I've just finished this book and had to come and post my review because it's absolutely compulsive. I've read Lisa Jewel before and admittedly I have a soft spot for her. This has to be her best novel yet. Just WOW

I absolutely devoured this story. As always so well written and believable. Lisa jewel is my favourite author and she covers some hard hitting subjects. But what an absolutely brilliant story. If you love crazy documentaries on Netflix or real crime podcasts, you will love this book!!!

Wow what an amazing book! This really was an utterly compelling read with plenty of twists and turns throughout as everything unfolds.. An incredible mix of characters who developed as one tries to work out the mystery. A strongly and highly recommended thriller

4.5 rounded up

Josie Fair and her much older husband Walter go to a gastropub to celebrate her 45th birthday. It’s not their usual style but hey, why not once in a while! In walks a blonde, well dressed, attractive ‘Birthday Queen’ and this proves to be podcaster Alix Summer with a big crowd including husband Nathan. It’s quiet and reserved versus noisy and effervescent energy, the proverbial chalk and cheese. Josie is mesmerised and fascinated and then she realises that Alix too is 45 today, they really are birthday twins! When Alix leaves her table and heads for the ladies, Josie follows…..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 skilfully told in this experienced writers hands.

This is just soooo good that it is very hard to put down. The characterisation is excellent and I’m going to say little about either Alix or Josie as that is one of the joys of the book to discover for yourself! Your views on both of them undergo several U-turns via the plot revelations which makes for fascinating and at times, horrifying reading. One character in particular is a puzzling conundrum to say the very least!

The Netflix extracts are particularly powerful as they pile intrigue on intrigue, to say nothing of the building suspense. Things escalate to such a degree you find yourself furiously turning pages in disbelief and yes, there are some jaw droppers! If you add in bad vibes, off notes and some weird and uncomfortable situations that your reactions switch between sadness, concern and shock in equal measure. Oh boy, does the plot ever become intense with examples of dysfunction on a level that beggars belief. The plot twists, turns and barrels it’s way at a fast pace to a good ending which isn’t neatly sewn up but which feels real as, let’s face it, life frequently isn’t tied up in a pretty bow.

Overall, this is a cracking read from a very accomplished author who sure understands how to entertain her readers.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K., Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I’ve enjoyed other books by Lisa Jewell so was really pleased to receive an advance copy of None of this is True, out in July 2023. Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone, and NetGalley for my copy.

Alix is a podcaster, known for interviewing women about their successful lives. Out celebrating her birthday, she bumps into Josie who’s also celebrating her birthday. Josie refers to them as “birthday twins”.
Josie becomes obsessed with Alix and convinces Alix to interview her as part of a new podcast series about changing her life.
Little does Alix know the devastating impact the seemingly harmless Josie will have on her life.

Josie’s character is done really well. On the surface she seems innocuous, always dressed in denim and carrying her little dog. The reality is she’s extremely devious and manipulative with a lot of issues.
The other characters are also well done and there aren’t too many of them. The focus is on the relationship between Josie and Alix.

The format of the book is interesting and gives snippets of information, allowing you to try and work out what’s really going on. There are sections set in 2019 when Josie and Alix first meet, transcripts from the podcast, and the subsequent Netflix documentary.

I liked the plot and the format keeps you guessing. There were a couple of parts I had worked out and were a bit predictable. The ending was a little flat, and there wasn’t a huge twist or shock like I had expected. Despite this, the book is a page turner and I couldn’t put it down! I read it in a day.

If you have liked Lisa Jewell’s other books you’ll definitely like this and I would recommend it.

Celebrating her 45th birthday at her local pub, podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie is also celebrating her 45th 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 Alix's series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

From the very first page of this book, I was stunned, mesmerised. Written with a ferocious passion and totally gripping that'll knock the wind out of you!

A brilliant book yet again from Lisa Jewell. From the very first page to last i was hooked in and just couldn't put it down. It's one of those books that just keeps you guessing and not knowing what will happen next. Highly recommend.

Another unputdownable novel by Lisa Jewell! I was hooked from the first page and kept telling everyone, including the dog, ‘I’m reading such a great book!’ It’s a clever idea with lots of contemporary themes. I loved the way it was structured with the podcast and Netflix original series scenes.

