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It Could Have Been Her
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Expected 2 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 17:25:35
100 copies available
U.S. only
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 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 it's the new Lisa Jewell thriller.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 23, 2026
92 people are currently reading
33594 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jewell
48 books88.9k 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 173 reviews
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.
Currently reading
January 1, 2026౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 29 december , 2025
Got the ARC of my most anticipated read for 2026, ahhh I’m so excited 🤭🤌🏻
⤿ started - 29 december , 2025
Got the ARC of my most anticipated read for 2026, ahhh I’m so excited 🤭🤌🏻
Want to read
October 29, 2025*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 want it and i want to read it NEOWWW!
🤍💚🤍💚🤍
My Thriller Queen is gracing us with a new book
I don't even need to read the blurb
I just know i want it and i want to read it NEOWWW!
🤍💚🤍💚🤍
Currently reading
December 22, 2025Missing child, lost dog, a house with buried secrets and a woman set out to find the answers.
Her recent novel “Don’t Let Him In” was a big hit for me this year and I’ve previously read “Then She Was Gone” which I liked. Hoping this one will deliver the same suspense.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Lisa Jewell for sending me this eARC!!
Publication date: June 23, 2026
Her recent novel “Don’t Let Him In” was a big hit for me this year and I’ve previously read “Then She Was Gone” which I liked. Hoping this one will deliver the same suspense.
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
✰ 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.
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.
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.
Want to read
December 11, 2025** UPDATE - We have a cover and synopsis!! So excited!
Anything by Lisa Jewell - and I Am IN!
A story in 2026 - can't wait!
Anything by Lisa Jewell - and I Am IN!
A story in 2026 - can't wait!
Want to read
December 10, 2025kisses to atria for approving my netgalley request 💋
December 14, 2025
another big banger from lisa!!! RTC
December 30, 2025
So so happy I managed to snag an early copy of this, I knew this would be a HIT from just the first few lines.
It’s DARK for Lisa Jewell and honestly quite disturbing at times but man was I hooked. The first 20% is quite confusing and I definitely advise readers to make a few notes on characters names (specifically the family) just to refer back to in the beginning as this made the storylines so much easier to follow. At the 40% mark I found myself flying through the pages desperate for answers and you can literally FEEL the timelines coming together slowly.
The only accurate word I can use to describe how this book made me feel is: PARANOID. I don’t know why it left me feeling so unsettled and anxious! There’s really no BIG twists in this one but the clever little reveals are so worth it and combined, they make up a phenomenal story. It’s probably one of my favourite books of hers and I can definitely see it adapted as a TV series one day.
There are however, a few things that seemed random and I did have to suspend my disbelief at times through implausible moments. Fans that read Then She Was Gone all those years ago will absolutely appreciate this… think of this being that novel’s mature and more intense older sister. It took me less than a day to read and I LOVED it. I can’t rate it anything less than 5 stars because it totally consumed my day and didn’t leave my mind once the entire time. Add it to your 2026 lists NOW!
It’s DARK for Lisa Jewell and honestly quite disturbing at times but man was I hooked. The first 20% is quite confusing and I definitely advise readers to make a few notes on characters names (specifically the family) just to refer back to in the beginning as this made the storylines so much easier to follow. At the 40% mark I found myself flying through the pages desperate for answers and you can literally FEEL the timelines coming together slowly.
The only accurate word I can use to describe how this book made me feel is: PARANOID. I don’t know why it left me feeling so unsettled and anxious! There’s really no BIG twists in this one but the clever little reveals are so worth it and combined, they make up a phenomenal story. It’s probably one of my favourite books of hers and I can definitely see it adapted as a TV series one day.
There are however, a few things that seemed random and I did have to suspend my disbelief at times through implausible moments. Fans that read Then She Was Gone all those years ago will absolutely appreciate this… think of this being that novel’s mature and more intense older sister. It took me less than a day to read and I LOVED it. I can’t rate it anything less than 5 stars because it totally consumed my day and didn’t leave my mind once the entire time. Add it to your 2026 lists NOW!
December 12, 2025
Wow! I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan who’s read 350 books this year and this just made it to my top 10. This book is very true to Lisa Jewell’s style. We have some dark deeply dysfunctional individuals here. Such a traumatic story told in 3 timelines of a family who live in a house of horrors.
