and more isn't who he says he is. Because he did the similar things to each of them, it seemed really repetitive.

The last 15-20% of the book is where most of the action was, but at times, it felt like a task to get there.

This read incredibly quickly but man Nick was a snake. It started to feel a bit repetitive and at times was hard to keep track of timelines. Probably took at least 200 pages if not longer to get a good feel for who and when. The book is on the longer side but again reads quickly.

This ultimately was predictable - would have loved a bit of a slam bang finish.

How do women continue to fall for losers like Nick. You turn your phone off and disappear? See ya never!! This felt like watching Tinder Swindler. Expect to yell out loud and be a bit frustrated.

This felt different than her other books. Not my favorite but will make for a quick poolside binge.

This book had more characters than an ant colony planning a takeover! I don't mind having to think a bit when reading but, ugh my brain hurts trying to figure out who all these people are in the beginning or even to mid-book.
I guess the ending made up a little for all the confusion. Thank goodness at least Ash had some sense!
I do realize that when people are actually in these situations in real life that they cannot see the thorns for the rose, I just hope they have an "Ash" in their life before they end up like some of these characters!

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for the ARC copy for an honest review.

Another great read from Lisa Jewell. I was riveted from start to finish. At first I was a little confused by the back and forth of character points of view, but it was so interesting I kept going.
Everything unfolds at a quick pace and I found myself rooting for these ladies, as they are tricked by one of the worst stalker con man characters I ever read.
I highly recommend this book if you are into a fast paced psychological thriller that will keep you flipping pages until you come to a brilliant unexpected ending. A definite must read.

I'm still trying to decide how I feel about this book. I have not hated a book character more that I hated Nick in a long time. Though that's saying a lot, the fact that the author was able to pull this much emotion from me and I'm still thinking about it. It took me a bit to figure out how it was all connected but once I did, I got angry, almost to the point where it was too much. As much as I don't want to think this storyline is plausible, I unfortunately believe that it is and that's why we should read about it.

The ending left me in a place where I could tolerate the rest, I just can't get over how much the main character irked me, but again, I think that's the point. I really enjoyed the relationship between Nina and Ash. In summary, read it and always follow your intuition.

I give "Don't Let Him In" a solid 3.7 stars. I'm pretty stingy with my 4-star ratings. The story starts with the tragic death of a beloved husband, father, and restaurateur, Paddy Swann. Enter old time friend, Nick Radcliff; or is he? The web of lies and deceit continue to unfold throughout the book, keeping you right on the edge. As new characters came to light, I had a hard time keeping track of who was who. This is a good thing, but I did have to go back and write them all down to refer to occasionally.

At first, I was like "what the heck am I reading, this person is a nut job." I can't explain it, but I just got sucked into the story and was constantly wondering what is this wackadoo, narcissistic dude going to do next? I have never disliked an MMC as much as this guy and couldn't wait to see how it was all going to play out in the end. I don't want to give anything away, but I was not disappointed. Lisa Jewell does what she does best with such captivating detail and shock and awwww. You won't be disappointed either.

Lisa Jewell has created a chilling villain who preys on vulnerable women. This story has a fast-moving narrative of the lives of three women connected to a truly evil, but ever so charming, man.

When a successful restaurateur Paddy Swann dies after being pushed in front of a train his widow Nina and daughter Ash receive and unexpected condolence note from Nick Radcliffe. Nina is not the first woman to be seduced by Nick.

This multilayered story explores themes of grief, manipulation, and the allure of a good-looking stranger that allows for revelations that genuinely surprise and disturb.

While the personalities of the women in the story shine, it is Nick, the diabolically, wicked male character that makes this book a true page turner.

Ash Swann has been struggling since her father died in a tragic accident a year ago. When a handsome, charismatic man named Nick Radcliffe shows up claiming to be an old friend of her father’s, Ash is dismayed when her mother Nina is too easily charmed by the dashing stranger. Nick is just a little *too* perfect, and Ash is determined to find out what’s really behind his suave façade. Meanwhile, a few towns away is a florist named Martha whose husband Alistair is becoming more absent and evasive by the day, and soon she’s looking for answers of her own.

Lisa Jewell is a master in the thriller/mystery/suspense genre, and I’d put this one squarely in the psychological suspense category. The plot simmers along instead of boils, perfectly paced with a relentless current of dread that runs just below the surface. It starts out with a pretty tangled web of characters, and I couldn’t put this book down until I’d unraveled every last thread and figured out how they all fit together. Although I did guess many of the twists before they were revealed (occupational hazard of a thriller lover!), that didn’t decrease my enjoyment one iota. This book is so well written that I actually couldn’t wait to see if I was right, and I loved the twisty, turny ride to get there!

You may be wondering how otherwise intelligent women fall for this type of person, but our MMC is a master class in love bombing, gaslighting, and manipulating, and he knows exactly how to get what he wants. If you were fascinated by the real life documentary about Dirty John, you’re going to love Don’t Let Him In!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Oh man I LOVED this one!! SO Creepy and could not put it down! It was just the right bit of spine-tingly "off" for the entire book. Lisa Jewell's writing just keeps you turning page after page. I liked the short chapters and the interweaving timelines all coming to present day. Highly reco!!

This is a story about a complete delusional and depraved conman F boy/ sneaky manipulative manchild and the various women caught up in his lies of deceit. This is a twisted slow burn read with short chapters and lots of suspense.

I always love Lisa Jewell's writing. She's one of my favorite thriller authors. This one was a bit hard to follow at first, as it shifts time lines and perspectives and can be confusing to keep names straight at times. But once I got my footing a little more, I enjoyed it. It did begin to feel repetitive at times, but I think thriller lovers of mystery who don't mind a slow unraveling and various POVs will like it!

Lisa provides such a believable point of view from a disturbed person. Though I'm not usually a fan of third person point of view, Lisa did a great job with it and using it to create suspense with multiple view points and gaps for readers. I am not usually a suspense fan, but the characters are deep and intimate. Highly suggest if you are into suspense!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Simon and Schuster for an advanced digital copy of Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell.

I love Lisa Jewell and have been reading everything I can get by her for years. (While I have to admit her last Marvel crime novel was not my cup of tea.) Don't Let Him In was amazing and did not disappoint! I am a true crime buff as well and this read like a real life thriller! The characters were well developed and thought out, some relatable and some despisable! I couldn't get enough, fast enough. I love a fast paced page-turner! It kept me guessing and surprised without going all around the world to do it. I can't wait to share it with our local town book club! This will be my summer recommended read for family and friends! Solid 4 stars!

Thank you to Atria for the free early electronic copy. All opinions are my own.
4.5 Stars (come on Goodreads, give options here!)
This is a summer domestic suspense/thriller you're going to want to read. Every domestic suspense doesn't have to be about murder. Until it is...

One Man, multiple women, and many lives are heading into the inevitable crash. Ash, the adult daughter of Nina is grieving hard for the senseless death of her father. Nina, however, is perking up at the attentions of a new man that's now making his way into their lives. Nick, the new guy, doesn't feel right to Ash. Her mom, too happy. What starts as a way to verify Nick's attentions opens a can of suspicion and revelations no one is expecting.

Going back and forth between timelines and women, Jewell deftly weaves a creepy tale of a psychopath and master of manipulation. While some are under the spell, others fight back. And, as fantastical as this tale seems, we read news that verifies its continued practice today.

I read this one but I think the audiobook would be a great choice as well.