⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚 🎭: YA horror/thriller
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🚫
𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙚 🏃🏼‍♀️: fast
𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 🖤: Outer Banks but darker

Ooooh boy I love a little bit of ocean horror. Make it YA and it's even more fun. It has the vibes of Outer Banks, but with cave diving and some slight atmospheric body horror/sea monster themes. You've got the unbalanced friend group, a little bit of romantic drama, secrets, and a ton of suspense.

The audio is REALLY good. Thr narrator sets a great pace so listen at 1.75 or 2x to get the full experience. I binged this.

You'll never catch me cave diving or scuba diving but I am obsessed with everything beneath the surface.

This book gave me huge old school Christopher Pike horror vibes. Totally here for it. I loved it! Can there be a sequel? Please?

Out of Air follows a group of young people known as the Salt Squad. These five teens share a passion for diving off the coast of the Florida Keyes and have run a joint social media showing off their adventures to the world. Phoebe, the latest edition to the friend group, is the photographer of the group and has always had an abnormally close connection to the sea. One day, though, that connection leads her to a location that is more than meets the eye and may pose a threat to the relationships she's built. The friends have to act quickly to neutralize the threat before it alters them forever.

I love underwater horror. Anything to do with the deep blue is lifeblood in my veins - mostly because I am thoroughly afraid of the ocean in real life. This book is YA, so there was a bit less of that actual horror than I was hoping there would be. I didn't go in knowing it was YA, so that bit is on me - I think I would have had different expectations had I known. Still, the body horror present in this book was pretty gnarly for something aimed at people under the age of 18. There isn't a lot of gory detail, but there is a good amount of description that comes in the latter half of the book that scratched the itch (pun intended) I was hoping for.

I was slightly disappointed by the relationship between the Salt Squad themselves, and I felt like there was a lot of "Tell" instead of "Show" happening. We are supposed to feel like the five are inseparable best friends, but I found myself questioning multiple times whether these people even really like each other. Obviously Lani and Isabelle are a couple at the start, but neither of them seem to be particularly interested in anyone else in the group. We are told that Isabelle and Phibs are very close and that Isabelle looks out for her, but we don't really get to see that in the book. Will comes off as a classic prep school asshole and, again, doesn't seem to care too much about anyone other than himself. I didn't even catch that he and Gabe were brothers until 1/3rd of the way into the book. I think this had a lot of potential for a found family story, but things just didn't really shake out that way.

Pacing and writing were both done well and at no point did the writing pull me out of the immersion (except that one scene with the sea wasps.) Pacing is often something I complain about in these reviews, but this book gets a pass. At no point did I feel like things were dragging or going to quick to follow. This is honestly one of the best compliments that I can give a book, because I am super picky!

I'm biased, I think, in my review of this book because its one of my favorite subgenres of fiction. There were some definitely some things that I found less-than-stellar, but the overall effect was enough to earn 4 stars. I will definitely be recommending this to other people who are obsessed with underwater fiction like I am!

Bonus comments for the audiobook: This is my first experience with Gail Shalan as a narrator and I found the performance to be a bit dramatic. I love when narrators put some performance in their work instead of just reading straight through the book, but I think that some of the scenes where the MC is upset get a bit too frantic and shrill. The sound of the narrator panting and yelling is hard to listen to, especially when using headphones. I would not recommend this audiobook despite the fact that I did enjoy the book.

A group of teenaged divers stumbles across a deep-water cave while on the hunt for treasure and one last summer of free exploration. Soon, they find that their discovery has kicked off a chain of events — and possibly an ancient curse. Will they ever be able to go back to life as they knew it before?

This novel has a lot of promise for a fun summer read, especially for its intended young adult audience. For adults looking for a YA book that can cross over into general audience appeal, however, this is probably not the best choice. I found there to be a little too much angst and too many poor character decisions to resonate with it. It's a unique premise, though, and I did find the plot entertaining.

Unfortunately, I also found the narration problematic, as the narrator delivers the majority of the book with an almost hysteria-tinged urgency. While this isn't entirely inappropriate for a scifi thriller and a young main character, such a consistent use of this technique just grated on my nerves. It wasn't so much that I was feeling the plot tension as I was just plain annoyed.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Rachel Reiss for an advance listening copy for honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this early! Out of Air is a gripping, fast-paced adventure that had me hooked from the first chapter. It gave major Outer Banks vibes with its sunsoaked danger and thrill chasing characters, but layered on a surprising and at times unsettling dose of body horror that kept the stakes feeling high and unpredictable.

The atmosphere is tense and immersive, and the plot moves quickly, pulling you along with every twist. That said, the love subplot felt a little undercooked. There was potential for more emotional depth but it didn’t quite land.

Still, if you’re into survival stories with a creepy twist, this one’s definitely worth the read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for the book #OutOfAir by #RachelReiss. Phibs and her friends love to scuba dive. Not to long ago, they found gold coins on a dive. They all decided to do one last dive before they all go separate ways. Phibs and Gabe wandered into a lost cave, and soon after, they start experiencing strange things. Has something attached to them? And what will the outcome be of this thing that has inhabited them?

