Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars.

I was so close to giving this 4 stars! There was just a little bit missing for me to give it the higher rating.

It was a really quick read and the writing was good! I would recommend reading this!

I thought it was a really cool concept. It was very descriptive; it felt like I was underwater with them, which was cool and terrifying all at once! I think this would be a good movie. It was atmospheric.

None of them really seemed like friends. I could have used a little more showing their friendship, instead of being told they were super close.

I didn’t care for the romance at all. It was so boring. Again, we were just told she was in love with Gabe and we were supposed to care about them being together, but I didn’t think there was any substance or chemistry between them. I almost wanted her to be with Will. At least he had a personality, even if he could be a jerk sometimes. I could have done without a romance.

I can see how it’s reminiscent to “Outer Banks”, but it’s also not super close to the show. There are elements that are almost like a shout out to the show, but not directly related to it.

A lot of big moments happened but it felt rushed, like finding out more about her family and the treasure hunters coming at the end. I think this book could have been a little longer so we could build up to these things more and not have them get over super quickly.

I did enjoy reading this! I think you should give it a shot, especially if you like diving or the ocean.

Side note, the cover is gorgeous!

ARC Review: Dive into a world of mystery and suspense with “Out of Air” by Rachel Reiss, a thrilling adventure that will leave you breathless. Set against the mesmerizing backdrop of the ocean’s vast expanse, this novel offers a gripping tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The plot revolves around a close-knit group of friends, each passionate about the sea. Their journey is both a celebration of their love and an exhilarating exploration of the unknown. At the heart of the story lies the captivating backstory of the female protagonist, whose intriguing past adds depth and allure to the narrative, especially with the inclusion of time jumps that intricately weave her past and present.

Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster as the story unfolds with ingenious plot twists and suspenseful moments that left me gasping for air. The cursed cave, with its ominous aura, serves as a thrilling focal point, unraveling a series of gripping events that ensnare the reader in a web of danger and intrigue.

Rachel Reiss masterfully weaves a suspenseful atmosphere, where every page turn reveals more secrets and raises the stakes. “Out of Air” is an electrifying read that kept me hooked until the very last word, delivering a suspenseful punch that lingers long after the final chapter. The conclusion ties everything up nicely, yet leaves you guessing what will happen next, making it a tantalizing end to an unforgettable journey. If you’re seeking a captivating thriller with a unique setting and unforgettable twists, this is the book for you!

A good book, I’d definitely recommend to family and friends, don’t want to go into to much detail to give anything away! But take a chance and read it!

This thriller was middle of the road for me. I love a cave horror but the mix of too many elements made the book feel like it was going in too many directions at once. There is the creature feature, treasure hunting, mystery island and then you have the character relationships and changes as well. There is some body horror but as a YA it's not too graphic. I really enjoyed this an I think it would be a really great pick for teens.

4.25 stars ☆
⤿ spoiler-free review
thank you to net galley for this amazing arc!!

ೃ⁀➷“Its our last summer and I'm trying to hold on to all of it. To this feeling of freedom and adventure, to this little found family adrift in a world of unknowns. To us. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒶𝓁𝓉 𝒮𝓆𝓊𝒶𝒹. ”


characters: Phoebe, Will, Gabe, Lani and Isabel. Awh I love them all. They are so intricate in different ways, having flaws and wonders to them. As a group, I loved seeing their dynamic with each other, and just the love they all shared.

plot: What happens when you find a gorgeous underwater cave, breath its air, and suddenly come out.. changed? This was more thriller leaning yet bordering on horror, with a little romance, and a lot of secrets. The twists were twisting but in my opinion, they werent the most shocking I have read. I did love that last page though!

pacing: This was so fast! I was flying through this book, and each chapter was short enough to keep me wanting more. Each chapter also always ended with a small little hint to keep you reading. I was in a small slump, and this book helped me get out of it with how short & sweet it was.


✧.* the point is: if you are missing summer just read this. Reiss has the most atmospheric writing i have read in a while, and i just felt like i was right there with the Salt Squad diving in the vast sea, exploring treasures, and lies.

This book had a unique storyline. I enjoyed reading. The cover makes you want to read it. Thank you for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Reiss and St Martin’s Press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect read for my night shift. Fast paced, and action packed with such a fun premise. Really enjoyed the characters and the wildness of the ocean. The ocean and the cave were their own perfectly written characters and I enjoyed it immensely.

Phoebe “Phibs” Ray loves the water, almost as much as she loves capturing the mysterious world underwater on her camera where she can forget the troubles plaguing her back home. So when Phoebe and her friends go on their last trip together before going their separate ways, she wants the trip to be special, especially with Gabe. But when Phoebe discovers a cave in the ocean, their trip turns from a fun getaway to a nightmare that affects their lives forever.

