Title: IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER
Author: LISA JEWELL
ISBN: 9781529196009
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Pages: 421
Source: Private Copy
Jane Trevally is walking her dogs on her country estate when a small white terrier appears, alone and with no sign of the teenaged girl he’d been staying with nearby. When the teenager is reported missing, Jane offers to return the dog to his registered owner, hours away in London. Arriving at a run-down house called Thornwood in the deepest backwaters of Hampstead, she is immediately on alert—because Jane has a dark history with this house.
The man who answers the door is not the man that Jane remembers from her past. He is cagey, and claims to know nothing about the missing teenage girl. Then, through the window of the house, Jane catches a glimpse of a haunted-looking woman.
Conjuring her memories from twenty-five years ago, Jane knows this unsettling house holds the key—to the missing teenager, to her own traumatic story, and to the dark secrets of the past.
Official Summary
12 August 2026
Some authors simply never disappoint, and Lisa Jewell is one of them. Her stories are always unique, and whenever I pick up one of her books, I know I can expect a gripping read filled with twists, surprises, and compelling characters.
It Could Have Been Her is told from multiple perspectives and explores troubled childhoods, long-buried secrets, and the complicated bonds of family loyalty.
Twenty-five years after running away, Jane is determined to uncover the secrets hidden within the house on Vale of Heath. Recently divorced and feeling rather lost, she lives alone with her four dogs, unsure of what comes next. Everything changes when she finds Hugo, a lost West Highland Terrier, and returns him to his home in Vale of Heath. This seemingly simple act forces Jane to confront painful memories from her past, and as she begins digging into the history of the house and the mysterious Black family, she uncovers far more than she ever expected.
I always enjoy the way Jewell weaves together multiple narrators and timelines. It allows the story to unfold gradually, revealing new layers with each chapter while giving every character a chance to shine. Each perspective adds another piece to the puzzle, making it almost impossible to stop reading.
There are references to Don’t Let Him In, and unfortunately I couldn’t remember Jane from that book. Considering how many books I’ve read since then, I’m not entirely surprised! Thankfully, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this story, although readers with a better memory than mine may appreciate the connection even more.
I was completely engrossed from beginning to end and found the Black family endlessly fascinating. Stuart, in particular, was a brilliantly written character. I could never quite work out where his loyalties lay or what his true intentions were, and that uncertainty kept me constantly questioning him. The truth about him was genuinely shocking and one of the book’s biggest surprises.
Overall, this is Lisa Jewell at her very best. It’s an expertly crafted psychological thriller packed with suspense, memorable characters, and perfectly timed twists that culminate in a stunning finale. I loved every minute of it, and it easily earns a well-deserved five-star rating.
Also By Lisa Jewell
DON’T LET HIM IN
He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.
Nina Swann is intrigued when she receives a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…
Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.
Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
LISA JEWELL was born in London in 1968.
Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best-selling debut novel of 1999. Since then, she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, and The Night She Disappeared.
Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. She lives in north London with her husband, two teenage daughters and the best dog in the world.
Thank you for visiting the blog to read my review. This one certainly is one of my favourite Lisa Jewell books. Which are your favourites? Please leave a comment below. Until next time… Happy Reading!
