None of This Is True Summary, Characters and Themes

“None of This is True” is a psychological thriller novel by Lisa Jewell.

It follows Alix Summer, a podcaster, and Josie Fair, a woman with a troubled past who seeks Alix’s help to share her story.  Their meeting sparks a podcast, but as they delve deeper, dark secrets emerge, blurring the lines between reality and deception. The novel explores themes of identity, manipulation, and the dangers of seeking validation through storytelling. 

Summary

Alix Summer, a podcaster, meets Josie Fair at a pub while celebrating their shared forty-fifth birthday. Alix lives a comfortable life with her husband, Nathan, and their children, while Josie’s life feels small and stifled, living with her husband, Walter, and their reclusive daughter, Erin.

Josie approaches Alix with the idea of recording a podcast about her life as she plans big changes. Seeing potential in Josie’s story, Alix agrees, unaware that this decision will unravel her own life.

During their sessions, Josie reveals shocking parts of her past. She met Walter when she was just thirteen, married him at eighteen while he was in his forties, and their eldest daughter, Roxy, ran away years ago under circumstances Josie refuses to explain fully.

Their younger daughter, Erin, never leaves her room and survives on baby food. Josie claims Walter has been abusing Erin for years, and while she knows, she chooses to ignore it, using earplugs at night.

As Josie shares her story, she also begins to intrude on Alix’s personal life. She visits Alix’s home, records interviews, and secretly steals small items, hiding them in her own drawers. Meanwhile, Alix is managing her own challenges, including Nathan’s alcohol problem, which she shares with Josie during their discussions.

After a tense dinner party at Alix’s house, Josie shows up on Alix’s doorstep, beaten and claiming Walter attacked her and Erin. She insists Erin is at a friend’s house and begs Alix to let her stay.

Josie starts to settle into Alix’s home, wearing her clothes, exploring her spaces, and continuing the podcast recordings. Alix feels increasingly uncomfortable but is determined to finish the podcast, sensing it could become a significant piece of work.

As Josie’s presence grows in Alix’s life, she starts planting seeds of suspicion about Nathan’s fidelity. Josie collects items from Nathan’s pockets to create an illusion of infidelity, feeding Alix’s insecurities.

At the same time, Josie reveals that Roxy’s friend, Brooke, disappeared years ago, hinting at deeper darkness within her family.

Josie eventually leaves Alix’s house, but the sense of intrusion remains. Soon, Nathan disappears after a night out, and Alix learns that he was last seen getting into a car rented with Erin Fair’s credit card.

Alarmed, Alix contacts the police. They discover Walter dead and Erin severely beaten in Josie’s apartment. Erin eventually wakes from her coma and tells Alix that Josie killed Brooke and that Walter was not abusing Erin. Instead, Walter was helping Erin build an income from gaming streams to gain independence from Josie’s control.

The truth about Josie’s manipulations begins to surface. Josie orchestrated Nathan’s disappearance by hiring a woman to lure him to a hotel under the pretense that Alix was there. Later, Nathan is found dead, and Josie sends Alix a message claiming his death was an accident, stating she wanted Alix to experience life without him.

Josie disappears, becoming a fugitive, and the podcast about her story gains massive popularity, eventually leading to a Netflix documentary.

Meanwhile, Roxy returns to take care of Erin, and they confirm Josie’s involvement in Brooke’s death, revealing that Brooke died in their home, and the family covered it up under Josie’s lead.

As Alix continues to process the events, she realizes Josie manipulated her from the start, seeking to entangle Alix in her chaos. Despite the success of the podcast, Alix is left grappling with guilt and fear, knowing Josie is still out there.

Months later, Josie listens to strangers discussing Alix’s podcast on a bus, toying with her stolen bumblebee pendant and remembering how she, Roxy, and Erin disposed of Brooke’s body after a confrontation turned deadly. She clings to the belief that she was a good mother, despite the destruction left in her wake.

Characters

Alix Summer

A successful podcaster in her mid-40s, Alix is the primary narrator and protagonist. Intelligent and ambitious, she is drawn to Josie’s story, seeing it as a potential hit for her podcast. 

However, her naivety and desire for success blind her to Josie’s manipulative nature. 

Alix’s vulnerability, stemming from her husband’s alcoholism and her own insecurities, makes her susceptible to Josie’s influence. 

