None of This Is True Book Summary: Lisa Jewell (Spoiler-Free)

None of This Is True begins when two women meet by chance on their birthday. They quickly discover they are the same age and were even born in the same hospital. From the very beginning, there’s something unsettling about Josie, which sparks Alix’s curiosity.

Alix is a successful podcaster, while Josie is more of a mystery. What becomes clear right away, though, is Josie’s growing fixation on Alix. Josie suggests that she and her “midlife change” should be the focus of Alix’s next podcast series. Already intrigued, Alix agrees and begins to dig into Josie’s life and past.

As a reader, you’re constantly left questioning what is true and what is not. The book weaves in podcast transcripts between chapters, which gives the story the feel of a true crime documentary.

As the podcast goes on, Alix starts to notice inconsistencies in Josie’s stories. Secrets from Josie’s past begin to surface, and the picture that emerges is dark and disturbing. At the same time, we get a closer look at Alix’s life, which is far from perfect. Their stories start to overlap in unsettling ways, especially as Josie reacts to Alix’s complicated marriage while revealing more about her own troubled history.

This book comes with plenty of trigger warnings, since it deals with several sensitive topics. The twists keep coming, and the ending leaves you unsettled and still questioning what really happened.