One of Lisa Jewell’s best books to date.

Josie and Alix are birthday twins, who meet by coincidence on their 45th birthday.

Fast paced, with lots of twists and turns, I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough to find out the ending! I really liked the style of writing - like a documentary that kept you wanting more!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.4/5

One thing you can can always be sure of with Lisa Jewell is that she will produce a page-turner of a novel, even though some will inevitably be better in certain respects than others. I have yet to read a book from this author that I haven't enjoyed, but I think that "None of this is True" is the best she has produced since "The Family Upstairs" a few years ago.

Josie Fair enters the life of journalist and podcaster, Alix Summer, when they encounter each other whilst out celebrating their respective 45th birthdays. As it transpires, they are "birthday twins" - genetically unrelated, but born on the same day as each other and, in this particular case, also in the same hospital. Before long, Josie becomes the subject of the next podcast series that Alix is working on - and a very dark story starts to unfold as Josie gradually becomes more and more a part of Alix's life.

This is not the first time that Lisa Jewell has taken the theme of someone inveigling themselves into someone else's life, but there is a noticeably different feel to this novel than I have encountered in this writer's previous work. For the most part, the narrative progresses chronologically as the two women work on the podcast project. However, Lisa Jewell also intersperses sections from a Netflix TV series - and this is very cleverly handled. Although it soon becomes apparent that the Netflix series will be a future development resulting from the podcast, these sections serve an ingenious dual purpose. On the one hand they are a vehicle for providing additional information relating to the backstories of the characters, but simultaneously they drop intriguing titbits into the narrative relating to developments that have yet to be unveiled in the chronological storytelling thread. The result is an engrossing story packed with well-drawn, fundamentally flawed characters that leave you never quite being sure who you should believe.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have read all of Lisa Jewell’s books this one did not disappoint. My favourite book of the year so far.

Fast paced from the first page,

The characters are well written the story has you on the edge of your seat.
I don’t want to give spoilers just trust me and read this book!

Loved it.

None of This is True is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out None of This is True asap.

I have read many of Lisa Jewell’s books and would say that this is one of her best. It kept me hooked throughout with all its twists and turns.

Dark, original and very unpredictable! Lisa Jewell fans will love it.

It has taken me two days to even think about writing a review - I had to process everything I had just read first. My first reaction just wow!! I was literally speechless.

Josie Fair is a 45 year old mother of two grown up children. She has been with her husband for 30 years. She wears the same types of clothes she has done for the last 30 years and works part time in an alterations shop.

Alix Sunmer is a 45 year old mother of two small children. She lives with her successful husband in a lovely house and if a Podcaster.

This psychological thriller is the tale of two very different women who meet by chance and share the same birthday. This sparks a shocking chain of events which sees their lives become entwined and you will want to scream, shout and warn people about what you just know is going to happen. The story moves at about 100MPH and doesn’t slow down. In fact, the deeper into the story we delve the more your heart races.

You will not be able to put this book down.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

None Of This Is True is Lisa Jewell’s best book yet! Make sure you have spare time or are prepared to ignore all around you as this is the ultimate page turner.

The plot, pacing and writing were perfect. It starts with Alix Summer and Josie Fair, at the same restaurant, both celebrating their 45th birthdays. Josie, accidentally on purpose, bumps into Alix in the ladies and discovers that they were even born in the same hospital.

On doing a bit of online research Josie learns that Alix is a well-known podcaster who has made a whole series of podcasts about successful women, After listening to all of the podcasts, Josie ‘bumps’ into Alix again and persuades her to do a podcast about Josie’s life which, according to Josie, is about to change for the better and is full of intrigue and interest.

We soon learn that Josie’s life is indeed unusual. She married met Walter when she was 14 and married him at 18 when he was 42. They have two girls, Roxy and Erin. Roxy is the youngest but left home at 16 and Josie hasn’t seen her since. Erin still lives at home but doesn’t eat solid food and hides in the bedroom so Josie hasn’t seen her for months as she leaves food outside the door. Josie wears a lots of denim and seems a bit of a kleptomaniac as she has a lot of other people's trinkets and small items. Including a few of Alix's as the story moves on.

Meanwhile, Alix’s homelife isn’t quite as perfect as it might seem to outsiders. Alix’s husband, Nathan, drinks too much and has a habit of not coming home for a day or two. He is always full of excuses and apologies but is doing this lots lately.