I’ve read 14 of her books now and you will
find elements of her other stories in this one. Dysfunctional families, abduction, abuse, addiction- these characters on the fringe of society that you can’t even imagine.
The storytelling in this book was phenomenal how she weaved 3 timelines together for a truly explosive ending! I think I need therapy now!
I’ve read 14 of her books now and you will
find elements of her other stories in this one. Dysfunctional families, abduction, abuse, addiction- these characters on the fringe of society that you can’t even imagine.
The storytelling in this book was phenomenal how she weaved 3 timelines together for a truly explosive ending! I think I need therapy now!
Want to read
October 29, 2025Another Book, I just got an E-Mail for about Lisa Jewell’s latest book. I love her Books. It Releases: June 2026. Fortunately, it has not been listed on NetGalley yet. I Must Finish 5 Books, before taking anymore.
Often, notice Lisa Jewell’s Books will go on Read Now for a Short Time or Limit to First 1,000. If this happens, will Post on Read Now, so everyone else can get, too.
Seems like a Spooky Book 😈😱😳
Often, notice Lisa Jewell’s Books will go on Read Now for a Short Time or Limit to First 1,000. If this happens, will Post on Read Now, so everyone else can get, too.
Seems like a Spooky Book 😈😱😳
December 21, 2025
Lisa Jewell does it again!!! I went into this expecting a good thriller…and what I got was dark, sinister, and completely unputdownable.
The story centers on Jane, who stumbles back into a past she thought she’d escaped after something as simple as returning a lost dog. From there, everything spirals. A missing girl. A strange, secretive family. A house that feels off. The deeper Jane digs, the more disturbing the truth becomes
This is a true page turner!! An addictive thriller that proves once again why Lisa Jewell is an auto read for me.
The story centers on Jane, who stumbles back into a past she thought she’d escaped after something as simple as returning a lost dog. From there, everything spirals. A missing girl. A strange, secretive family. A house that feels off. The deeper Jane digs, the more disturbing the truth becomes
This is a true page turner!! An addictive thriller that proves once again why Lisa Jewell is an auto read for me.
Read
December 23, 2025Pub date: 23 June 2026
Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Another strong entry from Lisa Jewell. I’ll say this upfront: although it’s classified as a mystery/thriller, I think, like several of Jewell’s recent novels, it’s more accurately described as a dark drama. There isn’t much of a mystery (and what there is feels fairly obvious), nor are there many traditional “thrills.” Instead, the novel leans into bleak subject matter, messy family dynamics, and murder. That said, this shift in genre expectations doesn’t make it a weaker book.
The characters are compelling, the use of multiple points of view works well, and the pacing is excellent, helped along by short, tightly structured chapters.
The novel follows a character introduced in Jewell’s previous book, but you absolutely don’t need to have read that one to enjoy this story. I usually dislike revisiting characters across novels, but Jane is an exception. I found her engaging here and wouldn’t mind seeing her again in another book.
One final note, because it matters to me and might matter to you too: the dog is okay.
Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Another strong entry from Lisa Jewell. I’ll say this upfront: although it’s classified as a mystery/thriller, I think, like several of Jewell’s recent novels, it’s more accurately described as a dark drama. There isn’t much of a mystery (and what there is feels fairly obvious), nor are there many traditional “thrills.” Instead, the novel leans into bleak subject matter, messy family dynamics, and murder. That said, this shift in genre expectations doesn’t make it a weaker book.
The characters are compelling, the use of multiple points of view works well, and the pacing is excellent, helped along by short, tightly structured chapters.
The novel follows a character introduced in Jewell’s previous book, but you absolutely don’t need to have read that one to enjoy this story. I usually dislike revisiting characters across novels, but Jane is an exception. I found her engaging here and wouldn’t mind seeing her again in another book.
One final note, because it matters to me and might matter to you too: the dog is okay.
December 28, 2025
3 stars
Overall, this book was just okay. The constant narrator switches sometimes made it hard to keep track of the characters. It was very slow-paced and lacked tension, and it ultimately felt like a reworked version of Then She Was Gone by the same author. It picks up a bit at the 50% mark, but a lot could have been cut for this to be shorter. Thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy!
