Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

New favourite author alert! After reading Falling I didn't think Newman could do better. Yet here we are - this book was sooooo good. Faced paced and exciting it kept me engaged from start to finish. I didn't expect to laugh or cry while reading but there were times I did both. Such an excellent book!

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.

This book was everything I hoped it would be. It left me begging for the characters to live, my heart stopped when they were trying to be rescued. I absolutely love her writing style and can't wait for the next book!

I really liked “Falling” by TJ Newman, so I am pleased that her second novel was also so enjoyable! “Drowning” was a fast paced, pretty intense read, but I read it quite quickly. The amount of fact-checking and research that likely went into this book, is very impressive and was still easy to follow as someone who doesn’t know a lot about airplane design and diving. I truly look forward to Newman’s next novel.
Big thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC of this novel!

TJ Newman does it again! I instantly loved her first book, FALLING, and she spares no drama in her second, DROWNING. It’s no muss no fuss— the first line hooks you and the story gets started. What I love about her writing is that she does so much pre-work, we get POVs from every character in a way that’s not confusing in the slightest. She writes with the POV of the reader in mind. Every chapter ends in a cliffhanger; how are you supposed to put it down for one second?! I binged this in two-ish sittings, because it’s all I could think about. Five big stars for making the hairs on my arms physically stand up, for putting tears in my eyes, and for ensuring I never step foot on a plane again. 😂 Thank you Simon & Schuster and Avid Reader Press for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

DROWNING: THE RESCUE OF FLIGHT 1421 by TJ Newman follows a commercial airplane that crashes into the Pacific Ocean and sinks with 12 passengers still trapped inside — and the extraordinary rescue operation to save them as their oxygen depletes. Everything that could go wrong will (did) plus some more!

I gasped. 😱 I laughed. 😆 I cried. 😢
It was pulsating, heart-palpitating, jaw-dropping, suspenseful and emotional!!! The cliffhangers at the end of each chapter had me at the edge-of-my-airplane-seat and then there was THE cliffhanger… IYKYK! Dear Lord, this book was so good!

TJ Newman is a former flight attendant and her expertise is on display in this book. She uses the perfect amount of technical jargon to give it legitimacy and then breaks it down for the kids in the back (me) to understand. The multiple perspectives propel the story and ramp up the tension — the pilot, the crew, the passengers, the rescuers above and in the water and the wife of a passenger on board. I couldn’t stop reading/ listening! It was GRIPPING!

Joke’s on me because I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I did since it didn’t fall into any of the typical genres that I read. Don’t let that stop you from picking this up!

Recommend to a friend? YES! (unless you already have heightened anxiety when flying 😆). I started this on my Kindle and finished on audio and would recommend both. The audio elevated all the feels.

“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴. 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵.” 𝘊𝘏 30

PS: I saw myself in Jasmine 😂. She was the lady who inflated her life vest way before the plane hit the water. She made me laugh and I’m not sure if it was because of how funny she was or if it’s because I was looking in the mirror.

I loved Falling and was so excited to dive into another story from this author. It did not disappoint. I dove in and read this one in one sitting. It is compelling and gripping. There is something about a story that you can see yourself in. Any one who has been on a plane can easily put themselves into this position - your plane takes off and then crashes. It is what makes this story so good - it feels real - the author does an incredible job evoking the feelings of the passengers, of creating a community and fighting for survival. I sped through needing to know how they would make out. I love this perspective of putting a group of people together and reminding of us what we are all capable of. I will read everything and anything by this author!

,Drowning," by. TJ Newman, is a suspenseful, fictional, thriller about passengers from a commercial airplane crash, including engineer Will Kent and his daughter Shannon. Their relief surviving the crash turns to dismay when the plane sinks 200ft into the ocean and the rescue becomes the bigger challenge. According to Will, the only person who might be able to successfully complete the rescue is his ex-wife, Chris. But, she must devise and enact a plan before the oxygen in the cabin dissipates.

While I found this book to be a quick, easy read, it felt more like a very comprehensive guideline for a movie script, focusing more on action than description. Many of the characters felt very contrived and stereotypical, and the ending was quite predictable. It would not be a book I would recommend to a book club, but believe that many would appreciate this book for it's action-packed sequences.

Nevertheless, thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. It was a non-stop thrill ride from from start to finish, and I mean NON-STOP. Every time I opened the book up my heart started racing immediately and when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it.
I did not want to put this book down. From page one it had my pulse racing and my heart darn near beating out of my chest. The way it was written I could vividly see everything playing out, just as if it were a movie. Even in the chaos though, there were these moments that allowed you to connect with the characters. It made everything so much deeper, the hurts stronger and the desperate pull for them to get through this that much more intense. There were definitely moments I felt myself gripping my kobo just a little to tight.
This is a book that you do not want to miss out on. As soon as I could I ran out and grabbed a physical copy. I will definitely be adding TJ to my auto-buy author list.

A HUGE thank you to Simon and Schuster for the eArc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved DROWNING as it was a bingeable, high stakes premise that had a lot of heart. It played out like an action - suspense movie in my head. I especially enjoyed that while there were technical explanations for what was going on, it was easily digestible and I had no problem visualizing what was happening.
I really had a hard time putting it down, as every page held tense moments and I needed to know what was going to happen. I thought we really got to know the characters and I cared about what happened to them.
I have a feeling this is going to a popular book this summer! Definitely recommend!
Thank you Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good characters that kept me engaged and was a good read. Well written fiction about a passenger plane crashing and sinking off the coast of Hawaii and the ensuing rescue. The end left me hanging and was ultimately dissatisfying, only my opinion.

