3 stars but rounded up to 3.5 Stars

Some thoughts :

- I think the portrayal of a narcissist conman who uses anything and everything to convince these women was spot on. I especially loved the utter ridiculous lies mixed in with the smaller ones that easily explained away problems.

- This isn’t a thriller in the way people might expect. It is definitely a domestic story with some thrilling aspects but nothing that i’d say was shocking or jaw-dropping. I will say it’s very much relevant to current social commentary and provided a good understanding of issues such as catfishing, manipulation and narcissistic behaviours.

- As always the actual writing was good. It kept me reading and I was intrigued to see how this would all connect up and be explained. The mixture of 1st and 3rd person took awhile to get used to, but after a few chapters it wasn’t overly bothering me or taking anything away from my experience!

- Ash confused me. At times it was very much like reading a moody teenager but then you’re reminded she’s actually 26 years old. I wasn’t totally loving her character - I loved her motives and protecting her mum but I just didn’t connect to her at all.

- Whilst the different women all played an important part to the plot. It was confusing. I was mixing up different characters, forgetting who knew what and when. I really think this was because there wasn’t enough distinguishing features between the women.

- This started strong but I felt like around 40% it was becoming very slow and information wasn’t being delivered as fast as I wanted. Towards the end it picked up but again it felt like it was dragged out again for the big reveals.

- I wasn’t a fan of the ending. One character totally switched up and that was jarring. Considering how easily she accepted everything and actually helps our conman- this didn’t feel like it fit with her overall character arc.

I’ll always give a Lisa Jewell book ago and whilst this wasn’t my favourite of hers I think some people will absolutely love this!

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw a new book from Lisa Jewell on Netgalley I just had to read it and, as usual, she did not disappoint.
I was hooked from the start and I was kept guessing as the story unfolded.
The characters were written so well I felt like I was there in the room watching them and I really enjoyed the dual timelines as everything came together.
Another smasher from Lisa Jewell and I can’t wait for the next.

Lisa Jewell has done it again!

It seems like I’ve been waiting for Lisa’s next book forever as she first mentioned it when I attended an event in 2023 at The Exchange in Twickenham and I asked her what she had planned after her book for Marvel and she said it was a book about a marriage scammer. OMG the wait was well worth it and I am very fortunate to have received an early copy via NetGalley.

Where to start with this gripping tale; the main character is everything you’d want from your ideal man - or is he? Lisa has created one of those characters that you just can’t get out of your head. He’s good looking, charming, convincing but a completely ruthless man who manipulates people by convincing them that he is their ideal man.

Despite their being many POV from different characters, Lisa still manages to hook her readers in as the mystery unravels and finally reaches a very satisfying conclusion.

The story starts just after a funeral and much of the story is from Ash’s point of view as she is the daughter of the deceased man. An old ‘friend’ of Ash’s father manages to worm is way into Ash’s mother’s life. Ash is a bit of an unreliable narrator as she has had some mental health issues so you’re never quite sure if she is right to be cautious of the mysterious handsome silver fox who has ingratiated himself into her mother’s life.

There has been a brilliant marketing campaign with this book where certain bloggers have received a beautiful pink box complete with a padlock, containing an old Zippo lighter, together with some rose butter soap and rose petals. These items are all key to the plot.

All in all another compulsive read from Lisa which I devoured in days. I just couldn’t stop reading! It’s published on 3 July 2025 so expect it to be a regular sight on many a sun lounger this year.

Just another compulsive read from an author at the top of her game. The story unfolded like the layers of an onion - with a VERY satisfying conclusion. I loved it!

Lisa Jewell delivers on plot time and time again. Fantastic storytelling, great settings. All in all, would recommend.

It’s been described as a read in one sitting book and I can see why. A charismatic, handsome, emotionally intelligent man tells you that he wants to be with you. All he does that is out of character is leave for a few days at a time, but that’s ok, right? If you can live with that, your relationship is pretty perfect. But what if hindsight suggested that, instead of going along with it, you didn’t let him be a part of your life initially. Because what if this person is dangerous and unpredictable. Would you let him in? This is cleverly written with plenty of twists and turns. Another winner for Lisa Jewell.

Absolutely amazing! Lisa Jewell has done it again. We follow three strands of narrative and watch with nail-biting tension as the strands come together. We follow a con artist as he tries to weasel his way through Nina’s life after her husband dies. I was gripped. A suspenseful read from the Queen of the psychological thrillers.

