A big thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this ARC of Drowning. What a gripping book! It grabbed me like a bear and never let go. A couple of times reality almost squeezed me so hard I had trouble breathing.

Seriously, Will, Chris and Shannon were vital characters with a heart-wrenching backstory, but the whole cast was so engaging and emotionally laden I identified with them all at times.

It was clear that T. J. Newman has great familiarity with the subject and conducted her outside research very well. I found myself reading parts of the technical aspects several times to make sure I understood what was happening. I think she did an excellent job of making the more difficult material easier for laypersons to grasp. For instance how the module was going to attach itself to the plane. I could almost see that in my mind’s eye. Great descriptions!

I read Falling in 2021 and I rated them both two big thumbs up, I thought Drowning might be a bit better. The characters and their familial relationships were just touching. Something that is hard to portray with the written word.

Super book!

This book is 100% action; addicting and hard to put down! A plane goes down into the ocean within minutes of taking off - do you evacuate the plane and face the elements, debris, and fires? Or do you close yourself inside the plane and hope that it floats until someone can reach you? You can't change your mind and you have seconds to decide. How long will it take for a rescue operation? How much time do you have to survive?

Much like this author's previous book (Falling), I think this would make an excellent action movie. Come on, Netflix!

Thanks to NetGalley for early access.

From the first sentence to the last page this book is edge-of-your-seat suspense. It's a complete adrenaline rush that I've never experienced while reading a book. Not only was I wrapped up in the terror of the plot, I found that I was completely invested in every character. I was holding my breath because it wasn't just words on a page, I really felt like it was people I knew trapped inside a plane deep down in the ocean. If you were a fan of her first book, Falling, you will love this one as well. I would also recommend this book to people who enjoy science fiction because it felt like they could be trapped on the moon just as easily. I cannot recommend this book enough!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm torn as to how to rate this book! It was very readable - I finished it the same day I got it. I suspect it's going to make a terrific movie someday, as well. However, I didn't feel that the characters were fully fleshed out, and I could predict what was going to happen to some of the characters just about as soon as they were introduced.

Did that stop me from reading it? Definitely not. Will it stop me from recommending it? Definitely not!

Looking for a five star book that reads like a blockbuster? This one’s for you.

DROWNING tells the story of the harrowing rescue of flight 1421 as it plunges into the pacific ocean minutes after takeoff. Will Kent and his daughter are stuck inside the flooding plane with their fates held in the hands of an elite rescue team led by Will’s soon to be ex-wife.

I was completely and utterly immersed from the technical aspects of how an underwater rescue could be executed to the deeply human emotions in this life or death scenario. Drowning was incredibly tense, downright gripping, and unexpectedly full of heart.

TJ Newman’s background as a flight attendant adds authenticity and expertise to this completely bingeable thriller.

PUB DATE: May 30, 2023
RATING: 5/5

Shortly after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific ocean. The majority of the surviving passengers get off the plane, but due to an explosion, engineer Will (correctly) deems it safer to stay inside the plane. The plane then sinks 200 feet, teetering on a cliff. Can a rescue crew make contact and figure out how to rescue the survivors from this completely uncharted scenario before their air runs out, or the plane goes off the edge of the cliff?

Much like when I read Falling by this author, I am very glad I don't have a flight booked in the near future as it's most definitely a terrifying read for someone with any anxiety around flying. I loved the cast of characters and how they really bonded and worked together. They were not all likeable which made them all the more believable. I would have loved more of a back story for the rest of them, as we really only learned about Will and Shannon, though I loved hearing the story of their family.

I loved the pace and intensity of this book and was very invested in what happened to the passengers. The author's history as a flight attendant is evident and I love the little fun facts and insider info thrown in. Highly recommend as a read for when you are safely on the ground.

Shortly after settling into my seat on a long-haul flight over the Atlantic I started to read Drowning by T. J. Newman. I didn't get very far before putting it down until we safely landed as it was too realistic and believable, especially considering the author had been a flight attendant with a wealth of knowledge and experience. The thriller is written with electric suspense and taut tension with heavy doses of tongue-gnawing anxiety in the very best way possible.

Ninety nine passengers are on board Flight 1421 when flames are visible after losing an engine shortly following takeoff. Those unseated are tossed around the cabin like rag dolls, there are screams, goodbye texts and flight attendants are too calm. But it gets worse. Passengers are instructed how to brace for impact and how to use inflatable life vests. The dreaded message is delivered from the captain as the plane plunges. The nightmare just continues from there as the plane sinks deep beneath the water and rests precariously on a ledge. Just before that some are able to escape the plane but most become fatalities as the plane explodes.

Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are on Flight 1421. Shannon's mother Chris is frantic as news reports come in. Will initially wasn't going to accompany Shannon to summer camp but changed his mind at the last minute. As an engineer his knowledge is crucial . Meanwhile, Chris is a part of a Herculean rescue plan but time is running out. Fast.

