Out Of Air
By: Rachel Reiss

5 Stars

Phoebe and her friends love the ocean. The Salt Squad includes Phoebe, brothers Gabe and Will, Lani, and Isabel. It's their last dive trip before they all separate and go away to college. This trip they will find something. This dive trip will be the one that changes all their lives, maybe forever.

I jumped at this book because I am a diver, and so I understand the magic that is the water. It was like this book was a sinister remix to the show Outer Banks. I loved it. It had the treasure hunting, the danger, the romance, but it also had a mystical feeling. It's a scary mystical feeling. I loved the magic and scare that is there, though, because what if? It was captivating honestly and kept me on the edge of my seat. I found this story to be not only well written but also well researched. I loved the descriptions and the characters. I really enjoyed everything about it. On another note, I'll be more cautious when diving now. ;)

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

*Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

“Nothing stays buried forever.”

Out of Air follows Phoebe and her group of friends on their summer trip to a remote island before they go their separate ways for college in the fall. The friends are experienced divers and aspiring treasure hunters, though they found hidden treasure before the story starts and became somewhat social media famous as a result. The dynamics and atmosphere have a bit of an Outer Banks vibe, though the plot is definitely its own thing and not too comparable to the show.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, especially the mysterious atmosphere and the wonder of the depths of the sea. The descriptions in this book were excellent; I felt like I was exploring right there with the characters. The magical realism aspects, as well as the switch between past and present, kept me engaged throughout and wanting to know what terrible thing happened prior to the start of the story and what would happen next. I also enjoyed the relationships between the friends and how they shifted and their secrets were revealed over the course of the story.

My biggest issue with the book is that I wanted more. The ending felt rushed and we don’t get to see much of the fallout the characters have to deal with. There was a lot of build up to something big, and then when we got there, it felt brushed over too quickly, especially for what I believe is going to only be a standalone book.

I do recommend this book if you enjoy shows like Outer Banks and stories with found family, adventure, and mystery. Despite my feelings on the ending, I still had so much fun reading this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was entertaining. It is about a group of friends (including her crush) who grew up in the keys scuba diving and they are going on their last scuba diving adventure together before they graduate and go their separate ways for school. We find out about the main character and her family history growing up, which contributes to the mystery of the story. We also see her struggling with the idea that her friends will be leaving her behind.

The story gets a magical realism sort of element to it with a cursed cave and odd happenings throughout which are tied in somewhat with the main character, but I feel like the idea was kind of jumbled around with the pacing of the story being off and the ending becoming completely rushed and got a little out there and strange. The author should have taken some more time to focus on the cave and diving adventures and less time on the drama between friends and Phibbs' family's background to keep engagement.

I will say that the book is atmospheric when she does mention the diving, and you do feel that you are there swimming along with them. Overall, it was an entertaining read, and I recommend it for a quick atmospheric read, but I just wanted a little more from it.

3.5 stars

First of all, let’s appreciate the gorgeous cover.

It’s obvious Reiss is an experienced diver. You can tell from the casual way that all of the equipment is mentioned, a couple of key repeated phrases, and the seamless way the Salt Squad move and interact in and around the water + the fish and wildlife descriptions are phenomenal. All of the underwater scenes were great. The tension of the dark tunnels, the mad dash to the surface as they’re running out of air, the darkness, the colors (or lack thereof).

It was when the characters were out of the water that things kind of lost their shine. I don’t think we got to see quite enough of the everyday dynamic of these characters (and maybe that’s because Phoebe has a chip on her shoulder, being the only poor kid in the group, but it makes it really hard to buy into the depth of the friendship across the five of them).

And personally I would have preferred leaning into the obsessive treasure hunters more so than the supernatural elements.

But the first half of the book especially was super propulsive and full of great tension and descriptions.

Amazing thriller. Garanty to be hooked from the start. If you loved the TV series outerbanks. you have to read this ASAP.

Such a good read! It really has a way of keeping you sucked in and never wanting to stop reading! Perfect amount of mystery, romance, drama, and horror. I'll definitely recommend this addicting read to anyone that likes those kind of genres because it has a mix of them all! I knew I would probably love it the second I read the snippet of what it's about and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC! This was a quick and enjoyable read, a YA mystery with psychological thriller elements and a touch of magical realism. It had my stomach in knots more than once!

The story follows Phoebe and the Salt Squad, a treasure hunting dive team who uncover a hidden cave and experience eerie aftereffects.

Very Outer Banks-esque, so if you love that show, you might enjoy this!

I loved the descriptive writing which made me feel as though I was in the water diving with the characters. However, the story itself felt disjointed with so many fragments of information crammed into a short book. We get a tiny bit of treasure hunting, a dash of murder mystery, a hint of romance, slight paranormal activity and very mild horror all thrown together but none of these felt like the main plot focus. I do love a good YA book and although this one missed the mark for me it is still a great option for the target audience.

