Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced e-reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson was a delightful surprise for me! Sometimes, it can be challenging to enjoy adult books written by authors who have previously written several books in the Young Adult genre. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Holly Jackson skillfully incorporates quirky character personalities, such as Jet’s, into a captivating whodunit mystery. Initially, I had strong suspicions as to who attempted to murder Jet, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was mistaken. Fans of Jackson’s “Good Girls Guide to Murder” will undoubtedly love this new book, as the writing style is remarkably similar. My only criticism is that the book ends abruptly.

While Not Quite Dead Yet isn’t my favorite book from Holly Jackson, I still found it an overall enjoyable read. The first chapter or two were a little rough for me because I struggled to connect with the main character and didn’t find the story very gripping at first. However, once the attack on Jet happened, the plot really picked up and kept me hooked.

I personally found most of the characters (aside from Jet and Billy) pretty unlikeable, though I’m not sure if that was intentional or not. That said, the fast pace and layered storytelling made it easy to keep reading. I guessed who attacked Jet fairly early on, but the reveal of the motive genuinely surprised me and added a lot of depth to the story.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson hooked me immediately. The premise of Jet, who must solve her own murder before she can move on, kept me glued to the pages. I was right there with her, experiencing all her fear, sadness, and resolve. The plot had so many unexpected twists that left me completely stunned at times. Holly Jackson delivered a powerful, suspenseful story that I couldn’t put down.

This book is as unhinged as you’ve come to expect a Holly Jackson book to be. I might even say it’s the craziest but I could not but it down. You have to suspend some reality but it’s a great mystery and Jet is so sarcastic and funny. It’s even a little sad so buckle up!

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for the gifted ARC!

4.5 Stars

Title: Not Quite Dead Yet
Author: Holly Jackson
Pub Date: July 22, 2025

I am such a huge fan of Holly Jackson (best known for her A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER series) and her young adult thrillers, but when I heard she was writing her first adult thriller, I couldn't WAIT to get my hands on it!

This book was a wild and crazy ride! Within the first couple pages, there is an attack that leaves our main character, Jet Mason, almost dead, but...not quite dead yet. She isn't given long to live, but she is determined to use that time to not only find out who murdered her, but to also bring them to justice.

I thought that I had the ending of this one figured out and in the bag the whole time! I was CONVINCED I knew who the culprit was and how this story would end for Jet. I was wrong! I'm so glad I was wrong (LOL)! The ending was fast and intense and shocking all at once!

My only critique is that I think parts in the beginning half could have been a little trimmed up as some parts dragged a little bit ,but by the time I got to the end, I didn't care about that at all!

This is going to be a huge hit and I'm sure it will be a movie/TV show someday!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
4⭐️
Not Quite Dead Yet shows Holly Jackson stepping into adult fiction with the same sharpness and memorable characters that made her YA thrillers so addictive. The cast feels wonderfully familiar—messy, complicated, and everyone has their involvement in some aspect of a mystery—bringing the story to life in a way fans of her earlier work will absolutely appreciate.

I’ll admit, I was frustrated at times with the story, especially through the first 50% where the pacing felt a little slow. But once the pieces started to fall into place, I was completely hooked. The book is packed with twists and turns, and while the central mystery around Jet’s death didn’t always hit perfectly for me, the layers of side mysteries woven into it more than made up for it. Jackson does an incredible job tying everything together, making every little detail matter.

The concept itself is so original and fresh—it’s one of the most unique thrillers I’ve read in a long time—and it’s clear a ton of research went into crafting it. I also have to say, Jet’s deliciously dark humor made me laugh out loud more times than I can count… and yet, the emotional gravity of Jet’s situation hit just as hard. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished. It took me two days fi write this review because I felt so torn and was grieving Jet, a little bit.

Highly recommend for readers who love smart thrillers with a dark sense of humor, layered mysteries, and characters who stay with you long after the final page. I’m already designing a sprayed edge!

I really enjoy Holly Jackson’s YA novels and was excited to read her adult debut and it didn’t disappoint. This was a fast fun read and I really loved the premise that Jet has a week to solve her own murder since her head injury will trigger a fatal aneurysm. This was just filled so many twists and turns and the suspect list kept growing the more jet investigated and while the police think it was Jet’s ex who fled town the night of the attempted murder Jet has her doubts and man this just kept you guessing until the very end. Just so good and I can’t wait to read what she has next.

