When celebrating her 45th birthday at a popular restaurant, unassuming Josie Fair happens to cross paths with well known podcaster, Alix Summers.

It turns out they are birthday twins. Born on the same day of the same year and in the same hospital.

Josie seems to be going through a midlife crisis, questioning her lifestyle, samey routine and dull existence and she looks at Alix’s fun and joy-filled life and decides she wants some of the same.

Josie seeks Alix out after this and offers to tell her life story for a new podcast, selling it as her being on the cusp of great changes in her life.

When Alix takes on the challenge she has no idea that she may well have bitten off more than she can chew. Josie has managed to inveigle her way into Alix’s life, and into her home.

I felt the tension from very early on in this book. Josie felt like an unreliable narrator, more and more as time went on. When she starts to retell her story, which is both traumatising and tough, with an older husband who groomed her as a child and a mother who doesn’t love her, I felt like things were getting dark.

But I had no idea just how dark and extreme things were going to go. Plenty of twists and shocks along the way, the book envelops you into it’s anxty and uneasy atmosphere.

Another win by Lisa Jewell. This woman can write a book for sure!

4.25/5

What an absolutely insane ride! This book keeps you guessing right up until the end - and beyond, to be honest. Gripping and tense, I couldn't put it down. A must read for anybody who loves and edge of their seat thriller!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Some of Lisa Jewell's books are amongst my favourites, but they don't always hit the mark for me so I'm always eager to see how I will feel about her latest release. But one thing's for certain, I'm always excited to pick up a book by her, and she's definitely on a winning streak with me.

None Of This Is True is another one of my favourites! An absolutely wild ride of shocking twists, untrustworthy characters, and dark secrets, this one had me absolutely hooked with its binge-worthy entertainment.

Told through various points of view as Alix's podcast is turned into a Netflix series (already, we love it!), a creepy tension builds throughout as you get to know Josie better through her own crafted narrative and also through Alix's more questioning perspective as someone less naïve.

The tale that Josie weaves is very unnerving, but you never know how much of it is true. The title alone makes you question everything that you're reading, and I loved that confusion of who to trust and which parts of the story to put your faith into. So the revelations that come are brilliantly shocking, and it constantly had me gripped in anticipation for more answers.

I had often been told to expect a big twist at the end, but the hype can sometimes let you down when you're waiting for something major to happen. So this is the only thing that prevented me from giving this a full five stars because the ending wasn't quite as twisted as I was hoping it would be. I liked where the final twist was going, but it needed to be a bit more assertive for me, as the vagueness of it didn't really do much overall as my opinions had already been set.

But pretty much everything else left my mouth hanging open in aghast, and I absolutely loved it. This is definitely a book you need to read this summer!

Lisa Jewell has written over 20 books and they just keep getting better. Where does she get these ideas from?
Alix Summer is a podcaster who has a chance meeting with her birthday twin on her 45th birthday. Josie Fair, the birthday twin, persuades Alix to record a podcast about her. Josie seems a little dull and frumpy, but as Alix delves deeper into her life, there's nothing dull at all!
Told in various styles - interviews, narrative, Netflix soundbites, podcast recordings, and moving around in time, this book goes at a cracking pace and I couldn't put it down.
Absolutely brilliant!

Another amazing book you can just visualise and I devoured in a day by the pool. The tortured story of Josie told in our modern day Netflix style alongside a documentary expose of what happened. The amazing central character of Alix that gets sucked into it. Excellent amazing, addictive! Loved it as I do all Lisa Jewell’s books!

I loved this book I read it with bathed breath and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next, full of twixts you won’t see coming. Not for the faint hearted

I've read this with abated breath. By the time I finished this, it was very late into the night. I was tired the next morning. But I did not care one bit. Because it was BRILLIANT.

I first read Lisa Jewel in the not so distant 2018, and I've yet to read a book by her, that I haven't enjoyed. First I liked the way she wrote, one of the few authors to write small chapters, thus keeping me carrying on reading, even when I don't want to. Because what's it to one more chapter that's 4 pages long? Nothing. And that's how you end up at 2am still reading the book, because by then you're long hooked and you have got to finish now.

The story is told in a form of a crime docu series about the case of a troubled family, and more specifically the unlikable friendship between the creator of a fictional crime podcast crime series that ends up also getting picked up as a crime docu series by Netflix (which funnily enough is up for getting made into an actual series by Netflix), and the mother of the troubling family mentioned above.

Two women, who happen to share a birthday, two women, who have nothing to link them, but two women , whose lives will get so intertwined that, they'll be unable to untangle from one another, before is way too late.

Like I said, this was a brilliant thriller. If you're a crime love, a true crime junkie or love crime podcast or anything to do with crime documentaries, you're going to want to add this to your TBR for sure.

