Holly Jackson is the queen of a murder mystery with heart ❤️

After reading AGGGTM and a couple of her other YA mysteries, I was curious to see how Jackson’s writing would transfer into a NA category. I should have known she’d deliver like always.

Without getting into spoilers, Jet’s story and perseverance was so beautifully written. She was faced with an impossible situation and chose to overcome it. Her story was truly remarkable and I cannot put into words just how mesmerizing this character was from beginning to end.

If you love murder mystery (with a twist of the victim not being dead!) strong female protagonists, complicated friendships and families, and plot twists you won’t see coming, definitely check this one out!

I received an Advanced Copy of this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such an enjoyable read, with a thrilling storyline about a young woman who is attacked and has a week to solve her own crime before she passes away. It definitely had me guessing a few times about who I believed did it. The only thing that I did not like was that the main character, Jet kept referring to the "person who murdered me," even though she was not dead yet. It's a technicality, but personally could have done without those references. I also wished we could have seen a connection more with the main characters, but overall it was a satisfying read and great thriller.

Jackson's first adult novel and I devoured it! I should have known better than to get attached to a main character who only has seven days to live. I loved the plot of Jet trying to solve her own murder. I never suspected the killer. This is an edge of your seat thriller with a loveable (love with caution) main character. This is one thriller not to miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

read if you like:
🤷🏻‍♀️ whodunnit
⏰ solving a murder on the clock
📍 Vermont

summary:
Holly Jackson is one of my top three favorite authors and an automatic must-buy, so when I got early access to her latest, NOT QUITE DEAD YET, I dropped everything to read it—and finished it that same night. And honestly? This might be my favorite book of hers yet. It proves she can effortlessly transition from YA to adult thrillers without losing an ounce of what makes her storytelling so addictive.

The story follows Jet Mason, a twenty-something living in Woodstock, Vermont, with her wealthy, real estate-developer parents. She’s a bit adrift in life, telling herself she has time to figure things out—until everything changes on Halloween night, when she’s attacked and left for dead. Though she survives, doctors discover a fatal brain aneurysm, giving Jet just one week to live. With the clock ticking, she’s determined to find out what really happened to her. Joined by her childhood best friend and neighbor, Billy, Jet dives into a tangled web of secrets, examining everyone in her life: her ex-boyfriend, her parents, her brother, and his seemingly perfect wife, Sophia. The stakes couldn’t be higher—she has to solve the mystery before her time runs out.
Jet might be my favorite protagonist of all time. She’s sharp, hilarious, and relentless. Her sarcasm and dark humor bring lightness to an otherwise intense and emotional journey. Jackson also does a phenomenal job developing the supporting characters—you truly feel like you’re living in this small Vermont town, tangled up in its secrets. I found myself constantly second-guessing everyone: who could’ve done this, and why?

As with all of Jackson’s work, the pacing is electric. You’ll fly through it, torn between racing to uncover the truth and dreading the heartbreak you know is coming. The premise is completely original, and the ending? Prepare yourself. It’s emotionally devastating, deeply satisfying, and thought-provoking all at once. I closed the book feeling gutted, fulfilled, and already itching to talk about it with someone.

This is Jackson at her absolute best—bold, clever, and unforgettable.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine, Bantam and NetGalley for the advanced copy. Make sure you preorder this book so you can check it out as soon as it releases on July 22!

Holly Jackson delivers another twisty, adrenaline-filled ride with Not Quite Dead Yet, her latest thriller—and her first marketed for adults. The story is packed with action and a constant sense of unease that had me flipping pages late into the night. I was hooked.

Jet is a fascinating main character—infuriating at times, sure, but compelling all the same. I loved her voice and energy, even when she was being a total brat. That said, my biggest struggle with this novel was accepting it as an adult thriller. Jet is supposed to be 27, but aside from being a law school dropout and grabbing a beer at the bar, her relationships and emotional responses felt significantly younger. Her dynamic with her family, Sophia, and Billy all read more like teenage angst than adult complexity. She could have easily been 17, and I think the story might have felt more grounded if she had been.

Still, the mystery itself was strong. The premise is fun, dark, and full of the kinds of twists Jackson is known for. I thought I had the ending pegged early on—but I was wrong, and that’s exactly what I want in a good thriller.

If you go in expecting the emotional maturity of a YA protagonist in an adult setting, you’ll probably enjoy the ride. It’s not a perfect leap into adult fiction, but it’s a suspenseful, entertaining read with plenty of bite.

*Not Quite Dead Yet* is another fast-paced, twisty thriller from Holly Jackson. The premise—a girl wakes up after an attack and is told she has seven days to live—is wild and immediately gripping. Jackson nails the dark humor and tension, with a sharp, relatable protagonist and her signature cliffhanger chapter style.

Some side characters could’ve used more depth, and a few twists felt slightly predictable, but overall, this is a highly entertaining, binge-worthy read. Perfect for fans of YA thrillers with a dark edge.

