None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Published by Penguin on 20 July 2023
ISBN: 9781982179007
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Thrillers, Suspense, Women
Pages: 384
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her “superb pacing, twisted characters, and captivating prose” (BuzzFeed), Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.  
Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth 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 her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize 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.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.
Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

None of This is True is a twisty tale that moves along at breakneck speed. Absolutely binge worthy! Lisa Jewell is the queen of domestic thrillers!

Lisa Jewell’s None of This is True was an epic clusterfuck. Although I haven’t read any of her other books, this one captivated me. It was a wild ride, full of plot twists and turns. There’s something about the author’s writing that makes you incredulous about their skill that you can’t help but listen. You’ve got snacks, blankets, and wine, so snuggle up and read one of the best thrillers of the year.

I am addicted to reading psychological thrillers. These suspenseful stories delve deep into the human psyche, exploring the dark recesses of the mind and testing the boundaries of reality. I find myself unable to put these books down, drawn in by the exploration of the deeds others do and compelled to understand the motivations of the characters. There’s something about getting into the heads of characters that I find fascinating. Seeing them test boundaries, recover from serious psychological damage, and recover from toxic relationships. It cultivates manipulation of perception, as do all other books of this genre. There is no shortage of this in None of This is True.

“Do not claim that you are anything other than what you are. An evil motherfucking basic bitch. ‘My name is Alix Summer.”

None of This is True is built around loss. Primarily, the loss of self. While out celebrating her 45th birthday, Josie Fair bumps into her birthday twin, Alix Summers. It’s obvious she’s everything Josie isn’t – beautiful, poised, and commanding. The warmth of her presence prompted Josie to introduce herself. She knew she had a successful podcast centred on successful women. Having met Alix by chance, Josie becomes infatuated with her so much that she seeks her out. She can’t get her out of her head, she has a plan, she believes this is her destiny.

She is on the verge of a major change in her life. Alix’s podcast could be a great way to document her leaving her husband, and she suggests she would be an excellent fit for her podcast. It could make Alix’s podcast go viral, so she hastily agrees. At best, Josie’s account of the events is harrowing, while at worst, it is downright insane. From her husband grooming her when she was fourteen and he was forty-two, to her mother being an abusive narcissist, and both daughters having additional needs. In addition, I would like to thank Lisa Jewell for putting a spotlight on developmental delays and ODD – both of which are issues that my eldest child deals with. My jaw dropped, it’s not something I usually come across in fiction.

Throughout the podcast, Alix starts to raise questions about some of the details and is met with defensive aggression. Her constant attempts to undermine Alix’s faith in Nathan (her husband) continuously plants seeds of doubt in her mind. She comments on his ability to be a decent husband and father if he’s always getting shitfaced due to binge drinking. For allowing it, she even questions Alix’s sincerity as a feminist. Things spiral out of control and Alix is left wondering if she’s been told the truth about anything.

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