White-knuckled my way through that one 😮‍💨 !
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I dunno why I love books like Drowning, but I do. Just like Newman's Falling, Drowning is a wild ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end! This book actually gave me strong The Martian vibes in the sense that a lot of the book is spent "science-ing" your way out of an impossible situation. I'm not particularly science-y and I never wish to be in a plane drowning in the ocean (or stuck on Mars for that matter), but for some reason these kinds of books do it for me ;).
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If you fly regularly, I don't know that I'd rec this read ;). But if you can read about a terrifying situation and keep reminding yourself that it's fiction, this one will work for you! I loved it because it is so bingeable, non-stop exciting, and you will truly root for the characters! Thank you Simon & Shuster for the copy and Libro FM for the ALC (this one is awesome on audio!).

This book reads like the best action packed disaster movie you can imagine! There is nonstop, heart pounding action. It’s so well written and descriptive that you can ‘see’ everything that’s happening. This is one of those books that hooks you from the beginning and keeps you reading before doing anything else. T. J. Newman has created a stellar follow up to ‘Falling’! I highly recommend this author!

T.J. Newman has done it again. Dare I say this was even better than her debut novel, Falling?! It hooked me from the first page, and I had a hard time putting it down. I finished in two sittings. Incredibly propulsive and heart-pounding. This is a great book to take on vacation...unless you're flying over the ocean. Then maybe wait until you're safely at home!
No sophomore slump for this author!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

If you are looking for an edge-of-your-seat ride, look no further. I read this book in less than 24-hours because I could not put it down! It was reminiscent of 90's action movies - and I mean that in the best way. A plane goes down off the coast of Hawaii and some passengers are trapped inside as it plummets into the ocean's depths. The author's expertise as a flight attendant lend this novel the realism that makes the story even more harrowing. This would be the perfect book to bring on your summer vacation!

HOLY. HECK. This is probably one of my favorite thrillers/suspense novels I've ever read. The action starts right away and does not let up. There were moments where I felt like I was running out of air just like the passengers stuck on the plane under the ocean. I thought the way the story shifted between the passengers on the plane to everyone on the surface was handled so well - it helped to maintain the sense of dread that filled the whole novel. This was one heck of a ride.

I really enjoyed Newman's first book, Falling, but this far surpasses it. Maybe avoid this book if you are about to hop on a flight that goes over the ocean...

** I received an e-ARC of this from Avid Reader Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Category: Thriller

Overall: Emotional whirlwind, captivating, suspenseful

Pros: Wow, this book was an emotional rollercoaster. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and could not put the book down. I finished it within 2 sittings. The premise was most people’s worst nightmare: a plane crashes into the ocean only a few minutes after takeoff. Then, as if that weren’t bad enough, the plane sinks to the bottom of the ocean with people who are still alive trapped inside. Reading through those first few moments when the pilot and passengers realize they’re going down, through to the casualties that occur upon landing and trying to escape the burning plane was a whirlwind. I was completely captivated by all of the heart-stopping action and suspense. The characters were compelling and relatable. It was inspiring to read about all of the bravery and strength they exhibited throughout the chaos. Beyond all of the thrilling action, this story portrayed the importance of family and the love that drives their desperate fight to save each other. It also explored the power of cooperation and banding together to overcome seemingly impossible challenges.

Cons: Trigger warning: this is definitely not for the faint of heart. The plane crash and following fatalities are described at length.

Huge thank you to Avid Reader Press for my advanced copy of the book!

Another great book from author T.J. Newman. In this book, shortly after take off, a plane crashes into the ocean. A few passengers stay on board before they can exit and find themselves plummeting to the ocean below. Trapped inside with only hors of oxygen to live, the wife and mother of 2 of the passengers must come up with a way to save them! I found this book easy to read in one day. It was exciting and kept me wanting to find out what happened next. I highly recommend this book!

I was really excited to read Drowning - I have lots of friends who loved it and are touting it as the thriller of the summer! If you are looking for a fast paced, over the top, summer blockbuster movie in a book - this may be just right for you.

Unfortunately, for me this fell flat. It was way too heavy handed and I found myself rolling my eyes a lot before deciding to DNF at 56%.

It starts off with a flight that just took off from Hawaii and immediately has an emergency and no option but to land in the ocean. Some passengers escape the plane but then are caught in flames in the ocean. 12 people are left in the plane which is sealed and sinking. Will they get rescued in time before they run out of air?