Lucky for me, I have no idea what Outer Banks or “Wilder Girls” are, so I read this story without high expectations or preconceived notions. This book was fun to read, even though I was nervous as I read the bits about the ocean. I happen to be ridiculously scared of the water. So you can imagine the raised brows of fear and anxiousness when I read about the group diving into the water like it was nothing and being completely surrounded by water. Just thinking about it freaks me out. 😂

But aside from my confession that no one asked for, the plot was very interesting, it flowed well, and there were no loose ends for me. The writing was clear, engaging, and very descriptive, painting a beautiful image of the ocean in my mind while scaring the living daylights out of me about the wonders of the underwater world we have yet to explore. The dual timeline kind of threw me off, but I know it was necessary since it moved the plot forward, leaving me to wonder who did what and what happened that caused this or that as I read on. So, in the end, I didn’t mind it.

And the bit about the cave! I wish there was more background about that thing because it changed the trajectory of everyone’s lives and left me astounded. It was the best part of the book, in my opinion. I’d love a whole novel dedicated to the cave, its mysteries, and why it is the way it is because I was not expecting what happened, especially the ending, which was good in its own unique and startling way. (If you wanna find out what I mean, you’re gonna have to read the book.) 😉

The main character, Phoebe, was (thank God) tolerable and I liked her. I resonated with her and the struggles and issues she faced and had to overcome, not wanting to burden anyone with her woes because she feels like she needs to and can handle it. Her love interest, Gabe, seemed like a chill dude who is the kind of person who makes everyone happy to make himself happy. That attribute can get out of hand, but I’m not about to try to turn this into a lecture on psychology or anything. 😂 Phoebe’s other friends: Lani, Isabel, and Will were also tolerable characters, except for when Will was a jackass, which was often. I will also add that I didn’t like how they kept a lot of secrets from each other. Their whole “squad” practically thrived on secrecy. There’s nothing wrong with secrets, but when secrets build tension, create drama, and encourage distrust, then I think they need to take a time out, step back, and reevaluate not only their friendship but their personal lives as well. But I digress.

In short, I enjoyed this book, even though I had a hard time getting into it, which I will blame on the reading slump I was in. I recommend this book if you like treasure, the ocean, diving, mysteries, and otherworldly subjects and influences. This is Rachel Reiss’s debut novel and I think she did a terrific job. I can’t wait to see what other novels she will write in the future. ☺️

I received an arc from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

Alien meets Outer Banks… kinda! Treasure hunters, scuba diving, a remote island in the tropics with a haunting past. What could go wrong when 5 friends decide to go on a diving trip before college?

I think for Rachel’s first book she did well. I wished there was more character development between the other characters besides Phoebe. I did enjoy the relationship between the 5 friends. The part about her dad just didn’t seem like it fit really well to me and I was expecting more excitement in the end than there was. I did enjoy the middle part of the book and wanted to keep reading to see what happened

Out of Air is a YA mystery with hints of psychological thriller themes and magical realism. Following Phoebe and the Salt Squad, the treasure hunting group of divers that find a secluded cave and begin experiencing strange aftereffects.

This was a quick read and I enjoyed all the sea creature and diving facts. The author’s passion for diving really shines through, and I think the overall metaphor and theme of the book relates to her love of the water.

I enjoyed the suspense and strangeness crafted within this world of diving and the mysterious cave. What Phoebe and Gabe experience adds an otherworldly level of dread that kept me coming back to each chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced e-copy.

Let me start with saying that this cover is GORGEOUS. It pulled me in right away and then the synopsis hit so hard. I was that girl who wanted to be a marine biologist and part-time mermaid when I was a kid. (Ok, you got me, still do.) This is such a fun and intriguing ride. We get to become part of the Salt Squad, five friends who scuba dive for fun. The ocean is a part of all of them. But trouble waits for them when they find five gold coins from an old shipwreck. Obviously they're cursed, right? Traveling from the U.S. to Australia, our FMC, Phoebe, works to find out more information about her mom who left her when she was very young, and the friends who have become her found family. All while dealing with some seriously creepy phenomena after descending into an oceanic cavern.

I ate this up. My only caveat is to not compare it to Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield. This is an adventure story with bits of body horror and mystery.

The one thing I would change about this, is the final chapter/epilogue. It wasn't necessary.
Real rating: 3.5 stars.

Rating: 3.75/5
Out of Air by Rachel Reiss

Dark, suspenseful, and well written!

