Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Thanks so much @netgalley & @atriabooks for this eARC.

I love Lisa Jewell’s books and have read all of her thrillers as well as a few of her earlier novels so when I was approved for this ARC I dropped everything to read it.

There’s a large cast of characters in this one, different POVs and a past and present timeline. So there is a lot to keep track of at first but I did sort it out and had everything figured out. This one wasn’t really a thriller for me and I didn’t realize that until I got closer to the end. I kept waiting for that shocking plot twist but it never came. I was disappointed that my jaw wasn’t on the floor from some twisted reveal after being so consumed with reading this book, I loved the story.

Without revealing too much, here’s the gist of the book. The story begins with the death of Paddy Swan, a restauranteur, who was pushed onto the tracks of an incoming train. He leaves behind his wife Nina and two grown children, Ash & Argo.

A couple of months after the funeral a package arrives at Nina’s home from a man named Nick Radcliffe who says he worked and was friends with Paddy before Nina met him.

They keep in contact and a year later Nina agrees to go on a date with Nick. Their relationship turns romantic and Nick becomes a part of her life.

Storyline number two follows Martha, mom of 3, florist, married to Al who works all the time and is often away from home on work trips. Their relationship is struggling.

Eventually these two storylines intertwine. And this is where perhaps I ruined the read for myself because I already knew what was going on here, I thought that we were supposed to know but I’ve read some other reviews of people being completely duped. 🤷‍♀️

I’m really looking forward to reading more reviews to see if others have the same experience reading this one that I did.

I will always jump through hoops to read a Lisa Jewell book and I was obsessed with this read, I was just expecting a shocker and there wasn’t one for me.

4⭐️

Was this review helpful?

This was twisty and turny, it took me a little bit to keep everyone straight, but once I did, I was hooked.
Diving into the life of this criminal was exactly the way I wanted to spend my day once I started.

I loved seeing women coming together to support women, and that the tables kept shifting and flipping.

Was this review helpful?

☽。⋆ arc review ☽。⋆

𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐧 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!

review: genre- thriller

it’s always a privilege to be able to read a book an advance!! thank you Atria Books + NetGalley for the arc for an honest review in return!

this book did have me stay up late just to see what would happen next. it truly was a page turner. i felt my brain connecting the dots, this man was sinister i will say!!! he was always one step ahead and was playing people like a FOOL!!! i was like there’s no way he thinks he is a good guy, he was leaving everyone in DEBT(you’ll have to read to know why & how). my favorite thing about the book was seeing women coming together to take this man down. one of the ladies in particular i thought was gonna let us downnnnn but homegirl pulled through eventually! so if you want a page turner i definitely recommend this book. the only reason for my 3.5 rating, was because once we got to part 4 & 5 it became very wordy, over explaining, and extra things added that did not feel necessary so it felt a bit dragged out. other than that i still recommend this book and think it’s a good read.

𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 !! ꕥ

Was this review helpful?

⭐️ 3.5
I was lucky to get ARC for this book(Thank you NetGalley). It was last year when I discovered Lisa Jewell, and she quickly became my favorite author. I inhale her books and can’t put them down. She’s absolutely the best at writing suspense, with shocking twists, and the worlds she creates are twisted and mind-blowing.

Without giving too much away, this is another story that I’m sure will get much love. I rated it slightly lower only because some other books I read by her were, to me, personally better. It was more predictable to me, but again, I read a lot of these kinds of books, and I also think that was done intentionally.

Everyone who loves show You will enjoy this one.

Was this review helpful?

First book hangover of 2025! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I loved the various POVs and loathed Nick. I was hitting my fiance because I was getting so angry. That's how you know its a good book and written by an amazing author.

Was this review helpful?

WOW! 4.5⭐️/5⭐️

First I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the complementary advanced digital copy of this fast-paced thriller! Thanks to Jewell, my Kindle and I got reacquainted for my first read of 2025.

It took me a few chapters to get my bearings and my characters straight, but once I had my footing it was off to the races. Jewell barely gives the reader a chance to breathe with the whiplash-like perspective shifts, twists and turns, and “oh shit” realizations. I burned through this thriller and it’s the first book in a while that I’ve thought about between reads and was genuinely excited to dive back into.

I will be honest though, the ending wound up being pretty predictable and all signs led to it. I almost felt like I was on the edge of my seat for all the clues to be revealed as red herrings, but they were not. However, the book stood out regardless of the anticlimactic ending and I would definitely recommend it!

Was this review helpful?

coffee run & arc review✨

I have to preface this by saying-I LOVE Lisa Jewell, but this one didn’t do it for me. I felt the plot was great, and I even enjoyed the book; it just didn’t leave me with that five star feeling. I liked the characters and the writing style, but something about it just fell flat for me. Overall, I would have to rate this three stars (and I still love queen Lisa). I would still recommend trying this one out-just because I didn’t love it, doesn’t mean that you won’t!

Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read and review this ahead of time!

Pub date June 24, 2025 📖

Was this review helpful?

This book was so disturbing (in a good way, if you are into psychological thrillers). The "men" in the narrative really got under my skin and I wanted to scream at the main protagonist to get out (or rather "don't let him in!"). It was fascinating to follow all of the twists and turns and this was a unique book. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Lisa knows how to write a story that keeps your interest throughout the story. I was glued to my kindle while reading this one.

Was this review helpful?

Lisa Jewell has done it again, with yet another captivating, addictive psychological thriller. I have read so many of her books and this one is quite unlike the rest but equally as thrilling.

