MY GIRL!! Holly Jackson has done it again! Not Quite Dead Yet is a masterclass in tension, delivering a propulsive narrative that will seize you from the very first page and refuse to let go.

This book is a five-star triumph that will leave you breathless and desperate for more. The characters are as complex as the interwoven mysteries, each one feeling incredibly real and contributing to a truly immersive experience. Jet…

Without giving anything away, prepare for a relentless psychological ride that is both unsettling and utterly brilliant. Jackson expertly crafts a story that is rich with atmosphere and packed with unexpected turns, proving why she's a powerhouse in the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday Canada, and Penguin Random House Canada for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will read anything Holly Jackson writes; she hasn’t let me down yet and doesn’t start here.

Jet is attacked in her home on Halloween night but thankfully she survives. Or so they think. Unfortunately there was some damage that WILL lead to a fatal brain aneurysm in a week. Yup jet is going to die in a week but she is determined to solve her own murder first.

Obviously this is so unique and you do have to suspend belief a little bit. While I’m sure Jackson did her research there were times that left me pondering if jet could really do such things with a brain leak. The other downside was there were some past events I wish I had more clarity on earlier. They do get their explanation but I felt like I was missing something prior to that knowledge. With that being said, I loved the story and Jet will forever be one of my favourite characters. I absolutely loved her morbid sense of humour and the witty one liners she had. I also loved her best friend Billy. Move over Pip and Ravi there’s a new duo in town.

With twists, turns and a fast moving countdown you won’t want to put this down. I could 100% see this on screen someday

This is exactly what a summer read should be!! Fast paced, gripping, intense and leaving you so grateful you went on the ride! This was my first Holly Jackson book and will not be my last. Ms. Jackson can sure craft a tale! While I really had to suspend some disbelief early on in the story - not sure all the medical pieces were entirely accurate - once I ditched that part of my brain - I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I wasn’t overly surprised by the ending but loved how it was done. It did feel a bit “YA” to me with the messaging etc at the end but it fit and we all need an enduring love story. Big thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Holly Jackson for the opportunity to review this ARC. Can’t wait to see what Holly Jackson writes next! This will be the book everyone is reading and talking about this summer! Join in on the “fun”! 4.5 stars

📖4.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC of Holly Jackon’s next thriller Not Quite Dead Yet.

Dare I saw this is Holly Jackson’s best book yet? The grit, the drama, the plot.. everything was executed so well, I really don’t think she’ll be able to top this one. The story delivers a  bread crumb trail from start to finish as the reader is rushing against the clock with Jet to try and solve her murder.

I absolutely LOVED Jet as the main character, she’s edgy, witty and absolutely bad ass!! And please don’t get me started on Billy. What an angel. These characters were perfectly crafted to make it impossible not to fall in love with.

Although I did have this one figured out before the big reveal, I enjoyed every minute of the story coming together.

This one hits shelves July 22nd and if you, like me, are an adult who enjoyed Holly Jackson’s YA thrillers, you’re going to want to pick this one up.

Jet has been murdered. After the brutal attack she is left with two choices, agree to a surgery she surely will not survive or search for her murderer as the clock ticks down to the aneurysm doctors say could be days away. For Jet there is no question, she's going to find her murder if it kills her.

Jackson has crafted a tense, clever mystery that explores regret and trauma in this well paced propulsive novel that is sure to be on everyone's list

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy of this book.
First off, Holly I do not forgive you for this. I am in shambles.
Holly put such a interesting twist on the classic murder mystery book. Between the absolutely loveable characters and having the main character trying to solve her own murder? I was sold the minute I started.

Like most Holly Jackson books this one was just as tense, hilarious, and heartbreaking.

In this propulsive, bingeable thriller, Margaret 'Jet' Mason is trying to solve a murder... her own. When a vicious head injury leaves Jet with seven days to live, she tasks herself with doing one last important task- finding her killer. Jet's family owns a construction company is one of the wealthiest families- but Jet soon learns there are many secrets buried beneath the dirt.

Jet herself is a prickly character and not extremely likeable- she's sarcastic and witty and callous, rebels against her parents and her upbringing, and has no direction or close ties. As the story progresses, however, layers of Jet's life are peeled away and we start to learn more about her dysfunctional family.

