A YA thriller/mystery with touches of fantasy. A cave full of secrets, a haunted past, and someone who doesn’t fit in. Moves quickly!

I love the sea and diving, so it was a no-brainer to read a book that revolves around the mysteries of the deep. I was surprised by the touches of fantasy in it, but not unpleasantly so. This is a mystery, thriller, adventure YA novel that had me on the edge of my seat quite frequently. The descriptions of the sea made my creature-loving heart happy and the suspense made my thriller-loving heart happy.

This takes place in the New Zealand waters, first person, single POV. It jumps between timelines but does it well. Past mistakes haunt the future in this. It's obvious who doesn't "belong" in this group, but are they the only one who doesn't belong? The answer might surprise you!

I really wanted to enjoy this story but I think there was too much going on in the plot with not everything being well developed, like the author had a lot of ideas but nothing was really well executed. Drowning is my biggest fear so I went into this book already expecting a horror story (for at least me, due to the title), but instead I guess this was a sci-fi/romance/murder mystery with teenagers. I am going to leave this vague so as to not spill any spoilers, but I can easily say this was not for me and too confusing overall- also something I think were supposed to be big reveals I guessed and the "exciting" moments just made me feel sad for the main character. The ending was open ended, but I don't expect a sequel, and even if there was one I would most likely not read it. I am sure others will enjoy this sort of suspenseful underwater sci-fi read, but it was not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I must have misread the description for this one because I didn't realize it was a horror novel when I started it. It wasn't super scary from a horror perspective, but the diving and cave definitely provided a lot of suspense. Although it has been many years since I've been scuba diving, the author made me feel like I was actually diving with Phoebe. A great read - even if horror isn't your normal go to genre.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for the ebook!

⭐️⭐️2/5

Out of Air had potential but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. Fmc discovers a cave with lost treasure while diving. After coming back to the surface she starts to realize strange things happening. The book has present and past chapters. The beginning started off great but afterwards it just wasn’t that interesting. This book was supposed to be a thriller/ Suspense, yet i didn’t feel any of it. I was also left with many questions in the end. What exactly is inside them? I don’t know. I don’t think i got the answer. Did i miss it?..I understood it’s a curse but there isn’t much of an explanation to it and what they could become. I didn’t feel drawn or attached to any of the characters. The FMC felt selfish at moments to me and only thinking about her future. On the bright side, i love the cover! I also appreciate the details when it came to diving. These are my honest opinions and i always say to read it if it interests you!

Something to know about me is that I'm not a big swimmer, and I am also not very confident in the water, so when it comes to reading stories about diving and swimming, I'm already a little scared even if they aren't a horror novel like this one.  So this premise already had me a little scared, but I'm not going to lie, I don't think that I actually read the blurb too closely so I didn't fully expect the supernatural elements of this one.

Phibs was a really interesting character.  Her trying to fit in with her friends was a really interesting premise to me.  I liked how diving had brought them together and given them an excuse to be friends when they might not have normally.  I also found her backstory interesting, and how she felt that she had to take care of her grandmother, who was quite ill, at the expense of her own future.  She seemed like she was a really good person, which I appreciated.

The writing style was engaging.  I liked the way we switched between the past and the present to understand further how the characters came to be in the situation they were.  There were a lot of good moments of tension that had nothing to do with the supernatural, and so I found that quite engaging.  The author did a great job at balancing those elements.

The supernatural elements were a little bit more hard to follow, but I did find them really intriguing nonetheless.  I liked the whole secret spot aspect.  It was interesting that things seemed to affect Gabe a fair bit faster than they affected Phibs.  I think I would have liked some more development of that part, but it was still a really interesting twist to the story.

On the whole, this was a really engaging story.  If you like horror stories with supernatural elements, you should definitely check this one out.

I'm not a diver (too claustrophobic), but I enjoy reading books about divers, so I knew when I saw this cover I'd be requesting this from NetGalley. Add in treasure and secret underwater caves? Yes, please.

The author states in her notes that she's an experienced diver, so I appreciated the details regarding equipment, diving rules, etc. interwoven into the story. It offers descriptions to readers unfamiliar with the sport and adds an element of reality. Those underwater scenes are exhilarating, occasionally dangerous, and had me holding my breath. I also learned about new sea creatures that made me think maybe having claustrophobia isn't such a bad thing if these are things I could meet up close and personal in the water.

