Thank you to Penguin House Canada for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All I can say is WOW. Holly Jackson never fails to keep you on your toes. With each thriller book, you wonder if the author is going to be able to keep the energy up, if they are able to redeliver with their past work, or if there will be a lull. Holly Jackson's anxiety inducing thrillers are here to stay, and I can say that confidently even as she shifts into the adult sphere, transitioning from her YA days. Jet has her younger predecessors' quirkiness, the everyone-thinks-I'm-rude, coarse humor. The writing is very much Holly Jackson's style, not changing very much from her YA books. The mystery was excellent, but I think more so the journey that Jet goes through in this book, and the subtle romance that develops between her and Billy was really nice. However, the characters in this felt a little... all over the place? I don't know if it was supposed to be eccentric small town kinds of vibes, but the characters, from Sophia, to Lou, to Nell, to Jet's parents, to Nina, to Emily, all seemed to serve their purpose, and that was it. It didn't feel cohesive, if that makes sense. Like a bit was just missing that made them real people, rather than just people Holly Jackson was moving around and needed to place here and there for the purposes of her story. Like you could FEEL her moving around the characters, if that makes sense. The mystery was ultimately better than the reveal, in my opinion. I think because of the way it all tied up, I understood what Holly Jackson was trying to get at with Jet's character arc, but I'm not sure it landed the way it was supposed to. Jury is out on that one still. However, I will always entrust this woman to make me devour a book and want to do nothing but read the book in one sitting. Her prose, the way she paces her books... absolutely stellar. Just a star off for clunkiness throughout the book, with plot, with characters, and so on.

I read this in one sitting because I just couldn’t stop. Every chapter ended in a way that made me desperate to keep going. The mix of suspense and emotional intensity was spot on. Definitely one of the most engrossing reads I’ve had in a while.

I was in a reading slump and this book got me out! Finished it in less than a day. I really enjoyed it, loved the characters and pace. I was rooting for Jet to solve her own murder.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) | Doubleday Canada for my advanced e copy in exchange for my honest épicé

Out now!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) | Doubleday Canada for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It is Halloween night and Jet is attached in her own home and left for dead until her childhood friend, Billy finds her and calls for help. When Jet's parents arrive at the hospital they learn that she has suffered a traumatic brain injury and could suffer an aneurysm within a week and there is not much that they can do. She can get the surgery to try and remove the damage but this surgery could kill her as well so Jet decides she wants to investigate her own "murder" before she actually dies. With the help of her childhood friend, they start to try and find out who and why this attacked occurred on Jet. As they finally find out what happened and the reason for the attack, there are several lives that are changed forever as a result of this shocking discovery.......Enjoy!!!

On Halloween night, 27-year-old Jet Mason is attacked in her family home, suffers head trauma, and survives—but she’s given an impossible choice: undergo a dangerous operation with little chance of survival, or live out one final week before succumbing to her injuries. She chooses the latter.

With only seven days left as her body shuts down, Jet is determined to uncover who killed her (because after her death its most definitely murder) before time runs out. The suspects include her ex-boyfriend, her dead sister’s dead best friend’s alcoholic father, workers from her father’s construction company, and anyone with a grudge against the Mason family. With the help of her childhood best friend Billy, she begins piecing together the mystery and unearthing dark family secrets.

It took me two tries to get into the book, and not because of the (very original) premise. My struggle was with Jet herself: born into privilege, dwelling on how she’d messed up in life, and constantly reminding everyone she was dying. The excessive and needless cursing also added little value. The other point that I struggled with is the very rushed and dramatic ending.

Overall, the story was good but didn’t wow me—though what stayed with me was its reminder that we always think we have more time, when in truth, time is never guaranteed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced copy.

Ok I’m here for the spin on solving a murder we have going on in this book. What a concept solving your own murder!

Too bad the main character Jet was so hard to like. She was a total butthead to literally everyone, even random people she just met. Super rude and I just kept thinking you wonder why people might be hesitant to help you out Jet? You literally threw someone’s sandwich on the ground so you could use their plastic bag. It’s giving spoiled rich girl. And yes I know she has trauma, but that doesn’t mean she has to treat those around her as less than human.