We learn of Josie’s story via a series of Netflix scenes which recounts Josie’s story as well as the accounts of those who knew the family. It’s a very clever and gripping way of pacing the story and makes much tension and a desire to keep reading. Be prepared to ignore all around you once you start this book!

With thanks to NetGalley and Cornerstone for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

None of this is True by Lisa Jewell. Another phenomenal thriller from Lisa.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Lisa Jewell for the chance to read this book ahead of publication date.

Lisa's books are always on my auto buy list. I've always had The Family Upstairs as a favourite, but this one is definitely a contender for the top spot!

I don't want to risk giving away spoilers this early. But WOW!

There's a true crime podcast element to the book, which I absolutely loved! Added a whole new layer to her storytelling. Loved the concept of it, and it was executed really well.

On the evening of her 45th birthday Alix crosses paths with Josie who is also celebrating her birthday at the same restaurant.

It doesn't take long for Josie to track down the famous podcaster and approach her with a new direction for her podcast. And before she knows it Josie has infiltrated Alix's life leaving behind nothing but chaos.

But who is Josie? What secrets is she hiding? Will Alix discover the truth before it's too late?

Make sure Lisa Jewell's latest thriller is next on your preorder list!

Alix Summer and Josie Fair meet at the restaurant where they're both celebrating their birthday. It turns out they're both 45, born on the same day at the same hospital. It's karma right? They run into each other again and that's when Josie proposes that Alix make a podcast about Josie's life story. She promises she has a story to tell and boy she wasn't lying.

Josie is the weirdest character I have met of late, with her always wearing denim, her habit of stealing little trinkets from Alix's house, and not to mention her family situation which seems even weirder. She has a husband who's in his seventies, a daughter who never leaves her room and lives on baby food, and another daughter who ran away from home when she was 16. What is going on in that house?!

Josie's story was very addictive to read and it soon escalates into a horrific family dynamic. Alix has her own family drama with her husband Nathan going on benders and not getting home till the morning but that is frankly not nearly as interesting as Josie's situation. Walter is dead against her sharing her story in this podcast but she decides to do it anyway. Her story is tragic. The only thing is that there was always this unsettling feeling at the back of my mind too because Josie was a little too encroached onto Alix so that didn't entirely sit right. Going forward there were also little hints that made me wonder. There are Netflix intro scenes set up and interviews with people who know or knew Josie so I knew something bad had happened and it created so much more intrigue and suspense, and I can totally see this turned into a real Netflix series.

The title played on my mind all the time and while it seems to simply give away the plot (which was a bit of a disappointment in advance), Lisa Jewell was still able to have my head spinning with the many shocking and twisty turns in the story. The author also ends the novel on a high note for me that kept me thinking for a while about the characters while I had made up my mind about them for a long time already.

None of This Is True is one disturbing dark ride that spirals totally out of control and you better hold onto your seat while reading this. If there's one truth I can share with you it's that I was completely engrossed in this novel. Highly recommended!

None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
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Publication date: 20/07/2023
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The lives of Alix Summers and Josie Fair cross on their 45th birthday- when both realise they share the exact same birth date. Alix, a popular podcaster, is approached by Josie claiming that she would be a good subject for her next interview. Alix agrees to give it a go and had no idea what she was letting herself in for: a strange and complicated life story. But Alix couldn’t resist digging further and before she knew it Josie had firmly embedded herself in her life.
I would expect nothing less from Lisa Jewell than pure excellence; this novel delivers again! I found myself sympathising, outraged and surprised at various points throughout the book. Excellently constructed and I really felt like I could get to know the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Jewell and Random House for this ARC in return for an honest review.
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BOOK REVIEW

None of This is True by

Thank you to netgally and Century UK for letting me read this one!

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Synopsis:
When Alix and Josie meet in a pub on their 45th birthday, Josie asks Alix to record her version of her life so far for Alix's podcast. What Alix finds out about Josie's past is disturbing. What will happen?

My thoughts:
All of this is true - I LOVED it! I read it in 4 days, and I could not stop reading. Lisa Jewell sets the pace quickly. You want to hear what happens next in Josie's story. It is gripping and it deals with very triggering topics (please see triggers). I liked how the book was set out as well, with the chapters and then having the Netflix documentary about everything that happens. The Netflix documentary gives the reader enough information to make them want to continue reading to find out what truly has happened.