YA CHILLS AND THRILLS! A group of high school friends are on a diving trip of a lifetime off the Australian coast, before they head to college. Told through a dual timeline. Found treasure, teen drama, sea life, a bit of intrigue. The narrative paints the most spectacular images of the waters in which the Salt squad dive. Very faced paced, exciting read. A bit of thriller a touch of horror deliver this awesome story.

Thank you to St Martin's Press/ Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

I read this book and then got the audio book to listen to it. It is a great story and the narrator really brought it to life.

If you are looking for a summery YA speculative thriller, then this should definitely be on your TBR!

The story is told from the POV of Phoebe, who is the newest member of a group of scuba diving friends called the Salt Squad. On one diving trip, they discover something hidden in the ocean's depths. Little do they realize how this discovery will affect not just their friendship, but their lives forever.

I really enjoyed the author's colorful and descriptive language for ocean life and the feeling of being out at sea - the author is a scuba diver herself and I could clearly see that in her writing. It had a great sense of place, like I was exploring the ocean alongside the Salt Squad.

This book was an audiobook listen for me, and while I appreciated the narrator's sense of frantic chaos in certain scenes, it became a bit overdone. Some her character voices took me out of the story as well, so I think I would have preferred this on my kindle or a paperback.

I think it's important to underscore that this is speculative; supernatural/fantasy/sci-fi is a big part of the plotline. I was expecting a different kind of thriller, so that really took me by surprise and I didn’t initially like the book because of it. However, the more I sat with the book and the characters upon completing the audiobook, it really grew on me - the uniqueness of the story as a whole and the complex motives and backgrounds of the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

I think this book was very successful at creating a bubbling anxiety for its readers. Without it being for shock value, it was definitely meant to be atmospheric, and I really appreciate that. The narrator excelled at delivering that sense of urgency and panic.

However, I do wish the same care had gone into the characters and plot. They all felt very shallow, just lacking in depth altogether. And the plot... I just wish the execution of the plot was stronger. We had two separate storylines (one in the past and one in the present), and it felt like nothing was answered in a coherent or satisfying way. I think it's a real shame because there was a lot here that could have worked out well, but it just seemed like it could have gone back and cooked a little bit more.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of Out of Air!

Phibs and her friends are most comfortable in the water. They’ve formed a bond through diving, even finding some internet fame after discovering some rare coins six months ago. What follows bonds the group even tighter while also testing the limits of their friendship.

Now, they are setting out for one last trip for graduation before everything changes. Off the coast of Australia they discover an underwater cave that is full of rumors - riches and curses. After her and her best friend resurface, they feel changed somehow, hallucinating, and strange feelings with their bodies.

While they try to figure out what’s going on with their friends, amateur treasure hunters show up and hold them ransom, causing Phibs to do whatever it takes to keep her friends safe.

This was a solid four star until I got to the last line and my jaw DROPPED. What a last minute mic drop of a twist.

I love a found family trope, and this one was done well. The group having mixed financial statuses was an added layer to the complexity of their relationships with one another. I’m often annoyed by teen relationships in YA books, but I think because Rachel wove so many other elements into the book there wasn’t enough time to solely focus on the groups immature moments, miscommunications, etc. Or maybe it’s just that the subject matter was so fascinating and unique that the immaturity and miscommunications didn’t bother me because I was so focused on such a fun setting. The Keys is a great ‘small town’ setting too, because people don’t often think small town when they think of the Keys, and yet it really does hold a lot of those same characteristics.

There were also threads of family, romance, and mystery spread throughout this book that I would generally classify as horror. I’d say it was mostly plot-driven, but the characters were still well-developed and equally important to developing a full book. As well as, of course, the ocean. I just love when an inanimate object can be such an important piece of a story.

If you enjoy Outer Banks, then I see no reason you wouldn’t enjoy Out of Air. It gives more of a paranormal/sci-fi feel than OB, but with the found family, treasure hunting, secrets even with your best friends vibes.

I don’t read a lot of contemporary YA fiction, but I can never resist an underwater horror novel. There’s nothing creepier to me than the unknown depths of the ocean, and Rachel Reiss definitely plays into that idea in Out of Air. In this aquatic thriller, a group of friends takes a graduation trip to the Australian coast to dive in some of the best waters the world has to offer. Phoebe and her friends skyrocketed to social media fame six months ago, when they made a surprising discovery on a dive off the coast of the Florida Keys, and they’re planning to film more content in Australia for their channel. But they dive a bit too deeply this time, discovering a mysterious and wondrous underwater cave – and when they surface, they bring something uninvited along with them.

Out of Air is a mish-mash of genres – high-seas adventure, coming-of-age, horror, thriller, family drama, and a bit of romance – all perfectly balanced in an engaging narrative that alternates between the past and the present. The underwater scenes are written so vividly; Rachel Reiss transports the reader to the depths of the ocean with stunning descriptions of aquatic life, juxtaposing the beauty of the underwater world with its inherent threats and the claustrophobic nature of diving. I listened to the audiobook, and Gail Shalan’s emphatic narration immersed me even more in the world of the novel.