Thriller and suspense readers, this one is unmissable. Your insides will feel turbulent and your heart will beat a bit faster. It is snappy, quick-paced, active and the ending is clever. This isn't an ordinary book. It's an experience. Just remember to breathe.

My sincere thank you to Avid Reader Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this stupendous novel. More, please!

Less then 2 years ago I picked up a debut book called ‘Falling’ and proceeded to binge it.
It was obsessive with how I devoured it, not pausing as I switched between audio and physical to finish the book… just knowing I needed to know what happens and blurring the line between the book I held and picturing it happening in real life. It was an easy favourite in 2021 but never did I think the author would top it with her sophomore book.

Here I’m going to preface my review by saying, yes I got a free copy (thank you @simon ) but I’m not under any sort of obligation to give a review on here nor does it have to be favourable.
And I’m also not going to give it away, because this tension filled suspension needs to be experienced by the reader without spoilers. What I am going to focus on is the emotions I had…

I started this book in horror as every flier’s worst nightmare comes true, the plane goes down just off the coast of Hawaii and while there are very few survivors, there are some that do. The only problem is… they’re trapped in the plane deep in the ocean. So, is this a living grave that we are dealing with or a race against a sliver of a chance of survival…. And what happens when the wreckage within the ocean has left a wreck on land as one mother fights to save her ex husband and daughter.

Thrillers and suspense reads can be a lot of things: tense, scary, disturbing… but with this one, TJ Newman tightly weaves the heart thumping of both fear and emotions.

The waves keep coming until everything stills.
And in that quiet, brief moment, the reader feels it all.

Loss, love, fear and hope.

Drowning is a book with depth: the tightness that I look for in my suspense/thrillers and the yank on the heartstrings that connect to the words on a whole other level.

This will be one of my top 5 of the year. Zero question about it

This was a pretty intense and entertaining read. If you already don't like flying though, beware. Lol ….A commercial jetliner that crashes into the ocean and sinks, the passengers still inside. The rescue requires an elite team of divers. The aircraft is running out of air, and teetering on an underwater cliff.

Drowning was a thoroughly entertaining read. Do you have to suspend some disbelief?! Probably! A few to many coincidences?! Sure. But this was a fun read.

Out May 30.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads and Amazon once it publishes..

Will is accompanying his 11-year-old daughter, Shannon to camp, despite her insisting she could fly there on her own. But it's a good thing her dad is there, because 2 minutes into the flight, one of the engine explodes, forcing the plane to ditch (land on water). And less than 10 minutes after the plane got into the air in Hawaii, it is sitting at the bottom of the ocean, with a dozen live passengers...
I loved this! The writing was great, I loved how every scene, focused on one part on the action or one character or set of characters (it's told in multiple 3rd person POVs), rolls naturally into the next one. It grabbed be from the very first line. This is an action packed, page turner. I'm very claustrophobic, enough that reading this made me feel trapped. And just when you think things couldn't get any worse (really, what could be worse than being caught in a plane at the bottom of the ocean?), they do. This would make an incredible action movie. I would definitely watch and I definitely recommend the read. I laughed (I know this makes me seem like a horrible person, but the dialogues were amazingly witty), I cried, I hyperventilated... what more can I ask for?
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I gave T.J. Newman’s debut, Falling five stars so I was eager to read this next one. It starts out in typical Newman fashion. You’ll be biting your nails with your heart pumping in the first few chapters. But unfortunately Drowning just didn’t have the same overall effect.

I didn’t feel as connected to these characters. It felt like it could do with a lot less aeronautics and physics and more character development.

It was still enjoyable and would likely make a great movie.

Pick this up if you’re looking for a suspenseful hubby buddy read.

Will is flying with his daughter, Shannon, from Hawaii to California. When the plane crashes, it looks dire for everyone aboard. Will, Shannon, and ten others make the decision to stay onboard as the plans crashes into the ocean. They have no idea if that was the right decision or not and the next several hours are literally a life or death situation.

This book was phenomenal. I don’t know how you take a plane crash and make an entire book about it that is so captivating. I could not put it down and I will recommend it to anyone that will listen!!!

Wow just wow.

I’d like to start off by thanking NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of Drowning in exchange for my honest review.

I am not cabin crew, a diver, an engineer or a first responder so some of the technical language went over my head. However, I really enjoyed this book, I devoured it in one sitting.

I think the sign of a great author is someone who can make you fall in love with the characters, keep you on the edge of your seat and bring out your emotions and that is exactly what Newman did.

When I read Falling I really enjoyed that one of the cabin crew was there for comedic relief and Drowning was no different. I laughed, I cried and I panicked which goes to show that this book was perfect.

The terminology going over my head made it a bit harder to read by that’s definitely on me.

After hearing so many rave reviews, I was excited to read TJ Newman's latest. Unfortunately I found it to be a fairly bland survival story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

Wowwwww.. This book was very thrilling. This story was about loss, second chances, hope, and love. You see the lengths a parent will go to for their child. You easily connect with the characters. It was a wonderful reading experience!

Thank you NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the arc of this book.

