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It Could Have Been Her
It was the night she almost died.
Jane Trevally, newly divorced and feeling a little lost, agrees to accompany a man she doesn't know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath. She's offered a drink, goes in, and then - a scream and the sound of something falling upstairs - Jane senses she's in a bad place. She runs.
Twenty five years later, Jane finds herself outside the same house, this time to return a small white dog who's been found near her home in the country; a dog whose owner has just been reported missing.
A fleeting glimpse of a haunted looking woman through the window sends Jane on a mission to uncover the house's secrets - secrets more terrifying than she could have ever imagined, especially when she realises it could have been her ...
A missing woman, a dysfunctional family and dark, dark secrets ... Prepare to be hooked: it's the new Lisa Jewell thriller.
Jane Trevally, newly divorced and feeling a little lost, agrees to accompany a man she doesn't know to his house in the darkest corner of Hampstead Heath. She's offered a drink, goes in, and then - a scream and the sound of something falling upstairs - Jane senses she's in a bad place. She runs.
Twenty five years later, Jane finds herself outside the same house, this time to return a small white dog who's been found near her home in the country; a dog whose owner has just been reported missing.
A fleeting glimpse of a haunted looking woman through the window sends Jane on a mission to uncover the house's secrets - secrets more terrifying than she could have ever imagined, especially when she realises it could have been her ...
A missing woman, a dysfunctional family and dark, dark secrets ... Prepare to be hooked: it's the new Lisa Jewell thriller.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2026
About the author
Lisa Jewell
43 books95.2k followersLISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.
Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and The Night She Disappeared.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs and The Night She Disappeared.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.
Lisa's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/LisaJewelloff...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,435 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
— 3/5 stars
If you know me, you know how much I love thrillers and Lisa Jewell’s books especially. I genuinely adore her writing, and the premise of this book immediately caught my attention. It felt fresh and different, something I hadn’t really read before, so my curiosity was already at its peak. When I received the ARC, I was honestly over the moon. I was so excited, so grateful, and fully ready to dive in.
That being said, this book didn’t completely work for me in the way I expected it to. The pacing threw me off a little. I’m someone who loves fast-paced thrillers, the kind that pull you in within a chapter or two and don’t let go. This one took its time and I mean a lot of time. It took me nearly 50%-60% of the book, roughly around 150 pages, to fully settle into the story. I found myself constantly trying to figure out who was who and what role each character played, which slowed down my reading experience.
However, once everything started falling into place, I kinda enjoyed it. The writing was solid, the characters were well written, and the tension slowly but surely built up.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
Okay, so this story follows Jane Trevally, a woman living a quiet, slightly isolated life in a huge house she inherited from her parents, along with her four dogs. Everything feels calm and familiar until one day she finds a strange dog named Hugo wandering around her backyard. Naturally, her first thought is to figure out who he belongs to, and that simple curiosity ends up opening a door she was never meant to walk through.
While searching for Hugo’s owner, Jane comes across Stuart Tucker, a man who immediately gives off unsettling vibes. Things take an even darker turn when Jane realizes that Stuart lives in the very place where she was supposedly kidnapped twenty years ago. That discovery leaves her shaken and full of questions why this place, why him, and why does everything about the area feel so… wrong? The deeper she looks, the more she senses that something dangerous is hiding beneath the surface.
As Jane continues digging, she learns that Hugo belonged to a girl named Daisy, who mysteriously disappeared. From that moment on, Jane becomes determined to uncover who Daisy was and how her disappearance connects to both Hugo and the house tied to Jane’s own past. The story fully revolves around Jane piecing together these haunting connections, trying to understand Stuart’s strange behavior, and unraveling the dark truth that has been quietly lurking in the background all along.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
Okay, let me be very honest here while I genuinely love Lisa Jewell’s books, this one just didn’t fully work for me. I went into it with pretty high expectations, maybe a little too high, because I kept waiting for something more… and it never quite arrived. The story felt like it was moving in circles at times, and that made the reading experience a bit frustrating.
Most of the twists were sadly predictable for me. Out of all of them, there was only one that truly caught me off guard the kind that makes you stop, stare at the wall, and rethink everything. But aside from that moment, I could see most things coming from a mile away. The writing itself was decent and very readable, but it took me forever to actually get into the story. I usually finish thrillers in three to four days, but this one took me around fifteen days, which honestly says a lot.
Don’t get me wrong, I was absolutely thrilled to receive the ARC and so grateful for it. I was genuinely on cloud nine when it got approved. But somewhere along the way, the book started feeling like it lacked depth, pace, or that signature Lisa Jewell spark I usually love. Her books often revolve around disappearance themes, which she does brilliantly, and while that element was present here, it just didn’t hit the same way this time.
Maybe it was my reading slump talking, and there’s a chance I might enjoy this book more if I revisit it later with a fresh mindset. But for now, it just didn’t give me the fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrill I crave. I wanted a twist that would completely throw me off balance and while I did get one, it wasn’t enough to fully satisfy me. The character development also felt a bit lacking, and some chapters came across as fillers rather than adding real weight to the story.
⚘ "Overall, this wasn’t a bad book by any means, it just wasn’t the book for me right now. I wanted more intensity, more depth, and more of that jaw-dropping shock factor. Maybe next time, it’ll hit differently." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 29 december , 2025
Got the ARC of my most anticipated read for 2026, ahhh I’m so excited 🤭🤌🏻
If you know me, you know how much I love thrillers and Lisa Jewell’s books especially. I genuinely adore her writing, and the premise of this book immediately caught my attention. It felt fresh and different, something I hadn’t really read before, so my curiosity was already at its peak. When I received the ARC, I was honestly over the moon. I was so excited, so grateful, and fully ready to dive in.
That being said, this book didn’t completely work for me in the way I expected it to. The pacing threw me off a little. I’m someone who loves fast-paced thrillers, the kind that pull you in within a chapter or two and don’t let go. This one took its time and I mean a lot of time. It took me nearly 50%-60% of the book, roughly around 150 pages, to fully settle into the story. I found myself constantly trying to figure out who was who and what role each character played, which slowed down my reading experience.
However, once everything started falling into place, I kinda enjoyed it. The writing was solid, the characters were well written, and the tension slowly but surely built up.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
Okay, so this story follows Jane Trevally, a woman living a quiet, slightly isolated life in a huge house she inherited from her parents, along with her four dogs. Everything feels calm and familiar until one day she finds a strange dog named Hugo wandering around her backyard. Naturally, her first thought is to figure out who he belongs to, and that simple curiosity ends up opening a door she was never meant to walk through.
While searching for Hugo’s owner, Jane comes across Stuart Tucker, a man who immediately gives off unsettling vibes. Things take an even darker turn when Jane realizes that Stuart lives in the very place where she was supposedly kidnapped twenty years ago. That discovery leaves her shaken and full of questions why this place, why him, and why does everything about the area feel so… wrong? The deeper she looks, the more she senses that something dangerous is hiding beneath the surface.
As Jane continues digging, she learns that Hugo belonged to a girl named Daisy, who mysteriously disappeared. From that moment on, Jane becomes determined to uncover who Daisy was and how her disappearance connects to both Hugo and the house tied to Jane’s own past. The story fully revolves around Jane piecing together these haunting connections, trying to understand Stuart’s strange behavior, and unraveling the dark truth that has been quietly lurking in the background all along.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
Okay, let me be very honest here while I genuinely love Lisa Jewell’s books, this one just didn’t fully work for me. I went into it with pretty high expectations, maybe a little too high, because I kept waiting for something more… and it never quite arrived. The story felt like it was moving in circles at times, and that made the reading experience a bit frustrating.
Most of the twists were sadly predictable for me. Out of all of them, there was only one that truly caught me off guard the kind that makes you stop, stare at the wall, and rethink everything. But aside from that moment, I could see most things coming from a mile away. The writing itself was decent and very readable, but it took me forever to actually get into the story. I usually finish thrillers in three to four days, but this one took me around fifteen days, which honestly says a lot.
Don’t get me wrong, I was absolutely thrilled to receive the ARC and so grateful for it. I was genuinely on cloud nine when it got approved. But somewhere along the way, the book started feeling like it lacked depth, pace, or that signature Lisa Jewell spark I usually love. Her books often revolve around disappearance themes, which she does brilliantly, and while that element was present here, it just didn’t hit the same way this time.
Maybe it was my reading slump talking, and there’s a chance I might enjoy this book more if I revisit it later with a fresh mindset. But for now, it just didn’t give me the fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrill I crave. I wanted a twist that would completely throw me off balance and while I did get one, it wasn’t enough to fully satisfy me. The character development also felt a bit lacking, and some chapters came across as fillers rather than adding real weight to the story.
⚘ "Overall, this wasn’t a bad book by any means, it just wasn’t the book for me right now. I wanted more intensity, more depth, and more of that jaw-dropping shock factor. Maybe next time, it’ll hit differently." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 29 december , 2025
Got the ARC of my most anticipated read for 2026, ahhh I’m so excited 🤭🤌🏻
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
INJECT THIS WOMANS WRITING IN MY VEINS
It Could Have Been Her is a suspense thriller following Jane Trevally, who investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl after finding the girl's dog. The search leads Jane back to a creepy London house she escaped 25 years earlier, unravelling dark, long-buried family secrets.
My Thriller Queen is back with another dark unsettling, paranoia induced novel that will have you shook.
You know, the way I like to ingest Lisa’s books is by sitting all cozily in my chair with a glass of Rosé and a LOFI Chill beat playing in the background. This mantra of mine always has me getting overly consumed and lost in the fictional world that I am reading about.
Instantly I was drawn to Jane and remembered her from Lisa’s last book “Don’t Let Him In”. She is the type of woman that is easy to get along with and probably get mixed up into her sleuthing ways.
This is a heavily focused family drama book, and you shouldn’t go into it expecting jaw dropping twists and reveals. It’s one of those novels that makes you feel unsettled and nervy and you can’t help but be engrossed in the utter shambolic and downright depressing lives of the individuals involved.
I wont say too much about the characters, but what I will say is that they read so realistic and raw and if you have triggers around alcoholism, I will definitely advise to check trigger warnings beforehand.
The last 50 pages really take a heed and unresolved questions get answered but there’s also a lot ambiguity left and kudos to Lisa because this book will have me thinking about it for a long time.
I grinned like a Cheshire cat when in her acknowledgements she said she will be back with a new release in 2027….. frankly HURRY TF UP! I C-A-N-N-O-T W-A-I-T!!!!!
4.5 ⭐
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for sending me an early arc of the book
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
*INTERNALLY SCREAMING*
My Thriller Queen is gracing us with a new book
I don't even need to read the blurb
I just know i am ready to dive into it NEOWWW!
🤍💚🤍💚🤍
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for sending me an early arc of the book
It Could Have Been Her is a suspense thriller following Jane Trevally, who investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl after finding the girl's dog. The search leads Jane back to a creepy London house she escaped 25 years earlier, unravelling dark, long-buried family secrets.
My Thriller Queen is back with another dark unsettling, paranoia induced novel that will have you shook.
You know, the way I like to ingest Lisa’s books is by sitting all cozily in my chair with a glass of Rosé and a LOFI Chill beat playing in the background. This mantra of mine always has me getting overly consumed and lost in the fictional world that I am reading about.
Instantly I was drawn to Jane and remembered her from Lisa’s last book “Don’t Let Him In”. She is the type of woman that is easy to get along with and probably get mixed up into her sleuthing ways.
This is a heavily focused family drama book, and you shouldn’t go into it expecting jaw dropping twists and reveals. It’s one of those novels that makes you feel unsettled and nervy and you can’t help but be engrossed in the utter shambolic and downright depressing lives of the individuals involved.
I wont say too much about the characters, but what I will say is that they read so realistic and raw and if you have triggers around alcoholism, I will definitely advise to check trigger warnings beforehand.
The last 50 pages really take a heed and unresolved questions get answered but there’s also a lot ambiguity left and kudos to Lisa because this book will have me thinking about it for a long time.
I grinned like a Cheshire cat when in her acknowledgements she said she will be back with a new release in 2027….. frankly HURRY TF UP! I C-A-N-N-O-T W-A-I-T!!!!!
4.5 ⭐
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for sending me an early arc of the book
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
*INTERNALLY SCREAMING*
My Thriller Queen is gracing us with a new book
I don't even need to read the blurb
I just know i am ready to dive into it NEOWWW!
🤍💚🤍💚🤍
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for sending me an early arc of the book
June 29, 2026
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐
It Could Have Been Her
Lisa Jewell
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2026
Simon & Schuster Canada | Atria Books
384 Pages
Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction
This isn't a bad book by any means, and three stars isn't a bad rating; for me, it means the book was good. This is the typical dual-timeline thriller with a bunch of unsavoury characters you love to hate. Most notably, Jane from Don't Let Him In (which was two stars for me).
Twenty-five years in the past, Jane goes back to a secluded house with a strange man. She then hears a scream and something falling, and she flees. Now, middle-aged Jane is walking her dogs and comes across a terrier that is lost. She comes to find out that the girl who was staying nearby with the dog has vanished. Of course, Jane decides to drive the dog to its owner all the way to London. When she arrives there, it's Thornwood—the same house where she heard the scream and the thud twenty-five years ago.
When the door is answered, a creepy man is there and says he knows nothing about the missing girl. Jane doesn't believe him and notices a woman through the window. Jane doesn't buy this guy's answer; she knows the dog, the girl, and the house are all connected somehow, and she decides she is going to uncover all these secrets.
Jewell is a master at atmospheric, unsettling dread, but the uneven pacing (the middle was so very slow) and a very coincidental ending kept this book from being more than three stars for me. I enjoyed how creepy this book was, and Hampstead House is a character in its own right. There are lots of secrets in this tale, and Jane is like Gladys Kravitz, the nosy neighbour from Bewitched, but I was rooting for her even if she did seem a bit paranoid at times.
If you are looking for exciting twists or big surprises, you'll be disappointed, as I found it a tad slow. It's a solid, three-star, fun-for-the-weekend kind of read, but it's not close to Jewell's best work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐
It Could Have Been Her
Lisa Jewell
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2026
Simon & Schuster Canada | Atria Books
384 Pages
Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction
This isn't a bad book by any means, and three stars isn't a bad rating; for me, it means the book was good. This is the typical dual-timeline thriller with a bunch of unsavoury characters you love to hate. Most notably, Jane from Don't Let Him In (which was two stars for me).
Twenty-five years in the past, Jane goes back to a secluded house with a strange man. She then hears a scream and something falling, and she flees. Now, middle-aged Jane is walking her dogs and comes across a terrier that is lost. She comes to find out that the girl who was staying nearby with the dog has vanished. Of course, Jane decides to drive the dog to its owner all the way to London. When she arrives there, it's Thornwood—the same house where she heard the scream and the thud twenty-five years ago.
When the door is answered, a creepy man is there and says he knows nothing about the missing girl. Jane doesn't believe him and notices a woman through the window. Jane doesn't buy this guy's answer; she knows the dog, the girl, and the house are all connected somehow, and she decides she is going to uncover all these secrets.
Jewell is a master at atmospheric, unsettling dread, but the uneven pacing (the middle was so very slow) and a very coincidental ending kept this book from being more than three stars for me. I enjoyed how creepy this book was, and Hampstead House is a character in its own right. There are lots of secrets in this tale, and Jane is like Gladys Kravitz, the nosy neighbour from Bewitched, but I was rooting for her even if she did seem a bit paranoid at times.
If you are looking for exciting twists or big surprises, you'll be disappointed, as I found it a tad slow. It's a solid, three-star, fun-for-the-weekend kind of read, but it's not close to Jewell's best work.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars
after reading this, i’d say that my first Lisa jewell book was a *partial* success. after the 50% mark, i literally couldn’t put this book down and finished it in less than a day, but the plot definitely was not the most clever or suspenseful that i’ve read. this book’s strongest quality is the addictiveness of it.
