This was FUN! Such a good time and a little bit of a genre-bender. Mystery, thriller and romance in one ominous deep sea adventure gone wrong. I loved Phibs; she was FIERCE and protective. I also love the sense of found family. This was my first attempt at “ocean horror” and while the pacing wasn’t perfect, I was fully invested in the story. Majority of it didn’t read like YA and that’s always a positive when the characters possess a certain level of maturity. I enjoyed this one!

A brilliant book with lots of mystery and thrill. Loved the atmosphere and the settings though the characters felt a little flat and the middle part a little dragged out. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This was a really fun book. I loved the setting and all the diving imagery was really well written. I thought the characters all acted like real teenagers which meant they made some dumb decisions but I still thought they made sense. I like that it had some fantastical elements but was mostly realistic.

This book has it all. A little romance, a lot of suspense, a mystery, found family, and what you may call a supernatural element. There is nothing more I could have wanted from a novel, and Out of Air definitely delivers.

Phoebe "Phibs" is a recently graduated high schooler who is embarking on a "last hurrah" diving trip with her four best friends, collectively known as the "Salt Squad". While these five friends come from different social and economic backgrounds, their love of diving cements a close friendship. It doesn't take us long to find out that friendship contains crevices like ocean, hiding secrets that could jeopardize the group. When their graduation dive trip goes awry, we learn whether or not the group can survive what lurks beneath the smooth surface of their seemingly close-knit group.

This YA novel offers ample suspense and mystery as we search to find answers for problems both small and large within the group themselves, sprinkled with a little romance. It is evident in the depth of diving knowledge given to us in the novel by the author that this is a novel that she is both comfortable writing about and is something that she is passionate about. We're given such great descriptions of the ocean and its eccentricities and aquatic life to paint a novel with a vibrant setting. The relationships between the characters are well developed and I really liked the character growth that we see during the novel. While it is mostly set in the present day, we also get flashbacks to give us the history of the Salt Squad and its members. While the ending was a little more ambiguous than I would have liked, it does give its readers the opportunity to come to our conclusions of what we think happens after the novel's conclusion.

Altogether, this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel that also gives us interesting information about the pastime of diving, the treasure hunting world, and the inhabitants of the ocean itself. This is the first novel I've read of Rachel Reiss, but she has definitely become an author that I will follow for future releases.

Out of Air follows Phoebe, "Phibs" and her friends, the Salt Squad as they embark on a final trip to Australia before splitting up for university. Recently, they skyrocketed into fame when they found ancient gold coins on a dive. On a dive off an Australian island, Phibs finds an underwater sea cave rumoured to have buried treasure. But when Phibs and her best friend surface, things get weird. They have gashes that won't heal and whispers inside their heads. With their bodies turning against them, Phibs and the Salt Squad are on borrowed time as they desperately try to save them.

This was such a fun book!! So easy to dive in (pun intended) and so gripping from the first page. There is something so terrifying about diving and isolated, tight settings like this. You'll never find me diving or caving--literally there is nothing more horrifyingly terrifying to me. Which is exactly why I love books like this!!! I love to live vicariously and further prove my desire to never experience this irl.

The writing was so lovely and the author wove the setting beautifully. I felt like I was really there. So descriptive and atmospheric. The plot was super engaging and I was pleasantly surprised at all the twists. I loved the element of local lore and treasure hunters. It made for a very fun and tense plot. I really enjoyed the ending and the bittersweetness of it.

The characters shined. The Salt Squad had such depth to them and I really loved how much they all cared for one another. There's definitely some tension as Phibs is the only one without money, but the love they had for each other surpassed that in such a sweet way. I loved the growth of Phibs and her accepting that the Salt Squad was truly there for her. It was a really good depiction of friendship.

If your taste is anything like mine and you enjoy stories about how dark and mysterious and wonderfully dangerous the ocean can be, you'll definitely enjoy this one!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book so much! It’s perfect for people who have been in a reading slump as it’s gripping, suspenseful, imaginative, and a lot of fun. I specifically loved the beautiful imagery underwater and in the caves. I love books that tiptoe the line between reality and fantasy. It makes you wonder what else could be out there.

It was a quick but captivating read. I flew though it and liked the plot/characters the author created. 4/5 stars

Overall it was a good book with great writing and plot. It made me nostalgic for those hidden young adult books I'd go hunting for at the book store when I was younger.

Definitely see the Outer Banks comparison which wasn't a bad thing. The group of teens felt natural to me, but maybe a little stilted. There was certain points I was questioning if any of them were even really friends with each other.

