This book pulled me in right away. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, and I blew through it in a day! I enjoyed the whole book until the end - it felt like an unsatisfying ending and not much of a twist, so it didn’t feel like much of a thriller. Still, definitely felt it was worth the read!

Lisa Jewell is an auto buy author from me so I was ecstatic to get this NetGalley ARC and this one was no different. The twists and turns had be devouring this book in a day and a half, this millennial stayed up WAY past her bedtime to finish this five star read

"Don't Let Him In' is a well-written thriller, but I found it thoroughly exhausting and not very entertaining. I was able to predict a lot of the twists (and I'm usually always wrong), and I didn't find the conclusion satisfying. I love thrillers that have crazy twists and thoughtful commentary- I understood the commentary here, but "men are evil" gets exhausting after 300+ pages of it. I would recommend this if you are intrigued by unlikable characters and like books where you slowly uncover someone's true character. I would've liked more background on our main character, as I think it would've made me more interested in the story.

I haven’t wanted to scream at characters and shake some sense into them this much in ages!

Ash Swann is twenty-five when her beloved dad Paddy is senselessly killed. Now twenty-six, she’s still living at home when a beautifully wrapped gift arrives for her mom Nina from a man named Nick who says he used to work with Paddy. Nina thinks he’s handsome and charming and ever so kind to her, though his job calls him away a lot. Ash isn’t as thrilled.

Martha is a florist with two sons from her previous marriage and a baby girl with husband Alistair. He’s so attentive to her and always giving her gifts and promising to take her away for special weekends. It’s too bad his job always needs him at the last minute.

Apart from the frequent work absences and some persistent money troubles, these ladies can surely each agree they’ve found their perfect man. They just need to be patient, right?

Believe me when I say that this little snippet I’ve offered doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of this story or the number of characters involved in unfolding it. It’s psychological suspense with some mystery, but mostly it’s a cautionary tale which falls into place one puzzle piece at a time, and the picture it forms isn’t pretty.

The book unfolds through the third person narration of Ash’s search for answers about Nick, and Martha and Nina’s stories interspersed with first person chapters that reveal past events. I enjoyed the short chapters and switches between Martha, Nina and Ash’s stories, though I do think the page count made the scenarios feel just a little repetitive after awhile. Though I wanted justice served with some extra STANK on it, I can be happy with where things ended!

Though a work of fiction, it’s clear that Jewell did her homework about the scenarios presented in this book, and it’s alarming to think that even the smartest people can be vulnerable in the right circumstances or mental states. I had a lot of fun reading this but it also made me mad!

I won’t be cynical and jump on the “Don’t Let Him In” advice of the title, but maybe just take a long, long, loooong look through that metaphorical peephole first before you open the door! (But please DO open this book. 😉)

★★★★ ½

Nick is a man of substance and just what she needed after her husband’s death. But Nina’s daughter, Ash, thinks he is too good to be true. Ash begins to dig into his past and finds things that aren’t adding up. Martha is taking care of her daughter and running her florist business. Her husband Alistair has been spending more and more time away with work. Martha just feels lines something is off and starts to investigate.

I wouldn’t consider this a thriller. There was no twist and it wasn’t an edge of your seat read for me. I had to use a lot of brainpower in order to keep the many characters straight.

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Remember the real life “Dirty John” which became a Netflix series?!? Well, this book is that on steroids! Goodness gracious, I don’t know how this man kept up with all of his deceptions, never mind all of the names he went by. This man was a true narcissist! Lisa Jewell kept me frustrated enough to keep on reading. By around the 3/4 mark, everything was coming to a head, and I could not put the book down.

Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Oh my goodness, what a read!

Ash is struggling with her mental health and living at home when her father is murdered. The man is caught, but that gives the family no solace as they try to march on with their lives. The good news, though, is that a man from her father's past has popped up to bring stories of the old days and fond memories. Suddenly, Ash's mom is dating her father's old friend, Nick.

But all is not as it seems.

Nick is known by another name- Al. And Al is married to a lovely woman named Martha with whom he has a young daughter and two step-sons. Martha thinks that Al's work takes him on the road a lot. But she couldn't be more wrong.

And that's just the beginning of his sins...

Shifting POVs, twists, and a back and forth timeline make this novel a solid 5 star read to add to your TBR.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

“Don’t Let Him In” is by Lisa Jewell. Its genre is “mystery/thriller” but, honestly, I didn’t really regard this book as either a mystery or a thriller - more of a domestic drama, maybe. This book is about Nina and Ash - who are dealing with the death of their husband and father (respectfully). Nina is swept off her feet by Nick, who claims to know her deceased husband from a few years back. Ash is suspicious, and with good reason. The chapters are short and the reader goes back and forth in time. Some of the chapters are from Nick’s view, others from other people in the book. It took me a while to get comfortable with the multiple POVs, which usually isn’t a problem for me. While I like Ms. Jewell’s writing (and believe me, this was very well written), in this book’s case, it seemed like there was a lot of juggling and misdirection on Nick’s part that it seemed repetitive. I did like the ex-girl friend of the husband. Overall, I think that if Ms. Jewell’s books are up your alley, this is a fine one to add to your collection. This one missed the mark for me, but I think I’m a bit of an outlier.

When I heard about this book I was so excited to be able to request it on Netgalley and get approved but this one did nothing for me. I didn’t like the writing style nor did I like the characters. I have read several of her books but didn’t enjoy this one at all. I was bored throughout the story and was sorry to say eager for it to end. The multiple different points of view didn’t help and I found it to be confusing.