I think most thriller readers can guess where this story is going after reading the synopsis. What they cannot guess, however, is just how deep the evil runs in this story. I truly was unable to put this book down and read most of it in one sitting. I loved the alternating POVs and the fast-paced nature of the plot. I do wish it had more of a twist and more of the mystery Lisa Jewell’s books often have, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lisa Jewell for this providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Stay tuned for the release of Don’t Let Him In on June 23, 2025!

Was this review helpful?

I spent my afternoon and evening of New Year’s Day absolutely engrossed in this soon-to-be-published thriller by Lisa Jewell. I am going to try to be vague in the review, because I don’t want to give anything away. I like to go into books, especially suspense novels, knowing as little as possible, and I assume everyone else does, too.

Paddy Swann, a beloved chef and restaurant owner, dies when he is pushed in front of a Soho train. He leaves behind a grieving widow, Nina, and two adult children, Ash (Aisling) and Arlo. When Nick Radcliffe , an old friend of Paddy’s, reaches out to offer condolences and stories of Paddy’s early career, Nina and Ash are initially charmed. But as Nick and Nina get closer, Ash wonders if he is too good to be true, or if it’s her own sad history with men that makes her suspicious.

Small town florist Martha is married to Alastair, the father of her two-year-old daughter and the man of her dreams. The only thing that would make it better would be if he could just stop traveling so much for work and if all the money they made didn’t disappear so fast.

The story is told in shifting timelines and several POVs, but is easy to follow. When Ash and Martha narrate, the timeline is the present. The third POV starts four years before Paddy’s death and moves toward the present.

The villain of the story is a narcissistic, manipulative piece of work. Parts of the story were hard to read because the villain is such a smooth liar and it reminded me of various people I’ve known. If you are triggered by gaslighting and manipulation, beware. Jewell writes believable, realistic characters and it’s easy to see a lot of this happening in real life.

It’s fairly clear early on who the villain is, but this is a thriller, not a mystery. As all the pieces of the backstory began to fall in place, I couldn’t put down the book because I had to see how…if…justice would be served. Other reviewers have said the beginning was a little slow. I didn’t that, but I do agree that the pace really amps up around the 60-65% mark.

In honor of the late Paddy, I give it 5 chef’s kisses.

Was this review helpful?

What a wild, twisty book! It started off kind of slow, but once you piece together what’s happening, you’re hooked. Every time I figured something out, Lisa Jewell still found a way to shock me and make this book so addictive! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of this book!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for the ARC !

This book was so good ! Could not put it down and it had my attention from the beginning . At first I was a little confused on who was who but then it all started coming together . Lots of twists I didn’t see coming. Definitely recommend!

Was this review helpful?

“Don’t Let Him In” is perfect for readers who love domestic thrillers. It’s a quick, engaging read that delivers on suspense and entertainment. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Lisa Jewell's Don't Let Him In is a gripping and intricately woven tale of suspense, deception, and complex relationships. The accessible writing style draws readers in effortlessly, making this a book you can devour in a single sitting.

The plot is brilliantly crafted, intertwining the lives of Ash, Nina, and Martha with precision and intrigue. Jewell masterfully builds tension as secrets unravel, leaving you questioning every character's motives. The shifting dynamics between Nina and Nick, and the layered revelations about Al, keep the narrative unpredictable and deeply engaging.

While the characters are compelling, a deeper emotional exploration of their internal struggles could have elevated the story even further. Nevertheless, the book’s fast pace and clever twists make it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of domestic thrillers will find this an absolute treat.

Was this review helpful?

I had the pleasure of getting an ARC of Don’t Let Him In. I read it in two sittings and I am pretty sure I had heart palpitations the whole time. It is amazing how much I can loathe a character and be impressed by their cleverness at the same time. It was full of twists that I didn’t see coming and it pulled together greatly at the end. I highly recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Atria books for this advanced copy.

In Don’t Let Him In, we enter the mind of Nick Radcliffe. Handsome, charming, and instantly likable. He’s exactly what you need him to be, exactly when you need it. But soon Ash Swann starts to notice cracks in his shiny veneer.

Spiral into the discrete life of Nick and discover the truth behind his mask with Ash as she tries to protect her mother from this shady man. Throughout the book, Ash’s childhood naïveté is stripped away and in its place the raw facets of her family’s past are revealed.

Jewell weaves this story with eloquence and a master touch that reflects her more than two decades of published works. I know when I pick up one of Jewell’s books I’m entering a rich and varied world bound together by well rounded characters with, sometimes wild, stories to tell. Absolutely another must buy from Jewell.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely loved it and could not put it down! So fun, the most hate-able, sociopathic villain! 100% recommend!

Was this review helpful?

This was much more reminiscent of older Lisa circa The House We Grew Up In or Girls In The Garden. A domestic, psychological thriller that gets into the gritty mind of a scam artist conning women across the UK.
I saw some reviews saying they thought it would be more thriller style but I really enjoyed it and thought the thrill came in the “will he/wont he get caught” and the twisty workings of Nick/Damian/Justin/Al’s mind.
I found Ash to be an enjoyable character, and wish I knew more about certain little left threads (the letters) in her storyline. I also really enjoyed the female empowerment, all together united, side of the story.

Overall, a really solid 4-4.3⭐️ read in my books

Was this review helpful?

“Don’t Let Him In” by Lisa Jewell reads like a dateline episode. I expected a few more surprise twists from the author of “None of This Is True,” but it was an enjoyable read. Nina and her daughter Ash’s lives are upturned by a death in the family only for more chaos to brought by mysterious stranger Nick. The novel told with various POVs brings Martha into the narrative and the reader is left to put together the pieces.

Was this review helpful?