Honestly I found the start of the book to be somewhat boring, but I’m pretty happy that I didn’t DNF it as the story really picked up and it turned out to be a very unique story! Underwater horror is such an underrated trope, and this story does it justice in this unique and strange story! Would highly recommend!

Even though it is probably the last place you should read this, this book was a perfect beach read.

The Wilder Girls comp is PERFECT for this. This was a speculative body/ocean horror that has incredible vibes alongside a story I could not tear myself away from. Inhaled this like I was on the bottom of the ocean with an emptying tank, what can I say.

This was so unbelievably compelling though, which is why it felt like a really good read for a day at the beach. It's surprisingly short but keeps you riveted with every page. I loved the characters. With so many personalities in the Salt Squad, I was impressed by how easy they were to differentiate from each other. Phoebe is a great narrator, and her backstory made her the most interesting character. I do think some of the mystery elements came a little late in the book, especially considering how short this was, but it didn't make me love the book any less.

For some reason, I received an audio ARC, an e-ARC, and a paperback ARC from the publisher, and I must thank them profusely because if they were trying to tell me I needed this book in my life, they were very right. I continue to be terrified and fascinated by the ocean in equal measures.

i got both the ebook and audio arc but i stuck to the audio. i tired so hard to listen to this but just couldn't push myself to suffer through this.

thankful i got the audio arc

This book took a horror turn that I wasn't expecting as I basically went into it blind, but it was so spooky and such a quick, fun read!

A gripping, unrelenting thriller with treasure hunts, found family, and truly unsettling body horror. I read it in three hours and my hair was literally stuck to my forehead with sweat by the time I was finished. Now THIS is how you write a horror! I cannot believe it was a DEBUT NOVEL! This is a book I will be rereading and shoving into all my friends' faces.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

First and foremost thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me have early access to Out Of Air.

I read this book in two days because I couldn’t put it down! I’ve been looking for a book that gives Subnautica (the video game) and this book definitely delivered a similar mood. Eerie underwater world mixed with mysterious illness. If you want a book to pull you out of a reading slump this is it! Also what a stunning cover, I cannot get over how eerie and dangerous it looks. I was shocked to find out this book is a debut! So amazing. I’ve added Rachel Reiss to my list of upcoming authors to keep an eye out for.

Found family friendships, a bit of romance, and a chilling mystery involving a cave.

Phoebe aka Phibs has always felt out of place after being abandoned by her mother, not knowing her father, and being her ailing grandmother's caretaker. Her last summer with the Salt Squad is all she has left to look forward to, so when offered the chance to go on a final diving trip with them Phibs decides it’s worth the risk. The Salt Squad are more than close friends, they are bound together by diving, social media, and a dark secret that continues to haunt them.

The plot of this book was so well balanced and paced. There was never a dull moment, and the flashback chapters provided information at just the right time. I appreciated each of the well developed characters and enjoyed learning the dynamic they had with one another. Something I loved about this particular book is the blending of mystery, horror, and a bit of fantasy. There were more than enough mysteries weaved together at the end of the book to make it a satisfying conclusion. We are still left with mystery at the end, and I would LOVE to know what happens to the characters after the final chapter.

Rachel Reiss does an amazing job pulling you into the story. I felt as though I was right there with the Salt Squad on the beach, on the boat, and especially on their dives. Her detail to the mystery and allure of the ocean made me want to learn to dive.

Overall, I give this book a 5/5. I definitely recommend checking it out!

This book was fantastic! I loved the atmosphere and the community of scuba diving and getting to learn more about that as someone from the desert who has never been scuba diving! It was fascinating with a fun dual timeline that I really enjoyed as it progressed. The relationships between characters were fantastic and I enjoyed the way the story wove together in the end!

*3.5 stars*
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Out of Air! All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and voluntary.

Out of Air brings us to the underwater world of scuba diving, which was captivating and different. There were some great descriptions of the diving experience and the sea life the characters encountered. The book had an eerie and mysterious atmosphere to it that also took on more of a horror feel as the story progressed. We're actually following 2 different points in time: present day where the group discovers an underwater cave, and about 6 months prior when they made a different discovery. It was interesting how it all interconnected. I did sometimes feel like the main character, Phoebe, didn't react to certain things in a way that matched the circumstances, which felt a bit off to me. The horror elements weren't something I enjoyed a ton, but admittedly it's not a genre I usually read. I felt like a lot of the questions I had weren't answered by the end, though I suppose that adds to the intrigue and mystery of it all.

The attractive cover and the premise sharing some similarities to Wilder Girls drew me straight into the depths of Out of Air, a debut Young Adult Horror. In the end, I was engaged by the fast paced and tense plot, the intriguing characters, and haunting visuals that I won’t forget anytime soon.

In short, five teen diving friends, the Salt Squad, from Key West, are spending their graduation trip at a haunted cave, which begins a chain of events that will bring big changes and uncover old secrets.

