Jewell masterfully crafts a slow-burn thriller packed with misdirection and emotional depth. Nina, Ash, and Martha—a small-town florist caught in the chaos—each face their own struggles, but their lives become dangerously entwined with Nick’s charm. The fallout is intense, showing how easily people can be manipulated when they let someone in without truly knowing them.

That said, after the initial a-ha moment, there weren’t any real twists—just a tangle of bleak storylines about really sad people. I didn’t hate it, but I never connected with the characters. Still, if you love Jewell, this one might be for you!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this novel, that's coming out in June of this year.
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This book..... What can I say about this book? For starters, I was SO excited when I got the NetGalley e-arc of it because I have read Lisa Jewell books in the past and for the most part I have liked them. I wouldn't say I absolutely loved them but they were still pretty enjoyable to me. The anticipation was definitely there and I couldn't wait to start it.

Well, as much as it pains me to say this- it was just okay. Maybe a little above okay for me. I mean, to begin with, why was it this long? We're talking EXTREMELY long. I think this book could have been improved by cutting out at least 50 to 100 pages of it. I think the reason it was this long was because there were three storylines following the same character in different points of his life. And even though I get what this was trying to do, it made the reading experience tedious and rather drawn out for me. I would say Lisa Jewell is a very character driven author and if that's what you prefer in your mystery/thriller books then you would probably really love this. For me, I need a combo of plot and character driven stories because I didn't find this book exciting enough and it didn't have nearly enough twists and turns. Also, this book is a lot more suspense than it is thriller as well, so keep that in mind.

Further on, talk about an unlikeable main character! I actually usually don't mind those in my books but for some reason this one just really got on my nerves and in turn made it that much harder to get through this lengthy book.

Also, am I the only one that doesn't vibe with Lisa Jewell's writing? I remember thinking this in the past when I was reading another book of hers and it was definitely evident again in this one. It might be because the author isn't from America but I found some of the prose a little choppy and the terminology unfamiliar to me. Once I got the hang of it, it wasn't a big deal anymore but I had to get a good way into the book before this particular thing stopped bothering me.

The ending of this book was what brought the rating up to three stars for me. Whereas 70 percent of it was rather boring and took me over two weeks to read, the last 30 perfect kind of made up for it. I wasn't expecting the book to take the turn that it did and I was definitely here for it. I just wish it would have been that exciting all throughout the story.

In conclusion, even though this wasn't my favorite Lisa Jewell by any means, I still think it's a quality character driven story and would recommend it for those who prefer those types. I will still be picking up Lisa Jewell's books in the future because they are somewhat always enjoyable to me, however, it will not be for a long while.

4.25/5⭐️

"Three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller. Restauranteur Paddy Swann was the life of the party until the day a man pushed him in the path of an oncoming train, leaving his twenty-something daughter Ash and wife Nina devastated. — Martha is a small-town florist with dreams of expansion. She lives with her second husband Al, her baby, and two sons from her prior marriage.”

Lisa Jewell does it again with another great thriller, this time creating the worst of the worst male character. The book was mostly fast paced and easy to read. Ugh but the male character 🤬🤬 you’ll hate him too, that’s all I’m going to say!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a gripping psychological thriller, Lisa Jewell’s riveting style, about family, secrets, and manipulation. The story begins with the shocking death of restaurateur Paddy Swann, pushed in front of a train, leaving behind his wife, Nina, and daughter, Ash. Their grief takes a dark turn when they receive a mysterious package from Nick Ratcliffe, an old friend of Paddy's, sparking a series of unsettling events that draw Nina and Ash into Nick’s dangerous world.

Jewell expertly weaves a complex narrative full of twists, misdirection, and confusion, keeping readers on edge as the characters’ secrets are slowly revealed. Nina, Ash, and Martha, a small-town florist caught in the chaos, all face their own struggles and vulnerabilities, but their lives become entwined with Nick’s dangerous charm. The dramatic consequences of their actions are vast, and by the end, it’s impossible not to reflect on how easily people can be manipulated—and how dangerous it can be when you let someone into your life without truly knowing who they are.

