A chance meeting in a restaurant between two very different women both celebrating their birthdays on the same day, born in the same hospital leads to a thoroughly disturbing power play.

Josie Fair seemingly becomes obsessed with successful podcaster, Alix summers, her birthday twin as she refers to her. After a successful podcast series telling empowering stories of women that have overcome great hardship to become successful Josie persuades Alix to record her transformation from her unhappy life and to document the changes along the way. As the podcast gets underway the story Josie is telling is deeply disturbing and harrowing and a million miles away from being a transformation success. Alix is drawn into Jodie’s narrative with devastating results.

I sped through this book in double time. The story grips you and just when you think you know the ending another twist is thrown in. Most definitely a book worth reading.

**Listened to audiobook and read along with the electronic version too**

I adore Lisa Jewell and have read all of her books, including the 'chick-lit'/romance books at the start of her writing career. I adore her books, and genuinely look forward to a new release from her!
However, the last couple of thriller novels have been a bit 'meh' for me. Sorry to say, including this one.
I still enjoyed it, but just wasn't as engrossed in it, as I have been in her previous books. I found the plot to be very similar to other books I have read. I found the central characters dislikable, and gullible - something that immediately put me off. However, I really loved the 'podcast' element and I love how the audio book really utilised this. The narrators and the sound effects really worked at bringing the podcast to life.

Overall I did enjoy this book, but I wasn't as gripped or 'left guessing' as much as I wanted to be

Thanks to @netgalley and Randomhouse UK, Cornerstone for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2 women who were born the same day and in the same hospital ‘birthday twins’ get to know each other through a podcast. For one of them everything seems to have turned out perfectly. Perfect looking family, good job and is doing well. Whereas the other woman aspires to achieve more, feels unfulfilled and thinks she’s better than her present life and those in it.

The podcast aims to follow her as she has a life makeover and makes the drastic changes she’s been dreaming of for years.

I absolutely adored this book! It intrigued me right from the start with amazing characters and the how intense it all was. An amazing psychological thriller that brings you along holding your breath for the duration.

I loved how unreliable the characters were which kept me guessing what was going to happen. The first half reels you in slowly getting to know the characters but oh my god, the second half is like a rollercoaster!

The release date was yesterday 20th July and I would definitely recommend this to any thriller lovers!

Omg what a book! Absolutely brilliant, highly recommend. Is so well written and will keep you wanting more. If you love thrillers, add this to your next book to be read.

What a whirlwind of a story this is. Based on a chance meeting in a restaurant, 2 women born on the same day in the same hospital choose the same restaurant to celebrate their 45th birthdays. Josie engineers them actually speaking to each other and from there she inveigles herself into Alix's life.
Much of the story is told in podcast form which is a clever, original format.
The twists and turns almost make you dizzy.
Best book I have read by this author so far.
Four and a half stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Lisa Jewell/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have read several books by this author & this is by far my favourite. I’m not really sure how to categorise it - psychological thriller? domestic noir? and more…

Two women meet in a restaurant where both (but separately) are celebrating their 45th birthday. It transpires that they were born on the same day & in the same hospital. Alix Summer is a successful podcaster with a seemingly perfect life. Josie Fair works part time as a seamstress, has a much older, disinterested husband & is not happy with her lot. Through a contrived second meeting, Josie persuades Alix that she would make a good subject for her podcast & so it begins.

The title gives it away but the narrator is unreliable in the truest sense of the word. The chapters are written in such a way that, as a reader, you are unaware of her contrivance & the reality of the situation is revealed drip by drip.
A fabulous read & I'm not sure how the author will top this one.

Going through a bit of a reading rut recently and this was exactly what I needed. Another gripping psychological thriller by Lisa Jewell, I don’t think she can ever write a bad book! Loved that this centred around two female characters and how their lives interlapped, at first seemingly innocently, but with far too many creepy coincidences as the plot unfolds. Plenty of twists and turns in this one too, especially in the second half - I’ve not devoured a book like this one in ages.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Whilst out celebrating her 45th birthday podcaster Alix Summer meets Josie Fair who was not only born on the same day but also in the hospital! As unexpected as the chance meeting was Alix doesnt think of it again until she bumps into Josie again. Soon after Josie convinces Alix that she would make the perfect subject for her new podcast. Reluctanrly Alix agrees but she gets a whole lot more than she bargained for.