This is a super intense setup and I was caught up in it at the start. But then it started going hard into eye rolling territory for me. We learn about a family that lost their oldest daughter in an accident years ago. The parents have now split up. Dad and the younger daughter are on the flight. Mom? Oh she just happens to be working nearby and is part of the rescue team to try to save the plane. And in case we can’t put it together ourselves - it’s explicitly pointed out - two parents, one inside the plane and one out, working together to save their daughter. 🙄 (Side note: there were also a few times I felt there was a message of “only parents understand the true intensity” - cue another eye roll.) AND - if it’s not already dramatic enough - the daughter on the plane eats a peanut butter cracker and of course is allergic to peanut butter. And her epipen? In her backpack under her seat in a part of the plane that is now submerged. Of course. 🙄🙄🙄

I may be the wrong reader or may have just been in the wrong mood when I picked this book up but it was not for me. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and Libro.fm for the advance reading and listening copies.

Amazing! Ultra fast paced thriller, this appealed to my innate mistrust of planes and flying and was absolutely riveting and terrifying. TJ Newman also infuses a really lovely family story of loss, forgiveness, and redemption that will keep you engaged all the way to the end!

Drowning is a heart pounding thriller and hard to put down. I loved Falling and could not wait to see what TJ Newman did as a follow up. What a great book! TJ Newman is now an auto-buy author for me. I'm not a nervous flyer but I would not recommend reading this on a plane if you are!
Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for my review copy of Downing.

FIVE STARS 🤩

Thank you, TJ Newman, for my gifted copy of Drowning!

Genre: Suspense
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 5.20.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"The end result would be the same. That was all life was. Shifting the balance every day to make room for joy and grace in whatever circumstances you've got before time runs out."

TJ Newman has become an auto-buy author for me. She has such pure talent for creating raw, emotional stories that keep you hooked from the first page until the end.

My review will not do this book justice, but I need you to trust me when I say that Drowning is an absolute MUST-read. It's not a thriller or a mystery; it's a rollercoaster ride of events and emotions — a pure adrenaline rush of story.

When I read the synopsis of Drowning, I thought, 'noooo way.' I am terrified of flying, I have extreme claustrophobia, and I am also afraid of large bodies of water (I have a lot going on, okay?), so everything about Drowning sounded like a nightmare waiting to happen. But the nightmares didn't come. Instead, I grew so attached to the characters in this book that I spent the last 10% crying.

👏🏼 Truly phenomenal writing
👌🏼 Perfect pacing
📖 Bingeable read
🥹 Characters to fall in love with
🎥 Needs to be made into a movie
🎢 Rollercoaster ride of events and emotions

I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book, feeling like I couldn't read fast enough to find out what would happen. So, friends, I need you to pre-order Drowning, ask your library for it, do whatever but make sure that you read Drowning when it publishes on May 30. It is THE book to get you out of a reading slump.

T. J. Newman has once again created a sensational thriller. While Falling covered trying to keep a plane safely in the air, Drowning covers a plane that crashes into the ocean minutes after takeoff. It sinks onto an ocean cliff with passengers still inside. The story is told from the perspectives of both those inside the plane and those outside trying to rescue them.
At the heart of the story are an estranged couple and their 11 year old daughter. Father and daughter are inside the plane, the mother, who is a commercial diver, is on a naval carrier doing routine maintenance when the crash occurs. Chris, the mother, is a force of nature and quickly became my hero. As with any thriller, I wasn’t expecting deep character development, but Newman gives us enough to get a real feel for the characters. And I will admit to shedding a few tears over the ending.
Newman definitely knows how to write suspense. This story is all about the action. Short, punchy chapters kept the pace at a breakneck speed. And while I can’t speak to the engineering side of things, the writing made it actually easy to envision how this would play out. It’s no wonder this book, just like its predecessor, has already had the movie rights sold.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

📚 Book Review 📚

Drowning
by T.J. Newman
@tj_author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(5/5 stars)

Plot: Minutes after a flight takes off from Hawaii, every system on the plane fails. In no time, the plane is crashing into the ocean, and eventually, sinks. The race is on to see how many passengers can be saved, if any.

HOLY. CRAP. I have never read a book so propulsive and gripping that it caused me actual physical panic and anxiety. I don’t deal with anxiety on a day to day basis, but this book did a number on me! It takes off (no pun intended) from literally the first sentence and the momentum doesn’t stop until the very last. It’s THAT gripping. My chest felt tight, I sometimes felt woozy, and I felt true panic flush through me for most of the book. I even opened the window near me for some much needed air! I did take short breaks just to catch my breath a little.

The author did a phenomenal job at keeping the suspense going and making the reader keep turning the pages as fast as possible. I can see many people reading this in one sitting- if their hearts can take it. There isn’t a time in the book that you can predict what will happen next. That’s how well plotted it is.