This is a slow-burn thriller with dark twists and emotionally charged moments. At times, especially in the beginning, it was difficult to keep track of characters & timelines, and as always, I wish there was better chapter heading for characters & dates. But overall, Jewell’s skillful character development and suspenseful storytelling make this a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers (and for fans of Lisa Jewell!)

Thank you to Atria Books and Simon & Schuster for this advanced e-book to read & review.

This is one of those books that you're best to go in blind. There are so many things going on that it's almost impossible to do a plot summary anyway. Look, I am one of Lisa's biggest fans, but this wasn't the same as most of her others. I didn't feel like there were any real plot twists after the initial sort of a-ha moment, just a whole bunch (too many) entangled story lines about really, really sad people. As lots of other reviewers have noted, all of this could actually happen, so if you like stories like that, you might love this one! I didn't hate it at all--I just didn't connect to these characters. I still love Lisa, but this one's not one of my favorites.

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that pulls you in from the very first page and refuses to let go. Jewell’s signature blend of complex characters, chilling suspense, and dark family secrets is on full display, making this one of her most addictive reads yet.

The tension builds effortlessly, with perfectly timed twists and an undercurrent of unease that keeps you second-guessing everyone. Jewell’s talent for exploring the darker sides of human nature shines through, making the emotional stakes feel real and deeply unsettling.

With its haunting atmosphere, layered characters, and a jaw-dropping finale, Don’t Let Him In is everything you want in a thriller.

5 stars — a dark, twisty, and utterly unputdownable read that will linger long after the last page.

Lisa Jewel never disappoints with the stockings twists and turns! Every time I think I know what is about to happen, things take a shift and I’m second song guess if again. Fast paced and atmospheric, this book contains effector flawed characters and a compelling plot.

it’s books like these that give me the ick about dating and trusting people in general 🙃 and for someone who can fully relate to ash and her grief, it hit a little too close to home for me… (but that’s a personal problem I realize)

the story goes back and forth between ash, a grieving daughter trying to make sense of the world after her father’s sudden passing, and a mystery man, scamming women out of money and justifying it because “no one loves him enough” 😅 and the reasoning only got worse I fear…

lisa jewell is known for her borderline creepy storylines, and this was no exception as it’s a first look at how easily men can prey on women down on their luck… it was horrifying to read - and as I said, after losing my own dad and having my own delusions about someone taking advantage of our family, it was a little too much for me 🥴

I also guessed all of the major twists right away… I didn’t find anything shocking or surprising to me, even though I did binge this as I wanted to know how it was all going to end (very satisfying, I might add)

thank you to netgalley and atria for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel

*Don't Let Him In* by Lisa Jewell is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the lives of women who were manipulated and deceived by a man who only cared about one thing: money. The book focuses on a man who scammed multiple women, marrying them for their wealth while leading double lives, showing no affection for any of them or the children he had with them. It’s a story of betrayal, deception, and how far someone will go for their own gain.

The plot is filled with suspense and tension as the women, unaware of each other, slowly begin to piece together the truth. The novel skillfully weaves in multiple perspectives, showing not only the women’s pain and heartbreak but also offering insight into the complexity of the man they all trusted. As the story progresses, the shocking reveal towards the end leaves readers reeling, making them question everything they thought they knew about the characters and their motives.

Jewell's writing is sharp, making you feel every emotion—anger, frustration, and disbelief—while building up to a surprising and unexpected conclusion. It’s a well-paced, emotional rollercoaster that keeps you on edge, wondering what’s going to happen next.

Overall, *Don't Let Him In* is a captivating and thought-provoking read. It’s an exploration of trust, betrayal, and the lengths a conman will go to exploit others. The twist at the end is both chilling and brilliant, making this a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and character-driven stories with intense suspense.

This book was more disturbing than entertaining. I really struggled to get through the antagonist’s pov chapters because he was deliberately repulsive. In that way the author executed the story perfectly, I just didn’t find it enjoyable however well it was written.

