5 ⭐️
Expected publication date - July 22. 2025

WHAT I LOVED - EVERYTHING! This was a great book, I would have to say what (or who) I loved most were the main characters, Jet and Billy. Jet was a take no bullshit, wise cracking young woman, and Billy was a sweet guy, willing to do anything for Jet.

WHAT I LIKED - The mystery itself was intriguing and was told in a very unique way. I don't think I ever read a book where the murdered woman was solving her own murder BEFORE she died. That's pretty badass.

WHAT I DISLIKED - I don't think there was one situation, or sentence even, that I didn't like. They ending was pretty sad, but there was no avoiding that!!

WOULD I RECOMMEND? 100% ABSOLUTELY! This one had me on the edge of my seat, I couldn't put it down!

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

I’m absolutely thrilled to have received an eARC of Not Quite Dead by Holly Jackson—huge thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and of course, the queen of thrillers herself, Holly Jackson!

Having previously read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, I was already familiar with Jackson’s fast-paced, twisty storytelling. But while I loved that series, the YA themes didn’t always fully resonate with me. Not Quite Dead changes the game. This adult thriller delivers everything I love about Jackson’s writing—sharp pacing, layered characters, and jaw-dropping plot twists—with a darker, more mature tone.

The premise is brilliant: Jet, a 27-year-old heiress from a powerful Vermont family, is violently attacked on Halloween night and wakes with the knowledge that she has only seven days to live before a fatal brain injury takes her life. With time running out and nowhere else to turn, she enlists the help of her childhood best friend Billy to solve her own murder—before it's too late.

What unfolds is a gripping, emotional, and ultimately heartbreaking mystery. The character development is rich, the stakes are high, and the ending? Absolutely devastating in the best way. Those final letters will stay with me for a long time.

Jackson weaves together suspense, romance, and a satisfyingly twisty plot with ease. Just when you think you have it all figured out—she flips everything upside down. I couldn’t put this book down, and I can’t recommend it enough to fans of thrillers that go beyond the surface.

Bravo, Holly Jackson. You nailed it.

For starters, this book has such a unique premise! Jet is the victim of a crime and the injury she suffers leads to an impending aneurism that will take her life within the week. With the time she has left she is determined to solve her own murder. I really connected with Jet as a character and I liked how frank she was about her situation. The hometown characters of her life provide a wealth of suspects and motives. I had a lot of different ideas of who committed the crime but didn't figure things out until almost the end. That made the read so enjoyable and kept me furiously turning the pages. I really liked all of Holly Jackson's YA books and now I can't wait to read what she creates for her adult readers next. Thanks to Holly Jackson, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Not Quite Dead Yet was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I’m a huge fan of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson and the premise of Not Quite Dead Yet is so unique and intriguing. Unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me.

I found myself not wanting to pick this book up for the first 60% or so because the pacing was a bit slow and I didn’t find any characters likeable. I found the main character, Jet, particularly unlikeable in the beginning so it was a little difficult to root for her. However, once I reached the 60% mark, the pacing picked up, the characters, especially Jet and Billy, grew on me, and I found the plot to be much more engaging and fun to read.

I really enjoyed the last 40% and uncovering all the small-town secrets was really fun. I correctly guessed who murdered Jet around the halfway mark but Holly Jackson is such a talented thriller writer that I ended up changing my mind and suspecting other people for a while before realizing my original guess was correct towards the end of the book. Jet had great character development but her character arc was a slow burn so it took reaching the end of the book to see her growth. The entire book was very dark and the tone was extremely tense but there were moments of levity and humor, which I enjoyed. I really liked the ending because I never could have predicted it and it was much darker than I expected.

Overall, I liked this book and I think fans of Holly Jackson will enjoy it! I recommend Not Quite Dead Yet to anyone looking for a dark small-town mystery/thriller with a unique premise! It would make a great Halloween or fall read!

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5

Not Quite Dead Yet is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. Holly Jackson delivers another addictive mystery filled with her signature blend of dark humor, sharp dialogue, and high-stakes suspense. The plot is layered and clever, with just the right balance of angst and chilling danger. I absolutely loved the banter between the two main characters. I was hooked all the way through and loved the unexpected turns. After "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" series, then this - she is a new auto-read author me!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

When Jet is attacked on Halloween in her own home, she is given the grave news that her time is up....well soon.