I think this would have just worked as a coming of age thriller because I don't think the sea horror elements worked. And at times it felt a little corny. Also, don't go into this expecting any massive amounts of horror, it's kind of scratch the surface kind of horror and doesn't fully go where any potential could lead. The small bit of body horror was great tho! There was too many loose ends and storylines that felt like they didn't end up anywhere. Our main girls priorities felt off at times too lmao

Still - I really enjoyed it and I look forward to the authors future work.

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers and the author for the arc!

I started reading this book tonight because I couldn't sleep and wow... I could not put it down. It's 4am as I write this now, still thinking about what on earth I just read.

This was incredibly unique, but I could see fans of Outer Banks and White Lotus really enjoying it. Reiss slowly dips your toes into the action, and I felt as though I was diving deeper as each mystery intensified. It had moments of claustrophobia, but it only made me want to keep reading!

If you're looking for a thriller with a little bit of everything, supernatural elements, romance, amazing storytelling and suspense, this one is for you! I'll likely edit this review once I've had a chance to process - it was a fantastic read!

I was kinda excited when I got this, because a scuba-diving horror/thriller sounded so good to me. But, unfortunately, this didn't quite deliver on the premise like I hoped it would.

Despite the whole premise hinging on this group being friends, I don't think anyone in tis group genuinely liked each other except maybe Phoebe and Gabe, but even with them the romance was flat and more telling they loved each other rather than just showing us. I spent so much of the book being annoyed at everyone's secret keeping, Phoebe being jealous and spiteful at her friends' wealth, and just the lack of enjoyable, three dimensional personalities. There are also some villains who pop into the plot who are more caricatures than characters who are used as plot fodder; they exist for no other purpose.

The mystery was so weak and not explored well enough. We learn some vague backstory about the cave, only to get hints of connections, like the matter of Phoebe's mom, that are never fully answered by the end of the book when Phoebe and Gabe accept they are fish people and stay in Australia to live out their lives. Phoebe figures her mom either died in the cave or turned fully fished, but the book is more interested in her realization she posted the pictures that sent the treasure hunters on her and her friends. Her not remembering she did that was such a contrived plot detail, only rivaled by the fact it was Gabe who kept the last pirate coin to sell it off and pay for her grandma's hospital bills. That annoyed me so much, because it was only after him revealing that did Phoebe realize who magically paid off all those bills. The plot structure of this book infuriates me so.

The only thing I somewhat liked was the seemingly faithful depictions of scuba diving. I wouldn't known since I haven't done it, but apparently the author is a deep sea diver herself, and it shows in the descriptions whenever the characters dive. It made the atmosphere heavy sometimes, but that's about it.

Summary: A group of young divers plan a diving trip as a high school graduation celebration. What they encounter out in the water is beyond anything they expected, a terror straight from old sailor’s stories.
Genre: YA, thriller, suspense, horror
Content Warnings: body horror, underwater horror

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I can’t help but wonder, why do people go into the ocean? As a land-dwelling mammal, it baffles me. I have the utmost respect for any massive body of water, but anything that goes on under the surface is none of my business. That being said, this book was so good. I knew from the title that it would be a terrifying read. From the first scene where the characters are underwater, I started to sweat. But this is what good suspense is made of! The story gripped me in a tight fist and didn’t let go.

“It’s the unwavering fear that we’re lost, stranded in unchartered waters, and no one knows the way out.” That’s a good summation of how I felt reading this book. It was an intensity I hated to like, in the best way possible. Phoebe and her friends, Gabe, Will, Isabel, and Lani, are sea divers, going out to the ocean any time they can. It’s clear early on that there is an old fracture in the group, something that happened in the past that still haunts their friendship. The author does a great job bringing all the hinted plot points to a satisfying conclusion, and I found the writing to be concise, straightforward, and effective.

Phoebe is a great narrator. I liked her immediately. She is the only one from a different economic background – the rest of the group come from wealthy families. This causes her to feel insecurity in her role and importance in the group, but I found her friends to be sincere and loving, if not for a moment here and there of tension with one of the boys, but there is a reason for that. Their support and encouragement in their strengths and abilities was refreshing.

I enjoyed the suspense and thrill of underwater danger, but also the hint of supernatural prowess. The knowledge that a cave can perhaps be sentient, the near transformation of preternatural proportions within the group. I found the relationships reflected authentic love and friendship and respect. The friends handled conflict with open communication, they confronted each other and held each other accountable. It was a sign of their deep maturity and emotional depth.

I liked this book very much and I look forward to reading more of this author’s work. I will recommend this book to my book friends.

