Holly Jackson is an auto-buy author for me. I loved this book! If you liked her previous books, this one will not disappoint.

[ a huge thank you to netgalley & the random house publishing group for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! ]

↪ ★★★★.25 flabbergasted stars

❝ a dead woman walking. and dead women had no use for fear.❞

i. | the concept.
---> oh. my. goodness.
holly jackson, you never fail to amaze me 🤭

this book was unlike any other i've ever read. my reaction when reading the synopsis was as follows: "wait. what do you MEAN she's gonna die in 7 days and she knows it, but she's gonna solve her own murder??" literally. i would give anything to see the way this woman's mind works, because if just the concept of the book is this phenomenal, just think of how amazing the book itself would be.

on halloween night, jet mason, daughter of one of the wealthiest families in woodstock, is attacked by an intruder, leaving her with a massive head injury. her neurosurgeon predicts the formation of a brain aneurysm within 7 days. which, essentially, means that jet will be dead in 7 days. that is why jet decides to finally do something in her life, and solve her own murder.

🔨

ii. | the plot.
---> at the beginning, i'll say, it was a little slower than my liking. but as the book went on, the little things that bothered me eventually ended up growing on me.
the whole plot is so thought-out and well-explained, in a very organized but also flowy manner, which makes it so much easier for an average reader to understand.

a moment of silence for the astonishing cover and the great minds behind it, please. our fmc has brain injuries & a future brain aneurysm, and the cover designers took that and thought "well that's easy, let's make the cover a brain." so simple, yet so genius. it brings a whole lot of depth and gravity to the original plotline.

the plot itself? action-packed, intense, interesting, enjoyable and makes you think - "what next?"

🧠

iii. | the characters.
---> the characters, overall, were well thought-out, deep, realistic and constantly made you want to know more about them. except jet, i didn't like her much - i don't hate her, though.

𝜗 jet mason: i didn't like her for most of the book, honestly. she was annoying and constantly used the fact that her death would approach within days to manipulate people into giving her what she wanted (i have to say, though, it's probably why their investigation was so fast). she kept making jokes about her near-end, and i understand that she was trying to lighten the mood, but there's a certain limit to things. her character did get better nearing the end. she was smart but also dumb at the same time. does that make sense??

𝜗 billy finney: poor guy. he's suffered & all he wanted was to be loved back. idk what was wrong in jet's brain because it was SO obvious he was in love with her. like, from the beginning. HE WROTE A SONG FOR HER, GUYS. A SONG. i love him

𝜗 luke & sophia: i would have loved to know what went wrong in jet & sophia's friendship, but i guess delving into that topic would add another 100 pages to the book. luke, sadly, didn't realize how much his sister mattered to him until she died. i do like how he started to make improvements after realizing his (many) mistakes. and that revelation about him? eh, i wasn't very shocked.

𝜗 the rest of the family: i feel like scott mason wasn't taken seriously enough, just because he had PKD and had a tender-hearted soul. i love that father figure within him. dianne mason is an iffy character, and i'm still not sure i like her. there's more i wanna say (if u read this book, then yk who im talking about) but this is a spoiler-free review, so i can't.

🚓

iv. | the end.
---> in conclusion, holly jackson is about to release another banger that everyone needs to get their hands on!

i literally cannot wait for this to come out so i can grab my popcorn, sit back, relax and watch everyone's reactions to the events of this book. so much happens in so little time, it doesn't give you much time for processing. when you read this, don't go in with sky-high expectations and don't get disappointed when it's a little slow at the beginning - just stick for the ride, you'll enjoy the book, i promise.

xx
almas


review on goodreads.
uploaded on 27th May, 2025

I've read all of Holly Jackson's books, and I have to say - this could be her BEST WORK YET. I could not (and did not) put it down. Jet was a great protagonist- very smart with a dry, gallows humor and fierce determination. I was in turns on the edge of my seat and laughing out loud - sometimes both at the same time. We have a group of Holly Jackson fan at our library, and I know they're going to be thrilled with this book!

