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.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Matin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book!!!

I really loved this book! It was exactly what I hoped it would be! Fun, adventurous, deep sea horror with fear of the unknown thrown in.
Five kids become besties, have conflicts, have adventure, and have drama. Phibs (Phoebe) was raised by her grandparents after being left there one day - her mother never returned. By the time the book is taking place, her grandfather had died and her grandmother developed dementia. Will and Gabe are fraternal twins that are polar opposites of each other and they come from a wealthy family. Laci and Isabel are a couple (Thank you for representation and diversity!!) who also come from wealthy homes. Will and Gabe’s parents (I believe) own a dive shop that Phoebe ends up working in, which is how they all end up meeting and forming the “Salt Squad”!!! The book starts out with them going on a last big diving trip in Australia.

Will, Phibs, and Gabe end up discovering a mystical underwater cavern. Phibs and Gabe surface in an air pocket in the cavern and breath the air there, infecting them with something. They end up coming down to seconds running out of air and even have to surface three minutes early in order to not suffocate, which is drifting and had my checking to make sure I could still breathe!Later that day, Gabe and Phibs start to develop symptoms that are strange and terrifying. I don’t want to accidentally give anything away, so I’ll finish by saying that Rachel Reiss did an awesome job of portraying the Fear of the Unknown, The Call of the Void, and Deep Sea horror.

They managed to feed information in such a way as to grow anticipation while simultaneously keeping the reader (in my experience, of course) from getting annoyed at the lack of information.

The lack of communication between the teenagers was annoying, but it’s also a thing that teenagers do, so I didn’t find it to be out of place. Though I was very angry at what Lani did to Phibs to get her to keep a promise after they got back from the first dive to the cave, that was pretty messed up, but also definitely something an emotional teenager would do.

I hope there’s a sequel!!! I’d love to see more of Phib’s and Gabe’s life after, what they might discover, people they might meet!

This book was not for me. It’s very technical in its descriptions of deep sea diving, and would honestly leave me a bit lost and confused because of it. It has some good concepts and ideas, but I wasn’t as big of a fan as I hoped I would be. I also mistakenly thought there would be major queer rep in this, but realized that since it was sent to me directly, I hadn’t vetted it for that.

I DO think this will work with a lot of people. It’s tense, eerie, and features a main character with a lot to love and latch onto. I believe this will find its audience in fans of Outer Banks and even other deep sea horror stories. I feel like you could even connect this, tonally, to Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant.

Overall, not for me, but also not bad. A solid read.

Atmospheric and tense, Out of Air only solidifies why I won't be scuba diving any time in the near future. It blends the beauty of an underwater world with the terrifying thought that anyone can get stuck in a cave and drown and no one would find your body.

The time jumps between past and present were confusing at times, with the main character having flashbacks -during- the past chapters. Regardless, it had a nice flow.

The most frustrating part of the whole book was the lack of communication between literally anyone. It was an attempt to add more tension, but everyone stressing out simultaneously because they wouldn't talk to each other only made for a frustrating reading experience.

Extra points for the Uncharted vibes and the "wrapped-up but without the bow" ending.

4.5 Stars

YA Scuba Diving Thriller, Friends to Lovers, Hidden Treasure, Distant Islands, Shocking Turns, and Mysteries on the Land and Sea

Out of Air, written by Rachel Reiss, follows Phoebe "Phibs" Ray, a diver who found a home in the ocean and a family amongst divers. Phibs and her four closest friends, the Salt Squad, are about to go their separate ways as the summer after high school approaches an end. Together, they embark on one last trip to a distant island near the coast of Australia for their final summer dive. Once in the water, Phibs discovers an underwater tunnel that leads to a mysterious sea cave. After she and her closest friend Gabe surface into an air pocket in the cave, the sea water starts to feel less like home. Barely making it out of the cave, Phibs and Gabe didn't just escape with their lives. They escaped with something else.

Once I was able to sit with this book and really read it, I devoured it. I loved this story! The characters were all very enjoyable, and I loved Phoebe. She had so much depth in her character. She was easy to understand and empathize with. With everything she endured, she was easily the strongest character in the book, and I love when books have strong FMCs. The description and imagery was impressive. I learned so much about scuba diving, and I could visualize myself underwater during the dives with the rest of the Salt Squad. The author herself is experienced with scuba diving. Her expertise added to the story making it both entertaining and educational. There were moments when my heart was beating so fast, and I was terrified of what was lurking in the water. It was spooky, eerie, and haunting. Combining mystery, thriller, romance, and supernatural elements made this an exciting read. I didn't expect a little bit of everything in this book. The pacing was perfect, and the plot was great. Although some parts of the story were predictable, it did not at all affect the journey or how we got there. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, so that's the only reason I knocked it down a bit. This was my first YA thriller, so it could also be I am used to adult thrillers and their endings.

Trigger Warning: If you are not a fan of being underwater or are claustrophobic, this book might not be for you.

