Member Review

❝ Billy, this past week, I haven’t really been dying. I think, maybe, it’s the opposite. I’ve finally been living. And that’s all because of you. ❞

⊹₊⟡⋆ Not Quite Dead Yet ⏳

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ~ 4.5


౨ৎ spoiler-free review

⟡ preread ⟡

⠀⠀⠀ ⌕ this is my first Holly Jackson book!! thanks to NetGalley for the arc! read my review on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7365848447


✑ overview

⠀⠀⠀ ↳ Jet, a twenty-seven year-old, has been brutally attacked on Halloween night. Diagnosed to die in a week’s time, she is determined to solve her own murder before it’s too late.


✶ my thoughts

⠀⠀⠀ ❥ that ending messed with my feelings, but I absolutely loved every second of this book! It was tense, fast-paced, emotional, and the characters were flawlessly done.
⠀⠀⠀ ❥ the way that Holly Jackson balanced the plot and characters was beautiful, and it kept me guessing at every point of the story.


❖ characters

⠀⠀⠀ ➵ Jet •⠀⠀ “Because, Billy, this past week, I haven’t really been dying. I think, maybe, it’s the opposite. I’ve finally been living. And that’s all because of you. You showed me. It’s the best thing that anyone’s ever done for me, and I’ll never forget it.”⠀⠀ ~~ Jet was an amazing character. Her determination fueled the plot, and yet she still felt so compassionate and authentic. I also loved the detailed aspect of how she was slowly losing ability to function, and how that actually affected the story and characters.
⠀⠀⠀ ➵ Billy •⠀⠀ “I think this has been the worst week of my life, because I’m going to lose you, and I don’t want to lose you. But, it’s also been the best week of my life, because I got to spend it with you.” ⠀⠀ ~~ Billy was the actual sweetest, and I adored every scene with him. The way that he broke through Jet’s tough demeanor, and how he was so patient with her as she solved the murder showed him as such a loyal and understanding friend. The ending with him shattered my heart, and his song for Jet was so heartfelt. ✶
⠀⠀⠀ ➵ Luke⠀⠀ ~~ Luke was such an elaborate character, and a lot of the mystery was surrounding him and what happened to Emily and his obsession with the Mason Construction company, which added extra complexity.


◗ plot

⠀⠀⠀ ✦ Everything was so twisty, and even when the characters had a lead, everything got mixed up with new discoveries, which made it so hard to guess the real murderer.
⠀⠀⠀ ✦ I also thought it was clever how even when the mcs had the objective of finding the murderer, they uncovered other secrets about the Mason family and company, it just added another layer of depth.
⠀⠀⠀ ✦ I loved the way the chapter endings were written, they were all so fast-paced and kept me hooked the entire time.


⭑ worldbuilding

⠀⠀⠀ ↠ every part of the Woodstock community and their neighborhood felt so realistic, and all the family connections felt authentic.
⠀⠀⠀ ↠ I also loved how it was set in 2025, and how some parts were connected to what’s going on right now, like how Billy sang Stick Season by Noah Kahan at the bar, and how they played the song in the truck.
⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀

➶ my recommendation

⤷ ⟡ age rating: 14+
⤷ ⟡ content warnings:
⠀⠀⠀— language ~ 9/10
⠀⠀⠀— romance ~ 3/10
⠀⠀⠀— violence ~ 6/10 - murder, assault with weapon, arson, drowning, gunshot
⤷ ⟡ Best for readers who love tense mystery with subtle romance subplots


☾ final verdict:

Not Quite Dead Yet read like a young adult mystery thriller, which I loved, and I especially loved the emotional aspects, characters, and the fast-paced plot.


Not Quite Dead Yet — 2025
~ ∘₊ ✦