The body horror is handled really well, the characters are interesting, and Reiss reveals some answers while keeping just enough unexplained so the book gives you this lingering feeling of unease. The conclusion left me feeling completely satisfied, and a little bit haunted. Out of Air has similar vibes to Our Wives Under the Sea and Annihilation, so if you enjoyed those books, definitely give this one a try. Even though YA isn’t my normal genre, I’m really glad I did. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early reading opportunity.

This one just wasn't it for me.

I expected a body horror filled diving story and instead got a teen angst filled supernatural horror adventure story. There was a lot going on unnecessarily in this one: sick grandmother, mysterious disappearance of the protagonist's mother, treasure hunting, friend drama, a past secret/trauma that left someone dead and another person missing three fingers! What?

There was some diving and some body horror, but just not in the way I thought it was going to go. The story took a really weird turn and just got silly. I have to give the author credit because at no time in my reading did I expect...that.

ARC REVIEW (5/13/25): out of air by rachel reiss 🌊 a group of scuba diving friends stumbles across lost treasure, a legendary cave, and a new type of power… that comes at a price.

I was RIDDLED with anxiety while reading this. I didn’t know I had a fear of getting stuck underwater and running out of air until now. there were lots of elements to this story- friendship, family, love, thriller and horror- all centered around a creepy underwater cave. I think I would've liked to see more of the actual treasure hunting on page 🦈

🫧 given that this is a young adult novel, I found the way adults took advantage of 16 year olds (on multiple occasions) concerning. yes, the world is scary, but you shouldn't have to think EVERY adult is out to get you while navigating your teens- the portrayal was a bit off. I also didn't enjoy the light elders with alzheimer's/ dementia were shown. as someone who currently has grandparents going through this, it just rubbed me the wrong way.

thank you macmillan audio for the alc! are you ready to take the plunge? 🤿 3 stars!

Thank you to the author for a physical ARC, and to Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Phoebe "Phibs" Ray feels most at home underwater, and she's found a kind of family with her friends, the Salt Squad. Six months ago, on a dive in the Florida Keys, Phibs found five ancient gold coins. Nothing has been the same since. Now, during their final summer together after high school, the Salt Squad is taking one final trip to Australia for a once-in-a-lifetime diving experience. But after a harrowing experience in an underwater cave, Phibs and the boy she's long had a crush on, Gabe, start to experience frightening changes to their bodies.

I really loved the premise for this one, and I enjoyed that it felt part thrilled and part horror between their frantic attempt to reach safety before running out of air and the weird infection/curse (it's never really explained what it is) that affects them following their visit to the sea cave.

Following their find of the gold coins, the Salt Squad experiences social media fame, and it ultimately leads to a dangerous encounter with treasure hunters that, honestly, I felt like either should have been given more time in the book or left out entirely because it did feel a bit rushed.

A big focus of this book is the tight-knit relationship between the five friends in the Salt Squad, and how everything that happens on this trip starts to unravel the threads of that friendship. Reiss did an incredible job with the characters, and I felt like I fully understood their motivations and how the events of the story affected their emotional state.

I listened to this one on audio, narrated by Gail Shalan. A lot of this story is high stakes, fast-paced, and the narrator did a wonderful job using speed and inflection to give that sense of fear and anxiety that the narrator would have been feeling.

Read if you like:
YA thriller
Scuba diving
High stakes
Single-POV
Multiple timelines
Unraveling bonds of friendship
Treasure hunting
Creepy infection/curse

This was a very slow book. Unfortunately, it took about half way through the book to start to become interesting. And then the last few chapters were great.

Phoebe and Gabe found an ancient cave with an air pocket and in the matter of a few days of breathing the air they both began to change.

This was just okay for me. I didn't really enjoy the narrator or the flowery prose. I also felt like the main character was very whiny for no reason. I did feel like the plot had a lot of potential though.

Phoebe “Phibs” Ray and her friends discovered some ancient gold coins on a dive six month ago, and they fell into social media fame. Now, they are spending their post high school summer diving on a remote island off Australia. After they discover a hidden cave, they start changing. Oozing gashes that don’t heal. Haunting whispers in their heads. Something followed them back. This, combined with fortune hunters chasing them for the location of the cave make for a stressful and dangerous summer.

This was a fun, creepy YA thriller. I only chose it for the deep sea diving plot, but I love a good paranormal experience, too. The mystery of the underwater cave drew me in, but the other elements kept me interested, including the characters, the mystery associated with Phoebe’s mother, and the paranormal stuff.

If this sounds like your bag, definitely check it out.

I'm not sure how to classify this amazing story, but I think YA thriller, mystery, paranormal, suspense somewhat covers it. It's been a minute since a YA book captured me so wholeheartedly. This story about high school friends on an Australlian dive trip for graduation had me hooked. I listened straight through this one. The narrator, Gail Shalan, was perfect for this story. She was so intense with her breathing and charisma, and she really brought these characters to life. I'd love to hear more from her. The dual timeline from the Florida Keys to the Australian Coast made this mysterious novel so believable. If you like murder cover ups, family secrets, betrayal, magical realism, treasure hunting, and all around adventure with a bit of teenage angst thrown in the mix, then this story is for you.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.