'it could have been her' follows jane, a middle-aged woman who wants something exciting to do with her life. a girl goes missing one day, and once Jane finds out that she has a connection to her, she goes down a rabbit hole to find her.
rating thrillers is always hard for me because i don’t read a lot of them. i think my i’ve decided that how i’ll rate them is how addicting/twisty they are, and this one definitely succeeded in the first category. the first half was honestly a drag to get through, but after that it was extremely easy to read.
a few complaints that i have is that there were many confusing things that weren’t solved at the end 😭. the ending was VERY unsatisfying (read: not shocking) and felt a bit rushed. idk, it felt like everything quickly found a solution at the end of the book and came together due to chance and not clever plotting including giving hints throughout the entirety of the book. i was also confused to why Jane was trying SO hard to solve this case? i guess when you’re a rich old person you don’t have anything to do but solve murder mysteries? ✋🏻
the beginning was also pretty confusing, but once i got past the 50% mark, everything started to make sense and i could enjoy the book.
overall, read if you want a grippy & fun time, (this one is very weird 🫣, specifically with one character that starts with a j)
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
first lisa jewell book! looking for an amazing plot twist 💆🏻♀️
❍ thank you so much to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
after reading this, i’d say that my first Lisa jewell book was a *partial* success. after the 50% mark, i literally couldn’t put this book down and finished it in less than a day, but the plot definitely was not the most clever or suspenseful that i’ve read. this book’s strongest quality is the addictiveness of it.
'it could have been her' follows jane, a middle-aged woman who wants something exciting to do with her life. a girl goes missing one day, and once Jane finds out that she has a connection to her, she goes down a rabbit hole to find her.
rating thrillers is always hard for me because i don’t read a lot of them. i think my i’ve decided that how i’ll rate them is how addicting/twisty they are, and this one definitely succeeded in the first category. the first half was honestly a drag to get through, but after that it was extremely easy to read.
a few complaints that i have is that there were many confusing things that weren’t solved at the end 😭. the ending was VERY unsatisfying (read: not shocking) and felt a bit rushed. idk, it felt like everything quickly found a solution at the end of the book and came together due to chance and not clever plotting including giving hints throughout the entirety of the book. i was also confused to why Jane was trying SO hard to solve this case? i guess when you’re a rich old person you don’t have anything to do but solve murder mysteries? ✋🏻
the beginning was also pretty confusing, but once i got past the 50% mark, everything started to make sense and i could enjoy the book.
overall, read if you want a grippy & fun time, (this one is very weird 🫣, specifically with one character that starts with a j)
⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹ ﹒ ⁺ ﹒ ⊹
ᝰ ⋆ ── preread ✶
first lisa jewell book! looking for an amazing plot twist 💆🏻♀️
❍ thank you so much to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2026
But there are fissures and scars in this house, something misaligned, something horribly, brutally broken, and I am determined to find out what it is.
2.5 stars. I liked this one slightly more than Don't Let Him In, but, to be honest, I think these last two Jewell books have been weakened by their own convolutions.
It took me forever to get into It Could Have Been Her and I think the three separate timelines and countless perspectives were the main reason. I really struggled to settle into the rhythm of the story during the first half, or even figure out what was happening when. I don't know why Jewell is so determined to tie her plots in knots when what she excels at is characterization and suspense (see None of This Is True, The Night She Disappeared, The Family Upstairs). Especially as it doesn't work anyway— anyone who's read a couple of thrillers will know exactly what's going on here.
This book brings back Jane from Don't Let Him In for a bit of amateur sleuthing. While out for a walk, she finds a little Westie terrier running loose with no owner in sight. The vet tracks down his owner who is miles away in London, but there's no sign of the teenage girl who the locals report seeing him with. When Jane returns the dog, she is shocked to find she knows the house. It is the same place something awful happened years ago, something she has never quite understood.
Jane is determined to find the missing girl and get to the bottom of whatever is going on at that house. Between her sleuthing, we get the decade-old perspective of Stuart, and various perspectives from a couple decades before that, too.
I found the first half very slow, and I don't think it was until the perspectives started to come together and make sense to one another, around the middle, that I started to enjoy the story. The second half was noticeably stronger and I did end up liking it. And Jasper worked well as a creepy bogeymen throughout.
Not a terrible book, but I long for another pulse-pounding pageturner like None of This Is True or The Night She Disappeared.
Please note that this contain depictions of abuse, rape and alcoholism.
July 2, 2026
What in the anticlimactic ending was that? I really don’t know how to rate this.
This was going to be 4.5 stars for me until chapter 72. I like following breadcrumb trails, but 72 chapters for that reveal is a bit too much for me.
I have a hard time putting my feelings into words because this isn’t necessarily a bad book, a large portion of it just feels unnecessary by the end.
On the bright side, I’m not a fan of multiple POVs and jumping timelines because they can get really muddled, but surprisingly I didn’t mind it here. It took a bit of effort to keep up, but it didn’t ruin my experience. In fact, quite the opposite.
That said, my biggest issue here is I get the feeling that I was supposed to put myself in Jane’s shoes and follow the investigation from her POV. I can understand why she felt the need to investigate. It’s as much a search for truth as it is a need for closure. However, at some point it felt redundant because I was also playing the part of the omniscient reader who already knew far too much… thanks to everyone else’s POV.
I’m beginning to think I don’t enjoy this type of execution as much as I thought I did.
These were some of the questions I wrote down at the start of the book, and they were also the questions Jane was trying to find answers to :
👉🏽 What happened the night she fled Thornwood 25 years ago.
👉🏽 Who was responsible for the horrific things that happened at Thornwood?
👉🏽 Are the past crimes connected to the missing girl?
👉🏽 Why did Jane survive?
Thornwood’s nature, the Black family dynamics, what happened to Rose in a broad sense, Jane’s night at Thornwood, these are all things (which weren’t even impactful) I find out through the Black family and Stuart’s POV. So we spent 72 chapters 🤌🏾 trekking (oh my lawd) towards a reveal that wasn’t really a reveal, but a confirmation and detailed description of what I already knew. I felt like the kid waiting for the rest of the class to catch up. Another thing I don't think the story did a good job of was creating a sense of intrigue. That could’ve maybe offset the feeling of being underwhelmed by the end. I was only invested because I thought surely, I’m in for treat. No. No I wasn’t.
I’m horrified by what happened in Thornwood. It’s disturbing, I think that goes without saying, BUT that’s where my sympathy ends. I couldn’t empathise with Jessamine or Jasper, and I certainly didn’t feel sorry for them or the choices they made. What I can say though is their tragic end feels both fitting and realistic to me.
This was going to be 4.5 stars for me until chapter 72. I like following breadcrumb trails, but 72 chapters for that reveal is a bit too much for me.
I have a hard time putting my feelings into words because this isn’t necessarily a bad book, a large portion of it just feels unnecessary by the end.
On the bright side, I’m not a fan of multiple POVs and jumping timelines because they can get really muddled, but surprisingly I didn’t mind it here. It took a bit of effort to keep up, but it didn’t ruin my experience. In fact, quite the opposite.
That said, my biggest issue here is I get the feeling that I was supposed to put myself in Jane’s shoes and follow the investigation from her POV. I can understand why she felt the need to investigate. It’s as much a search for truth as it is a need for closure. However, at some point it felt redundant because I was also playing the part of the omniscient reader who already knew far too much… thanks to everyone else’s POV.
I’m beginning to think I don’t enjoy this type of execution as much as I thought I did.
These were some of the questions I wrote down at the start of the book, and they were also the questions Jane was trying to find answers to :
👉🏽 What happened the night she fled Thornwood 25 years ago.
👉🏽 Who was responsible for the horrific things that happened at Thornwood?
👉🏽 Are the past crimes connected to the missing girl?
👉🏽 Why did Jane survive?
Thornwood’s nature, the Black family dynamics, what happened to Rose in a broad sense, Jane’s night at Thornwood, these are all things (which weren’t even impactful) I find out through the Black family and Stuart’s POV. So we spent 72 chapters 🤌🏾 trekking (oh my lawd) towards a reveal that wasn’t really a reveal, but a confirmation and detailed description of what I already knew. I felt like the kid waiting for the rest of the class to catch up. Another thing I don't think the story did a good job of was creating a sense of intrigue. That could’ve maybe offset the feeling of being underwhelmed by the end. I was only invested because I thought surely, I’m in for treat. No. No I wasn’t.
I’m horrified by what happened in Thornwood. It’s disturbing, I think that goes without saying, BUT that’s where my sympathy ends. I couldn’t empathise with Jessamine or Jasper, and I certainly didn’t feel sorry for them or the choices they made. What I can say though is their tragic end feels both fitting and realistic to me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️There is something fundamentally sick at core of the Black household. With destabilizing trauma experienced in the quietest, darkest corners of a childhood home, Lisa Jewell yet again delivers a very unsettling, bizarre thriller that will keep you glued to the book!
Having recently read “Don’t Let Him In”, she’s easily becoming one of my favorite thriller authors. I love how she creates dysfunctional families that are not only dark and creepy but also feel disturbingly vulnerable, lonely and helpless.
