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.

🎧 ARC Review 🎧

This May, join the Salt Gang on their final trip before heading off to college. This tight knit group of friends bonded over scuba diving and that’s exactly how they plan to spend their time. Only during their first dive they find something, something that will change their lives forever. Watch the cracks spread, the distrust, the confusion, and the fear as what they found follows them back to the surface.

If you’re a fan of high adrenaline YA, friends bonded for life, exploring places that should be left alone, and light horror elements this book is meant for you!

What I liked:

🫧 The Salt Gang felt like a reverse of the Poages from Outer Banks, one where everyone but the FMC is rich. I loved getting to know them.

🫧 The author surprised me two separate times. Normally, I hold YA to a lower standard and figured I knew where it was going. Nope! Rachel Reiss you sly thing you had me genuinely and pleasantly surprised I was wrong. 👏🏻

What I didn’t like:

🫧 The high adrenaline was a bit of a double edged sword. While I loved it in the beginning, near the middle of the book it started to wear on me. Not sure if the narrator took creative liberties but in the audiobook every sentence felt like it ended with an exclamation mark. I would have preferred some changes in tone, a brief pause from the chaos to fully appreciate the action moments. Unfortunately this one just kept running the whole time never slowed.

🫧 The flashbacks also gave me mixed feelings. While I appreciated finally knowing what went down, it was a bit disorienting jumping back and forth and I found myself having to rewind to try and understand.

Overall this was a fun, action packed story with a sinister undertone and twists I didn’t see coming! 4 STARS. Thanks again to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As someone who’s scuba certified, Out of Air felt like slipping back into the water—weightless, thrilling, and full of wonder. Rachel Reiss delivers a truly immersive reading experience that blends romance, adventure, mystery, and a dash of speculative horror, all set against a vibrant underwater backdrop that had me hooked from the first dive.

The ocean setting is not just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing character. From remote islands to eerie shipwrecks and colorful reefs teeming with sea life, every scene is steeped in saltwater tension. The treasure-hunting storyline adds layers of excitement, and the found family dynamic gives the narrative emotional depth. The romantic elements were just the right touch, and the steady drip of suspense kept me flipping pages.

I’ll admit, the Stranger Things-esque horror elements weren’t my favorite part, but they didn’t detract from the overall experience. The airtight tension and sense of mystery more than made up for it.

And let’s not forget the cover—it’s absolutely stunning and perfectly captures the allure of the story beneath the surface.

If you’re looking for something unique, fast-paced, and rich with oceanic atmosphere, Out of Air is well worth the plunge.

Okay I was not sure what to expect for this one but this was really good! You have flashbacks and find everything is interconnected. This book is so atmospheric with most of it taking place in the ocean. The descriptions were top notch and I felt like I was in the deep blue with them.

Also, the narration was sooo good! The characters were expressed really well. I was getting confused and the narrator did a great job of showing the emotions in the moment.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook.

This was a weird one, that's for sure. I wasn't really sure what to expect since I kind of went in blind with this one, but I definitely got more than I came in for.

There is a lot to unpack here as this has elements of fantasy, adventure, romance, thriller, YA, and adult. There was so much in a book that is barely 300 pages. I don't think it is necessarily bad that it has all these elements; it for sure makes for a fast-paced story, but it was also just bizarre.

I think that this is one of those types of books that just needs the right kind of audience member, and I'm not sure that it is me. I was hoping for a more thriller/mystery vibe as there is a sort of treasure hunt here, but then this took a strange turn into magical realism/fantasy that I didn't enjoy and was not for me. It kinda changed the story completely and turned it into something I didn't enjoy.

It has a really good found family trope, and for the small amount of pages I felt I knew that characters decently well, but I think I either just wanted more or something different.

I did end up giving it three stars because the writing was very good, and it kept me on my toes the whole time. I just don't think the direction was for me. I would be interested to see other things this author does, however.

I'm not sure what i was expecting, but I thought it would be a little bit more whimsical and creepy and it didn't give me that.

Rachel Reiss’ <i>Out of Air</i> was actually fascinatingly creative and utterly wild story to follow. The story centersa group of teenagers as they experience their last summer after high school, taking a vacation out to what they hope will be an absolutely exciting dive spot. Readers are in for an exceptionally wild journey as, slowly, the man secrets held by the group as a whole but also for the teens as individuals slowly unravel alongside some rather horrifying changes that two of them face. Part body horror, part exciting treasure hunt thriller—I was both impressed, baffled, and shocked at the various events that unfold.

Reiss’ narrative is one that readers don’t come across every day and, for that reason, I find myself willing to excitedly recommend this book to those who appreciate thrillers and are on the hunt for something new and unique. I definitely really enjoyed this reading experience, though I don’t see this as a book I would ever reread or return to. It’s the sort of thing that I, personally, only care to experience once.

I did also feel a little like the ending was far too open ended. I don’t know that I particularly understand the purpose of involving the history of the main characters’ mom nor did I really like how the experience of entering an underwater cavern affected some of the characters. Sure, one plot thread is wrapped up, but the other is not—and I don’t know that I’m all that interested in reading any potential sequel to get the answers.

I do think that the narration of this story was fantastic, kept me engaged throughout the story and did an excellent job of bringing these characters and their experiences to life.

At first I thought the book ruined the plot in the beginning by the teens running out of air super early, but then I quickly realized it had to happen in order for the rest of the book to make sense! Silly me.

I liked a lot about this book, the mystery, the gold, and the different connections between friends. But it also had so much potential that just wasn’t tapped for me!

Read if you like: Outer Banks, Fool’s Gold, We Were Liars