Thanks to Bantam and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Holly Jackson’s Not Quite Dead Yet is one of the most original mysteries I’ve read this year. When Jet is attacked in her own home on Halloween night, she has no idea who the assailant is and what’s worse is that she can’t imagine what the motive could be. What she does know for sure is that her days are numbered.

Jet is determined to figure out who tried to kill her but the list of possible suspects grows by the day. The police think that it was her ex who fled town the night of the incident, but Jet has her doubts. It could be someone who was burned by her family’s (possibly corrupt) construction company. It could be her money-hungry sister-in-law. It could even be her brother Luke, who has a temper and quite possibly a motive….

With the help of Billy, her neighbor and oldest friend, Jet investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding her attempted murder. Along the way Jet discovers that her town is filled with long-buried secrets and tragedies, and the big reveal is the epitome of jaw-dropping….

Not Quite Dead Yet delivers on its fantastic premise of Margaret “Jet” Mason solving her own murder, blending dark humor with just the right amount of thrills. The story is fast-paced and addictive, perfect for a binge read. Some of the twists truly come out of nowhere, keeping the suspense high and the pages turning. It’s a solid pick for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or One of Us Is Lying, offering a fresh take on the new adult thriller genre. This book is a great introduction for readers looking to dive into darker, twisty mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley for granting me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was such an insane read, and by that, I mean it is insane to be in the mind of someone who knows they only have one week left to live. I’ve never read a book like 'Not Quite Dead Yet' before. It felt like a fever dream, and I both loved and hated it. On one hand, this was an extremely gripping read. It really made me consider the importance of not wasting your life away, for you never know when it could be taken from you. However, as someone with chronic health anxiety, this book also caused a lot of intrusive thoughts. I’m not saying this for attention, and I also did not take stars off for this, as it is completely a me problem. I only want to issue a trigger warning to anyone who is sensitive to death. Please be careful about reading this.
Trigger warnings aside, I absolutely hated how this book ended. Obviously, I knew what was coming, and I was fully prepared for it. But the way it played out and the circumstances around it…I was SO sad (and mad) 😭. It also felt super rushed and anti-climactic, kind of like the author forgot about the ending until the very last minute. The rest of the book was so good, but the ending just fell flat.
However, I did LOVE the characters, especially Billy who is such a sweetheart 🥺💖 I didn't like Jet much at first, but she definitely grew on me, and I was able to connect with her.
If you love murder mysteries I 100% recommend this despite its flaws! Overall, it's a super clever and unique read and will definitely leave you in shock.

Holly Jackson never disappoints. This is fast paced and hard to put down. Jet was murdered in her home but don’t die. So she enlists her childhood best friend to help her solve her murder before she finally dies. While I did figure out a few of the twists overall it was a great read!

5 Stars — Suspenseful, Emotional, and Unforgettable!

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson had me hooked from the very first page. The story of Jet, who is murdered and must solve her own death before she truly passes on, had me in both suspense and tears. I felt every emotion alongside her — her fear, her heartbreak, her determination. The twists and turns were masterfully done, leaving me completely speechless more than once. Holly Jackson has created a story that's both heart-wrenching and utterly gripping. I couldn’t put it down!

The last 20% was actually really good, I wish the first 80% had kept me as hooked. Bouncing between 2 & 3 stars but 3 because I was truly so hooked in the last fifth. This book reminds me of "I've dug two graves for us, my dear,"— one for me, one for the liar standing near. Seven days to solve her own murder before she dies? Say less, I thought I’d be HOOKED. But I wasn’t, really. I was invested but not necessarily hooked. I truly think my issue is that Jet was an unlikable character to such an extent that I couldn’t find any redeeming qualities for her
The tension, the mystery, the ticking clock? All wonderful elements! Tension, suspense, and a myriad of desperate, edge-of-your-seat secrets? I’d love to recommend this to people!

✨️Review✨️
Not Quite Dead Yet By: Holly Jackson

5/5 🌙's

Overview: Jet is 27, and she feels like she hasn't truly accomplished anything despite being bright and having a lot of passions. Her family is well to do and prominent. Family secrets may just be the reason that she dies. But that's the thing. she's a dead girl walking. The time is ticking, and she wants to do this last thing before she goes her last contribution that she didn't give while she was alive. With the help of her childhood friend Billy, they researched the circumstances. Everyone is a suspect.

