Okay, let me just say—None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell is one of those books that you start reading and can’t put down. The twists, the tension, and the way it messes with your mind? Absolutely brilliant. I’m usually picky about thrillers, but this one? It completely hooked me from page one.
Lisa Jewell is known for gripping thrillers, but this one? It’s next level! If you’re into psychological thrillers that keep you guessing with unpredictable characters and a story that gets under your skin, then this book is definitely for you.
Whether you’re looking for something to binge over the weekend or need a book that will make you think long after you’ve finished it, this one ticks all the boxes. Trust me, you’ll need to cancel your plans. This book demands your full attention.
Now, let me walk you through the plot summary, the characters, and the thrills that make None of This Is True a must-read.
None Of This Is True Plot Summary
None of This Is True is about Alix Summers. She is a famous true crime podcaster with a perfect life—until she meets Josie. Alix has a great career and enjoys her fancy lifestyle.
But when podcaster Alix Summer meets Josie on her 45th birthday at her local pub, things change in a bad way. Coincidentally, Josie was also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday that night. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
Josie, at first, seems harmless—a fan with a story to tell. But soon, Alix realizes there’s something about Josie that makes her nervous. Josie gets more involved in Alix’s life, and the more they get close, the more Alix starts to wonder about Josie’s true intentions.
Josie’s vibe is part sweet neighbor, part full-blown nightmare—talk about a deadly combo! The story follows their complicated relationship, which is full of secrets, lies, and distrust.
What makes this story great is how Lisa Jewell builds the suspense. Alix’s perfect life quickly falls apart, and her meetings with Josie start to feel like a scary game. As the layers of their relationship peel back, the reader wonders if anyone can truly be trusted. You’ll spend half the book thinking, “Run, Alix, RUN!” and the other half yelling, “But what happens next?”
None Of This Is True Book Review
One of the things that really stood out to me in this book is how Lisa Jewell creates her characters. From the beginning, Alix seems like the kind of person you’d want to be friends with—confident, successful, and easy to relate to. But as her relationship with Josie grows, you start to see cracks in her perfect life. Alix is relatable, but you’ll want to scream, “Girl, make better choices!”
Alix isn’t just a TV star; she’s a real person with fears, doubts, and insecurities. It’s easy to see why she’d trust someone like Josie, but as the story goes on, you also realize that maybe she made a big mistake by doing so.
Then there’s Josie, the mysterious stranger who seems harmless at first. But as the chapters go by, you see she has a dark side. She’s persistent, manipulative, and even dangerous. Her reasons aren’t clear, which makes you second-guess everything happening in the story. Josie is the kind of character who’ll make you triple-check your locks at night.
What I love about the relationship between Alix and Josie is how unpredictable it is. Just when you think you know where it’s going, Lisa Jewell adds something that completely changes the story. There’s a back-and-forth between them that keeps you guessing.
The book has many twists and surprises, but what I like the most is how believable the characters are. Neither of them is all good or all bad; they’re complicated people with their own reasons and mistakes. This makes them more real, and as a reader, you’re left wondering who to trust. Spoiler alert: Trust no one. Not even your instincts while reading this book.
Additional Thoughts on Suspense and Twists
What made this book hard to put down for me were the twists. Lisa Jewell knows how to add a shocking twist at just the right moment. Every chapter brings something new, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, she adds another surprise.
There were so many moments where I had to stop and breathe because I couldn’t believe what I had just read. I was like, “One more chapter…” until it’s suddenly 3 a.m.
The suspense is so tight that it feels like you’re on the edge of your seat the whole time. As you read, you feel pulled into the dark world that Alix and Josie live in, where nothing is as it seems. I remember reading a twist and literally saying, “Wait, WHAT?” out loud. It’s that shocking.
This is one of those thrillers where you start to question everything. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s hiding something? You’ll want to finish the book just to get the answers—and when you do, they’ll shock you. The ending will leave you staring at the wall, questioning your own reality.
Themes of Trust and Betrayal
At its heart, None of This Is True is about trust. Who can you trust, and what happens when that trust is broken? Alix starts out thinking she can trust the people closest to her, but as the story goes on, she realizes that those she trusts may not have her best interests at heart. This book will have you side-eyeing everyone you know.
The book shows how easy it is to trick others, and even ourselves. It reminds us that things are not always what they seem. What you see on the outside isn’t always the full story. While reading, I kept thinking about how trust can be such a fragile thing.
As the story continues, Alix has to deal with her own choices. Is she in charge, or has she been tricked all along? This theme of looking at ourselves is powerful, and it’s one reason why the story feels real and relatable.
None Of This Is True Characters
Here’s a quick breakdown of the key characters in None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell:
Alix Summers: A confident podcaster with a sparkling career. She loves her perfect life but craves exciting stories. Alix meets Josie and decides to share her story on her podcast. As Josie’s lies unfold, Alix’s life spirals into danger.
Josie Fair: A mysterious woman with a haunting past. Josie admires Alix and slowly invades her life. Her secrets and dark intentions create chaos, pulling everyone into her web.
Nathan Summers: Alix’s husband, a calm presence at first. But as Josie grows closer, cracks in their marriage appear. Nathan becomes a tragic victim of Josie’s manipulative schemes.
Roxy Fair: Josie’s rebellious daughter, quiet but dangerous. She hides shocking truths that turn the story upside down. Her actions reveal the depth of Josie’s control over her family.
Erin Fair: Josie’s other child, struggling under her mother’s influence. Erin’s experiences shed light on Josie’s manipulations. She becomes a key to understanding the truth behind the family’s dark history.
These characters drive the narrative, weaving a web of obsession, deceit, and manipulation that blurs the line between truth, and fiction. These things make this psychological thriller an intense and gripping read.
None Of This Is True Final Thoughts
So, what’s my final opinion? None of This Is True is a fantastic psychological thriller full of twists, turns, and characters you won’t forget. Lisa Jewell has made a story that is exciting, unpredictable, and makes you think.
The characters are deep and complex, and the suspense is so strong that you’ll find yourself staying up late just to see what happens next. This book is like a rollercoaster. You’ll scream, you’ll laugh, and you might even cry.
If you love thrillers that mess with your mind, then this book is for you. It keeps you guessing until the last page, and just when you think you know how it will end, the ending will surprise you. I’ll never forget finishing this book and thinking, “How did Lisa Jewell pull this off?”
Would I recommend it? Yes, without a doubt. If you like psychological thrillers, None of This Is True is a must-read. Buy it. Read it. And then let’s freak out about it together.
Where To Buy
Available at all major bookstores, including Amazon. Seriously, grab it now. You won’t regret it.
Similar Books I Reviewed
Fans of psychological thrillers like None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell should check out Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.
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