Holly Jackson's first adult novel is a hit! It follows Jet, a 27 year old girl, who is brutally attacked and left for dead. She lives but is told she only has about one week until an aneurysm in her brain bursts, meaning her attack will soon be a murder. She decides to use this last week of her life to solve her own murder. I loved the twists and turns of this novel, and the relationship between Billy and Jet. I thought the big reveal was wonderfully executed. My only complaint was that at times it felt like a bit too much was happening. I also didn't love Holly Jackson's writing style on this one, though I understand why she chose it. All in all, this was an excellent first adult title for Jackson.

This was okay. Holly Jackson writing an adult thriller was something I was really looking forward to, but unfortunately this was just as outlandish as her YA. Her writing is always quick and entertaining regardless of the plot though.

Holly Jackson never disappoints and this one was no exception. Not Quite Dead Yet was actually her first adult thriller, and while it did lag a bit at times, the concept was so unique that I couldn’t put this book down. Even though it is labeled as adult, I will definitely be adding this one to my high school library.

As an adult reader of YA and a huge fan of Holly Jackson's AGGGTM series, I was so excited to read Not Quite Dead Yet. Keeping in mind that I'm not generally a big reader of adult murder-mysteries, here is my review:

The Good: The pacing of this book was really well done. Just enough red herrings to keep you guessing, and always forward movement on the plot. After all, Jet doesn't have a lot of time to mess around. She's only got a week to solve her own murder.

The Bad: First off, the first chapter is objectively not good and I cannot pin down why except that everyone was so unlikeable. I very nearly DNFd before I hit the murder scene, which improved the pace significantly. Second, Jet's determination to solve the case without telling the police anything she finds out made no sense - they are a bit bumbling but not ill-meaning, as far as she knows. And third, I can't take Billy seriously. It seemed like while Jet had moved away from home and not evolved much emotionally, Billy had stayed in their hometown and not evolved at all, whatsoever. He read like an 18-year-old; as if he and Jet had been friends as children and she left for ten years and came back, and he remained frozen in time, awaiting her return.

The Meh: This really read as YA for me. The language, the (belated) coming-of-age, the innocence of Jet and Billy's relationship, and Jet's relationship with her parents really felt like themes that belonged in a YA book. The adults are all insufferable, and the young people are hardly any more redeemable. I realize that Jet needed to be an older character in order to make some of the decisions (and have some of the regrets) that she did, but her life experience felt as depthless as a teen's. In a way, particularly in the beginning of the book, it felt like an excuse to swear a lot, which doesn't bother me usually but somehow felt incongruous in this title.

3.5 Stars, rounded down, because while I enjoyed reading this book a lot, I have marinated on it a bit and the things that have stuck with me most are the things I was annoyed by.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book

I have yet to read a Holly Jackson book that I didn’t love! No exception here. This book is sad and funny and thrilling and all the feels wrapped up in one. The main character is a strong female lead and her witty banter kept me pulling for her to the very end. You’ll get hooked in the beginning and stay turning the pages to the end! Great read! Highly recommended!

Thank you Holly Jackson!
Another great book by this author.
4.5 starts from me.
Jet (FMC) has limited time to solve her OWN murder. Yes - that is typed correctly, her own murder.
This plot is well structured and the pace is something of my dreams for a thriller/mystery.
I had a hard time putting this book down and I am still sitting here wishing I could read it again for the first time.
I love Holly Jackson, and I have to say... this might have moved into the spot of my favorite book from her.
Characters were very well developed. Instantly connected with Jet and I felt like I was right with her emotionally! The banter - so funny. I was a detective and right with Jet trying to figure this out! And BILLY! Sweet Billy... ugh! I can't say enough about this book!
There are twists and turns and I was left audibly say, "OMG WHAT?!", multiple times while reading this book.
This book was so dynamic, so thrilling, and heart-breaking at the same time.
I have tried so hard not to give any spoilers but it is so hard because this book is one of my favorites of this year!
Immediately add this to your July 2025 TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam/Random House for the opportunity to read this uncorrected ARC for a review!
Happy Reading!

Jet's motto has always been, "I'll do it later," which is the last thing she says to her family before ditching them at the fall festival and heading home, where she is attacked. Upon waking in the hospital, Jet discovers that she has two options: go in for a risky surgery now to remove the splinter of bone dangerously close to her brain, or die in seven days from an aneurysm. Obviously, Jet chooses the latter, determined to find the person who "killed" her. Alongside her longtime friend Billy (who is clearly in love with her), Jet starts investigating in the living-on-the-edge manner she's lived her whole life.

