Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Not Quite Dead Yet is Holly Jackson's first foray into adult novels, with her prior novels being geared toward young adults like her series Good Girl's Guide to Murder, which was turned into a Netflix series. Not Quite Dead Yet was published in July of 2025 and is a New York Times Bestseller, an Amazon Editors' Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense, a Good Morning America Book Club pick, and one of the Best Book of the Year for both Washington Post and NPR. It talks about violence, blood, medical content, grief, murder, death - including that of children, gun violence, infidelity, fire, abandonment, injury detail, and classism. It did have a few intense moments.

Jet Mason is just waiting for her life to start. She just needs that one thing, the spark that will bring it all to life and then she can really thrive. It's taking longer than she thought it would and now she's back at home after almost finishing law school and single again. When she comes home from a town festival, she is brutally attacked from behind. Although she survives, she is told that it is not going to be for long. Due to a congenital disease, she has a week to live. Maybe less. Jet decides to take that week and solve her own (soon to be) murder. In doing so, she discovers that maybe her family wasn't as beloved as she thought it was, that her parents have a few secrets of their own, and that maybe she shouldn't have taken so long to really begin living.

I have had this book on my list for months and was excited to finally get to read it. Imagine my disappointment when Jet was so irritating that when she didn't die in the initial attack, I was a bit disappointed. So let me continue by telling you that the character progression in this book is excellent. By the end, I not only wanted Jet to live but I was also crying! The pace of the book is pretty quick and it never felt slow or sluggish and the plot kept me interested. I would say it is not the most clever book, I had some pretty on point theories from early on, but it didn't feel derivative and I still enjoyed watching the whole story play out. I didn't love the very end and wish that had been slightly different, but I thought the rest of the book did a good job moving the story while showing Jet's progression in a way that felt true to her character.

I'm giving Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson 4.25 stars out of 5. I really enjoyed it, despite having my doubts at the beginning. Probably one of the best in the genre I've read recently without getting too long or wordy.

For more from the author, check out her Instagram @hojay92

Pairs well with french fries (especially after not having them for years) and a good cedar candle.