Birthday twins, with a twist!

A chance meeting on their 45th birthday leads to a strange relationship developing between Alix and Josie. Following on from this random encounter, Alix, a podcaster agrees to tell Josie's story. With twists, turns and tall tales the book draws you in and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next.

A great read, thoroughly enjoyable - devoured in a few days.

Thanks to #NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book #NoneofthisisTrue

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley to review. Below is the blurb:

"Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat."

Wow! I have read several of this author's novels now and she is one author that I can rely on that will always tell a good story. I am not sure why but her books are instantly engaging and I always enjoy them. This book is no different. I loved both the maid characters both Alix and Josie, Alix being one of those women who appear to have it all and Josie, who at first appearance, has not been so lucky in life. I loved how the story unfolded and flitted between extracts from the Netflix/podcast and real life events. I can't really say much more without giving away the story but if you like Lisa Jewell as an author, you will enjoy this! If you haven't read Lisa Jewell before then absolutely give this one a try as it is such a good read.

I’ve read all of Lisa Jewell’s novels and enjoyed them all. However, None of this is True is truly one of the best things I’ve read. Alix Summer is happily married to Nathan and has two beautiful children, she is a podcaster known for her series ‘All Women’ which sees Alix interviewing successful women. However, one evening at her birthday dinner she meets Josie in the ladies’ toilets. The two women discover that not only do they have a birthday on the same day, but they were born in the same hospital, they are birthday twins. That one meeting is the catalyst that changes their lives forever.
Not only is this an incredible read but the story is undolfds in a unique way as to have you hooked instantly. This book will stay with me me for quite some time, Brilliant writing by a brilliant author

💭 ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
What an addictive read! Binged it in 2 days as I couldn’t get enough. Who to trust? What to believe? I kept going back and fort. I was sucked in instantly. This incredibly well written psychological thriller keeps you at the edge of your seat. I loved the True Crime Podcast element to it. I felt so close to both Alix and Josie that I still don’t know what to believe. I absolutely adored it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🤓 ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Psychological thriller
Verity
Unreliable narrator
True Crime podcasts
Short chapters

ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ:
𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺-𝘧𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘣, 𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘹 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳. 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺-𝘧𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴.

𝘈 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘹’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭. 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘹’𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘹, 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘹 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘚𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘵, 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘹’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦.

Wow, wow, WOW!!! This book was INCREDIBLE! I could not put it down. I finished it in less than two days. Such a unique way to write a book. I really hope Netflix picks this book up to be turned into a movie or TV series because I would love to see that. The characters were fantastic, the setting was perfect and the storyline gripping.
The best book I had read in a long time. The perfect mix of drama, crime and twists and turns. At the end of the book, I still didn't know what to believe!
Shanini Boland is a truly talented author and I cannot wait to see what comes next!
Thank you to Shanini Boland and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wow, this book was explosive and had me on tenterhooks throughout. Josie and Alix are out celebrating their 45th birthdays at the same restaurant and the same time when Josie introduces herself as Alix's birthday twin. Alix is a successful podcaster and Josie has her own story to share so she keenly pursues her leaving a Web of deceit and a trail of destruction in her wake.

This book was brilliant. I honestly did not want to put it down. I wasn't sure where the story was going to go and I just wanted to keep reading. Brilliant twists throughout

I love Lisa Jewell and have read every book she has written. 'None of This is True' is one of the best books I have read in an age, just loved it and really didn’t want it to end.
My thanks again to NetGalley and Random House Uk , Cornerstone , Century for the early read for an honest review

❌NONE OF THIS IS TRUE❌

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Star Read)

.HOLY smokes @lisajewell knows how to write a good book
. It’s nothing but gripping with plot twists throughout I was hooked on this book
. The characters are so well developed you feel you know each one of them
. Their intended characteristics really shine through
. I loved the idea of the podcast/ documentary elements throughout it makes it different and unique and I’m hoping for it to be turned into a series
. The plot is mind blowing and the red flags of certain characters make you want to keep going
. The ending of this book is perfect for book club discussions/ buddy read discussions
. This book will keep you hooked, second guessing after every ‘episode’ and firing pages like there’s no tomorrow
. Lisa Jewell fans you are in for a massive treat come July!!!!
. Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in return of an honest review.

This is the story of Alix. She is a successful podcaster married with two children. Whilst celebrating her 45th birthday at the local pub with family and friends, Alix is approached by a woman who introduces herself as Josie Fair and tells her that it is her 45th birthday too which makes them birthday twins.

A few days later Josie bumps into Alix whilst Alix is picking her children up from school. Josie has discovered Alix’s podcast and asks her to do a podcast on her. Josie has a very complicated life and although Alix takes time to think about it but she ultimately decides Josie would make an interesting subject. Alix soon realises that she has made a huge mistake. Josie inserts herself in Alix’s personal life and Alix soon discovers that Josie is not what she seems.

This was an enjoyable read which kept you guessing with lots of twists and turns along the way.

I have read many of Lisa Jewells novels and enjoyed them all. None of this is True is an outstanding pyschological thriller, creepy undercurrents, well written, contemporary characters. Storytelling at its best. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

"None of this is true" but my review is definitely true. WOW! WOW PHENOMENAL! OMG!.
This is not politically correct of me but I must be honest, Josie Fair is bat s*** crazy, what a remarkable character, she and Alix are both determined, independent women, I love them both. You can't not love a Lisa Jewell book and this one is phenomenal. Put it this way, I never want to meet my birthday twin. The plot just grabs hold of you from the beginning and the more you read, the more you need to get to the end. It's full of secrets, mystery, lies, murder and breath taking twists. It's a completely addictive story and I really wanted to read more when I got to the end. Both Josie and Alix need a sequel and I hope Lisa is going to write one. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY, RECOMMEND!.
LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT!.
PHENOMENAL! PHENOMENAL! PHENOMENAL!.