Alix and Josie are 45 year old strangers who share a birthday. These birthday twins’ lives collide with ultimately devastating results. First I liked one of the characters best, then the other, as more and more is revealed. The twists are excellent and I felt drawn into Alix and Josie’s worlds, holding my breath towards the end as secrets came to light. It’s a fast-paced, fabulously written novel. Five stars!

And she does it again I devoured this book in one sitting.
I always love the books Lisa Jewell writes and I am not a fan of crime fiction this one centres on a podcast writer who is writing a Netflix series the story flows beautifully and it is an absolute pleasure to read.

Wow! A story weaving between two female 45 year olds who were born on the same day in the same hospital, and who met at a local restaurant in London.

Ms Jewell uses podcast recordings Alix made with her new 'best friend' Josie, and then Netflix scenes to add to the story of Josie's 'hard life' with a much older husband and two daughters both with dysfunctional labels. Indeed, all the characters are well drawn and I kept switching who I liked the best - Alix or Josie.!

The author seems to like having a little dig at men in general but there was plenty of evidence submitted!

Great ending... if that is the end!??

Loved it, and thanks to Net Galley and Random House for the chance to read and review.

Josie and Alix are birthday twins. Alix is asked by Josie to do a podcast about her life which she is breaking free from. But as Alix interviews Josie she has to decide what is the truth and what are lies. A compelling read. I couldn't put it down. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Another brilliant book by Lisa Jewell I was lucky to be allowed to read this early as doesn't come out til July but I highly recommend pre ordering it

The story is based around 2 women who meet randomly and find out that both of them are celebrating their 45th birthday and that they were actually born at the same hospital on the same day. This slowly turns into a story of obsession, murder and secrets

Absolutely couldn't put this down

Wow! Lisa Jewell has produced another corker of a book!

It wasn't next on my list to read, but I thought I'd just take a quick look. Ha! A quick look involved the whole of Sunday in a chair by the fire and a very immersive read.

The characters of Josie and Alix, the birthday twins, zing off the pages: that sense of entitlement, the assumptions of another person's life, the feeling of having stepped rather too close into a stranger's world with little hope of escaping it unscathed.

The creeping sense of unease as the story begins to unfold really does have you glued to the pages. I absolutely had to find out what was going on behind that bedroom door!

Thanks to Lisa Jewell, NetGalley and to Random House for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

Another edge of your seat book from Lisa! Absolutely hooked from beginning. Great characters, plot the lot!

@currentlyreading__
Book 5 of 2023

Thank you to @NetGalley, @centurybooks and of course my favourite author @lisajewelluk for the VERY advanced copy of ‘None of this is True’ due for publication on 20th July. Teacher friends - get it on your pre-orders and enjoy this on a beach with a piña colada. I, however, enjoyed it in the cold of January, unwell with honey and lemon on the side and what a pick-me-up it was!

Well, as always it was a stunning read. I always feel like such a fangirl when reviewing Lisa’s books but there’s no other alternative that being blown away by the world she creates. I always say “It can’t be any better than (insert name of Lisa’s last book)!” But she does it again - creating a cast of characters you are compelled to read about, loving and hating in equal measure.

This one centres around Alix Summer, a podcaster living with her generous and hard-working flame-haired husband Nathan and their two young children. On the night of her 45th birthday and celebrating with a raucous group of friends and family, she meets Josie Fair, also celebrating her 45th birthday with her husband Walter. Josie, looking on at the “effervescent, swirling, intoxicating aurora borealis of grating, glorious entitlement”, feels compelled to tell Alix that they are “birthday twins” and after discovering they were born at the same hospital, Josie becomes obsessed with Alix’s life; wanting to share her own story as she is on the cusp of great change.

Diverting from her usual podcast style, Alix starts to interview Josie at her home studio and before long, Josie has well and truly made herself part of the Summer family. But not everyone is happy with Josie’s presence. And when Josie’s “dark truth” is shared, who will be affected by her narrative?

A sinister, gripping read with a character who as well as “scattering her dead skin cells” all over Alix’s household, will well and truly get under your skin.

#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed #instareads #currentlyreading #bookchat #netgalley #lisajewell #noneofthisistrue

Oh wow Lisa Jewel does it again!Draws you right in dark, disturbing thoroughly entertaining. Ticked every box for me

Meet Josie and Alix both born on the same day at the same hospital. This is just the start.