Lisa Jewell brings back Janet Trevally (from Don’t Let Him In), a 50+ year old PI/sleuthster who quickly becomes embroiled in a mysterious family that lives in a creepy house, a house that Jane has a connection to. Unable to escape the past, she’s driven to find the answers to the disappearance of a girl that Is somehow connected to the Black household. As the story unravels, Jane begins to understand that the house holds the key to all the answers, dark secrets, and hidden truths.
What makes this book standout from all her others is her signature feeling of dread hiding in plain sight. Possibly her most darkest work yet, Jewel’s writing shines through her morally complex characters. Each one possesses a complexity that’s deeply rooted in trauma. The trauma is what gives each character a perfect amount of brokenness, vulnerability, loneliness that is perfectly weaved into their darkest secrets. That, along with the eeriness of the novel, will keep you intrigued and invested! I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the slow burn mystery. I honestly can’t put into words how much I’ve enjoyed this novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Lisa Jewell for sending me this eARC!!
Publication date: June 23, 2026
Having recently read “Don’t Let Him In”, she’s easily becoming one of my favorite thriller authors. I love how she creates dysfunctional families that are not only dark and creepy but also feel disturbingly vulnerable, lonely and helpless.
Lisa Jewell brings back Janet Trevally (from Don’t Let Him In), a 50+ year old PI/sleuthster who quickly becomes embroiled in a mysterious family that lives in a creepy house, a house that Jane has a connection to. Unable to escape the past, she’s driven to find the answers to the disappearance of a girl that Is somehow connected to the Black household. As the story unravels, Jane begins to understand that the house holds the key to all the answers, dark secrets, and hidden truths.
What makes this book standout from all her others is her signature feeling of dread hiding in plain sight. Possibly her most darkest work yet, Jewel’s writing shines through her morally complex characters. Each one possesses a complexity that’s deeply rooted in trauma. The trauma is what gives each character a perfect amount of brokenness, vulnerability, loneliness that is perfectly weaved into their darkest secrets. That, along with the eeriness of the novel, will keep you intrigued and invested! I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the slow burn mystery. I honestly can’t put into words how much I’ve enjoyed this novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Lisa Jewell for sending me this eARC!!
Publication date: June 23, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It all starts with a missing girl…and a found dog. Let me explain.
While out on a walk, Jane comes across a lost dog in the countryside. A girl was seen with the dog earlier but has since vanished.
With the help of her local vet, Jane tracks down the pup’s owner.
But once arriving to his home Jane realizes she knows this house. And something doesn’t feel right.
We now have a found dog, but the girl is still missing. And oddly, no one seems too concerned…except for Jane.
Driven to find the answers, Jane enlists her stepson Dexter to help. It’s time to channel their inner Sherlock Holmes and solve this confounding mystery!
Told in multiple timelines, I was a bit confused with all the characters and how they fit together. I initially felt like I needed to create a genealogy chart to understand the family tree.😂 But eventually, it just ‘clicked’ and from that point I was easily able to follow right along.
Jane’s character really touched me. She was a woman of a certain age😉 trying to figure out her next life chapter. Everyone (including all her former stepchildren) seemed to love her, yet she had an essence of loneliness.
Dexter was the perfect side kick for Jane. Always there when she needed him and equally quirky in his own right.
I’d love to see more of the two of them in the future!
✍️ Lisa Jewell
📄 384 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: June 23, 2026
📈 4.5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Mystery, Thriller
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
While out on a walk, Jane comes across a lost dog in the countryside. A girl was seen with the dog earlier but has since vanished.
With the help of her local vet, Jane tracks down the pup’s owner.
But once arriving to his home Jane realizes she knows this house. And something doesn’t feel right.
We now have a found dog, but the girl is still missing. And oddly, no one seems too concerned…except for Jane.
Driven to find the answers, Jane enlists her stepson Dexter to help. It’s time to channel their inner Sherlock Holmes and solve this confounding mystery!
Told in multiple timelines, I was a bit confused with all the characters and how they fit together. I initially felt like I needed to create a genealogy chart to understand the family tree.😂 But eventually, it just ‘clicked’ and from that point I was easily able to follow right along.
Jane’s character really touched me. She was a woman of a certain age😉 trying to figure out her next life chapter. Everyone (including all her former stepchildren) seemed to love her, yet she had an essence of loneliness.
Dexter was the perfect side kick for Jane. Always there when she needed him and equally quirky in his own right.
I’d love to see more of the two of them in the future!
✍️ Lisa Jewell
📄 384 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: June 23, 2026
📈 4.5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Mystery, Thriller
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books
July 7, 2026
➡️ TRUE CONFESSION
This Jayne adores books with female protagonists named Jane/Jayne.♥️♥️♥️
Lisa Jewell's "Jane" protagonist is a 55-year-old, twice-divorced woman who used to rely on wealthy men for rescue.
She is now focused on rescuing others and herself.
Her newest mission? Playing amateur sleuth to determine the rightful owner of a dog found on her countryside property. And discovering the identity/whereabouts of the missing teen girl last seen walking that dog.
➡️ THREE REASONS FOR THIS 3-STAR REVIEW:
🔷 Very, Very Dark, Heavy Themes
I am not a fan of "House of Horror" or explicit child abuse storylines, which made this book a tough sell for me.
🔷 No, No, No!
A random dog from London somehow shows up in the countryside, only to conveniently lead Jane back to the exact London house she escaped from decades ago? That was a massive eye-rolling stretch.
🔷 Character Overload
I prefer a smaller cast of well-developed characters. At times, this book had so many players (over 9!) that I felt like I needed an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of everyone. Pacing was uneven, and at times the dual timeline was dizzying.
➡️ WHAT DID WORK:
🔷 The Amateur Sleuth Angle
I admired Jane's investigative skills and tenacity. Jane is my new favorite amateur sleuth.
🔷 The "It Could Have Been Her" Premise
Authors frequently write about positive missed opportunities, not the dark, twisted situations that were narrowly avoided.
🔷 The Clown Symbolism
The male character, obsessed with clowns, left home at a young age to become a circus clown. The clown persona was a clever, unsettling symbol of a mask hiding dark and abusive secrets behind a happy facade.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by James Norton, Lesley Sharp, Joanna David, Emilia Fox, Freddie Fox, Tim McInnerny, Harriet Fisher, Ella Rae Smith, and Elsa Lepecki Bean.
Full-cast narrations are always a treat, and all narrators gave outstanding performances.
February 16, 2026
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
There’s something off about Lisa Jewell’s books… but not in the bad way. In the slightly off-kilter, steadily mounting, experiential dread that exists at the center of them.
This, like the other books I’ve read of hers, is not your average thriller. It’s some concoction of haunted house, murder mystery, police procedural, and popcorn suspense, that makes it feel so unique.
It didn’t grab me from page one like some thrillers. I had to work a bit to get going, actually I had to work a lot, but once I did, my momentum thrust me rapidly to its satisfying, if not somewhat conventional, ending. I don’t feel like this broke any new ground. It won’t be one I look back on as a standout in her catalogue, but it got the job done.
Lisa Jewell can clearly write her ass off. This one just just didn’t meet me where I’m currently at.
There’s something off about Lisa Jewell’s books… but not in the bad way. In the slightly off-kilter, steadily mounting, experiential dread that exists at the center of them.
This, like the other books I’ve read of hers, is not your average thriller. It’s some concoction of haunted house, murder mystery, police procedural, and popcorn suspense, that makes it feel so unique.
It didn’t grab me from page one like some thrillers. I had to work a bit to get going, actually I had to work a lot, but once I did, my momentum thrust me rapidly to its satisfying, if not somewhat conventional, ending. I don’t feel like this broke any new ground. It won’t be one I look back on as a standout in her catalogue, but it got the job done.
Lisa Jewell can clearly write her ass off. This one just just didn’t meet me where I’m currently at.
Did Not Finish
May 25, 2026i've been struggling getting into this book for a while now, i'm only 80 pages in but i'm not enjoying any of the characters and it just feels so boring :(
I might try again once the audiobook becomes available.
I might try again once the audiobook becomes available.
May 24, 2026
This novel was chilling and full of mystery! One thing is for sure: Lisa Jewell is an amazing author who knows how to write a good book! It started really strong, then slowed down throughout much of the book, and ended strong! The details in this book are remarkable. From the characters to the atmosphere, the details blew me away! It is very dark, tense, sad, and gripping.
