really enjoyed this book and the journey of the main character and all that they went through. It kept me on my toes and what would happen in the story.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and St. Martins Press for copies of Out of Air! Here are my thoughts.

Phoebe and her friends love diving. They are constantly exploring the water and have quite the social media following. The group is doing one last diving trip before they go their separate ways for school. There they discover a sea cave which seems to cause a strange illness in Phoebe and Gabe. Will the group figure out what’s going on before Gabe and Phoebe succumb?

This is a summery read. I loved the scenes taking place in the beach and and water! I’ve never been scuba diving, but it was fun to learn about how it works and go along with the group on their underwater adventures. I wasn’t sure what the genre was going to be for a while. It felt like a summery adventure when it suddenly took quite the horror spin!

I was more invested in the story once the stakes increased. The horror turned into a suspenseful mystery, and I wasn’t sure how things were going to unravel. There were a few unexpected twists that I truly didn’t see coming.

The ending was alright. I was hoping to have a few more of my questions answered but most things were tied up!

But tonight, in the head of night, it’s just a formality. Largely because none of us - even Lani - knows what to expect in this dive. Except for a cave, which holds more questions than answers.

Out of Air by Rachel Reiss
🤿🤿🤿🤿

QUICK SUMMARY 🖊️
Phoebe Ray discovers a hidden underwater cave while on a diving trip with her friends. Her and her best friend Gabe discover the air pocket within the cave that saves them, but when they finally surface strange changes start happening to them.

FINAL THOUGHTS 💭
Wow. Just. Wow. While I didn’t always love the change in timeline. I couldn’t put this book down. I think it’s in the top three for summer.
You have a past the characters can’t forget, hidden caves, sea diving, and mysteries. Highly recommend putting this at the top of any summer reading list.

This story hooked me from the very first page with its mix of adventure, friendship, and creeping horror. Phibs is a fearless diver but still uncertain on land, and her authentic bond with her friends makes the unraveling of their final summer together all the more tense and heartbreaking.

The underwater setting is vivid and immersive—I could feel the pressure of the dive and see the flicker of light across the coral walls. But the real pull comes when the eerie, otherworldly elements surface: unhealing wounds, haunting whispers, and the chilling sense that the ocean has claimed Phibs and Gabe. The blend of survival thriller and supernatural horror kept me turning pages, equal parts fascinated and unsettled.

At its core, this is a story of transformation—sometimes chosen, sometimes forced, sometimes monstrous. With high stakes, relentless suspense, and a heroine who must embrace her darkest self to protect the people she loves, it’s a haunting and unforgettable read.

This story had a fantastic setup—teen scuba divers, hidden treasure, and a mysterious cave off the coast of Australia. The diving scenes are vivid and atmospheric, some of the strongest parts of the book, and Phibs makes for a solid lead with depth and heart.

Where it wobbled for me was in the shift from treasure-hunting adventure to supernatural horror. The eerie cave and its strange effects overshadowed the treasure-hunting drama I was hoping for, leaving the rest of the Salt Squad feeling more like archetypes than fleshed-out friends. The pacing also dragged in the first half and then rushed through the ending.

Still, Reiss’s writing is strong, the atmosphere is immersive, and the creepy cave elements will definitely appeal to fans of supernatural YA thrillers. It wasn’t quite the “Outer Banks with flippers” I expected, but it’s a unique, eerie summer read with heart and potential.

Wonderfully chilling book that keeps you up late from sheer ANXIETY of needing to know what happens, holding your breath and rapidly turning the pages. Filled with all kinds of Nope, nope, nope moments. Could never. Not me. Peace out homie, I’m gone, exit stage right. Absolutely recommend.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but I wasn’t disappointed.

Phoebe “Phibs” and her four friends were famous after finding ancient coins. They loved diving and spent their last summer doing just that. But during one of those dives, something strange happened to Phoebe and Gabe, one of her best friends and crush.

This was such an interesting read. I was unable to stop turning the pages because I was curious about what exactly was happening to them, Gabe especially.

The whole exploring the ocean and discovering everything in it was written so well.

I will say that some parts were a bit predictable. And I did still have some questions in the end. But this was such a unique read, and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story blends the eerie, atmospheric vibe of Wilder Girls with the adventure and friendship dynamics of Outer Banks, set against an exotic Australian island backdrop. The concept of scuba-diving friends discovering treasure—and then facing a mysterious, transformative power—felt fresh and intriguing.

I enjoyed the underwater setting and the mix of suspense, supernatural elements, and coming-of-age themes. The tension between friends and the threat from treasure hunters added some exciting stakes.

That said, the pacing was uneven, and some plot threads felt underdeveloped or rushed. The characters, especially Phoebe, had moments of strong voice but didn’t always feel fully fleshed out emotionally. The horror elements were atmospheric but could have been deeper and more unsettling.

Overall, this was a solid, engaging read with unique worldbuilding, though it didn’t quite reach its full potential. Fans of dark YA adventure with supernatural twists may find a lot to enjoy here.

Treasure hunting in underwater cave goes terribly wrong in this thriller, horror. Everything was so clear. The story had a very eerie feeling, kind of like I myself was underwater fighting for air. I liked the end. The friendships were good. Out of Air reminded me of Outer Banks.
It's a perfect summer read if you were a fan of unsettling reads this might just be for you.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC.

Loved this so much!! Such an adventurous, fun time! I was hooked from the very beginning and on the edge of my seat until the very end. Highly recommend!

