I love Lisa Jewell’s books and this story is another great twisty novel. It kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. The author weaves a tangled web in this thriller full of lies and deception. I don’t know how the main character kept all his lies straight.

Nina Swann whose husband has recently died is lonely and easy prey for the smooth, handsome Nick Radcliffe. He is a con artist, liar, and master manipulator who preys on unsuspecting vulnerable women and bleeds them dry of their money. Will his past and present collide and will he be able to insert himself into Nina’s life? Her daughter is very suspicious of Nick but can she prove any of it to her mom before it is too late?

This is an exciting, fast paced story to the end. If you enjoy a thriller that keeps you guessing this book is for you. I would definitely recommend this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this novel.

📜Quick Summary: As Nina Swann is grieving the loss of her husband, an unexpected package shows up at her door. Nick, her late husband’s friend, sends this package to offer his condolences. Even though Nina is automatically swooning, her daughter Ash is not. She sees behind his handsome self, his strong demeanor, and his questionable presence. As she starts digging into this Nick character, she uncovers…some unsettling things. In a town nearby, Martha and her family- her husband Alistair and baby girl- are living a happy life. But when Martha starts questioning Alistair’s whereabouts, things start to spiral quickly.

❣️Initial Feels: Lisa has a way of dragging you in right away, and I was hooked from the start.

👀Trigger Warnings: loss of husband, psychopath

🌶️Spice Level: eh…

📖Read if you want: a LOT of characters, changing point of views, flashbacks to the past

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: Ash was probably the only character I liked. She was the only woman in this novel that showed any sort of brains at all…and I just wanted her to find out who Nick is, and be over with him!

🌟Overall Rating: 3 stars

💡Final Sentiments: Lisa Jewell is an autobuy and autoread, so I was extremely thrilled to receive this arc! This book did not hit the mark for me. Unfortunately, there were too many characters and too many “silly” women characters that made SO many bad choices. Nick was a walking red flag and the way these grown adults would turn their eye at the most ridiculous thing… drove me a little mad! I wanted to really love this, as I am a Jewell fan, but I just didn’t vibe with the majority of the cast. This is not a thriller, in the sense of feeling jumpy or being scared; it’s more of a slow burn mystery, watching things unravel and come to fruition. Of course some twists and turns you could figure out, and some were well hidden! I think this novel will be a hit or miss for readers… and if you like a slow unraveling ride, and aren’t expecting a jaw dropping thriller, this may be for you.

🔉Special thanks to Lisa Jewell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this arc of Don’t Let Him In.

📘Grab yourself a copy on June 24, 2025!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for the eARC!

Lisa Jewell did not disappoint with Don't Let Him In! This was a very entertaining read which made me want to keep reading. I could not put this down! It was interesting and shocking to see how everything came together. If I had to change one thing about the book I wish the ending was different- it felt rushed but it also worked since the main character is so odd and crazy!

I will be posting my full review on my bookstagram @bookofthemeg on pub day- 6/24!

Thank you Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for the copy of Don’t Let Him In.

I didn’t know where this journey would take me, but was it ever a good journey! And that epilogue!!!! Fantastic read!!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC! This read was infuriating, with so many twists and turns, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Every time we skipped to the past I felt myself think "oh god, what *else* has this man done?!"

A quick, captivating read that even though a few places felt a bit predictable, made me shudder due to the possibility (and reality) of people like this existing in the real world.

4.5*

This book kept me guessing from page 1. There were times when my guesses would be right but then it would twist around in ways I never expected. Ash and Martha made me feel for them. And Emma. I still have questions though. Was there more to Jane? That felt like there was something there. How did he manage his getaway? Does he actually go to prison? I hope Ash and Martha can put there lives together after all those events.

Wow! What a masterclass in deception! This book is an exhilarating ride from start to finish!

Nina Swann receives a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, a charming old friend of her late husband. While Nina is drawn to Nick's warmth and charisma, her daughter Ash is suspicious, believing he may be too perfect. Undeterred by her mother's feelings, Ash investigates Nick's background and uncovers troubling secrets. Meanwhile, Martha, a florist with a husband, Alistair, who frequently travels for work, begins to doubt his explanations for his absences. The lives of Nina, Martha, and Ash intersect, leading them to confront a disturbing truth that they wish they had avoided. The story warns them: "Don’t let him in," as hidden pasts threaten to resurface.

