This book is a YA/Mystery that includes elements of fantasy which is something that really drew me in with this book. It caught my attention immediately and I sat through this book in one sitting. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. There is an underwater cave where unexplainable things begin to happen. This story is filled with dual timelines of things that happened in the past and the things that are happening in the present. There are parts of the book that just seemed like fillers but overall this was a really good read and I highly recommend it to any reader!

Honestly, when I started reading this book, I did not expect it to have supernatural and otherworldly elements. Maybe it's because I'm so bad about just picking a book for its cover (sue me), or that I'm ALSO really horrible at reading blurbs. Regardless, what I expected to read was not this, but that's not a bad thing at all. 

So, I love scuba diving. I can't say that I've done it more than a handful of times, but it's really so beautiful and life changing as an experience. Not to mention humbling (one of my first experiences scuba diving was next to a goliath grouper) because you feel like the smallest fish in the sea. When I started reading this and get this friend group who are literally only worried about their next dive, I was thrilled. 

One of the very first things you learn about Phoebe is that she can find things and is called to the ocean by an unknown force. Not only that, but she's super insecure because she feels like she can't go to college (even though she has a scholarship) because she needs to stay home to take care of her Grams. The other four characters are Gabe and Will (twins with very different personalities, and Gabe is also part of a romantic subplot), Lani, and Isabel. You don't learn a whole lot about them besides a few very superficial things (like that their parents are rich and Lani lost three fingers due to an accident you later learn about). As far as characters go, I really liked Phoebe and Gabe. Everyone else kind of just blurred except for the times when Will was annoying the heck out of me. The only ones who felt remotely fully developed were also Gabe and Phoebe. 

As far as plot goes, I thought this was very entertaining as a novel. You basically get this crazy underwater cave and unexplainable things start happening after that. You do get dual timelines with something that happened in the past with the Salt Squad. To be completely transparent, though, I didn't like the chapters about what happened in the past. Yes, they give you a lot of personality info about the characters before they go through some rather traumatic experiences in the present, but they just weren't... necessary I guess. I didn't feel like I needed to know all of the info from the past, so I never felt like actually reading those chapters even if I did slog through them. 

My favorite part about reading this book, though, is probably the scuba diving and the immersive way Rachel Reiss writes. Her writing is literally GORGEOUS. You can definitely tell that she has done her fair share of scuba diving because the way that she describes it will put you directly into the characters' shoes. Not to mention, once you got to halfway through the book, there was a sense of urgency to the storytelling, and, if I would have had the time, I would have finished reading it in one sitting. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It does have an open ending, so that's something to keep in mind if you don't like those types of endings. I thought it was really fitting and matched the book well. Other than that, I did like Gabe and Phoebe, but most other characters felt one-dimensional. Lastly, the writing style and immersive language made the whole novel worthwhile in my opinion. 4/5 stars!

***Review will be posted on my blog and Goodreads one week before release day.

Whoah!
I was immediately drawn into the story with this short story.
Not only did it remind me of the show Outer Banks but I really enjoyed the whole story.

It had a little bit of everything from romance to mystery, and drama to secrets. It was wonderfully written by the author and would love to see more.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for allowing me to be an ARC.

🐚🫧OUT OF AIR🤿 🫧
By: Rachel Reiss

Genre: YA Mystery
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🤿Wilder Girls meets Outer Banks where a group of scuba diving friends stumbles across lost treasure, a legendary cave, and a new type of power... that comes at a price. 🦈 The deeper you go, the darker you fall.

🫧Outer Banks Vibes
🫧Teenage Friendship
🫧Magical Realism

I finally hit GOLD with a #DebutNovel this year! It really reminded me of Outer Banks off Netflix. The characters and the plot were **chefs kiss**. Now I’m gonna search Netflix for documentaries about underwater sea creatures BRB while I go on another neurodivergent #deepdive. lol

⚠️TWs: absentee parents, Alzheimer’s

Title: Out of Air   
Author: Rachel Reiss         
Genre: YA    
Rating: 4 out of 5 

The deeper you go, the darker you fall.