Thank you to Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Atria books, and Netgalley for the e-arc of Don’t Let Him In! Twisty novel with multiple POV that is jammed packed with secrets and lies! Kept my attention throughout! The main character is infuriating but I couldn’t wait to figure out what was going to happen next! This book publishes on 6/25/25! I requested this book because I really liked None of This Is True and The Night She Disappeared by the same author! Check those out while you wait for this upcoming release!

I LOVE LISA JEWELL! She never ever disappoints. As frustrating as the characters in this book were, I had fun being in all of their heads.

No huge twists but dramatic and still a ride. Highly recommend for all thriller lovers.

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for advance copy for honest review

I just got this FABULOUS book yesterday and here I am writing my 5 star reivew, one sitting read! Brainwashed with a smile. That smile though and good looks, is what multiple women remember whilst handing over their money. A con-artist (many names) was good at making women feel good. Always knew what to say and do…to get your money. Previously, he was a life coach teaching women how to get more out of life. How to sell your house and invest in restaurants/shops because that’s his life long dream and will stop at nothing, especially to those who wronged him. 5 stars, highly recommend

4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don’t Let Him In isn’t your average thriller and that’s exactly what makes it stand out!!
Lisa Jewell trades in cheap scares for something far more disturbing.. It’s slow, psychological and gets under your skin before you even realize it.

At the center is Nick, a charming but untrustworthy man who immediately sets your instincts on edge, even as the story lulls you into a deceptive calm..

What impressed me most was how intimate the writing felt. The tension doesn’t come from high speed chases or shocking deaths.. it comes from the everyday made eerie and the way people excuse behavior they should question!!

The short chapters and shifting perspectives added momentum for me. That said, the pacing was a little uneven. I found myself fully invested in some storylines and slightly not interested in others..

If you enjoy a read that focuses more on manipulation than craziness, then Don’t Let Him In delivers!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

I’m a big Lisa Jewel fan, so I was super excited to receive this arc. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of my favorites of Jewel’s. There were parts of the story that I really enjoyed but overall I was a little disappointed. It was still a decent read though!

If you're picking this up expecting a fast-paced psychological thriller, be warned—this isn't quite that. What it is, however, is a slow-burning, unsettling domestic suspense story that lingers with you long after the final page. While it didn’t fully hit the mark for me, there’s still a lot to unpack in Lisa Jewell’s latest.

First, the positives: I loved the creeping sense of unease that Jewell creates. There’s a compulsive quality to the story—an almost voyeuristic pull that keeps you reading, even when the subject matter is mentally draining. And oh, how I love to hate a despicable character! This book serves up a truly revolting personality, the kind you can't look away from. The short chapters are a plus too—they kept the pace moving, even when the story itself felt like it dragged.

However, the book didn’t fully land for me. Oddly enough, it was the alternating points of view—something I usually love—that bogged it down. Early on, the shifting perspectives were more confusing than engaging. And once I got the hang of it? I found myself... bored. I grew tired of waiting for the truth to surface, and the build-up felt too slow and overextended. The plot could have been tightened considerably—there were entire sections that felt unnecessarily long-winded.

The female characters were another sticking point. Exhausting, nearly indistinguishable from one another, and all seemingly devoid of self-worth, they missed every red flag waving in front of them. It was frustrating to watch, and their lack of individuality made them feel more like plot devices than real people.

The ending worked ok for me, and once all the pieces fell into place, I appreciated the depth of the reveal but wasn't left with my jaw on the floor.

That said, I understand why this book has received glowing praise. It's a layered, psychological exploration of manipulation—practically a textbook on gaslighting and deceit. But it demands something of the reader: patience, mental energy, and a willingness to sit in discomfort. It doesn’t hand you answers. You have to work for them, feeling your way through the fog of lies, slowly unraveling what’s real.

In the end, maybe this just wasn’t the right book for me at the right time. Still, I appreciate what Jewell was trying to do, and I remain a fan of her writing. I’m looking forward to seeing what she delivers next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely loved this one! The perfect thriller with so much drama, desception and lies. When Ash's father died she thought her whole world was over but she never could have imagined how much worse it was going to be when her mother started dating a new man, an old friend of her father...but in this story nothing is as it seems and one man in particular has a growing list or secrets that can't stay buried forever.

Multiple women conned by the same misogynist work together to make sure justice is done. An engaging (and at times infuriating) read told from multiple POVs and timelines. It’s a fast read with enough twists to keep it interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this arc!

3.5 - 3.75 stars. I think this is my 11th Lisa Jewell book -- I'm obviously a fan of hers and will continue to read whatever she writes, but this fell short for me. The beginning was complicated and confusing for me with too many characters and multiple timelines. Once I figured out what was happening, it was a little boring/blah for me.

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

Publishes June 24, 2025.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Psychological Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: June 24, 2025
368 pages

Psychological Thriller
Red Flags Galore
He's Literally a Psycho
Pathological Liar

Review: This story kept getting more insane the further you read. There is no end to the women this man screwed over. Our awful MMC bounces between women, lying and extorting them until they have nothing left, then leaving. I hated "Nick" but I quite enjoyed reading in his very skewed POV. I felt angry the majority of the book and I found myself wanting to shake some sense into these multiple women who missed all of the red flags. While it's not my favorite by this author, I still enjoyed it.

If you love a good psychological thriller and don't mind an MMC who gaslights you the whole time, Don't Let Him In should be your next read!

Thank you so much Atria Books, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

⚠️ emetophobia, psychological abuse, gaslighting, murder,

This was such a perfect summer thriller that had me intrigued from the very first chapter. As the story progressed, things went from bad to worse, and I loved every single tantalizing page of it! Seriously kept me on the edge of my seat in utter fascination for what this man was capable of, because in truth, it sadly, was so believable. I absolutely loved this one!