Received a copy of this book through netgally !

This book is a YA book with a touch of horror I’d say. Honestly I quite enjoyed it. Story about a young group of friends that go on a diving trip and creepy things occurs.
The pacing of this book was nice, and I found the writing style to be quite palpable and easy to read. One thing I will say is the characters are slightly annoying HOWEVER who isn’t annoying as a teen. If you’re looking for something quick , easy and engaging definitely give this a try.
I would definitely recommend!

This book was done amazingly!! Definitely outer banks vibes. Treasure hunting and thrill of it Definitely had me hooked and on the edge of my seat holding my breathe.

This was 3.5-4 stars for me!

I absolutely love a plot which includes ocean discovery and exploring the depths of our world. Out of Air was well written and took the reader on an underwater adventure that kept the pace moving. I really loved the description and plot, as we are introduced to our main characters and dilemmas.

I think the pacing was a bit on the faster side but that didn't bother me at all because I was immersed in the story. It gives off Outer Banks vibes due to its thriller aspect but also like an intense treasure hunt.

Definitely recommend this one!

Phibs and her friends find a creepy underwater cave, and weird things start happening. With danger closing in, they must uncover the truth before it’s too late. This book is a good mix of thrills and adventure.

This book was insane!!! The story line is amazing and unique. I don't think I ever read anything quite like it. There's mystery, a bit of romance, and lots of action to keep you hooked. The ending is fitting for the story but does leave it open for the reader to come up with their own ideas of what happens

I thoroughly enjoyed this ARC by Rachel Reiss. This was my first book by this author and I was not disappointed! This book had my attention from the first page and I flew through it. It had the perfect amount of horror, mystery, and romance. It was also appropriate for young adults, which is who this book is geared towards.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. 5/5 for me! I will definitely be sharing this book with friends, book clubs, etc. I will also be looking out for other books from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars.

I was so close to giving this 4 stars! There was just a little bit missing for me to give it the higher rating.

It was a really quick read and the writing was good! I would recommend reading this!

I thought it was a really cool concept. It was very descriptive; it felt like I was underwater with them, which was cool and terrifying all at once! I think this would be a good movie. It was atmospheric.

None of them really seemed like friends. I could have used a little more showing their friendship, instead of being told they were super close.

I didn’t care for the romance at all. It was so boring. Again, we were just told she was in love with Gabe and we were supposed to care about them being together, but I didn’t think there was any substance or chemistry between them. I almost wanted her to be with Will. At least he had a personality, even if he could be a jerk sometimes. I could have done without a romance.

I can see how it’s reminiscent to “Outer Banks”, but it’s also not super close to the show. There are elements that are almost like a shout out to the show, but not directly related to it.

A lot of big moments happened but it felt rushed, like finding out more about her family and the treasure hunters coming at the end. I think this book could have been a little longer so we could build up to these things more and not have them get over super quickly.

I did enjoy reading this! I think you should give it a shot, especially if you like diving or the ocean.

Side note, the cover is gorgeous!

ARC Review: Dive into a world of mystery and suspense with “Out of Air” by Rachel Reiss, a thrilling adventure that will leave you breathless. Set against the mesmerizing backdrop of the ocean’s vast expanse, this novel offers a gripping tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The plot revolves around a close-knit group of friends, each passionate about the sea. Their journey is both a celebration of their love and an exhilarating exploration of the unknown. At the heart of the story lies the captivating backstory of the female protagonist, whose intriguing past adds depth and allure to the narrative, especially with the inclusion of time jumps that intricately weave her past and present.

Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster as the story unfolds with ingenious plot twists and suspenseful moments that left me gasping for air. The cursed cave, with its ominous aura, serves as a thrilling focal point, unraveling a series of gripping events that ensnare the reader in a web of danger and intrigue.

Rachel Reiss masterfully weaves a suspenseful atmosphere, where every page turn reveals more secrets and raises the stakes. “Out of Air” is an electrifying read that kept me hooked until the very last word, delivering a suspenseful punch that lingers long after the final chapter. The conclusion ties everything up nicely, yet leaves you guessing what will happen next, making it a tantalizing end to an unforgettable journey. If you’re seeking a captivating thriller with a unique setting and unforgettable twists, this is the book for you!

A good book, I’d definitely recommend to family and friends, don’t want to go into to much detail to give anything away! But take a chance and read it!

4.25 stars ☆
⤿ spoiler-free review
thank you to net galley for this amazing arc!!

ೃ⁀➷“Its our last summer and I'm trying to hold on to all of it. To this feeling of freedom and adventure, to this little found family adrift in a world of unknowns. To us. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒶𝓁𝓉 𝒮𝓆𝓊𝒶𝒹. ”


characters: Phoebe, Will, Gabe, Lani and Isabel. Awh I love them all. They are so intricate in different ways, having flaws and wonders to them. As a group, I loved seeing their dynamic with each other, and just the love they all shared.

plot: What happens when you find a gorgeous underwater cave, breath its air, and suddenly come out.. changed? This was more thriller leaning yet bordering on horror, with a little romance, and a lot of secrets. The twists were twisting but in my opinion, they werent the most shocking I have read. I did love that last page though!

pacing: This was so fast! I was flying through this book, and each chapter was short enough to keep me wanting more. Each chapter also always ended with a small little hint to keep you reading. I was in a small slump, and this book helped me get out of it with how short & sweet it was.