It is a medium-paced read, with the characters' flaws as the main focus. While reading this, it kept switching timelines and characters, which I found somewhat challenging. In my opinion, it wasn’t a smooth read. It was jumping from one thing to another continuously. I really did like how it started all coming together towards the end. It definitely left me with a satisfying conclusion. The story had a strong villain. To me, the only likable character in the book was Jane. Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lisa Jewell, and Atria Books for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on July 2, 2026!
It is a medium-paced read, with the characters' flaws as the main focus. While reading this, it kept switching timelines and characters, which I found somewhat challenging. In my opinion, it wasn’t a smooth read. It was jumping from one thing to another continuously. I really did like how it started all coming together towards the end. It definitely left me with a satisfying conclusion. The story had a strong villain. To me, the only likable character in the book was Jane. Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lisa Jewell, and Atria Books for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on July 2, 2026!
June 7, 2026
gonna go 3.5 rounded up to 4 for GR! i’m always gonna read and enjoy LJ’s work, but i don’t think this will be the top of the pack when considering her work (my faves remain NONE OF THIS IS TRUE and WATCHING YOU).
if you liked THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS by her or thrillers that are on the darker side, this will be up your alley! it was definitely a slow burn and i wasn’t sure where she was going to take us with the house/family mystery in this one. gotta say it surprised me 👀😳
i liked our MC Jane, but found her investigation to come a bit too easily at times. i always need to giggle when random neighbors remember specific convo’s or situations from 10-15 years ago and easily reveal them to a random strangers asking questions and it helps make major moves in a case??!?! idk! a bit too easy!
all in all this was fun and quick. the chapters are 3-4 pages max at times so it was easy to blow through and grabbed my attention right away. her books are just so good that this one won’t stand out as a OMG I LOVE IT thriller from her in my eyes, but it’s still a good read.
thanks to Atria for the gifted early copy! fellow LJ fans will surely enjoy it
if you liked THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS by her or thrillers that are on the darker side, this will be up your alley! it was definitely a slow burn and i wasn’t sure where she was going to take us with the house/family mystery in this one. gotta say it surprised me 👀😳
i liked our MC Jane, but found her investigation to come a bit too easily at times. i always need to giggle when random neighbors remember specific convo’s or situations from 10-15 years ago and easily reveal them to a random strangers asking questions and it helps make major moves in a case??!?! idk! a bit too easy!
all in all this was fun and quick. the chapters are 3-4 pages max at times so it was easy to blow through and grabbed my attention right away. her books are just so good that this one won’t stand out as a OMG I LOVE IT thriller from her in my eyes, but it’s still a good read.
thanks to Atria for the gifted early copy! fellow LJ fans will surely enjoy it
July 6, 2026
It Could Have Been Her is a bit slower to start, but with Jewell's signature style, she's able to amp up the intensity with time and pull out all the stops bringing this dark domestic drama to its necessary conclusion.
This is the type of story where you need to be comfortable not fully understanding everything in the beginning. There's multiple perspectives and timelines and it's not necessarily clear straight away how they all fit together.
However, this is purposeful and for the Readers with the patience, Jewell expertly drops the reveals that will eventually piece it all together. I just went with the flow, and though I was uncomfortable in my uncertainty for a bit, once it clicked, I was hooked.
IMO, this was play better for the 40+ crowd, like myself, but nevertheless a dark and intriguing tale. I loved the MC, Jane, and am really hoping we might get another book with her.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Original:
ARC received!! Thank you so much, Atria!!
This is the type of story where you need to be comfortable not fully understanding everything in the beginning. There's multiple perspectives and timelines and it's not necessarily clear straight away how they all fit together.
However, this is purposeful and for the Readers with the patience, Jewell expertly drops the reveals that will eventually piece it all together. I just went with the flow, and though I was uncomfortable in my uncertainty for a bit, once it clicked, I was hooked.
IMO, this was play better for the 40+ crowd, like myself, but nevertheless a dark and intriguing tale. I loved the MC, Jane, and am really hoping we might get another book with her.
Full review to come...stay tuned!!!
Original:
ARC received!! Thank you so much, Atria!!
July 4, 2026
I could not wait to get my hands on this book and I was not disappointed. It was even twistier and darker than I imagined and hoped for.
March 23, 2026
Aaahhh... Lisa Jewell always delivers. Charming English town. Creepy neighbors. Past and future storytelling. Top notch in her genre. Love that the protagonist is a mid-50s single woman who simply wants to help others... she is still friends with her ex-husbands, mothers her stepchildren, and is kind to children and strangers. But why is she so eager to solve the missing girl case. Flashbacks are intense, and you learn all about a family who by all means are terrible people! There is something sinister in that house down the block, and Holly knows it. She almost got kidnapped by the owner herself once, she now realizes. Compelling. Frightening. And total page-turner.
January 8, 2026
If you were disappointed with Jewell’s last book (it was a bit of a departure), this is a fantastic return to form from one of my favorite authors in the thriller game. The different threads of mystery are set up so well that i couldn’t wait to figure out how everything connected in the end, in standard Jewell fashion we have several characters alternating chapters and while there is a mystery to solve, it’s really a dark family drama at its core filled with morally grey characters (and clowns! the fucking clowns!)
One of her best!
One of her best!
January 2, 2026
Lisa Jewell returns with her darkest book yet and you don’t want to miss it!
Well I have definitely started my 2026 reading on an absolute high! I always knew that I would enjoy Lisa Jewell’s latest psychological thriller, but honestly, this one blew my mind! It’s by far Jewell’s creepiest and most unsettling book. There’s this underlying sense of dread and anxiety that runs through the pages right from the outset. We know that something terrible has happened at Thornwood - the fictional house in London’s Vale of Health that is central to the plot - but it’s just out of sight until the final few chapters. This meant my imagination was running wild and I was considering all manner of depraved and horrific things occurring there. Jewell delivers a brilliantly executed mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seat, guessing until the end, and culminates in a truly disturbing and unnerving conclusion. We all know that Jewell is the queen of the psychological thriller, but this is genuinely her most psychologically disturbing book to date. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE remains an absolute masterpiece in psychological tension, but I believe that readers will be just as engrossed and unsettled by IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER (if not more so!). There is a slow burn element to the plot development here, but it still feels like a pacy read. I loved how we move between different perspectives, timelines, and narrative strands. The structure of the novel really helps to build tension, deliver reveals at exactly the right time, as well as posing questions continually and keeping the reader turning those pages. I know that Lisa gets the ideas for her novels from all over the place, so I am really intrigued to find out what planted the seed for this story…because it’s terrifying!
As well as all of the mystery, suspense, and spine-tingling chills, there is a huge amount of emotional depth within this story. It’s very much an exploration of trauma, PTSD, and how those who experience true horror in their early years grow up and live their lives. Jane Trevally (who you may remember from DON’T LET HIM IN) is a brilliant lead character. A woman in her mid-50s, who’s experienced a traumatic childhood, is battling loneliness and a sense of place in the world, Jane allows Jewell to explore the mid-life female experience in a really intriguing way. I really enjoyed her journey through this story and loved seeing her find herself, carve out her identity, and discover strength that she didn’t know she had. Jane’s path juxtaposes Jessamine’s and Jasper’s, who are products of their childhood trauma and experiences. I won’t give anything away, but there are some incredibly dark corners in their psyches. I definitely felt that there was a blurring of sympathy and abhorrence, as well as not knowing who to trust. This book is laced with so much pain, but I also came away with a real sense of hope and freedom by the end. These characters have to break from their shackles and I was absolutely hooked on discovering the truths that allow them to do this. IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER is another absolute masterpiece from Jewell and one that everyone will be talking about this summer. Do yourself a favour and get your pre-order in immediately!
