Although this is not a book you want to read if you have a flight coming up, the suspense will have you turning the pages rapidly. This will make a great movie, action packed, good characters, and thrills, 4.5 stars
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Drowning
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Author: T.J. Newman

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This novel completely blew my mind. This not your typical killer thriller, but nonetheless, it is definitely a thriller! Flight 1421 crashes into the ocean and while people are exiting out on the slider, referred to as “ditching,” an engine explodes, and the fire begins making everyone outside of plane in trouble. Out of the 95 passengers, around a dozen remain on board as the airplane acts as a submarine, kind of. There are great air pockets where they can breathe, however, the air inside is compromised and they only have a few hours of oxygen inside the plane. When you think things are very bad and could not get any worse, then boom. I have not read the first novel, “Falling,” but will be going back to read that one. This definitely kept me on the edge of the seat, especially towards the end, I could not put down!

The story is narrated in present time with flashbacks to the recent past. The main characters are the twelve trapped in the plane, and Chris, the soon to be ex-wife of Will and mother to Shannon, who is trapped in the plane. The other people trapped are Kit, one of the pilots; Kaholo and Molly, two of the flight attendants; Ryan, a newlywed, who lost his wife to the crash; Bernadette, a nurse; Maia, an minor who is unaccompanied; Iris and Ruth, a married couple who have been married for decades; Jasmine; and Andy, who was a jerk the entire time they were trapped. We circle back to Chris, she is on the group of rescuers, this group is the top of their game rescuers. However, this will be like no other rescue. The characters were well fleshed out with depth, are intense, a bit mysterious, and very creatively drawn. The author’s writing style was complex, multifaceted, suspenseful (to say the least), twisty, thought-provoking, and just brilliant, very brilliant. The author’s ability to balance the intense thrilling actions with the emotions of these passengers is superior. The intense tension that is built throughout the novel is top par. The story just immerse you in, makes you cry, makes you sad, and makes you happy.

I have never read a novel like this. It just hooks you from the beginning through the ending. I couldn’t wait to pick it back up and when I was not reading it, I was thinking about it. This is most intense, gripping, on the edge of seat thriller that I have read and will always think about it. While the premise is a plane crash, it devolves into so much more, love, grief, hope, determination, survival, and even second chances. The audiobook narrators were stellar, their voice variations were fantastic and just immerses you into that airplane. I highly recommend picking it up, go buy from the bookstore, or borrow from your local library.

Hold on to your seats! T.J. Newman's newest thriller "Drowning" will have you biting your nails, sweating profusely, and watching the clock continuously. Just remember to breath! Shortly after Flight 1421 has just left the Honolulu airport the airplane develops engine trouble and is unable to return to the airport. Despite the pilot's best efforts the plane makes a successful water landing and all appears to well. Most passengers are able to get to life rafts but soon realize they are still in danger. The few left on the plane realize the plane is going down so seal the plane hoping to make is air tight as possible. Will help arrive in time? Check out "Drowning" and see for yourself!

What a great book! I read this in one evening. The chapters are short and easy to read. It is heavily plot-driven while also including plenty of character development. I'm looking forward to reading what Newman writes next.

This was a good one. Starts fast and doesn't let up until the end. I liked "Falling" well enough, but thought it was a little overhyped considering all the publicity it got. Not this one. This one was on fire. I blew through it in less than a day. Some of it got a little too technical for me, but, as a visual reader, I imagined the movie that we'll inevitably see in a few years and don't think it will spoil the enjoyment for all of those people. Excited to see what comes next for the author. Will the plane motif continue?

talk about anxiety inducing, page turning, feeling literally every emotion possible! this book was a HUGE win for me. TJ Newman knows how to write a bingeable thriller, but this time around, i felt so much more emotion and was much more invested in the characters. there is a surprising family aspect to this story that brought on a lot of feelings and a LOT of tears 🥲 i don’t want to give too much away because every reader needs to experience the anxiety that this book will produce - but trust me; it will all be worth it! you will definitely catch this book on my favorites of 2023!

After reading Falling, I knew this author would be added to my auto buy list! Sometimes you just need something that you can’t put down and gives you an adrenaline rush and this definitely gave you both of those things! At some points in this book my heart was genuinely racing. What’s scarier than your plane crashing?! Now add that you’re trapped in that plane, in the ocean! This was edge of your seat, in depth characters and non stop action. Perfection!

Liked this more than I thought it would! The characters were all so likeable and I was rooting for all of them! Will recomend to many of my friends!

This was such an intense and captivating story. Even though I pushed off reading it for way longer then I'm willing to admit I decided the best time to start was while I was at the airport about to board a flight home from vacation.
The way that T.J writes is so filled with so much imagery that I feel like I watched the entire novel instead of reading. (which leads to how unchecked I was to hear there was a bidding war for the film rights to this story)

I was hooked the entire time and read it in a few hours unable to put it down. The heroism and will to survive from all of the players melted my heart and I was so happy with the ending .

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exhange for my honest review. After reading “Falling” I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this authors second book!
Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean and sinks to the bottom of the ocean with the passengers still inside. What takes place in the rest of the book, is the fight to save them.
There is so much more going on in this story than just a plane crash/rescue operation. This is a thriller that has it all and will keep the reader turning pages until the very end!

4 stars

What a harrowing experience. Pretty improbable, but boy did it make for a good story!

A plane ditches in the ocean - of those who exit the plane, most lost their lives. For those who remained in the plane, their experience was death defying. On a cliff 200 feet under the surface of the ocean is not the place I would chose to be - and none of them did either.

This book was written by an ex flight attendant - and she knows her stuff when it comes to a plane. She is also the author of Falling - her debut book that came out last year. I am hoping to see another plane related book this coming year. T.J. Newman is a new author but definitely one to watch, just do not read her books while on a flight...

***Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing this ARC for my reading pleasure.***
Wow! That was quite the wild ride!! From the very beginning, it jumped right into high speed and stayed there until the end. It was a good, although sometimes predictable, story. Even though I’m not familiar with airplanes, boats, diving, or anything like that, the story was intriguing and the author made it all fairly understandable and not like I was reading a science textbook. The characters were mostly relatable and I was rooting for most of them. It reminded me of the old original Poseidon Adventure movie a bit. Overall, a very enjoyable quick read!

Absolutely obsessed with this from the beginning. I could not put this down. Had my heart racing a little at a couple parts. Definitely a must read.

An intense, sitting on the edge of your seat thriller! It was difficult to pull myself away from this one.

I did absolutely love the heart of the story. The meaning and purpose that these kinds of experiences bring to the surface. This is a story about not wasting time not being there for those you love. This is a story about treasuring every moment because you don't know when it will be your last. You will absolutely love some of these characters and be gripping the pages until you turn the very last.

This a book is absolutely fantastic.

I read this novel is one sitting. I simply could not put it down. I was there in the plane with the passengers and crew, while also being with those on the surface trying to rescue them. I heard every word, every sound, every gasp and every cry. I felt all of the emotions that ranged throughout the cabin below and offices above. I cheered when they cheered and my heart raced when tragedy struck in any form.

The writing is phenomenal. It would not have invoked any stronger emotions if I was watching the film instead (Oh, it will be made into a film, I have no doubt). I came away having known each character intimately, as if I was on that plane. Everything about this book was superior…the plot, the suspense, the interweaving of hope and despair, the beginning, middle and end. All of it. It is rare when a book affects the reader like this one just did me, but when it does, it will remain in the reader’s mind forever. Thank you, TJ, for the gift.


I received an ARC from Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

What a fantastic premise full of suspense and tension that will have you eagerly awaiting the next page. I was thrilled to get access to this book through netgalley. I loved the author's first book, Falling, and this one felt like it had the same level of gripping plot and captivating characters that kept the plot grounded and the reader emotionally attached. It is always exciting when an author manages to replicate the same excitement with a new fresh story.

Absolutely tore through this book. I loved Falling, but truly devoured Drowning in one sitting. I was a warbling mess by the end. An adventure of a book, highly highly recommend.

4.0
I would like to Thank #NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for the eARC of Drowning by T. J. Newman. This story was truly intense and a great example of a Survival tale. I haven't read Falling yet, but I had no problems reading this book as a stand-alone. It captured my interest from the start and I felt like I had to race through the book before I ran out of air! I applaud the author for writing what she knows. Some of the rescue seemed impossible to perform, but I trusted in the writer and her knowledge. Survival was paramount in this story and the relationships that developed inside the plane and the main family relationship that was already established outside the plane encouraged me to root for the survivors. I am giving this intense story a 4 only because the happy ending was maybe not as truthful as what I think truly occured during the rescue.

This was a great follow up to the Authors debut. She really knows how to write a fast passed summer blockbuster. The chapters were short and made the book fly by. At times, I felt like too much went wrong. So I had to suspend my disbelief a bit. I really liked the character development of Chris and Will and their relationship. I will definitely keep up with this Author.