Drowning is one of the most thrilling experiences I’ve ever experienced while reading. The story is immersive and believable, full of twists and adrenaline-spiking situations. I may never look at flying the same way again.

The characters are well-developed and familiar. Those of us who fly will recognize each one of these passengers and crew members. The central characters are Will and his daughter Shannon who are on board the plane. Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife Chris is a professional diver who is working on a way to save her family and the others who remain on the plane. Determination, perseverance and strength are key messages in this book.

The are several gruesome moments that are not dwelled upon but are mentioned to provide realism. I am a more sensitive reader and I did not feel as though this was too much for me, but be forewarned. Readers who are nervous flyers may choose not to read this book. The author is a flight attendant- her experience and research into creating a realistic story are evident.

The impact of grief plays a central role in this book and includes the loss of a child in the backstory of a family. The author writes this experience with respect and grace.

I loved that the author has women playing important roles in this book. The more authors choose females in these traditionally male roles, the higher the likelihood that women will choose these occupations.

I highly recommend this book to those readers who enjoy propulsive thrillers or books set around aviation.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher by the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

T.J. Newman's debut novel was a nail biting read that I (and a lot of other people) couldn't put down. I've been eagerly awaiting her second book - Drowning. You always wonder if an author can bring another great read to the table after a best selling first book? Newman does....in spectacular fashion.
So, you might be wondering about why the book is called Drowning. Well, it's another book about a plane in trouble, this time having to make a crash landing - on, or should I say in, water.

Some make it off the plane, and some don't. Newman gives us a core group of survivors. They're a mixed bunch of personalities, ages, backgrounds and more. One of them is engineer Will Kent - and the second is his young daughter. Can he figure out a way to get out? Or does he have to wait for the government to come up with a solution? Will isn't a patient man - not when lives are at stake. The book is told from two points of view - those up top and those still in the plane.

The tension in this book is crazy - almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. Newman knows how to write suspense! Her personal bio gives her writing that ring of believability. Why? Well she was a flight attendant for 10 years.

I can see this one as a movie. A film for Falling is already in the works.

OMG!! This book was wild from the get go! When I received this books the LAST thing I thought I’d do was cry but I spent the last chapter and a half silently crying as I stayed up way past my bedtime finishing it! I could not put it down!!! About 3/4 of the way through I felt like this would be a 4⭐️ read but the last few chapters, WOOOWEEE…you have to read this book.

Every traveller’s nightmare! I’ve actually experienced engine failure before and it was scary!! I truly thought we were gonna die. Especially when the engine is smoking, plane shaking & dipping, masks deployed and the pilot preparing for an emergency landing at the closest island.
So this. This felt real and I was honestly here for it.

Unfortunately, what didn’t work for me, were the technical terms used and Will & Chris’ story. It was like reading 2 different stories meshed into one and felt like filler I really didn’t care for. I was only here for the crash and to see which survivors would live.

Otherwise, it was an intense read. This was my first of this author’s books and will definitely be reading Falling.

What Is Going on Between the Covers

Flight 1421 crashed into the Pacific Ocean six minutes after takeoff with engineer Will Kent and his daughter on board. He knows if he ditches the plane, his daughter won’t survive, so they stay in the plane and convinces ten others. The plane sinks, trapping them all in it. His wife, Chris, a professional diver currently working with the Navy, might be the only one who can save them, and the stakes and motivation are high for them: their daughter’s life.

My Two Cents

I loved the race against time element to the story that added to the high stakes danger that creates relentless tension and suspense, making it impossible to put the book down. While the pacing is fast at bottleneck speed, T.J. Newman balances the action with quieter moments that allow us to catch our breath while keeping us engaged in the characters’ plight. The complex dynamics of Will and Chris’s relationship and their determination to save their daughter drive the story forward while adding an emotional pull to the story. I was rooting and cheering them, and T.J. Newman doesn't hold back as the danger increased for everyone involved in the recuse, and I was holding my breath while gripping my Kindle.

While the story’s premise is thrilling with that relentless tension and delivers a compelling story of survival against impossible odds, there are times when the plot feels convenient with coincidences, and it’s hard to buy into the action. It feels climatic and removes the believability element; however, the overall intensity and gripping danger make it an exciting summer read.

To be posted on my blog https://travelingsistersbookreviews.com after May 30.

Another page turning, high octane, panic inducing book by TJ Newman. Just like Falling, I could not put this book down! The fear was real and I loved every second of it.

Newman is an American author and former book seller and flight attendant. Her debut novel "Falling" was a huge bestseller (and I loved it) and is now being made into a movie by Universal. This new release has us back on a plane, this time one that crashes 6 minutes after takeoff from Honolulu. The crash itself kills some and many of those left alive choose to brave the water and fire and leave via the escape slide. Others choose to stay inside upon the advice of Will (an engineer) who is on the flight with his 11 year old daughter, Shannon. But the plane is taking on water and they have a limited supply of oxygen. One of the people working on getting them out safely is Chris, Will's almost ex-wife and Shannon's mother, who is an experienced commercial underwater welder. This is a intense read and a great recommendation for readers who like disaster thrillers.

Are you afraid of flying?

If you've answered yes, I do not recommend reading Drowning. If you've answered no, I also probably wouldn't recommend Drowning.

T.J. Newman knows how to write a God Damn book. Falling was one of my favorite reads last year, and I have a feeling Drowning will be a favorite this year. This is the type of book that literally sucks you in and has you terrified right up until that very last page. I think what I really love about her books is the fact that they immediately start off soooo intense, like there's no slow ease into it, she starts off with a bang and doesn't let up. Frig this is a terrifying read.

PS, I definitely RECOMMEND this one whether you're afraid of flying or not.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada, 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.