This is an HONEST review, and all opinions in this review are my own. Thank you, Rachel Reiss, for putting your heart into this book and these characters. You made it both thrilling and personal in the best way. Congratulations on your debut novel. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with the opportunity to read this book prior to its release date. I cannot wait to follow Reiss and read all of her future works.

I enjoyed this book it was a first in the horror genre and will be reading more from this author in the future.

4.25🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

This book feels like a brain-child of my obsession with Erin Craig spookiness and all the years I spent studying marine biology. I am not someone who craves spooky scary things, even though I watch a probably unhealthy amount of crime dramas. BUT THIS BOOK—it has just enough chilling whimsy that hooked me in to the story and dragged me into its creepy watery depths. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to solve all the mysteries and I made several accusations throughout my read trying to pinpoint exactly what was going to be unveiled. The underwater aspects of this book are INCREDIBLY DONE!!! As someone who has spent the last several years studying marine biology, it made me giddy to be reading scientifically accurate marine life and interactions. The amount of times I cheered out loud for accurate information!!! This beautiful depiction of the ocean woven together with an excellent and otherworldly thriller story made for a fantastic read!! I did feel as though there was a lot to be wrapped up in the last 15-20% of the book, but the ending was satisfying while still leaving enough intrigue to keep me thinking about it for days to come!

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

I have never read anything by Rachel Reiss but after reading Out of Air I think I will read more.

This book was very good. Reiss has a knack for imagery. Every underwater scene it was like I was there. I could see the colors and the world Reiss described. This made the reading experience so much better.

I connected with the main character Pheobe, and I was fully invested in her story. From her deep love of a boy, she thought she couldn't have to her feeling left behind by her friends. I connected. I felt for her and in many ways, I understood her.

The story moved quickly, but not in a way that left you lost or confused. It is told in dual timelines which I don't mind. Most of those kinds of stories make the reading experience richer.

The ending started to get messy. There was a whole mystery the author could have explored, but instead of doing that she added more elements with the hunters and then rushed the mystery storyline. This, in my opinion, added way too many things into the story and the ending started to fall apart.

The ending is left slightly open, which I don't like. I don't have to have the ending of books wrapped with a bow, but I don't like those that leave too many questions, and this one did.

*thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for providing free early access to this title in exchange for an honest review*

This book had me holding my breath like a deep sea diver. I gobbled this up like a 12ft long male tiger shark. It was incredibly atmospheric, suspenseful, and claustrophobic. Alleged buried treasure? Freaky underwater cave? Tension sowed within the group? The vibes were there.

Honestly, I have no notes or critiques. This book was fantastic.

I was so impressed with this debut. I'm not super into YA or new adult, but this one was so well written and had enough going on that I was consistently engaged as the reader. I'm going to be checking back in on this author when she adds more to her backlog.

I LOVED THIS.

I loved the concept and enjoy a good under the sea horror. Rachel Reiss writes with such descriptive and beautiful prose. Several of my favorite concept are present in this book including found family, horror, mystery and a wonderful plot twist. I felt like I could connect with the characters and experience everything with them as they felt it on the pages.

“It sounded almost like a code word, a promise written in invisible ink. Like he’s closing an invisible door, but keeping an underwater cave open…”


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This book was a wild ride from start to finish!

The story is about a group of friends who enjoy recreational diving, even at their own expense.

This book was tense and at times frightening! (I’m looking at you SEA WASPS!)

The greatest things about this book is that it was fast paced, and excellently plotted. I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen next or what twist was coming. I appreciate it that I could not anticipate what was going to happen before it. There was mystery throughout, but also answers throughout. The drama is rooted in reality and uses true horrors of the world to amplify the fear.

Relatable and interesting characters that you begin to truly care about!

I have learned facts about sharks and other ocean life that is woven perfectly into the narrative. The author also touches on the potential consequences regarding Internet privacy. The things we post and what people can see of them.

Highly recommend this book and a great big thank you to NetGalley for my first ever E-Arc! I had a marvellous time being chilled by this diving tale!

•••••

“It’s after midnight. A chill streaks through me. That’s exactly the reason why Lani’s insisting we go now, so no one will know where we are.”

First off, I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for this ARC.

Out of Air follows the main character Phoebe’s point of view as her and her four friends go to a remote island for one last dive trip before they all go off to college. Except this trip didn’t go how they expected it to after they find a mysterious cave and Phoebe’s friend Gabe starts to act unlike himself.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. It captured the essence of being underwater perfectly which I’m sure was thanks to the author’s personal experience in diving. From the start it was easy to connect with the characters and I felt like I was able to understand the dynamic of their friend group pretty quickly. Each character in the group was well developed and had their own distinct personality and role within the friend group which I found very impressive.

The main plot doesn’t really kick in until about halfway through the story. The beginning of the book was a lot of background information and although it was interesting I kept wondering when things in the cave would really start to kick off. Otherwise this was such an atmospheric read and it felt like a nice break from what I normally read.