For the publishers: please keep the pictures of Jet's handwritten letters in the book (they really show the struggle of her trying to write with her non dominant hand), but also transcribe them for readers whose vision may be impaired or who have difficulty seeing them on their reading device. I know a lot of times I'm reading a book on my phone with Libby or Kindle and things like the letters aren't always easy to read in that medium. Fortunately, I was using Thorium on my PC to read this ARC, so there was no issue this time.

I'll start by saying that this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and sadly I was a bit disappointed. I was super excited to get this arc because so far I have loved every book I've read by Holly Jackson.

Since seeing that the character is in her 20s opposed to Jackson's previous main characters I thought the plot and concept would feel more adult. Unfortunatel for me, the writing still felt very YA.

All that to say I did enjoy the twist and turns but at the same time it felt like maybe one too many? So much needed to come together that by the end I was over it and just wanted to know who done it. Was I still super emotional on that last 5%? Hell yeah I was and loved it. Just wish the rest of the book had been just as great.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc.

Jet is trying to solve her own murder. Someone came into her house and hit her in the head with a hammer, and she lived……but unfortunately it caused complications in her brain and the doctors are giving her a week to live. She decides she’s going to use this week, her last week, to get to the bottom of what happened to her.
This book had suuuuch a unique premise. I’ve never read anything like it, and it’s so hard because Jet is such a lovable main character but you already know how it’s going to end. It was actually so crazy to be in the mind of someone who knows they’re going to die ???? I loved going through this story with her and putting all the pieces together. It was so fast paced and so easy to read, so many twists and turns I never stopped guessing and I never wanted to put it down. I think this was Holly Jackson’s first adult mystery and I think she did a great job!! The characters definitely felt very mature and the plot was crazy. I hope she never stops writing mysteries because all of her books have been so unique and fun to read. Thank you netgalley for the early copy!!!!

e-arc provided by Netgalley

I really enjoyed this. It's the first book that has made me bawl my eyes out in a long time, I did guess some of the turns but honestly while this was a good thriller/mystery I cared more about the relationship between Billy and Jet and it was done really well. I was also really hoping that something that happened wouldn't but I wasn't surprised

Not Quite Dead Yet is a thriller that delivers a fresh twist on the classic “solve your own murder” premise. When Jet is attacked by an unseen assailant and left with a fatal injury that will kill her in a week, she launches into a desperate investigation—not just to figure out who tried to kill her, but to make her final days count.

Jet, for me, was not the easiest person to love at first. I found her kind of annoying and just super defensive. But throughout the story, I could see why she became the way she was.

Jet had a week to figure out who killed her, and she was not playing any games. Almost every chapter had a new clue. I was right there with her trying to put the pieces together. I figured things out a few chapters before it was revealed, and I was almost screaming it at Jet because I wanted her to figure it out. So the clock ticking for her definitely made it an enjoyable thing for me because I was rooting for her to put the pieces together.

Holly Jackson did it for me with this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, wow, wow!!!! This book had me in a chokehold right from the start. I already knew I loved Holly Jackson’s writing, but this really just solidified that for me. Plot twists that I did NOT see coming and a MMC that was just *chefs kiss*. Will most definitely be recommending that everyone pick this up when it comes out!

Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with an eARC of 'Not Quite Dead Yet' in accordance with NetGalley.

________________________________________________________
What would you do if you had one week to live… and your murder was a mystery? Ask Jet.

Jet, the youngest sibling and ultimate procrastinator, is suddenly forced to strike the word ‘later’ from her dictionary because of a swift strike to the head that will leave her dead in 7 days. She's hell-bent on solving her own murder.

Growing up shadowed by siblings, she never knew what she was capable of (thanks to the 'I'll do it later' attitude). But this? Her time and stage to prove herself.

I went into this thinking I’d outsmart the mystery. I narrowed my eyes at EVERYONE.
Holly: 1
Sareema: 0
(I did not see that twist coming, and I am in pain.)