My kindest thanks to the publisher for letting me review this ahead of its publication. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

I know that whenever a new Lisa Jewell comes out, I am going to be hooked from page one.

Alix and Josie are both interesting characters, and you're kept on the edge of your seat wondering what is actually going on the whole time. I really enjoyed the format of the interviews interspersed between the actual narrative, it really helped pull everything together.

Another smashing read from Lisa! Thank you!

Wow!! Just wow!!! Imagine yourself on a spinny chair, being spun so fast then standing and having no idea what planet you’re on. That’s how I feel right now. What a rollercoaster this has been!

This is an author with the mind of a genius, None of This is True is just phenomenal and quite possibly my favourite yet. I have loved every minute of this book and have been pulled in from the very beginning.

Alix and Josie are intriguing characters from the beginning. I have had no idea what to believe with just the title. Every detail leads to a jaw dropping conclusion and it has been unexpected.

This is perfectly paced, completely enthralling and so clever. I don’t know how Jewell creates such dark scenarios but this is one that needs to be on screen.

I have been on edge reading this one. It has made me feel tense, suspicious and unknowing what would happen next. Josie has been an odd one for me. She paints an intriguing portrait of her life. As a reader, we are completely pulled in.

This is a delight for fans of the genre. Perfectly paced, questionable and intriguing characters and a dark, captivating plot which is addictive and unpredictable from the very first page.

This is a book I have devoured in just one sitting. I found this impossible to put down and reality had to wait until I’d discovered how this was going to unfold.

Lisa Jewell is back, reminding fans why she has sold so many wonderful books and polishing off her crown. Her masterful storytelling doesn’t disappoint and her talent oozes from the pages.

I have no hesitation that I will be screaming about this book! It’s a must for Lisa fans and lovers of the genre.

None of This is True is a read-in-one-day, expertly put-together psychological thriller, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single page.

It begins with Josie and Alix crossing paths at a local pub one day, and realising they are both celebrating the same birthday on the same day. They are birthday twins. Alix is a successful podcaster, and Josie suggests she interviews her. Josie's planning to change her life, and she wants Alix to come along with her on the journey.

But Alix has no idea what the journey involves...

The way the book is structured gives you a tantalising insight into what lies ahead. The podcast is now a Netflix series, with the feel of a true crime documentary. We get glimpses of the episodes in between chapters that hint at how Josie and Alix's relationship develops.

Tension starts building as what could be a friendship very quickly turns creepy. And there's something really great (in a very weird way) about knowing there's something terrible coming, that you can't stop it, that you're desperate to see exactly how it gets to that point, that you need those answers.

I liked Alix, I liked how her life wasn't perfect, that she was trying to be a good friend. She didn't, by and large, make the stupid decisions that litter so many other psychological thrillers. And I enjoyed finding out more (the different truths, I suppose) about Josie.

Simply a really good read.

The title says it all. Some very unreliable narrators, some large coincidences and a great plot. Couldn’t put it down.

I liked - but didn’t love - this.

Found it quite gripping and suspenseful, but rather farfetched in places. And the very ending felt rushed. I thought the final twist was good, but I hate that almost ambiguous tacking it on at the end thing that so many authors do now - just finish the book properly.

It’s an enjoyable read, and a decent enough thriller, but nothing particularly life changing or unusual.

I always look forward to a new novel by Lisa Jewell, because I know I’m going to be engrossed in it for the weekend, oblivious to everything else that’s going on around me. This new novel was so addictive I’m not sure I looked up and luckily my other half knows to disappear into his workshop and remember to deliver a hot brew on the hour. I have no idea how she manages to be so prolific, but thank goodness she does! She always manages to find a new angle to the thriller and this novel has a really interesting premise based around the phenomenon of podcasts. One of our protagonists had running a successful weekly podcast based around women’s lives and interviewed women who would inspire her listeners. However, it was time for some new ideas and so far Alix hasn’t had one. Then she meets Josie Fair. Josie is celebrating her forty-fifth birthday in a restaurant that’s a little more upmarket than they would usually book. She notices a group at a large table celebrating the birthday of a rather glamorous woman. Later in the night, the women bump into each other in the lady’s loo. Josie mentions to Alix that they share a birthday and is surprised to discover they are both 45 years old. They make a joke about being birthday twins then go back to their tables where the huge contrast between them becomes clear. Alix’s table is filled with friends, flowers and balloons whereas Josie is having a quite dinner, just her and her husband Walter. A few days later they accidentally meet again outside Alix’s children’s school. This time they chat about Alix’s work and Josie admits she’s been listening to some of Alix’s podcast since they met. Alix has made a successful series interviewing inspiring women, but admits she’s now looking for a change of direction. Josie volunteers herself as a subject, admitting that she’s about to go through some major life changes and seeming convinced that Alix’s listeners will want to hear her story. They swap contact details and each comes away feeling positive, but Josie wasn’t exaggerating. Big changes are on the way, just not in the positive, life-affirming way Alix is used to. After interviewing Josie once Alix knows her story will appeal to listeners, because despite being very unsettled by her subject, she can’t help wanting to dig further.

