Lisa Jewell is well known for her ability to create page-turning thrillers that immerse you into complicated plots. Her latest novel is no different, None of This Is True. The psychological thriller may not be out of place in a cinema and is one of the darkest, most labyrinthine, and unsettling insights into identity, obsession, and what is often loosely referred to as the line between fact and fabrication.
Jewell, whose 2019 novel ”Then She Was Gone” was an Agatha nominee, writes a mystery that keeps an eyebrow lifted, challenging the reader to examine the way narratives are built and reframed.
In this review, we will explore the book, from its characters, to the plot, themes and writing style, discussing why it is a must-read and ultimately a thought-provoking experience.
Plot Overview
It all starts innocently enough when two women serendipitously meet at a restaurant. Alix Summers is a podcaster who just turned 45 when she runs into Josie Fair, a slightly dull woman also turning 45 on the same day.
Josie comes off as very POLE when there is just something about her that seems off. Throughout the narrative, Josie’s fascination with Alix and her history of podcasting grows, and she ultimately proposes Alix develop a podcast about Josie’s life. Although the premise is compelling, what unfolds is a chilling treatise on manipulation, duplicity, and psychological terrorism.
Josie describes her life story as tragic and marvelous — stories she reveals in snippets to Alix. But when Alix delves into Josie´s history, she starts to find some unsettling discrepancies, and even more unsettling revelations.
The appealing facade of Josie gives way to a more chilling personality, and her interactions with Alix take on a more sinister tone. This novel’s plot is intricately woven paced with twists and unexpected revelations keeping the reader in the dark till the final moments.
The rest of the novel unspools the details of Josies life—a cycle of abuse, neglect, and a yearning for reinvention. However, the fact that Josie from the very beginning is weaving a story filled with half truths and lies in order to manipulate not only Alix but everyone listening to her podcast — that’s what makes the story so chilling.
The more Josie insinuates herself into Alix’s life, the more everything Alix cares about starts to fall apart in a house of cards with which Josie plays, like a game that cannot be won. They come to the inevitable conclusion of their relationship in a shocking and ambiguous way that makes the readers question everything they have just read.
Character Analysis
Josie Fair
At the heart of the novel is the intriguing Josie. At first she comes off as a rather common and lonely lady who was just eager to tell her tale. But as her story unfolds, so does the realization that Josie is no mere mortal.
Jewell has written Josie as a richly complicated character — one that is sad and scary. Chilling is the most appropriate word for her characterizations, along with her intentions being unclear for a lot of the story.
Questionable Narration Josie’s character brings into question the personal narratives and the extent to which people are willing to go to change who they are.
Josie is presented with layers of nuance. While she seems mild and inconspicuous on the surface, her simmering darker qualities become more revealed over the course of the narrative. She becomes obsessed with Alix, driven by the need for a sense of validation — something true to her small existence.
Josie is shown to be manipulative towards her family members. Her husband and daughters caught in the spell, living in the wake, of her tempestuous logic. These small glimpses into Josie’s personal life gives depth to her character; she is both a victim of her circumstances and a harm dealer.
Alix Summers
Alix is the touchstone for the reader in the story. Her intelligence, drive, and apparent down-to-earth qualities are proven misguided through her engagement with Josie. While Alix has plenty of curiosity and a career ambition of her own, she ends up vulnerable to Josie, and her slow disintegration is fascinating but sad. With Alix, Jewell delves into not only the themes of trust, exploitation, and the unintended consequences of giving someone a platform to tell their story.
As we continue with Alix, the dread and uncertainty only expand. But as she gets ever more ensnared in Josie’s life, her own begins to fall apart.
Her marriage suffers, her children are caught up in the chaos, and her reputation at work is compromised. Alix is one of Jewell’s most nuanced characters, and her development throughout the story is a testament to Jewell’s talent for creating three-dimensional protagonists.
Even as Alix makes shakier decisions that lead her to her downfalls, readers can’t help but feel sorry for her.
Supporting Characters
The supporting characters consist of Alix’s spouse, their offspring, as well as Josie’s relatives, each of whom is an integral part of the storyline.
Completing this trio of characters is Alix and Kade; retrace the tales, I’d say, fortifying additional insight into Josie and Alix’s connection. Scarily, Josie’s husband and daughters set a chilling scene of how one might live with a creature like Josie — manipulative, crazy — and try to avoid a real confrontation that if it happened, you would never come out of it the same.
Certainly, if we look at the story, Josie’s daughters in particular are tragic. And that her troubled relationship with her mother speaks to the cycle effect of a toxic environment.
Or, Alix’s husband who is the voice of reason, trying to shield the family from increased menace of Josie. Such ancillary characters deepen the narrative, adding the story an element of realism.
Themes and Motifs
The Nature of Truth
A major theme of the novel is how truth is subjective. Josie’s tale drips with half-truths and convenient omissions, and each turn raises questions for Alix — and the reader — about what really happened.
Jewell skillfully crosses the line from truth to fiction with a lingering sense of dread that checks after the last page.
This is perfectly encapsulated within the title of the novel itself, None of This Is True. It reminds us that truth is a tricky thing to find and that stories can easily be weaponized.
