There is NOTHING I will not read by Holly Jackson. Everything she writes is gold and magic. This was no exception. The twins were insane and I didn’t see anything coming by. I gave up guessing half way through lol . RUN to get this on pub day!

3.5 stars

Jet Mason always thought she had more time. As the daughter of a wealthy family in Vermont, she kept putting off starting her life. However, one Halloween night, she is violently attacked at a party. An attack that lead to a catastrophic head injury that will lead to her death.

Now, Jet only has seven days to figure out who murdered her.

Thanks to Bantam and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson to review! This is Jackson’s adult debut, so I was interested in checking it out. She is known for her twisty YA mystery/thrillers, and this one definitely still fits that bill.

I will say, this is a pretty unique premise for a book. Someone who was violently attacked, alive long enough to solve their murder. Because of the premise, this is a fast-paced book with twists that (probably) won’t see coming. There were a couple that also surprised me, and it’s not always easy to surprise me. Jet ends up unveiling dark secrets that her small town might have wanted to keep in the dark.

While the driving mystery definitely keeps you reading, the writing felt bumpy from the beginning. There are also not a lot of likeable characters in this, which isn’t always a bad thing, but I’d like to at least like some of the side characters. There’s also a little bit of a romance, which I honestly could have done without (but it did add more emotion overall to the story).

All in all, I still think A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is Jackson’s best book, but if you’re looking for a dark, twisty mystery to pick up this summer, definitely try this one when it comes out at the end of July!

Wow—what a ride! Holly Jackson proves once again that she’s a mastermind when it comes to crafting strong, witty female main characters. Jet is no exception. Following her as she tries to solve her own murder is as suspenseful as it is shocking—and surprisingly funny at times.

Jackson strikes that perfect balance between heart-pounding mystery and emotional depth. There were moments that had me laughing out loud, and others that hit hard and made me tear up. If you're looking for a twisty thriller that will keep you guessing, make you feel all the emotions, and root hard for a clever, determined heroine, this is the book for you.

What in the actual heck did I just read? I feel like I have reader whiplash. This book is EVERYTHING and so much more. After being completely stuck in a reading slump, this book yanked me back in and wouldn’t let me go. I devoured it in one sitting because wow that plot!

Jet, our fiercely developed main character, is absolutely a freaking badass! With a literal ticking clock on her life, she resolves to do what she’s never done before. She’s going to finish something. She's going to solve her own murder. Watching her dig through clues, test alibis, and face uncomfortable truths about those closest to her was utterly consuming.

Holly Jackson delivers relentless suspense, heart-twisting emotional conflict, and pulse pounding urgency. I'm officially obsessed!! Everyone NEEDS to read this one. This book woke me from the depths of my slump and reminded me why I love reading.

More like this PLEASE!

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this!

I don't even know where to start on this review. I've loved Holly Jackson's other books, so this was definitely an anticipated read this year for me. I really did like the premise because the thought of solving your own murder was interesting and it created a time limit for the fmc due to her situation! And I'm proud to say I KNEW WHO DID IT!! I've never figured out who the murderer was in any other mystery books, but I got this one! There were definitely twist that I wasn't able to predict and it made this book that much enjoyable! I would recommend this book to any mystery loving reader! Can't wait for Holly Jackson's next book!

This is tough. I enjoyed the concept, found it unique, & was invested in solving the murder. But I also have quite a few complaints so let's list them:

- The MC, Jet, was absolutely insufferable. Yeah she's dying but I never felt like I had any sympathy for her
- All the other characters were also terrible except for Poor Sweet Billy (who WAS likable, though we were constantly reminded how poor and sweet he was)
- Had to suspend a lot of disbelief. Jet nearly dies, has her skull repaired, is on the verge of an aneurysm, and she just... leaves the hospital two days later and goes off sleuthing??
- I have no qualms about swearing in my books, but dropping the f bomb 155!!! times (thanks kindle) was excessive and really unnecessary as I felt like it was trying to make Jet be an "adult" and more mature
- This is Holly Jackson's first adult novel but still felt quite YA in its writing and execution (also see above bullet)
- The ending was like a wtf and I wasn't satisfied.

Sadly not a favorite, but perhaps others will enjoy this more than I did!

Thank you Netgalley & Random House/ Ballantine for the gifted arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rounded up from 3.75 ⭐️’s

The premise of this one drew me in. Someone tries to kill Jet, fails on the first attempt, but levies her with a 7-day death sentence. What else is a girl to do other than spend her last moments trying to solve her own murder?

