OUT OF AIR - RACHEL REISS

This is a fantastic book. I have to start by saying that, because I was utterly addicted to this story and raced through it to find out what happened next. Out of Air is a blend of genres, so much so that I found it difficult to know how to classify it.

Out of Air is about a scuba-diving protagonist and her group of friends who travel together to a remote Australian island for the ultimate diving adventure off the grid. With elements of horror, magical realism and suspense, Out of Air's pace made me think of other thrillers I've read.

I love books that have a nature-strikes-back angle and if you're similar, you need to grab Out of Air. The book tackles a little bit of everything; there's romance, the theme of finding one's place in the world, friendship (which can be toxic at times), body horror, action, high stakes and even some Outer Banks-style treasure finding.

It's a compelling story that you won't stop thinking about, and I'd highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a faster pace and a book that defies being slotted neatly into a classic genre box.

Thank you to Rachel Reiss, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 13 May 2025

Review score: 4/5

TWs: injury detail, d*ath, toxic relationships, ab*se

Rachel Reiss wrote a mesmerizing adventure tale that was as deep and scary as the ocean.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

4⭐️

**Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC**

The Salt Squad is a group of 5 newly graduated high school seniors on a celebration diving trip. They’ve been diving in Key West for months and now they are exploring the reefs off the Australian coast. When they come upon a mysterious cave, some of the group members start to change and notice a strong pull to the ocean.

This was a story I couldn’t put down. The details and descriptions of the ocean and its creatures was just right. Not overbearing and wordy, but enough to really set a great stage. The voice of the narrator, Phoebe, is distinct and clear. She doesn’t come off as a whiny teenager either, which I appreciate. This story has flashbacks woven into it. They help to create suspense and slowly reveal important details to the characters and their motivations. There is a small almost supernatural element to this story I was not expecting and may be off putting for some readers, but I found it very intriguing and fun. I want a follow up!

I finished Out of Air in about two days, I read the majority of it in a single sitting because I was so entranced with the world.

The book overall reminds me of the vibes that Outer Banks (the tv show) gives regarding teen friendships with class disparities and with a heavy interest in the ocean/treasure (sort of at least in Out of Air's case lol). Another title I would compare it to is The Unmaking of June Farrow - the eerie "gift" that Phoebe possesses alongside her mother and grandmother reminds me of the Farrows and how they never truly understood why them or what exactly was happening.

The pacing was well done, especially for a debut. It can be difficult to write two different times (past and present) but Reiss does it really well. I never felt as though the story was being stalled when we would switch from one time to another.

I wish we had gotten to see a little more of the Salt Squad's friendship outside of the drama, both past and present. Seeing more of how they all fit together would have been nice and would have made it more of a 'found family' feeling instead of just a group of friends doing things together.

I don't read a lot of YA or thrillers, so take my opinion on the ending with a grain of salt. I wasn't completely satisfied with it. It wasn't bad by any means but I do think that I would have liked a little more clarification or pages about the resolution. But, at the same time, when it comes to paranormal and thrillers I don't think you're really supposed to have all the answers and that's part of the beauty. That not everything is tied up in neat bows.

I'm really looking forward to reading what Reiss writes next, she kept my attention fully while reading Out of Air so I have no doubt she'll be able to do it again and again in the future.

OUT OF AIR is an underwater adventure with a slight supernatural twist. Love that the author took something as simple as scuba diving and treasure hunting and turned it into finding something you just can’t explain. When Phoebe and Gabe and the rest of their treasure hunting crew are having a good vacay off Australian waters, Phoebe feels that unnatural sixth sense of hers and is drawn to explore a cave so hidden it never should've been discovered. Inside could very well be the lost cave that holds endless, but cursed, treasure. And when Phoebe and Gabe resurface after that amazing discovery, the crew is stunned to learn their bodies are reacting in unexplainable ways. They suspect time is running out for the pair and as they delve deeper to understand the complexities of their discovery, unwanted attention for the elusive site only makes their situation more dire.

This was an intriguing, quick read. Anyone who loves the friends-to-lovers trope, underwater treasure danger and a hint of the supernatural will find this a promising read.

Will post to GoodReads and Amazon.

This was like a locked room thriller under water. I loved it! I read so many thrillers that sometimes it’s hard to find something really different. This was absolutely unique and kept me hooked. The underwater descriptions were amazing and really added to the tension. There were great twists, especially the end, which I never saw coming! A thoroughly entertaining read!

Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

This uses the ocean element perfectly to tell this suspenseful atmosphere, it had that element that I was expecting and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had that concept that worked in this universe and was engaged with the overall feel of this. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed that the cave was almost a character itself. Rachel Reiss has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

The ocean is truly a horrifying place. While I would love to dive with whale sharks someday- Out of Air makes me want to postpone that by several years. Parts of this made my skin crawl! Slight trigger warning for Body Horror, specifically open wounds.

Phoebe has always felt connected to the water. The women in her family have the ability to find things no one else can sense, which lead her and her friends to incredible discoveries- and immediate danger. She never expected to be drawn to anything on their graduation trip to Australia, but when her senses tingle, she leads them to a cave.

But this cave is more than what meets the eye, and while Phibs may have found the location of a a fascinating lost treasure, she and her crush Gabe have unlocked a terrifying curse. Can they stop it before it’s too late? Or will they run out of air?

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the e-arc! Out of Air is Rachel Reiss’s debut and comes out May 13!

DNF at 18%, The underwater setting is incredibly well drawn, but that’s the extent of the positives. The characters didn’t really pull me in, and the flashbacks also broke up the momentum in a way I disliked.

Out of Air was a fast-paced, twisty read with strong found family themes. The dual timeline—flashing between a past diving trip gone wrong and a present-day mystery—kept me hooked. Fans of Outer Banks will enjoy the adventure, suspense, and close-knit friend group. A solid read for anyone who loves beachy thrillers with heart.

I'm not sure how I got so confused about what this book was but I definitely misunderstood. I figured this was going to be more like the movie 47 Metes Down and I have no idea where I got that. Because of that i was a little put off by this book at first. That being said once I realized what exactly this was I started to enjoy it. This felt a darker take on H20 or maybe Outer Banks. I did enjoy this after I realized this was more of a slow building dread. I will say this doesn't necessarily scream horror to me but more of a paranormal mystery. This was still a solid ya thriller.

I loved this suspenseful diving mystery thriller! It was just what I was in the mood for and kept me engaged throughout. There was some horror which the book would not be what it is without it, and thought it was perfect and not too scary. The romance storyline is also balanced so nicely. As someone who is scared of the depths of the ocean, I could experience the allure from a safe distance through the beautiful atmospheric writing.

In Out of Air, you will find thrilling underwater moments with many close encounters. A determined teen who will go to the depths of the ocean to save her friends, the Salt Squad, who bonded over deep sea diving. She is also grappling with what happens to the Salt Squad in their last summer together post high school.

I’m really glad I read this debut novel! And isn’t that cover gorgeous?!

Read if you like
• Shark week
• Suspense
• Scuba diving
• Friend groups
• Outer Banks show
• Adventure
• Treasure hunting

Thank you Wednesday Books for an eARC of this book!

Definitely gave outrrbanks vibes. I have a deep fear of the water so I’m not sure why I read this one but the writing was great and the plot was different.

This was literally H2O Just Add Water but as a horror book.

I enjoyed the plot a lot. I found myself skimming the body horror scenes because ew. The characters were all really annoying tho tbh?? I didn’t really like any of them? And they were all like “oh we’re best friends our friendship matters more than anything oh we love being friends” but then literally every scene they’re arguing and acting like they hate each other. So I didn’t love that.

SPOILER ALERT: that ending was so good??? It was so utterly horrifying, but presented like a happy ending, and that made it so chilling. Like omg bestie you’re literally becoming an eldritch monster but the corruption has gotten to your brain enough that you’re happy about it?? What the hell?? I’m obsessed. The ending had the energy of a Rory Power book and I love it

Bottom line: Oar Naur Cleor

Out of Air is a fun and atmospheric young adult novel centered on a group of friends—one of whom is the main character’s crush—sharing one last scuba diving adventure in the Florida Keys before heading off to college. Alongside the emotional weight of saying goodbye and growing up, the story delves into the protagonist’s family history, which plays a key role in the unfolding mystery.

As the trip progresses, a layer of magical realism emerges, centered on a cursed cave and strange underwater events that are loosely connected to the main character. While these elements are intriguing, the pacing feels uneven, and the ending comes across as rushed and a bit too far-fetched. The story would have benefited from more time spent exploring the cave and the diving experience, and less on the interpersonal drama and family backstory.

That said, when the narrative focuses on the diving scenes, the writing shines—creating a vivid, immersive world where you can almost feel the ocean around you. Overall, Out of Air is an enjoyable, quick read with a great setting and mysterious vibes. It’s perfect for readers looking for something atmospheric with a touch of the surreal, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on all its potential.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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).