This book discussion guide contains spoilers
The New York Times’ number one bestselling author Lisa Jewell creates a suspenseful tale of how a woman becomes the subject of her true crime podcast, in None of This Is True (January 1st, 2023, Atria Books). The British author is best known for novels such as The Family Upstairs, Watching You, and Then She Was Gone.
None of This is True is told from the third person POV. The novel starts on the 45th birthday of the two main characters, Josie Fair and Alix Summer.
But before Saturday, June 8, 2019 (when the story begins), There is a prologue where the narrator has access to the thoughts of a drunken man, who stumbles into a car. Then there is a Netflix original series that includes a recording from Alix Summer’s podcast.
As it does in the beginning, this Netflix series plays somewhat of a foreshadowing role throughout the novel, because before we even get to the first day of the novel, we already know that Alix will be interviewing Josie on her podcast.
Plot Summary for None of This Is True
In None of This Is True by Lisa Jewells, the third-person narrator has access to the thoughts of the two main characters, Josie and Alix. In the opening pages, we learn that the usual homebody Josie is deciding to emerge from her shell by celebrating her birthday at a fancy pub in her community. This is where Josie encounters Alix, her birthday twin! And the obsession begins.
Josie Googles Alix and discovers her podcast, learns about Alix’s family, and plans an accidental encounter with Alix at her children’s school. During this meeting, Josie tells Alix that there is something she would like to talk to her about, and Alix reluctantly agrees to meet up with Josie on Tuesday, June 18.
Alix’s original podcast features impressive women overcoming the odds and succeeding in life. But she is looking to try something new, and at this meeting, Josie suggests that Alix does a podcast on someone who’s about to change their life aka Josie.
During the first recording for the podcast, Alix is still uncertain about the validity of Josie’s idea, until she learns that Josie started dating her husband (Walter Fair) when she was fifteen and Walter was forty-two. At that point, Alix thought she found the true angle for this new podcast series, but boy was she wrong.
As Alix and Josie continue to record the podcast, we get to see their respective families and get a glimpse into each of their family lives. We meet Josie’s narcissistic mother and predator husband, Alix’s red-haired husband (Nathan Summer), and later the children of both women.
Josie’s and Alix’s Red Flags
As the novel progresses, we (the readers) start to see some of Josie’s red flags regarding her obsession with Alix. However, one day Alix and her husband spot Josie going through their garbage, and this forces Alix to make a decision. Should she continue with the podcast series, which has the potential to be her best yet, or should she protect her family from this potentially dangerous woman?
Alix’s decision at this moment, and at several other points when she had the opportunity to put her foot down and try to remove Josie from her life, ultimately caused her to lose much more than she bargained for.
The Prologue
Though the story begins on June 8, 2019, the prologue details the events of the night of July 20, which is close to the climax of the story. This is the night when Josie kidnaps Nathan. Soon after this, Walter’s body and Erin’s comatose body are found in the Fair’s apartment.
This is around the time that Roxy, whose whereabouts are questionable until this time, made her debut. We learned that Roxy’s whereabouts weren’t so unknown to Erin and possibly Walter. We also find out what triggered Roxy’s disappearance—Brook’s death.
The Climax
Nathan’s missing case officially becomes a murder case when his body is located, and Alix must grapple with the fact that she quite possibly could have prevented her husband’s death. Josie is still on the run in the final pages of the novel, but before the book closes, she chooses to insert a very plausible uncertainty into the plot.
This last-minute revelation leaves the novel on a cliffhanger, only because none of what Josie says is true. But it also begs the question of what motives does she have to lie in a monologue, unless she has told so many lies that the truth is now also unclear to her.
Discussion Questions for None of This Is True
- None of This Is True is quite an interesting title for a book, why do you think Lisa chose it and was it a good choice for this novel?
- What was your initial impression of the book? Did your feelings towards the book change as you read it?
- In the final scene of the book, Josie introduces some new information that creates some uncertainty. How did you feel about the way that the book ended? Was their closure?
- If you could choose an alternate ending, what would it be?
- How did your opinion of and reaction to Alix change throughout the novel?
- What is your opinion of Josie?
