This book was fun! The writing sucked me in. There were parts that def seemed a bit slow for me. I’m not totally sure about the ending. Will there be a sequel?

That ending!! Annie LeBlanc is Not Dead Yet is a great book that deals with understanding your sexuality and growing in friendships that I believe a lot of queer people have experienced in their lives ( I know I did). You really felt Wilson's confusion with growing up with a young mom and the struggles she faced. I wish there was slightly more with her mom and the development there but it did not take away from the story in itself. I breezed through this.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I wish we could know more about this town and the Welcome Back! I feel like we got so little of how it works, why it’s a thing, what’s so special about Lennon. It made it feel more like Annie was just back for a summer vacation than back from the dead with how little people seemed to care.

The plot was fine, I found Wilson to be a little selfish at times though. She jumped to conclusions a lot and didn’t see Annie as a person, more like this object she wants back.

The romance was cute, wish it was more throughout rather than rushed at the last minute. This book just has some pacing issues, and needs some sort of lore drop for the town.

Annie LeBlanc is Not Dead Yet is set in the very unique town of Lennon California. In Lennon, they hold a raffle once every 10 years and the winner can bring back one person from the dead for 30 days. The story begins with teenage Wilson Moss at the return party. She was the winner and her former best friend is returning after drowning. I enjoy books that include a touch of magic and this interesting element added to the story. The author explains the magic well and it is primarily a background aspect of the story.

I liked the premise of this story and I felt that the author authentically presented a wide variety of emotions connected to the story. From Annie, who has returned from the dead to Wilson, who is desperate to reconnect and repair their broken relationship, and Annie's parents who have their daughter back, I was happy that each was given credence. While the story started slowly for me, I enjoyed the second part of the book more. Wilson is less in her head during this part of the story and there is more action and revelations. This angsty YA story has a sweet romantic element as well and it fits easily into the story without overwhelming it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book's premise was so interesting. I wasn't sure how it would play out and the author did a great job of keeping you guessing.
Having the main characters sort of replay the past (I'm not describing this right) to possibly change the future was really interesting. To have a second chance to find out what went wrong in the past, and to unravel what other people were thinking and feeling, was such a unique story line.
It really makes you think about how your own personal view of something is not necessarily the only view and being able to see other's views can change your reality too.
Enjoy!

2.5/5 ⭐️
This book definitely is for someone, it just wasn’t for me. I will admit I’ve gotten insanely picky about the kind of writing styles I can tolerate nowadays, but there were many times I would have preferred to
eat those atomic bomb candies than read this book. And it started when an insane amount of time was dedicated to talking about the protagonist loving atomic bomb candies. It literally had nothing to do with the plot, just trying to make the FMC seemed quirky. Just like her wearing “nerdy” shirts and reading comics. However, those details were annoying to me because they feel like cliche props. I love reading stories with FMCs who enjoy niche fandoms, but lean into. Make it an aspect of the story. (Ex. Dungeons and Drama, she was a theater-girlie whose whole goal was to make sure the spring show wasn’t cancelled and often sang show tunes while forced to play D&D. Or Twelfth Knight where the FMC’s into role play games and it’s how her and the love interest interact). Here, it was a prop that felt like to me like, ooh isn’t she quirky. She’s not like other girls. I REALLY didn’t like when she literally called herself “the resident virgin dork.” I’m SO over this being a trope.
Besides that, I just didn’t mesh with the writing style. I cannot tell you exactly why I think this, but it came across as fairly new to writing. The writing was a little clunky and repetitive and didn’t flow well. The dialogue was awkward too. However, I think this had serious potential. I loved the concept and saw what it could’ve been if it simmered on the back burner for a little longer. The ingredients were mostly good, the construction of the ingredients needed a little more work. I think scenes could’ve been cut or condensed.
Overall, I see how this story can be enjoyable and liked by others. However, it was not for me. I think this author has potential, but unfortunately I’m currently in the phase of my reading career where I’m more picky about the writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

This book was a whirlwind from the start and it kept me guessing at each word I read. A stunning piece about a small town with an interesting and intriguing secret, they bring an individual back to life for a limited amount of time if you won the random drawing. A game of chance that everyone takes a chance on, especially not knowing who will be coming back.
My favorite things included in this story were the character dynamics, in particular the intense friendship dynamics, the way details were given to us were splendid, and the deep, intimate feelings of our main character being shared with us gave it a journal feel which made me connect with her even more!

Thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARc!

This book has so many levels and I appreciate them all.

First we have Wilson the adultified teenage daughter of 90s reject, Jody. Wilson's self-esteem is in the toilet due to being ditched by her best friends and then having one die.

Which would be the end of things but Wilson lives in a town where you can wish someone back to life for 30 days. Which is an absolutely bonkers premise for a book and I adore it.

Molly Morris doesn't really elaborate much on the details which I'm sure will annoy some folks but actually worked for me especially considering the ending.

Second layer. Wilson's relationship with Ryan and Annie. Wilson's biggest issue is also her mother's: living in the past. And this is handled so deftly.

Third layer. The Walking Dad. I want this to be a thing. Please make it so.

Okay, the actual third layer. Wilson's relationship with Jody. I spent most of the book despising Jody due to her selfish behavior. But there was one scene that actually gutted me as a parent. Excellent job.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I was immediately intrigued by the premise: in the town of Lennon, the dead can come back to life. Residents--who are "chosen" by the town--can enter a lottery to bring back one person from the dead. Seventeen-year-old Wilson is the youngest winner in town history, and she chooses to bring back her former best friend, Annie LeBlanc. I was really captured by the magical realism aspects of this plot point! However, I struggled through the first half of the book. I just generally didn't understand the friendship dynamic between Annie, Wilson, and Ryan, and I wish the explanation of why their friendship ended came earlier in the book. Also, one of the most emotional aspects of the book--Annie telling the story of what her life was like at her new high school and how she died--didn't have enough follow-up. I wish the book had an extra chapter or two after that reveal (or the reveal came earlier in the book) to really show how that conversation changed the characters' perspectives and relationships. I also didn't love the amount of pop culture references. I often prefer when references aren't to super contemporary media because that can make a book feel dated, but Wilson's taste in music (and her discussion of contemporary musicians, like Olivia Rodrigo) often made her feel a little "not like other girls" to me.

A fun, quirky queer love story. Fans of the current wave of sapphic YA will find a lot to like about this one. I look forward to reading what Morris writes next!

This was so well crafted. I really cared about all of the characters, and the book was so readable. I love seeing queer stories for young people come out into the world. There were also so many relatable things outside of queerness, like a parent becoming a different and in some cases better version of themselves that they were unable to provide you, and all the bitterness and difficult emotions associated with that. There's a place in the middle where the pacing is a little slow, but I would recommend to stick with it until the end. Overall for me it's a five star read that tackles a lot in a fun way.

This book was an absolutely adorable, heartwarming read!! In the fictional town of Lennon, California, a unique tradition unfolds every decade or so: a lucky raffle winner earns the opportunity to bring a deceased Lennon native back to life for 30 days. Enter 18-year-old Wilson Moss, who nominates her best friend Annie for the chance to reconnect. Winning the raffle comes as a shock to Wilson, who never anticipated her selection.

Now faced with the unexpected return of Annie, Wilson grapples with mixed emotions. Despite their once-close bond, she and Annie had drifted apart in the year leading up to Annie's death. Determined to mend their fractured friendship, Wilson endeavors to keep Annie in Lennon beyond her allotted 30 days. Complicating matters is Ryan, another key figure in their shared history. Still nursing a year-old grudge against Annie, Ryan adds another layer of tension to Wilson's mission to reconcile past conflicts and rebuild their trio's bond. As Wilson navigates the complexities of friendship, forgiveness, and second chances, she finds herself on a poignant journey to heal old wounds and embrace the fleeting gift of time with Annie.

The premise of this book immediately drew me in and the interesting characters and plot kept me entertained the entire way through!

Annie LeBlanc is Not Dead Yet was a heartwarming story of a girl who brings her ex-best friend back from the dead (for one month only) and you get to live that month along with them, the good, the hope, the fear, and the bad.

