The Best Lisa Jewell Books Ranked
Lisa Jewell books have been published for well over twenty years. Lisa is the New York Times best-selling author of twenty books and has sold over 10 million books internationally. Her thrillers are so dark and twisty that I could not resist ranking them.
I have been reading Lisa Jewell’s books for years. I love the family dynamics in these thrillers, What makes them so scary is how realistic they are. I often read the newest book and decide that it is my favorite. Even though I only ranked my top five, there is a hair separating the first book to the last. I have loved every one of her books.
Whether you have read all the Lisa Jewell books or not, I would love to hear what you think are the best Lisa Jewell books. Maybe you love her contemporary fiction. If you want to see a complete list of the Lisa Jewell books in order, you can head over to that post for all the info
The Best Lisa Jewell Books Ranked
Each colorful block is one of my picks for the best Lisa Jewell books. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick starting from #5 and going to number one. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
#5
I found You (Jump to review)
#4
None of This is True (Jump to review)
#3
The Family Remains (Jump to review)
#2
The Family Upstairs (Jump to review)
#1
Then She Was Gone (Jump to review)
More Lisa Jewell Thriller Books (that did not make the top 5)
- Girls in the Garden (jump to full review)
- Invisible Girls (jump to full review)
*The Lisa Jewell books post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.
Lisa Jewell Books Ranked (Thrillers)
#1
Then She Was Gone
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2018
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Nominated for 2018 Goodreads Choice Award
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter with her whole life ahead of her until she disappeared without a trace. Now, after ten years, her mother cannot stop looking for answers. When she meets a man in a cafe, she thinks she may be able to start a relationship after so many years. But when she meets Floyd’s daughter and she looks just like Ellie, her unanswered questions begin to haunt her.
Trigger Warnings
Kidnapping Child death
Why Jackie loves it
To me, this is by far the creepiest of all of Lisa Jewell’s books. While I did have some idea of what the ending was going to be, I was not prepared for how creepy this thriller book would be. I think the point of this was to take the fear factor up a few notches. This book left me wanting to keep my kids a little closer to home. If you are looking for a creepy thriller, this is a heart-pounding pick.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books / Psychological Thriller Books / The Best Domestic Thriller Books
#2
The Family Upstairs
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2019
Genre: Thriller
More info: November 2019 GMA Book Club Pick
New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This book starts with Libby’s 25th birthday when she inherits a multi-million dollar home. She knows that she was adopted at 10 months old but, she doesn’t know the truth about what happened to her family. She is shocked to find that the story that she was told is not what happened to her family.
25+ years ago Henry, his sister, and his parents are living a very privileged life. When he is 12 years old, things change when David moves into the house with his wife and kids with no plans to leave. He is charismatic and alluring to everyone except Henry. The story moves between past and present until the two stories come together and you finally understand what happened in the house all those years ago. I love listening to full cast audiobooks and this popular thriller book was no exception.
Trigger Warnings
Child Abuse, Confinement
Why Jackie loves it
I love Lisa Jewell. As I read her books I find each one creepier than the last. I listened to this one and loved that it was a full cast audiobook. It brought the story to life.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books / Books About Cults / The Best Domestic Thriller Books / Good Morning America Book Club List / Popular Thriller Books
#3
The Family Remains
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2022
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Of all the Lisa Jewell books, this is the one that I was most looking forward to reading. I put it third on this list after much debate. I loved The Family Upstairs and I think in order to get the full experience with this sequel, I think you need to that book first.
The book begins with the discovery of bones in the Thames River that is related to a 30-year-old cold case.
Rachel Rimmer is shocked to discover that her husband has been found dead in his cellar and Rachel has to answer questions that delve into Michael’s past. He is connected to Lucy Lamb who is trying to settle her family after leaving London 30 years ago.