Overall, this book was just okay. The constant narrator switches sometimes made it hard to keep track of the characters. It was very slow-paced and lacked tension, and it ultimately felt like a reworked version of Then She Was Gone by the same author. It picks up a bit at the 50% mark, but a lot could have been cut for this to be shorter. Thank you to the publisher for my advanced copy!
December 22, 2025
Jane Trevally, a side character from Don't Let Him In, returns as a main character in this dark and twisty thriller. This may be Lisa Jewell's darkest work yet and I loved it! I was completely hooked from the very first chapter. True to the author's signature style, the plot is carefully crafted and pieces together the narrative as it unfolds between multiple POVs and timelines. This is an absolute must for thriller lovers, especially those who have enjoyed other works by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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… 😬🤡😬🤡😬
December 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lisa Jewell, and Atria Books for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.
As a longtime fan of Lisa Jewell, I went into this novel with high expectations. While the writing was solid, I ultimately found the story to be slower paced than anticipated. The plot felt drawn out at times and was occasionally confusing, which made it difficult to fully engage with the suspense.
Unfortunately, the novel did not deliver the level of tension or thrills I was hoping for, and the pacing remained slow throughout. I also struggled to connect with the characters, who felt largely unlikeable and, at times, unrealistic. Overall, this was a disappointing read compared to the author’s previous works.
Publishes June 2026
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a longtime fan of Lisa Jewell, I went into this novel with high expectations. While the writing was solid, I ultimately found the story to be slower paced than anticipated. The plot felt drawn out at times and was occasionally confusing, which made it difficult to fully engage with the suspense.
Unfortunately, the novel did not deliver the level of tension or thrills I was hoping for, and the pacing remained slow throughout. I also struggled to connect with the characters, who felt largely unlikeable and, at times, unrealistic. Overall, this was a disappointing read compared to the author’s previous works.
Publishes June 2026
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 18, 2025
If there’s one thing you can expect from a Lisa Jewell book, it is that it’s going to be dark and dark is my favorite shade 😉 - even my phone is on dark mode!
It Could Have Been Her is Lisa Jewell’s upcoming novel and I was so excited to have received an advanced copy. I wasted no time and read it immediately! From the first page to the last, I was hooked! The book is slow-paced but you know what they say; slow and steady win the race, and Lisa won with this novel! Lisa’s storytelling skills are chef’s kiss perfection and I always find myself saying “how does she come up with this stuff!?” when I’m reading her books.
Without saying too much and spoiling it, themes you can find in ‘It Could Have Been Her’ include dysfunctional family (we love those!), trauma, abuse, addiction and kidnapping. Oh, and some clown stuff 🤷🏻♀️
Seriously, add this to your Goodreads shelf, pre-order it, set a reminder in your calendar - June 23rd, 2026.
It Could Have Been Her is Lisa Jewell’s upcoming novel and I was so excited to have received an advanced copy. I wasted no time and read it immediately! From the first page to the last, I was hooked! The book is slow-paced but you know what they say; slow and steady win the race, and Lisa won with this novel! Lisa’s storytelling skills are chef’s kiss perfection and I always find myself saying “how does she come up with this stuff!?” when I’m reading her books.
Without saying too much and spoiling it, themes you can find in ‘It Could Have Been Her’ include dysfunctional family (we love those!), trauma, abuse, addiction and kidnapping. Oh, and some clown stuff 🤷🏻♀️
Seriously, add this to your Goodreads shelf, pre-order it, set a reminder in your calendar - June 23rd, 2026.
December 15, 2025
Such a dark and delicious mystery! This is probably the 8th Lisa Jewell I have read and for sure my favorite. She has written many genres but in this mystery she excelled. Jane, the FMC, is 55 years old and playing at being a private investigator, trying to uncover the truth about the happenings surrounding an ominous and creepy house from a chance event.
I don't want to spoil anything, but if there is any chance this could become a series with Jane ( my new bff) and Dexter, I would be in for sure.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher the opportunity to read and review this novel.
I don't want to spoil anything, but if there is any chance this could become a series with Jane ( my new bff) and Dexter, I would be in for sure.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher the opportunity to read and review this novel.
December 24, 2025
Jane Trevally finds a missing dog outside her English countryside home and is able to reunite him with his owners via his microchip. His owners live in an upscale London neighborhood and Jane wonders how the dog made it hours away to her countryside property. When Jane arrives at the London home to return the dog, she realizes it is the same home Jane was brought to more than 20 years ago after meeting a charming man in a pub. Jane’s intuition at the time told her something was off about the house and she was able to leave the home relatively without incidence, although she was always very shaken by the experience.
