The entire time I was reading this, I couldn’t help but think of Dirty John (if you know, you know). The women in this story were so incredibly oblivious to red flags that it was hard to believe. The chapters from the main male character’s perspective were so ridiculous that they were almost comical. Overall, this story failed to meet my expectations.

Thanks, NetGalley for the arc.

I flew through this book. I loved the writing style and switching between points of view. The daughter and ex girlfriend were an unlikely pair but I found them both endearing. The pace of things fell a little apart for me towards the end. It seemed like it was moving too quickly to tie everything up before the last page, and it felt rushed. Overall though I really enjoyed it.

Trigger warning to anyone who ever dated an absolutely toxic and narcissistic white man.

All jokes aside, this was a fun story. The first 3-4 chapters were a bit confusing when it came to figuring out whose POV you were reading from. After learning about all the main characters in the book, it got much easier to figure out. Overall, I had a good time reading! A bit frustrating at times, but I feel like that's expected and part of thrillers. If you liked the Dirty John podcast/show, you'll love this book.

Wow so many different stories I was a bit confused in the beginning but then it all started to come together and make sense. So many lies and deception for these women to deal with it almost made me feel sorry for them.

Don’t Let Him In is certainly a standout novel in the mystery/thriller genre. Linskey masterfully builds suspense, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease. The narrative is compelling, with well developed characters and a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The pacing is steady, allowing for character development while maintaining a sense of urgency. I will recommend this book to ALL of my mystery readers

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, but this book wasn't one of my favorites.. That said, I’d still recommend it! The shifting timeline and multiple perspectives made it hard to follow at times, especially keeping track of which woman Nick was conning at any given moment. I already disliked him, but by the end, I absolutely loathed him—total creep!
Overall, I’d give this book 3.5 stars.

If you are a fan of con man stories, then this book is for you. I would consider this a con man story on steroids. While the initial part of the story is a slow burn while you learn about all the characters and transition between each of their narratives, once you get the lay of the land, this becomes a propulsive page-turning fun read.

For Nina and Ash, Nick shows up on their doorstep not long after the death of their husband/father, Paddy. He's an old friend and wants to return something he had of Paddy's from years ago. Nick and Nina slowly develop a romantic relationship, but there's something about him that raises the antenna of Ash. Then you have Martha and Al, married a few years with a young child. They couldn't be more in love, but Al disappears regularly, especially when Martha needs him the most. He has a ready excuse every time he comes home.

This book requires the reader to pay attention to each story carefully, as what is obvious unfolds throughout the story in such a way that still leaves you guessing in the end what you've just read. You want to go into this story blindly and trust that Lisa Jewell will do her best to lead you through the winding narratives.

Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review.

For Fans Of: Ruth Ware, Peter Swanson
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Genre: 🔪 Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓
Triggers: Death of parent/partner, gaslighting, mental breakdown

Premise: Ash fears that the man her recently widowed mum is dating is not what he seems. As she begins to uncover the lies at the heart of his life, she discovers that he is much more than a con man.

Thoughts: The gift that makes Jewell so skilled at her craft is her ability to give life to such nuanced characters. A feat she delivers in spades in Don’t Let Him In, a puzzle box of a thriller. In particular, Nick, the novel’s villain, is incredibly well-developed and so meticulously revealed to us. This is not the 1st novel that allows us to delve into the mind of a psychopath through 1st person narration. Where many books let us glimpse the intelligence that makes them so insidious, Jewel shows us the full scope of the man, revealing the narcissism, myopia, and lack of personal responsibility that are really at the heart of the danger he presents. But while Nick claims much of the focus, this is ultimately a book about women: the vulnerability, the struggle for control of one’s lives, the rage. There is a great scene toward the end where Jewel offers her readers vicarious vindication. As Jewel takes the reader back and forth between the present of a grieving family and the past of Nick’s origin story, she gradually unveils the broader plot in a way that constantly takes unexpected turns. This triumph requires a complex story structure. While I never lost the plot, my mind whirled at times as I tried to piece the threads together, and a 2nd reading will doubtless expose more of Jewel’s genius.

Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This man is every woman’s worst nightmare. Ugh, he is repulsive.
Lisa Jewell newest book Don’t Let Him, focuses on a recently widowed woman named Nina and her adult daughter Ash. Nina meets a charming fellow named Nick Radcliffe. Nick is the epitome of “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”.
As Ash grows suspicious of Nick and her disdain for him grows daily, she tries to figure out who really is the man that has stolen her Mothers heart.

I’m a huge Lisa Jewell fan. She is an auto buy author for me. Although I enjoyed this one, I didn’t love it. I found the back and forth with the time frames and the different POV’s to be too much sometimes. I had to reread parts of the book often, because I had no idea what character I was reading.
The overall story was good, I actually enjoyed “Nick’s” POV the most. Jewell did a fantastic job of making him more unlikable with every chapter.

Would I recommend this one? Yes. Did it knock my socks off? No.

Thank You to NetGalley and Atria books for the early copy.
This book publishes June 24th, 2025.

Lisa Jewell delivers another gripping psychological thriller with Don't Let Him In, a story that will spark strong reactions and even stronger book club discussions.

The true standout of this novel is the antagonist, Nick. Jewell writes him with such unnerving precision that I found myself having visceral reactions to his every move; reactions that lingered long after I closed the book. The women who orbit his life are equally compelling, each richly drawn and layered with complexity. Their stories are deeply affecting, their trauma palpable.