Omg!!! This. Book. Was. Perfect!!! Totally eat this up! I was so happy to have gotten early arc so I can brag about reading it early!! Thank you NetGalley and publisher!

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson did not disappoint. From the very beginning this story grabs you and doesn’t let go. The twists start early and keep on coming. What really makes this book stand out is how it mixes suspense with emotion. It’s not often that a mystery also pulls so strongly at your heartstrings. I became very attached to the main character, Jet, and was rooting for her every step of the way. I couldn’t put this book down but also didn’t want it to end.

This book was AMAZING! It would make a great movie. From the first chapter I was hooked and wanted to know what was going to happen and who had caused it all. Great read. Thanks for the ARC!

Holly Jackson is one of my thriller auto-buy authors because I simply love her adrenaline-rush writing style. I was so excited to read her adult debut early, and it did not disappoint! Not Quite Dead Yet is an anxious, page-turning read as our protagonist, Jet, spends the last week of her life uncovering her murderer.

This book had a huge cast of characters, which played into the whodunnit aspect but also was a bit overwhelming at times. I also guessed the final twist at the end, but truly had a fun time along the way and couldn’t put it down!

I’m excited to see if HoJay continues in the adult realm and what she does next! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc!

So heartbreakingly amazing! I loved the protagonist and I almost got too attached. I already recommended this book to my bookclub and my instagram (bookstagram) followers. Thank you so much for this ARC!

This is a classic Holly Jackson book. And by that I mean it is a fantastic thriller/mystery like only she can write.
I didn’t know it was her first adult novel, I just saw the author and requested an ARC immediately, and I don’t think I would have noticed if it wasn’t pointed out to me. If you liked her ya novels you will for sure love this one, it is in the exact same vein.
The characters are unforgettable, and I guess they feel a little more mature than Jackson’s previous protagonists, but that’s to be expected since they are in their late 20s. I’m starting to resonate a lot more with themes like death and loss of a loved one so every time the book reminded me what the ending we were walking towards was I kept shedding a few tears.
This was the first thriller I can recall that I didn’t clock the killer almost immediately, so congrats to the author for that, it made the experience a lot better.
We follow Jet after she is attacked one night and what seemed like a very long life turns into just a few days. She is dead set on using those days to figure out who might want to see her dead, and while doing that she discovers a few secrets about people close to her.
Not Quite Dead Yet is a great thriller, you will not be able to stop reading(I got through it in one day, and it was a work day so that’s impressive for me), with characters that jump off the page and an ending that you will not forget.

This was such an interesting take on the mystery genre and I really enjoyed it. Holly Jackson is an amazing mystery writer and this story only cements that statement. Would highly recommend if you enjoy mysteries that have interesting twists and turns.

A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I love everything Holly Jackson writes and will read it no matter what. This story intrigued me right from the beginning and had me hooked after the first chapter. I had narrowed it down to three people at about 50% and was pretty confident who it was at about 85% and was right!

I loved reading this story and seeing it all unfold. Did not expect the way it played out at the end, and it was definitely insane. I would definitely recommend this thriller if you’re looking for a fast paced murder mystery.

My heart is shattered! I’m crying my eyes out! 😭💔
I knew it wasn’t wise to get attached to a protagonist with a literal ticking time bomb in her head—but I couldn’t help it! I got so deeply attached to Jet… and sweet, loyal Billy! How could I not?! This is, without a doubt, one of the smartest and most emotionally devastating concepts Holly Black has ever crafted. “Not Quite Dead Yet” is a thriller that hurts—and I mean that in the best way possible.

The final chapters completely wrecked me. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say my tears were flowing harder than during that soul-crushing Joel Miller episode of The Last of Us. Honestly, I need hugs, a Disney movie marathon, a strong drink, and about three pounds of chocolate to recover. 😭🍫🎥 Holly Black, what have you done to me?!

The premise alone is pure brilliance: Jet Mason is attacked—brutally—and miraculously survives three head blows, suffering a subdural hematoma and cardiac arrest. But her fractured skull has a grim expiration date: in just seven days, a bone fragment will rupture an artery in her brain. That gives her one terrifying, pressure-cooker week to solve her own attempted murder. The suspense! The stakes! The EMOTION!

Jet returns to her wealthy, dysfunctional family in Woodstock, Vermont—a family that, quite frankly, does not deserve her. Everyone’s caught up in their own drama while she’s walking around with a death sentence. Even the cops seem more interested in easy answers than actual justice. And because the Masons run a powerful construction empire that’s bulldozed lives for profit, Jet’s attack might be tied to one of the many enemies her family’s made.

Let’s talk about these unforgettable characters:

💔 Jet – 27, brilliant, sarcastic, a little messy, and completely relatable. A law school grad who gave up everything to come home and live in the shadow of her perfect, deceased sister. She’s been trying so hard to prove she’s not useless… and now all she wants is to uncover the truth before she runs out of time. Even as her body fails her—headaches, memory issues, cognitive fatigue—she never stops fighting. She’s fierce, crude (when necessary), and absolutely unforgettable.

