It’s hard to write a review for this book without spoilers. But at the same time even the title reveals the biggest spoiler: Jet is dying. Get your tissue box handy if you’re a crier like me.

Honestly I wasn’t sure her death would be any great loss. Jet is abrasive, self centered, and just not all that likable. As the story goes on you start to realize Why. Like the rest of her family, Jet is haunted by the death of her sister. This doesn’t excuse her behavior but it makes you understand.

Holly Jackson has created a world of flawed characters. And one of them is Jet’s childhood friend Billy who must be protected at all costs.

I’m going to end with the author’s own words via instagram: “get ready to hate me more than you ever have before. I’m still mad at myself honestly…”.

Thank you so much to Holly Jackson, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read one of my favorite authors book early.

Holly Jackson delivers a gripping punch with her adult debut, Not Quite Dead. From the first page, the story charges forward and never looks back. Jet is a standout—complex, haunted, and impossible to forget. The entire cast carries their own shadows, adding layers of tension and intrigue. Jackson masterfully weaves a dark, fast-paced plot that’s as twisted as it is addictive. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through. ★★★★★

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC!

oh. my. god.

this was the funniest and saddest book ever. Jet's humor was amazing. I mean she was constantly making jokes about how she was dying (literally) and barely anyone laughed. I got her dark humor and I appreciated it. I feel like I would be doing the same thing.

I was completely shocked by the ending. I did not see that coming at all. It wasn't even a possibility for me and wasn't in my top five guesses either.

And I don't know why, but I did not think she was actually going to die. I thought she might have been saved at the last minute, but nope. It was so sad, but at least she got to go at peace with herself.

All of her books have an ending that do not give a ton of closure. And I don't think it's a bad thing. Everything is mostly up for your own interpretation. I'm also glad she shows that although we find out what happened in the end, sometimes there is no true happy ending to these stories.

In Not Quite Dead Yet, we follow the journey of a young woman, Jet, who is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—she gets to solve her own murder. Yes, you read that right! After being viciously attacked, Jet is left with just seven days to uncover the truth behind her death before the clock runs out. And let me tell you, it's one heck of a rollercoaster ride!

Jet is one of those characters who leaves a lasting impression. She's loud, unapologetically opinionated, and full of life. Her personality keeps the story entertaining and adds a unique energy to the plot. However, as much as I loved her vibrant voice and sharp wit, I couldn’t shake the bittersweet feeling of knowing, deep down, she was destined for a tragic end. Despite knowing her time was so limited, I got attached to her.

The book is an exhilarating blend of suspense, raw emotion, and high stakes. Every page felt like a countdown to something inevitable, which kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing itself is sharp and engaging, drawing you into Jet’s world and her desperate, yet determined, search for answers. Despite the heavy premise, the story never feels too bleak, thanks to Jet’s humor and resilience.

Ultimately, Not Quite Dead Yet is a fun, unpredictable read that’s definitely worth the time. If you’re into stories that keep you hooked with suspense and heart, this one will have you gripped from start to finish!

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Genre: 🔪 Thriller
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓
Spice: 🚫
TW: Fire, death of a child

Premise: 1st adult thriller from author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. When a deadly attack leaves Jet with a traumatic brain injury & a diagnosis of 1 week to live, she vows to use her final days to solve her own murder.