✧.* the point is: if you are missing summer just read this. Reiss has the most atmospheric writing i have read in a while, and i just felt like i was right there with the Salt Squad diving in the vast sea, exploring treasures, and lies.

This book had a unique storyline. I enjoyed reading. The cover makes you want to read it. Thank you for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Reiss and St Martin’s Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect read for my night shift. Fast paced, and action packed with such a fun premise. Really enjoyed the characters and the wildness of the ocean. The ocean and the cave were their own perfectly written characters and I enjoyed it immensely.

Alien meets Outer Banks… kinda! Treasure hunters, scuba diving, a remote island in the tropics with a haunting past. What could go wrong when 5 friends decide to go on a diving trip before college?

I think for Rachel’s first book she did well. I wished there was more character development between the other characters besides Phoebe. I did enjoy the relationship between the 5 friends. The part about her dad just didn’t seem like it fit really well to me and I was expecting more excitement in the end than there was. I did enjoy the middle part of the book and wanted to keep reading to see what happened

Out of Air is a YA mystery with hints of psychological thriller themes and magical realism. Following Phoebe and the Salt Squad, the treasure hunting group of divers that find a secluded cave and begin experiencing strange aftereffects.

This was a quick read and I enjoyed all the sea creature and diving facts. The author’s passion for diving really shines through, and I think the overall metaphor and theme of the book relates to her love of the water.

I enjoyed the suspense and strangeness crafted within this world of diving and the mysterious cave. What Phoebe and Gabe experience adds an otherworldly level of dread that kept me coming back to each chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced e-copy.

Let me start with saying that this cover is GORGEOUS. It pulled me in right away and then the synopsis hit so hard. I was that girl who wanted to be a marine biologist and part-time mermaid when I was a kid. (Ok, you got me, still do.) This is such a fun and intriguing ride. We get to become part of the Salt Squad, five friends who scuba dive for fun. The ocean is a part of all of them. But trouble waits for them when they find five gold coins from an old shipwreck. Obviously they're cursed, right? Traveling from the U.S. to Australia, our FMC, Phoebe, works to find out more information about her mom who left her when she was very young, and the friends who have become her found family. All while dealing with some seriously creepy phenomena after descending into an oceanic cavern.

I ate this up. My only caveat is to not compare it to Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield. This is an adventure story with bits of body horror and mystery.

The one thing I would change about this, is the final chapter/epilogue. It wasn't necessary.
Real rating: 3.5 stars.

Rating: 3.75/5
Out of Air by Rachel Reiss

Dark, suspenseful, and well written!

I was hooked from the very first chapter. Recently, I've been diving into a lot of YA, and this book definitely hit the spot. While I’m not an expert on diving, the author did an amazing job of painting vivid scenes that made me feel as though I were right there with the characters.

The twists in this story were exactly what I love! It gave me strong Outer Banks vibes, with its thrilling and unpredictable plot. Although it’s a relatively short read, it took me a bit longer to get through, but it was worth every page. Can't wait to see what else Rachel Reiss comes up with.

i really liked the main group. they were really tightly bonded and i loved that. some very cool body horror and deepsea suffocation/organism horror. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow, this was an adventure. I saw this on NetGalley’s website with the comparison of Outer Banks and I was immediately intrigued. This story started out with 5 friends: Phoebe (Phibs), Gabe, Will, Lani, and Isabel, who call themselves the “Salt Squad.” They are divers who post pictures of their finds on social media. When they find an underwater cave, they end up becoming horrifically sick as. they try to figure out what’s wrong with them while also finding treasure along the way. Like I said, an adventure. When the book first started, they kept alluding to this awful night, but when the night came in the story, it wasn’t as written out then I thought it deserved to be. The other thing that I didn’t really like was the ending. It felt a little rushed and the fact that they just accepted what happened in the story (ifykyk) was a little odd to me. I wish the plot line was more developed and the characters seemed more relatable. Now, onto the good things. I loved the atmosphere. The vibes were IMMACULATE! I loved how the ocean was described as they dove, and the cave was described so beautifully! I also really liked the character of Gabe. While most of the people in the salt squad felt made-up or something like that, Gabe felt like a real human. When he talked for Phoebe, you could actually tell that he enjoyed her presence. Even his described body language was so realistic.

Overall, a pretty good novel, especially for the summertime. I would recommend to anyone who likes Outer Banks x Mako Mermaids, but add a thriller twist!!

If you love high-stakes adventure, treasure and eerie magic, this book is for you. I was captivated from the beginning, being immersed with the characters and tropical locations that were beautifully described. The detail was awe inspiring and at points I found myself holding my breath along with the characters. It's a heartbreaking coming of age love story which is beautifully weaved with adventure and mystery. I enjoyed the chapters bouncing between the timeline while advancing the plot. While the journey was fast paced and kept me hooked, the ending felt a bit quick. It left me longing for more and I think these characters have a lot more to explore. I look forward to reading the series this story deserves. I'd dive in without hesitation!