Phoebe “Phibs” Ray is never more at home than when she’s underwater. On a dive six months ago, she and her four closest friends discovered a handful of ancient gold coins, rocketing them into social media fame. Now, their final summer together after high school, they’re taking one last trip to a distant Australian island to do what they love most – scuba dive.

While diving a local reef, Phibs discovers a spectacular underwater sea cave, rumored to be a lost cave with a buried treasure. But when Phibs and her best friend Gabe surface from the cave, they notice that they're undergoing 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’ group for ransom, she’ll do anything to keep her friends safe. In the process she learns that, of all the dreadful creatures of the sea, she might be the most terrifying of them all.

This was a solid read. I enjoyed reading about the dives and the underwater scenery, but I wish there had been a bit more resolution at the end. I really enjoyed the friendship between the five teenagers and this was a quick read, perfect for a weekend binge.

Rachel Reiss lives in California. Out of Air is her new novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/16).

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for this review.

I went into this book completely blind, drawn in by the absolutely breathtaking cover (haha). Reiss quickly pulled me in with her atmospheric writing. I felt like I was right there alongside Phibs and the gang as they dove beneath the waves.

It also reinforced my sheer terror of cave diving and I know I'll never attempt it. Y'all, the way I held my breath during one of the early scenes! Wow, it was intense!

Very reminiscent of "Outer Banks" so it's perfect for readers who are looking for that vibe--a close-knit friend group with secrets, entangled in treasure hunts and mysteries.

I wavered quite a bit on the rating for this one. On the one hand, it's engaging and mysterious, but on the other, a bit disjointed and predictable. Unfortunately most of the Salt Squad felt flat and underdeveloped, especially Lani and Isabel, and despite the constant reminder that Phibs felt this group was her family, she felt almost like she was an outsider tagging along.

And the plot? I wasn't really expecting a fantasy element to this--not that I disliked it, fantasy is a favorite of mine. But it almost felt out of place in the world Reiss created. I'm not sure how much sense that makes, but I really struggled to suspend my disbelief with this one, which is something I've rarely (if ever) encountered. I think I was expecting more of an underwater thriller. Love the concept of the cursed cave, don't get me wrong, it just went in a very unexpected direction.

Overall I enjoyed it and it's a strong debut. I love how Reiss so clearly wove her love of diving and the ocean throughout this adventure. It made me crave a good long swim in the ocean. (Far from any caves). I'm excited to see where she goes in her career from here and will definitely add her next to my TBR.

A solid 3/5 stars.

This was a great YA debut that kept me engaged from start to finish! The underwater setting was incredibly vivid, and the eerie, atmospheric tension built beautifully throughout the story. I loved the blend of mystery, friendship, and creeping horror—plus, the unique twist on transformation was a standout element. Phibs was a compelling main character, and the dynamics among the group felt authentic and emotional. The pacing was strong, and the story never lost momentum. A solid and suspenseful read for fans of dark YA thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Macmillan Audio for the ALC & e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Phibs and her friends are fitting in all the diving they can during their last year of high school, before the "Salt Squad" splits up and goes to college - or not. Even though months ago they had a close call off Key West, they're still diving together, braving the dangerous world under the water. With the chance to explore a reef off a far-flung Australian island, they find more than they expected - including things almost impossible to explain. While the story is compelling, the real treasure here is the descriptions of the underwater world.

This book is everything: mysterious, suspenseful, eerie, thrilling, and engaging. I enjoyed how the chapters were set in both the present and past, allowing the reader glimpses into what led the characters to where they were.

Five teens formed an unlikely bond through diving and exploring and become inseparable, despite their different backgrounds. The five of them are used to the ocean and its mystery, but Phoebe and Gabe learn just how mysterious and dangerous it can be really be.

Rachel Reiss was able to capture what it feels like to be underwater and it makes you feel like you are right there with them. As a diver, it was amazing to feel like I was back under the water when, in reality, I was on my couch reading.

Fast, fun, thrilling read, a great beach read. Easy to read in an afternoon. Great for fans of outer banks juat like the blurb said.

A YA thriller/mystery with touches of fantasy. A cave full of secrets, a haunted past, and someone who doesn’t fit in. Moves quickly!

