This was such a thrilling fast paced and so full of suspense read. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through - my anxiety was through the roof!! I feel like this will make one hell of an action movie. I will definitely be picking up Falling after this without a doubt, it has been sat on my shelf far too long!

🤯🫣Tension & adrenaline – through the roof!

Wow, a rare thriller that dethrones its predecessor in style!

Thanks NetGalley & Avid Reader Press/ Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Synopsis-

Flight 1421 has no option but to ditch into the Pacific, 6 minutes after take-off. Passengers evacuate over water, but due to the fire, some choose to remain inside, but the plane is flooded. Soon it sinks to the bottom, more than 200 feet below the surface. Will and his daughter Shannon are trapped along with several other passengers. They need to be rescued - the air is limited and time is ticking⏳.

Review -

Newman has produced another block-buster of a thriller that is again tailor-made for a movie, like her debut 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. The location, suspense, characterization, plotting and the race against time are all mixed in perfect ratios in this wild entertainer.

Just as the title describes, 𝘋𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 is a choker, that will literally suck the air from your lungs with claustrophobia and induces nail-biting anxiety.

The atmosphere building and picturization is truly marvellous. Despite a lot of technical detailing and scientific theories, it was pretty easy to imagine and comprehend the plane’s precarious location on the sea bed, its design, the concepts of air pocket, pressure, the diving/rescue team’s plans and all the challenges involved - with the author’s fluid descriptions.

With a varied mix of characters, Newman really makes us care for them, invest in their backstories and finally cheer for them.

It is impossible to stop reading towards the end as we are relentlessly hit with problem after problem, each more complex than the other. A battle of sorts ensues between the topside and downside – but there’s no time & much less air. Get the idea?

I am not sure you will ever want to get on a plane after reading this book😆.

Jokes apart, this one is surely a sumptuous treat for a thriller fan – don’t miss it!

Another wonderful book by T.J. There is something about this author that makes me never want to step foot on a plane again! A plane crashes within minutes of take off. Some passengers get out and some don’t. The different scenarios were interesting. I did skip over certain parts when it got super technical about welding and engineering. But the fright was there throughout the entire book! And the ending. Wow she really set that up nicely!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️
This is my first ARC review so thank you to @netgalley and all the publishers!! I absolutely devoured Falling by Newman and was so excited when I learned about Drowning and thought the plot sounded amazing! It started out great but then things got weird. I was noticing scenes blatantly stolen from the movie TITANIC down to exact dialogue and it only took me several seconds to find the exact scenes on Youtube, I felt were being copied. There was no acknowledgement or clear reference to the movie. The situation and dialogue essentially seemed copy and pasted, and this occurred several times. People not as familiar with that movie as I am may not notice, but it was so obvious to me it took enjoyment away from the story and it no longer felt unique. I also struggled to picture the plane and the situation that they were in because it felt like too many technical terms were used and not easily understandable by the average reader. There was also a lot of complicated scientific explanations that had to be read several times to grasp the concepts so it felt like reading a textbook and not the fast paced thriller that Falling was. I had really high hopes for this one but had to rate it two stars because of the blatant copying of TITANIC and I just did not find a lot of enjoyment from this story.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

T.J. Newman's second book, Drowning, is an anxiety driven thriller about an airline crash and rescue mission. The very first sentence starts with an explosion and the reader needs to buckle in and hang on for the rest of the story.

This was such an interesting concept! You will, of course, need to suspend disbelief right from the jump. I'm certainly not opposed to doing that and, if you can too, you'll enjoy this one. However, a couple moments certainly stretched my ability to do so. The writing was propulsive and engaging. I definitely wanted to turn the pages as fast as possible and I think most could sit down and read this in a single sitting. I really enjoyed many of the characters and appreciated the diversity. My favorites were Shannon and Maia. This was written very cinematically. I could see this play out in my head like a movie on the big screen and I'm sure it will be turned into one. I think, however, that that is where this one falls flat. It seems like it was purposefully written with the goal of being a move/series and not really to be a book. Every chapter ends on a cliff hanger or "moment". This does lend itself to propulsiveness but also tended to be a little gimmicky towards the end. Overall, this is a great book to take to the pool or beach and I don't think many will be disappointed that they read it at all.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for gifting me a copy of TJ Newman's latest thriller - 5 stars for a book you won't be able to put down.