The story begins from Josie's point of view, out with her husband for a birthday dinner somewhere new which made me make a snap judgement about our potential protagonist but I was wrong. I fell into Lisa Jewell's trap about who was the innocent party in what would unfold but early on you can clearly see who is bad and who is good. The use of mixed media, such as podcast and true crime Netflix show slowly but surely widen the chasm between right and wrong until you are fully immersed in the murky depths of this domestic thriller. This addicting book hooks you with juicy tidbits and then reels you in until you are face to face with the awful truth. I read in the author's notes at the end that this was the quickest she had written a book which is some feat as the result is a perfectly paced read which will satisfy any thriller lover from beginning to end. Let's hope that Jewell's next release is not far off then!

This was a twisty, thrilling book full of unreliable characters. Another excellent book from Lisa Jewell!

None Of This Is True is the easiest five stars I’ve given a book this year.
Two women leading completely different lives bump into each other at a restaurant on their forty fifth birthdays. Both have the same birthday and both were born in the same hospital. There the similarities end.
Alix Summer appears to have it all, has a successful podcast, lovely home and supportive family whereas Josie Fair is a housewife, part time seamstress, difficult relationship with her husband and her two grown up daughters. A chance meeting again and Josie convinces Alix that she would be a great subject for her next podcast so Alix starts it but once she does there’s no going back.
This book has everything you could possibly want from a psychological thriller. I couldn’t put it down, every chapter left me wanting to find out more, what was really good was that one character is an unreliable teller of past events so trying to dig through what is real and not was quite nail biting.
Cannot wait for your next book!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House, Cornerstone for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent Lisa Jewell installation!!! Toxic friendships, damaged relationships, mystery and intrigue, what's not to love? Even to the end I was not sure of the exact truth, constantly changing my mind throughout the book. Who's lying? Who's the victim? Some jaw dropping moments. Although there have been one or two of this author's books I just didn't warm to, this one was not one of those. Really recommend this book if you want a gripping quick paced ride!

I really am starting to love Lisa Jewells writing style. I think her books tend to be more mystery than what I am used to from thrillers. But I am also glad that she writes stories that make sense and don't have all these lavish twists just to have them. This book was amazing and really had me on the edge of my seat most of it.

I was so excited to receive a proof of this as Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite authors. I think this might be my favourite book so far. It was absolutely gripping!

The story starts when two women coincidentally meet in a restaurant and realise they are both out celebrating their 45th birthday and were born in the same hospital on the same day.
When they have a 'chance' meeting again Josie suggests that Alix makes a podcast about the two of them with the theme of 'birthday twins' It isn't long before Alix realises Josie has led a troubled life with a disturbing past but which parts are true? Alix is desperate to make an addictive podcast so against her better judgement she continues. Can she discover the truth before it is too late?

I loved delving into the lives of these two women. As always it is pacy, dark and full of twists.
The story is told by both women and is also partly recorded as a podcast and a Netflix documentary which added another layer of intrigue to the story.
I flew through it trying to work out who and what to believe! This is an absolute page turning and one of the best psychological thrillers I've read this year!

Since I "discovered" this author I have pounced on every new book she has released, also peppering the in between time with ticking off her back catalogue.
In this book we meet Alix Summers, popular podcaster, who is celebrating her 45th birthday in her local pub. Coincidentally, there is another birthday celebration going on in the same establishment. Another 45th - that of Josie Fair. They meet in the bathroom and declare themselves "birthday twins".
A few days on and they bump into each other again. In the mean time, Josie has been listening to Alix's podcasts and thinks that she herself could be a good subject... a different spin on the usual - "how you changed your life", looking back, theme. Instead, she explains that she is about to make big changes, and wouldn't it be different to be "in at the start" and document it all "live"?
An so begins a wild fantastic ride that shocked, saddened, and entertained me... How quick we are to trust, and how badly that trust can go wrong... be exploited. It's dark and twisty and blew my mind on occasion. It starts off quite gentle, with just a few things that started to make me think. Then things escalated pretty rapidly and some of the previously innocuous incidents were turned upside down with hindsight... but I will leave you to witness all that for yourself...
Suffice to say that everything else I need to make a good book a great read was front and centre herein. Great characters, good pacing, great story, tight plotting, no waffle. The real deal!
All culminating in the perfect and most satisfying ending. Basically, she's done it again, stop reading reviews and just read the darned book. You can thank me later!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another brilliant novel from the incomparable Lisa Jewell. She really is the doyenne of the psychological thriller, her books the very definition of a page turner.The title itself is the only incitement you need to read this wonderful tale; as usual, we don't know who to believe! The premise is fascinating; two women born on the same day meet while celebrating their birthdays and one becomes obsessed with the other. Both have a lot going on, needless to say, and the novel is engrossing throughout. Wonderful!

