Becca Reviews: Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

You can read an exclusive author interview here. (Coming soon!)

Thank you to Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for an ARC copy!

This is my favourite Lisa Jewell so far! I've read, None of This is True and The Family Upstairs, but I listened to both of those on audiobook, and that possibly took away from the story - OR Jewell's writing is just getting better and better!

I was a huge fan of this novel. I was also hooked from very early on, which doesn't tend to happen to me when there are 1) as many characters as there were in this novel, and 2) the setting is quite domestic and typical (i.e. no dragons or fairies..).

The opening of this novel purposefully overwhelms you with multiple names, couples, and places. It reads like a novel that follows the stories of three to four different couples, but all is not as it seems. Typically, Jewell's books are seemingly benign at the start, showcasing regular families and people, but from the start of Don't Let Him In, readers will be intrigued and feel as though they have unanswered questions.

This story is hard to review without revealing spoilers in some capacity. Even stating the name of the protagonist is problematic, you'll see when you read it! Jewell effectively and compellingly sets up the stories of several families, all with a common denominator. There are themes of adultery, manipulation, gaslighting, and (my personal favourite) the power of a name.

The characters are convincing and relatable enough to anger and frustrate me in all the right ways. I do think some of the plot points were a little convenient and Jonathan Creek-esque (that's a technical term around here) but they're not too over the top and they're not impossible, just a little unbelievable.

One of my favourite elements of Jewell's writing is that the female characters often regain their power and have their moment of revenge or righting the wrongs of the male antagonist.

If you're a Freida McFadden fan, I implore you to also read Lisa Jewell. The twists are not AS twisty but they are believable to the point it feels like a crazy story you hear about on the news or a Netflix documentary.

Give it a read for a great entry into the Mystery/Thriller genre.

Read: 30/03/2025

Published: 24/06/2025

ISBN: 9781668033876

Price: £10.00 (GBP)