I couldn’t help but the turn the page and was eager to solve the mystery (which is probably the most important aspect of a whodunnit).

Where this book faltered for me was the character development. Jet and the supporting cast are described as being in their late twenties or early thirties. But they all seemed MUCH younger — like 19, 20, 21. Their behaviors, attitudes, and decisions read pretty immature.

I know this is Holly Jackson’s first adult debut and while I am not sure she accomplished the audience shift, I did enjoy this book overall.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Not Quite Dead Yet
by Holly Jackson
Release Date 07/22/2025

In this book, the main character, Jet, is one of my favorite characters to date. She's funny, badass, intelligent, and doesn’t take crap from anyone. Once her mind is made up, nothing stops her.
Jet is about to experience a life-altering event. Following an attack in her home on Halloween night, she’ll wake up in the hospital to receive the shocking news: she has a deadly brain aneurysm that grants her only days to live. With such a limited time left, what will she choose to do? Will she gather her family for cherished moments? Perhaps embark on one last adventure? Or dive deep into reflection on her life and the things she’ll miss?

But hold on—Jet has other plans in mind. Instead of simply accepting her fate, she’s determined to use her remaining days to uncover the truth behind her own “attempted” murder. And she won’t be doing it alone; she’ll enlist her childhood friend Billy to help her unravel this mystery. (I loved loved love me some Billy♥️)

#notquitedeadyet #hollyjackson #randomhouse #bantambooks #penguinrandomhouse #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #5starbook #arcbook #ineedonemorechapter

Thank you to netgalley for the e arc of one of my most anticipated reads!
*4.5 rounded up
Wow what a ride! I finished reading this book in less than 24 hours. Jet was unlike any main character I’ve read before. Very sarcastic but you can’t help but root for her. The romance reader in me loved the dynamic between the two main characters. My favorite thing about Holly Jackson books is there’s so many twists that all tie together. I always think there’s something that’s not going to be explained… but it always is! Very fast paced once you get into it. Did not see most of the twists coming. It’s fun because you might get to guess a twist and feel smart… but then there’s still five other twists to shock you! I don’t love it when the reveal at the end of books is kind of just explaining everything at once but it made sense with the plot. Overall- loved it!
(review can currently be found on Goodreads)

Thank you to Random House for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As always, Holly Jackson delivers. Following our protagonist Jet after she suffers brain injury from an attack on Halloween that will result in her death in one weeks time, this book was gut wrenching. This intense mystery kept me engaged from beginning to end as Jet worked to solve her own murder.

Jet was such an incredible and dynamic character. She’s intensely relatable, and she quite literally took over ever scene she was in. You couldn’t not love her and root for her. She really makes this story in a big way, and the protagonist for this kind of book needed to be her.

For me, the mystery was a bit lacking. I obviously did not see the full twists and turns of the story, but I saw what the “final destination” of the road would be (and some of the significant landmarks). To love this as a mystery, it would have had to keep me guessing more than it did. Actually, at times I felt annoyed with the kind of red herrings that the protagonist fell for.

As for the writing, Jackson continues to be top tier. She does such an amazing job of letting you know exactly what was going on in such a fluid and natural way, really makes for a satisfying read for me. And due to the nature of this story, this book is highly emotional, and Miss Jackson makes sure that you feel every bit of it.

Overall, this was my least favorite of hers (I’ve read all of her novels now), but I would still full heartedly recommend it!

Not Quite Dead Yet is everything I wanted: fast, sharp, and absolutely unputdownable. Holly Jackson has mastered the art of writing smart, chaotic girls who feel real—messy thoughts, bad decisions, and all. Right from the first chapter, I was hooked. The concept sounds wild (because it is), but Jackson grounds it in enough emotional tension and razor-edged humor that it somehow just works. It’s twisty without trying too hard, dark without being heavy, and honestly just a really fun ride from start to finish.

What I loved most is that it never sacrifices voice for plot—both are strong, and both keep building. The pacing flies, and even when things get a little out there, I was completely on board. It balances grief, fear, and absolute chaos in a way that somehow feels…relatable? If you like morally gray characters, teenage girls with zero chill, and stories where everything unravels in the best possible way—this is your next obsession.

