4.25 ⭐️

I’ve read most of Holly Jackson’s YA books (and loved them), so I was super excited to get into her first adult thriller. She did not disappoint. The plot line was super interesting and unique, unlike anything I’ve read before. I’ve read books about someone solving their own murder before, but not in the same way as this one.
I was locked in by the end of the first chapter. The pacing was great, keeping me invested and intrigued the whole way through. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me going back and forth between different suspects. While I had my guesses, I usually only figured things out right before they were revealed, so things were still surprising. Overall such an interesting and well paced thriller that will have you hooked from the start.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC! This was my first Holly Jackson book, and it did not disappoint. Great characters and twists and turns while also being a smooth, quick read. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

the concept of this book is next level insane, the execution… well that definitely left a lot to be desired.

the most i felt while reading this book was in the last 3-5%?? the crazy thing is is that i dont even believe this to be a bad read by any means but it also wasnt great?? and honestly i couldnt tell you one way or another what would have made it a better read for me.

jet was horrid honestly, there were very few moments where she got me to feel anything other than annoyed by her. she was very immature and acted like a child more often than not and as a current 27 year old i couldnt find it in me to be convinced she was anywhere near the same age as i am lol. billy was the star of the show for me, him and reggie were the best parts of this read and made everything worth it.

over all this was just a “meh” read for me but again it wasnt terrible.

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!!

Very excited I was able to read this one early as I’m a big fan of Holly Jackson and her writing. It was cool to see that she went for an adult novel this time rather than a YA, although to me it still read very similar to her YA novels. Not in a bad way though - the writing was very well paced and I had a hard time putting the book down. The premise is also super unique - Jet is attacked and only has a week to live due to a head injury, and she spends that week trying to figure out who murdered her. As we started figuring out more clues I did put the story together, but I appreciated that it wasn’t blindingly obvious from the beginning of the book. Overall I had a great time and would definitely recommend!

This is probably one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. The story is a great thriller but the main character Jets sense of dark humor just makes it so much better. I was glued to this book from the beginning and finished it way too fast. Jets dying and trying to solve her own murder but just has the darkest sense of humor about all of it. This book is hands down ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so put July 22 on your calendar and get this book. Thank you @netgalley for letting me read the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I liked the premise of having a legitimate timeline of someone dying and actually sticking with it. Their privileged life coming shattering down was interesting, though a little clique. I was THRILLED that the main romantic relationship wasn't an instant second chance romance type of love. Jet was.... a bit much overall and Billie seemed very pigeon-holed into his "nice guy" character but the majority of the characters were fairly dynamic.
Though I know this was Jackson's big leap to adult thrillers, it did read a bit young to me. I'm not sure if it was the dialogue or the general sentence structure. That said, I liked it! There was a point about a third of the way through that I guessed who did it, but then was thrown slightly off the scent. This was a pleasant turnaround, honestly. I feel like a lot of authors don't know how to properly throw people off their trail once they make it fairly obvious who did it.
The ending was appropriate and I felt like each person, basically, got what they deserved.... Besides Billy. Billy needs a hug or 18.

Good news: I really got caught up in the plot and had to speed through this.
Not so good: Would you really make so many jokes about dying if you had a few days to live? It did feel somewhat like YA to me.

Wow wow wow wow wow - I zoomed right through this, absolutely loved it. I read and loved A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, so I was excited to see what Jackson had up her sleeve for her foray into adult fiction.

Jet is in her mid-20s, living with her parents and making do as a chronically ill law school dropout. She doesn't know exactly what to do with her life. After a Halloween party, Jet is viciously attacked in her home. She pulls through, but with a caveat: she will die in 7 days of a brain aneurysm. Jet decides to do something with her life and make good of the last week by using it to solve her own murder. She jumps in feet-first, along with her childhood best friend, to figure out who would want to kill her and why.

There’s plenty of twists and turns which I loved. My only point of contention is the mystery of Jet’s phone and why her killer took it. We don’t really get a good answer, beyond it being good for the story that Jet can’t always easily get into contact with people. That’s probably just me missing something – I was racing through to find out what happened next, and Jackson kept me on my toes. I assumed that the killer was in a selfie she took, or perhaps his/her DNA was in the cracked screen, but we didn’t get a definitive answer as far as I know. Or maybe we did and I missed it (feel free to fill me in, fellow readers, thank you in advance).

I loved the ending, I loved the letters, I loved the red herrings and budding romance and that feeling of being cheated of more time – readers will feel the Jet’s frustration as her body begins to fail her. Will she solve the mystery before the 7 days are up? Is she even safe if she has someone who is motivated to finish the job?

4.5 stars!

