With a concept such as being able to bring back a deceased loved one for 30 days, I already knew I was going to be entertained, and boy was I. I really enjoyed this, maybe more than I expected to. I love the small town setting, and how well the author builds that atmosphere. From the Country Kitchen, to the Thrifty Coyote, I really do buy into the town of Lennon and its quirky charms. Also, as a huge pop-culture nerd (and someone who just watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer) I loved all the references and thought that was a really unique and fun detail. I also really loved Annie. I felt she was sympathetic but not depressingly so. You obviously know this tragic thing happened to her but she’s still so vibrant, which made for a surprisingly light and fun read.

My only real qualm is with the main character, simply because at times she felt a bit too juvenile and cheesy. A classic “not like the other girls” situation, just on a sort of lesser degree. But it wasn’t enough to fully deter me from the story, so it’s not a glaring issue.

Though I hoped for a different outcome that was teased throughout, somehow this book managed to end on a fairly optimistic note, that I wasn’t quite expecting. I was still left with a lump in my throat, but it was coated by a sense of relief and relaxation for the characters. A sense that everything somehow managed to work itself out in ways that were unexpected.

Oh, and it gets sapphic so honorary 5 stars! 🏳️‍🌈

This book was the perfect balance of sweet/wholesome and creepy/unsettling. I spent an equal amount of time feeling stressed and laughing, and loved that there were some loose ends that allowed me to interpret the ending on my own.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I AM SO FREAKING CONFUSED WITH HOW THIS ENDED. AM I HAPPY? YES. DO I HAVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS? ALSO, YES.

Okay, enough with the yelling because this book started off me wondering what the hell is going on. To it actually ending with me wondering what the hell is going on. Consistent and casually leaving me confused. Which, sure, annoys the living crap out of me but I am really happy that we got so much information towards the end of the book.

Adults were starting to adult. Secrets came out and everyone knows the truth (somewhat). Crushes crashed and burned - well, some soared. Either way, I enjoyed the heck out of getting to know Wilson, Annie and Ryan. Heck, please give me more Mark. He was hilarious from start to finish and beyond adorable. Also, can I please try these amazing hot chocolate bombs?!?!

In the end, Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet had it's cute and swoon worthy moments. I also thought the whole idea of reconnecting with someone who has previously died was an interesting storyline. Cheers to the friendships in life (and death).

Actually 3.5 stars. This was an interesting read. I loved the basic plot - this town has a weird ability to bring 1 person back from the dead every 10 years but they only get to stick around for 30 days. I know, I know, it's odd and it doesn't go in to too much detail about it but it's easy to just roll with the concept.

And our mc is Wilson. She's finally gotten her name drawn and she's asked to bring back her old best friend Annie. I say old, because for the last year of Annie's life, they weren't talking. Wilson is hoping that, once Annie's back, they can work on their friendship (and the friendship with Ryan) and maybe mend what was broken.

It's a pretty cute story. I liked the banter. It felt real, even if the story was a little light on the internet/phone use. I really liked Mark. I thought his character was just adorable! I like that Wilson's life was really hectic and Wil didn't always handle the stress and confusion right. Each of the main characters lashed out, hurt each other, and said mean things. They were all human. It was a quick read, and one that had me hooked from the first chapter. And look at that cover! Gorgeous!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I rally sweet and there was so much teen angst so much so much it was drowning in the best possible way

3.0 stars

So. Freaking. Cute!!! It’s been a while since I’ve read YA, and I really enjoyed this one! I’m obsessed the town of Lennon, and I absolutely adored all of the nineties callbacks. If you’re a big Young Adult reader, I highly recommend. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a 4 star read for me!

This was funny with so much teen angst. It reminded me of high school days and made me question who I'd bring back from the dead if I had the chance.

The character development throughout this was really well thought out. I enjoyed the tension and heartache that the characters experienced and the overall plot was original and deep.

The writing is fine. I wasn’t personally gripped and stopped after chapter 1 (4%). I felt like the pace should have been faster since we’re counting down to death…? Three stars for the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Every ten years, a previously deceased resident of Lennon, California can return. Living residents can enter a contest to decide who who return. Wilson wins, and she decides to bring back her ex-best friend Annie. When Annie died, they weren't on good terms, and before that, she'd also fallen out with their other friend Ryan. So, she hopes bringing her back will create some needed resolution. I liked the premise of this one, but I truly wanted more. I wish there was more interspersing of how this contest came to be, how it really worked, etc. I also found that the action didn't really pick up to where I was most captivated until the last 20% or so. I do always appreciate a unique premise of a story, and this was definitely that creative spin. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this June 2024 release.

Wilson Moss just brought her best friend Annie LeBlanc back from the dead. Annie has thirty days to stay back here on earth.. unless Wil can do something about it. If she can help Annie handle unfinished business, she can live on earth again and remain Wil’s best (and only) friend. Ryan Morton, Annie’s ex-friend, might be the answer. Can Wilson get them to reconcile or will Annie be gone forever?

The idea of Lennon being this mystical town where the dead can roam again pulled me in 100%. I really, really wanted to know more about Lennon and how it works, but the book doesn’t give many answers. I get that you can’t completely create a unique theory on the afterlife and how to bring people back, but some more information would have been nice. Also, the romance aspect at the end felt way too rushed. Just all of a sudden Ryan had this burning passion that was apparently there the whole time. Other than that, it was a fun adventure and perfect for the YA genre. I myself just couldn’t get into it after reading new adult and adult books, but it’s a great fit for teens. The main crew of characters felt like normal teens and not an adult trying to be relatable. I like how Wil was able to explore herself and her sexuality a bit with a boy and a girl at different points in the story.