One final thing I’ll say: as someone who has always been freaked out by clowns, elements of this book are genuinely TERRIFYING!!! I may have my own PTSD… 😬🤡😬🤡😬
Well I have definitely started my 2026 reading on an absolute high! I always knew that I would enjoy Lisa Jewell’s latest psychological thriller, but honestly, this one blew my mind! It’s by far Jewell’s creepiest and most unsettling book. There’s this underlying sense of dread and anxiety that runs through the pages right from the outset. We know that something terrible has happened at Thornwood - the fictional house in London’s Vale of Health that is central to the plot - but it’s just out of sight until the final few chapters. This meant my imagination was running wild and I was considering all manner of depraved and horrific things occurring there. Jewell delivers a brilliantly executed mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seat, guessing until the end, and culminates in a truly disturbing and unnerving conclusion. We all know that Jewell is the queen of the psychological thriller, but this is genuinely her most psychologically disturbing book to date. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE remains an absolute masterpiece in psychological tension, but I believe that readers will be just as engrossed and unsettled by IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER (if not more so!). There is a slow burn element to the plot development here, but it still feels like a pacy read. I loved how we move between different perspectives, timelines, and narrative strands. The structure of the novel really helps to build tension, deliver reveals at exactly the right time, as well as posing questions continually and keeping the reader turning those pages. I know that Lisa gets the ideas for her novels from all over the place, so I am really intrigued to find out what planted the seed for this story…because it’s terrifying!
As well as all of the mystery, suspense, and spine-tingling chills, there is a huge amount of emotional depth within this story. It’s very much an exploration of trauma, PTSD, and how those who experience true horror in their early years grow up and live their lives. Jane Trevally (who you may remember from DON’T LET HIM IN) is a brilliant lead character. A woman in her mid-50s, who’s experienced a traumatic childhood, is battling loneliness and a sense of place in the world, Jane allows Jewell to explore the mid-life female experience in a really intriguing way. I really enjoyed her journey through this story and loved seeing her find herself, carve out her identity, and discover strength that she didn’t know she had. Jane’s path juxtaposes Jessamine’s and Jasper’s, who are products of their childhood trauma and experiences. I won’t give anything away, but there are some incredibly dark corners in their psyches. I definitely felt that there was a blurring of sympathy and abhorrence, as well as not knowing who to trust. This book is laced with so much pain, but I also came away with a real sense of hope and freedom by the end. These characters have to break from their shackles and I was absolutely hooked on discovering the truths that allow them to do this. IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER is another absolute masterpiece from Jewell and one that everyone will be talking about this summer. Do yourself a favour and get your pre-order in immediately!
One final thing I’ll say: as someone who has always been freaked out by clowns, elements of this book are genuinely TERRIFYING!!! I may have my own PTSD… 😬🤡😬🤡😬
June 27, 2026
4 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this latest mystery/thriller from Lisa Jewell.
Jane Trevally is a divorced middle aged woman living in her family’s decaying old house. When walking her dogs she comes across a small white terrier with no owner in sight.
Her quest to find the owners leads her on a twisty trail in search of a missing girl, buried secrets and murder.
Told from multiple POVs and multi timelines with a cast of strange characters, including a clown, we are taken on a bizarre journey of abuse, neglect, and mystery that spans decades. I could not turn the pages fast enough!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
Jane Trevally is a divorced middle aged woman living in her family’s decaying old house. When walking her dogs she comes across a small white terrier with no owner in sight.
Her quest to find the owners leads her on a twisty trail in search of a missing girl, buried secrets and murder.
Told from multiple POVs and multi timelines with a cast of strange characters, including a clown, we are taken on a bizarre journey of abuse, neglect, and mystery that spans decades. I could not turn the pages fast enough!
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
June 22, 2026
"Two women's lives converge in a house containing devastating secrets that refuse to stay buried in this "deliciously dark, devilishly addictive" (Alice Feeney, bestselling author of My Husband's Wife) novel."
Jane Trevally returns in this dark suspense where a missing girl's dog shows up on her property. As she begins to investigate who the girl is and what happened to her, she comes across a shocking connection to her past.
Lisa Jewell has delivered a propulsive and shocking thriller. It is dark, yet realistic. You can't stop reading until you know what happens and Jane ends up unscathed. The story is twisted and culminates in a shocking conclusion. I am hoping that Jane becomes a recurring character in a new series from the author. Highly recommend for those who love true crime thrillers and investigations. Trauma is explored in this one so use caution if you are sensitive to content about abuse towards women.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for thr gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
Jane Trevally returns in this dark suspense where a missing girl's dog shows up on her property. As she begins to investigate who the girl is and what happened to her, she comes across a shocking connection to her past.
Lisa Jewell has delivered a propulsive and shocking thriller. It is dark, yet realistic. You can't stop reading until you know what happens and Jane ends up unscathed. The story is twisted and culminates in a shocking conclusion. I am hoping that Jane becomes a recurring character in a new series from the author. Highly recommend for those who love true crime thrillers and investigations. Trauma is explored in this one so use caution if you are sensitive to content about abuse towards women.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for thr gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
December 16, 2025
Lisa Jewell’s It Could Have Been Her shook me to my core. This is, without a doubt, her most disturbing… and possibly her wildest novel yet. The final five or six chapters are incredibly powerful and revelatory, and I genuinely applaud her for telling such a bloody remarkable story.
Lisa Jewell continues to amaze me every single time I finish one of her books, but even I don’t know how she managed to keep all of these characters and timelines so perfectly aligned. I had to take notes, just like our main character, Jane!! 😆💀
Jane has been haunted for twenty-five years by a terrifying encounter in a house she once fled from, an experience that has shaped her entire life. When a white dog suddenly appears in her backyard, she tracks down the owner to return it; only to realize she’s standing in front of the very house from her nightmares.
What follows is a gripping rabbit hole of a journey involving Jane and her stepson as they attempt to uncover the truth: What became of the young girl who lived in that house with the dog and has since vanished? What is really going on in that house? And most chilling of all; what might have happened to Jane herself all those years ago if she hadn’t run away?
It Could Have Been Her is a haunting, unsettling story that will linger with you long after you turn the final page. Fans of Lisa’s darker thrillers like Then She Was Gone and The Family Upstairs are going to eat this up like candy.
Lisa Jewell continues to amaze me every single time I finish one of her books, but even I don’t know how she managed to keep all of these characters and timelines so perfectly aligned. I had to take notes, just like our main character, Jane!! 😆💀
Jane has been haunted for twenty-five years by a terrifying encounter in a house she once fled from, an experience that has shaped her entire life. When a white dog suddenly appears in her backyard, she tracks down the owner to return it; only to realize she’s standing in front of the very house from her nightmares.
What follows is a gripping rabbit hole of a journey involving Jane and her stepson as they attempt to uncover the truth: What became of the young girl who lived in that house with the dog and has since vanished? What is really going on in that house? And most chilling of all; what might have happened to Jane herself all those years ago if she hadn’t run away?
It Could Have Been Her is a haunting, unsettling story that will linger with you long after you turn the final page. Fans of Lisa’s darker thrillers like Then She Was Gone and The Family Upstairs are going to eat this up like candy.
June 25, 2026
The twists didn’t feel super clever, but the story made sense and was an interesting premise. Also, TW: abuse, SA. Reminds me of Epstein :(
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
✧ Why it warrants a 3.5 ✧
A few too many characters starting with the letter J; I understand the reasoning, but one character's name is a mouthful, so it does get difficult.
Keep a notebook handy to keep track of the shifting POVs, and even create a timeline, much like Jane herself had to do to paint a clearer picture of the clues unfolding. 💫
The predictable if not formulaic themes explored that felt both familiar and generic to her previous works.
Certain events that offered nothing really meaningful to the plot, with allusions to relationships that did not seem entirely fruitful.
I thought I was safe from the meta dynamic, which was limited to texts only, but she couldn't help herself till the very end, for which, okay, fine, I'll cut her some slack.
Some editing errors towards the end; please forgive me, I know it's an ARC, but my mind can't turn it off! 😣
Janes pauses for a moment
This where it all started... Just there. A small white dog and then...
Yes, this was where it all started. Just there. A small white dog, and then... a chance meeting, a moment of fate...
There are no words to explain the can of worms that opened the unraveling of a memory twenty five years buried away like a fragment of a moment that maybe only existed in her subconscious, but inadvertently ties herself to the missing disappearance of said owner of this innocent lost dog. In retracing her steps, it all leads to Jane uncovering its buried truths, with that sinking dread of what horror that last house in the world holds with the bitter truth that It Could Have Been Her. 😢
✧ Why it earns a 3.75 ✧
I gobbled it in less than two hours.
Yes, the constant shift in perspectives of three various timelines feels disruptive, but --- to me, this was not a psychological thriller, but a suspenseful investigation, rather an unraveling - a deep dive into the tormented and tragic dark psyche of buried secrets and twisted truths of a dysfunctional family, built up by a slow pacing that allowed the suspense to settle in. 👍🏻 One where as the povs are shed light upon, the characters are introduced with their messy, ever-changing, often brutal love of an unease of something amiss which seeps into you and pushes you to continue.