Josie befriends Alix who is a podcaster. She tells her story , but is what she says true? Do you believe her. Read the book to find out. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Excellent read 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Celebrating her 45th birthday at her local pub, podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie is also celebrating her 45th 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 Alix's series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Alix agrees to a trial interview. Josie's life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can't quite resist the temptation to keep digging.

Slowly Alix 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.

Soon she begins to wonder who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?



I am long time fan of Lisa Jewell having read all her books, I look forward to spring each year to get her latest book for my holiday. Was delighted to get a chance to read this ARC and get an early treat. So thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and Lisa.

Having said I am long time fan, I have found some of the books haven’t been as good or in fact are quite poor in comparison to her better books. The family remains was massive let down for me so I was wary that this book would be a disappointment glad to say that this wasn’t the case I was up all night reading this…

One of the things I love about Lisa’s writing is how she takes a topical relevant issue from todays society and weaves into her works effortlessly, within this novel there is so much- the gaming world, grooming, podcasts, social media versus reality- this for me gives her works something more than just a great story, I feel it makes you question things and provides talking points way beyond the pages of the novel.

The plot of this book is very interesting and keeps you guessing, while I had idea that not all was what it seems it still held my interest, kept my guessing and surprised me in the end. There is a good pace though out the book creating the right level of tension and suspense.

The book opens with what is the incident the full book leads up to telling us and what is reason for the Netflix show, we get extracts of. From then on we are told the story thought the third person POV via Josie and Alix as well ,the ever growing in popularity way of writing via interviews, emails, texts,etc, a series of recorded podcast interviews between the two and also Netflix interviews with various minor characters commenting on what has happened in the book. This was great touch as the interviews appeared to be in real time discussing what was happening in the book for me this created a lot tension as you knew something was happening that was about to blow up big time. I really like how Lisa attempted to use this new way of writing for me she was very successful at doing this, she kept it easy to read and follow using the interviews rather transcripts, emails etc a lot writers are using these new modern means to a tell the story some of which do it well using all the sources but others don’t and it makes the reading hard to follow. Lisa in this case has successfully used this new way in a way that works really well I would say in both the written and audio version. I could see this working great as TV adapt would be really good set as a mock Netflix doc.

As is usual with Lisa’s work there is always a wee twist in tale and something left hanging to keep you questioning. The ending of this was a perfect a conclusion for me.

I really enjoyed this book it’s up there with her best work. Fans of Lisa, Liane Moriarty and Claire Mackintosh will rave about this book.

In my top ten books of the year without a doubt.

This is a carefully contrived and cleverly delivered story. Alix Summers and Josie Fair meet by accident- well, is it by accident?-in a restaurant celebrating their forty fifth birthdays and discover they were born in the same hospital on the same day. Alix produces podcasts for a living. Josie seems to already this and more about Alix whom she is meant to have just met casually. Alix persuades her to reveal her past life and her future ambitions on podcast celebrating their ‘twinship’. That becomes a relationship which is more than Alix planned as she discovers there is more to Josie than she imagined. The story moves on at a pace revealing unexpected information about both their families. It is a gripping read. The title is the key. I recommend it.

Hooked from page 1. I sincerely hope there's a book 2 lined up. .
.

Once again Lisa Jewell has completely wow’d me!

I’ve read a few good books recently but it’s been a while since I’ve read a book that has completely taken me in and kept me absolutely hooked from start to finish! Until last night.

From the prologue the book caught me and I literally couldn’t put it down - I read the whole book last night in one sitting. When I say I couldn’t put it down, I meant it.

It had me wondering and trying to guess what was going on the whole way through and whilst I had suspicions I was wrong as throughout Lisa has you doubting yourself and then throws in something else and you’re like what!!

The storyline is amazing. Very clever and I liked how the story was structured. It was told via present day clippings for a Netflix documentary and then went back in time to dig deeper into what lead to the ending.

Then right till the very end - another twist! Mind blown.

Overall a thrilling, captivating read that literally kept me on the edge of my seat. You will not be able to put this book down until you’ve finished it!

Thank you NetGalley and cornerstone for the opportunity to read and review this book.