I was hooked from the very first chapter. Recently, I've been diving into a lot of YA, and this book definitely hit the spot. While I’m not an expert on diving, the author did an amazing job of painting vivid scenes that made me feel as though I were right there with the characters.

The twists in this story were exactly what I love! It gave me strong Outer Banks vibes, with its thrilling and unpredictable plot. Although it’s a relatively short read, it took me a bit longer to get through, but it was worth every page. Can't wait to see what else Rachel Reiss comes up with.

i really liked the main group. they were really tightly bonded and i loved that. some very cool body horror and deepsea suffocation/organism horror. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow, this was an adventure. I saw this on NetGalley’s website with the comparison of Outer Banks and I was immediately intrigued. This story started out with 5 friends: Phoebe (Phibs), Gabe, Will, Lani, and Isabel, who call themselves the “Salt Squad.” They are divers who post pictures of their finds on social media. When they find an underwater cave, they end up becoming horrifically sick as. they try to figure out what’s wrong with them while also finding treasure along the way. Like I said, an adventure. When the book first started, they kept alluding to this awful night, but when the night came in the story, it wasn’t as written out then I thought it deserved to be. The other thing that I didn’t really like was the ending. It felt a little rushed and the fact that they just accepted what happened in the story (ifykyk) was a little odd to me. I wish the plot line was more developed and the characters seemed more relatable. Now, onto the good things. I loved the atmosphere. The vibes were IMMACULATE! I loved how the ocean was described as they dove, and the cave was described so beautifully! I also really liked the character of Gabe. While most of the people in the salt squad felt made-up or something like that, Gabe felt like a real human. When he talked for Phoebe, you could actually tell that he enjoyed her presence. Even his described body language was so realistic.

Overall, a pretty good novel, especially for the summertime. I would recommend to anyone who likes Outer Banks x Mako Mermaids, but add a thriller twist!!

If you love high-stakes adventure, treasure and eerie magic, this book is for you. I was captivated from the beginning, being immersed with the characters and tropical locations that were beautifully described. The detail was awe inspiring and at points I found myself holding my breath along with the characters. It's a heartbreaking coming of age love story which is beautifully weaved with adventure and mystery. I enjoyed the chapters bouncing between the timeline while advancing the plot. While the journey was fast paced and kept me hooked, the ending felt a bit quick. It left me longing for more and I think these characters have a lot more to explore. I look forward to reading the series this story deserves. I'd dive in without hesitation!

I’ve come to realize how much of a fan I am of ocean horror, which is why I was so excited to pick this up! Unfortunately, it did not scratch the itch I needed it to and left me feeling very “meh” about it.

The biggest qualm I had is that this is not even remotely close to horror, it’s paranormal thriller at best. Speaking of paranormal- there is no rhyme or reason given to the bizarre events taking place, only halfhearted attempts at justification by the MMC’s. This also frustrated me because as a standalone it left at a completely undesirable and incomplete ending.

I will say that the pace of the book is pretty fast and I found myself not feeling bogged down with filler chapters. I did enjoy how the plot examined both past and present timelines to help readers see a fuller picture. This is YA so be warned there is no spice!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this story had great potential but the author didn't quite develop it enough. This was a relatively quick read with an unsettling magical realism concept that was overshadowed by poor pacing. There were too many unnecessary plot points that overlapped in the middle, essentially snowballing into a very rushed ending.

I liked the OBX vibes in the beginning, I think the author could have expanded on the found family dynamic more. Despite having been part of this group of friends for two years, Phoebe's character still came off as an outcast, but one of her own making. Her 'woe-is-me/everyone always leaves' attitude became tiresome quickly, especially when she made deliberate choices to continue to put herself in that position. The plot twists about Phoebe's family were kind of unnecessary, it felt like the author just threw them into the story to keep the reader engaged.

The adventure aspect of the book was honestly what kept me reading, I was very intrigued by the cursed cave and buried treasure but was ultimately disappointed in the end.

I think this story would have benefited from another fifty pages to really flesh out the gravity of the situation, the relationships, setting/lore, and character growth.

Out of Air was a fun read. Was it my favorite?no, it was not. Not enough action. A group of friends scuba dive but things start happen. People start to get hurt.

I actually read this book to see If it would be something my mom might enjoy. I'm glad I did! This book was great and it seems like a good fit for her too-I think it'll be right up her alley!! A basic summary of the plot for this novel: Phoebe, a lover of scuba diving finds a mysterious cave while on a dive one day and when her and her friend return, they notice that they also undergo mysterious changes and strange happenings within themselves.