What can I say? Lisa Jewell has done it again with another masterful thriller!

Don’t Let Him In tells the story of a ‘Dirty John’-type romance scammer and the trail of devastation and destruction his lies and deception leaves in his wake. It’s told from the points of view of both this man and the women whose lives he infiltrates and impacts over a number of years —but the multiple POVs and timelines are handled skilfully by the author and never feel confusing.

I’m not going to say too much about the plot as I don’t want to give away any spoilers. What I will say is, that just as I’ve come to expect from all Lisa Jewell books, there is multi-layered storytelling, dark twists, characters you become emotionally invested in, and beautiful writing that’s just so easy to read.

This is another addictive thriller from an author at the top of her game that I raced through in a couple of days. Clear your schedule for this book because once you start reading, you won’t want to stop!

Great book by Lisa Jewell. I finished this book in one sitting. Just when you think you have the plot figured out think again. Plenty of twists and turns and a killer ending.

I will always pick up a Lisa Jewell book, you know that you're in for a satisfying read with a thrilling plot. Don't Let Him In was a brilliant 4 star book and really delivered.

I’m a huge Lisa Jewell fan and this was just as twisty and suspenseful as I hoped it would be.
I think I found this particularly gripping as like Ash, I’m the daughter to a single mother, and mother-in-law, so this was truly my nightmare in book-form! Nick/ Al was such a repulsive character, and sometimes I wanted to slam the book down but of course Jewell’s writing kept me hooked and racing through the pages until the end. I think it was interesting topic to explore as this is so relevant in the news at the moment and it’s easy to question how these women could be so careless or stupid. But Jewell really explores the mentality of these criminals and how they get away with it. It was terrifying and utterly captivating seeing how Nick manipulated so many characters in different ways.
Without spoilers, the climax to the book was absolutely brilliant.
I can’t wait to have it in store to recommend (although it’s never a hard job when it’s this author!)

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

One of my favourite authors, I couldn’t wait to start this book. And it didn’t take me long to finish it either.

Very gripping, creepy, suspenseful, frustrating at times, I couldn’t put it down.

I recommend Lisa Jewell to anyone and everyone.

I love Lisa Jewell books and was so excited to read this one, I'm so glad I did!! Enjoyed this so much, I think the most thrilling part was that no one suspected what a psycho the man really was and reading from his point of view at times was twisted and a lot of fun. I don't always love multiple povs as it can be confusing but this was done so well and in a way that kept me invested and entertained. Surely another best seller for Lisa, I can't wait to recommend this one to people in store.

Wow! Just wow. This book is a roller coaster ride! I loved the time-hopping feel of the chapters and the different POVs.

I was gripped very quickly, and this book would NOT let go! I genuinely don't know how to review this without giving anything away. All I can really say is, read this as soon as possible. You won't regret it. Except maybe when you get creeped out walking home from work and that guy gets a little too close...

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read and e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

What a book! It felt like watching a movie in my head. I particularly loved how well each of the perspectives was written.
A 4 solid stars from me.

I've reached the point where I read everything new that Lisa Jewell publishes. She is always pitch perfect in her story telling, and has a very light touch in telling dark stories that not many people have (I would compare her to Liz Nugent, another favourite of mine).
This book is a delicious dark pleasure, a Bluebeard for the modern world, a gaslighting romance and such enormous fun to read.
Roll on the next one!

Man, this is everything I want from a Lisa Jewell novel. Opening with an unknown narrator and moving seamlessly into a solemn scene where we discover Nina Swann and her family mourning a death. An unexpected death caused in one moment of madness. And as we're introduced to the departed family member through firstly a photo album and then a letter from an old friend, we know there's going to be more to this than first meets the eye. And sure enough, we are in an earlier timeline with what could be the same unknown – and this time, unreliable – narrator. Something is not right. Something is definitely off. I'm not sure I like them.

Tense from the start, that tension builds over the course of its narrative from various POVs. I continued to absolutely detest the unreliable narrator (good job, Lisa) and really feel for young Ash (daughter in the aforementioned torn-apart family).

The genius of Jewell is her ability to weave multiple timelines/POVs and seamlessly stitch them all back together for one killer climax. And this psychological thriller/chiller is no different.

You want twists? They're here. You want turns? Ditto.

Waiting for everything to converge was an absolute joy but even up til that point, there's jaw-dropping moments hitting you continually. Bam. Bam. Bam. Ouch.

