Lisa Jewell author photo
Image via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Lisa Jewell

Born: July 19, 1968 – London, England, United Kingdom

Lisa Jewell is a British novelist known for contemporary fiction and psychological suspense, including Ralph’s Party, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, and None of This Is True. A Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author, she is noted for twist-driven domestic narratives and broad international readership.

Biography & Author's Journey

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968 and studied art and design at Barnet College before continuing at Epsom School of Art and Design, where her training was tied to fashion and visual communication. Before fiction became her profession, she worked in fashion, public relations, and office jobs. The decisive turn came after she was made redundant in the mid-1990s: during a holiday conversation, a friend challenged her to write three chapters of a novel, which led to agent interest, a Penguin deal, and the publication of Ralph’s Party in 1999. That debut became the best-selling debut novel of the year and established her as a commercial novelist with strong instincts for character and urban relationships. ((https://cdn.penguin.co.uk/dam-assets/books/9781784756253/9781784756253-sample.pdf?utm_source=openai))

Show More

Quotes

quote
Just be yourself, and if people like the sound of your voice and what your voice is saying, then they’ll like your book
-Lisa Jewell’s top tips for new writers
quote
That was the most fortuitous conversation of my entire life
-Lisa Jewell on the books that shaped her life
quote
Reading High Fidelity just unlocked something
-Lisa Jewell on the books that shaped her life
quote
I don’t reread
-Lisa Jewell: ‘I once read 40 Agatha Christie novels in a year’
quote
I adored being inside Josie’s head, and it wasn’t until I got to the very end that I realized that her head was actually broken
-A Conversation with Lisa Jewell: None of This Is True
quote
It was the perfect ending and made sense of everything
-A Conversation with Lisa Jewell: None of This Is True
quote
So many challenges. So many. I shan’t be writing another one, let me put it that way
-A Conversation with Lisa Jewell: The Family Remains
quote
I do not believe that Henry will ever be healed, no
-A Conversation with Lisa Jewell: The Family Remains

Discover more

Crimen story

Crimen story

LEARNING PLAN

Crimen story

This learning plan provides a comprehensive bridge between literary history and practical creative writing for aspiring novelists and genre enthusiasts. It is designed for writers who want to master the specific mechanics of suspense, from classic whodunits to modern psychological thrillers.

2 h 40 m4 Sections
Books Recommended by Jack Edwards
BOOKS

Books Recommended by Jack Edwards

Explore Jack Edwards’ top recommended reads across literary fiction, contemporary drama, and witty modern classics that capture emotion, identity, and storytelling brilliance.

BeFreed team

Just to read fictional and romance novels

Just to read fictional and romance novels

LEARNING PLAN

Just to read fictional and romance novels

Romance fiction remains one of the most popular and diverse literary genres, offering readers emotional journeys through relationships, desires, and human connections. This learning plan introduces readers to various romance subgenres, from timeless classics to fantasy worlds, providing entertainment while exploring the many ways love stories can be told.

2 h 3 m4 Sections
Best Goodreads Choice Awards Books
BOOKS

Best Goodreads Choice Awards Books

Discover the best Goodreads Choice Award winners—gripping fiction and nonfiction books readers love. Find your next unforgettable read today.

BeFreed team

Learn Classic Lit Gists & Trivia Facts

Learn Classic Lit Gists & Trivia Facts

LEARNING PLAN

Learn Classic Lit Gists & Trivia Facts

This learning plan is designed for avid readers and trivia enthusiasts who want to move beyond surface-level reading to uncover the hidden layers of great books. It provides a structured path to mastering literary analysis while building a fun, impressive knowledge base of cultural history.

3 h 28 m4 Sections
Dark romance

Dark romance

LEARNING PLAN

Dark romance

Dark romance has emerged as one of the fastest-growing romance subgenres, captivating readers who crave emotionally intense and morally complex love stories. This learning plan is ideal for romance readers wanting to explore edgier narratives, aspiring authors seeking to write in this popular genre, or anyone curious about understanding the psychological and narrative elements that make dark romance so compelling to millions of readers worldwide.

1 h 43 m4 Sections
An Ordinary Woman’s Fight: Gisèle’s Journey to Justice
BOOKS

An Ordinary Woman’s Fight: Gisèle’s Journey to Justice

Books frequently read by Gisèle Pelicot that shaped her resilience and fight for women’s rights.

BeFreed team

Dark romance with real psychology & history

Dark romance with real psychology & history

LEARNING PLAN

Dark romance with real psychology & history

This learning plan bridges entertainment with education by exploring how dark romance fiction can illuminate real psychological principles and historical contexts. Ideal for literature enthusiasts, psychology students, or writers seeking to understand how fiction can be a powerful vehicle for exploring human nature and society.

2 h 50 m4 Sections

Community Voices

"Lisa Jewell is on top form with this pitch-black fever dream of a book"

Ruth Ware

"Lisa Jewell is one of the best thriller writers out there"

Sarah Pekkanen

"Lisa Jewell is on a roll with another fast-paced and cleverly plotted psychological thriller"

Red

"Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite writers and this is her best yet"

Lucy Foley

"No one thickens a plot like Lisa Jewell"

Shari Lapena

"This is Lisa Jewell's most engrossing thriller to date"

Daily Express

"Lisa Jewell is the best at creating characters you care about"

Jane Fallon

"Lisa Jewell has made a thriller out of my favourite literary ingredients"

Erin Kelly

FAQs about this page

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 1,000,000 Curious Minds

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
Start your learning journey, now