Jane takes it upon herself to become an amateur sleuth and discovers that the dog was staying with a young woman at an Air B&B near Jane’s home and the woman has seemingly disappeared without a trace. Jane begins to investigate if the missing woman was living in the same London home as the dog and begins to discover that the home and its occupants are more mysterious than Jane could have imagined.
This story is told via multi-POVs over multiple different timelines and the mystery is slowly pieced together by Jane.
There were some obvious reveals along the way but still some surprises as well. I found the story of a man being in an abusive relationship he is unable to leave rather interesting as most of these situations are reversed wherein the woman is the victim unable to escape the relationship.
I found this overall decently interesting but it was not my favorite Jewell novel to date.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Jane takes it upon herself to become an amateur sleuth and discovers that the dog was staying with a young woman at an Air B&B near Jane’s home and the woman has seemingly disappeared without a trace. Jane begins to investigate if the missing woman was living in the same London home as the dog and begins to discover that the home and its occupants are more mysterious than Jane could have imagined.
This story is told via multi-POVs over multiple different timelines and the mystery is slowly pieced together by Jane.
There were some obvious reveals along the way but still some surprises as well. I found the story of a man being in an abusive relationship he is unable to leave rather interesting as most of these situations are reversed wherein the woman is the victim unable to escape the relationship.
I found this overall decently interesting but it was not my favorite Jewell novel to date.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 29, 2025
It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell. Thanks to @atriabooks for the gifted Arc
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Jane finds and returns a lost dog she stumbles onto a mysterious house and a missing girl. She feels compelled to look further into the mystery, especially since she had her own traumatic history in the same house.
This is quite the twisted tale. In true Lisa
Jewell fashion, the story is told in pieces that all end up coming together, but it takes time. You don’t appreciate how truly dark the story is until you have the full picture. Lisa Jewell is really a literary genius and one of my favorite thriller authors. Every book she releases is better and better.
“This is it, this is the one life, the beautiful gift, this is everything, I’m here, I’m in it; that moment has gone bad. Really bad.”
Read this if you like:
-Suspenseful reads
-Dark family secrets
-Amateur investigators
-Generational trauma stories
It Could Have Been Her comes out 6/23.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Jane finds and returns a lost dog she stumbles onto a mysterious house and a missing girl. She feels compelled to look further into the mystery, especially since she had her own traumatic history in the same house.
This is quite the twisted tale. In true Lisa
Jewell fashion, the story is told in pieces that all end up coming together, but it takes time. You don’t appreciate how truly dark the story is until you have the full picture. Lisa Jewell is really a literary genius and one of my favorite thriller authors. Every book she releases is better and better.
“This is it, this is the one life, the beautiful gift, this is everything, I’m here, I’m in it; that moment has gone bad. Really bad.”
Read this if you like:
-Suspenseful reads
-Dark family secrets
-Amateur investigators
-Generational trauma stories
It Could Have Been Her comes out 6/23.
December 20, 2025
I devoured this addictive page turner! This was a highly suspenseful book, with multiple POV that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I absolutely love dark topics in my thrillers and this is by far Jewell’s darkest thriller ever and I am here for it! As always, there were so many plot twists that lead you astray until the final reveal slaps you in the face.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS this amazing thriller of 2026! It Could Have Been Her is a must on every thriller lovers TBR.
***Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for my early ebook copy! All opinions are honestly and my own.
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS this amazing thriller of 2026! It Could Have Been Her is a must on every thriller lovers TBR.
***Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for my early ebook copy! All opinions are honestly and my own.
January 1, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published June 23, 2026.
This is the 8th book I’ve read by this very popular author and sadly it was my least favorite. I have found her books to be inconsistent, rating them anywhere from this 1 star review up to 4 stars.
I found this particular book to be confusing and boring. Lots of characters. Past and present. Creepy “au pairs” hired as sex workers. Patch the Clown. The only plot line I enjoyed was Jane and her stepson Dexter investigating the owner of the lost dog.
This is the 8th book I’ve read by this very popular author and sadly it was my least favorite. I have found her books to be inconsistent, rating them anywhere from this 1 star review up to 4 stars.