If you think you can handle the intensity, grab this as soon as it hits shelves on May 30! (just don’t read it on an airplane!) 😬

*I do want to mention one specific off-page trigger warning unrelated to the plane crash: death of a child

*Thank you @netgalley and @avidreaderpress for this advanced copy!
Pub Date: 5/30/23

Thank you to NetGalley and the amazing publisher for the ARC of this title! I am so grateful to be auto-approved for this title!
I look forward to reading and reviewing. More to come!

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

I read T.J. Newman’s Falling book. I highly recommend it. So, when I saw this one come out, I wanted to read it also

True to form, Drowning is a fast past thriller. It takes place shortly after takeoff from Honolulu. For the surviving passengers, the exit process to the life rafts is slow. The plane begins to sink. Not all are able to get out. But with quick thinking of the crew, there is enough air trapped in the plane to last awhile. Maybe enough air for them to be rescued.

Wow, what a story. What I love about her books is that she brings in technical knowledge and background for aviation and airplanes. So, I always learn new and interesting things. In this one, in addition to learning more about safety and emergency capabilities of the airplane there is a lot of Ocean and Navy technology brought in as well. I found myself thinking “I didn’t know that, that is pretty cool”.

The character development in this book is also a big part of the story. From the Navy staff working on the rescue to the independent contractors working with the Navy.

Matt Kent and his eleven year old daughter Shannon are trapped in the submerged plane. Topside Chris Kent is working with the Navy on a rescue plan. Chris is Will’s wife and Shannon’s mother. She also happens to be a professional diver, a really smart woman, and has a take no prisoners attitude to the rescue. With dangers outside the plane and dangers inside the plane there is no shortage of close calls, near misses, and some fatalities.

T.J. Newman has become an auto buy author for me. I highly recommend both of her books.

If you’re in need of an emotional and nerve rattling adventure, TJ Newman has just the one for you. Drowning tells the harrowing and deadly story of the soul’s onboard flight fourteen twenty-one who are in for the ride of their lives.

Will Kent and his daughter Shannon are on flight fourteen twenty-one, departing Honolulu headed for San Francisco, when one of the engines on the Airbus A321 disintegrates right after takeoff. Then after one of the scariest things you can imagine on an airplane happens, you’re headed straight for a crash in the ocean. As Will, Shannon, and a bunch of others who survive the landing attempt to deplane, the evacuation faces a serious hurdle that doesn’t bode well for most. As flight fourteen twenty-one slowly graces the depths off the Hawaiian coast, a whole host of emergency teams along with the Navy and Coast Guard gear up for a huge rescue attempt.

Time and time again plans change as the situation in the depths of the ocean grows more perilous and the chance of survival continues to diminish. Plans are made then altered as the plane comes to rest on a cliff edge, as the balancing act of rescue becomes a tight rope walk by the dive teams. Who survives and who perishes may just be a thing of luck.

Newman has clearly found a golden horseshoe as this is another frightening and intrigue-saturated thriller. She smartly uses details as needed to avoid leading readers down unnecessary technical paths. The storyline is delicately balanced between the main thread and the characters that support it. I really enjoyed Drowning and the effort Newman put into her sophomore release, as any person could make a connection with the humanity in her characters. There is a certain grace that she exudes from her writing, that when combined with the fear that she doesn’t hold back on, creates a vivid and wild journey you won’t be able to put down.

Recently estranged from his wife, Will Kent is accompanying his 11-year-old daughter from their Hawaii home to a camp in San Francisco when just after takeoff, the plane gets in serious trouble and has to ditch into the Pacific. Many passengers escape through the emergency exits but 12 passengers and crew including Will and his daughter are stuck in the plane underwater, fortunately in an air bubble. There is chaos outside the plane including those who escaped now facing more dangers. One survivor is able to tell his rescuers about those alive in the sunken plane. To rescue them will be risky but plans are made then aborted as it’s way too dangerous. However there’s one person with an idea—a person who works on ships undersea. That person just happens to be Will’s estranged wife.

First-rate writing along with nail-biting suspense combine for a read that’s unputdownable! I read and loved the author’s first novel Falling and Drowning may even be better. No sophomore slump here! Highly recommended. Five very exuberant stars.

Goodreads review in link. Thank you for the book!

There were some indenting things that were weird, like a character would be talking and there would be a blank line in between. There were also some spacing errors like two spaces instead of one.

Great book, I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of those plane movies.

This is a page turner, edge of your seat read! I’m not sure I should have read this a few weeks before a family vacation to Hawaii. I may never want to fly again! I’m definitely going to check out T.J. Newman’s book, Falling, and any future books she writes.