I have read every book Holly Jackson has written so far, so I was stoked I was approved to read this early. I enjoyed this book and I feel it was better than the last her last release. This is her first adult book, but it honestly feels like the same demographic as all her other books, except the main characters are about 10 years older than her past characters. I can never figure out what makes something adult versus young-adult, but I didn’t think it was just the age of the characters. In all fairness, her YA books are enjoyable for me, who is well into my adult years.

Jet is attacked on Halloween night and is left for dead. She wakes up after this incident, but finds that she has an injury that will take her life in about a week. She dedicates her last week of life to finding out who her killer is.

There were multiple characters to keep track of and Jackson had them all there to serve a purpose. Each character had their own backstory and voice, so it was easy to differentiate them. Every character mentioned is relevant to the story, which is a feat to intertwine so many people. Jet had a similar feel to the characters in Jackson’s other books. She had a lot of character and depth. Jet did feel kind of immature for someone who was supposed to be 27 years old, which is why I had a hard time seeing this book as an adult versus YA.

Like I said, this book was great, the mystery was solid, and the pacing was great. I was compelled to keep reading and when I wasn’t able to read, I was thinking about it. The only negatives I had were that some of the book was repetitive. There were so many jokes about “finding out who killed me” that it got a bit annoying. There were multiple mysteries throughout the book, and as the reader, you weren’t meant to like many people. Even the ones you think you can, you start to question. I’m the type of reader who questions everyone. I was able to figure out the “twist” as the clues popped up, but it wasn’t glaringly obvious early on like in some of the previous books.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you liked her previous books. Even if you haven’t read her other books, this one is still a fun “popcorn” thriller. You’ll be entertained.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

I devoured Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson in one sitting... yes, one. I picked it up thinking I’d read a few chapters waiting for my flight that was delayed by an hour, and suddenly it was almost time for landing and I was holding back tears on that airplane, I was emotionally wrecked in the best way possible.
It’s not often a mystery makes me cry, but this story had me feeling all the emotions: grief, suspense, hope, fear, and even a few sharp laughs. Jet Mason’s voice is raw and real, and her journey through the final week of her life is heartbreaking and empowering at the same time. Holly Jackson masterfully weaves together a high-stakes thriller with deeply human moments of regret, love, and redemption.
The premise alone is genius: a woman trying to solve her own murder before she dies. But the execution? Absolutely flawless. The tension builds with every chapter, and just when I thought I had it figured out, Jackson flipped the narrative in a way that made my jaw drop. I can already tell it’s going to make serious waves at launch. With the emotional depth of a literary drama and the razor-sharp twists of a top-tier thriller, Not Quite Dead Yet cements Holly Jackson as a powerhouse in adult fiction, too.
If you’re looking for a mystery that does more than just keep you guessing—one that gets under your skin and stays with you long after the final page—this is it.

I love Holly Jackson. (Met her last year!) this is her first adult novel and I really liked it! It’s morbid and sad, and somehow less gory than her YA books but I loved the creative story and how she tried to solve her own murder. Lots of language though. At some point I did guess who the murderer was but it’s a good web of lies and storytelling to get there

HOLY SHIT THIS WAS SO GOOD! I was on the edge of my seat since the first chapter. Holly Jackson knows how to write a good thriller with crazy (but believable) twists! I absolutely loved her YA series, A Good Girl's Guide To Murder and this being her first adult novel, wow wow wow. I will literally pick up anything Holly writes!

Jet was such an intriguing character and I loved how we slowly got to know her. Her character development with Billy was so good! Ugh Billy, he deserves all the happiness in the world.

4.5✨ rounded up! For Holly Jackson’s first adult thriller, this was intense. Like holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop the entire time. I went in blind, and was not disappointed in the least.

Jet is brutally attacked on Halloween, leaving her with a brain injury and a week to live. So what does she decide to do? Solve her own murder. With the help of her childhood best friend, Billy, Jet systematically works her own case while slowly deteriorating. This portrayal is so unique, because you’re in the mind of someone who knows that they are going to die and have nothing left to lose.

The mystery was well done, the twists were unexpected, and there was even a childhood friends to lovers thrown in. But don’t go in expecting a happy ending, because you will be thoroughly traumatized by the time you reach the last page. I would highly recommend this adult debut from Holly Jackson, as long as you are comfortable with the subject material (primarily brain injuries and rapid mental/ physical deterioration). Not Quite Dead Yet releases on July 22, 2025.

Thank you Bantam/ Random House Publishing Group (via NetGalley) for gifting me with an eARC, all thoughts expressed are my own.

Holly Jackson is the queen of a murder mystery with heart ❤️

After reading AGGGTM and a couple of her other YA mysteries, I was curious to see how Jackson’s writing would transfer into a NA category. I should have known she’d deliver like always.

