A review by chaptersofchase
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

medium-paced

4.0

A debut adult mystery that packs both a twist and a punch to the heart.

Thank you, Random House, for the gifted copy of Not Quite Dead Yet {partner}

 

Genre: Mystery

Format: 🎧📖

Pub Date:  7.17.2025

Pages: 392

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"Turns out dying feels a lot like living."

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson marks her first step into the adult mystery genre—and while there are definite YA vibes, it still delivers a suspenseful and entertaining ride. The premise is unique, and the cast of lovable characters kept me turning the pages, even when the main character's immaturity occasionally pulled me out of the moment.

This is the kind of book that makes for a fun fall read—perfect for curling up with on a crisp afternoon. The ending completely surprised me and also carried a surprising amount of sadness, though it did feel a little rushed compared to the rest of the story's pacing.

Also, this book is best read with your eyes instead of your ears. I started with the audio, but the narrator made the FMC seem incredibly immature and took away from the storyline. Although this is the author's debut adult novel, it had a YA vibe to the story, and the audiobook made it feel completely YA. 

Read if you enjoy:

🔍 Unique plot

🍂 Fall setting

💔 Emotional twists

Overall, if you're looking for something suspenseful with a fresh setup, a few emotional gut punches, and a cast you'll want to hang out with, this one's worth adding to your TBR (and don't worry, nothing happens to the dog).