“There has always been a strange pattern to things, invisible threads making invisible connections, leading her from one bizarre episode to the next.”
And fifty-five-year-old Jane, aspiring amateur sleuth with too much time on her hands, or simply bored, or simply this affinity to Vale of Heath, Thornwood, a foreboding reminder of a horrible night with a determined sense of something misaligned, something horribly, brutally broken that ties the events of the present to that horrible night of her past. The cover captures that ominous chill of what is behind that door. There is less of a tension or shock value, as I innately knew what was to come, but it is the anticipation of seeing how it comes together that kept the intrigue alive. 🥺
It feels so deeply human and the writing captures her growth of what she wants from life, and what she realizes in the end by acting as that a nosy old bag who barely worked a day in her life aided by her wingman, her stepson, Dexter, who brought a certain levity to the narrative, in a believable light. How she's stoutly convinced that by resolving the ghosts of her past, she can also let go of herself.
“If there's one thing my years in this tainted house has taught me, it's the beauty of everything, of every single thing. Having your wings clipped makes you see the world differently, shows you the extraordinariness of normal lives.”
Because, I got it. I got what LJ was trying to show with her two main leads - how at first, one perspective came off as disturbing if not creepy - deceptively ambiguous and morally vague, especially when it's a matter of survival when you walk unknowingly into something you can't escape But then you hone in on the themes and see how the writing captures their catharsis. ✍🏻
The gradual dawning of how wrong they are in their perception of life that it is only by the tragedies and shock they witness do they realize what is true and right - don't chase after what you can't have. Their own path to healing and maybe forgiveness for the next chapters in their lives. It is painful to know that they both had to learn it the hard way, but I felt it.
Did I want a more conclusive explanation into why characters were the way they were? Maybe. But does evil need a reason to be evil? When one is so desensitized to right and wrong, what place does morality or sanity hold in their eyes, when they convince themselves to be correct in their actions and judgment? That sin exists in the darkest, quietest, corners, while acting as if nothing is amiss, simply to deny the truth. 😞
“But I didn't laugh. I felt shaken, unsure, and terribly sad.”
I could not have described my emotions better. At the end, I was not shattered, but depleted with a grave sense of loss and loneliness. LJ never fails to make me cry, make me pity one who may have had their claws, sorry flaws but still tried and failed and how she portrays it. You may not forgive them, you may still judge them. It is a subdued, heartbreaking ending. The first time I read it, I teared up... 😞
Because, ah, you've just read this horrifying ordeal of a turmoil and then just when you think the emotions have evened out, balanced in a field of dust settling down, her hard hitting words punch you right in the heart - and it's a deep hurt. The trauma, the grief, the horror. The sigh I let out - out of pity, relief, sadness, or just a sense of helplessness for the one who could not get away - that silence is a prison that does not come without a price. 💔💔
I read the epilogue again, and I still wanted to cry. 😔
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
“The secrets of that strange house have been thrown like pages of a book into the sun and fallen all around as dark ashes of human depravity.”
✧ Why it warrants a 3.5 ✧
A few too many characters starting with the letter J; I understand the reasoning, but one character's name is a mouthful, so it does get difficult.
Keep a notebook handy to keep track of the shifting POVs, and even create a timeline, much like Jane herself had to do to paint a clearer picture of the clues unfolding. 💫
The predictable if not formulaic themes explored that felt both familiar and generic to her previous works.
Certain events that offered nothing really meaningful to the plot, with allusions to relationships that did not seem entirely fruitful.
I thought I was safe from the meta dynamic, which was limited to texts only, but she couldn't help herself till the very end, for which, okay, fine, I'll cut her some slack.
Some editing errors towards the end; please forgive me, I know it's an ARC, but my mind can't turn it off! 😣
Janes pauses for a moment
This where it all started... Just there. A small white dog and then...
Yes, this was where it all started. Just there. A small white dog, and then... a chance meeting, a moment of fate...
There are no words to explain the can of worms that opened the unraveling of a memory twenty five years buried away like a fragment of a moment that maybe only existed in her subconscious, but inadvertently ties herself to the missing disappearance of said owner of this innocent lost dog. In retracing her steps, it all leads to Jane uncovering its buried truths, with that sinking dread of what horror that last house in the world holds with the bitter truth that It Could Have Been Her. 😢
✧ Why it earns a 3.75 ✧
I gobbled it in less than two hours.
Yes, the constant shift in perspectives of three various timelines feels disruptive, but --- to me, this was not a psychological thriller, but a suspenseful investigation, rather an unraveling - a deep dive into the tormented and tragic dark psyche of buried secrets and twisted truths of a dysfunctional family, built up by a slow pacing that allowed the suspense to settle in. 👍🏻 One where as the povs are shed light upon, the characters are introduced with their messy, ever-changing, often brutal love of an unease of something amiss which seeps into you and pushes you to continue.
“There has always been a strange pattern to things, invisible threads making invisible connections, leading her from one bizarre episode to the next.”
And fifty-five-year-old Jane, aspiring amateur sleuth with too much time on her hands, or simply bored, or simply this affinity to Vale of Heath, Thornwood, a foreboding reminder of a horrible night with a determined sense of something misaligned, something horribly, brutally broken that ties the events of the present to that horrible night of her past. The cover captures that ominous chill of what is behind that door. There is less of a tension or shock value, as I innately knew what was to come, but it is the anticipation of seeing how it comes together that kept the intrigue alive. 🥺
It feels so deeply human and the writing captures her growth of what she wants from life, and what she realizes in the end by acting as that a nosy old bag who barely worked a day in her life aided by her wingman, her stepson, Dexter, who brought a certain levity to the narrative, in a believable light. How she's stoutly convinced that by resolving the ghosts of her past, she can also let go of herself.
“If there's one thing my years in this tainted house has taught me, it's the beauty of everything, of every single thing. Having your wings clipped makes you see the world differently, shows you the extraordinariness of normal lives.”
Because, I got it. I got what LJ was trying to show with her two main leads - how at first, one perspective came off as disturbing if not creepy - deceptively ambiguous and morally vague, especially when it's a matter of survival when you walk unknowingly into something you can't escape But then you hone in on the themes and see how the writing captures their catharsis. ✍🏻
The gradual dawning of how wrong they are in their perception of life that it is only by the tragedies and shock they witness do they realize what is true and right - don't chase after what you can't have. Their own path to healing and maybe forgiveness for the next chapters in their lives. It is painful to know that they both had to learn it the hard way, but I felt it.
Did I want a more conclusive explanation into why characters were the way they were? Maybe. But does evil need a reason to be evil? When one is so desensitized to right and wrong, what place does morality or sanity hold in their eyes, when they convince themselves to be correct in their actions and judgment? That sin exists in the darkest, quietest, corners, while acting as if nothing is amiss, simply to deny the truth. 😞
“But I didn't laugh. I felt shaken, unsure, and terribly sad.”
I could not have described my emotions better. At the end, I was not shattered, but depleted with a grave sense of loss and loneliness. LJ never fails to make me cry, make me pity one who may have had their claws, sorry flaws but still tried and failed and how she portrays it. You may not forgive them, you may still judge them. It is a subdued, heartbreaking ending. The first time I read it, I teared up... 😞
Because, ah, you've just read this horrifying ordeal of a turmoil and then just when you think the emotions have evened out, balanced in a field of dust settling down, her hard hitting words punch you right in the heart - and it's a deep hurt. The trauma, the grief, the horror. The sigh I let out - out of pity, relief, sadness, or just a sense of helplessness for the one who could not get away - that silence is a prison that does not come without a price. 💔💔
I read the epilogue again, and I still wanted to cry. 😔
*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2026
Whoa, that was one hell of a ride. These characters are horrible, horrible people, and they deserve to rot in hell and suffer for all eternity.
One stray dog, one missing girl, and a dark secret looming in the last house on The Vale of Heath—something wrong and sinister that has spanned decades.
Lisa Jewell really managed to play with my head. The way all these characters are interconnected, the different timelines, and the one common denominator, the house in Thornwood—made for a gripping read. There are characters in this book that you will absolutely hate and loathe, a few that you will sympathize with, missing girls whose stories will make you seek justice, a man who could either be a coward or a savior, and a clown with a traumatizing past.