Thoughts: Some authors peak with their 1st success, but Holly Jackson’s adult debut proves she’s just getting started. While innovative plots are a given, it’s her characterization that takes things next level. Jet—the book’s “not quite dead yet” POV character—is so alive with her sharp edges and sharper mind. I find her gallows humor particularly appealing. Weaving the plot of the mystery through the relationships Jet shares with her friends, family, and community members adds such depth, creating heartwarming and thought-provoking subplots. But for those, like me, who show up for the plot: Jackson did not disappoint. While this is not the 1st solve-your-own-murder mystery I’ve read, it is the 1st where the protagonist has been murdered. She’s just not quite dead yet. And the author does such a good job of exposing some characters’ motives while obfuscating others’ that I kept ping-ponging between culprits until nearly the end. There are a couple of plot holes that kept me from awarding a perfect score—should a person with an impending brain aneurysm be driving??--but I’m willing to overlook those on the strength of the story overall. If you love Holly Jackson or are just in search of your next great read, definitely pick up Not Quite Dead Yet. But maybe have those tissues handy.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Not Quite Dead Yet" is Holly Jackson's adult debut. I really liked her young adult series, "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," and have eagerly been awaiting this novel. Overall, it was an enjoyable mystery with a unique plot. The premise is so clever, and I was drawn in by the first few chapters. But then the pacing got a bit slower, and I was just kind of waiting for something to happen. While I certainly enjoyed this book, I would say it lacked a bit in the thrills department. The last 20% or so of the book was definitely the most exciting with some jaw-dropping twists. The main character is 27, but the book did still have a bit of a YA vibe. That's not necessarily a bad thing because I think readers of all ages will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads review posted 7/1/2025
Instagram review posted 7/16/2025

Goodreads Review:

I have yet to find a Holly Jackson book I didn't love and this is no exception.

We follow our main character Jet who is attempting to solve her own murder. Not in like a paranormal ghost way, but in the way that she gets attacked and is given a week to live. And what better way to spend your final days then playing amateur detective?

Admittedly the beginning was a bit slow for me to get into because Jet isn't the most loveable of a character, she gives grown up Pip vibes but Im more tolerable of teen characters being kinda dumb. However after a bit she did grow on me, and I guess if you're dying you can get a bit of slack on being a perfectly polite person.

Billy, on the other hand, was my absolute favorite character. He really carried the book for me because he was just so sweet

I can't really put much else in my review without it being a spoiler and I'm so sad I read this before release and cant force any of my friends to read it yet so we can talk about 😭 I'm just gonna say, the ending ?!?!? and leave it there

5/5 great book, highly recommend.

Instagram review:

Most of my big thoughts on this book are spoilers so this will be a very brief review, instead I'll say here someone please read it on release day and talk about it with me because it's still occupying a big portion of my brain 🫣

This book was a rollercoaster for me and I was even crying by the end (and usually books where it's known from the beginning there will be a bad end don't usually get to me)

I loved Good Girls Guide to Murder and The Reappearance of Rachel Price so obviously I went into this with very high hopes (which obviously were matched). We follow our main character Jet who gets attacked and then told "well you got like a week to live now" and of course what else would you do then try and play amateur detective and solve your own murder?

Jet isn't the most likeable of main characters but it honestly makes her feel like a real person, which then makes the whole book hit harder. She's just a person who's still figuring life out, and it made me want to root for her.

It was admittedly maybe a bit cliche at times but I didn't end up guessing the ending so it achieved all I usually need from a thriller book. Now don't mind me I'm about to go break my book buying ban (...again) to go place a preorder for a physical copy from my local bookstore

I've loved all of Holly Jackson's YA books and her adult debut blew past all of my expectations. Not Quite Dead Yet was packed with tension, urgency, and unforgettable characters. The premise alone was chilling. Jet Mason, given a week to live after a brutal attack, decides to spend her final days solving her own murder. What followed was a clever, high-stakes mystery that unfolded like a ticking clock.
Jet was a compelling and layered heroine. Watching her grapple with her mortality while navigating secrets, betrayals, and fractured relationships made this story not only suspenseful but deeply moving. The dynamic between her and her childhood friend, Billy, added warmth and heart to the cold paranoia that crept through every chapter.
Holly Jackson’s signature style with fast pacing, smart twists, and whip-sharp dialogue translated perfectly into the adult thriller genre. Every suspect felt plausible, and the final reveal was both shocking and satisfying. I loved how the story balanced dark humor with emotional depth and the reminder that sometimes it takes facing death to really choose life. This was a thrilling ride from start to finish. I could not put it down!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

“I’m going to solve my own murder.”

Jet always thought she’d have time to figure out her life, but after an unknown assailant bashes her head in, she is out of time. She can undergo a surgery with extremely low odds of survival or spend the last week of her life finding out who did this to her…

This mystery had an intriguing premise and unfolded at a good pace. There were enough clues to guess some reveals while others were interesting surprises.

