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A review by tessa_talks_books
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow! What did I just read?
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell takes the psychological thriller sub-genre to a whole new level, putting this novel on my top 5 for 2023 and possibly even #1. The title says it all, so you can imagine the crazy, jaw-dropping journey the story takes you on - one where you primarily hear Josie’s truth but then find out other people’s truth until you’re not sure which way is up anymore.
I did a read/listen, and I’m going to say something I never imagined myself saying - and those of you who have followed my reviews for years will know what a monumental statement what I’m about to say is. You MUST listen to the audiobook version - even if you do a read/listen like I did. It just adds so much more to the novel, especially with the podcast and Netflix documentary scenes interspersed with the 1st person narration by Alix, the podcaster (mostly), and Josie. The narrators, and there is a whole cast of them, are the perfect choices. I could easily believe that they were the characters, and they acted the story out beautifully.
The characters are developed brilliantly, with subtle layer after subtle layer revealing itself at just the right moment, along with the breadcrumb trail of hints that lead the reader through the story at a rapid pace. I just loved everything about this story! Did I come away knowing what the truth is? I think so, but I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I still have plenty of doubt about that.
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell takes the psychological thriller sub-genre to a whole new level, putting this novel on my top 5 for 2023 and possibly even #1. The title says it all, so you can imagine the crazy, jaw-dropping journey the story takes you on - one where you primarily hear Josie’s truth but then find out other people’s truth until you’re not sure which way is up anymore.
I did a read/listen, and I’m going to say something I never imagined myself saying - and those of you who have followed my reviews for years will know what a monumental statement what I’m about to say is. You MUST listen to the audiobook version - even if you do a read/listen like I did. It just adds so much more to the novel, especially with the podcast and Netflix documentary scenes interspersed with the 1st person narration by Alix, the podcaster (mostly), and Josie. The narrators, and there is a whole cast of them, are the perfect choices. I could easily believe that they were the characters, and they acted the story out beautifully.
The characters are developed brilliantly, with subtle layer after subtle layer revealing itself at just the right moment, along with the breadcrumb trail of hints that lead the reader through the story at a rapid pace. I just loved everything about this story! Did I come away knowing what the truth is? I think so, but I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that I still have plenty of doubt about that.