Divided into five suspenseful parts, the narrative is intricately crafted to keep you on your toes and your mind racing. We follow a skilled con artist whose charm and cunning are put to the test as life and circumstances begin to catch up with him. As he struggles to keep his story straight, some of his excuses are downright laughable, though, from a certain perspective, they might seem plausible.

The plot unfolds with little room for guesswork, as the author deftly weaves between timelines, providing a richer understanding of events and character development. The women in this tale are surprisingly easy to deceive, but love can make us all a bit irrational. When family is on the line, who knows how far one might go?

I often find myself grappling with Lisa's unique writing style, but this time, I was able to dive right in and grasp the story more easily than in some of her previous works. Prepare to feel a mix of frustration and amusement as you navigate through the protagonist's poor excuses and outrageous behavior—it's all part of the fun!

The ending? Absolutely delightful and completely unexpected! I was on the edge of my seat, hoping for a resolution that would satisfy, and let me tell you, it couldn’t have been better. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s a final twist on the last page that will leave you applauding!

If you enjoy tales of cunning con artists, intricate circumstances that set off a chain reaction spanning years, and justice served with a side of irony, this is the perfect summer read. And I can only imagine that the audiobook version is even more captivating! Bravo!

Thank you, Atria Books, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lisa, ma’am, queen - you truly popped off with this book! I was at the edge of my comfy reading chair the entire length of this book! It was the true definition of a page turner! Every single chapter kept building and building to the point where I wanted to read the last page just to see what would happen! I would give this book 6 stars if I could!

I can best describe this book as if Tinder Swindler and Dirty John had a baby and this is that baby! I will NOT be shutting up about this book for a very long time! It was scandalous, salacious, suspenseful AF, intriguing, and most of all dramatic! This is what I want all my thrillers to be like! This is my 2nd Lisa Jewell book - the first being None of This is True (another amazing read!!) I am a fan for life!

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with this e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of Don’t Let Him In.
Three women are connected to one man in this psychological, multi-perspective thriller. The present and past storylines kept me on my toes always with more questions than I started with. The beginning chapters were a bit confusing until the characters established themselves.
The characters are well developed although flawed, lack common sense and are way too trusting. Our sought after man is a psychotic individual who easily swayed his victims to his side. He is an overconfident smooth talker who seems to be able to turn women’s heads. I enjoyed Ash’s doubts and investigative techniques to figure things out although she also had her own issues to deal with.
The story is fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what possibly could happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to more from Lisa Jewell.

3.5

The ending fell a little flat for me. Regardless, I’m thankful to NetGalley + Atria Books for the ARC.

Hmmm…..this is going to be a hard review for me because rating this one was hard too.

I liked the book….kinda. At times I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. The next minute, I wanted to slap every single female in the book and the author for writing about women’s insecurities and the men who are able to exploit them.

I hate the male characters in this book. Almost all of them, even the ancillary ones like sons. The women have to stop whining. But…the end was a mouth dropper.

Thank you to Net Galley and Lisa Jewel for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After someone dies, it’s the stories about their life that keeps them alive. However, what if someone tells stories that aren’t true. There’s no one to fact them because the person it’s about is no longer able to refute it. That’s how this books starts off…

Book: Don’t Let Him In 🚪
Author: Lisa Jewell
Publication date: June 23, 2025

Nina receives a letter from a former friend of her late husband. Wanting to know more, she connects with him. Her daughter, Ash, doesn’t trust him though and looks into who he really is. Her father may not be alive any longer but someone must know more about this mystery man and why he’s suddenly integrating himself in her mother’s life.

Don’t Let Him In is written in multiple perspectives over different timelines. It can be a bit disorientating but it’s intentional on Lisa Jewell’s part. It kept me reading wanting to figure out how they were all connected and what is revealed, I did not see coming.

This is a fantastic con story that highlights the emotions that come along with grief, relationship/family dynamics, and suspense.

