Lisa Jewell

No, the majority of Lisa Jewell’s books are standalones, meaning you can read them in any order. That being said, many readers would suggest starting with her most popular books: Then She Was Gone, None of This is True or The Family Upstairs, which give you a flavour of her writing.

Also, whilst most of the books are standalones, it’s worth noting that The Family Remains is a sequel to The Family Upstairs. Similarly, Lisa Jewell’s newest book It Could Have Been Her is a sequel to her 2025 novel Don’t Let Him In. It’s good to read these four books in order as they feature recurring characters and a continuation of plotlines.

Most Lisa Jewell fans would probably agree that Then She Was Gone is her best book. It’s exceptionally written, with characters that have real depth and a plot that keeps twisting and getting darker until its haunting conclusion. It’s impossible to put this book down but, as it’s one of the most heart-wrenching of Jewell’s novels, it stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Although Then She Was Gone is Lisa Jewell’s most popular book, this is closely followed by None of This is True, which is captivating and claustrophobic, and particularly popular in audiobook format. Readers also recommend The Family Upstairs because of its suspenseful atmosphere and complex characters.

Two of Jewell’s books are currently in development but neither has been released yet. A Netflix film adaptation of the 2023 novel None of This is True is in the works – which makes sense as the book is written in the format of a true-crime documentary. The second adaptation is Jewell’s 2017 book Then She Was Gone, which is currently in development, with actress and writer Catherine Steadman to write the film’s screenplay.

Lisa Jewell’s upcoming book, It Could Have Been Her, was published on 2nd July, 2026. The novel is a sequel to Jewell’s 2025 book, Don’t Let Him In and sees the return of the character Jane Trevally. This time, the sleuth is on a mission to uncover what happened in a house she visited 25 years ago, and whether she had a narrow escape from a dangerous man.