The Salt Squad was a well developed friend group, bonding over dives, and their relations leapt off the page from page one, and we get to know each member of the group fairly well throughout the story. Though we get to know Phoebe (Phibs), our main protagonist, the most as she’s the POV character, and the one poor member among the other four, who are upper class. It’s obvious from early on that conflict is bubbling just beneath the surface of this group, and I was intrigued to find out how deep it went and how the Salt Squad’s bonds would be tested. While the friend group takes priority, there are two romances, a F/M and F/F, but mainly play a secondary role to the friendship bonds of the entire group, but the F/M has more focus as it involves Phoebe. No spice, just kissing.

This is a fast paced and intense book (in more ways than one) that hooked me with it’s end of chapter cliffhangers to read another chapter, and eventually finishing the story in two days (ironically as most of the story takes place over two days). The tension never let up, with enough information to keep me intrigued, but leaving more questions, answering almost all of them by the end. The story has a dual timeline, with most of the chapters taking place during the trip, and a few flashing back to a few key moments of the Salt Squad’s history, with both lining up for an intriguing narrative.

The diving procedures were detailed and fairly accurate, which is always a plus.

The world building and setting were highly immersive with clear and descriptive writing. It gave the book a creepy and atmospheric vibe throughout, mostly as the ocean is never too far away, even on land. The ocean itself felt like a character all its own, holding its own secrets, and added to the horror vibe of the whole book.

This book has plenty of body horror and imagery, and does get a bit intense, but still suitable for a teenage audience. It creeped me out in more ways than one, and it fit with the character development and brought the horror elements into full force. There’s also some violence and some occasional swearing.

One nitpick I do have is that I sorta wished the characters were in their early 20’s, mainly due to their voices and actions, but I believe this is mainly personal taste.

If you love some fast paced thrillers with horror and a more hopeful vibe and underwater adventures, Out of Air is a can’t miss adventure into the deep.

Okay, Out of Air has one of the coolest covers I’ve seen all year—like, instant shelf appeal—but the story itself was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The vibes were there: moody, oceanic creepiness with a touch of body horror and treasure-hunting drama, and I loved the whole “something’s not right under the water” tension. But while the premise had so much potential, the pacing felt off and I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I wanted to. Still, if you're into eerie YA thrillers with a splash of the supernatural and that Wilder Girls energy, it might totally work for you. Just know the real treasure here is the aesthetic.

[arc review]
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Out of Air releases May 13, 2025

2.5

A group of five adventure-seeking teens known as “The Salt Squad,” embark on one last diving trip together before they go off to college and head their separate ways.

Located off the coast of Australia is an archipelago that is infamously known for its cursed cave.
When Gabe and Phoebe are magnetically pulled towards it, they unknowingly welcome a force that unexplainably changes them from the inside out.

This had such a compelling premise, and yet… it never really hooked me.
Despite the shark encounters, elements of body horror, flashback chapters, and the mystery surrounding lost treasure, it felt like very little transpired, and I needed more substance from the characters.

Though Reiss’ debut didn’t quite work for me, I’d probably still recommend it for fans of the Netflix series Outer Banks.

🤿🌊 Out of Air by Rachel Reiss 🌊🤿
Genre: YA Thriller
Length: 304 pages
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Summary:
Five friends on the pinnacle of their adulthood go on a last hurrah, post-graduation dive trip to a remote Island off the coast of Australia. The 'Salt Squad', as they call themselves, are excited for one last adventure as each of them goes off to the next chapter in their lives. Phoebe, the only one with financial limitations, has always felt a strong draw to the sea, but it somewhat adrift on what to do with her future.

On the Salt Squad's first dive, Phoebe finds an entrance to a cave and enters with Gabe and his twin brother, Will. The mysterious air pocket saves Phoebe and Gabe's lives as they get dangerously close to running out of air. When they return to the boat, things begin to change for Phoebe and Gabe. Something strange was down in that cave and it has found its way into their minds and bodies... almost like a transformation.

Opinion:
This was a quick and engaging YA thriller with a very cool setting/atmosphere. I loved the descriptions of the dives and the Australian sea life. The post-dive mystery was engaging and I just had to keep reading to find out what was really inside that cave and why it was drawing in Phoebe. It was definitely geared toward a young adult audience, but the adventure was still interesting to follow. I kind of wish there had been a little more to the ending - it felt like there was more that could've unfolded with the cave (no spoilers!). Good read and glad I requested this one!

