Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an Advanced Reader Copy of Don't Let Him In.
This book kept me wanting to read it since the story was interesting, but it was not really a thriller, more a suspense. It was a little bit of a slow build story to me, but overall, it was a good story. I loved the epilogue. It was the perfect ending to the book. It is my least favorite Lisa Jewell book so far, although I haven't read them all yet.

4.5 ⭐️ - I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and was thrilled to receive this ARC!!

Paddy Swann dies tragically in a train accident and his grieving family receives a gift from Nick Radcliffe, an unknown old friend of his, who quickly works his way into their lives and a relationship with Nina, Paddy’s widow. Ash, Paddy’s daughter, feels something is off about him from the beginning and worries things are too good to be true for this new man in her mother’s life. Martha, mom of 3 and floral shop owner is trying to work through her issues with her husband Alistair’s mysterious work trips, going off the grid for days at a time with poor excuses and things are not adding up.

Nick is a loathsome psychopath and con artist who just keeps getting worse by the minute and leaves countless women in his path of destruction. This story had so many twists and turns, didn’t feel like there were any huge surprises but has a steady build throughout. The ending felt a little too neatly tied up but felt things were brought to justice and liked that this had a solid resolution given the nature of his history of disappearing.

Overall would recommend for an exciting new thriller out in a few weeks!!

Don’t Let Him In is a slow-burning, suspenseful domestic thriller that expertly weaves together the lives of three women—each on the edge of uncovering a chilling truth. Nina, newly widowed, finds herself drawn to the charming Nick Radcliffe, whose sudden reappearance after her husband’s death feels both comforting and oddly timed. Her daughter, Ash, trusts her instincts more than Nick’s perfectly polished persona and sets off a chain reaction with her investigation. Meanwhile, Martha, a new mother in a nearby town, battles growing unease about her husband’s absences and the cracks forming in their seemingly solid marriage.

The narrative unfolds through alternating perspectives, building tension as secrets come to light and the characters’ stories begin to intersect in unexpected—and deeply unsettling—ways. The atmosphere is thick with unease, and the book excels at maintaining suspense without relying on cheap thrills.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star read is that the pacing drags slightly in the middle, and some twists feel a bit telegraphed. Still, the strength of the female characters and the creeping sense of dread make this an engrossing read. Fans of Lisa Jewell or Shari Lapena will find much to love here.

Final verdict: A gripping tale of trust, deception, and how well we ever really know the ones closest to us. Just remember—don’t let him in.

Honestly I have conflicting feelings about this book, for sure my favorite part of it was that it was impossible to put it down, like actually. I read it all in a day, in two seatings, couldn't even stop reading while brushing my teeth. All of this to say, this is so entertaining and quick to read, the short chapters really work here.
Now my issues, i'm not sure Lisa Jewell's writing is for me, I've only read "None of this is true" by her and my thoughts are kind of the same. She writes beautifully but I don't feel like her stories are thrilling whatsoever, I feel like there's not enough mystery, if anything at points it feels like a character study of middle aged women, but it also fails to be deep enough in that aspect. So for me, they always land in the middle, not fulfilling my expectations for any of the aspects of the story.
Still, If you like her previous work I would highly recommend this one because it has that distinct vibe of hers. If you wanna get out of a reading slump or simply read something fast paced and entertaining I also would recommend.
Oh I'm watching "you" right now and the main character of this gave MAJOR Joe vibes, so if you like the show try reading this book!!

*Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the ARC*

2.5 stars - I have read five Lisa Jewell books and have liked the majority, but this one was not for me. There are a lot of characters and storylines that were confusing. The main character was so repulsive that it was hard to read. The book was repetitive and slightly boring until the final 15% or so. That being said, I did appreciate how everything tied together in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Don't Let Him In would have been better named "Don't Piss Me Off" because that's how I felt for more than two thirds of this book :S

The main POV was SOOOOOO FRUSTRATING and I get that we're supposed to hate him but that he was supposed to be so charming and good looking but I wasn't convinced and omg it was so annoying to read him getting away with everything and all the women just falling at his feet!! Nothing he did or said was likeable from a reader's perspective so it made me mad that the women fell for him. And boy, could he yap! I had to skip paragraphs of him going on and on, excuse after excuse because I knew it wouldn't matter and I didn't care what he had to say. I liked how the different characters ended up coming together but the final scene was so annoying and unbelievable? The epilogue did have some form of satisfaction.