I’ve only read a handful of LJ books. While I love her ability of storytelling, Don’t Let Him In took forever to get to the point. It took about 55% of the novel to get to the action. The first half of the book felt extremely slow and repetitive. I also don’t think some of the POVs were not needed.

3/5 ⭐️

I adore Lisa Jewell’s writing. I was thrilled to see she was releasing a new book! My blood pressure was so high while reading this which is a sure fire sign of a great thriller. I liked the third person narrative and quick chapters. So much deception so little time. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Huge Lisa Jewell fan so a new book by her is always an exciting event!

Don't Let Him in is more in the vein of Invisible Girl than most recent psychological thrillers, None of This is True. Don't Let Him In is a Dirty John type story about a man juggling multiple wives and families in a sort of romantic and financial pyramid scheme. Told in multiple points of view, this story has a quiet sense of menace as we wait for this character's (he has quite a few names and aliases!) crazy lifestyle to blow up in his face.

Full review on my website, linked below!

Nina Swann becomes interested in a man named Nick Radcliffe. Shortly following the death of Nina's husband, Nick sent a condolence letter and mentioned that he and her husband were friends for a short period when they were younger. Nick seems to be the perfect man, but Nina's daughter Ash becomes suspicious of him as he seems TOO perfect. Ash begins investigating Nick's past and begins to uncover more skeletons in his closet than she ever expected to find.

I really enjoyed None of This is True by Lisa Jewell and I was very excited when I was approved for this eARC. This one was a good book in a slightly different way than the first one I read. I felt like I was able to guess most of the twists, but the trip to those answers was an enjoyable one to be on. I liked the multiple perspectives and jumps in time frame to uncover who Nick truly was to all of the different characters. It is also so scary and real that there are people and situations like this in the real world.

The book had a very quick pace and was highly engaging. If I wasn't reading more than one book at once, I would have finished this in a day or two. I look forward to reading more Lisa Jewell books in the future.

Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley and Lisa Jewell for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this one but it wasn’t my favorite of hers. I was entertained throughout, but I was also rolling my eyes a little bit wondering if all of the women were truly that gullible. Overall, a quick, engaging read.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Lisa Jewell has done it again. She is master of writing a suspenseful mystery. Of keeping her reader hanging on until the very end, needing to know how it all came to be. It's so hard to review a mystery, though, without giving away the plot and how it works out.
Jewell tells a story like no other. I loved the different points of view (there are three of them) in this one. It was fun to watch the POVs switch around, getting the story from the different characters. And it was great to watch the slow unraveling of the villain in this story. The villain who thought he was above all and would never get caught. His point of view truly showed how very unhinged he was. There was so much gaslighting in this book it was sometimes hard to believe it was happening and the victims couldn't see what was right in front of them. But love will certainly twist your perception!
The plot was totally engaging for this one. And the pacing was fast and easy. I loved the short chapters and the realistic plot.
I will say one thing, I was totally confused by the time line when I first started reading. It wasn't until about 25% in that I realized how the book was structured with the before and afters. Once I saw that, and the timelines began to move along and merge, it made much more sense.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was a bit predictable, and there was less mystery than her other books have given me, but it was nice to watch that mystery build and pretty much know what was going on! I would say I'd put this title up there with my favorites from her in the past. I don't think there is a book Jewell will write that I won't want to read. If you're looking for a slowly unraveling mystery with twists and turns that are unpredictable, pick this one up. Looking forward to more from her in the future!

This was my favorite Lisa Jewell novel!

A recently widowed Nina receives a thoughtful gift from Nick, a past colleague of her husband, and embarks on a romance with him. Martha, a happily married mother, is beginning to wonder about her husband’s job that involves so much travel. Ash, Nina’s daughter, grows suspicious of her mother’s new relationship and begins unraveling Nick’s mysterious past and learns much more than she initially imagined.

I really enjoyed the slow build of this book and the duel perspectives alongside multiple timelines. The character development was a good depth while leaving space for questions to develop. The characters were relatable and interesting and most were likable.

This was a solid psychological thriller that I struggled to put down and I found it intriguing right to the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a little slow to start off but it picked up and I got into the book more. I wasn’t a fan of the alternating timelines. I enjoyed the ending so I went up to a 3 stars but it was really hard to get through.