Lisa Jewell
Birth date19 July 1968 (age 58)
Birth placeLondon, England
GenrePopular fiction
LanguageEnglish
Notable works

Lisa Jewell (born 1968) is a British author of popular fiction. Her books include Ralph's Party (1999), Thirtynothing (2000), After The Party (2010), Then She Was Gone (2018), Watching You (2018), The Family Upstairs (2019), Invisible Girl (2020), None of This Is True (2023), and Don’t Let Him In (2025).

Early life and education

Lisa Jewell was born in the West End of London on 19 July 1968, to Anthony and Kay Jewell, then raised in Totteridge with her two younger sisters. She attended St Michael's Catholic Grammar School in Finchley, North London.[1][non-primary source needed]

Jewell studied art and design at Barnet College, then attended the Epsom School of Art and Design, where she studied fashion illustration and promotion.[1][non-primary source needed]

Career

Jewell worked in fashion for several years, including at Thomas Pink. After being made redundant, Jewell took a creative writing course.[1][non-primary source needed] After a friend promised to buy her dinner if she wrote the first three chapters of a novel,[2][3] Jewell published her debut novel, Ralph's Party, in 1999.[4] It became the UK's bestselling debut novel of the year.[5]

In 2008, she was awarded the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance for her novel 31 Dream Street.[6] In 2024, Jewell won the British Book Awards for Crime & Thriller and Fiction Audiobook for None of This Is True,[7] which also won the TikTok Book Awards U.K. and Ireland for Book of the Year.[8]

In 2022, Jewell's Invisible Girl was banned from high school libraries in the Wentzville School District after the district was sued,[9] though the ban was later overturned.[10]

Two of Jewell's novels has been purchased for film production. In 2024, Netflix purchased the film rights to Jewell's 2018 novel, Then She Was Gone,[11] as well as her 2023 novel, None of This Is True.[12] Then She Was Gone is being adapted by British actress Catherine Steadman and produced by Crystal City Entertainment and Moonshot Films.[11] None of This Is True is being adapted by Eleanor Burgess and produced by Something Happy Productions and Modern Magic, with Jewell serving as executive producer.[12]

Personal life

Jewell married her first husband, who Jewell claims was emotionally abusive, circa 1991; the couple divorced in 1996.[2][non-primary source needed]

As of 2007, Jewell lived in Swiss Cottage, London,[1][non-primary source needed] with her husband and two children.[13]

Awards and honors

None of This Is True (2023)[14] and Don't Let Him In (2025)[15] are New York Times bestsellers.

Awards for Jewell's work
YearTitleAwardResult
200831 Dream StreetMelissa Nathan Award for Comedy RomanceWinner[6]
2020The House We Grew Up InAudie Award for FictionShortlist[16]
2022The Night She DisappearedAudie Award for Thriller or SuspenseShortlist[17]
2024None of This Is TrueAudie Award for Audio DramaShortlist[18]
Audie Award for Thriller or SuspenseShortlist[19]
British Book Award for Crime & ThrillerWinner[7]
British Book Award for Fiction AudiobookWinner[7]
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year AwardShortlist[20][21]
TikTok Book Awards U.K. and Ireland for Book of the YearWinner[8]
2026Don't Let Him InAudie Award for Thriller or SuspenseWinner[22][23]