I think I liked this better than None of This is True but also not sure if I was reading fast because it was an easy read or so I could finally get to the part where some justice could be served. There was a teeny tiny twist I saw coming (but I still liked it), but otherwise there was no real thrill or shocking moments. Just an annoying incel being an annoying incel. Decent read and still love Lisa Jewell tho!

Thank you sooo much to NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read one of my favourite authors' latest books and provide my feedback!

I have mixed feelings about this new work by Lisa Jewell. I thought the overall plot was clever, and I had a hard time putting it down. The constantly changing timeline and characters were confusing at first, but I ultimately got used to that, since it was a cornerstone of the plot. Things I didn't like: the character of Jane (she seemed out of place), the relationship between Ash and Nina (it felt inconsistent), the first-person narrative of the MMC (who's he talking to?) and the way the story wrapped up in the epilogue.

Overall, if you're a fan of Jewell and similar authors, you won't be disappointed by this story! It takes a little getting used to the timelines/characters, but it's a good read overall and I'll definitely continue reading more by this author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 ⭐️rounded up. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I went in expecting a thriller, but it felt more like a slow-burning drama. I had a hard time staying engaged and found myself losing interest pretty early on. The characters were also a bit hard to keep straight. I’ve really enjoyed some of Lisa Jewell’s books in the past, but this one just didn’t land for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the egalley ARC. I’m always here for a Lisa Jewell book. Don’t Let Him In kept me reading, very quickly in fact, since it is such a propulsive read. I love a book with short chapters, alternating character perspectives, and shifting timelines which Jewell navigates flawlessly. Note that as is the case with many thrillers I’ve read lately, you have to suspend your disbelief that so many gullible people exist in the world.

I can't decide between 3-3.5 stars. This would have been a lot higher if it wasn't for 85% through til the end of the book.
85% through was a little unbelievable, because Nina seemed to not believe her daughter the entire time because of her past but yet switches her mind up so quickly? Ash didn't tell her anything different but then her mind flips like a switch. This didn't fit the narrative for me. The plot twist of Nick writing the letters to make Ash seem crazy seemed to be thrown in too hastily.

This was suspenseful thriller that I did not want to put down, and the author did a good job of making solid characters- it had me guessing if Ash was making all of this up in her head. The only let down would be the ending, still think it is worth the read. Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

The last 25%? Incredible. Everything before that? A slog. Too many characters, too little action, and pacing that dragged. I wanted to love it—Lisa Jewell usually nails it—but this one took way too long to get going. Worth it in the end, but it tested my patience.

Absolutely gripping from start to finish, Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Jewell weaves a chilling, twist-filled narrative that keeps you questioning every character’s motive. The tension builds with every chapter, creating a sense of unease that’s impossible to shake. Her signature mix of complex characters, dark secrets, and emotional depth makes this a page-turner you won’t forget. Just when you think you have it figured out—boom, another twist! Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers, this book is an absolute must-read. Trust me—you won’t want to put it down

If you enjoy feeling mildly paranoid about every text, every knock on the door, and every vaguely charming stranger you accidentally make eye contact with, this book will hit just right. Lisa Jewell’s writing is like a warm, suspenseful hug with a little side of “maybe don’t trust anyone ever.”

The twists come at you like a polite but persistent cat demanding attention: not exactly a heart attack, but enough to make you pause and rethink your life choices. I appreciated the mix of first and third-person narration. it’s like getting multiple angles on the chaos, which only adds to the literary paranoia. I’m here for it.

I liked it a lot (I mean, HELLO, it’s Lisa Jewell we are talking about here) and definitely spent a suspicious amount of time side-eyeing all the characters. I would definitely recommend this book. I would also maybe consider a restraining order against any “Nick” in my life (including my own brother).

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a read. I love Lisa Jewell, but I really loved this book because it was quite different than others she has written. It’s a story about a conman, and his relationships with many different women. While there are quite a few characters, I had no trouble following along once I got the flow. It was fast paced and a book I could not wait to dive into! Loved this read.

This story is so crazy! Paddy Swann, owner of Paddy’s, was pushed towards an oncoming train and died. His grieving widower, Nina, receives a momento of Paddy’s from an old friend, Nick Radcliffe. A year later Nina and Nick are dating. Her daughter Ash doesn’t approve and begins investigating Nick. The POV jumps from the past to the present. Thank you to the publisher for a copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🚪 dual timeline
🚪 triple POV
🚪 1st person/3rd person POV
🚪 short chapters 🩷🩷🩷

Okay Im sorry … the foreward is written by Freida McFadden????? What an epic cross-over!! Two of my favourite authors 🩷🩷🩷 I am so honoured to be selected for this advanced copy from one of absolute favourite authors!!!
In true Lisa Jewell fashion, the story kind of jumps around a lot back and forth and you try and put the pieces together and figure out what’s going on the whole time, but it doesn’t make sense until the very end when all the pieces fall into place 🩷🩷🩷
Lisa is so great at creating guy characters that I absolutely hate 🤣🤣 It always makes the ending more satisfying when the character is an absolute loser.
This may very well be the most well done multi- POV I have ever read. It was very super clear whose POV you were reading because the whole font was different 🩷🩷 and the time period was very clearly labelled. There’s nothing I hate more than being confused what point-of-view and time period I am currently reading.
This one was definitely a slow burn, but it got super good in the middle and I was hooked in an instant.
Another smash-hit from Lisa Jewell!! I already cannot wait to read her next book 🤪🤪
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 🩷🩷

What a wild ride I feel like this book kept me confused but interested because there was just so much going on. Ive been hearing a lot of kaleidoscopic thriller and that makes complete sense with how to describe this story. I thought I solved it but then yeah I didnt. Per usual this author always seems to write the best books.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! It was a little repetitive and there were a lot of characters to keep straight, but it was still definitely a page turner!

Thanks to netgalley for an e-arc!

The book takes a couple chapters to understand the flow and get the characters sorted but once you settle in it’s easy to follow.

Some spoilers*
This book fanned the flames of my hatred towards men. Lisa Jewell really makes you feel that stomach turning anxiety every time one of the women falls for a lie. You find yourself mentally (and sometime audibly) screaming “Noo!”. The web of lies and deceit are woven so perfectly through this story and when you realize the extent of it, it’s quite chilling. It’s a perfect mix of thriller and mystery that keeps you flipping the page.

Don’t Let Him In

4/5 ⭐️

I don’t read a lot of Mystery/Thrillers but when I do I know Lisa Jewell won’t let me down and, once again, she did not disappoint!

In “Dont Let Him In” the lives of several women are destroyed by a con man à la Dirty John. We get a dyak narrative told from the perspectives of the con man’s current wife, his next targets adult daughter and a flashback narrative in the POV of the con man “himself” (ahhh I hate even calling him that in this review!”

Ash, a woman in her late 20s who lives at home following the brutal murder of her father, is a fantastic main protagonist that we get to follow as she does the detective work of finding out who her moms new boyfriend is. Upon meeting him she is immediately suspicious but given her recent history she doesn’t feel like she can come outright with her distrust so she begins to build evidence with an unlikely ally - her late dads ex girlfriend from 30 years ago.

Nina, Ash’s mom, is a strong woman with her own flaws but ultimately she has good instincts and deep love for her family.

Martha, the con man’s wife, is so sympathetic and she is a great character to follow to understand why women go along with his schemes.

And the con man himself, whatever his name is (Simon, I suppose?) is just the worst. Lisa Jewell does a wonderful, albeit horrifyingly accurate, job of portraying him as the piece of garbage he is. Her ability to write the word salad and gaslighting that manipulators like him ACTUALLY SAY was uncanny. My heart rate was up all throughout the book but ESPECIALLY when this man was talking (and talking, and talking)

The way everything culminates is also incredible and I loved all the story lines and victims being able to converge and face their abuser. The ending was, for once, almost happy (as happy as it could be I suppose) given Lisa’s past books I was expecting something a lot darker and I’m genuinely not complaining. FOR ONCE we caught the bad guy.

For what I was expecting, this book hit all the beats I needed it to. I was in a bit of a slump going in but I finished this baby in one night!

Overall, a great addition to Lisa’s collection of works!