I love the sea and diving, so it was a no-brainer to read a book that revolves around the mysteries of the deep. I was surprised by the touches of fantasy in it, but not unpleasantly so. This is a mystery, thriller, adventure YA novel that had me on the edge of my seat quite frequently. The descriptions of the sea made my creature-loving heart happy and the suspense made my thriller-loving heart happy.

This takes place in the New Zealand waters, first person, single POV. It jumps between timelines but does it well. Past mistakes haunt the future in this. It's obvious who doesn't "belong" in this group, but are they the only one who doesn't belong? The answer might surprise you!

I really wanted to enjoy this story but I think there was too much going on in the plot with not everything being well developed, like the author had a lot of ideas but nothing was really well executed. Drowning is my biggest fear so I went into this book already expecting a horror story (for at least me, due to the title), but instead I guess this was a sci-fi/romance/murder mystery with teenagers. I am going to leave this vague so as to not spill any spoilers, but I can easily say this was not for me and too confusing overall- also something I think were supposed to be big reveals I guessed and the "exciting" moments just made me feel sad for the main character. The ending was open ended, but I don't expect a sequel, and even if there was one I would most likely not read it. I am sure others will enjoy this sort of suspenseful underwater sci-fi read, but it was not for me.

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

I must have misread the description for this one because I didn't realize it was a horror novel when I started it. It wasn't super scary from a horror perspective, but the diving and cave definitely provided a lot of suspense. Although it has been many years since I've been scuba diving, the author made me feel like I was actually diving with Phoebe. A great read - even if horror isn't your normal go to genre.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for the ebook!

⭐️⭐️2/5

Out of Air had potential but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. Fmc discovers a cave with lost treasure while diving. After coming back to the surface she starts to realize strange things happening. The book has present and past chapters. The beginning started off great but afterwards it just wasn’t that interesting. This book was supposed to be a thriller/ Suspense, yet i didn’t feel any of it. I was also left with many questions in the end. What exactly is inside them? I don’t know. I don’t think i got the answer. Did i miss it?..I understood it’s a curse but there isn’t much of an explanation to it and what they could become. I didn’t feel drawn or attached to any of the characters. The FMC felt selfish at moments to me and only thinking about her future. On the bright side, i love the cover! I also appreciate the details when it came to diving. These are my honest opinions and i always say to read it if it interests you!

Something to know about me is that I'm not a big swimmer, and I am also not very confident in the water, so when it comes to reading stories about diving and swimming, I'm already a little scared even if they aren't a horror novel like this one.  So this premise already had me a little scared, but I'm not going to lie, I don't think that I actually read the blurb too closely so I didn't fully expect the supernatural elements of this one.

Phibs was a really interesting character.  Her trying to fit in with her friends was a really interesting premise to me.  I liked how diving had brought them together and given them an excuse to be friends when they might not have normally.  I also found her backstory interesting, and how she felt that she had to take care of her grandmother, who was quite ill, at the expense of her own future.  She seemed like she was a really good person, which I appreciated.

The writing style was engaging.  I liked the way we switched between the past and the present to understand further how the characters came to be in the situation they were.  There were a lot of good moments of tension that had nothing to do with the supernatural, and so I found that quite engaging.  The author did a great job at balancing those elements.

The supernatural elements were a little bit more hard to follow, but I did find them really intriguing nonetheless.  I liked the whole secret spot aspect.  It was interesting that things seemed to affect Gabe a fair bit faster than they affected Phibs.  I think I would have liked some more development of that part, but it was still a really interesting twist to the story.

On the whole, this was a really engaging story.  If you like horror stories with supernatural elements, you should definitely check this one out.

I'm not a diver (too claustrophobic), but I enjoy reading books about divers, so I knew when I saw this cover I'd be requesting this from NetGalley. Add in treasure and secret underwater caves? Yes, please.

The author states in her notes that she's an experienced diver, so I appreciated the details regarding equipment, diving rules, etc. interwoven into the story. It offers descriptions to readers unfamiliar with the sport and adds an element of reality. Those underwater scenes are exhilarating, occasionally dangerous, and had me holding my breath. I also learned about new sea creatures that made me think maybe having claustrophobia isn't such a bad thing if these are things I could meet up close and personal in the water.