Billy. I need a Billy in my life. You need a Billy in your life. Jet NEEDED a Billy in her life. He’s respectful, supportive, kind—and I would protect him with everything I have.
Luke needs (oops needed) to do better. Yes, I think he did redeem himself a little at the end. Does that erase everything? Hm.
I despise Sophia. I disliked her from the get-go.
Jet deserved more understanding parents. At least her dad tried at times.
Reggie. Utterly obsessed with him. You'll just have to read to know who I'm talking about.

I love how, despite not getting along well with her family, Jet found her stronghold, her person. Even if she only had a week to spend with him (yes, folks, we're talking about Billy). And honestly, we all need to thank Holly Jackson for giving us not just one, but two rays of sunshine in this book.


I do feel the ending was a bit rushed. It could have been fleshed out more. Everything happened so quickly, you, the reader, barely had time to process it all. Just when you think you've figured it out, the book just… ends. You blink, and it’s over.
That’s the only reason this fell short of a full 5/5 rating.


We got a unique plot, a cinnamon roll MMC, good pacing and that signature Holly Jackson writing. I give this 4.5/5.

I'm grateful to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with an ARC of 'Not Quite Dead Yet' in accordance with NetGalley.

________________________________________________________

When I got approved for this ARC I just about THREW UP. Thank you to Netgally and Bantam for this ARC! Holly Jackson is one of my all time favorite authors and this definitely did not disappoint. This is easily up to par with Good Girls Guide to Murder. The main character ? LOVED. I was rooting for Jet the whole time and don’t remember the last time I resonated with the main character so much. The story starts with Jet being attacked in her own home but the killer doesn’t quite kill her yet. Doctors give her a week to live and she wastes no time trying to solve her own murder with her childhood best friend Billy. The twists and turns this story takes you are unbelievable and unexpected to the last page. Without giving anything away the ended totally gutted me. This is easily going to be the next big thriller of the summer. Get the Netflix series ready! 👏

I read this book in less than 24 hours, in just 3 sittings. And when I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the story. First of all, Holly Jackson, HOW DARE YOU write such a heartbreaking premise? Second—kudos, because I totally thought I had it figured out, but I DID NOT.

This is very much in line with Jackson’s other books, so if you like those, I’m betting you’ll like this.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. We follow Jet as she tries to solve her own murder. Yep that is right and holy moly Holly Jackson did an amazing job. As a reader you can feel all the various emotions that are present in the book. I would read this book again. Be careful who you trust, even family.

This was a great premise- very unique! It is definitely a young adult thriller, but I enjoyed it anyway and felt invested in the story, a few too many characters were introduced in the beginning, which caused me to get a little confused and have to re-read, but overall it was a good book with a twist I did not see coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

What is happening to Jet? Who did it? Will she find out who her attacker was before her time is up? This book kept me from getting other life things done! I kept wanting to come back to my book to find out what was happening and who did it. Would definitely recommend to friends and fellow readers!

I was absolutely over the moon when I saw that I got approved for an ARC of Holly Jackson’s adult debut. I adore her writing and was so excited to get into this one.
For an exact rating I think I’d give this one a 3.9. The concept of this novel was mind blowing- a girl is attacked and has a week to live, and she decides to solve her own murder- I’d never heard of a plot like that and I think that it was really well thought out and executed well.
However, I hated the main character! When the novel first opened, I automatically assumed I was reading about a teenager. She didn’t read as or act like someone who was in their 20s to me, and a lot of her decisions had me like “???” (though I supposed I’ve never known I was going to die so I can’t entirely judge her action)
Billy was a fantastic character through and through (although I did suspect him from the start. . how can you not?!)
I think the family relations were really well done, and the big reveal at the end totally made me gasp.
Also, I’m glad Jet died. Not because I wanted her to, because honestly I probably would’ve liked her more if she and Billy ended up together and she changed for the better, but because I think it really would’ve taken away from the novel if she survived.

Overall, I thought this was well written and I love Holly Jackson’s mind when it comes to mysteries and plot twists. There were just some things that made me deep sigh.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!!