Vaguely reminiscent of THIS WRETCHED VALLEY (small, tight-knit group of teens, isolated wilderness setting, story centered around a specialized sport (diving, in this instance)). Reiss does a really good job at building suspense, and I like the approach to characters and their development more in OUT OF THE AIR as opposed to THIS WRETCHED VALLEY - the Salt Squad feels very realized, with strong personalities that jump off of the page, and they're a group of friends that actually FEEL like friends; they have dynamics that feel natural, dialogue that isn't forced. I'm not crazy about the romance plot, but that's just because I'm 28 and don't really often care about teenage romances in media anymore. Good horror relies on a steady cast as much as the atmosphere, and this book has both in abundance; the underwater descriptions are dazzling, and the setting really is used to maximum effect; the vast unknown of the ocean is as much of a character in the story as the teens.

My only real issue is with the ending and how incomplete it feels. Not really sure how to word this, but I think the first-person POV really limits the exploration of the horrors and makes it all explanation feel less than unsatisfactory since it's all just Phoebe's supposition and intuition - I think even getting some perspective from Gabe might have helped. Still, a very good story in spite of a lackluster ending. Really beautiful writing.

I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.

"Out of Air" was one of those books that keeps you engaged with every single page and itching to get to the end of the book. Only for you to then wish that there was more story for you to read.

Eh, no. This tries to be too many things at once and ends up failing.

The beginning truly had me hooked but the poor pacing, excessive plot threads and lack of suspense made this thriller shudder and die. The character is an outcast of her own making, she makes people out to be enemies in her head constantly and it’s exhausting.

Anyway, I got really excited about this because cave diving is one of the most terrifying things I can think of - but alas, the only thing scary about this book was how bad it was.

I absolutely loved this book! It has all the elements of a great YA thriller, but is so unique at the same time. I’ve been chasing a read with the same vibes as Dark and Shallow Lies (my favorite YA thriller of all time) and this definitely hit the mark.

It is perfectly eerie and atmospheric, with a fast paced plot and an interesting cast of characters. I love how the twists and turns of this story are explored and connected, and how it all ties back to the ocean. As someone who is very much afraid of the ocean, it successfully spooked me to read about the power that it held in this page turning thriller. I couldn’t put it down, I just had to know what was coming next.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC of Out of Air! Set on the coasts of Australia, Out of Air is a captivating read perfect for fans of horror and ocean-themed books. This books as definitely addicting and I could not put it down!

Although I’m not a diver, I thought Reiss portrayed the underwater world extremely well and on multiple occasions, I felt as if I was also in the water with the characters. I really enjoyed how the book would shift between past and present, and I found that it really kept the story interesting and engaging. However, I did feel that the ending was rushed and because I’m not super into diving and the ocean, sometimes it was a little much. Still, it was obvious Reiss is a diver and lots of research was done.

Overall, this book was 2.5 stars for me. I thought it was an entertaining and fun read, but the ending was just too rushed.

This book was absolutely amazing. From the five friends. an underwater cave. treasure and an unexpected illness. this book was definitely five stars. while reading, I kinda got the impression of Outer Banks, which I loved. I need more books like this one right here!!

Thank you Wednesday Books for inviting me to read and review Out of Air! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Out of Air is about a group of teens who are going to be leaving for college soon so before they do that they plan out one final trip to dive in. During one of their dives, they find a mysterious cave with unexpected consequences they weren't expecting after breathing the air inside. The story is told in a dual-timeline of flashbacks and the creepy, unexplainable happenings of the present.

Out of Air has a solid mysterious atmosphere and I like the diving moments but I was hoping for more / left with wanting more after I finished the book. I didn't like the characters as much as I wanted to and I couldn't connect with them. They each came off as unlikable, and while I normally like and root for unlikable characters, this time they didn't have many redeeming qualities. I don't think they were truly fleshed out or developed enough for me to care about their endings.

The author did well with explaining the diving and the characters traveling in the ocean. You can tell the author has a lot of experience with diving and what the rules are. I wish there was more with the diving and the characters exploring the cave and it's mysteries than focusing on the flashbacks so much. They did have some purpose but all it did was explain what happened with Lani's fingers and a missing person but it also had nothing to do with the present story too, if that makes sense... There seemed to be too much going on and not enough development in all the areas that were mentioned. I didn't care for the romance between Phoebe and Gabe. It felt tacked on like a checkmark on a shopping list instead of building up organically with the story.

The friendship between Phoebe and the Salt Squad members (Lani, Isabel, Will and Gabe) didn't make sense either with how frustrating they were to each other. It was almost as if they didn't like one another and they were forced to hang out together for this last hoorah before they all left for college, except for Phoebe. Phoebe is the voice of the story. She's always worried about the Salt Squad breaking apart because she couldn't go to college like the rest of the group. She needed to take care of her grandmother and she did not have the means to afford it. I didn't mind Phoebe as much but she also annoyed me a little bit because I couldn't see why she was friends with these people and how much she wanted to stick together with them.

The mystery, the cave, and the diving is what deserves the 3 stars. Again, I wish there were more moments in the water, exploring more of the cave itself, and the creepy horror of what was going on after the cave was explored.

3 stars