If you like a determined main characters and unexpected endings, “Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet” might be for you instead of me :)

3.5/5, rounded up

Wilson Moss wins a contest held by her small town to bring back her dead friend Annie for 30 days. From there, she’s going to do everything in her power to get her to stay. It doesn’t matter that their only other friend, Ryan, is pissed about it. It doesn’t even matter that she hadn’t spoken to Annie for over a year before her death. With Annie back, Wil might have a chance to fix everything.

Annie LeBlanc is Not Dead Yet truly delivers on its premise of second chances, broken friendships, and determining your space in the world. It’s an easy read that dwells on those lingering traumas of high school that we all wish to bury in the past and what happens when we can’t. There are moments that made me a laugh, a few that made me wince, one I was tempted to skip over altogether, and a new way to view fireworks.

This book features a very solid understanding of teens and their idiocy. All those things they do that have no real rhyme or reason that so clearly make the situation worse but can’t be avoided because that’s simply how they are. The embarrassment, the fear, the anxiety eating them alive.

The characters were wonderful. Each had strong personalities, clear goals, and the inability to get it right the first time. The interactions between them were often heartwarming, humorous, or both at once. They were allowed to fight, to be mad at each other, and to say something horrendous.

With the magical aspects of the story, Morris managed to walk the line between over explained and under explained. It was easy to accept the reality of the town because the characters did. We didn’t need to know any more information because they didn’t act like we needed it. The other piece that rubbed me the wrong way was addressed later on, giving me something to cling to if asked to elaborate on how everything worked.

Morris had a habit of dropping information and then wandering off, waiting for the curiosity to fester. Sometimes this worked as it built up relationships. Oftentimes it felt like the author was purposefully toying with the reader only to then drop the information later in the book but just as suddenly, leaving me wondering why it couldn’t have been disclosed earlier.

My inability to handle secondhand embarrassment came into play with an attempted relationship within the story. The plot line was technically well written, it provided enough confusion for me to second guess an otherwise straight forward ending for a certain couple, but it also grossed me out a bit. Not a reason not to read, the entertainment value alone in later sections of the book more than made up for it, but it is a warning.

Overall, this is a fun read that reminds you of how much loneliness can make you do some wild things.

*Received an arc via publisher

Such a breath of fresh air to have a totally unique premise. The thought of being able to bring someone back from the dead and then giving that decisions for a teenager proved to give this book a fresh POV. If you want teen angst and coming of age this one hits on both cylinders perfectly. I was worried the end would leave me disappointed but the author hit a home run there too.

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for allowing me to read this book. Due to the ongoing boycott I will not be reviewing this book until the boycott is over.

What a great idea! Stories about second chances are numerous but this one puts the ‘winner’ in charge of the redemption and in this JV novel we learn all about teen angst of all types. I thought this was very good and the characters were fully developed and very likable and the ending was so life-like in a teenage-y way that the bittersweetness will stay with me for quite awhile. Thank you to #netgalley, #wednesdaybooks and @mollymorris for this copy of #annieleblancisnotdeadyet to read and review, all opinions are my own.

I love this story's concept of being able to bring someone back from the dead for a limited time. Keeping it limited should ensure that you treasure the extra time you are given while allowing you to say goodbye in a non-traumatic way. Which of course doesn't happen when you let a teen choose the person to come back. That part was an odd rule. Wilson's teen life pretty-much exploded 2 years ago, a full year before best friend Annie died. Her wish is to get her previous life back by bringing Annie back. The trio of Wilson, Annie and Ryan are a long way from the 3 musketeers that they used to be, and Wilson spends all of her wished-for time scrambling to get them back to where they used to be. All while also trying to determine her sexual orientation, her place in her evolving family and her social status among her peers. This is like a triple whammy on top of the normal teen angst. It is an engaging coming-of-age story with such an original base. I enjoyed it for the most part (got a little grossed out by Wilson pursuing both twins at the same time though).

So much to discuss in book club. Great selection. Such an interesting topic and twist on friendship.

Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet will knock your right in the heart! The romance with the magical realism to this story was a great twist! This is the type of book that I could keep reading over and over again. Highly recommend this to lovers of YA romance.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, it is not working for me right now. It is nothing against the story or the author, but I couldn't get into the story/characters. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

Oh, this was so cute!

I mean it’s teen angst followed by teen angst followed by teen angst, however it’s also so sweet and sad. I wanted all the characters to find their happy – even our dead one. I won’t tell you if they do – I’ll just tell you that the author handled the end beautifully!

And good lord, I wouldn’t want to bring someone back to life for 30 days. Much as I would want to see them and tell them everything and ask them everything more, the end game of that would break my heart.

And because of that conundrum, you can expect some depth added to the fluffiness of this one.

Bittersweet and all the feels.

• ARC via Publisher

Thanks so much St Martin's Press and NetGalley

Wilson enters his town's contest - every ten years they bring someone back to life for 30 days. He chooses his friend Annie. He's so happy, except maybe he is forgetting how she ghosted everyone a year before her death. Wil discovers a loophole that could mean Annie gets to stay. It involves the third best friend - Ryan - except she hates everyone.

I thought this was such a clever book! YA fiction has really hit it out of the park lately. This was such an interesting twist on friendship. I really was rooting for everyone.