Without getting into spoilers, Jet’s story and perseverance was so beautifully written. She was faced with an impossible situation and chose to overcome it. Her story was truly remarkable and I cannot put into words just how mesmerizing this character was from beginning to end.

If you love murder mystery (with a twist of the victim not being dead!) strong female protagonists, complicated friendships and families, and plot twists you won’t see coming, definitely check this one out!

I received an Advanced Copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such an enjoyable read, with a thrilling storyline about a young woman who is attacked and has a week to solve her own crime before she passes away. It definitely had me guessing a few times about who I believed did it. The only thing that I did not like was that the main character, Jet kept referring to the "person who murdered me," even though she was not dead yet. It's a technicality, but personally could have done without those references. I also wished we could have seen a connection more with the main characters, but overall it was a satisfying read and great thriller.

Jackson's first adult novel and I devoured it! I should have known better than to get attached to a main character who only has seven days to live. I loved the plot of Jet trying to solve her own murder. I never suspected the killer. This is an edge of your seat thriller with a loveable (love with caution) main character. This is one thriller not to miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

read if you like:
🤷🏻‍♀️ whodunnit
⏰ solving a murder on the clock
📍 Vermont

summary:
Holly Jackson is one of my top three favorite authors and an automatic must-buy, so when I got early access to her latest, NOT QUITE DEAD YET, I dropped everything to read it—and finished it that same night. And honestly? This might be my favorite book of hers yet. It proves she can effortlessly transition from YA to adult thrillers without losing an ounce of what makes her storytelling so addictive.

The story follows Jet Mason, a twenty-something living in Woodstock, Vermont, with her wealthy, real estate-developer parents. She’s a bit adrift in life, telling herself she has time to figure things out—until everything changes on Halloween night, when she’s attacked and left for dead. Though she survives, doctors discover a fatal brain aneurysm, giving Jet just one week to live. With the clock ticking, she’s determined to find out what really happened to her. Joined by her childhood best friend and neighbor, Billy, Jet dives into a tangled web of secrets, examining everyone in her life: her ex-boyfriend, her parents, her brother, and his seemingly perfect wife, Sophia. The stakes couldn’t be higher—she has to solve the mystery before her time runs out.
Jet might be my favorite protagonist of all time. She’s sharp, hilarious, and relentless. Her sarcasm and dark humor bring lightness to an otherwise intense and emotional journey. Jackson also does a phenomenal job developing the supporting characters—you truly feel like you’re living in this small Vermont town, tangled up in its secrets. I found myself constantly second-guessing everyone: who could’ve done this, and why?

As with all of Jackson’s work, the pacing is electric. You’ll fly through it, torn between racing to uncover the truth and dreading the heartbreak you know is coming. The premise is completely original, and the ending? Prepare yourself. It’s emotionally devastating, deeply satisfying, and thought-provoking all at once. I closed the book feeling gutted, fulfilled, and already itching to talk about it with someone.

This is Jackson at her absolute best—bold, clever, and unforgettable.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. Make sure you preorder this book so you can check it out as soon as it releases on July 22!

Holly Jackson delivers another twisty, adrenaline-filled ride with Not Quite Dead Yet, her latest thriller—and her first marketed for adults. The story is packed with action and a constant sense of unease that had me flipping pages late into the night. I was hooked.

Jet is a fascinating main character—infuriating at times, sure, but compelling all the same. I loved her voice and energy, even when she was being a total brat. That said, my biggest struggle with this novel was accepting it as an adult thriller. Jet is supposed to be 27, but aside from being a law school dropout and grabbing a beer at the bar, her relationships and emotional responses felt significantly younger. Her dynamic with her family, Sophia, and Billy all read more like teenage angst than adult complexity. She could have easily been 17, and I think the story might have felt more grounded if she had been.

Still, the mystery itself was strong. The premise is fun, dark, and full of the kinds of twists Jackson is known for. I thought I had the ending pegged early on—but I was wrong, and that’s exactly what I want in a good thriller.

If you go in expecting the emotional maturity of a YA protagonist in an adult setting, you’ll probably enjoy the ride. It’s not a perfect leap into adult fiction, but it’s a suspenseful, entertaining read with plenty of bite.

*Not Quite Dead Yet* is another fast-paced, twisty thriller from Holly Jackson. The premise—a girl wakes up after an attack and is told she has seven days to live—is wild and immediately gripping. Jackson nails the dark humor and tension, with a sharp, relatable protagonist and her signature cliffhanger chapter style.

Some side characters could’ve used more depth, and a few twists felt slightly predictable, but overall, this is a highly entertaining, binge-worthy read. Perfect for fans of YA thrillers with a dark edge.

Omg!!! This. Book. Was. Perfect!!! Totally eat this up! I was so happy to have gotten early arc so I can brag about reading it early!! Thank you NetGalley and publisher!