🎸 Billy – Her estranged childhood friend turned roommate (after she flees her family home). He’s the one who found her after the attack, called 911, and now he’s her rock. A kind, selfless musician with a soft spot for Jet—he’s the only one who really sees her. And I just want to wrap them both in bubble wrap forever. Protect Billy at all costs!

👔 Luke – Jet’s older brother, corporate shark, all ambition and secrecy. Could he be hiding something darker?

😇 Sophie – Luke’s wife and Jet’s former best friend. Suspiciously angelic. Possibly sinister. Definitely shady.

👩‍👧 Elaine – Jet’s hypercritical mother. Emotionally cold. So much tension. Meanwhile, Jet’s father fades into the background, suffering from kidney disease—the same condition that may be contributing to Jet’s fatal prognosis.

💔 JJ – Jet’s ex who proposed, got rejected, and then vanished after the attack. Guilty conscience, or something worse?

Some of the action scenes push the boundaries of realism—yes, a cardiac-arrested, brain-trauma survivor solving her own attempted murder in a week is a stretch—but I didn’t care. I stopped questioning it and fully surrendered to the ride. The plot is twisty, sharp, and so well-executed that I was hooked from page one.

I adored the emotional family dynamics, the slow-burn tenderness between Jet and Billy, and the themes of mortality, regret, and resilience. The ending? Heartbreaking but inevitable. I didn’t want to let Jet go.

⭐ 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because Jet Mason deserves to live forever in my heart.
📢 This is the kind of book that makes you want to scream about it from rooftops.

THANK YOU to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Bantam for the digital ARC of one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. 🖤

I snagged this book because it really sounded interesting and boy was it fantastic! Your main character is Jet, a girl just waiting for her life to start, always putting everything off, thinking she has all the time in the world. Until on Halloween evening, she is horribly attacked. When she wakes up in the hospital, it’s to bad news. The doctor believes that she will die within a week. So this is the story of Jet, deciding to finish something by solving her own murder. This book has all the twists and turns, all the emotion and suspense you could want. I loved it! I definitely recommend it. I want to thank Net Galley and Random House Publishing for providing the advanced reader copy for me to read and leave a honest review.

I'm gonna need 3 business days to recover from this because WHAT. WAS. THAT? I am officially ruined beyond repair. There is no coming back from this.

"𝑰'𝒎 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍."
"𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖."
"𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

(She actually meant it guys😭😭😭)

All of Holly Jackson's books have had open endings but believe me when I say this one is the MOST BRUTAL one of them all. Never in my 18 years of life have I sobbed over a literal THRILLER this way. The ending was simply unacceptable, even though you see it coming. It broke me, crushed me, ripped me into a million pieces and idk if I will ever be okay again. I am literally rethinking all my life choices and priorities rn.

You will need tissues. A lot of them. Especially towards the end. This is basically all that I'm gonna say because I desperately do need to yap but I also don't wanna spoil it for others. I'm picky with 5 stars and this is literally only the second ARC I've given a 5 star to, from so many of the other ARCs I've received so I think I've made my point.

Three and a half stars. Holly Jackson's foray into Adult fiction is a fresh take on the Mystery genre. Solving your own murder on a truncated timeline with a brain aneurysm just waiting to burst? My god. Add deadly family secrets; the only person you can trust is your childhood best friend, and you have a wild plot. This book is a thrill ride that will leave the reader breathless until the end.
That said, I would have rated this a bit higher, but I found Jet, the main character, unlikable. I had great hopes for a truly redemptive character arc, and it comes close, but just not quite. Had she been a bit ...more, the ending and the pages that follow would have destroyed me as a reader. As it was, it was just a sad ending to a sad life.
I would recommend this title to readers of Jackson's earlier work, fans of Freida McFadden, and Colleen Hoover.
Thank you to Bantam and NetGalley for access to this ARC in return for my honest review.

I was excited to read this! Huge fan of Hollys! The character Jet is so sarcastic and funny. It was a weird concept but some how it worked!

Holly Jackson knows what she’s doing. She really truly does.

I'll confess to a little bit of a bias because I love her work so much, but this truly did not disappoint. I was invested from the jump, just from the plot alone, because solving your own murder? Cool as hell. It managed to exceed expectations.

Holly just knows how to unravel a mystery, it boggles my mind every time. She knows how to take all these pieces and connect them and make things click in a way that destroys me. And speaking of being destroyed - oh man. I tried to brace myself for anything to happen and I still wasn't prepared. I'm still in a daze about it.

Jet was such a delightful narrator, I'd for anything she asked me to. The family dynamics at play in this book were delicious and fucked up, and the entire Jet and Billy story was just so beautiful and bittersweet, and the development with both of them individually - yeah. Five stars.

Fast paced and twisty and emotional. Holly Jackson doesn't miss.