Thoughts: This book was so good. I couldn't put it down. the story was a snowball from beginning to end. The plot just kept growing and growing as it barreled down a hill. I was questioning everyone. There were so many motives and so many suspects. This truly encompasses the reality of a messy family with family ties to the town. Jet is extremely relatable. The 27 year old with so many hopes and dreams but not motivation and unsure of herself. I absolutely loved this novel. I was constantly making guesses, and in the end, I never called who did it. This book is unique because our main character is on her way to death, but she is solving her OWN murder.

I would recommend this book to ANY mystery lover. Anyone who loves small-town drama and deep connections. Do you love a twist to something as common as solving a crime?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this book by Holly Jackson in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

- did the book end or did it end me ?-

great question it actually ended me !!!!
thankyou netgalley for an arc of the book in exchange for a honest review

so now on to the review im sat here staring at the wall wondering what to do with my life now ,
to be honest i thought the first 50 pages were quite slow but after that it picked up and was going 500mph . i do think this should have been marketed as ya though as it felt like over ya books ive read

however now for the positives .
the characters were so well developed and it had such an intense story line and i felt fully invested line after line .
i could picture all the places mentioned and feel like this would be an excellent movie, the plot twist where plot twisting and the dog didnt die yay !!!!

so my final rating is ........

5 stars !!!!

First, I want to say, I appreciate the opportunity to read this book early as I am a big fan of Holly Jackson. I really liked the story, I didn’t think it would be much darker than As Good as Dead but it was and it was the better for it. Poor Jet. I wanted a miracle ending for her. I would have liked more resolution on Sophia positioning Scott and more information on if Scott selling the company had to do with Luke not being his biological son or not, but mostly Sophia. The note Jet wrote to Reggie at the end broke my heart. Poor Reggie.

Holly Jackson hits it ouT of the park with this unique YA thriller. So many twits..do not assume you know how it is goig to go down as it the story switches its direction many times over. Absolutely brilliant story plot in an age where it seems many ideas are recycled.
Jet Mason is 27 years old, still waiting for her life to begin, never able to finish anything she starts and most definitely does not notice how her oldest friend is crushing on her. Also she will be dead in 7 days. She refused a risking surgery and instead wants to investigate on her own who would want her dead. In the process, she sees that boy iina new light while uncovering many secrets of many different people like her dad, her brother, even her mother. She herself has a few.
Jet's personality is fierce. She has nothing to lose and you will root for her and still feel for her knowing what is to come (read author's acknowledgments afterward) Jet's letters to loved ones at the end were fabulous, loved the one to her sister-in-law.
This one is a keeper and will be devour by my students
Thank you Netgalley and Bantam/Random House.

Holly Jackson's newest thriller, Not Quite Dead Yet was a twisting roller coaster from the get go! Jet Mason was struck from behind and left for dead. But Jet was Not Quite Dead Yet! After waking up in the hospital and hearing she only had a week to live she decided to help the detectives find the person who attacked her. And so the roller coaster begins! Hang on tight, enjoy the ups and downs until the end!

I know that Holly Jackson is a hugely popular YA Mystery/Thriller author, and this is her adult debut - and, it really shows. Jet, our protagonist, may be 27 for the main events of this novel, but she just as easily could have been 16 or 17 - she, and most of the other characters, even those with adult jobs, marriages, and children, just didn't read as adult - I felt like they could all have just been teenagers. To me, the difference between an adult title and a YA title is not necessarily simply the age of the main characters of the book, but a sort of teenager vs. adult sensibility, and this book just didn't work for the on that front. So, expectations not met in that sense. That being said - if I consider this book as a YA thriller/mystery, it's a pretty good example of the genre - complicated characters with somewhat flawed reasoning, unresolved long-term issues, simmering town tension - I didn't hate it, I was just expecting something else from the marketing and classification of this one.

When you’re a thriller reader it can be difficult to find a unique concept, but Holly Jackson really offered something new with this one.
When our FMC Jet is brutally attacked in Halloween night, she has one week to live and solve her own murder.
Although I enjoyed the mystery of Jet’s story, for me the characters just lacked the depth I needed to really care about them. Jet’s character relies heavily on kind of an immature “I’m a fuck up but I’m quirky and funny” in a way that still feels very YA despite being an adult thriller.