I enjoyed Jet’s dark humor and her connection with Billy. He was the heart of this book.

Jet was initially an unlikable character, struggling to find success, showing little motivation and seemingly hating the world. There were strained family dynamics that took a while to be explained, making it difficult to sympathize with the characters in the beginning. Over time, the tale revealed such compounded disfunction that it became easier to root for Jet as she boldly investigated her attack and revealed multiple family secrets.

Overall, this was a dark thriller that intrigued me enough to binge read in a day.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

This was a decent read! I had heard this was the author’s first adult thriller, but honestly, it didn’t feel all that different from YA. Aside from the main character being in her late 20s and the occasional vulgar word, the tone and character dynamics still felt very YA to me. The characters came across a bit young at times, which made some moments feel a little cheesy.

The story started off really strong, but it didn’t quite maintain that momentum for me through the end. That said, the ending itself was emotional and well done.

Overall, it was okay—not bad by any means, but not something that will really stick with me.

“I’m running out of minutes.”

“It’s a frog to me, if it’s a frog to you.”

Now Holly Jackson, I know I just KNOW when you said “just breathe” you knew exactly what you did to us with that ending. I’ve cried too many times this year over books for someone who doesn’t cry over much in real life, because real life is hard and I don’t need my books hard too. 😅

Anyway, wonderful job on another murder mystery/thriller. Having the victim investigate her murder before/after it had already happened or was happening? I knew to be looking for clues early on from your last series and I did. AND I had narrowed it down to 4 people early on, leaning more towards a specific someone because… dads am I right? I stayed up late just to finish this and now I’m going to try to process what happened before I go to bed. The ending was devastating and I need Billy to be alright because obviously Jet isn’t.

Phew, this was a doozy! I am blown away by the crazy tension and buildup of this book. I loved the mystery and thought it would be a middle of the road read but I was so wrong. There are so many layers and secrets in this story, I was invested in the plot and investigation immediately. Happening around Halloween added the perfect atmosphere to this book.

I really connected with Jet and the way she didn’t give up on finding her killer. The way she approached her inevitable death with humor and sarcasm added a certain lightness to the book, it offset the depressing sense of doom I felt for her character. Knowing there is nothing you can do and dying young are very mind bending thoughts!

This is my second book by the author and I will definitely read anything she writes next. Her writing is very visual for me and the pacing was just right. The culmination of the story made me a bit emotional and I appreciated that we got a lot of answers in the end, although very bittersweet, definitely worth the ride.

Thank you to Bantam for the review copy.

A terrifying, enticing story! I am a major fan of holly Jackson but try not to let that dictate my other reviews. However, I didn’t need to for Not Quite Dead Yet because it was phenomenal.

WOW!!! I honestly read this is two nights because I WAS AT THE EDGE OF MY SEAT. The introduction to our main characters in the first chapter of the book made me feel like I was watching a 90's slasher film like scream which I adored. Jet takes you through an emotional rollercoaster full of action and twists that will not disappoint, and the time for her to solve her own murder is ticking down with every second.

This was definitely a fast paced read and would recommend not only to anyone who enjoyed A Good Girl's Guide To Murder, but also classic 90's thriller movie lovers!

I went into this book intrigued because the concept of the story appeared immediately engaging. I mean a woman who survives a brutal trauma to her head but left with only 7 days to find out who did it before she dies from complications. Seems like a great fast paced, keep you on your toes thriller. But, there were many moments and reasons that I almost did not finish this book. It felt at times like the point that the main character is living with a significant head trauma was lost based on her actions after being released from the hospital. (Running, driving, consuming alcohol with strong pain killers, etc.) And those scenes/details kept bringing me out of the story, like wait a second should she really be doing that?
Throughout the scenes leading up to twists or turns felt rushed and sloppy making major reveals predictable. Additionally the ending felt lost on me with the big reveal being a long monologue from Billy, leaving Jet to die without knowing who hurt her, her biggest goal throughout the book. It made the plot of the story seem meaningless at this point.
Apart from all of this the letters Jet wrote for her family at the end were beautiful and a great emotional element to the story that demonstrated her growth throughout the story coming to a close and a beautiful way to give her closure.
Overall, the story had great potential but just fell flat in a lot of areas and at many left me with no motivation to continue because I just wasn't drawn in like I hoped for.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC copy!!