The format really does work, with the interviews providing so much information to unravel and tantalise the reader. In-between we see the effect Josie’s revelations have on her own family life and on Josie’s as well. Each interview works very like a counselling session, but perhaps most like the early sessions when the client is telling you their story so far and what brings them to therapy. Alix is a fantastic listener and allows Josie to tell her story in her own way and at her pace, only asking questions to clarify or encourage her interviewee to expand on a point. I detected a subtle shift as the interviews progressed, but it’s almost imperceptible. While at first Alix is in control of the project, Josie starts to take charge both of the content and how often they meet and work together. This could simply be a woman finding her confidence or having an emotional need to offload her story quickly, while she has the courage. Josie weaves a tale of grooming and domestic abuse that’s not easy to listen to. Her husband Walter is much older and very set in his ways, they started their relationship when Josie was a teenager and Walter was in his thirties. There are little clues to the control he has over his wife, such as wearing double denim to please him and not having a job, even though their daughters are beyond school age. At this point I feared for Josie, but also for her daughters: why has one left home at 16 and why does the other one seem locked in her bedroom with a diet that consists of nothing by baby food? One tiny act of Josie’s made me go cold. Each time she visits, she starts to take small items from Alix’s home, starting with a coffee pod that she hides in her underwear drawer.

As Josie becomes more involved in Alix’s life, Alix’s Instagram lifestyle seems to erode.

“She thinks of Alix’s home: from the front, a neat, terraced house with a bay window, no different to any other London Victorian terraced house, but inside a different story. A magazine house, ink-blue walls and golden lights and a kitchen that appeared weirdly to be bigger than the whole house with stone-grey cabinets and creamy marble counters and a tap that exuded boiling water at the touch of a button. A wall at one end reserved purely for the children’s art!”

Her husband Nathan has always had issues with alcohol, but they really come to the fore. He’s always had a line he doesn’t cross, but now he starts to stretch to one more drink, staying out later with work colleagues, going out for a normal lad’s night then not coming home. Alix knows that once it reaches a certain time, it’s likely he will be on a bender, only coming home when he’s run out of funds or sobered up. Where is he when he doesn’t come home? Alix starts to doubt Nathan’s fidelity and finds herself searching for evidence. As the stress at home cranks up a notch, Alix notices that Josie is pushing the boundaries of their agreement. She turns up where Alix doesn’t expect her, stays longer than their agreed session and Alix can’t tell if she’s becoming subsumed by Josie’s world, or if Josie is starting to take over hers. There’s a claustrophobic feeling and a sense of menace starts to creep in, as Josie controls her story and will only let it unfold in the way she has planned. I sensed something was very wrong and wanted Alix to back off the story, even though it could make her name in the world of podcasts. Alix seems transfixed by Josie’s story, her life is like a car crash you can’t look away from and although part of Alix has the journalistic interest in a great story, another part is fascinated by the horror of what Josie is telling her. In much the same way as the reader is fascinated too, I genuinely couldn’t put the book down until I’d worked out what was going on. Were Josie’s revelations putting herself and Alix in danger from Walter? Will telling her story change Josie, acting as the catalyst to leave the situation and get help for her daughter? I kept wondering about the other daughter, the one who left home. I couldn’t help but think she might be the key to the truth about Josie and Walter’s marriage.

I thought the structure, using the podcast for Josie to tell her story, was really clever considering how popular true crime podcasts are these days. I thought the idea for Alix’s podcast, interviewing inspirational women was very like the Megan podcast in tone showing how up to the minute Lisa Jewell is in the creative way she frames her story. As coercive control is now so well known, as compared to four or five years ago. Everyone understands what it means and terms like ‘gaslighting’ have become the norm, showing up in soap storylines and all over social media. I think what Lisa has tapped into here is the overuse of these terms, so much so that they’ve become diminished. It seems that daily someone is claiming their ex was a narcissist but these are huge psychological labels that shoudln’t be used lightly - in the same way people say ‘I’m a bit OCD’ the real understanding of the disorder has become misunderstood. It isn’t all about arranging your kitchen shelves so the labels show at the front. We are all educated into believing the victim of abuse, but in a society where these terms are so misused, should we reserve a little bit of judgment? If I was Alix I might have been inclined to walk away from the story, especially as she starts to have questions and doubts, to concentrate on my own problems. Josie’s story and it’s fallout are almost too messy and she seems very adept at knowing when Alix is doubting her, on one occasion turning up on the doorstep having apparently confronted Walter, and definitely outstaying her welcome. Lisa Jewel really is a master at these dark, almost nightmarish, stories about women’s lives while weaving so many twists and turns the reader can’t stop guessing until they’ve reached the final page. While I’ve enjoyed her recent novels I was absolutely gripped by this one and think she’s outdone herself. The setting and situation are so believable, the characters are incredibly well drawn, full of enough flaws and contradictions that you’ll be questioning everything they tell you.