Jet was an intriguing protagonist, very much doing things her way and not the way any rational human being would. There were a lot of suspects and secrets that kept me on my toes. I really liked the slow burn romance between Jet and Billy. Overall this was a fast-paced thriller with a solid mystery - even though I thought I had solved it super early on, the twists at the end turned all that around.

This is such an interesting idea!! I really love this concept, and Holly Jackson's writing keeps the tension high. I didn't love Jet as a character (though I do appreciate how prickly she is), and still don't 100% understand her initial decision no skip the surgery (I was on her mom's side!), but overall this was a great read.

The book was decent overall, but a few elements left me confused. The ending, in particular, felt unclear—I didn’t fully understand the killer’s motive or how it all tied together. That said, I really enjoyed the countdown structure leading up to the day she died; it added tension and kept me turning the pages. I also appreciated that the author chose not to give Jet a miraculous cure, which made the story feel more grounded and real. However, the frequent use of the F word felt excessive and took away from the experience a bit. With a bit more clarity in the ending and toned-down language, this could have been a stronger read.

When a killer leaves a contentious and obnoxious 27-year-old woman for dead, one would imagine the list of suspects endless. Surviving the attack, Margaret “Jet” Mason learns a deadly aneurysm will claim her life in seven days. Determined to solve her own murder, she uncovers a wealth of heinous secrets, the most monstrous involving those she trusts most.

"Hansel" Jackson (as I’ve come to call her due to the strategic little breadcrumbs she drops along the way) has penned a clever little murder mystery with plenty of whiplashing twists and turns certain to satisfy finicky readers.

Although the MC has a vocabulary largely consisting of four-letter words and a disposition that repels the more civilized, Jackson allows glimpses of a damaged soul seeking acceptance and tosses in a devoted companion to sweeten the pot.

While it’s fair to say portions of NOT QUITE DEAD YET require occasional detachment from reality, and even though Jet often comes across as flippant when contemplating her impending mortality, for the most part, the novel is a gratifying read. Much appreciation to Holly Jackson, Bantam, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced e-reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson was a delightful surprise for me! Sometimes, it can be challenging to enjoy adult books written by authors who have previously written several books in the Young Adult genre. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Holly Jackson skillfully incorporates quirky character personalities, such as Jet’s, into a captivating whodunit mystery. Initially, I had strong suspicions as to who attempted to murder Jet, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was mistaken. Fans of Jackson’s “Good Girls Guide to Murder” will undoubtedly love this new book, as the writing style is remarkably similar. My only criticism is that the book ends abruptly.

While Not Quite Dead Yet isn’t my favorite book from Holly Jackson, I still found it an overall enjoyable read. The first chapter or two were a little rough for me because I struggled to connect with the main character and didn’t find the story very gripping at first. However, once the attack on Jet happened, the plot really picked up and kept me hooked.

I personally found most of the characters (aside from Jet and Billy) pretty unlikeable, though I’m not sure if that was intentional or not. That said, the fast pace and layered storytelling made it easy to keep reading. I guessed who attacked Jet fairly early on, but the reveal of the motive genuinely surprised me and added a lot of depth to the story.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson hooked me immediately. The premise of Jet, who must solve her own murder before she can move on, kept me glued to the pages. I was right there with her, experiencing all her fear, sadness, and resolve. The plot had so many unexpected twists that left me completely stunned at times. Holly Jackson delivered a powerful, suspenseful story that I couldn’t put down.

This book is as unhinged as you’ve come to expect a Holly Jackson book to be. I might even say it’s the craziest but I could not but it down. You have to suspend some reality but it’s a great mystery and Jet is so sarcastic and funny. It’s even a little sad so buckle up!

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the gifted ARC!

4.5 Stars

Title: Not Quite Dead Yet
Author: Holly Jackson
Pub Date: July 22, 2025

I am such a huge fan of Holly Jackson (best known for her A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER series) and her young adult thrillers, but when I heard she was writing her first adult thriller, I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on it!

This book was a wild and crazy ride! Within the first couple pages, there is an attack that leaves our main character, Jet Mason, almost dead, but...not quite dead yet. She isn't given long to live, but she is determined to use that time to not only find out who murdered her, but to also bring them to justice.

I thought that I had the ending of this one figured out and in the bag the whole time! I was CONVINCED I knew who the culprit was and how this story would end for Jet. I was wrong! I'm so glad I was wrong (LOL)! The ending was fast and intense and shocking all at once!