Six minutes after takeoff from Hawaii, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During evacuation, an engine explodes and the evacuation is a disaster. Twelve people inside the plane have to listen to Will, an engineer on board with his daughter, and they shut the exit door. Then the plane sinks to the bottom and the passengers have only a small air pocket. The elite rescue teams launch several plans to try and save the passengers, including one led by Will's estranged wife, Chris.

Wow - I could not go to sleep last night until I finished this book. It is so intense from the very beginning as both the people inside the plane and the rescuers have to figure out how to work together for a successful outcome. There is so much human emotion here and the fear is palpable. I was completely impressed with the smartness of this read as well, although the terminology and science is made understandable. I loved the twists - I just loved this book! Highly recommended - but maybe not reading for your next flight!

I didn't get this book at all. Way too many characters, that was so confusing . Couldn't visualize what was goi g on, therefore I really didn't care if they were rescued or not.
Thanks NetGally for advance copy.

I've never read a book of this kind, but I saw a whole movie unwrap in front of my eyes. I got glued to my Kindle for 4 hours straight to complete the last 60% of the book. I've never ever read anything for that long. This story-telling is something else.

Initially, the narration swaps between the present and past. It made me bored, and I didn't quite get connected. The second half is mostly focused on what's going on, so it lured me in. Narration and writing are absolutely amazing.

Every character is made with perfection, and they had their own scope in the story. I just can't decide which character I like more.

I remember seeing T.J.Newman's previous book - 'Falling' - getting so famous. I wonder now how good that book is, for a debut to be on best-selling. 'Drowning' is next, I guess.

Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley and Avid Reader Press.

✈️ Book Review✈️
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Summary- Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.

More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.

Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent—Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife—who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts: this was such a fun and wild read! I loved how unique and action packed this story was. It felt like reading a premise for a movie, I would love to see an adaptation of this one 😍overall I loved the story idea however the only perspectives we got were Will and his estranged wife. I feel like I didn’t get to know the other few passengers on board, I would have loved to have known their story. This is such a fast read and really fun. I definitely would recommend not reading this one on a plane 😂thank you so much @netgalley @avidreaderpress
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QOTD- do you like stories with a lot of action ? What is your favorite action packed read !
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#drowning #tjnewman #tjnewmandrowning #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #bibliophile #bookobsessed #booklover #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #booknerd #bookworm #bookwormsunite #readersgonnaread #readmoreb

4.25

Setting: Hawaii
Rep: Black side character; Jewish side characters

TJ Newman knows how to write a hella tense book! This had me absolutely gripped and I devoured it in two sittings. I can't speak for how technically accurate this book was but it certainly sounded impressive. I love books about plane crashes so this was right up my street. I was a bit disappointed that the only Black character can't swim as it felt like the author rested on a stereotype there. It did lead to a touching moment of group bonding though.

I loved Newman’s debut, “Falling” and anxiously awaited her follow up “Drowning.” While this book started off strong and was generally fun, the technical aspects took away a bit of the excitement for me. Don’t get me wrong-there is a lot of action, but I just didn’t feel quite the same intrigue I had in “Falling” and felt more like I was being told than actually shown the story taking place. 3.5 stars ⭐️ for this one. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

Wow, just amazing. I loved Newman's first book so I knew going in this had to be good. It blew me away. Surpassed my expectations. The ending? Amazing. No sophomore slump here. 5 stars

A heart-thumping and harrowing tale of heroism and hope in the face of unflinching danger. Newman beautifully captures the emotions of the characters in such a dire circumstance, keeping the narrative on simmering heat as it builds to a riveting climax.

"Six minutes after take off, flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside."

Why, as someone who is terrified of planes, have I read another T J Newman book? Because that little blurb from Goodreads absolutely grabbed me and held on tight until I got my hands on this book.

In this incredibly suspenseful novel we see Will and his daughter Shannon fight for their lives and the lives of the other surviving passengers. After an explosion on the water causes a fire, those still inside the airplane are forced to close the doors. Now they are trapped after it has sunk and hit the ocean floor. The water is rising and the oxygen is running out. With fights inside the plane and outside, the main focus is to try and keep everyone calm and get them out as soon as possible.

Will's soon to be ex wife, and Shannon's mother, who is a professional diver, is topside with the Navy doing everything in her power to have her plan for rescue be approved. Will it be enough? Or will time run out?
This book is devastating and heartwarming all in the right places. We see death and grief. We see friendship and love. Who wouldn't do everything in their power to save the people they love?