Alix Summers and Josie Fair meet in a bar where they are both separately celebrating their respective 45th birthday's. Alix a podcaster happily married to Nathan with 2 young children in a lovely home and Josie a mother of 2 twenty something "odd" children and part time sewing machinist and not so happily married to Walter more than 30 years her senior couldn't be more different.

After meeting in the pub Josie, having looked Alix up on the Internet, decides she must meet up with her again and consciously bumps into Alix outside the school gates of the school Alix's 2 children attend which happens to be the same school her own children attended years earlier.

Josie persuades Alix, who is looking for another podcast subject to do a podcast about her not so fulfilling life which she is hoping to turn around. It soon becomes apparent to Alix that Josie's life is hugely troubling and her life becomes increasingly embroiled with hers. However, Alix really wants to tell her story. As Josie's story evolves things that are being divulged are very disturbing and Alix is not sure if she should continue but, the idea of having a gripping podcast she continues it albeit reluctantly.
This is a fast paced book that draws you in and leaves you gasping at the revelations.

I am a big fan of the author and whilst her other books are all excellent, this is by far the best. We'll deserving of my 5 star rating.

Thanks to NetGalley UK the author and publishers Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for providing me with this ARC copy of the book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I always get extremely excited when Lisa Jewell releases a new book and None of This is True is an exceptional read.
#thebirthdaytwin.
Josie Fair has just turned 45, she is married to a man nearly twice her age and has two grown up children, she works part time as a seamstress and her life is very dull and predictable. She never buys anything new and she only ever wears denim! Her husband has recently retired and she is being to hate her life.

Alix Summers has just returned 45, she has a very successful podcast that promotes aspiring women.
She has a wonderful husband and fantastic friends two amazing small children and is extremely happy.

By sheer coincidence both Josie and Alix share the same birthday, born in the hospital but with two completely different lives.
What are the chances of them both booking the same restaurant at the same time on their birthdays.

When Josie realises that Alix shares the same birthday as her after introducing herself in the ladies room at the restaurant, Josie starts to listen to Alix's podcasts and starts to become obsessed.
After accidentally bumping into Alix Josie asks Alix to do a podcast around birthday twins and her life.
Alix gets excited by the new challenge.
But what secrets is Josie hiding and has she really accidentally bumped into Alix?
As the podcast and story unfolds you get a sense that something big is about to happen and boy does it!

None of This is True is by far my favourite book of 2023. I could not put it down; when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it and I even gave up an episode of my favourite series so that I could read more!

Alix is a successful influencer with her own podcast featuring empowered women, but she feels like she needs a new challenge. When a chance meeting with her 'birthday twin' Josie presents her with a unique opportunity, Alix can't resist.

When Josie starts to tell her story, Alix can't quite believe what she is hearing; from estranged daughters, a potentially grooming husband and a whole lot worse, Josie has lived one hell of a life. But things are not plain sailing for Alix either, whose husband likes to go on all night benders without a second thought for his family.

As you move through the book, events start to turn fairly sinister, and Josie's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. This is what is so gripping about the book, as the reader you just don't know what to believe. There's one path with Josie the victim, who is desperate to escape her life - but how much of that life is really the truth? Can Alix get to the answers before it is too late?

Be prepared to be completely sucked in!

This book is absolutely amazing with a perfectly paced storyline. I was completely engrossed and could not stop reading. The plot and story were well-crafted and incredibly thrilling.

Another belter of a book by Lisa Jewell! She is swiftly becoming one of my favourite authors. - I could not put this book down and loved every second of it!
Go read this book, you WILL NOT regret it.
Thank you for letting me read an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review!