If found family is your vibe, you'll find it with these five friends. Their bonds are strong, but Phibs dreads losing them when summer is over and they head off to various colleges. Phibs isn't in a financial position to afford college. When she's fortunate enough to be offered a full ride scholarship to a university, she defers it due to her grandmother's (her sole remaining family member) declining health and mental status.

I'd hoped for thrilling underwater sequences and interactions with the treasure hunters who accost these characters, but they're actually a very small percentage of the story that was resolved fairly quickly. The largest portion focuses on Phibs's backstory with her family and Gabe (best friend hoping to be more), and the drama between the friends. My favorite part was when she and Gabe discover the underwater cave then the unsettling body horror descriptions that follow and lead to an unexpected twist.

This is a standalone I'd recommend to fans of found family/friend dynamics, the friends to lovers trope, and underwater thrillers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"Never forget what the ocean is capable of. If you forget, it will come for you, too."


Five friends from the Florida Keys go on a scuba diving trip in Australia, their last big trip before the group splits up for college. On a dive, Phoebe discovers an underwater cave and explores it with two of her friends. After they surface, though, strange things begin to happen, and Pheobe and another one of her friend begin to experience odd changes to their bodies…

This was my first time reading about scuba divers! I have to say I really enjoyed this, it really hooks you from the beginning. The atmosphere of this was incredible, it was as if you were underwater yourself. You can really tell that the author knows all about diving and is passionate about it, as that comes through in their descriptions.

The plot of this was just fine. The main plot kicks in about halfway through, and there’s sort of a disjointed narrative between all the flashbacks happening to explain the group’s interpersonal drama and Phibs’ background. I don’t think the flashbacks were bad or poorly placed, but they definitely changed the flow of the story. There were also some elements that could have been executed better, like the body horror. I would have loved to see more on the body horror, as it felt like it was not fully embraced. The horror elements in general did not seem like they were fully embraced, and I came out of this seeing it as less horror than a thriller with spooky magical realism happening.

Overall, I liked this, and I thought it was a pretty solid debut! Can’t wait to see what Rachel Reiss comes out with next.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

Out of Air is a propulsive and tautly written novel. It defies easy genre labels: a little bit thriller, a little bit mystery, a little bit horror, a little bit drama. And while one of these alone or perhaps in a pair would have been fine, together, they’re a YA mix that is compulsively readable. While none of those above genres are my favourite, together they are irresistible catnip. I am stunned that this is Reiss’ debut novel; the pacing is fantastic and the characterisation solid.

I will say I wasn’t completely sold on the ending; there were too many loose threads, so I wonder if there is a part 2 coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

This book is about a group of friends who are divers taking on the task of finding a treasure. The book could've been a lot longer, it was so fast paced and interesting. I liked the love and friendship. It would be a perfect read for fans of Outer Banks, which I love. The underwater world was complex and very descriptive. Reading those parts were my favorite.

Out of Air follows a group of 5 senior high school students who, through their mutual love of the ocean and diving, have created their own little dive club called The Salt Squad. Taking a week long trip to the island of Marimont as a last hurrah before college, they stumble on something that will change their lives forever.

Reiss does a really great job writing the anxieties that come with friend groups, especially those where not everyone is from the same socioeconomic background. Found family and abandonment issues abound, while an unknown and insidious horror swirls throughout, resulting in an increased feeling of dread as the novel progresses. I devoured it in one sitting.

I was stunned to read that this is Reiss’ debut novel as it definitely reads as if a more seasoned writer wrote it. I was not surprised however to learn that the author is a diver herself. Considering how well the diving scenes were written (you felt like you were there along with the characters it was that realistic), I figured it had to be written by someone who had a love for diving.

A little less time could have probably been spent on the lead up to the main plot point, but I honestly didn’t mind the pacing when we were in present day.
I do wish that there wasn’t so much back and forth between past events and present day though, as it lessened the tension and fear that was building, however there is good reasoning for it which gets revealed later on.

Some may not like that everything isn’t neatly tied up and explained, but I actually prefer that there was still some sense of the unknown remaining, as it fits perfectly with the uncharted atmosphere of the ocean.

If this is Rachel Reiss at her debut, I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future. 5 stars.

I received an ARC copy courtesy of St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley, however my review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.

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.