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emotional
mysterious
sad
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
This book was absolutely wild. The lies piled up the more the mystery was uncovered. It was such a creative murder mystery, being solved by the victim was not something I’ve read before. It was still incredibly sad though, even with Jet making jokes to lighten the mood.
Sophia is such an insufferable person. Worst friend, wife, daughter-in-law, like dude, she was the worst. Jet was so correct with the letter she wrote for her at the end.
Also it was so messed up for the chief of police to pull the main characters hair and press on their head… knowing she had a serious head injury… what was that?
Read For
✓ Sarcastic Humor
✓ Childhood Friends
✓ Murder Investigation
✓ Irredeemable Characters
✓ Family Secrets (so many)
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
Spice Level: n/a
Sad Level: 💧💧💧💧
Plot: 10/10
Pace: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Enjoyability: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Would I Recommend? Yes
Favorite Character: Billy
Favorite Quote: ❝ That final week, not quite long enough, not quite dead yet. But if it’s a frog to you, then it’s a frog to me too ❞
POV: First Person
Pages: 392
Format: Audiobook
Language: English
Release Date: 22, July 2025
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, Gaslighting
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Infidelity, Police brutality, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
6 stars. 10 stars really. I'm going to need to take some time to think about my review - something that normally happens when I come across a book that stitches itself into my core and decides to live there forever. (I lied, I don't shut up about it because I simply CAN'T. I'm adding a spoiler tag but I don't think there are any spoilers really but I don't want to be THAT reader... seriously, don't be that reader - no one likes you when you spoil books without warning).
This book is my first Holly Jackson book and it won't be my last. I only hope that she continues to write more adult thriller books because she knows WTF she's doing. I can't remember the last time I cried, sobbing like a baby on one page, and then continue to cry from laughing so hard on the next. I could not stop reading this -- I put off being an adult just to get through the pages and didnt feel the need to read the other 4 books I'm reading in between because from the first page you fall in love with Jet as a main character who is grumpy, moody, a little bit of an asshole (ok, maybe a lot but the girl has her reasons) hilarious, and just... so imperfectly human.
I watch and read so many thrillers that I just knew I would know who "they" were, and while yes, near the end - I had figured it out - it was only because of the little red herrings throughout the book that told the story but also made you question yourself because most of the characters in this book, suck. Truly. They are human and awful and selfish and you just know that any one of them could have done what they did to Jet... but then Mrs Jackson throws in ANOTHER twist you don't see coming and you're simply left with your mouth on the ground. I haven't felt this way since reading Gone Girl (the book that got me into thrillers) so that's high praise right there. This story is SO plot driven but also character driven -- a lot of books these days give you one or the other so it's a special kind of magic when you get both done SO WELL.
The ending is 110% not what you want but also everything you want wrapped up in a blood soaked bow and like me, you'll be left feeling all the feel. I say it everytime, but I base my ratings on how a book made me feel - and I felt it all. I'm guessing that's obvious by now because I literally said I needed to take time to process before leaving a review and then I don't shut up about it. You have to read this book... Holly deserves all the praise this book is getting and if you are on the fence, jump on over because you won't regret it. This is one of those books I'll fight over (not really, but maybe) when people leave bad reviews because I'll know for a fact we didn't read the same book. I wish I could go back a few days and read it all over for the first time... this surely won't be my last book by Mrs Jackson - you have another forever fan in me and I can't wait to see what you write next.
BUT.. before I go.. I do need to leave a few parting words for a couple of the characters because I sincerely believe they deserve it.
*Jet Mason - you are my spirit animal. I have never felt so connected to a FMC in my life (IYKYK). She's absolutely hilarious, imperfect, but strong and resilient in ways I couldnt fathom of intimidating.
*Reggie - you ARE the best boy in the whole world and I hope Billy is giving you ALL the scratches in the world.
*Billy - I hope you're out there, finding new frogs in the stars, and allowing all the love in the world to flow through you - you deserve it.
*Luke - you are a POS but thank you for doing what we ALL wanted to do by the end.
*Sophia -to whole heartedly echo Jets words for you. You ARE a C*NT and I hope you're always this unhappy.
GO READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!! DO IT!!! And then come chat with me about it and let's chat about all the tea and how much you loved it.
This book is my first Holly Jackson book and it won't be my last. I only hope that she continues to write more adult thriller books because she knows WTF she's doing. I can't remember the last time I cried, sobbing like a baby on one page, and then continue to cry from laughing so hard on the next. I could not stop reading this -- I put off being an adult just to get through the pages and didnt feel the need to read the other 4 books I'm reading in between because from the first page you fall in love with Jet as a main character who is grumpy, moody, a little bit of an asshole (ok, maybe a lot but the girl has her reasons) hilarious, and just... so imperfectly human.
I watch and read so many thrillers that I just knew I would know who "they" were, and while yes, near the end - I had figured it out - it was only because of the little red herrings throughout the book that told the story but also made you question yourself because most of the characters in this book, suck. Truly. They are human and awful and selfish and you just know that any one of them could have done what they did to Jet... but then Mrs Jackson throws in ANOTHER twist you don't see coming and you're simply left with your mouth on the ground. I haven't felt this way since reading Gone Girl (the book that got me into thrillers) so that's high praise right there. This story is SO plot driven but also character driven -- a lot of books these days give you one or the other so it's a special kind of magic when you get both done SO WELL.
The ending is 110% not what you want but also everything you want wrapped up in a blood soaked bow and like me, you'll be left feeling all the feel. I say it everytime, but I base my ratings on how a book made me feel - and I felt it all. I'm guessing that's obvious by now because I literally said I needed to take time to process before leaving a review and then I don't shut up about it. You have to read this book... Holly deserves all the praise this book is getting and if you are on the fence, jump on over because you won't regret it. This is one of those books I'll fight over (not really, but maybe) when people leave bad reviews because I'll know for a fact we didn't read the same book. I wish I could go back a few days and read it all over for the first time... this surely won't be my last book by Mrs Jackson - you have another forever fan in me and I can't wait to see what you write next.
BUT.. before I go.. I do need to leave a few parting words for a couple of the characters because I sincerely believe they deserve it.
*Jet Mason - you are my spirit animal. I have never felt so connected to a FMC in my life (IYKYK). She's absolutely hilarious, imperfect, but strong and resilient in ways I couldnt fathom of intimidating.
*Reggie - you ARE the best boy in the whole world and I hope Billy is giving you ALL the scratches in the world.
*Billy - I hope you're out there, finding new frogs in the stars, and allowing all the love in the world to flow through you - you deserve it.
*Luke - you are a POS but thank you for doing what we ALL wanted to do by the end.
*Sophia -to whole heartedly echo Jets words for you. You ARE a C*NT and I hope you're always this unhappy.
GO READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!! DO IT!!! And then come chat with me about it and let's chat about all the tea and how much you loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Vomit, Stalking, Abandonment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I could, I would give this book 6 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I haven’t read a book I enjoyed this much for over a year now. Everything in this book was simply fantastic! The characters, the story, the twists! I ate it all up, I just want to keep reading it. And let me tell you, I have never cried over a book. Sometimes I got teary eyed, but that’s all. But this book made me properly cry, especially the letters . And Jet was so fucken funny I was laughing so much! I love love LOVE Holly Jackson. Again, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Gun violence, Gaslighting
Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Infidelity, Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Grief, Fire/Fire injury