Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was considering giving this book a 4 star rating 'cause overall it wasn't really bad, but then the end reveal came and my dread that it's the obvious suspect was confirmed, leaving me disappointed.
Despite the plot feeling sometimes like it's progressing a bit too slow, it was still a nice read about Margaret ‘Jet’ who was trying to solve her own murder. The protagonist of this story feels like she has to proof something, has to act and achieve the same things her sister Emily did. While I never done anything like this to impress anyone, not even my parents I could still somewhat understand that if one wasn't the favourite child and just searching for confirmation, wanting to make them proud. I think that Margaret can be a relatable character for some. Just like the author of this book said: ‘I still find myself feeling sad for Jet (and I made her up) so I’m sorry for inflicting that trauma on you too.’ Her life was truly tragic and I think everyone had at least some bit of tragedy in their life so I think it's quite easy to connect with her emotionally. Since I did that too, I was also able to enjoy the story to the fullest, truly rooting for her to achieve something big in life for the first time without self-sabotaging and actually finishing something she started without saying 'later'.
Despite the plot feeling sometimes like it's progressing a bit too slow, it was still a nice read about Margaret ‘Jet’ who was trying to solve her own murder. The protagonist of this story feels like she has to proof something, has to act and achieve the same things her sister Emily did. While I never done anything like this to impress anyone, not even my parents I could still somewhat understand that if one wasn't the favourite child and just searching for confirmation, wanting to make them proud. I think that Margaret can be a relatable character for some. Just like the author of this book said: ‘I still find myself feeling sad for Jet (and I made her up) so I’m sorry for inflicting that trauma on you too.’ Her life was truly tragic and I think everyone had at least some bit of tragedy in their life so I think it's quite easy to connect with her emotionally. Since I did that too, I was also able to enjoy the story to the fullest, truly rooting for her to achieve something big in life for the first time without self-sabotaging and actually finishing something she started without saying 'later'.
We've spend our whole lives trying to fill Emily's shoes, feeling crushed by her shadow, trying to prove to Mom and Dad that we are good enough too.
This book explored a lot of family dynamics, mostly Margaret's but also Billy's family. While it did take some time to get to know all the characters — their secrets and possible motives for killing Margaret, it also was about their relationships to eachother. How they liked or not liked eachother. And why. While I did mention above that I found the end reveal to be a bit too predictable, there were actually three major ones. Two were pretty obvious since they were connected to eachother and I think that the murderer was a prime suspect, but the family dynamic also had a secret which I did not expect as it was so cruel and heartless, I wouldn't have even imagined that someone would do something like this. It took me by surprise since I didn't expect it at all. I also wanted to mention that this book is quite tragic and just generally sad since it's about grief, loss and how relationships changed over the years by abandonment and hate. They all had their tragic story in some way.
I'm sorry that I'm not Emily. But I was never supposed to be. Took me a while to learn that, and I hope you can see it too. I spent my whole life waiting because I was trying to live a future that was never mine. And I did it because I wanted you to be proud of me. To just once say “Good Job, Jet.” I needed it, lived for it, and I don't think that was healthy, for either of us.
Despite the sad backstories and plot about a woman dying soon due to head trauma, it also had a sweet tone, like romance and showing strength when one faces a difficult time in life. Margaret had a major development at the end, acknowledging that the way she lived her life so far was wrong and made it up for the remaining days she had left to live.
As I mentioned above, the plot twist who the murderer was, was too predictable to me and made the ending disappointing. I expected something greater and I know that Holly Jackson is good in writing about a mystery/thriller, but this time it just wasn't as great as I initially hoped for it to be.
Since everything else wasn't really lacking anything I would still recommend this book to anyone who already read a Holly Jackson book in the past.
In case you haven't, don't worry, it's still worth reading despite the ending as I had fun exploring each character and their past.
My murder isn’t going to solve itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Cursing, Physical abuse
Minor: Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have never cried so hard over an ending. Holly when I catch you-
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Abandonment
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Infidelity, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fuck you holly jackson
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Gun violence, Suicide, Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Holly jackson just does it EVERY TIME. No one gets me reading a book in one sitting like she does. This is the closest to tears I’ve been with a murder mystery and I loved it all. Please write another book now🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. Wow. Wow. WOW. This book was AMAZING. I loved every single second of this book. The first chapter was hard to get into but after that it NEVER STOPED, it was so hard for me to put the book down. I never guessed what was coming next. When Billy’s dad was revealed to be the murderer my jaw was on the FLOOR. I would have never guessed. This book was one of the best books I have read this year! 100% recommend.