So what does one do with one week to live. Solve her own murder of course.

Jet and her childhood best friend team up and go down every avenue in finding the suspect that attempted to kill her.

Jackson did a wonderful job of leaving the reader guessing right up until the end, creating plausibility in each character Jet interacted with.

Real enjoyable, suspenseful read.

I really wanted to love this book but I think it was very jumbled. All of the people introduced in the beginning was confusing, but I pushed through knowing it was just to make our minds have so many options of the murderer. The concept is amazing and super cool, but I was not a big fan of the ending. I adore Holly Jackson's writing and it is so easy to read but the plot fell through for me. However, it did hold my interest all the way through and I read it in less than 24 hours. I also did not see the twists coming which is all you want from a thriller, so I bumped it up an extra star.

Thank you to Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC!

Holly Jackson’s first adult novel is a total adrenaline rush with a unique premise: a woman trying to solve her own murder before she dies. Jet Mason is a relatable, procrastinating 27-year-old who suddenly faces a terrifying countdown after a brutal attack leaves her with a fatal brain injury. The stakes are high, and the book wastes no time ramping up the tension.

I loved the eerie atmosphere of and the tangled web of suspects among Jet’s family and friends. The writing was sharp and propulsive, with plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing. While some of the side characters felt a little underdeveloped, Jet’s voice was strong and compelling enough to carry the story.

The beginning of this book did drag out for me a little but still really enjoyed overall!

Holly Jackson is an auto-buy author for me, and she did not disappoint with her first adult book!

Our girl Jet has seven days to solve her own murder before she dies. This book was full of family and small town drama; lots of twists and turns. I loved Jet's voice--Holly really nailed it with her writing style.

Suspend your disbelief for how Jet manages to physically do so much after the attack and just roll with the detective adventure. It's a good read!

If you need to know:
Does the dog die? (view spoiler)
Is there a happy ending? (view spoiler)

Thank you NetGalley + publisher for the ARC!

Holly Jackson delivers in a big way with her debut adult thriller! The plot is refreshingly original, packed with twists and reveals that kept me hooked from start to finish. Even when I had things figured out, there were more curveballs that had me second guessing. Jet, the main character, was hilariously full of sass and determination. Fast-paced, binge-worthy, and totally unputdownable. While it still carries some YA vibes, it works in the best way possible.

Be sure to check this one out immediately upon publication on July 22nd!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this amazing ARC!

One thing I know for sure is that Holly Jackson knows how to write a thriller!! I loved the concept and how each character was very definable. I really bonded with Jet along the journey to solve her own murder. Around half way through I thought I had it all solved (think again). This book was filled with of emotions and I love reading about families that are messier than my own. Can’t wait to listen to the audiobook when it comes out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have no words other than I absolutely loved this book! There were many parts that I found myself comparing to Holly Jackson's previous works, but it's very obvious from the get-go that this book is quite different. The suspense, thriller, and mystery all kept me on my toes with the most unexpected ending I could ever foretell. I loved every bit of it and highly recommend it for people who enjoy a good sit-down armchair thriller.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was interesting and it kept me guessing on what would happen next. Rating it lower because I just didn’t find any of the characters likable except for Billy.

In seven days Jet Mason will be dead.

Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. I’ll do it later, she always says. She has time.

Until Halloween night, when Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder.

She suffers a catastrophic head injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a deadly aneurysm.

Jet has never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her former best friend turned sister-in-law, her ex-boyfriend.

She has at most seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something:

Jet is going to solve her own murder.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up to a 5)
Spice: 0.1/5
Cursing: min
Format/Source: ebook ARC from NetGalley and Penguin Random House
Genres/Tropes: Thriller, twisty, small town, mystery
Audience: Adult
Setting: Vermont
Characters: Jet, Billy, Luke, Sophia, JJ, Jack, Andrew, Dianne, Scott, Henry
👍 short-med chapters, TBI rep, humor, twists, mystery, unique storyline
👎 cursing

Description:
In 7 days, Jet Mason will be dead.
Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. I’ll do it later, she always says. She has time.
Until Halloween night, when Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder.
She suffers a catastrophic head injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a deadly aneurysm.
Jet has never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her former best friend turned sister-in-law, her ex-boyfriend.
She has at most seven days, and as her condition deteriorates, she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. Nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something:
Jet is going to solve her own murder.