In this day and age of minds dissolving into the media and the internet of things, this theme rings especially true.
Obsession and Manipulation
Much of the intrigue revolves around Josie’s fixation on Alix and her life as a podcaster. Her infatuation leads her to a more invasive and manipulative behavior, demonstrating the lengths that individuals will take in the name of unregulated ambition and the dark side of human relationships.
Likewise Alix herself becomes fixated but in a different manner, needing to discover truths about Josie.
It examines that theme in the relationship between the two women, which evolves from curiosity to friction to open animosity. Seeing how Josie plays Alix is as captivating as it is frightful, driving home the mind-fuckery of these relationships.
It explores the extreme power dynamics involved in one trusting another person and how easily that trust can be manipulated.
The Power of Storytelling
Similarly, the themes of telling stories and changing perception are present throughout the novel. By sharing Josie’s life story with Alix, the story becomes a kind of weapon — it manipulates Alix, but it also manipulates the audience of the podcast.
In a time where such personal stories are often packaged up and sold to the paying public, this theme strikes a deep chord.
On Jewell, she considers what it means to tell your own story—in the wake of Alix’s podcast. Alix gains some fame there, but they gain attention – both good and bad from the podcast – which returns to haunt Josie as karma can be a bitch in this case as it is a double edged sword.
The meta investigation of storytelling invites the audience to reflect on their own process of consumption of narratives.
Writing Style and Structure
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (, August 8th) — Lisa Jewell is nothing if not consistently good, and I can always depend on her writing not only for an engaging story but for her sharp writing too. Her prose — concise and evocative — invites readers into the heads of her characters.
The novels structure- back and forth between Alix and her perspective in the present day, juxtaposed with podcast transcripts, and in third person as well- builds the story, creating a multi layered narrative that serves the reader too.
In many ways, Jewell is a master at foreshadowing. The text includes subtle hints and clues that build toward an ominous conclusion. The pacing is brilliant, the tension increases slowly and steadily as things unfold.
One of the most impressive aspects of the book are the podcast transcripts. They shed light on how the world is hearing about Josie, in stark contrast to the experience Alix and others are living. This uniquely-used narrative technique adds complexity and believability to the story, rendering it intimate and urgent.
Strengths
Complex Characters : Josie and Alix are rich, three-dimensional characters, believably flawed, making decisions we might agree or disagree with.
Unpredictable Plot : The unpredictable nature of the story will keep the reader wondering, making it hard to set the book down.
Themes with Depth : Jewell’s exploration of themes of truth, obsession and the nature of storytelling gives the novel more depth than a typical thriller.
Atmospheric Writing : The grease and unsettling tone of the book contributes to its social and mental effect on readers.
Engaging Structure : The story told jumps to different perspectives and also takes different forms, making it engaging to read.
Weaknesses
None of This Is True is an impressive piece of thrilling prose, but it’s not without its missteps. The ending could be perceived as ambiguous or unresolved for some readers, as not all questions are answered definitively. In addition, the dark and disturbing themes of the novel may prove to be heavy for some audiences.
Now while I think the pacing is well done overall, the beginning could feel slow at times. The central conflict itself is a long time coming, which could turn off readers craving some instant action.
Yet, this slower approach proves to be worthwhile, as it permits greater character exploration and a more effective climax.
Comparisons to Other Works
Lisa Jewell’s books are always mentioned in the same breath as Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins, and None of This Is True has elements reminiscent of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Like these books, Jewell’s novel has unreliable narrators, flawed-yet-profile-female protagonist, and a twisty plot.
None of This Is True has drunk-a-lot-of-wine-girl vibes — sure — but Jewell’s emphasis on the psychological interplay between her characters is what makes it sing, setting her apart from many traditional suspense authors.
It also has the same quality as books such as Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, exploring female relationships and the secrets they keep.
All Jewell’s thrillers to a certain extent balance entertainment and suspense but also a little bit of emotional depth, making her a unique voice in the thriller space.
Personal Reflections
None of This Is True was an incredible read for me as a reader. The way the novel discusses truth vs fabrication really struck a chord, making you consider how easy it is to spin stories and compare them to one another.
In particular, Josie is haunting, a living embodiment of some of the darker aspects of humanity; December 29, 2023 by christine, Jewel Jewell manages to make such an engaging and disturbing tale and really writes well.
one’s responsibility to not only divulge, but consume stories — and both maker- and consumer-ethical necessities when it comes to sharing stories nội dung personal narratives.
Alix’s tale is a parable; it became celebrities when making room for uncredible stories that tradition-examined people can hurt. The social commentary adds another layer to why this novel is so effective.
Conclusion
Lisa Jewell has nailed psychological suspense with None of This Is True. The novel is a true joyride for anyone who enjoys a well-deserved tale filled with intricate characters, unpredictable plot-lines, challenging themes and lessons.
Taut and thought-provoking, Jewell’s exploration of the nature and impact of truth, obsession and storytelling seems both timely and timeless, and the resulting book is worthy of her best writing.
None of This Is True is not a light-hearted romcom but if you like a dark thriller that will keep you well and truly on edge, this is a fantastic read.