Out of Air by Rachel Reiss is a gripping and introspective thriller that follows Olivia, a woman whose life takes a terrifying turn after a scuba diving accident leaves her with amnesia. As she struggles to piece together her memories, she uncovers secrets that challenge her sense of identity, safety, and truth.

Reiss masterfully blends suspense with psychological depth, creating a tense atmosphere that keeps readers guessing. The story explores themes of memory, trauma, trust, and self-discovery. Olivia is a compelling protagonist—vulnerable yet resilient—and the pacing keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

This is a smart, emotionally layered mystery perfect for fans of domestic thrillers and psychological suspense. A page-turner with heart and depth.

"𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒖𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐."

Special thanks to @rachelreiss @wednesdaybooks @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now deep sea diving scares me, yet intrigues me at the same time. The vastness of the ocean doesn't give me much comfort, but I'd love to go scuba diving sometime.

This definitely gives me Outer Banks vibes, with the treasure, the status of all 5 people, and their bond.

This debut was great! I read it in 1 sitting. I was entranced by the storyline and the wild world of deep sea scuba diving. The dynamic between these 5 is great and had me engulfed from page one.

Read this is you love ❤️
🤿 Friendship
🤿 Secrets
🤿 Curses
🤿 Friends to lovers
🤿 Hidden treasure
🤿 Ocean setting

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
May 13, 2025

ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Have you ever been scuba diving, if so - where?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #outofair #rachelreiss #wednesdaybooks #wednesdaybookspartner
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I was hoping to like this novel more than I actually did. I can't really get over how petty and mean this friend group is though. If they'd literally talked AT ALL about anything that was happening in their personal lives or about the cave they accidentally found, then none of the events of this book would've happened. I think I was most annoyed with Phoebe and her woe-is-me attitude. She accused Will outright of so many things and for barely a good reason. She kept singling him out and it was so dumb. Gabe was kind of an idiot too though and Lani was just plain cruel at some points with how angry she'd get and yell at her friends. The diving aspects were interesting and so was the idea that this entity latched onto them but nothing about what was happening to them was really explained.

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded. read this one twice, because I was on the fence about it. On one hand, I loved the prose, the pitch, and the main lead Phoebe. On the other, I felt the pacing was off and the supernatural/horror elements overshadowed the high stakes treasure hunt (which is what I thought the book was about). Rachel’s prose is lush, particularly when describing the dives. You could tell she absolutely knew her stuff.

This book promised OBX vibes but I didn’t really get that. The treasure hunting was more of an afterthought and not really part of the main plot. I was hoping for rival treasure hunters and was excited when the other crew took them hostage, but the stakes never really escalated from there.

Regardless if the story didn’t have the vibes I hoped for, it was still a thrilling debut that kept me guessing the ending until the very end. Phoebe was a great lead and a well rounded character.

Out of Air is a promising debut and I can’t wait to see where Rachel’s next book takes us.

If you’re looking for your next summer obsession, Out of Air delivers big time—think Wilder Girls meets Outer Banks, with a splash of myth, mystery, and menace.

This book is entertaining, unique, and just plain fun. It pulls you into the depths (literally) with Phibs and her diving crew as they uncover ancient treasure, a hidden sea cave, and something far darker than gold. What starts as a dream summer adventure quickly turns eerie, strange, and deeply thrilling.

The friendships are raw and real, the setting is atmospheric and vividly described, and the creeping horror of what lurks beneath is absolutely addictive. Perfect for fans of ocean thrillers, body horror with heart, and stories that explore how far we’ll go to protect the people we love.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

This was a solid YA thriller/horror. I think the target audience will love this and have a good time reading to find out what happens. It was a little predictable for me, but it was enjoyable enough that I wanted to keep reading to see what happens! This is Reiss' debut novel, so I would be interested in reading more in the future!

OUT OF AIR by Rachel Reiss is a story featuring a main character who never feels more alive than when she is diving, exploring, discovering unexpected treasure. For a person who does not like caves above or below the water, who does not dive, I still felt the visceral pleasure in the freedom Phibs and her friends feel. A fantastic trip to Australia changes the dynamic between the friends, Phibs and her best friend Gabe, and the person Phibs believes herself to be. I did not expect to be as engaged as I was by a story featuring strange forces and drastic plot twists -- but it held me to the end. A quick and very different read. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Rachel Reiss crafts a beautifully immersive atmosphere in Out of Air. Her prose is undeniably evocative. Quietly rich, never overly ornate. The underwater setting felt tactile, almost sensual, with oceanic details that shimmer and pulse on the page. Being with the Salt Squad felt like slipping beneath the surface and staying there. Weightless, surrounded by tension you can’t quite name.

But that tension never built into something I could emotionally invest in.

The story moves slowly—achingly slow. I found myself reading passages that were undeniably beautiful in language, but I wondered when something, anything, would finally happen. The plot progression felt stalled. Character dynamics remained just out of reach. I was intrigued at first, but the more I read, the more that intrigue faded.

At 50%, I made the decision to DNF, not out of frustration, but out of detachment. This book feels like it was made for readers who love meditative, poetic storytelling with minimal momentum. If that’s you, you may fall completely in love. But for me, the weight of the pacing held me down, and I couldn’t find the spark to keep going.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this title. While it wasn’t for me, I can still appreciate the lyrical voice and vivid oceanic imagery Reiss brings to life.

DNF at around 20%. I think the combination of the story and writing just wasn't it for me, I didn't find myself actively wanting to know what happens next.

A good, quick YA summer thriller. YA is not my forte, but a great choice. I love a lil ocean moment, but the Outer Banks vibes are not for me.