As for the suspects? The list is 50 people long. Everyone is shady. Everyone- including Jet's ex, her brother Luke and even his wife- seem to be hiding something.

While I didn't love this as much as Jackson's prior YA mysteries, the short chapters and fast pacing definitely kept my interest. Though Jet is projected to be in her early 20s, the book still felt very YA to me, including Jet's personality. However, I do really like Jackson's brand of YA thrillers. I did not see the twist at the end coming- this was definitely a wild ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC. I’ve read all of Jackson’s other books, so I wasn’t surprised that I loved this one too.

The main character’s personality wasn’t exactly my favorite, but that’s what made her stand out from the typical “nice” girl you usually see in murder mystery stories — and honestly, that was kind of refreshing. Just a heads-up: she definitely loves to drop a lot of F-bombs.

As for the plot, I genuinely didn’t know who the killer was — even near the final chapters, I couldn’t have guessed it right. I really enjoyed this one and I’m looking forward to reading more of Jackson’s work!

The story is about a 27 year old woman named Jet who was violently attacked on Halloween night, an attack she shouldn’t have survived. She ends up getting a prognosis of seven days to live and she’s determined to solve her murder before her time is up with the help of her childhood best friend Billy.

I loved everything about this book, it was a suspenseful and emotional journey, I could not put the book down! I really felt invested in Jet and Billy’s characters I loved them so much🥲, the flow and pace of the book was wonderful and the story is something new I haven’t read before. This is my first book by Holly Jackson and I really did enjoy the writing style and I hope she writes more adult books because I will be reading them.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Publication date: July 22, 2025

Not Quite Dead Yet marks Holly Jackson’s gripping debut into adult thrillers, and it doesn’t disappoint. With her trademark twists and fast-paced storytelling, Jackson delivers an intense, emotionally charged mystery that will keep readers hooked from the first page.

The story follows Jet Mason, a 27-year-old woman who wakes up after a brutal attack to devastating news—she has just seven days to live due to a fatal brain injury. As her condition worsens, Jet sets out to solve her own attempted murder before it’s too late. It’s a high-stakes, race-against-time thriller packed with secrets, betrayal, and plenty of suspects.

Jackson excels at creating a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere where every character feels suspicious, and every revelation raises the stakes. The novel blends suspense with emotional depth, exploring themes of mortality, friendship, and trust. Jet is a sharp, compelling protagonist whose voice is laced with both dark humor and vulnerability.

What really stands out is the ticking-clock element—Jet’s physical and mental decline adds urgency and emotional weight to the mystery, making it more than just a typical whodunit.

In short: Not Quite Dead Yet is a tense, twisty thriller with heart. Holly Jackson proves she can masterfully deliver in the adult market, offering a dark, clever, and gripping story about survival, betrayal, and the lengths we’ll go for the truth.

holly jackson is one of my favourite authors and so this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. i’m so so so happy and grateful to have been able to read and review it early.

i loved this a lot. it was one of those books that had me reading way past my bedtime and when i wasn’t reading i was counting down the hours until i could read again.

obviously, i’m very familiar with and a huge fan of holly’s writing style and she once again knocked it out of the park with her adult debut.

the plot of the book was so creative and such a fun spin on typical murder mysteries.

while the twists and turns of the book were phenomenal, what i loved most about it was the characters.

it’s another case of knowing how the story is going to end before you even read the book but then falling in love with the characters wishing so desperately that maybe it’ll be different.

jet was so real and reminded me a lot of myself with the using dark humour as a coping mechanism. for someone in such a unique situation, everything she said and did felt so believable. i enjoyed reading from her pov and discovering things with her (with jokes and vulnerability along the way). i feel like i actually learned a lot from her about appreciating life and not putting things off til tomorrow.

and poor sweet billy. holly always writes the best male love interest but also curse you (affectionate) for never giving the couple a happy ending. he’s up there with ravi singh as one of my top love interests/partners in crime.

some parts were a bit predictable but i read a lot of thrillers and therefore i know the formula really well (and am a huge fan of chekhov’s gun lol) so many twists i did see coming but i don’t care i still had so much fun reading this and watching everything unfold.

also i’m entirely convinced that this book is set in vermont just to make a noah kahan reference LOL

Was so happy to have this book approved.
Unfortunately I can’t read it as this book is not supporter by kobo.

