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My question is did I finish this book or did it finish me?

Thank you to NetGallery and Ballantine for allowing me the insane pleasure to read the eARC of Not Quite Dead Yet.

4.5 rounded up to 5 ⭐️s

Okay so Holly Jackson is a genius and if you liked her AGGGTM trilogy you’d like this. I loved this and I am biased because I love Holly’s writing. It’s fast paced and easy to read and is humorous. Not to mention It’s got some bite to it. Yknow Jet the mc for the book can at times be a bitch I will be honest, however, I love her. She a very strong protagonist and I do appreciate and find her matter of fact ness endearing. However, that ending though… Holly I won’t forgive you for it. 😭😭😭 (I’m kidding obviously) Anyways, I truly enjoyed this book, I’m in love with Billy. I Really loved how Holly writes these two characters in relation to each other. You can just feel that they care deeply for each other. I don’t have any super specific qualms like I do with most books, but I can acknowledge it wasn’t perfect, however, I’m quite honestly overlooking it. Plus, bonus points to Holly, because me ugly crying late at night in bed because I got too attached to a character is no small feat. Anyways no major complaints, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Thanks again NetGallery and Ballantine!

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If I had had to sum up this book with one word it would be "crazy." There was not a single moment while reading this book that I ever thought to myself "this is so boring when will the action happen." Jet is such an inspiring female main character because she feels very realistic. So many people today put things off because they feel like they'll have time in the future but in reality, no one really knows just how much time they have left on earth so it is important to make the most of every moment. The ending absolutely wrecked me but I was overall happy with the final ending and the closure it gives. This book was awesome, and now I want to reread it to see if I can pick up on any clues I missed before!

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HOLY COW. This is Holly Jackson's best book yet. I do not say that lightly. "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" was the book that got me back into reading. I had very high hopes going into this book. The story centers on Jet Mason, a 27-year-old from a wealthy Vermont family, who finds herself with only seven days to live after a brutal Halloween night attack leaves her with a fatal brain injury. Determined to uncover her assailant before time runs out, Jet embarks on a gripping journey of self-investigation, suspecting those closest to her. With the help of her childhood friend Billy, Jet races against the clock to solve her own impending murder. Not Quite Dead Yet is a compelling read that combines mystery, emotional depth, and a race-against-time narrative. Jackson’s adept storytelling ensures that readers are hooked until the very last page. This novel is a must-read for fans of thrillers and those seeking a story that explores the complexities of life, death, and the choices we make. I devoured this book. It was very well done and well-written. FIVE STARS. Thank you so much for the ARC!

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Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I love everything Holly Jackson has written and this was no exception.

I really like how the first chapter set up all the suspects for Jet’s attack right away and the interconnectedness of the attack with the interpersonal relationships of everyone in this town. I liked that the book kept me guessing and built on the strained relationships to keep the mystery going throughout. The reveal at the end wasn’t obvious, but I liked that there was a clear way to put it all together. It was really well done.
Of course I wanted a miracle where Jet lived but that’s a me problem 😔💔
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!

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Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson is a gripping, high-stakes thriller that’s unlike anything I’ve read before. With a ticking clock and a fierce, determined protagonist, this book pulls you in from the very first page and refuses to let go.

On Halloween night, Jet finds herself the victim of a brutal attack. After waking up in the hospital, she’s told that a brain aneurysm caused by the assault will likely take her life within seven days. But Jet isn't going quietly—she’s using her final days to solve her own murder. With every moment precious, she begins uncovering secrets and pointing fingers. Even her closest friends and family aren't above suspicion.

Jet’s voice is bold, sharp, and unforgettable. As she pieces together the mystery, the tension ramps up and so does the emotional weight. Who wanted her dead—and why? Will she catch her killer before her time runs out?

