Someone tried to kill Jet but didn't quite succeed. With a head injury that will kill her in 7 days, Jet wants to solve her own "murder" before she dies!

It's been a long time since I've read a mystery that kept me on my toes. Though the premise of the book is immediately heartbreaking, it also adds an urgency to the narrative.

I’m a huge fan of Holly Jackson and this did not disappoint. A young woman surviving her brutal attack only to find out she has a week to live and must solve her own murder. It kept me on my toes and I was shocked by the ending. Definitely a must read for murder mystery fans.

Sharp, strange, and impossible to put down — Not Quite Dead Yet is Holly Jackson’s most original twist yet.

Jet has never done much with her life — unless you count avoiding it entirely. But when she's attacked and left with a brain injury that's guaranteed to kill her within a week, she does something shocking: she starts paying attention.

Now, with her own countdown clock ticking, Jet dives into the mystery of who tried to kill her — and why. Her wealthy family is cagey. Her ex is suddenly supportive. Her small Vermont town seems to be filled with secrets. And someone really doesn’t want her asking questions.

Equal parts thriller, black comedy, and social satire - this is a unique twist to the every day thriller. Who do you trust when you're not even sure you'll make it to Friday?

#NotQuiteDeadYet #HollyJackson #RandomHouse #CountdownThriller

I love Holly Jackson! It makes no difference to me whether it's a YA or and Adult book, I will read it. This one did not disappoint and I'm thrilled that I was chosen to get a copy through netgalley. I cannot wait for everyone to enjoy this read as much as I did!

On Halloween night, Jet is attacked in her home. She wakes up in the hospital and finds out she only has about a week to live. She is determined to find her killer before her time runs out.

This concept drew me in and I absolutely tore through this book. Holly Jackson does an excellent job balancing dropping enough breadcrumbs in a mystery that all the twists make sense, while still remaining unpredictable. The ticking time clock in this kept me on the edge of my seat and I liked the whole ride. My only qualm is this definitely felt like a YA read with some language, not an adult thriller.

4.5 stars

It’s a new an interesting concept for a mystery book and well-written. The author says it is an adult thriller, but it feels similar to her other books that are YA mysteries.

Holly Jackson does it again with this twisty tale of suspense and mystery. Jet is almost murdered on Halloween night, but finds out due to her preexisting conditionand the murder attempt, she only has a week left to live. Her only goal for the week is to solve the crime of who killed her. Could it be the boyfriend she turned down for marriage, the boy that grew up across the street, or even one of her own family members. Readers are in for a wild ride as Jet races the clock to discover who the killer is before her time runs out.

I really enjoyed the book and it kept my interest throughout. Jett is a relatable character and her story line will appeal to many readers. The mysteries just kept coming in the story and just when you think you have it figured out, something else happens. Due to the language used in the book, I would recommend for high school and up.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder—now a hit Netflix series—returns with her first novel for adults: a twisty thriller about a young woman trying to solve her own murder.

Holly Jackson has outdone herself. This was absolutely brilliant from start to finish.

If you've read Holly Jackson books before, you'll love this—it has the same twistiness and small town setting with high stakes that her YA books do.

Holly had a talent for just hooking me into the mystery of her stories so quickly, I always speed through her books determined to find out what happens. But not without getting emotionally attached to the characters and their relationships first.

I also loved the relationship that developed between Jet and Billy as the book went on. Billy is such a proper gentleman and nothing bad should ever happen to him.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for advanced readers copy of this book!

This book was definitely suspenseful. I think had this been a YA book I would have loved it more. It was jarring to be reminded that Jet was 27 years old. In no way did she act like someone in her late 20s. I loved the premise though.

While the ending broke my heart, I was glued to the plot from the very beginning. I love how Jet grows in the story while at the same time dark secrets ling hidden spill out. I would recommend this title very highly to mystery fans.

From the very first page, Not Quite Dead Yet hooks you with its original and heart-wrenching premise. Jet, our fierce and unforgettable main character, wakes up in a hospital after being brutally attacked—her memory fractured, and her future uncertain. She’s faced with a devastating choice: undergo a risky brain surgery that she likely won’t survive, or live with the knowledge that she has only seven days left before an aneurysm ends her life.

Jet chooses to use her final days to do the unthinkable—solve her own attempted murder.

What follows is a dark, emotional, and utterly gripping thriller. Jet, with the help of her childhood friend Billy, begins to unravel the mystery of who wanted her dead, and why. The plot twists come fast and hard, not just revealing clues about her attack but also long-buried secrets within her family and the wider town. The final reveal is masterfully done—I never saw it coming, and it hit like a punch to the gut. "Chef’s kiss" doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Jet herself is the heart of the story. She's smart, sarcastic, and absolutely relentless. You feel her pain, her urgency, and her strength with every page. There are moments that will make you laugh and others that will break your heart. Even knowing the clock is ticking didn’t make her inevitable fate any easier to face—and when that final moment came, I was completely wrecked.