None of the characters were likable, and they were unrealiable. I couldn't help but feel frustrated with Alix 90% of time. I was literally shouting at Alix at different points throughout the book 😂

I really liked the ending. It is probably one of my favourite Lisa Jewell endings that I have read so far (my favourite endings being this and Watching You).

Has it beaten The Family Upstairs off the top spot? I'm not sure, but it is close!

Overall, if you like fast paced psychological thrillers, which has a hint of Netflix added, then this book is for you!!!

Triggers - abuse, death, stalking, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, overdose, addiction, violence (probably more but these are the ones I can think of right now).

I'm a huge fan of the author, and as soon as I saw the book on netgalley, I knew I had to read it. Its full of dark secrets from the past which kept me gripped. Its one hell of a roller coaster to read, and gripping. I could see this as a series on TV and I for one would certainly watch it!

Wow. Lisa Jewell does it again. If you need a book to get you out of a slump, this is it. None of This is True brilliantly marries the concept of a true crime docuseries with a real time twisty mystery. Jewell is a master at creating tense, heart pounding scenarios that literally have you up all night. Another five star review for the queen of crime.

Another amazing read from Lisa Jewell that I enjoyed. Raced through from start to finish and found it fascinating. Fully recommend

Hands down the best book I have read in a long time! I’m a huge fan of Lisa Jewell’s writing anyway but this book was different and equally as amazing! I was genuinely up until the early hours just wanting to see where the plot line would go, every chapter had me on the edge of my seat. If you haven’t read it yet, you absolutely need to!

I love this author and this book does not disappoint. To start with I felt so sorry for the put upon wife so desperate for a friendship with the podcaster who happened to share her birthday but as things get darker and weirder we start to question what exactly is going on with her and her family and is everything as she claims. Great ending.

I had a spare half hour so I thought I would start this one.

Before I knew it hours had flown by. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one greedy gulp! You really know you're in the hands of a master with Lisa Jewell and this book is another absolute cracker.

Immediately you’re pulled into the story and early on hints are given that there really is something quite dark going on.

I loved the format of this with sections told as part of a podcast and other sections as part of a Netflix documentary which of course gives further clues to the sensational nature of the unfolding story!

This book is twisty and complex and will definitely keep you guessing.

Many thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy

Lisa Jewell has made the switch effortlessly from good feel contemporary books to psychological thrillers.
This latest novel will please her legends of fans. Its intriguing beginning,will will have her readers gripped from the start and be asking ' what if 'regarding their own lives

I’ve read a few books by Lisa Jewel, but this one is exceptional. She’s at the top of her game in this twisty, complex psychological thriller that kept me guessing. I like the way authors are beginning to push boundaries in narrative format. Rather than the straightforward storyline, some authors are introducing true crime elements like podcasts, Netflix, etc as part of the narrative text. I’m finding this an interesting development and it’s one which Lisa Jewel uses well in this

A chance meeting and two women find their birthday twins; they share the same birthdate. Alex is a podcaster and Josie isn’t all she seems. She’s hiding some dark secrets and right from the off, there’s a strong sense of sinister menace lurking. The plotting is carefully crafted so that this sense of chill and unease builds and builds and then really takes off. There’s a barrage of tragedy that leaves the reader gasping. The pacing is superb and the twists are outstanding. Absolutely devoured this and I still get the shivers thinking about it. Top rate thriller.

I have read many books by Lisa Jewell and this one is right up there with some of her best. The story follows two women who are 'birthday twins' causing them to cross paths when out celebrating their birthdays, Alix is a podcaster and Josie, the other woman takes a particular interest in Alix and thinks she story could be turned into a successful podcast.
They cross paths again and Alix agrees to interview Josie. It is from this point where it all gets a lilttle bit creepy. Josie's interest seems a bit too much and her story becomes increasingly dark.
Lots of twists and turns towards the end of the book which kept me entertained. I really liked the netflix element of the book, I know a lot of thrillers are going down a similar path including podcasts, emails etc but I felt the netflix part was well executed and it did feel very much like a true crime drama.
I would definitely recommend to friends and family, my only criticism is that I felt there were sections of this book which moved along quite slowly,. Overall an excellent read though. Thanks netgalley!