A young woman receives a unique opportunity to solve her own murder before she dies in a week.

Jet Mason is viewed as unambitious and lazy by her family, who are influential in their small town in Vermont. On Halloween night, her life takes a dramatic turn when she wakes up in a hospital bed with a fatal aneurysm. With only a week left to live, Jet and her childhood best friend, Billy, are determined to uncover the truth behind her impending murder.

Throughout the book, the characters were very intriguing. Holly Jackson skillfully made me dislike everyone in the Mason family and even Jet at times, however, I remained interested by the story. Each family member had a secret they wanted to keep hidden.

While everything in this book was delightful, I did not like the ending of Jet's relationship with Billy. It felt as though her feelings for him weren’t genuine. They only reconnected when she needed his help to solve her murder, taking him to various locations for her case without regard for his work or his music. I understand that she is dying, but I struggle to see how she developed real feelings for him.

I am so hyped for Holly's adult debut... but this easily could have been a teenage protagonist and I would not have noticed. Jet never quite felt 27 to me.

The general premise of this story had me HOOKED. Solving your own murder with a ticking time bomb in your brain? count me in. The stakes were high, it gave Jets disregard for proper investigative protocol actual meaning. Nothing frustrates me more when protagonists start messing with police investigations and everyone acts like that's fine. Jet had a reason and I appreciated that.

Despite the confidence with which i declared my opinions on how it WOULD end, the ending did manage to sneak by me until the end. Honestly had i not been so married to my idea i may figured it out sooner but i was convinced i was right and was refusing to really consider anything else.

overall the story is decent, its incredibly fast paced, and if you've enjoyed all of Holly's works to this point I think this will be a welcome read to all fans. Realistically aside from significantly more 'f-bombs' this book can be read by her YA audience too, i actually think AGGGTM was more graphic than this 😂

Loved this book! Author is great so I’m not surprised. Story line was fantastic! Also loved the cover on the book too.

When Jet Mason is attacked on Halloween night by an unseen intruder, she has potentially deadly head trauma and needs to figure out who attacked her while her condition deteriorates. I really enjoyed the main characters of the book, especially Jet, but obviously we know she has an expiration date, according to the doctors. This was absolutely a "who dunnit" book, and the FMC must figure it out before her time expires. This was a fast paced read, and I attribute that the literally clock counting down the time she has left. I won't lie; the ending shattered me (no spoilers). I highly enjoy Holly Jackson's writing, and this one was no exception.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early!
Holly Jackson wrote her first adult thriller, and let me tell you, it was so good! It is truly an emotional journey we go on as the main character, Jet, attempts to solve her own murder along with her estranged boy-next-door bestie, Billy.
Now, don’t get me wrong, the entire situation of how Jet is not only alive, but actually walking around is kind of unbelievable. Okay, it’s insane. But, if you look past that, wow! What a good plot for a book!
This book made me laugh (yes, out loud!!) and it also made me cry (real tears, people.) If you’re a Holly Jackson fan, you may know Holly is a queen of twists BUT ALSO she’s a queen of making me emotional. At least the dog survives in this one. (Holly, I still don’t forgive you for you know who.)
The twists and turns this book took me on were so fun and it kept me guessing the whole time! There were truly so many ways it could have gone. So much evidence that it really could have been anyone. But, when it came down to it, the real baddie made so much sense! I love a book that keeps you guessing.
If you’ve never read a Holly Jackson book before, make this one your first! It truly was so entertaining. Have some tissues ready at the end.
Also Holly if you’re reading this: I don’t hate you. I am not disappointed. HOWEVER, how could you do that to me??? Actual tears sitting at my desk on my lunch break??
I really only have myself to blame. You did warn me, after all.
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. Absolutely loved it, as always!