Packed with suspense, dark twists, and a fierce sense of urgency, Not Quite Dead Yet is a must-read for fans of fast-paced thrillers and complex characters. Holly Jackson delivers yet another standout story that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

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I knew this would be intense - in fact, I double knew because 1) Holly Jackson and 2) the plot summary - but it was somehow even more intense than I thought it would be. This is Jackson's adult debut, and I think readers who liked the Good Girl's Guide to Murder series will like this one too, but prepare yourself to be basically gutted. The main character is 27 year old Jet Mason, who has dropped out of law school and moved back in with her parents (and super sweet doggo, Reggie) in the small town of Woodstock, VT. Jet's caustic persona is a bit of a defense mechanism against so many things that were out of her control - her polycystic kidney disease, her resentment over the fact that she has always felt like a disappointment to her mother, and the knowledge that she has always lived in the shadow of her sister Emily, who died tragically at 16. She's got a complicated relationship with her brother, an ex-boyfriend who is a constant reminder of the life she could have had, and an increasingly distant relationship with her childhood best friend, Billy. All of that changes on Halloween night, when she goes home from the town Halloween fair and is brutally attacked and left for dead in her parents' home. Billy finds her and calls 911 after hearing the wailing sounds of Reggie (a very good dog), and Jet wakes up 36 hours later in a hospital with a horrible headache and even worse news - her choices are to have a surgery with only a 10% survival rate to remove a tiny piece of her skull or to wait for that same tiny piece to form an aneurysm that will likely kill her within a week. Jet chooses the latter and vows to solve her own murder in the week that she has left. She reminded me in many ways of Pip from the GGGTM series, and while I was rooting for her to solve the mystery, I also was like "girl slow down and take some painkillers!" because she was constantly pushing herself past her limits, especially after the aneurysm formed. There were some good red herrings, some good twists and turns, and a pretty heartbreaking relationship rebuilding with Billy. I was satisfied by the solution to the mystery, but I didn't totally love the ending. It's always weird for me to go from romance (which is what I primarily read) to something like this, which is very much not in the HEA business. Still, a fast, compelling read, and a solid adult debut!

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I throughly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, kept me on my toes, & I could not put it down! Once I started reading, I had to know what happened! I gave this 4.5 stars and would definitely recommend to any thriller reader! I also have a review posted on TikTok

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HOLY MOLY. I was in tears for the entire duration of the last 20% of this book. Lore drop after lore drop that gave me full body chills, had me taking deep breaths, and re-reading the words to make sure they were true. This book absolutely gutted me in the best way possible. A twisty thriller with time ticking down that has you second-guessing all the way to the last seconds…

Holly Jackson knew what she was doing. The acknowledgements literally start with “…And breathe. Sorry, I know that was intense.” SHE KNEW. She knew she had crafted an absolutely unputdownable and intense thriller that would have us gasping for air at every turn.

This book also had a wonderful and unexpected hopeful undercurrent (despite all the trauma), that warmed my heart while ripping it to shreds.

A 5 star book. It’s a no-brainer (is that pun too soon?)

This written review was published on my Goodreads on Sunday, May 25 (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7588725706).
My video review was published on my TikTok account on Sunday, May 25 (https://www.tiktok.com/@bookswithjm/video/7508422628261072170).

Thank you to Random House for providing me an ARC of this book through NetGalley!

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Woah. That was… a rollercoaster. Fast paced, lots of twists, sad (of course) and exciting. I don’t want to say too much to give anything away- but I guessed 8 different killers throughout this book and didn’t figure it out until 10 pages before the reveal. (And honestly was proud of myself for finally figuring it out!)

5/5 stars, excellent read. If you like her previous books, you will love this too.

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Jesus Christ. How heartbreaking. I was hoping, praying, for a better outcome for our girl. Maybe some freak last minute Hail Mary. Such a great read. Cannot stop thinking about it.

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A nice who dunnit with a twist. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the twist. There things that the main character did that I don't think was possible with her condition. I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue.

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*** Thank you NetGalley & Bantam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Also, really really thank you to the big HJ ***

Whew. Okay.

Not Quite Dead Yet is somehow exactly what I thought it would be, and also the exact opposite. A funny, intense mystery about a spunky girl solving her own death, and simultaneously a powerful, poetic ode to a dying girl.