While the ending tied everything together, I did wish it had been given a bit more space to breathe. The resolution felt a little rushed, and I would have loved for Jet to fully witness the fallout of all her efforts. Still, the story’s impact is undeniable.

Not Quite Dead Yet stands out in a crowded thriller genre with its unique concept, compelling characters, and emotional depth. The ticking clock adds relentless suspense, and Jet’s journey—equal parts mystery, drama, and tragedy—makes this a standout read. A must-read for any fan of suspense or psychological thrillers. I devoured this book, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

Thank you Netgalley and Bantam/Random House for this advanced uncorrected readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was hoping to love this one more but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me! This is supposed to be an adult thriller but the tone reads very YA — the premise is compelling but the execution was lacking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an ARC of Not Quite Dead Yet.

I was interested to check out Holly Jackson's adult debut, but this honestly just felt like a YA book with the word "fuck" in it. The main character, Jet, is 27 years old but she comes off as an insufferable teenager and most of the scenes in the book feel juvenile. The entire plot is so medically and legally improbable that it distracted me from the story. I did like the ending and thought it tied up all the strings of the story nicely. If you've been a fan of Holly Jackson's YA books, you will probably really enjoy this one as well, but if you prefer more mature plot lines I would recommend skipping this one.

3.5 stars rounded down

3.75
Didn’t love Jet for the first half of the book but I appreciated her character development. I also like that holly jackson didn’t try to throw a Hail Mary twist in at the end to make it a more feel good ending. Emotional punch at the end for sure. The mystery was well set up while not being too crazy, you can look back and see all the pieces without them being glaringly obvious while you’re reading them.

The concept of this novel is so insanely creative, I have no idea how Holly Jackson thought of it!! Sadly, this fell flat for me just because I found the main character, Jet, to be super insufferable- I know Holly was going for an “asshole” character, but I just could not get behind her. The male lead, Billy, stole the show for me. he was by FAR my favorite character, and had the patience of a saint.
I thought the story was extremely well paced, and as always, the action scenes were *chefs kiss*. I felt like the ending was a bit too convenient, but I’ll allow it because loved how abruptly it ended. Another thing I loved was how balanced the emotional and comedic aspects were. While I may not have cared for Jet, she was hilarious. The tragedy of the story could’ve easily been lost behind the jokes, but it was super well crafted.
Will forever pick up Holly Jackson’s books, she is the QUEEN of suspense!!

Ok, first off, thank you very much for this eARC that was generously provided by the publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Second, that was so good! I’ve loved Holly’s books for years since I first read AGGGTM and when I saw this pop up, I knew I had to have it! I did not expect to get approved, and for that, I am extremely thankful and grateful to the publishers!

This book was a rollercoaster! It had me changing who I thought did it left and right up until the very end. I was rooting for Jet, and hoping for a different ending, but I understand the purpose of it as well. Very twisty, keeps you on your toes, and has you second guessing yourself with more and more information that unfolds. Holly went next level with this one!

My only complaint is that it’s considered an adult book, but read like a YA. Nothing adult even happened besides their ages and cursing. The characters were very juvenile and immature. But nonetheless it was really, really good, I couldn’t put it down, and I highly recommend it!

Jet Mason is struggling to find her way. She puts things off, always saying she can to them "later." After a viscous attack, later is no longer an option. With 7 days before her death, Jet decides to solve her own murder. As a reader, this story sucked me in quickly and I could only hold on for the ride! Jet is a complicated, stubborn character who is whip smart and even though she's not especially likable in the beginning, I found myself rooting for her. She's got nothing to lose so she lays it all on the line. This read was quick, engaging and gutted me at the end!

This is a fast, easy read. Some (a lot) of the characters seem like terrible people and parts of the storyline are in the realm of ‘this would never happen’, but it all adds to the charm and entertainment value of the book. Fair warning though, if you are looking for an Adult mystery/thriller, this probably isn’t for you. This is definitely more YA level.

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Group-Ballentine for the opportunity to read this arc!

This book absolutely crushed me. I’ve got to start reading more of Holly Jackson’s books. She’s such an amazing author. She gives you just enough information to theorize the ending to the mystery but also little enough that you don’t know what’s coming next. I also love the way she incorporates other media (transcripts, letters, etc.) into her books. It makes it so much more immersive.

As for the premise of the book, it was incredibly intriguing and absolutely heartbreaking. I cried before the 10% mark and was sobbing by the end.

I also loved the relationship that developed between Jet and Billy as the book went on. Billy is such a proper gentleman and nothing bad should ever happen to him. “Do you see me?” “I’ve always seen you, Jet”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for a fair review! I believe this book is a must read for 2025!

Review published on GoodReads and StoryGraph on April 14th, 2025.