Opinion:
Holly writes another twist-filled thriller ride of a novel with fascinating characters, and this time, it's for adults! Jet's sarcastic humor and puns were quite entertaining. The short-med chapters and fast-paced storyline made for a quick read. I always enjoy a novel with characters with accurately portrayed medical issues, and Jet's brain injury symptoms were correctly written. I did not care for the cursing (especially so many f-bombs). The twists were unexpected, and some were quite shocking. I've never read a storyline where the MC invesigates her own murder; I found it absolutely captivating. I was thoroughly entertained by this novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys twisty thriller novels.
#bookstagram #arcreader #booklovers #thrillerbooks #twisty #booktok #hollyjackson #netgalley
***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Right off the bat, I sunk into Holly Jackson's world. Jet is another great main character, with the dark cynicism of Five Survive's Red Kenny and the hot-tempered stubbornness of The Reappearance of Rachel Price's Bel Price. (Nothing like Pip though, and at this point I think Jackson will never make another main character as phenomenal as Pippa Fitz-Amobi- I say this with love, by the way.) I can't say I loved every character, but I loved the way Jackson wrote them; everyone had a reason to have murdered Jet, and it was just as hard to figure out who to believe for Jet as it was for me.

Something that Jackson excels at every time is pacing; Her writing has always been superb, slowly building up to the big twist while never losing the entertainment factor. She knows how to keep you guessing and suspecting everyone- and I mean everyone- until the bitter end. And speaking of endings, be prepared: Not Quite Dead Yet has Holly Jackson's darkest and most bittersweet ending yet.

I was super excited to read this one since I was a big fan of AGGGTM but this fell flat for me. The premise was super intriguing but the plot twists were super predictable and the FMC just made me cringe because of her immaturity. Also this book is marketed for adults but it read as YA for me, I felt myself skimming parts just to be finished with it. However I did enjoy Billy a lot and the moments that Jet and him shared together. I feel like if Jackson aged her characters down by 10 years then this book would have had more of an impact on me!

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback !

Ok WOW. Read this in less than 24 hours basically. Kept me on the edge of my seat, and flipping through the pages. Holly’s so good at making you *think* you know what’s happening and then totally twisting it the other way. Even though I think this was a more “adult” novel, some parts still read YA. BUT I really enjoyed this!

Wow! Great debut novel for adults! I'm a big fan of Holly Jackson's YA work, so I knew I had to read this book for adults. She nailed it. Absolutely nailed it. Jet is an outspoken 20-something woman still trying to find her way. It seems she is the family screw up because she is trying to live up to the memory of her deceased sister. On Halloween night, Jet is brutally attacked and left for dead...but she makes it. However, the doctor says she has about a week before a deadly brain aneurysm will take her life. She works tirelessly to solve her own murder before she runs out of time. The frantic pace of the story, Jet's doggedness on the hunt, shady characters...all easily had me firmly guessing someone other than the actual perpetrator. I didn't quite figure it out! So well done! Also, can we have a moment for Billy? Billy is Jet's childhood best friend, and he has loved her since they were kids. He spends the week trying to help Jet, knowing full well the woman he loves is dying. What do you even do with that? Must read for Holly Jackson fans!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson 🕵️‍♀️💀

This one hooked me right away: a main character racing against time to solve her own murder? I'm in.

Jet has seven days before a fatal aneurysm finishes what a Halloween night attack started—and in that time, she turns her quiet, privileged life upside down. Suddenly, everyone around her looks like a suspect: her ex, her sister-in-law, even her own family. As her memory fractures and her body weakens, Jet has to figure out not just who did this to her, but why.

The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is tense, and Holly Jackson brings her signature twists and moral gray areas to this adult debut. Think Knives Out meets Before I Go to Sleep. 🔍🩸

Why 4 stars? Just a tiny bit of uneven momentum in the middle—but that final act? Worth it. A chilling, clever, and fast-paced read that I couldn’t stop thinking about.

Highly recommend if you loved The Housemaid, Then She Was Gone, or anything that makes you question everyone… 👀