Wow! I wasn't expecting this to be my favourite book of the first quarter of 2025! As an avid scuba diver, this book was so fun (and scary!) to read. I have long aged out of the YA genre, but this was still such a quick and fun read. It was thrilling to read all the passages of them in the cave and diving down. I hope there's a sequel!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄
🥽 Diving
😱 Body horror
🏴‍☠️ Lost treasure

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
The “Salt Squad”, an influencer group of friends, decides to take a senior trip and go diving in Australia. The group gained notoriety 5 months prior when they found five gold coins on a dive and wanted one last trip before they went their separate ways.

During one of their dives, they discover an underwater cave which is rumored to be a lost cave with a buried treasure. In the days following, things start going very wrong and the group begins to wonder if there is more in the cave than just buried treasure.

𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
I absolutely loved this! I love any type of diving/ocean horror/underwater adventure story and this hit all the marks. I ended up reading it in under four hours and I wish I would have prolonged it just so I could be in the story for a little longer.

My only complaint is that I could have done without the romance aspect because it honestly felt forced and didn’t add much to the story. The ending wasn’t what I was expecting and didn’t really feel like a resolution. That being said, this is a solid story and I definitely recommend it! 4.25/5⭐

Wow. Wow wow wow. I'm a sucker for anything underwater related. It's just one of my fav things. So is suspense! I just loved this book so much and I'm going to force my friends to read it too! Haha!

Gripping and adventurous m. Out of Air is one of my favorite reads this year. Driving has always caught my interest it is both beautiful and scary at the same time. This novel manages to illustrate underwater adventure perfectly.

"Out of Air" plunges readers into a chilling and suspenseful underwater nightmare, where the beauty of the ocean masks a terrifying, ancient threat. Rachel Reiss crafts a compelling tale of friendship, betrayal, and body horror, all set against the backdrop of the breathtaking but dangerous Australian coast.

Phibs, a passionate diver, is a relatable and strong protagonist. Her deep connection to the ocean is palpable, making the subsequent corruption of that very environment all the more unsettling. The initial allure of discovering a hidden sea cave and the promise of buried treasure quickly gives way to a creeping dread as Phibs and her friends begin to experience horrifying physical and psychological changes.

The body horror elements are effectively executed, creating a visceral sense of unease. The descriptions of the oozing gashes and the haunting whispers are genuinely disturbing, and the gradual transformation of the characters is both fascinating and terrifying. Reiss masterfully builds suspense, leaving the reader constantly on edge, wondering what new horrors will emerge from the depths.

Beyond the horror, "Out of Air" explores the complexities of friendship and the pressures of social media fame. The dynamic between Phibs and her friends is well-developed, and the tensions that arise as they grapple with the strange changes and the arrival of the treasure hunters add depth to the story. The arrival of the treasure hunters adds a human antagonist to the tale, and the tension between the human threat and the supernatural threat is well balanced.

The Australian setting is vividly portrayed, adding an atmospheric layer to the story. The descriptions of the underwater world are particularly evocative, creating a sense of both wonder and dread. Reiss effectively uses the contrast between the beauty of the ocean and the darkness lurking beneath its surface to heighten the suspense.

The ending, while intense, leaves a lingering sense of unease, suggesting that the true horror may lie not just in the creatures of the deep, but also within ourselves. "Out of Air" is a thrilling and unsettling read that will appeal to fans of body horror, suspense, and stories that explore the dark side of human nature. It's a dive into the unknown that will leave you gasping for air.

A R C • R E V I E W
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Title: Out of Air
Author: Rachel Reiss
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 5/13
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I am a huge sucker for an underwater / searching for treasure kind of story. When I read that this was that but also a horror I knew that I had to read it.
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Right from the start of this story I was hooked. I loved all of the mixing of genres in this one: the mystery of the cave and treasure, the mystery of what happened months before, the little bit of romance, the drama amongst the group and the horror/paranormal aspect of the curse. It made for such an addicting and cohesive story that had me really wanting it to be summer.
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The characters are great. The pacing is steady to fast and that ending was perfection. This is labeled as a YA and really didn’t read as one. The characters are just about to enter college. I think that if you are new to the horror genre or are looking to get started in it that this is a great book to get your feet wet, its really not overly scary or gruesome but it is super suspenseful.
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Overall, this is one I am definitely going be remembering for a while. I loved it and I think a lot of horror fans will too! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Reiss and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was sooooo good. I read it in less than 24 hours. A FANTASTIC debut from Rachel Reiss. You can tell she had knowledge of scuba diving. The description of this book being like Outer Banks and Wilder Girls was spot on! A perfect YA, minimal swearing, intriguing plot, side teen romance, and a dash of fantasy. I loved it and am screaming from the rooftops for people to read this.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars

Ugh, I am SO PROUD of Rachel for getting this book out there 😭 I stumbled across her elsewhere in an interesting way, and then I found out she was publishing with a big publisher and popping up on anticipated releases and UGH, SO PROUD

First off, because I see it tagged as horror, want to say there's very minimal horror here. More mystery/thriller with some paranormal/magical realism/curse elements. So, if horror isn't super your thing, don't let that tag dissuade you. If it is your thing, uh.. whoops? 🤣

But this is such a good debut! I loved all the diving scenes, and getting a look into what the 'culture' with that is. You could definitely tell that Rachel has a lot of diving knowledge. I was also pretty invested in the dynamic of the squad and the tensions/mysteries of the group. All of them really cared for each other, and it showed. Even if it showed semi-often in twisted ways. Each of them (except probably Isabelle) did things that emotionally (even physically) ended up hurting the others, but it all stemmed from a place of love for their group and the individuals in it.

There were some elements that didn't really do it for me. Like, I didn't care for the romance, but it wasn't a HUGE element, and I was honestly pretty confused by the visual of the wounds a lot of the time.

Regardless, I definitely enjoyed, and I fully recommend for people who like curses, underwater settings, and a tight knit friend group with underlying secrets!

I was so intrigued by this one, the premise was so interesting. It was just a little too technical on the deep sea diving aspect. Also, there was some magical realism aspect in it and unfortunately that is one of my least favorite thing in a novel. It truly turned me off from the plot. Some things just truly didn't fit, and then the ending was very rushed.

Phoebe Ray Phibs for short, feels way more at home being underwater away from the rest of the world. When Phibs and her friend's went on a dive six months ago, they discovered ancient gold coins, this rocketed them into social media fame. This is their final summer together after high school, all of them are taking one last trip to a distant island in Australia to do what they love most, scuba diving.

While they are diving at a coral reef, she discovers a breathtaking under water sea cave, it rumoured to be a lost cave with buried treasure. When Phibs and her friend Gabe resurface from the cave, they notice they are both going through strange changes. Oozing gashes that don't heal. Haunting whispers in their heads. Something has latched onto them, lurking beneath their skin, transforming them from the inside out. When treasure hunters arrive, desperate to find the location of the cave and hold Phibs and her friends hostage/ransom. She will do anything to keep her friends safe. In this process she learns all about the dreadful creatures at sea, she might be the most terrifying one of them all.

Thank You St. Martin's Press/ Wednesday books/ Netgalley for a digital ARC of this book. I truly appreciate it so much.

Also I am terrified of the ocean and anything open water so I don't know why I read this, but it was good and made me even more scared of open ocean but that's okay. There are just so many things that could happen underwater and it freaks me out.

This book was a mix of Predator, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Good lord was this book disgusting, and I don't mean that in a bad way, this book was good and very interesting to read. When it got to the part where the gashes were oozing I had to stop reading at one point and take a break because I could picture it and it was gross and a little disturbing. I didn't realize this book was young adult until the very end, but honestly I pleasantly surprised by this young adult book, and how good it was.

The writing and the plot were great, even the characters were great to be honest i'm not sure why I only have this three stars I think I am going to move it up to four. Will was an interesting character it's like he didn't care what happened, but then near the end we had some character development which I liked. I liked how he turned into a better person and got closer with Phibs. The ending of the book was kind of sad and I honestly did not like the way that in ended.

Overall this was a great book and very interesting, even if your scared of the open ocean like me you could still read this and enjoy it. Happy Reading!!!!

This was quite good! I liked the mystery aspect of it and I also really enjoyed out group of characters. I liked how what happened and what Phoebe and Gabe were becoming was never outwardly said and that you could kind of leave it up to interpretation. I also really liked that every single one of the five characters had flaws. The writing was also quite easy to read and flowed really well, I had a hard time putting the book down to be honest. The one thing I did not really vibe with was Lani not telling them what was happening or being open about stuff, I feel like a lot of trouble could have been avoided had Lani actually filled them in with the truth when they asked for it instead of demanding they just trust her, especially when it felt like their lives were on the line.

First off, thank you to netgalley for early access to this arc!

Now let’s dive in.

This book is so unique because the setting is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. The bottom of the ocean is one of the worlds biggest mysteries and to build urban legends around that mystery is so interesting to me. I think the author does a good job setting up the story and creates a really cool ambiance through some overall pretty solid writing. Unfortunately, where the story sort of loses me is the ending. I wanted so badly for this book to end with a bang, but instead it sort of ends with a shrug. Everything seems to just kind of resolve itself a bit too anticlimactically in my opinion. And while I do love a mysterious open ending, there were way too many major plot points that were kind of just concluded with “we’ll figure it out later.”

Overall, my biggest criticism is that I wish this book was a bit longer so we could have gotten a few more answers, and more development on certain plot lines and relationship dynamics that felt a bit rushed or glazed over at times. By no means was this a bad book through, don’t get me wrong! I just wish that the author did more with it.