As usual, Holly Jackson knocked it out of the park. I love everything she writes, and this new adult mystery from her satisfied everything I want from an HJ novel: a tenaciously lovable MC, a side cast of complicated characters, and a mystery that will both shock and satisfy you every time. She never pulls punches, and she definitely didn't this time.

If you love HJ, please read. If you love intense and funny mysteries, also please read.

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My oh my. I just wanted to read a little until I’m tired but suddenly it’s 5am and the book is finished. Easy 4.5 stars for me! Can’t lie, I even cried a bit at the end.

The build up, jet’s character it all was just so fun to read about it even though it extremely hurt as well. The story pulls you immediately in and you feel like you’re part of the duo solving the mystery. I didn’t want to stop reading at all. I wished the ending would have been a bit different especially as I just adore Jet so much. She was relatable because cmon I think we’re all a bit lost with life and want to make our parents proud right?

I absolutely recommend this if you love some nice mystery.

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Wow. What started as an interesting, if somewhat cliched, premise turned into a story that truly delivered.

Jet thinks she has all the time in the world. But this belief is broken when she’s attacked with three hard hits to her head. Suddenly, she comes to in a hospital bed. All will be okay, right? Well… it turns out her brain now contains a ticking time bomb in the form of a shattered piece of her skull. She could get surgery, but her odds of survival are only 10%. Jet decides she’d rather use the time she has left solving her own murder.

Jet is a witty, sarcastic character who I loved. She copes by making jokes, which is something I do too. It makes everyone else really uncomfortable, but Jet remains unapologetically herself until the end.

This book brought me to tears twice, and it’s been a long time since a book has done that. Especially the letters section at the end, which had me sobbing. Great—but tragic—book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love Holly Jackson’s young adult thrillers and I was so excited to find out she was writing an adult thriller. This was DARK. It is not easy to read a book from the point of view of a person who knows they have a week to live. The banter between Jet and Billy does help and the plot line stays exciting. There are several twists and I didn’t see a lot of them coming. I feel like some elements were left unresolved but overall it was a great read.

I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review!

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Wow! This book is absolutely amazing! It took me on an emotional rollercoaster in the very best way. I adore Jet, she's such a relatable character! Her story is heartbreakingly beautiful. My jaw was on the floor with the amazing twists and turns. If you like mystery thriller books that suck you in and leave you questioning everything, this book is for you. I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this book ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Loved the concept, the pacing, Jet! Please make more adult novels, I’ll devour them. Thank you for the ARC!

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𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 22, 2025
📖 400 pages

🧠 She'll Solve Her Own Murder
🏠 Dark Secrets
📒 Affairs + Blackmail
🕸 Found Family
✨️ He's in Love, She's Clueless

I enjoyed this one so much. The premise is so unique, the characters were well-developed, and the constant twists and turns made it impossible to stop reading! Everyone had their own dark secrets, and Jet and Billy wasted no time uncovering them. Jet's growth in her final days was amazing, and I definitely cried a couple of times.

If you're looking for a snarky FMC who solves her own murder, a cinnamon-roll bestie who's head over heels for her, and unexpected twists galore, Not Quite Dead Yet is perfect for you!

Thank you so much, Random House Publishing, Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

#NotQuiteDeadYet #NetGalley

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wow. my emotions were all over the place while reading this, but i loved it. i loved jet, and it was very interesting and fun to follow her through her crazy story. i did think that this felt more like YA than adult, but i still enjoyed every second of the book. i also think that maybe i’ve just read too many mystery and thrillers, because i did somewhat predict the ending, making it a little less exciting than what i had hoped for. i may update this review in the future, but i’m leaving it as is for now to avoid spoiling it for anyone :)

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Listen, I will read ANYTHING that Holly Jackson writes.

This is her first step outside of Young Adult and it was such a good step. This story was insane, incredible, and most importantly original. I absolutely loved the concept of someone solving their own murder before they die. It kept me on the edge of my seat, especially at the end.
I loved all of Jet's remarks to her death and absolutely loved the relationship between her and Billy. Now I did put a couple of things together before the big reveal, but that didn't take away from how much I enjoy the book. 10/10 recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group!

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