4/5

Out of Air is an absolute wild ride from start to finish! I couldn’t put this book down for a second—it's the perfect mix of heart-pounding adventure, chilling mystery, and a whole lot of underwater intrigue. If you loved Wilder Girls or Outer Banks, then you’re in for a treat with this one.

Phoebe “Phibs” Ray is the kind of character you can’t help but root for. She’s tough, determined, and completely at home in the water, where she and her friends get caught up in a treasure hunt that takes a seriously dark turn. They find an underwater cave that’s rumored to be hiding a lost treasure, and trust me, things definitely don’t go as planned. I’m talking strange powers, creepy whispers, and some seriously disturbing changes that Phibs and her best friend Gabe start to undergo. I loved how the book managed to balance the thrill of discovering treasure with a creeping sense of dread. It’s not just about the hunt anymore—it’s about survival, and that means diving into some seriously unsettling territory.

I usually don't read these kind of book, but I thought i would give it a shot and i'm glad i did! What a wild ride that gave me chills the whole time.

I really enjoyed this! It was tense and claustrophobic but I couldn’t put it down. It got a little off at the end, but I still overall enjoyed it!

This was so mysterious and kept me hooked. I highly recommend this one to those who love the ocean and thrilling adventure.

This story follows a tight-knit group of teens who are into diving and decide to take one last trip together before college or other life changes. They head to a remote island, soaking up the ocean and having fun—until they discover an underwater cave rumored to be full of treasure. But of course, things aren’t that simple. Folklore warns of dangers for those who dive there. The group discovers far more than they bargained for, including desperate treasure hunters willing to do anything for the riches. And most importantly, the cave holds a danger none of them expect—the very air inside it has a deadly secret.

I loved the storyline, especially all the diving details. It really felt like I was diving right alongside them. The book also had some emotional depth, touching on themes like Alzheimer’s and loss, which made it even more compelling. I also really enjoyed the group dynamics. They had their moments of bickering, but in the end, they always had each other’s backs, making their friendship feel real.

The pacing started off a little slow, but once the action kicked in, it became super engaging. Overall, it was a really enjoyable read.

I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Very few books scare me anymore. I have read so many horror novels, that I have become immune to a lot of what humanity finds scary. I am terrified of sharks and the deep ocean. That's why I wanted to read this book. I was legitimately terrified at one point.

This is a good story of young adult relationships and decision making. Love, friendship, family bonds, and fear all mix together into one fantastic story.

I loved this book.

This book is so deliciously claustrophobic ! I have a HUGE fear of large bodies of water and this played on that fear so beautifully. This was written so well I couldn’t put the book down.

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy!*
#NetGalley

The best parts of this novel were the beautiful and horrific images created by Rachel Reiss' writing. It is very evident that she loves marine life and diving. When Reiss describes the various animals and corals that our protagonists were seeing, she creates such beautiful visualizations of them that I could imagine myself floating alongside the squad. I also LOVED the scene with the sea wasps. Terrifying. Especially because I could see them just wavering in my head.

Where Rachel Reiss exceeds in her descriptions of the sea life and body horror, she falls flat everywhere else. The plot is driven by unrealistic coincidences. You mean to tell me the senile grandmother remembers her mind enough to put together a murder cover-up plan that WORKS and then the next day, conveniently forgets that she did that. Sure, Jan.
Additionally, the plot hinges on the characters acting selfishly and stupidly even though they are supposed to be a group of diving prodigy best friends. None of them seem to like each other very much, which is hard to reconcile with the "Salt Squad" theme that is pushed down our throats. They also consistently pride themselves on being smart divers, and yet, this all starts because they break the first rule of diving of not going into unexplored tiny caves alone without enough air.

I just think there was too much going on in this novel. If it focused on just her familial relationships, or just the cave and the transformation, or the romance, or even a combo of two of them, I think this book would have been a huge success. There are unfortunately just too many plotlines to get invested into any of them, especially since they do not end satisfactorily.

Review: 2.5 stars rounded up

WOW! I haven't read a book that gripped me from the beginning as much as this one did in a long time. I immediately got vibes of Outer Banks while reading this based on the group of friends, the setting, the class-divide, and the treasure hunting/bad guys coming for them. What took me by surprise was how the horror was manifested in this book. I wasn't prepared for the supernatural elements that took place, and while I didn't necessarily love how they all panned out, I appreciated what the author was trying to do with it.

I really enjoyed the pace that this book followed, the settings, and the way that it took a fresh take on how humans are so small and insignificant compared to the power of the ocean and the natural world.