Trigger Warnings
Rape, sexual assault
Why Jackie loves it
All the stories come together in a way that only Lisa Jewell can write. It is rare that a thriller has a part two that makes sense. This is a well thought out thriller.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books
#4
None of This is True
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2023
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Alix has a popular podcast and meets Jose while out celebrating their birthdays. They are birthday twins. When they meet a few days later, Josie tells Alix her idea for a podcast. Josie wants to change her life and she wants Alix to document the changes. Before long, Josie it is almost impossible to tell what is truth and what is a lie.
This book is unlike any other book written by Lisa Jewell. It is a psychological thriller that is creepy and page-turning but not necessarily shocking. I listened to the full cast audiobook and it was fantastic! It brought so much depth to the story.
Trigger Warnings
Pedophilia
Why Jackie loves it
I love Lisa Jewell’s books so it is no surprise that I loved this book as well. This book is a must-read thriller from our list of summer 2023 book releases. This one was the most disturbing and had a very “single white female” feel.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books
#5
I Found You
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2016
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This story is told from three perspectives. A man loses his memory and is trying to figure out who he is. Simultaneously, a woman can’t find her husband who has disappeared without a trace. The third storyline is about a family in 1993. How do these stories come together?
Trigger Warnings
Sexual assault
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this Lisa Jewell book. She has a brilliant way of bringing the stories together with a slow burn throughout.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books / Amnesia Books
#6
The Girls in the Garden
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2015
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range:18+
Plot
This thriller starts with Pip a pre-teen, finding her older sister Grace, a young teenager, hurt and possibly dead and/or assaulted in a park in Central London.
The plot quickly moves to “before” the incident. Clare has moved to a flat in London with a communal Garden with her two daughters. Adele and Leo have three girls named Willow, Fern, and Catkin who seem like a collective group of misfits. There is also a gang of kids, a nosy neighbor, and a host of other characters who are all slightly eccentric in their own way.
Trigger Warnings
Mental illness, child death
Why Jackie loves it
Lisa Jewell has such a unique way of writing. She is the queen of domestic thriller books and this one was no exception. Lisa Jewell can build a story and this one is a real page-turner.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books
#7
The Invisible Girl
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year: 2020
Genre: Thriller
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range:
Plot
Saffyre Maddox was a patient of psychologist, Roan Fours, for three years. When she goes missing, the last person to see her alive is Owen Pick. Owen is a thirty-something living in his aunt’s house after being suspended from his job as a teacher for sexual misconduct. Coincidentally, Owen lives across the street from the Fours.
Trigger Warnings
sexual assault
Why Jackie likes it
This book was firmly OK. I’m normally a big fan of Lisa Jewell’s writing, but this one didn’t have me flipping pages at top speed.
Find this book in: The Best Lisa Jewell Books
Expert Tip
This is a list of my favorite of Lisa Jewell’s thrillers. She has an entire catalog of contemporary fiction books that you might want to check out as well.
- Trying to decide your favorite of Lisa Jewell’s thrillers can be really difficult because I feel like her writing gets better every time she has a new book.
- Think about things like: characters, plotline, and twists to help you decide what you loved about each book
- Remember: There is NO wrong choice. This list is totally subjective and just for fun. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lisa Jewell?
Lisa Jewell is a British author who has written 20 books during her 25-year career. While she started out writing romantic comedies, she is now known for her dark and twisted thrillers.
What is the Newest Lisa Jewell Book?
The newest Lisa Jewell book was published on August 8, 2023, and is called None of This is True. The Audio version of this book is a full-cast audiobook that is fantastic and a great listen.
Is Lisa Jewell a pen name?
As cool as the name is, Lisa Jewell is NOT a pen name.
Related Content
Epilogue
Did you agree with my list of The Best Lisa Jewell Books Ranked? What is your favorite of all the Lisa Jewell Books?
Ultimate List of Thrillers
Love Thrillers? This list is curated and carefully divided by sub-genre. These will definitely keep you on your toes.
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