The premise was incredibly interesting: addiction, downward spirals, and the devastating consequences of abuse. No child in this book had a happy childhood, and that is probably the novel’s central theme—abuse, neglect, and self-destruction.
Overall, I enjoyed it, though not as much as I had hoped. Some parts felt unsatisfying, and the ending didn’t quite go the way I wanted it to. Still, Lisa Jewell is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
One stray dog, one missing girl, and a dark secret looming in the last house on The Vale of Heath—something wrong and sinister that has spanned decades.
Lisa Jewell really managed to play with my head. The way all these characters are interconnected, the different timelines, and the one common denominator, the house in Thornwood—made for a gripping read. There are characters in this book that you will absolutely hate and loathe, a few that you will sympathize with, missing girls whose stories will make you seek justice, a man who could either be a coward or a savior, and a clown with a traumatizing past.
The premise was incredibly interesting: addiction, downward spirals, and the devastating consequences of abuse. No child in this book had a happy childhood, and that is probably the novel’s central theme—abuse, neglect, and self-destruction.
Overall, I enjoyed it, though not as much as I had hoped. Some parts felt unsatisfying, and the ending didn’t quite go the way I wanted it to. Still, Lisa Jewell is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
June 29, 2026
Happy belated publication day! Pick this one up for a great summer read!
She’s backkkk!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'm so excited to write this review! Lisa Jewell is an auto read author for me and this book checked all the boxes. Funny that I said she's back and I meant Lisa but I also could have meant Jane Trevally who was a side character from Don't Let Him In (which sadly wasn't a hit for me) but wow was she a fun, enjoyable main character in this one. I could not put this one down! The marks of a 5 star for me are:
- do I miss the character when the book is done? (obviously.. I loved Jane)
- do I discuss the plot with multiple people who are not currently reading? (my family, work friends continually heard about plot points that grabbed me)
- do I look things up? (I was searching for pics and maps of the areas described, love that immersive feeling)
I enjoyed Jane and her step son so much that I realized that previously, The Family Upstairs series wasn't as much a fit for me because I like to read about the bad behaviour of others while also getting multiple chapters featuring a main that I can connect with. And a word of warning, this book features very, very bad behaviour, as well as a clown.
Suffice to say, Jane finds a dog, determines a young teenaged girl is missing, and is led then to a house that she realizes on sight she has had a bad experience at previously when she was young and that's all you need to know. What spools out next is more than unsettling as Jane works, sometimes teetering on serious danger, to find the missing girl. Chapters providing multiple POV really give this tale so much perspective while at the same time feeling like looking at a box of puzzle pieces dumped on a table with only a blurry picture for reference.
Someone should pick this up as a series, I would watch this! But in the meantime, reading this will absolutely show you that It Could Have Been Her! 😦🔪
Yay Lisa Jewell! Loved it! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada - Atria Books for the Advanced Reader Copy, I so enjoyed it! Look for this one to publish on June 23rd 2026!
She’s backkkk!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'm so excited to write this review! Lisa Jewell is an auto read author for me and this book checked all the boxes. Funny that I said she's back and I meant Lisa but I also could have meant Jane Trevally who was a side character from Don't Let Him In (which sadly wasn't a hit for me) but wow was she a fun, enjoyable main character in this one. I could not put this one down! The marks of a 5 star for me are:
- do I miss the character when the book is done? (obviously.. I loved Jane)
- do I discuss the plot with multiple people who are not currently reading? (my family, work friends continually heard about plot points that grabbed me)
- do I look things up? (I was searching for pics and maps of the areas described, love that immersive feeling)
I enjoyed Jane and her step son so much that I realized that previously, The Family Upstairs series wasn't as much a fit for me because I like to read about the bad behaviour of others while also getting multiple chapters featuring a main that I can connect with. And a word of warning, this book features very, very bad behaviour, as well as a clown.
Suffice to say, Jane finds a dog, determines a young teenaged girl is missing, and is led then to a house that she realizes on sight she has had a bad experience at previously when she was young and that's all you need to know. What spools out next is more than unsettling as Jane works, sometimes teetering on serious danger, to find the missing girl. Chapters providing multiple POV really give this tale so much perspective while at the same time feeling like looking at a box of puzzle pieces dumped on a table with only a blurry picture for reference.
Someone should pick this up as a series, I would watch this! But in the meantime, reading this will absolutely show you that It Could Have Been Her! 😦🔪
Yay Lisa Jewell! Loved it! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada - Atria Books for the Advanced Reader Copy, I so enjoyed it! Look for this one to publish on June 23rd 2026!
March 11, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
so this book was absolutely wild and i flew through it in less than 24 hours.
this was a fast paced domestic thriller about a (very) dysfunctional family and their dark lives. lisa jewell has honestly perfected the art of that exact subgenre of books, and this is no exception.
i honestly felt sick and icky reading a good chunk of this but i could not put it down. this book is very dark and twisted, and all of the characters have experienced immense trauma. you, as the reader, experience that same horrible sense of dread and hopelessness that the characters feel as the story progresses. also side note there’s a bit of a side plot that involves clowns and i truly hate clowns so that was extra creepy to me.
i really loved the main character, jane, and i was glad we got to follow along with her as she tries to solve this mystery that she stumbles upon.
i did predict about 98% of the twists in this one pretty early on. that being said, i tend to predict mystery/thriller books almost every single time so i’m honestly not too upset about that!
it’s important to note trigger warnings for abuse (physical and emotional) and sexual assault.
so this book was absolutely wild and i flew through it in less than 24 hours.
this was a fast paced domestic thriller about a (very) dysfunctional family and their dark lives. lisa jewell has honestly perfected the art of that exact subgenre of books, and this is no exception.
i honestly felt sick and icky reading a good chunk of this but i could not put it down. this book is very dark and twisted, and all of the characters have experienced immense trauma. you, as the reader, experience that same horrible sense of dread and hopelessness that the characters feel as the story progresses. also side note there’s a bit of a side plot that involves clowns and i truly hate clowns so that was extra creepy to me.
i really loved the main character, jane, and i was glad we got to follow along with her as she tries to solve this mystery that she stumbles upon.
i did predict about 98% of the twists in this one pretty early on. that being said, i tend to predict mystery/thriller books almost every single time so i’m honestly not too upset about that!
it’s important to note trigger warnings for abuse (physical and emotional) and sexual assault.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It Could Have Been Her is a complex expertly crafted story. Lisa Jewell is back at the top of her game. This story was thoroughly captivating, albeit very disturbing as well as emotional.
I loved how it all came together, layer by layer, with multiple timelines and perspectives. Great characters, so well devoloped. There are many of them and it did take me a bit to get grounded on who's who.
I loved how it all came together, layer by layer, with multiple timelines and perspectives. Great characters, so well devoloped. There are many of them and it did take me a bit to get grounded on who's who.
Want to Read
December 13, 2025Will be patiently waiting on the audio to become available. Although now that I read the blurb I'm a little worried about the lost dog...please tell me the the dog is safe.
June 15, 2026
Another banger Lisa Jewell!!! This book has a million characters so I’m happy I didn’t listen on audio because it may be hard to keep track of everyone, but I absolutely ate up every page of this book it was so good and twisty!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A woman on a walk in a small town - goes missing when her dog is found roaming and her cabin full of her things but no her. Where did she go?
I was so excited to start this one because I was excited for the repeat character. Jane from Don't Let Him In is our main character. Don't worry, you don't have to have read the other one to read this one (but it was SO GOOD! You should!) She really liked helping with the search and is curious if she'd make a good PI. So when this mystery happens right in her little town - she's all in!
And what a great mystery this was. It kept me guessing as we got the POV of Stuart to give us the inside knowledge of the other side of the story. It kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat. I started to put things together but it took me the whole book to fully realize what all was going on. Another fun read from Lisa Jewell! She never disappoints! I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I was so excited to start this one because I was excited for the repeat character. Jane from Don't Let Him In is our main character. Don't worry, you don't have to have read the other one to read this one (but it was SO GOOD! You should!) She really liked helping with the search and is curious if she'd make a good PI. So when this mystery happens right in her little town - she's all in!
And what a great mystery this was. It kept me guessing as we got the POV of Stuart to give us the inside knowledge of the other side of the story. It kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat. I started to put things together but it took me the whole book to fully realize what all was going on. Another fun read from Lisa Jewell! She never disappoints! I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
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