It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell
on June 23, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Domestic, Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense, Fiction / Women
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
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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.
This is a heavily focused family drama book, and you shouldn’t go into it expecting jaw dropping twists and reveals. It’s one of those novels that makes you feel unsettled and nervy and you can’t help but be engrossed in the utter shambolic and downright depressing lives of the individuals involved.
I wont say too much about the characters, but what I will say is that they read so realistic and raw and if you have triggers around alcoholism, I will definitely advise to check trigger warnings beforehand.
The last 50 pages really take a heed and unresolved questions get answered but there’s also a lot ambiguity left and kudos to Lisa because this book will have me thinking about it for a long time.
I rated this novel four stars. I was very engaged with this read! I did also notice in other’s reviews that Jane made an appearance first in Don’t Let Him In, but sadly, I do not recall her. That said, both stories can completely standalones and do not need to be read together.
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