Another great read by Lisa jewell! I love her writing style, the twists and suspense. She is such a great author. I recommend her to many of my reader friends. This book was suspenseful, and kept you wondering and guessing how the story would go. Nice character build and storyline.

I had such high hopes for this one, especially after the trip that was None of This is True. I found this to be too predictable and a little silly at times. Not quite a thriller, more a drama. Though once I was in it, I needed to know how it played out.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

4.25 ⭐ woah! Lisa Jewell is the master of a domestic suspense. This is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish! The only thing keeping me from a perfect 5 star score is I wish there was a bit more backstory/lore/etc. explained about some of the main characters. And a few I just felt were written as if they were going to end up quite differently but it was alas a red herring in the writing - but I cannot determine if that was purposeful or not. Either way - I was highly entertained!

Thus was just a great read! I think one of her best and doesn’t THAT say enough? Toxic men are everywhere and this really hit hard in today’s world. Thanks to NBetGalley and the publisher for this treat!

Loved the storyline and plot! Just a bit of a slow burn for my liking but would absolutely recommend this book!

Lisa Jewell fans, are you ready for one of her best thrillers to date?! This domestic thriller creates many webs of one man's lies as he womanizes his way through life. What seems as a confusing timeline between the varying POVs, it all comes together for a satisfying ending that soared this new book by Lisa up to the top of my favorites list. I've been on the hunt for a good thriller for a few months now and this one fit the bill. Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the chance to read Lisa's new thriller before its June release!

This review contains spoilers.
At first I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book. I was a few chapters in and I kept finding myself confused. There were alternating POVs and unnamed narrators and multiple names and people - I was a bit overwhelmed. I found myself going back to the beginning to see if I had read something and, because I was reading on a Kindle, that was also distracting. However. Wow. I kept going because I haven't found a Lisa Jewell novel that I haven't enjoyed and I knew my perseverance would be rewarded. Again, wow. This was such a page-turner full of twists and surprises. Just when you think you've gotten to the bottom of how nefarious and deceitful Al/Nick, etc. is, you are given yet another surprise. Yes, it was a lot. And there were times when I wondered how much we could possibly learn about this man and his many, many deceits and crimes. But instead of it causing a distraction, it made the story richer and more fast-paced. Not to mention it gave us a character that fit squarely in that "love to hate" category. Rooting for his comeuppance became a motivator in turning the pages.
So, in spite of a confusing start (at least for me), this easily became one of Lisa Jewell's strongest thrillers. It was a bit more graphic than some of her others but the story was perfectly twisty and thrilling.
This is an obvious purchase for my library's collection. Pass along to anyone looking for a thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟 for this twisty and engaging new novel by Lisa Jewell. I had a difficult time moving on to other things because I kept wondering what would happen next. Each character was so well done, and it was a few chapters in before I could put it all together, but when I did, I was hooked. Then I just wanted it to keep going! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

It pains me to say this, but this might be my least favorite book by Lisa Jewell. I usually know what to expect from her novels, but this one was not what I anticipated. I didn't feel it was a true thriller. While I was invested in understanding why Nick was conning the three women, I found that there weren't any significant twists. The storyline felt more like a drama. Reading about how this con man deceived the women was entertaining, but I take away a caution to not trust anyone after reading this. Ultimately, I was not satisfied with the book.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Atria Books for my copy.

WOW WOW WOW
HUGE thanks to Net Galley & Lisa Jewel for this arc in exchange for my honest review!!!

I PHYSICALLY could not turn these pages fast enough! There were multiple times that my eyes were burninggg because I was trying to read so fast while not missing a single detail. It did take me a hot minute at the beginning to nail down the different POVs and timelines but once I did and things started to click… boy oh boy!!! I even went back and read the prologue because everything was falling into place so beautifully and mind blowing! This felt like true crime & honestly could be. I could go on and on about how the author will drag you in and keep you hooked and then staring at a blank wall when you’re done with this book, but I don’t have the time or energy to sing all the praises this book deserves because I am still REELING from this one.

Read it. Now.