I'm deliberately not going into plot here. I just simply want you to know how I feel about this book – and it's another gem from Jewell. A terrific, and at times terrifying, read.

If you've not picked up any Lisa Jewell book yet, then guys, now is the time to let her in. You're in safe hands.

Clear your calendar - your July 2025 is fully booked!

It will come as no surprise, but believe me when I say that Lisa Jewell is back with another absolute belter of a psychological thriller! This time she delves into the world of cat-fishing, relationship scamming, and bigamy. As you can expect from an LJ novel, this book is absolutely fraught with tension and teeth-grinding suspense. The story is told over two timelines, allowing us to experience different relationships the antagonist, Nick, has been in. This helps paint a picture of a truly f’d up bloke who sees nothing wrong with his behaviour. He’s the epitome of toxic male privilege, believing that by treating women nicely he is the perfect man and the depravity of all the schemes he runs to relieve them of their money is eradicated by this. He’s a man who believes he loves too hard and that his intentions are never nefarious at the outset. However, his delusions become clearer as the novel progresses and things continue to take darker and more unsettling turns. This book is a masterpiece of mounting tension, building to a very satisfying conclusion.

If you have enjoyed any of Lisa Jewell’s psychological thrillers you will undoubtedly love this one. It has all of her trademark qualities that make her books completely unputdownable. Something that I find irresistible in her books is her ability to write such authentic characters. DON’T LET HIM IN has a number of integral characters and each of them are brought to life in such a realistic way. This helps to bring the themes of the book alive too. Ash is arguably our lead character and the book is very much a journey for her. She has lost her father, Paddy, who she adored. Shortly before he was killed, Ash had a mental health episode and had to return home. Her mother, Nina, is grieving the loss of Paddy whilst also trying to support Ash. When Nick engineers his way into Nina’s life, Ash develops suspicions around his intentions. Her ensuing investigation into him becomes a way for Ash to process the loss of her father, discover some unvarnished truths about his and her mother’s relationship, and address her own past actions and mental health issues. I was absolutely hooked on Ash’s investigation and her personal journey throughout this narrative. One of Lisa Jewell’s superpowers as a writer is really getting the reader to care about her characters and Ash absolutely had my heart. She is awesome! This book is actually filled with brilliantly strong female characters, but without giving away all of the intricacies of the relationships so integral to the plot, all I’ll say is that there is a fantastic feminist angle to this novel that sees a refusal to accept male dominance and abuse that feels incredibly topical. There’s two things that are guaranteed with a Lisa Jewell book: one, that I will be absolutely hooked from the first word to the last, and 2, that there will be so many incredible layers to the plot that will keep me thinking for long after the final page. This book has done exactly that and I cannot express how brilliant a read it was!

Full of suspense and drama and totally addictive, I read this in 2 days. Ash lost her father in a tragic accident almost a year ago and her mother is already moving on with this handsome, charming, silver fox. Ash doesn't trust him, its not adding up, but her own dramas have undermined her confidence and credibility, As she starts to research him, the path gets stranger. He is not who he says he is. He seems to be multiple people. And her mom is the latest women in his sites.

This author continues to deliver with characters that influence your emotions. I felt enraged, and frustrated, and curious and loved, depending on the chapter. The plot had lots of twists and turns, largely unpredictable unless it was supposed to be leading.

Book Review: Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

I’ve been a fan of Lisa Jewell’s writing for years, so I was excited to read Don’t Let Him In. It’s a gripping psychological thriller that certainly kept me hooked from start to finish. The premise is compelling: a woman opens her home and heart to a man who seems perfect, only to realize that things aren’t as they seem. As the story unfolds, the suspense builds and the sense of dread creeps in. There were some really great twists and I found myself questioning everything and everyone along the way.

However, while I enjoyed the book overall, I didn’t feel it was quite on par with some of Lisa’s other work. Her writing is always sharp and atmospheric, but in this case, the pacing felt a little slower than I was hoping for, and I didn’t feel the same emotional intensity that I’ve experienced in her other books. The characters were intriguing, but some of the plot points seemed a bit predictable.

That said, Don’t Let Him In is still an enjoyable and well-crafted thriller. It’s definitely one of those books you’ll read quickly because it keeps you guessing. But for me, it wasn’t as memorable or impactful as her previous novels like Then She Was Gone or The Family Upstairs.

Rating: 3.5/5
A solid thriller with some great moments, but it didn’t quite stand out in the way I expected from Lisa Jewell.