This book felt like it had a raw realness to it and I appreciated the way I read through the whole thing in basically one sitting. I wish the ending had been just a *tad* clearer -- but that might be a personal preference, otherwise A++

Oh my gosh this book had the audacity to be the best book I’ve read in the past two months!!! I am so obsessed with everything in this story. The characters, the romantic interests, the unique plot line. Give me all of it 10x over. The only downfall is that I don’t know how you would make a sequel out of this so I’ll never be able to relive the magic of Annie, Ryan and Wilson again. The perfect little coming of age LGBTQ friendly book with lots of dry humor tied up in a little bow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

I read it and was just as confused with the last page as I was with the first page.

The bookbdragged on and on and just left me confused.

Much better books out their never leave a bad review if I can help it at all, but I would skip this one.

"Annie LaBlanc is not Dead Yet" is set in the semi-magical land of Lennon, California. If you like apple pie, you'll love Lennon. Though Annie is in the title, the main character is actually Wilson, Annie's former best friend. The story doesn't have much interest in explaining the hows, whys, and moral implications of bringing people "back from the dead" for a mere thirty days. Instead, it focuses on being a classic teen novel with confusing relationships and well-placed pop references and it does this well. It's a charming blend of sadness, angst and humor. Through Annie's return, we're reminded of life's unpredictable twists and turns and things not always being what they seem. A quick and enjoyable read.
#NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this entertaining ARC. All opinions are my own.

Teen/YA novel, Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet, is set in the fictional town of Lennon, California, where every decade or so, one lucky raffle winner gets to bring a Lennon native back from the grave for 30 days. 18-year-old Wilson Moss put in Annie's name, hoping to bring back her best friend, but she never thought she would win. She gets the surprise of her life when she actually does win. Wilson got to bring her best friend back for a month. Too bad she and Annie hadn't talked for a year before she died. Now, Wilson is determined to keep Annie back in Lennon even past her death date, trying to repair a broken friendship shared between her, Annie, and Ryan, who is still holding a year-old grudge against Annie.

Would I watch this as a movie/TV show? Yes.

Love love love the cover! It totally drew me in. Anyways, I was really intrigued by the premise of the book when I requested it on NG and I wasn't disappointed. It could've been longer. Would've absolutely loved to see a couple of scenes play out. I totally related and understood Wilson as a character who feels alone but feels like everyone is relying on her, but she cannot rely on anyone. I loved the world building in Lennon. I usually stick to more realistic books, but this is grounded in reality while also possessing some supernatural qualities—just the perfect touch! Lennon seems like a fantastic town, as all cool small towns are. I love small details, little things that just make a story feel fuller and more well-rounded. I enjoyed the romance of the book because I wasn't expecting it.

Overall, a good YA book! Would recommend anyone who likes LGBT+ books with a bit of whimsy!

Annie is dead. Wilson and Ryan no longer talk. Then miraculously Wilson wins the towns Welcome Back contest, where every 10 years one resident of Lennon gets to bring back someone from the dead for 30 days.

Wilson entered on a whim and selected her ex-bff Annie. Things fell apart between 3 best friends a year before Annie's tragic death. Now Wilson thinks she may be able to rekindle the friendship.

I really did feel for Wilson. The poor girl is filled with all kinds of anxieties, insecurities, and self-imposed responsibilities. Wilson tries so hard throughout the book to have everyone get along and make it feel like before.
I did have to constantly remind myself that the mains are teenagers because my goodness can they not just communicate their actual feelings for once?! It was driving me mad. But you wouldn't have caught me emotionally connecting and communicating at 17, so that did feel very real.

Overall I enjoyed the story and everyone gets a nice happy ending. But y'all - tell your friends how you're truly feeling.

I was pleasantly surprised by this unique story. A high school friend passed away after their two of her best friends have drifted apart over the last year. One of her old best friends makes a wish to have them come back for 30 days in hopes of restoring what they once had. I would describe this as a second chance at life and love and friendship. I felt a lot and laughed and enjoyed how this story progressed. Definitely would recommend this.

In Lennon, California every ten years residents may enter a lottery to bring one person back from the dead. And that’s how Wilson Moss brings her former best friend, Annie LeBlanc back to Lennon to live for another thirty days. Full of teen angst, with a bit of magic and romance thrown in, this is a recommended YA read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving m an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.75 stars rounded to 4.