I'm fairly new to the Lisa Jewell family, and I have loved every book I've read thus far! Jewell's upcoming book None of this is True did NOT disappoint! I would absolutely love to listen/watch "Hi! Im your birthday twin. This was truly spectacular and I enjoyed reading every word of it. Jewell has an incredible talent of being able to jump between the past and present in her writing, being able foreshadow future events which makes you want to continue reading to find what will happen and her ability to wrap up the events neatly when they come full circle is phenomenal. Lisa Jewell is an auto-buy for me, and I can't wait to read more of her fantastic writing in the future. In the meantime, I will be reading her past works that I haven't gotten to yet!

Reviews are also posted to my Instagram blog (bibliophiles_elite).

Dark, twisty, tense, and shocking, this is a cautionary tale about the danger one woman invites into her life when she befriends a stranger

The storyline revolves around two women who were born on the same day, in the same city and same hospital.

One of them is Alix Summers; famous podcaster promoting feminism and girl power. Alix lives in her dream house, happily married, with two young children, although her husband’s all night binge drinking starts to take its toll on her idealistic life.

The other woman is Josie Fair, married to a man who is now a pensioner and a mother to two daughters who are in their twenties.

After a chance meeting with Alix in a restaurant on their 45th birthday, Josie tracks down Alix with an offer of a story for her podcast, not as a successful woman, but as a woman who has some dark secrets which will change her life completely.
As the podcast continues, some very disturbing facts begin to reveal themselves, and Alix realises that she has made a big mistake!

The story unravels via alternating points of view and via a Netflix podcast/documentary entitled ‘Hi! I’m your birthday twin’. This format works very well as it’s slickly and skillfully told

There is lots of tension, some great twists, together with some very dark and complex characters

Another success for Lisa Jewel, 5 star *****

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, in return of an honest, unbiased review.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell having read every book she has written. 'None of This is True' is definitely up there as one of my favourites.

I was completely gripped throughout the book and had no idea how it was going to end. I would definitely recommend to anyone, especially if like me you are a Lisa Jewell fan.

Absolutely bloody amazing, as if the authors books would be anything less.

This was so creepy, the tension build and builds to an epic ending (I need to see more of Josie!)

The inclusion of the interviews/podcasts really added to the storyline and I loved how the characters interlinked and the different versions that came out throughout.

‘None of this is true’ is one of my favourite Lisa Jewell novels to date because the twists do not stop coming!
The whole premise of the story feels really current as there is an element of the modern fascination we have about true life crime but also the way in which social media and podcasts allow us to silently observe someone else’s experiences. This level of voyeurism and morbid fascination is definitely harnessed by Jewell for this completely original thriller.
Podcaster Alix and homemaker Josie meet on their forty-fifth birthdays- they are strangers but cosmically connected by being born on the same day in the same place. This strange meeting is a new beginning for each of the women as they both face turning points in their lives. Neither woman has it figured out and although they exist in very different worlds they are both struggling with the choices they have made in their personal lives.
Josie confides quickly in Alix and Alix opens up her own life to accommodate Josie, especially as she sees an opportunity to made Josie’s past the focus of her new podcast series. The entire balance between these two women shifts back and forth throughout the novel and I loved the fact that I was never one hundred percent sure who is using who, and to what gains.
I am so excited for others to read this story so I can talk about it!! A definite must read for summer 2023.

Oh gosh, you know the sort of book that makes you feel uneasy and gives you the creeps. This is how None Of This Is True made me feel. I devoured this in a day, mainly because I just couldn't put it down and when I was putting it down for a break it kept invading my thoughts, and I just didn't want these characters in my head for too long. Because a few of these characters were just wrong, and I couldn't figure them out and I needed to know, what the heck was going on.

It was fully dark and disturbing. Jewell brings characters to life and believe me I wouldn't want to come across some of these. Anyone who comes up to me and declares they are my "birthday twin" I'm running for the hills.

I always enjoy a Lisa Jewell book. And yet again I enjoyed her latest offering. Enjoy might be a strange word to use for being creeped out but I'm sure you understand what I'm saying.

None Of This Is True is a top notch psychological thriller that will grip you from the start. And that is true... Trust Me.

Guys, you know I’m a Lisa Jewell fan anyway, but this book was just 😘.

We are invited into the lives of Alix and Josie as they intertwine following a chance meeting at a restaurant, as they both celebrate their 45th birthdays.

The women discover that they are ‘Birthday Twins’ and from there we see a professional relationship and potential friendship blossoming as they spend more time together developing a podcast.

Both women seem troubled and not all is as it seems in both households. Alix is portrayed as the woman who has it all and Josie is the quiet next door type… but we all know, you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

This book has such a current and on point feel to it. It felt fresh and definitely delivered for me. Jewell had me guessing throughout and many times I couldn’t quite figure out what was going to happen. I raced through this as I just HAD to know the outcome!

*Thank you to @netgalley for allowing me to read this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I’ve read a lot of Lisa Jewell’s books but I think this is the best one yet. I was really lucky to receive an advanced copy of this via NetGalley. I raced through it in about a day, and was so gripped.
This book follows two women who meet at a pub whilst celebrating their birthdays and realise they have the same birthday and have a little joke about it in the bathroom. Then by chance (or by design) they meet again and Josie, a somewhat weird loner type character suggests that she should be interviewed by the other, Alix, for her podcast. Josie says she wants to change her life for the better and Alix agrees to the interviews.
Josie tells of a history of being groomed by her much older husband as a teenager, relationship and child abuse. However, Josie’s behaviour hints that everything might not be as it seems, but who is telling the truth?
This thriller is gripping and un-put-downable. I would strongly recommend it.