As the story unfolds, Alix transforms from a trusting individual to a suspicious and hardened woman, scarred by the events she experiences.

Josie Fair

The enigmatic antagonist, Josie is a complex character shrouded in mystery. She is manipulative, cunning, and a master of deception. 

Her traumatic past, marked by an early marriage and a troubled family life, fuels her desire for control and revenge. Josie’s actions are often driven by a warped sense of justice and a longing for a different life. 

Her ability to manipulate and exploit others’ weaknesses makes her a formidable adversary.

Nathan Summer

Alix’s husband, Nathan, struggles with alcoholism, a significant source of conflict in their marriage. Initially portrayed as a supportive and loving partner, Nathan’s addiction gradually erodes his relationship with Alix. 

His disappearance and subsequent death highlight the destructive power of addiction and the tragic consequences it can have on loved ones.

Erin Fair

Josie’s youngest daughter, Erin, is presented as a recluse who only consumes baby food. However, her true identity as a successful gamer is a shocking revelation. 

Erin’s resilience and determination to escape her mother’s control showcase her strength and independence.

Roxy Fair

Josie’s eldest daughter, Roxy, is a rebellious figure who fled her troubled home at a young age. Her reappearance towards the end of the novel adds another layer to the complex family dynamics. 

Roxy’s loyalty to her sister and her willingness to confront her mother’s crimes demonstrate her courage and desire for justice.

Walter Fair

Josie’s husband, Walter, is a shadowy figure whose presence looms over the story. His abusive behavior and controlling nature contribute to the toxic environment within the Fair household. 

Walter’s death, although initially attributed to Josie, reveals the intricate web of lies and manipulation that define the family.

Themes

Deceptive Nature Of Appearences

A central theme in the novel is the exploration of identity and the deceptive nature of appearances. 

The novel delves into the complexities of human nature, revealing how individuals can craft elaborate facades to conceal their true selves. 

Josie Fair, the enigmatic figure at the heart of the story, masterfully manipulates her narrative, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. Through her interactions with Alix Summer, the podcaster, Josie constructs a captivating persona, carefully curating the details of her life to elicit sympathy and intrigue. 

However, as the layers of deception are gradually peeled away, the reader is confronted with the unsettling truth that Josie’s identity is a carefully constructed illusion. 

The novel challenges us to question the authenticity of the stories we are told and to recognize the potential for manipulation and deceit in even the most seemingly trustworthy individuals.

The Power of Storytelling and Narrative Control

The novel also examines the power of storytelling and the ways in which narratives can be manipulated to shape perceptions and influence outcomes. 

Alix Summer, as a podcaster, wields the ability to amplify voices and share stories with a wide audience. However, her collaboration with Josie Fair exposes the inherent dangers of unchecked narrative control. 

Josie, through her calculated disclosures and omissions, manipulates the podcast narrative to her advantage, casting herself as a victim and obscuring her own culpability. 

The novel highlights the ethical responsibilities inherent in storytelling, emphasizing the importance of verifying information and considering multiple perspectives. 

It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for narratives to be weaponized and used to deceive and manipulate.

Manipulation and Gaslighting

The theme of manipulation and gaslighting is deeply intertwined with the exploration of identity and deception. 

Josie Fair’s interactions with both Alix Summer and her own family are characterized by a pattern of psychological manipulation. She employs gaslighting tactics, distorting reality and sowing seeds of doubt in the minds of those around her. 

By subtly undermining their perceptions and questioning their sanity, Josie gains control and manipulates them into conforming to her narrative. 

This theme highlights the insidious nature of emotional abuse and the devastating impact it can have on individuals’ sense of self and their ability to trust their own judgment.

The Dark Side of Social Media With a Constant Pursuit of Validation

In “None of This Is True,” the allure of social media and the relentless pursuit of validation play a significant role in driving the characters’ actions and motivations. 

Alix Summer’s podcast, with its potential for widespread reach and recognition, becomes a platform for Josie Fair to craft her carefully constructed persona and seek validation for her fabricated narrative. 

The novel delves into the darker aspects of social media, exploring how it can be used to manipulate perceptions, amplify falsehoods, and fuel unhealthy obsessions with external validation. 

It serves as a commentary on the potential dangers of seeking self-worth through online platforms and the importance of cultivating a strong sense of self that is not reliant on external affirmation.