Josie Fair meets Alix Summer on the night of their 45th birthday; they were born the same day, the same year in the same hospital.
In None of This is True, Lisa Jewell has crafted a dark thriller difficult to put down.
Alix is a popular podcaster and Josie leads a seemingly quiet, unassuming life. That is, until she convinces Alix to feature her as the subject of a podcast. As Josie shares her life story: meeting her husband, Walter when in her early teens. Despite the 27-year age difference, they marry and have two daughters who are now grown. One ran away from home when she was 16; the other stays closeted in her bedroom playing video games.
Alix is the mother of two school-age children and married to a successful businessman. They’re experiencing some rough spots, but she’s confident they will pass.
Chapters are identified by date beginning June 8, 2019, continuing to March 2022 – with a few gaps of weeks and months. Also interspersed in most chapters are the texts from the interviews Alix conducted with Josie and descriptions of a “Netflix Original Series” based on the interviews, and more, entitled “Hi! I’m your Birthday Twin.”
It’s evident early there’s something unsettling about Josie. It’s not just the story of meeting her husband at such a young age, there are also glimpses of odd, disconcerting behavior. Still, Alix is intrigued and ready for a new project.
As the narrative progresses, it’s difficult not to question who’s genuine.
None of This is True
Four Bookmarks
Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2023
370 pages
The Blue Page Special 