So yes, great plot. Horrible main character.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy.

The premise of this novel was really unique and drew me to it. At times I felt the story was a bit drawn out, and suddenly in the last 40 or so pages, everything began wrapping up very quickly. Although the ending solved most of the remaining suspense, in my opinion, it didn’t have the most satisfying reveal. Although this book was good overall, I wouldn’t consider it one of my favourite books of the year. I would read another book from this author in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) - Doubleday Canada for this ARC!
3/5

Such a great read. I really loved every single second of this one. I mean you do have to suspend a little disbelief of this one in order to fully enjoy, but wow the storyline is so much fun and so good. The plot twisty and sharp and just unravels so nicely. The ending wrecked me but I loved it so much !

Twisty and so good!

It's been a while since I've experienced a good plot twist and I am thrilled.

We follow our main character Jet, a 27 year old who has mad a reputation of always giving up, who we meet on Halloween. On Halloween night something happens that challenges her self made reputation. This is because Jet needs to solve a crime and she doesn't have the luxury of giving up.

The characters were alright, the only one I really liked was Billy, and Jet slowly began to grow on me. Overall, the premise was a really good idea and the book was very well written. The only thing I struggled with, was at times the characters and the petty drama gave off YA vibes which I usually try to avoid. If the story itself wasn't as good I don't think I would have been able to continue with the book. That just empathizes how good the mystery was.

Thank You to Holly Jackson, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

You’ve gotta go into this one suspensing reality. Nothing in this book is realistic - and that’s okay! Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Not Quite Dead Yet was marketed as Jackson’s first adult thriller but it still read pretty young in my opinion. Although the characters were in their late 20s, it lacked real maturity.

I had so much *fun* reading this wild book as part of a bookclub with my IRL besties.

4⭐️

Mood confession time: This was my first book by Holly Jackson. All I knew about her was that she's the queen of YA murder-mystery thrillers and the author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. Since my mood lately has been all about exploring other genres, I saw this one, her first dip into adult fiction and decided to give it a shot.

What Lit My Mood

Twists on twists: Jackson has a way of making you think you’ve solved it, only to turn the tarot and reveal a whole new card.

Page-turner energy: An easy, fun fast-paced read (and listen) with secrets lurking in every corner.

The wickedly clever hook: Jet Mason is brutally attacked on Halloween and wakes up with a head injury that’s basically a countdown clock with seven days left unless she risks a dangerous surgery.

What follows is a fresh spin on the high-stakes, race-against-time setup, with Jet and her neighbor Billy hunting down whoever tried to kill her. I devoured every page.

Jet who’s never been great at finishing anything, suddenly turns sharp, stubborn, and as the clock starts ticking.

Where My Mood Flickered

Jet’s snarky, dark humor sometimes reads younger than her 27 years, leaning into rebellious energy. That said, I still loved her fiery, messy, determined energy.

Bonus: Audio vs. Read
I did both and preferred the audiobook. It was easy to stay focused, and I really enjoyed the narrator, who managed to make Jet’s voice sound more grown-up than her younger leaning dialogue.

Witchy Mood Meter Rating:
Fully Aligned — Fun plot, fast pace, and Jet’s fierce, messy energy cast a spell that had me listening every chance I got. A dash of YA didn’t break the magic.

Verdict:
A twisty, fast-moving mystery that’s easy to binge, especially in audio form. Add it to your altar and summon it when you want something entertaining and addictive but fair warning, Jet’s age might make it feel more YA than full-on adult suspense.

The countdown is on. Are you ready to race the clock? grab it now before Jet’s time’s up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review – Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Holly Jackson’s adult debut is everything I hoped for and more. Not Quite Dead Yet is a razor-sharp, emotionally charged mystery that grabbed me from the first page and did not let go.