Well this was a read that really set my heart racing as the story became more and more terrifying by the minute and that ending what the heck !!
So I’m still trying to process just what I read and what on earth was the truth because as sure as hell I thought I knew but the more I think about it I just don’t know and that for me makes this book a brilliant 5 star read and one not to be missed.
The story begins with two very different women Josie and Alix both celebrating their 45th birthday in the same restaurant and both born at the same hospital it seems to Josie they are birthday twins and as she introduces herself to Alix this story begins to take a very sinister turn. From then on this is a read full of twists and as Alix who has agreed to do a podcast with Josie soon begins to realise that everything in her life is becoming very frightening as Josie reveals some very dark secrets and becomes extremely obsessive.
I really can’t put into words just how creepy and menacing this read is and the feeling throughout gave me chills as the story became more and more claustrophobic. I think this is one of the best reads of the year so far for me I couldn’t put the book down and I’m still thinking about it, was such a superb story and I loved the style in which it was written so many thanks to Lisa Jewell you really have excelled yourself with this one and it’s going to be a massive success I’m sure.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone,Century for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm still reeling from this book.

I was drawn into this book from the first pages and never wanted to stop reading. Although a little like car crash tv at times I didn't want to know - but I did!

All kinds of things were racing through my mind as Josie and Alix both celebrating their 45th birthdays separately in a restaurant find out they are birthday twins. Not only are they both 45 but they were in fact born on the same day, in the same hospital.

Later on Josie puts herself forward as a subject for Alix's podcast and Alix agrees to the idea. In parts the story is told through the podcast and partly through a Netflix documentary, we gain glimpses of what happens next. This only made it all the more madly intriguing and resulted in me finishing this book within 24 hours.

As the story progresses and Josie worms her way into Alix's life it began to feel a little claustrophobic. What would you do in this situation? Just as I was fearing the worst it seems as if all is going to be ok and then the twists and turns begin.

Lisa Jewel is a phenomenal writer and “None of this is True” just blew me away!

I loved the concept of using both a podcast and Netflix to relay the story, talk about bang up to date!
Alix Summers is celebrating her 45th birthday in style at a posh restaurant surrounded by her family and friends. Josie Fair is also celebrating her 45th birthday at the same restaurant. When these “birthday twins” meet it sets in motion a rollercoaster of a ride from which there is no getting off!

I cannot rate this book highly enough. I lived Alix’s life through her podcast, all her emotions, her unease, her fears became mine. Although I have to say that at times I did get annoyed with her for not walking away, but understood her journalistic instinct to keep digging deeper and deeper.

Lisa has written a very dark and extremely twisted cautionary tale of what happens when jealousy and envy rears its ugly head!

That ending is still going round and round in my head!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an advance copy of this book.

4****
Where to start? Well all I can say is this book is fantastic and there was not a moment that I didn’t want to pick it up and carry on. The storyline was fantastic, one that keeps you questioning what will happen next or what is round the corner. This book has a good amount of characters all of which were very well detailed so you get a real connection to each one. I only reduced the star rating by 1 because I really wanted more descriptions of certain events and felt that some things were skipped/rushed. I will read anything that Lisa brings out so I already cannot wait for her next book.

this took a turn I didn’t expect
Dramatic as heck
Loved how one of the main mcs was a podcaster and so we had those clips within the book.. love media in stories duh
Josie? Wtf is going on with her
Deffo trust issues, you never knew what or who to believe
TW- discussion of abuse & child abuse
Ending was twisty, I expected something bigger ? But it was super enjoyable & for sure one of my fav Lisa Jewell’s thus far

4.5

What can I say Lisa Jewell never disappoints! Another fantastic, dark, chilling, twister of a read which kept me on the edge of my seat. So many questions after the ending though!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

“None Of This Is True” is a compelling and engrossing story, full of surprises, beautifully written with a clarity and command of style, all of which qualities make it one of those books one cannot stop reading – even if pacing oneself would be a sensible option!

I loved the whole ensemble, from the familiarity of London settings both social and geographic, the contrasting lives and aspirations, to the acts and emotions of the complex characters and relationships that both endear and repel, and the cleverly woven twists and turns of the plot.

Highly recommended.