If found family is your vibe, you'll find it with these five friends. Their bonds are strong, but Phibs dreads losing them when summer is over and they head off to various colleges. Phibs isn't in a financial position to afford college. When she's fortunate enough to be offered a full ride scholarship to a university, she defers it due to her grandmother's (her sole remaining family member) declining health and mental status.

I'd hoped for thrilling underwater sequences and interactions with the treasure hunters who accost these characters, but they're actually a very small percentage of the story that was resolved fairly quickly. The largest portion focuses on Phibs's backstory with her family and Gabe (best friend hoping to be more), and the drama between the friends. My favorite part was when she and Gabe discover the underwater cave then the unsettling body horror descriptions that follow and lead to an unexpected twist.

This is a standalone I'd recommend to fans of found family/friend dynamics, the friends to lovers trope, and underwater thrillers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"Never forget what the ocean is capable of. If you forget, it will come for you, too."


Five friends from the Florida Keys go on a scuba diving trip in Australia, their last big trip before the group splits up for college. On a dive, Phoebe discovers an underwater cave and explores it with two of her friends. After they surface, though, strange things begin to happen, and Pheobe and another one of her friend begin to experience odd changes to their bodies…

This was my first time reading about scuba divers! I have to say I really enjoyed this, it really hooks you from the beginning. The atmosphere of this was incredible, it was as if you were underwater yourself. You can really tell that the author knows all about diving and is passionate about it, as that comes through in their descriptions.

The plot of this was just fine. The main plot kicks in about halfway through, and there’s sort of a disjointed narrative between all the flashbacks happening to explain the group’s interpersonal drama and Phibs’ background. I don’t think the flashbacks were bad or poorly placed, but they definitely changed the flow of the story. There were also some elements that could have been executed better, like the body horror. I would have loved to see more on the body horror, as it felt like it was not fully embraced. The horror elements in general did not seem like they were fully embraced, and I came out of this seeing it as less horror than a thriller with spooky magical realism happening.

Overall, I liked this, and I thought it was a pretty solid debut! Can’t wait to see what Rachel Reiss comes out with next.

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

4/5 stars

Out of Air is a propulsive and tautly written novel. It defies easy genre labels: a little bit thriller, a little bit mystery, a little bit horror, a little bit drama. And while one of these alone or perhaps in a pair would have been fine, together, they’re a YA mix that is compulsively readable. While none of those above genres are my favourite, together they are irresistible catnip. I am stunned that this is Reiss’ debut novel; the pacing is fantastic and the characterisation solid.

I will say I wasn’t completely sold on the ending; there were too many loose threads, so I wonder if there is a part 2 coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

This book is about a group of friends who are divers taking on the task of finding a treasure. The book could've been a lot longer, it was so fast paced and interesting. I liked the love and friendship. It would be a perfect read for fans of Outer Banks, which I love. The underwater world was complex and very descriptive. Reading those parts were my favorite.

Out of Air follows a group of 5 senior high school students who, through their mutual love of the ocean and diving, have created their own little dive club called The Salt Squad. Taking a week long trip to the island of Marimont as a last hurrah before college, they stumble on something that will change their lives forever.

Reiss does a really great job writing the anxieties that come with friend groups, especially those where not everyone is from the same socioeconomic background. Found family and abandonment issues abound, while an unknown and insidious horror swirls throughout, resulting in an increased feeling of dread as the novel progresses. I devoured it in one sitting.

I was stunned to read that this is Reiss’ debut novel as it definitely reads as if a more seasoned writer wrote it. I was not surprised however to learn that the author is a diver herself. Considering how well the diving scenes were written (you felt like you were there along with the characters it was that realistic), I figured it had to be written by someone who had a love for diving.

A little less time could have probably been spent on the lead up to the main plot point, but I honestly didn’t mind the pacing when we were in present day.
I do wish that there wasn’t so much back and forth between past events and present day though, as it lessened the tension and fear that was building, however there is good reasoning for it which gets revealed later on.

Some may not like that everything isn’t neatly tied up and explained, but I actually prefer that there was still some sense of the unknown remaining, as it fits perfectly with the uncharted atmosphere of the ocean.

If this is Rachel Reiss at her debut, I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future. 5 stars.

I received an ARC copy courtesy of St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley, however my review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.