Publications

References

  1. ^ "About Lisa". Lisa Jewell. Archived from the original on 2007-01-01. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  2. ^ Szewczyk, Elaine (2023-06-30). "Lisa Jewell Raced Through Writing Her Latest Novel". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  3. ^ "'Thank you, you miserable pasty-faced git, thank you'". The Guardian. 1999-05-13. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  4. ^ "Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2000-01-03. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  5. ^ "The craft of good writing: A masterclass with SJ Watson and Lisa Jewell". The Guardian. 2015-11-12. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  6. ^ Dammann, Guy (2008-06-19). "Chick lit author on Dream Street with literary prize". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  7. ^ "Awards: British Book and Trade Winners". Shelf Awareness. 2024-05-15. Archived 12 February 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  8. ^ Schaub, Michael (2024-07-25). "Winners of TikTok Book Awards Are Announced". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  9. ^ "Students File Suit over Wentzville, Mo., Book Bans". Shelf Awareness. 2022-02-17. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  10. ^ "Wentzville School District Overturns Bluest Eye Ban". Shelf Awareness. 2022-03-01. Archived 14 October 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  11. ^ "Movies: Then She Was Gone". Shelf Awareness. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  12. ^ "Movies: None of This Is True". Shelf Awareness. 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  13. ^ "Book Brahmin: Lisa Jewell". Shelf Awareness. 2014-07-30. Archived 27 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  14. ^ "None of This Is True". Kirkus Reviews. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  15. ^ "Don't Let Him In". Kirkus Reviews. 2025-04-19. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  16. ^ Anderson, Porter (2020-02-04). "Audio Publishers Association Names 2020 Audie Awards Finalists". Publishing Perspectives. Archived 9 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  17. ^ Wang, Jessica (2022-02-03). "Barack Obama, Sam Heughan, and Oprah among finalists for 2022 Audie Awards: See the full list". EW.com. Archived 8 May 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  18. ^ Anderson, Porter (2024-01-30). "The Audie Awards Names Its 2024 Finalists: 27 Categories". Publishing Perspectives. Archived 20 July 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  19. ^ "The 2024 Audie Award Finalists". BOOK RIOT. 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  20. ^ "Awards: Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel, McDermid Debut Shortlists". Shelf Awareness. 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  21. ^ Barnett, David (2024-07-19). "Jo Callaghan wins crime novel of the year with story of an AI detective". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  22. ^ Glyer, Mike (2026-03-04). "2026 Audie Award Winners". File 770. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  23. ^ Spangler, Todd (2026-03-03). "Audie Awards 2026: ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Wins Audiobook of the Year". Variety. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
  24. ^ "Thirtynothing by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2001-01-01. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  25. ^ "ONE-HIT WONDER by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2002-05-27. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  26. ^ "Vince and Joy by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2006-08-07. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  27. ^ "Roommates Wanted: Until You Fall in Love... by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2008-01-21. Archived 14 February 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  28. ^ Barnett, Laura (2009-06-12). "Chick lit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  29. ^ Papailiou, Natalie (2011-08-19). "After the Party". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  30. ^ "After the Party by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  31. ^ Howard, Jessica (2012-08-21). "The Making of Us". Shelf Awareness. Archived 9 February 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  32. ^ "The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  33. ^ "Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2013-09-02. Archived 7 December 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  34. ^ "The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2014-06-23. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  35. ^ Howard, Jessica (2015-06-26). "The Third Wife". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  36. ^ Howard, Jessica (2016-06-17). "The Girls in the Garden". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  37. ^ "The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2016-04-25. Archived 6 December 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  38. ^ Howard, Jessica (2017-05-12). "I Found You". Shelf Awareness. Archived 7 December 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  39. ^ Howard, Jessica (2018-05-15). "Then She Was Gone". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  40. ^ "Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  41. ^ "Book Marks reviews of The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell". Book Marks. Archived 12 November 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  42. ^ Dinh-McCrillis, Elyse (2019-01-22). "Watching You". Shelf Awareness. Archived 15 September 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  43. ^ "Watching You by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  44. ^ "Book Marks reviews of Watching You by Lisa Jewell". Book Marks. Archived 14 September 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  45. ^ "The Family Upstairs Summary: Twists, Secrets, and Shocks". Thriller Book Review. 2024-11-27. Archived 4 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  46. ^ Dinh-McCrillis, Elyse (2019-11-22). "The Family Upstairs". Shelf Awareness. Archived 14 December 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  47. ^ "The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  48. ^ "Book Marks reviews of The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell". Book Marks. Archived 12 November 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  49. ^ Dinh-McCrillis, Elyse (2020-10-27). "Invisible Girl". Shelf Awareness. Archived 13 January 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  50. ^ "Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  51. ^ "Book Marks reviews of Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell". Book Marks. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  52. ^ "The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  53. ^ Howard, Jessica (2023-06-23). "The Family Remains". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  54. ^ "The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  55. ^ "None of This Is True Review: Plot Summary & Key Insights". Thriller Book Review. 2024-11-23. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  56. ^ Cogdill, Oline H. (2025-01-10). "None of This Is True". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  57. ^ "None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  58. ^ Dinh-McCrillis, Elyse (2026-07-18). "Don't Let Him In". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  59. ^ "Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2025-03-26. Archived 16 June 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  60. ^ "It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell". Publishers Weekly. 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-03-16.