While the pacing and tension kept me fully engaged, I couldn't give it a full five stars. Why? Frankly, Nick deserved a worse fate. The ending left me slightly unsatisfied—not due to poor writing, but because my emotional investment demanded more justice than the story delivered.

That said, this book is tailor-made for book clubs. It raises thorny questions about manipulation, complicity, and survival that will fuel hours of discussion. Jewell once again proves her mastery of the domestic noir genre.

this was such a good thriller (& so twisted)!! i dont think i've ever hated a male main character more and i applaud lisa jewell for making this so page-turning & thrilling!!! the ending was really good & i loved reading the two POVs we got! highly recommend!!

thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review <3

Don’t Let Him In follows a dangerous con artist and several of his wives through the years. It is told from multiple perspectives and from a couple of timelines. In true con artist fashion, the man’s name changes with each new endeavor. I would say the main story line follows Ash, a young woman whose father has recently died leaving her mother with his restaurant dynasty to run. When a man claiming to have been a friend of her late father contacts them and grows quite close to her mother. Something just feels wrong to Ash, so she starts digging. She is not prepared for what she uncovers.

By its very nature, this book is a bit confusing. The chapters are mostly short and perspectives and/or timelines change as frequently as every chapter. This makes for initially choppy reading and a sort of “whiplashed” feeling for the reader. That said, once I settled into the story and came to understand the order of events, it became a very interesting read. The main character, let’s call him “Nick” is unlikeable and just the worst kind of man but getting his perspective made for some chilling insight into the crimes outlined in the story. I found the ending to be overall satisfying but I wanted to see more. I felt like it almost ended too soon for me.

Overall a well-written thriller with a few twists and turns, it just took me a minute to really get into it. It is not my first book by Jewell and it will not be my last. Huge thank you to Atria books for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Overall I enjoyed this book but it wasn't my favorite from the author. I was able to figure out the plot points pretty quickly so the shock or thriller factor wasn't there for me. Lisa Jewell always brings you back with solid writing and an interesting premise. I wish the plot had moved forward a bit quicker and the ending was more surprising but still think suspense readers will have a good time with this read. I am excited for what the author writes next because her other books were a great match for me! Thanks to Lisa Jewell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

A big thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review. Lisa Jewell has been one of my favorite thriller writers for quite some time and I was ecstatic to receive a copy.

3.5 stars for this one. I was slightly disappointed that this novel wasn’t as suspenseful or thrilling as her prior work, but still a very captivating read. It did seem to lose a little steam in the middle when you knew exactly what the issue and the outcome would be and it was just taking forever to get there.

Still would highly recommend any of her books.

This was a good popcorn thriller. The twists were fairly obvious, and the ending was… interesting (no spoilers). I didn’t hate it and it was entertaining but it wasn’t shocking or memorable to me.

Lisa Jewell does it again!!

He's the perfect man. He's sweet and kind. He says all the right things and says yes more often than he says no. He's smart and driven, and incredibly compassionate. But who exactly is he?

Nina is recently widowed from a popular restaurant owner. One day receives a package in the mail from her someone who claims to be her late husband's former coworker. The gesture was so sweet that Nina reaches out and a budding relationship starts. Her daughter, Ash, immediately thinks there is something off about Nick and she can't quite put her finger on it. But she's determined to keep her mom, and her dad's memory, protected.

Martha is a married mom of 3 who owns her own flower shop. Her youngest daughter she shares with her current husband, Alister. She can't believe how lucky she is to have found him. But lately he's been going away on work trips more often and can't seem to remember to turn his phone on. Martha can't reach him for days on end. But he's just a hard worker, right? Her loving husband has to have a good excuse.

These 3 women are on a collision course to find out the truth behind this wonderful and charming man. Where did he come from exactly and where does he keep going?

There are A LOT of characters in this one. It probably wasn't necessary but all in all I really enjoyed this book. Ash is a fierce protector of her family and Martha is a loving wife and mother just trying to get by with her dream business. You root for every single woman in this story. The twists and turns are concurrent and you're constantly left asking "what?!" What a great domestic Thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for the ARC! Don't Let Him In publishes on June 24, 2024

Don't Let Him in is Lisa Jewell's latest novel. While it ended up being more of a domestic suspense than a thriller, I was immediately hooked and ended up really enjoying it. Lisa Jewell once again delivered for me.

Its plot is Dirty John with a very sleazy MMC and a couple of twists, most of which I was able to figure out beforehand. It has a very large cast of characters, but I found it easy to keep track of who was who. While there are a few parts where I had to suspend my disbelief, for the most part, I found the plot plausible. If only because the same things have occurred in real life and as always, I appreciate that Lisa Jewell does not sacrifice the plot for outlandish twists.

What a fantastic book. Lisa Jewell has done it again. I love the twist and turns. She really knows how to keep the reader on their toes.

I thought the plot was interesting and fresh, but I was hoping for more twists and turns in this thriller.
I felt like I saw it all coming about halfway through.
I would still recommend it as an entry into the genre; it was engaging!

I appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced copy for my review!

I typically love Lisa’s books, but this one just didn’t hit home for me. The quality of writing remains strong, but the storyline wasn’t as engaging as typical.