Not Dead Enough

A high school junior is stalked by her dead boyfriend in this chilling debut, which explores intimate partner violence. After surviving a horrific car crash that killed her physically abusive boyfriend, Jerry, on prom night, Charlotte picks up the pieces of her shattered life. As she works through her PTSD in therapy, rekindles relationships with estranged friends, and even connects with classmate Nate, who is also navigating grief, Charlotte keeps Jerry’s abuse a secret. But when she begins experiencing ghostly occurrences—sudden cold spots in her room, long-deleted photos reappearing on her computer, and, worst of all, receiving threatening text messages sent from Jerry’s phone—she becomes certain that someone in her life cannot be trusted, because the alternative means that Jerry’s ghost has come back to get her. Though twists and turns are formulaic, and the dialogue sometimes feels implausible, Neiheiser nevertheless conjures genuine terror while delving into the complexities of grief and cycles of abuse. Charlotte’s struggles with anxiety and trauma and her lingering feelings of love for Jerry are tenderly and delicately wrought and, combined with the hauntings and her suspicion of the intersectionally diverse supporting cast, make for a harrowing and fresh foray into the thriller genre. Ages 14–up. Agent: Susan Velazquez Colmant, JABberwocky Literary. (Jan.)