My only critique is that I think parts in the beginning half could have been a little trimmed up as some parts dragged a little bit ,but by the time I got to the end, I didn't care about that at all!

This is going to be a huge hit and I'm sure it will be a movie/TV show someday!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
4⭐️
Not Quite Dead Yet shows Holly Jackson stepping into adult fiction with the same sharpness and memorable characters that made her YA thrillers so addictive. The cast feels wonderfully familiar—messy, complicated, and everyone has their involvement in some aspect of a mystery—bringing the story to life in a way fans of her earlier work will absolutely appreciate.

I’ll admit, I was frustrated at times with the story, especially through the first 50% where the pacing felt a little slow. But once the pieces started to fall into place, I was completely hooked. The book is packed with twists and turns, and while the central mystery around Jet’s death didn’t always hit perfectly for me, the layers of side mysteries woven into it more than made up for it. Jackson does an incredible job tying everything together, making every little detail matter.

The concept itself is so original and fresh—it’s one of the most unique thrillers I’ve read in a long time—and it’s clear a ton of research went into crafting it. I also have to say, Jet’s deliciously dark humor made me laugh out loud more times than I can count… and yet, the emotional gravity of Jet’s situation hit just as hard. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished. It took me two days fi write this review because I felt so torn and was grieving Jet, a little bit.

Highly recommend for readers who love smart thrillers with a dark sense of humor, layered mysteries, and characters who stay with you long after the final page. I’m already designing a sprayed edge!

I really enjoy Holly Jackson’s YA novels and was excited to read her adult debut and it didn’t disappoint. This was a fast fun read and I really loved the premise that Jet has a week to solve her own murder since her head injury will trigger a fatal aneurysm. This was just filled so many twists and turns and the suspect list kept growing the more jet investigated and while the police think it was Jet’s ex who fled town the night of the attempted murder Jet has her doubts and man this just kept you guessing until the very end. Just so good and I can’t wait to read what she has next.

Thanks to Bantam and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Holly Jackson’s Not Quite Dead Yet is one of the most original mysteries I’ve read this year. When Jet is attacked in her own home on Halloween night, she has no idea who the assailant is and what’s worse is that she can’t imagine what the motive could be. What she does know for sure is that her days are numbered.

Jet is determined to figure out who tried to kill her but the list of possible suspects grows by the day. The police think that it was her ex who fled town the night of the incident, but Jet has her doubts. It could be someone who was burned by her family’s (possibly corrupt) construction company. It could be her money-hungry sister-in-law. It could even be her brother Luke, who has a temper and quite possibly a motive….

With the help of Billy, her neighbor and oldest friend, Jet investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding her attempted murder. Along the way Jet discovers that her town is filled with long-buried secrets and tragedies, and the big reveal is the epitome of jaw-dropping….

Not Quite Dead Yet delivers on its fantastic premise of Margaret “Jet” Mason solving her own murder, blending dark humor with just the right amount of thrills. The story is fast-paced and addictive, perfect for a binge read. Some of the twists truly come out of nowhere, keeping the suspense high and the pages turning. It’s a solid pick for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or One of Us Is Lying, offering a fresh take on the new adult thriller genre. This book is a great introduction for readers looking to dive into darker, twisty mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley for granting me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was such an insane read, and by that, I mean it is insane to be in the mind of someone who knows they only have one week left to live. I’ve never read a book like 'Not Quite Dead Yet' before. It felt like a fever dream, and I both loved and hated it. On one hand, this was an extremely gripping read. It really made me consider the importance of not wasting your life away, for you never know when it could be taken from you. However, as someone with chronic health anxiety, this book also caused a lot of intrusive thoughts. I’m not saying this for attention, and I also did not take stars off for this, as it is completely a me problem. I only want to issue a trigger warning to anyone who is sensitive to death. Please be careful about reading this.
Trigger warnings aside, I absolutely hated how this book ended. Obviously, I knew what was coming, and I was fully prepared for it. But the way it played out and the circumstances around it…I was SO sad (and mad) 😭. It also felt super rushed and anti-climactic, kind of like the author forgot about the ending until the very last minute. The rest of the book was so good, but the ending just fell flat.
However, I did LOVE the characters, especially Billy who is such a sweetheart 🥺💖 I didn't like Jet much at first, but she definitely grew on me, and I was able to connect with her.
If you love murder mysteries I 100% recommend this despite its flaws! Overall, it's a super clever and unique read and will definitely leave you in shock.