I’ve never read a Holly Jackson book I didn’t love, and Not Quite Dead Yet is no exception. It’s fast-paced, full of twists, and something was always happening. I never felt bored—I picked it up every time I had a free minute just to see what would happen next.

I really liked the main characters, Jet and Billy. Jet was funny and sharp, but it was clear her sarcasm was a shield. Underneath all the quips, she had wisdom and a good heart. And Billy? Billy was the best.

The story had lots of twists, and I truly loved it all. I started piecing things together toward the end, but I didn’t have those suspicions early on—so I think Holly did a great job of revealing things at just the right pace. When the conclusion came, I actually said out loud, “I knew it!”

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the characters were constantly sniffing. “Billy sniffed.” “Jet sniffed.” It gave slight seasonal allergy vibes. 😅 And there were a lot of sentence fragments—both in dialogue and inner thoughts. Things like, “Didn’t think you would,” or “Got the package already.” (Not actual quotes, just examples.) I get that’s how people talk, and it wasn’t bad—it just stood out to me because it was used so often.

Other than that? Zero complaints. And those barely count.

If you’re a fan of Holly Jackson’s other books, you’ll love this one too. And if you’ve never read her before… what are you waiting for?

Holly Jackson does it again. This was soo good and entertaining, very fast paced. I was not expecting all the plot twists but they made the ending perfect. I loved the FMC she had such a good personality/humor for someone who was dying. I would highly recommend!

My question is did I finish this book or did it finish me?

Thank you to NetGallery and Ballantine for allowing me the insane pleasure to read the eARC of Not Quite Dead Yet.

4.5 rounded up to 5 ⭐️s

Okay so Holly Jackson is a genius and if you liked her AGGGTM trilogy you’d like this. I loved this and I am biased because I love Holly’s writing. It’s fast paced and easy to read and is humorous. Not to mention It’s got some bite to it. Yknow Jet the mc for the book can at times be a bitch I will be honest, however, I love her. She a very strong protagonist and I do appreciate and find her matter of fact ness endearing. However, that ending though… Holly I won’t forgive you for it. 😭😭😭 (I’m kidding obviously) Anyways, I truly enjoyed this book, I’m in love with Billy. I Really loved how Holly writes these two characters in relation to each other. You can just feel that they care deeply for each other. I don’t have any super specific qualms like I do with most books, but I can acknowledge it wasn’t perfect, however, I’m quite honestly overlooking it. Plus, bonus points to Holly, because me ugly crying late at night in bed because I got too attached to a character is no small feat. Anyways no major complaints, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Thanks again NetGallery and Ballantine!

If I had had to sum up this book with one word it would be "crazy." There was not a single moment while reading this book that I ever thought to myself "this is so boring when will the action happen." Jet is such an inspiring female main character because she feels very realistic. So many people today put things off because they feel like they'll have time in the future but in reality, no one really knows just how much time they have left on earth so it is important to make the most of every moment. The ending absolutely wrecked me but I was overall happy with the final ending and the closure it gives. This book was awesome, and now I want to reread it to see if I can pick up on any clues I missed before!

HOLY COW. This is Holly Jackson's best book yet. I do not say that lightly. "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" was the book that got me back into reading. I had very high hopes going into this book. The story centers on Jet Mason, a 27-year-old from a wealthy Vermont family, who finds herself with only seven days to live after a brutal Halloween night attack leaves her with a fatal brain injury. Determined to uncover her assailant before time runs out, Jet embarks on a gripping journey of self-investigation, suspecting those closest to her. With the help of her childhood friend Billy, Jet races against the clock to solve her own impending murder. Not Quite Dead Yet is a compelling read that combines mystery, emotional depth, and a race-against-time narrative. Jackson’s adept storytelling ensures that readers are hooked until the very last page. This novel is a must-read for fans of thrillers and those seeking a story that explores the complexities of life, death, and the choices we make. I devoured this book. It was very well done and well-written. FIVE STARS. Thank you so much for the ARC!