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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
Not Quite Dead Yet follows 27-year-old Jet, a woman known for putting off tasks with the belief that there will always be time to do them later. But one day, she comes home after a long, ordinary day... and gets her head bashed in. By some miracle, she wakes up in the hospital. Alive, yes, but not quite. She has just one week to live — and now she has to solve her own murder before time runs out. For once, this is one task she can’t push to the side.
I think I’ve spent so long waiting for it all to begin, for life to really start, that I missed out on what it was really all about.
The concept is absolutely wild in the best way. Holly Jackson has always delivered sharp and clever thrillers, but this premise might just be her most creative yet. As chaotic and out-there as it sounds, the execution is tight and intense. There’s urgency and desperation in every chapter, and you feel the weight of Jet’s ticking clock with every clue and dead end.
She wanted what she'd always wanted. To do something, achieve something big, something undeniably great, to prove that she could.
Jet as a main character reminded me a lot of Bel from [b:The Reappearance of Rachel Price|182484360|The Reappearance of Rachel Price|Holly Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692547104l/182484360._SY75_.jpg|187015342]. She’s haunted by her past, emotionally withdrawn, and has spent years making choices that isolate her from those around her. She’s flawed in a real way, full of regret and bitterness that makes her compelling to follow. That said, Jet didn’t quite feel 27 to me. Her voice and actions sometimes read more like someone in their early twenties. It’s a small detail, but it did stand out, but didn't diminish my enjoyment of her character. Jet's humour and string of death-related jokes not only added to her character but also how entertaining the story is.
“Yeah," Jet said, "I see you. Do you see me?"
"I've always seen you, Jet.”
Then there’s Billy — Jet’s childhood best friend and next-door neighbor — and honestly, he stole the show. He’s the one who finds Jet after her attack and rushes her to the hospital, and he quickly becomes her partner in crime-solving. Billy is sweet, dependable, and refreshingly grounded. He’s also one of the most fleshed-out male leads I’ve read in a Holly Jackson standalone, and I genuinely loved his character.
The suspect list is long and messy, in the best way. There’s Jet’s emotionally distant, demanding and overly critical mother, a brother obsessed with taking over the family business, a sister-in-law (and former best friend) who can’t stop lying, an ex-boyfriend still smarting from a recent rejection, and a trail of enemies made through the family company. Every person feels like a genuine possibility, and the layers of secrets and lies kept me glued to the page.
The mystery is emotional and twisty, with revelations that hit hard and moments that genuinely caught me off guard. Nothing felt overly convenient or forced. As everything slowly unravels, the emotional stakes only rise. Jet’s journey isn’t just about finding her killer — it’s about coming to terms with who she is and the life she’s led. It’s about regret, and missed chances, and what you do when you’re finally out of time.
Was this what it felt like to be a man? Walking on this creepy dark bridge, not scared for a second that she wouldn't make it out the other side, because it didn't really make a difference whether she did or not. The night belonged to her now too. A dead woman walking. And dead women had no use for fear.
And the emotional damage? Brutal. The kind that makes you want to close the book and just lie still for a while. I almost wanted to rate it lower out of spite for what it did to my heart, but the truth is, this book is so good. I stayed up late flipping pages, and when I finally finished, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, completely wrecked.
Not Quite Dead Yet is gripping, imaginative, and devastating in all the right ways. It’s a story that will make you think about the things you’ve put off and wonder if there really will be a later.
I think I’ve spent so long waiting for it all to begin, for life to really start, that I missed out on what it was really all about.
The concept is absolutely wild in the best way. Holly Jackson has always delivered sharp and clever thrillers, but this premise might just be her most creative yet. As chaotic and out-there as it sounds, the execution is tight and intense. There’s urgency and desperation in every chapter, and you feel the weight of Jet’s ticking clock with every clue and dead end.
She wanted what she'd always wanted. To do something, achieve something big, something undeniably great, to prove that she could.
Jet as a main character reminded me a lot of Bel from [b:The Reappearance of Rachel Price|182484360|The Reappearance of Rachel Price|Holly Jackson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692547104l/182484360._SY75_.jpg|187015342]. She’s haunted by her past, emotionally withdrawn, and has spent years making choices that isolate her from those around her. She’s flawed in a real way, full of regret and bitterness that makes her compelling to follow. That said, Jet didn’t quite feel 27 to me. Her voice and actions sometimes read more like someone in their early twenties. It’s a small detail, but it did stand out, but didn't diminish my enjoyment of her character. Jet's humour and string of death-related jokes not only added to her character but also how entertaining the story is.
“Yeah," Jet said, "I see you. Do you see me?"
"I've always seen you, Jet.”
Then there’s Billy — Jet’s childhood best friend and next-door neighbor — and honestly, he stole the show. He’s the one who finds Jet after her attack and rushes her to the hospital, and he quickly becomes her partner in crime-solving. Billy is sweet, dependable, and refreshingly grounded. He’s also one of the most fleshed-out male leads I’ve read in a Holly Jackson standalone, and I genuinely loved his character.
The suspect list is long and messy, in the best way. There’s Jet’s emotionally distant, demanding and overly critical mother, a brother obsessed with taking over the family business, a sister-in-law (and former best friend) who can’t stop lying, an ex-boyfriend still smarting from a recent rejection, and a trail of enemies made through the family company. Every person feels like a genuine possibility, and the layers of secrets and lies kept me glued to the page.
The mystery is emotional and twisty, with revelations that hit hard and moments that genuinely caught me off guard. Nothing felt overly convenient or forced. As everything slowly unravels, the emotional stakes only rise. Jet’s journey isn’t just about finding her killer — it’s about coming to terms with who she is and the life she’s led. It’s about regret, and missed chances, and what you do when you’re finally out of time.
Was this what it felt like to be a man? Walking on this creepy dark bridge, not scared for a second that she wouldn't make it out the other side, because it didn't really make a difference whether she did or not. The night belonged to her now too. A dead woman walking. And dead women had no use for fear.
And the emotional damage? Brutal. The kind that makes you want to close the book and just lie still for a while. I almost wanted to rate it lower out of spite for what it did to my heart, but the truth is, this book is so good. I stayed up late flipping pages, and when I finally finished, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, completely wrecked.
Not Quite Dead Yet is gripping, imaginative, and devastating in all the right ways. It’s a story that will make you think about the things you’ve put off and wonder if there really will be a later.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i stepped out of my fantasy zone and this is the first mystery book i’ve read this year and it was SO GOOD. the ending felt very satisfying to me! jet could be a pain in the ass at times but i think it added more realism to her character.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
No notes. Immediate five stars. A very strong contender for my favourite book of the year - I absolutely INHALED this.
The narrator of the audiobook was not good.
The good was good. Not as good as her other book sadly. It read a bit too YA for the story.
The good was good. Not as good as her other book sadly. It read a bit too YA for the story.
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated