Oh. My. Heavens. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book in one day, but I woke up early today and started reading DROWNING by T. J. Newman. I could not put it down. I carried the Kindle with me all day—to the gym, the post office, and the bank—just in case I had a minute to read. This electrifying thriller snares the reader from page one. It’s an adrenalin rush like I haven’t experienced in a while. A time or two, I realized I was holding my breath, usually at the intervals when the writer posted the amount of oxygen left in the cabin.

DROWNING is the story of a Flight 1421, outbound from Honolulu, which crashes into the Pacific Ocean six minutes after takeoff. The main characters are an estranged couple, Will and Chris, and their 11-year-old daughter Shannon. The father and daughter are passengers on the sinking aircraft, and the mother is a professional diver. T. J. Newman knows how to develop characters and weave a plot that no could ever foresee. It is action-packed and full of suspense. Ms. Newman is a former flight attendant and familiar with the typical routine and protocol during a flight, but she has done much more research on rescue, recovery, and emergency procedures, The reader will be well-informed after reading this book. DROWNING publishes on May 30, 2023. Don’t miss this one, but it is not the book to buy at the airport to read on your flight!

Drowning by T. J. Newman is the second book by this author, and I think it's even better than her first. This one is about a jetliner that crashes into the ocean, and the myriad ways that people work to rescue them. Each character has depth and a humanity to them, and it really made this story more than just a thriller. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT THIS DOWN-SO PLAN ON READING IT IN ONE SITTING!

The emergency landing of an aircraft on water is referred to as a “ditching”.

And, when Coastal flight 1421 departed Honolulu for San Francisco, and lost an engine, that is exactly what the aircraft had to do.

Flames were shooting out of the engine, part of the wing was shredded and systems and back up systems had failed, making it impossible for the pilots to return to Honolulu or reach an alternate airport.

Although an evacuation is initiated, it cannot be completed, and twelve passengers inside the aircraft are forced to detach the slide/raft and close the aircraft door, hoping that they can survive inside until they are rescued, but then the aircraft begins to sink.

16 MINUTES AFTER IMPACT-6.5 HOURS of OXYGEN LEFT IN THE PLANE

Those trapped two hundred feet below the surface in the damaged Airbus:
One of the pilots: Kit
Two of the four flight attendants: Kaholo and Molly
Maia-an unaccompanied minor
Ira and Ruth-an elderly couple celebrating an anniversary
Bernadette-a nurse
Jasmine-a woman donning an inflated life vest
Ryan, a newlywed who is now a widow
Will Kent and his daughter, Shannon
and of course, Andy-the passenger who has been an a**hole since he boarded the flight

There is no precedent for an event like this-though there are ways to rescue those trapped in submarines, but time is of the essence, as the sealed aircraft begins teetering like a see-saw on the edge of an underwater cliff.

TIME IS DWINDLING DOWN

OXYGEN IS RUNNING OUT

Their only chance of survival is an elite rescue team, led by a professional diver and underwater welder, Chris Kent, who happens to be Shannon’s mom, and Will’s soon to be “ex-wife”.

No doubt this will end up being my favorite ADRENALINE THRILLER of the year, as the action begins on page one and it DOESN’T let up. The tension is PALPABLE and the only time I set my Kindle aside is when the tears welled up in my eyes and the words were blurring!

I dare you not to cry!

T.J. Newman’s first book, “Falling” will soon be a major motion picture and I can see why there is already a bidding war to make “Drowning” into a movie, as well! 🍿

The good news?

You don’t have to wait long for the book-publishing on Tuesday May 30,2023.

Thank You to Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

I could not put this book down. It was gripping to say the least. I loved reading from all of the different POV’s. I loved learning about planes, diving, rescues and especially about the unsung heroes—the flight attendants and pilots. Would give more than 5 stars. I think I need a Xanax after finishing this book. So good!

Thank you to Avid Reader Press, Netgalley and TJ Newman for the ARC.

I enjoyed Newman’s first book, so when I saw this one I definitely wanted to give it a try. Wow! This was a wild ride. Was it the best book I’ve ever read? No. Was it super well written? Also no. But was it incredibly fun and anxiety inducing and hard to put down? Yes!

If you are looking for a heart pumping thriller definitely look no further than Drowning. It’s one of those books that everything that could possibly go wrong does, but the cliffhangers and suspense were great and I could picture it all so clearly in my head. This would make an excellent movie.

This book took my breath away from the almost instantaneous plane troubles to the ditching in the water and all that ensued. Without giving much away, this book was a page-turner that kept me up reading way past my bedtime because I had to know how it would turn out.

I loved how the characters were developed. I felt like they were friends I was getting to know. I loved most of the characters and was rooting for them with each twist and turn that the story took.

My biggest advice is to wait to start this one until you have a chunk of time to read because you won't want to stop. My only regret is that it is over, and I won't be able to read it for the first time. I now need to read T.J. Newman's first book because with this one she has become an autoread author for me.

Thank you to T.J. Newman, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me access to an early reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Flight 1421 takes off from Hawaii and six minutes later it crashed into the Pacific Ocean. As people desperately try to escape, the engine explodes, the plane is flooded, and those who managed to get out deal with a ring of fire. The twelve people who are left in the place are forced to close the doors as the fuselage falls 200 feet into the ocean. Will Kent and his daughter Shannon are on the plane and the only one who can save them is Chris, Will's soon-to-be ex-wife, will she be able to devise a plan to save them all?

This was everything I hoped it would be. Newman goes into fantastic detail about the operation to save the passengers left on the plane even when other plans fail. There were many moments during my reading where my heart raced as the time since the crash grew long and the oxygen in the cabin grew shorter. The only issue I had with the story was misusing the character, Maia. She is an unaccompanied minor and is on the plane with the others. She is mentioned sparingly as if she were a throwaway character who only appears when the author remembers she is there. I think hearing her feelings during the story would have added to the storyline. Despite this, Drowning is a terrific sophomore novel by T.J. Newman and I can't wait to see what's next.

Dear Lord! I am never getting on a plane again!! I've always had a fear of flying, but after reading Falling and now Drowning?! NOPE! This was such an intensely terrifying, heart pounding story that reads just like an action movie. I was immediately hooked and flew through the chapters. I loved all of the characters and how they came together. I experienced a little confusion with some of the technical jargon and the switching between the rescue team characters, but this was a very minor flaw. This is probably due to the book being unedited. For those who have read Falling, this one was even better!! Newman definitely has a talent for writing scary plane crash scenarios. I am already looking forward to her next book!

Thank you to the author, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me digital access in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to read and review. I loved this. I liked it more than 'Falling' it was incredibly fast-paced. I felt like I was trapped with all the characters waiting for rescue. I felt the plane fall, the water rise as it starts to flood the aircraft. Every move they made.
I just devoured the book. I wonder what TJ Newman will do next. I hope she keeps these airplane tragedies going. Although that might increase some fear in all of us. Some horror and thrills can be good sometimes. Right?
The cover is awesome as well, just like in 'falling'. The cover in any book I think really speaks a lot about a book. I know we've always been told to never judge a book by it's cover. But I disagree with that. The cover is the first thing a lot of us see. Even before a synopsis. It can speak a lot about the book. The cover can not only tell the genre of a book, or even the author if they use similar styles or the same designer, but it helps it bring life to books, and helps attract the reader. That's what attracted me to TJ Newman's books. (As well as many other authors works).

If you're a fan of 'Falling' TJ Newman's first novel, I highly highly suggest you check this one out. Now I read both of her books on solid ground, but if you really want a scared, read it on an airplane, or this one in the ocean.

Happy reading.

I’m definitely a fan! I listened to Falling in 2021 and that book stuck with me and I told everyone to read it.
Fast forward to now and I’ve just finished Drowning and couldn’t put it down! It sucks you in from the beginning and takes you on a wild ride! I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t read fast enough. In spite of it being a thriller there were still touching and/or sad moments that brought tears. Great book! I always feel like I’m watching a movie when I read one of her books.

This was the kind of book that drew you in from the first page and kept you in a chokehold until the end.

Super fast paced, thrilling, nail biting type of stuff.

It had an eclectic cast of characters that I fell in love with (well… except for one.) I loved each of their roles within the story and the little bit of backstory we got along the way.

I felt like the story advanced super well. I literally didn’t want to stop reading.

Liked this one just as much as “Falling.”

Liked this even more than Falling. Super fast read, read I'm half a day. Just like her first book, it reads like you are watching a movie. She is definitely an auto read author foe me! 4.5 stars rounded up.

T.J. Newman is the thriller writer of the 2020's! Following "Falling," her sophomore effort is another non-stop thrills airplane story.

In Drowning, Flight 1421 crashes right after taking off from Hawaii. The chapter about the crash alone will render you speechless! Some of the passengers determine the best way to stay alive is to stay in the floating body of the plane. At first, its seems like a great idea. Then the plane sinks down through the Pacific Ocean.

Prepare to not come up for air as Newman alternates between scenes of the rescue effort and the individuals stuck inside. It is truly a nail-biter and masterfully plotted and paced. If you are looking for a fantastic thriller, Drowning is the THRILLER OF THE YEAR! (Just don't read on a flight)
#Drowning #TJNewman #AvidReaderPress

Disclosure: Received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of those books perfect for the beach, and normally I might also say "or for reading on a plane" but given the topic, don't read this one on a plane. I gobbled it up like candy or pink rosé and read it in one afternoon.

I liked the characters and following along to see how this airplane disaster unfolded. In this second book by T.J. Newman, the premise involves another airplane and is centered around a family, already broken from a prior tragedy. I'll leave it at this so as not to spoil the rest of the plot.

Discerning readers will likely be able to anticipate all the twists and which characters won't make it. And some may not appreciate all the technical information presented, it was a bit much. I recognize that the author took the time to be as accurate as possible but when I am reading fiction, anything goes and at times, it became techno-babble since I am no subject matter expert. Nonetheless, this was an engaging read and if you are a fan of thrillers or airplane-fiction, you won't be disappointed.

I’d say this was a great beach read, but you probably don’t want to read it on a beach if you have to get on a plane to go home. T. J. Newman, former flight attendant and author of the bestseller “Falling,” returns to the skies with a thriller about a plane crashing into the ocean. Pretty much every fear of flying is at play: crashing, drowning, claustrophobia, the “bends,” you name it. Newman sets up a scenario where the margin for saving the passengers who survived the crash is razor thin, and anything that can possibly go wrong does.

At the center of the story is a broken family; Will, Chris and their daughter Shannon. Will and Chris’s marriage is on the rocks and Will and Shannon are traveling together. By a strange coincidence that only seems to happen in books, Chris is a pro diver who may hold the only hope of saving the passengers. We hear a fair amount about Will and Chris’s backstory, but very little about the other passengers. This is a short book and it moves quickly, so there would have been plenty of time to delve into the other characters. Knowing the people who are affected makes a reader more invested in what happens to them.

Many thanks to Newman, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Drowning is a gripping and hard to put down tale of survival and rescue after a plane crashes into the ocean meme minutes after take-off. This book is intense from the very beginning as the plane loses power and goes down into the ocean. This scene is anxiety provoking and scary. The author taps into a fear that some travelers have - a plane crash.

The book tells the story of the pilot, crew, and several passengers on the plane. Will was traveling with his daughter, Shannon, when the plane went down. His estranged wife, Chris, is a diver who is attempting to save the survivors.

Whew! From the very beginning this book is action packed and tense. The only respite from the non-stop onslaught of tension is when the author takes readers back showing how a horrible loss fractured Will and Chris's relationship.

I enjoyed the show of courage, bravery, sacrifice, and support in this book. This tale of survival also shows triumph of the human spirit, courage, and teamwork.

This book was captivating and pulse pounding. Wowza, what a book! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, turning the pages, crossing my fingers, and feeling all kids of emotions.

4.5 stars


Thank you to Avid Reader Press, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

this was not what i expected it to be. i thought it was a mystery thriller as listed on goodreads but it was just a survival read with a very claustrophobic plot and it was hard to follow because of so many povs.

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

Super fun, high-pressure, read-in-one-sitting book that everyone will enjoy. This is a classic beach read for me - lots of suspense and action with loads of characters pulling at my heartstrings. Go get this one - just don’t read it on the plane heading to your vacation destination. Save it for dry land. Thanks to Avid Reader Press for the advanced copy!

In this harrowing tale, a plane leaving Hawaii for the mainland crashes into the ocean only six minutes after taking off. Those who survive the crash are forced to bail out into the ocean- or remain on the plane to avoid the flames circling the crash. Twelve passengers are left inside the plane as it begins to sink. They are completely dependent on the rescuers to come up with a plan to save them quickly, before their air runs out.

This is TJ Newman’s second novel, and I enjoyed this one even more than her first. Her experience as a flight attendant lends itself well to this type of suspenseful read. I also appreciated the backstories of the passengers, because important issues such as child loss, divorce, and illness are told. This book is intense, suspenseful, and thrilling from the first pages all the way through to the last sentences. It will make you ask yourself how far you’d go to survive and how far you’d go to save the ones you love most. I’d highly recommend this book to fans of intense stories of survival who enjoy edge of your seat, suspenseful writing.

Thank you very much to TJ Newman, Avid Reader Press/Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to get this arc as I had loved Falling. I am an avid flyer and am fascinated by airplanes. This second book was so good. The suspense killed me. It is obvious the author did a lot of research. One of my fears has always been a water rescue. Hopefully I will never have to go thru one. This will make a great movie.