Thank you Netgalley and Holly Jackson for the opportunity to read this amazing ARC!!

Jet is going to solve her own murder. That is what she has decided to do with the time she has left. I can not believe how amazingly good this book was!! I was already a huge fan of Holly Jackson, but this, this went above and beyond!! I felt all the feels reading this book!! I laughed and I cried and that is very unusual for a thriller!! Jet Mason, what an amazing character! I absolutely loved everything about her!! This is definitely my top read of 2025 so far!! It was a 10 out of 10!!

Damn okay. First thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I was already a Holly Jackson fan but this could make anyone into a believer. Wow that ending and honestly the whole part kept me in the books grips. I can’t even say anything because I don’t want to ruin the experience for anyone else. Just read it, it’s a great one.

Holly Jackson doesn’t disappoint. I read this one in a day, needing to know the answers. I felt so sorry for Jet. Wow, what a ride this story took me on.

HOLLY JACKSON YOU HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!! man no one is doing mystery like her these days fr. this was an arc so no spoilers!! genuinely such a interesting concept — really added to the suspense that there was a SEVERE race against the clock, and not just in a general “what if the killer strike again” kind of way. jet was fun and a perfect girl genius (my favorite detective trope ever btw). i did guess the ending with 20% left but i maintain that’s EXACTLY how a good mystery should be written!! highly highly highly recommend.

Holly Jackson will be paying for my therapy bills after this book.

Let it be known that any words Holly Jackson will write, I will devour. Her adult debut is a HUGE hit. If you are looking for an actual gripping thriller where you can never guess what direction the story is headed and a sassy smart-ass FMC, you are obligated to pick up this book. Jet Mason, what a stunner of a human being you are. Jet is a character I will long to know. Quick witted, morbid humor, and a huge heart. Somehow I was crying in tears at the end of this book. Don’t get me wrong, it’s indeed a thriller. A genius of an idea to have someone solve their own murder. Finding out the alarming truths of these characters was nail biting. Don’t worry, Jackson throws in a touch of romance that will also have you scared for what can happen next.

This was the type of book I dream about when I say I want a twisty thriller with a good plot and good characters. I loved the small town setting and also loved the Stick Season references. Anyways, I am putting out a mandate to everyone I know to go pick up this book when it releases on July 22,2025.

Another great Holly Jackson novel. The concept of solving a "murder" with only a week to solve it was thrilling. Jet was such a likable and relatable character that it was sad to know her outcome right from the beginning. But overall, it was a great novel just like Jackson's other books.

*Not Quite Dead Yet* by Holly Jackson is a super gripping thriller—Jet gets attacked on Halloween and has just seven days to figure out *who tried to kill her* before a brain injury takes her down .

It’s fast-paced, full of twists, and totally binge-worthy—like a race against time where everyone around Jet suddenly feels suspicious. Perfect if you want a pulse-pounding, one-sitting kind of read.

This novel reads like a classic Holly Jackson YA thriller, but with (slightly) older characters and maybe a little heavier tone. That is a good thing! The hook of a murder victim walking around solving their own murder is fabulous. The pacing is taut. The main character’s family is teeming with secrets, and there is even a romantic storyline for good measure. This book was a fun, fast-paced read.

Okay so — this was a ride. You know those books where you tell yourself just one more chapter and then it’s suddenly 2am and you’re emotionally compromised? Yeah, it’s one of those.

The concept here is honestly so clever: a woman with seven days left to live because of a head injury tries to solve her own murder. I mean… tell me you wouldn’t be instantly nosy about that. And while parts of it moved a little slower than I’d hoped (I definitely paused mid-read to go doom-scroll TikTok a couple times), the payoff was totally worth it.

I adored the main character’s voice — sharp, messy, and self-aware in that I-hate-everyone-but-also-love-them kind of way. She’s a disaster and I was rooting for her the whole time. And Billy? Literal angel on earth. If no one else loves that man, I do.

The twists weren’t mind-blowing, but they were well-seeded and satisfying when they landed. I did guess one of them (because I am that girl), but it didn’t ruin the fun. The family drama, petty grudges, and small-town secrets gave me exactly the messy thriller energy I was craving.

Not a perfect book — some pacing issues early on and a couple moments where it felt like okay can we wrap this up please — but overall, such a solid, addictive read. If you like your thrillers with a side of dark humor and dysfunctional family chaos, this one’s for you.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion ✨