So why the 3.5 stars? I found it to drag in a lot of places. And also, like her first book, I rolled my eyes at a lot of totally improbable situations. Still, loved the suspense, it literally had me on the edge of my seat. And I can't wait to see what this author writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I have to say that I was a little afraid to read this book because I’m terrified of drowning & deep water. Ok, not terrified, but on the list of terrible deaths, it’s right up there. Lol But, I loved T.J. Newman’s first book, Falling, so it was a no brainer that I’d read this.

I won’t include the book’s description here, because you probably already know what it’s about. If you’re like me, you’re reading the reviews to see if it’s worth buying/reading, and if it’s really scary. It’s totally worth buying, & it’s not really scary in the horror sense, it’s scary in the thriller sense. It’s an exciting, unputdownable thriller that is well written, funny at times, & sweet & sad at others. I highly recommend this book!

Ok I have some SPOILERS so stop reading here if you haven’t read it yet.





I loved the ending & actually the whole book, but I was mildly irritated by one thing. When Ira was killed, and the defibrillator said no heartbeat, shock not recommended, I think that I would’ve given him a shock anyway. I mean, what do you have to lose? Also, isn’t that what a defibrillator is for, to shock a non-beating heart back to life??

Then you have the ending where Chris is “gray, non-responsive, & not breathing” from the same thing, an electrical shock. Why is it then that they were able to revive her (probably with a defibrillator)? I realize Ira had maybe 40 years on her, but, really, the same exact cause of death, but treated in 2 different ways. I think the research on when to use & when not to use a defibrillator was wrong, sorry editors! It irked me, even though I realized that for storyline purposes it was necessary for him to die so that Ruth could also. It was still heartbreaking for her to die. Ira, not so much, as he was a bit of an irritating crabby old man. The letter Ruth wrote was absolutely beautiful & explained her choice, though.

Some highlights I loved: Jasmine having 5 life preservers on when the plane was ditching, and then she learned how to swim from her new “family.“. I loved how they met a year later. I loved how Chris survived (despite my comment above). I loved how the story was driven by a strong female. I loved how it was a love story, between Chris & Will, newlywed Ryan & his deceased wife, & of course Ira & Ruth & Will, Chris & Shannon. Even the love between Shannon & Maia. I especially loved how Ryan did Hebrew prayers over Ira, & Maia said A-main, as it’s pronounced when singing. Being Jewish, I don’t see a lot of Jewish characters in the books I read or movies I watch. It wasn’t preachy in any way, just a nice inclusion. I also loved how “blue shirt guy” Andy got beaten up & then ultimately met his maker as a pathetic coward. Not that I wouldn’t have been afraid of the same sight, but having the bully on the plane go out that way was perfect karma for a narcissistic, cheating jackass.

Speaking of movies, I’ve read that these books are going to be turned into films! I’m very excited for that, as I think they'll be fantastic blockbusters. But, don’t wait for the movies, get this book today & read it!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It was too technical and engineering heavy. I just couldn’t visualize what was happening and got bored with the terminology and descriptions. The pros were it started strong and I really enjoyed the very last chapter. So glad many others liked this book, sadly not me. Thanks NetGalley for the shot at this book!

4.25ish. This book is a stunner. It’s epic and suspenseful and heart pounding literally the entire way through. I was riveted every step of the way and I couldn’t stop reading bc I had to know what happened next. I was expecting a full thriller/suspense story which it did deliver on the suspense, but what I was not expecting was the emotional and heartfelt aspects of it all. Somehow despite this book’s dark subject matter, it leaves you smiling at times. I definitely recommend this book to everyone and I will not hesitate to go back and read Falling now.


Thank you to TJ Newman, Simon & Schuster and netgalley for the early review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed Newman's debut and this was a goodie too but I may have preferred Falling more. This one is a high pace action thriller that reminded me a bit of The Martian and Project Hail Mary - minus the sci-fi. But it is that type of high adrenaline, action based, ticking clock type thriller. A fun, entertaining summer read.

4.5 Stars

Thank you Avid Reader Press for the ARC of this awesome new thriller. I felt in capable hands as former flight attendant TJ Newman laid out the plot for this propulsive story. Soon after flight 1421 takes off from Hawaii, it crash lands into the Pacific Ocean. 12 passengers, some by chance and some by choice, remain inside the plane when it sinks to a fragile shelf off the coast. With a limited amount of air and hazards both within and outside the plane, the group needs a solid rescue plan urgently. I really loved the thriller aspects of this story but also appreciated the character development especially between parents Will and Chris. I grew to care for all of those stuck in the plane and those trying desperately to save them.