5/5 stars
5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“It wasn’t a stranger. It wasn’t a robbery gone wrong. It was someone I know. And they came here to kill me.”
Congratulations on Holly Jackson’s first adult novel👏🏼
The story follows Jet who survived a murder attempt but only temporarily because of a resulting head injury that will kill her after a week. Jet takes it into her own hands to find who murdered her before her time is up.
I enjoyed the investigation parts of the book there’s a lot of potential suspects that have their own motives why they might want Jet dead. I loved how one thing would get discovered only for it to open another can of worms. These people’s lives are messy!!!! The real killer was someone I did not even see coming, but maybe that’s just me and my easily fooled brain.
I would’ve rated this higher if it weren’t for Jet. I know that this is classified as adult but despite being twenty-seven Jet read like a teenager or someone in their early twenties. I understand that this is Jackson’s first adult novel so it must’ve been something she was adjusting with but that affected my reading experience.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Congratulations on Holly Jackson’s first adult novel👏🏼
The story follows Jet who survived a murder attempt but only temporarily because of a resulting head injury that will kill her after a week. Jet takes it into her own hands to find who murdered her before her time is up.
I enjoyed the investigation parts of the book there’s a lot of potential suspects that have their own motives why they might want Jet dead. I loved how one thing would get discovered only for it to open another can of worms. These people’s lives are messy!!!! The real killer was someone I did not even see coming, but maybe that’s just me and my easily fooled brain.
I would’ve rated this higher if it weren’t for Jet. I know that this is classified as adult but despite being twenty-seven Jet read like a teenager or someone in their early twenties. I understand that this is Jackson’s first adult novel so it must’ve been something she was adjusting with but that affected my reading experience.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Blood, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Infidelity
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
As a person who hates sad books was I stressed about reading a book that ends in tragedy? Yes. But honestly this book was entertaining while remaining appropriately level-headed about the whole thing. Our main character Jet is attacked while home alone, but survives the attempt on her life… temporarily. Unfortunately, due to a complication stemming from a preexisting condition, the attack will cause a fatal aneurism in about a week. Sick of never finishing anything in her life (relatable), Jet decides she’s going to solve her own murder with the help of her childhood friend Billy.
For the most part I liked the characters. Yes, Jet makes plenty of jokes about dying and uses that fact to make others uncomfortable, but I honestly think it’s pretty realistic if you have that sense of humor. Billy seems a little too good to be true, but what do I know about men. Honestly Jet’s mother really irritated me bc she felt like a charicature, but I’m sure there are real moms like her out there too. The writing style was good, and though it took me a minute to get into the first chapter, the pacing was much better than Holly’s last book imo. It didn’t really drag at any points and was a quick read. I did think her previous YA books were a little “who is allowing these children to do this,” but this being about adults makes more sense. Jet is kinda a mess and acts younger than her late 20s, but girl I’ve been there too.
The only small downsides for me were the loose end feeling and ending. There are some points with Jet’s sister in law that felt unfinished, as well as with Andrew/Nina and Jet’s brother. Not plot holes, just things I would’ve liked a better resolution to. The ending was also just kinda wild. No spoilers, but idk if I liked it. Seemed overly dramatic for no good reason. Also seemed like it was going in one way, then completely switched it up on the last 2 pages.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
For the most part I liked the characters. Yes, Jet makes plenty of jokes about dying and uses that fact to make others uncomfortable, but I honestly think it’s pretty realistic if you have that sense of humor. Billy seems a little too good to be true, but what do I know about men. Honestly Jet’s mother really irritated me bc she felt like a charicature, but I’m sure there are real moms like her out there too. The writing style was good, and though it took me a minute to get into the first chapter, the pacing was much better than Holly’s last book imo. It didn’t really drag at any points and was a quick read. I did think her previous YA books were a little “who is allowing these children to do this,” but this being about adults makes more sense. Jet is kinda a mess and acts younger than her late 20s, but girl I’ve been there too.
The only small downsides for me were the loose end feeling and ending. There are some points with Jet’s sister in law that felt unfinished, as well as with Andrew/Nina and Jet’s brother. Not plot holes, just things I would’ve liked a better resolution to. The ending was also just kinda wild. No spoilers, but idk if I liked it. Seemed overly dramatic for no good reason. Also seemed like it was going in one way, then completely switched it up on the last 2 pages.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Medical content
Minor: Chronic illness, Gun violence, Infidelity, Grief, Abandonment