Not Quite Dead Yet is centered around a privileged yet unfulfilled woman whose life is upended when she’s violently attacked. The result: a catastrophic head injury and a chilling prognosis—within a week, the damage will kill her. With the clock ticking and her mental and physical state deteriorating, she vows to use solve her own murder.

The novel explores themes of regret, privilege, betrayal, and resilience. Jet is a compelling protagonist—she’s a lifelong procrastinator and she finds herself forced into action just as her time is running out. As she starts questioning everyone around her layers of tension and buried secrets are revealed.

The narrative walks a fine line between a psychological thriller and a tragic character study. Jet’s descent into illness adds urgency and heartbreak to the mystery, while the story maintains a suspenseful pace. This story is not just about solving a crime—it’s about confronting the life you’ve lived and the people you thought you knew.

I’m not sure I liked this as much as I liked some of her previous books but it was still good.

The concept was very interesting, I haven't read anything similar in the past which is always a plus!

This book hurt my heart, I cried at the end and had to take a few minutes to gather my thoughts once I finished it. I kept hoping the outcome would be different, but perhaps it wouldn't have been as good if it had. I'll definitely be recommending this one to fellow thriller lovers.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was phenomenal. I’ve really enjoyed all of Holly Jackson’s YA books and her adult debut did not disappoint. The mystery and concept were so fresh and juicy that I couldn’t tear myself apart. Jet was such a compelling protagonist and the story was so multifaceted with so many layers of lies and deceiver that were gradually unravelled. Billy was a great secondary character. The ending was so heartbreaking yet satisfying and I truly have never read a thriller like this before.

I really enjoyed Hollys writing.

This was a great story and it was a fast read. I can’t wait to read her other books.

Holly Jackson continues to knock it out of the park. This book was very well written and kept you in suspense. The realism as Jet starts to succumb to her injuries was fairly well written. And the plot comes together nicely, solving more than one mystery.

I started out with a 4 star rating and have come back to change my rating to 5 stars as I cant stop thinking about this book.

Not Quite Dead Yet is a compelling read that when you start you know your heart will be broken into pieces.

Its hard not to become emotionally involved with Jet the protangist who only has days to live afer being attacked. It cant end well.

Jet is determined against all odds to discover who killed her.

Holly Jackson gives the reader a relentless mix of secrets, lies and a twists that will have your jaw dropping.

The characters are all unforgetable and the families dysfunctional .

Not Quite Dead is the perfect blend of mystery, suspense and an ending you will always remember.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the privilege of reading and reviewing t his compelling and heartbreaking read that I wont soon forget.

3.5 rounded up!
This kept my attention, I kept wanting to pick it back up
The concept was really cool! And the killer kept me guessing until the end, I didn’t see it coming 🕵🏻‍♀️

Thank you netgalley for the ARC 🫶🏼



https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7644813670

This was kinda crazy, like woman tries to solve her own murder in seven days… and the ending kinda broke my heart. I kept hoping something supernatural would happen so it wouldn’t actually end like that but we live in a plain and ordinary world.

Jet was so unlikable and so relatable. The whole idea of her waiting for her life to start, like waiting for that unknown but specific thing to happen, was so real. I’m only 21 but I understood Jet and why she was the way she was. This made her whole journey and growth so wonderful to watch. She has a moment in the end where she acknowledges her growth and she says she’s so proud of who she’s become, and I was like, me too! I loved how real and honest she was with herself and others. Despite it being the whole reason she’s decided to become more proactive, her impending death doesn’t deter her (I mean she realizes she was in denial but still). I appreciated how she wasn’t a genius but not necessarily average, she has her strengths, but she was an amateur with high motivation, but it wasn’t unrealistic.

Poor, sweet Billy indeed. And Jet’s dad tbh. Only men worth anything, everyone else…

The actual mystery takes a second to take off, it just kept getting worse, and everything and everyone was intertwined, it was so messy and I loved that.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the arc, these are my honest thoughts!