Important Quotes from None of This Is True
“And as awful as it sounds, death is a clean break. There are no gray areas. No ambiguity. It’s like a blank canvas in a way.” –Mari Le Jeune (From Alix Original Podcast)
“You know, like when you’re driving down windy roads and you deliberately close your eyes for a second, just to see what happens. So that’s what I did. And now, well, here we are” –Alix
“Once again, she is struck by the sheer blandness of him, the impenetrable wall of nothingness between his physical being and the rest of the world. Yet he is clearly a master gaslighter. Behind the dead eyes lies the soul of a groomer and a liar and an abuser.” –The Narrator (referencing Alix)
“When she doesn’t like the reality of things, she finds a reality she prefers.” –Walter (referencing Alix)
“Believe me, I know Josie better than anyone, and she’s a control freak. And you don’t even realise you’re being controlled until it’s too late.” –Walter
“I’m trying to tell you my story, Alix. My truth. And you seem to be trying to make it into something it isn’t. You either want my story or you don’t. You can’t have it both ways.” –Josie
“Alix is not a dramatic or a reactive person. She is a person who likes to step away from situations that make her feel bad, to look at them objectively as if they were happening to somebody else, and then make a decision based on how best to keep the peace and maintain the status quo.” –The Narrator
“No. We were not a normal family. Not by any stretch. But right then, in that moment, it felt normal.” –Roxy
“Instead, she is trapped in a Gothic, tick-tocking, slow-burn nightmare.” –The Narrator (referencing Alix)
What I Loved About None of This Is True
Both Main Characters are Complex
Josie is a complex character. She is a narcissist who demonstrates problematic behavior and an undiagnosed mental illness. She has an obsessive trait that goes beyond Alix, as is evident from all the personal items that the police found in her drawer.
However, Josie is also capable of love. Her love for her children is evident in the way she reacts when she passes Erin’s door each day and even when she thinks she sees Roxy. Nevertheless, we get to see how volatile Josie’s love can be as she questions if Erin is potentially part of the problem, and later when she ties her to a chair and leaves her to die.
Alix is a more stable character who by all indications seems to be a good mother and spouse. But what fuels her complexity is her decision to stay in her marriage primarily for financial reasons. She also makes other wrong decisions for selfish reasons, such as allowing Josie to stay in life because she is bored and needs a distraction from her husband’s behavior.
I Didn’t See the Twists Coming
The title of the book is None of This Is True, given that it has a third-person narrator, the obvious assumption is that none of what Josie says on the podcast is true. However, Walter’s history of predatory behavior (regardless of Josie’s influence), coupled with Josie’s narcissistic mother makes it easy to see Josie as a victim.
It is apparent from the beginning that Josie is a little off, but the fact that she instead of Walter turns out to be the villain of the story is somewhat surprising.
It Was a Page Turner
The chapters or sections were short and the plot, from start to finish, was completely compelling. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. The novel was so convoluted that anything could happen next, and I certainly didn’t want to miss it.
The Structuring Was Unique
The Netflix series aspect of the novel was very effective. Its role as a tool for foreshadowing and creating suspense was completed to perfection. In one instance, we learned that there were going to be some murders, but if we wanted to find out who died or who did the killings we just had to continue reading. In another instance, we learn that Josie hired an old acquittance to do some acting and boy did this captivate my interest.
What I Didn’t Love about None of This Is True
We Didn’t Get to Know Roxy and Erin Well
This was important because the girls’ version of the truth about Brooke’s death doesn’t align with Josie’s version. Even though Josie’s version of the truth doesn’t always align with reality throughout the novel, the final scene in the book where Josie challenges the girl’s version of what occurred does cause you to question if what the girls said was the truth.
After all, Roxy does have a history of violent behavior, a history of attacking Brooke, and she is her mother’s daughter. If we had more time to get to know Roxy, we could conclusively decide if this is something she is capable of. For now, it is all up in the air and I think that is exactly what Lisa was aiming for.
Overall Assessment of None of This Is True
Lisa Jewell’s None of This Is True was well written. It had engaging prose that flowed nicely. The descriptions were clear and vivid. The plot was captivating from start to finish. The main characters were complex and interesting.
However, we didn’t get to spend as much time with some of the supporting characters, primarily Roxy and Erin, who I felt we should have gotten to know a little better. Yet, I wonder if getting to know these characters more would have decreased the suspense.
None of This Is True fits effortlessly into the psychological thriller category. It has mystery, suspense, major plot twists, and a mentally unstable primary character. The ending isn’t as tidy (or satisfying) as some people might prefer, but it this customary for this genre. I would give this novel a four-point-five stars (4.5) rating.
Further Information for None of This Is True
If you loved None of This is True, here is more information about the book and its author:
Watch as Lisa Jewell discusses the book.
The Stats:
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Published January 1st, 2023, by Atria Books
400 pages (hardcover)
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