I really enjoyed T.J. Newman’s Falling and this one is even better! Flight 1421 from Honolulu to San Francisco crashes into the Pacific Ocean six minutes after takeoff. While some passengers evacuate on life rafts, others choose to stay in the plane to avoid fires from an engine explosion - as recommended by fellow passenger Will Kent, an engineer traveling with his 11 year-old daughter Shannon. The 12 people who seal themselves into the plane become trapped when it sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Now they’re fighting a race against time hoping they’ll be rescued before they run out of air. Chris Kent, Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife and Shannon’s mother, becomes an extremely motivated member of the rescue team. The characters are really well-written and this is an edge-of-your-seat page turner revealing who survives and who does not. Thanks to #netgalley #avidreaderpress and #tjnewman for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I just finished this book and that is the best word I can think of. This is my first book by the author T.J. Newman. I didn't know what to expect but knew once I read it that I may never want to fly again.

This is story of Flight 1421 and the three main characters: Chris, his daughter Shannon, and his wife Chris. While TJ doesn't focus much on the other passengers, she uses their issues to add depth to the story. The plane crashes 6 minutes into the ocean after take-off. From there, you better buckle up because it's one intense ride that never slows down. I held my breath bracing for every twist and turn and each time I was not disappointed. The story kept me captivated until the final page. Highly recommend! 4.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

Did I like this book? Yes.
Did I love this book? No.
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TJ Newman has a knack for writing intense, compelling thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat the entire way through. I loved her debut, Falling, and was so excited for this one when I saw it being released as her second novel.
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Here's where it didn't work for me. You are introduced to a butt load of characters right away, some important, some not. On top of that, all the technical stuff went over my head. Literally. I was reading and "following along" but had zero clue what the heck she was talking about. From the engine failure (or whatever it was that caused the plane to crash), to the rescue attempts, to the welding operations and behind-the-scenes conversations. I. WAS. LOST.
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I did go through other reviews on Goodreads and found similar ratings that stated exactly why I gave the same 3.5 star review. So maybe it wasn't just me. I’m the type of reader who tries too hard to understand wtf is going on that I tend to lose some of the plot.
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I also didn't love the side storyline with the family. I don't know why. It just felt a little unbelievable and coincidental given what happens and how the mom is involved.
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However, I finished this book in like 2 hours. It was so easy to binge and I do think other readers will love this. Maybe go in with the notion that you might not get all your questions answered, but you'll be in for a wild ride.

This book had an impact on me as if I were watching a nonstop, heart-pounding, gripping action movie that made me jump out of my seat, bite my nails, scream at the characters on screen, squirm nervously, and finally find myself on the floor, closing my eyes to block the images that put me on the edge of a nervous breakdown! I am breathless now! T.J. Newman's newest twisty thriller leaves you feeling as exhausted as running a 10k marathon. You feel worn out after enduring the escalating pressure from the beginning. I read nearly 300 pages and, even though I tried to move from my seat to take a break for nature's call or to feed myself, I found myself silencing my husband who kept bickering because I forgot to turn off the oven and burned our dinner. The book is unputdownable, and I didn't want to stop reading!

Here's a summary of the main plot: Flight 1421 takes off from Honolulu, but six minutes later, it crashes into the ocean. You may think there's still a chance for survival as the pilots manage a water landing and safety checks get approval from the flight attendant. The survivors can exit from the doors, using their life vests as slides, but it's not that simple. The danger that awaits them outside may be much bigger than they expected! The plane is about to sink into the ocean, sitting on an unsafe shelf at almost 200 sea level. Can the survivors manage to stay alive without drowning in the middle of the ocean? What's going to happen to them? Do you want to find out immediately? Just order your copy, cancel your daily plans, prepare yourself to have an argument with your significant other (don't worry, the adrenaline pumping into your veins as you read this book is worth it), go blind, and enjoy the full ride!

The author's ability to balance action-packed sequences with emotional depth is commendable. Amidst the high-stakes situation, there are moments of vulnerability, introspection, and human connection that tug at your heartstrings. It's not just about the survival of the characters, but also about their resilience, determination, and the bonds they form in the face of adversity.

The writing is sharp, evocative, and immersive. I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing their fear, desperation, and hope. The pacing is relentless, never allowing for a dull moment, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. T.J. Newman knows how to keep readers on their toes, delivering surprises that leave you gasping for breath.

If you enjoyed the author's previous book, "Falling," you'll love this book even more! I guarantee it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for sharing this mind-blowing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

The book starts with Will and his daughter Shannon on a plane that just took off from Oahu. Will hears the engine explode. The plane goes down. And we meet an incredible cast of characters throughout. Will they be rescued in time?

This. Book. Was. Incredible!

Cliffhanger after cliffhanger chapter, it was a book I could not put down. I only stopped reading to use the bathroom. I enjoyed Falling and Drowning was even better. The characters in this book were great. Some of the technical stuff was over my head, but the thrilling pace of the book more than made up for it. 100% please pick this one up to read. It is fantastic.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.