Jet Mason is flawed, messy, and absolutely unforgettable. After a near-fatal attack leaves her with a ticking time bomb in her brain, she’s got just days to figure out who tried to kill her—and why. What follows is a brilliantly plotted story full of family secrets, betrayal, and heartbreak, all wrapped in Jackson’s signature jaw-dropping twists.

This isn’t just a thriller—it’s a story about wasted potential, complicated relationships, and the drive to finally take control of your own story. The pacing is flawless, the reveals hit hard, and Jet’s voice is raw, vulnerable, and bitingly witty.

Holly Jackson proves she can dominate the adult mystery genre just as effortlessly as YA. Dark, twisty, and utterly consuming—Not Quite Dead Yet is a must-read.

Holy crap Holly Jackson! That was a twisty mystery and I absolutely love the premise of solving your own murder while you are still alive. I was not expecting to cry that much in a thriller, but here we are.
Jet is badass, I love how she uses this week to live her life, try to solve her murder, and freak out as many people as possible by using dark, death humour. Billy is loyal, caring, helpful, and clearly madly in love with Jet and we are all wondering how she didn't see it before this week.

I was able to guess the bad guy before the reveal, but that did not keep me from enjoying this wild ride. There were so many intersecting stories that lead to the reveal and it was just fantastic.

I will definitely be reading more of Holly Jackson's work in the future.

3.5/5 stars

This is the author’s first adult thriller.

The main character is 27 year old Jet (although she does act younger IMO). The book is set starting on Halloween. Something terrible happens to her. And Jet has a week to solve the crime. The blurb gives away the crime and main premise. But since I like going into books blind I’m going to be intentionally vague. I will say that the premise is super interesting. But very morbid IMO.

Jet is very unique. She isn’t super likeable. She’s crass and definitely not sweet or particularly nice. But she really grew on me.

My favorite thing about this book is her childhood best friend Billy. I loved him. And I loved that he was Jet’s partner helping her try to solve the case.

At times this book made me feel slightly uncomfortable. But I was invested in seeing how things would play out. There are lots of lies and secrets. And I disliked most of the characters. But the book was interesting and I wanted to see how it would end.

The book features a chronic illness (polycystic kidney disease). I really enjoy seeing chronic illnesses showcased in fiction.

Overall this was a very interesting thriller. I’m not sure that I was completely satisfied with the ending. But it was nice to see the author branch out from YA.

You can tell Jackson is a skilled YA author, as her attempt at fiction for adults fell a little short for me. It still read as YA, making the reading less enjoyable for myself.

An overall decent story, but execution was mismatched.

Very interesting premise! I haven't read Holly Black before but I'm excited for her adult debut! A lot of fans have grown up reading Black's books and will likely gravitate to a familiar name, I found the main character a bit arrogant and annoying, but still interesting!

i've started going into books blind, and sometimes that works out well for me and others not so much. with this book, i had no idea what it was about other than a woman was going to try and solve her own murder. from that understanding, i assumed it was going to be a paranormal-esque story; her solving it while she's a ghost in the in-between or something. well i was wrong, and i was glad i was wrong. bc how it actually happened was way more terrifying.

following a brutal attack, jet has a week to live due to a rare medical event. wanting to try and be useful during her last week alive, she tries to solve her own murder. jet had me howling with how witty and sarcastic she was. however, it got to the point where i thought "when is she going to acknowledge how shitty this situation is?". i did get that moment, and it was heartbreaking still, but i wish it happened a little sooner. i just truly needed her to scream into the void at least once!

overall, I had a great time with this book! it's been a while since i read a thriller, or anything by Holly Jackson, and it was so fun! the pacing was quick, the mystery had me second guessing everything, and the humour was hilarious. for Holly's debut adult novel, it was a smash for me! ¡ can't wait to see what she writes next! (or if Not Quite Dead Yet gets picked up for a movie adaptation)

i was absolutely thrilled to have been approved for this arc! i requested it not thinking much would come from it, so i squealed at the approval email & thank you so much @netgalley and @penguinrandomca!