I found this particular book to be confusing and boring. Lots of characters. Past and present. Creepy “au pairs” hired as sex workers. Patch the Clown. The only plot line I enjoyed was Jane and her stepson Dexter investigating the owner of the lost dog.
December 26, 2025
I’ve been deep in a 2026 ARC mood lately, and this is another absolute banger from Lisa Jewell that we will be blessed with in the new year. This may be her darkest and most disturbing story yet, and that’s saying something. The way she constructs such a layered, intricate plot and then slowly peels back each twist is masterful. Every reveal feels deliberate, unsettling, and perfectly timed. I don’t want to say much because this is truly one of those books that’s best experienced blind, allowing the tension and shock to creep in little by little. My jaw dropped more than once, and there was a constant, gnawing sense of dread as I finished each chapter. The last several chapters were the most shocking. It’s a slow burn that shocks at the end. If you love domestic suspense centered on deeply dysfunctional families, this takes that to a whole new, chilling level.
December 29, 2025
This one completely drew me in right from the start and had me hooked until the very last page. There was so much going on, but it was woven together seamlessly and all came together in the best way. There was a missing girl, a strange house, family secrets, twists and turns… it was perfect.
Read this if you like:
→ Mysterious House
→ Family Secrets
→ Multiple POV
→ Dysfunctional Family
→ Short Chapters
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
Read this if you like:
→ Mysterious House
→ Family Secrets
→ Multiple POV
→ Dysfunctional Family
→ Short Chapters
Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an ARC
3.75 ⭐️
I would really like to read more from this budding duo. I think this is a really good first case, getting to know Jane's background, friends, and family. The mystery of it all kept my interest even when silently cursing the characters.
3.75 ⭐️
I would really like to read more from this budding duo. I think this is a really good first case, getting to know Jane's background, friends, and family. The mystery of it all kept my interest even when silently cursing the characters.
December 16, 2025
4.5 stars. - I received an early review copy of Lisa Jewell’s newest thriller, It Could Have Been Her, in exchange for my honest review. This book gripped me from the start, with many potential threads to follow and complex family secrets to unravel. Jewell does an amazing job of creating character-driven thrillers, and this book meets that mark. It also has subtle themes of echoes of the past and patterns of events over time. I could not put this down until the last page (and am still left with questions)!
December 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Five Brilliant Stars!**
*It Could Have Been Me* by Lisa Jewell is an absolutely addictive, edge-of-your-seat thriller that I could not put down. From the very first chapter, the story pulls you in and refuses to let go. Lisa Jewell masterfully builds tension, layering secrets, shifting perspectives, and unsettling clues until you’re completely immersed.
The twists are *phenomenal*—the kind that make your jaw drop and force you to rethink everything you thought you knew. Just when you feel confident about where the story is heading, Jewell expertly flips the narrative, making this a true binge-read. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter,” only to realize hours had passed.
The character development is equally impressive. Everyone feels complex, real, and suspicious in the best way, which only adds to the growing sense of unease. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is tense, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the suspense steadily climbing until the final pages.
This is a standout thriller—smart, gripping, and impossible to put down. Lisa Jewell proves once again why she’s a must-read author in the genre.
Thank you to **NetGalley**, **Simon & Schuster eGalley**, and **Atria Books** for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**Five Brilliant Stars!**
*It Could Have Been Me* by Lisa Jewell is an absolutely addictive, edge-of-your-seat thriller that I could not put down. From the very first chapter, the story pulls you in and refuses to let go. Lisa Jewell masterfully builds tension, layering secrets, shifting perspectives, and unsettling clues until you’re completely immersed.
The twists are *phenomenal*—the kind that make your jaw drop and force you to rethink everything you thought you knew. Just when you feel confident about where the story is heading, Jewell expertly flips the narrative, making this a true binge-read. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter,” only to realize hours had passed.
The character development is equally impressive. Everyone feels complex, real, and suspicious in the best way, which only adds to the growing sense of unease. The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is tense, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the suspense steadily climbing until the final pages.
This is a standout thriller—smart, gripping, and impossible to put down. Lisa Jewell proves once again why she’s a must-read author in the genre.
Thank you to **NetGalley**, **Simon & Schuster eGalley**, and **Atria Books** for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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