Another amazing Holly Jackson book! I was hooked so fast! I love the idea of a character solving their own murder. As always i had my theories and thought I was right but ended up ended up being wrong! I absolutely loved this one and cant wait for her next one!

Spoiler free ARC review :) ˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚

» The Blue, Gracie Abrams «
0:58 ─〇───── 3:16
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
I never could've seen you coming, I think you're everything I've wanted


⋆୨୧⋆ <b>my thanks</b>
Thank you SO MUCH to Holly Jackson, the publisher, and Netgalley for letting me receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. ♡✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡♡˚For books by a NYT Bestseller, these copies are UNBELIEVABLY competitive, and it practically brought me to tears that I got it. All of my friends, family, some teachers and even classmates can tell you that I'm a Holly Jackson fan. She was the author who brought me into the genre of YA (thank you to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder!) I am now a huge YA reader and book reviewer, nearing 1k followers on Instagram and to be honest, I probably wouldn't be here without Holly. Five Survive & AGGGTM absolutely blew my standards for mystery or thriller books out of the park. Believe me when I say that Holly is one of the greatest queens of fiction in history. It's honestly my dream to one day see her in a book tour (COME TO CANADA PLS), or to get a signed book, a physical ARC, or something from her one day. Hopefully it'll happen one day :)

⋆୨୧⋆ not quite dead yet - the overview
GASP? GASPPPPPPP? This story is about 27-year-old Jet. Arguably the biggest procrastinator you may ever know; she's gone through her entire life starting, but never finishing.
She has seven days to solve her own murder. A couple hits to the head and now she has only a matter of days before she's dead. Can she solve her own murder before she's gone? Will this be the first thing that she truly finishes? Or is finishing something truly what matters in the end?
The book also has a heart-wrenching, wonderfully told romance subplot that will definitely interest many of you ;)
Found family, TEARJEARKER!!! , solve-your-own murder, and more tropes.

⋆୨୧⋆ characters
Jet - An actual genius. The amount of dots this girl connected compared to the time she had left is MIND BLOWINGGGG. She did not once consider giving up.
Billy - Jet's childhood best friend. Oh my gosh. He was so full of love and deserved so much better. Everything he did was so good and he is unarguably the best character in the whole book.
"Just nice to look at."
"Yeah," Billy said, but he wasn't looking at the stars, he was looking at her.

Side characters - all annoying. except for her dog. the Sophia girl annoys me SO MUCH. I genuinely believed for over 40% of the book that she committed the murder (not saying she didn't though...). And the fact that I share a name with her. Goodness gracious.

⋆୨୧⋆ the plot
You are going to think EVERYONE did it. I mostly believed that it was Sophia, sometimes I thought it was others, I guessed the person who did it more than once too. But you never know for sure. The romance storyline also has you BEGGING to see something happen and waiting desperately for what's next. Everything is weaved together so intricately and perfectly that it reminds me of the shock I felt reading Holly Jackson for the first time.

⋆୨୧⋆ writing
The writing towards the end got me unbelievably emotional. Holly Jackson did it again. The only comments I have are that the pace of the book was honestly a bit too slow, and this: I honestly believe that Holly should have written this book as a YA. The only thing that made this book "adult" was the 160+ f-bombs (in my opinion unnecessary.) This was easily editable and then she could have made it YA. The main characters also did not read as adults - I felt more like I was reading about teenagers or young adults, because of their behaviour and how the romance was written. As a YA reader, I enjoyed this book a lot, and I think it could have performed better or received more hype if it was targeted for younger audiences. I had to confirm on my bookstagram more than once to people who were interested that it is, in fact, completely okay for young readers to read this.

That's it for now!! Please read this <3
Also, once again, I am SO GRATEFUL for the ARC :)
If you enjoyed my review, follow my goodreads for more or follow my bookstagram @bookreviewsbysof
:)))))))

I think this should have been classified as a YA. Main character being 27 didn’t match, although I did love her personality. A lot of over explaining and predictable twists, not a lot of thrill. Set in october but no real fall feeling or reason for the Halloween setting. A quick fun read that could have been edited down without any loss.