Continuing on with my recent run of excellent thriller ARCs, Out of Air by Rachel Reiss is an amalgamation of some of my favourite things—the ocean and transformative body horror. As someone deeply obsessed with all things water, I knew immediately when I read the synopsis that this story was going to be right up my alley.
Deep sea diving, mysterious caves, sexual tension, and curses? I couldn’t have asked for a more intriguing premise, but beyond all of that what really shocked me was the intensely gripping narration. I was so enthralled with being inside Phoebe’s head that the actual page count seemed to fly by as I fell deeper and deeper into her psyche; revelling in her insecurities and motivations so that the events of the novel felt even more poignant as they played out.
The reason why I think Reiss’ writing style works as well as it does, is because Phoebe’s inner monologue is written to be observational as opposed to expository. This avoids those large chunks of info dumping that can break immersion, and pull a reader out of a narrator’s spell. This combined with the seamless back and forth in the timeline which is used to display the history and relationship dynamic between the core group of friends, perfectly establishes every character as three-dimensional and forces the reader to be emotionally invested very early on in the narrative. As a result the isolationism, fear, and sense of becoming “other,” feels grounded in reality even when the actual plot is so surreal and fantastical.
Overall, I loved this. It is everything I could have asked for out of a horror/thriller novel—visceral, emotionally engaging, unsettling, and perfectly paced. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for something suspenseful and mysterious.

To me this book was just okay. I didn't really care about any of the characters and it didn't feel as though the "shock factor" of the book went far enough. The conclusion also felt too easy. It took me a long time to get through this and it was kinda underwhelming.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had a great time reading this one. As the weather gets hotter in my neck of the woods (central Florida), I find myself drawn to books set in warm climates or ocean themed. This one hit the specific itch I had for bingeable ocean horror/thriller. Plus, its YA so it felt very easy to read, reminiscent of a summer vacation (but scarier!).

I really loved the mix of a classic YA "last summer before college" adventure with the creepiness of the ocean and tense secrets. There is also a bit of body horror and a mysterious, almost eldritch horror element that I really enjoyed. Out of Air felt very atmospheric and I enjoyed the jumps between the past and present timelines. Overall, solid YA horror that is best read by a body of water or at least ocean sounds playing in the background.

*Out of Air* had a premise I was excited about, with treasure hunters mixed into something dangerous, but I struggled to really get into it. Even though the setup was intriguing, the story never fully hooked me. It was a decent read overall, just not something I would probably choose again. I can see how others might enjoy it more than I did.

🤿 M Y S T E R I O U S M O N D A Y review 🤿 featuring “Out of Air” by Rachel Reiss!

MY RATING: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

The Salt Squad is a group of friends who share a deep bond for scuba diving and have become influencers who share their diving adventures with their followers. 6 months ago, they became social media famous for finding ancient gold coins on one of their dives. Now they are hooked on finding treasure in the depths of the ocean … but they have no idea what the ocean is capable of.

The squad decides to go on one last adventure all together before everyone parts ways for college. They go to a remote island in Australia and find a mysterious cave unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. Barely escaping getting out of the caves alive, once the group resurfaces strange things start happening to them that can’t be explained.

I don’t read many YA books but I really enjoyed this underwater thriller that has elements of horror, romance and even the supernatural. The ocean itself plays such an important (and threatening) character in this story. What lies underneath the surface is unknown and full of buried secrets. The caves are suffocating and claustrophobic and the anxiety builds with every breath. Think Outerbanks, Into the Blue and Fool’s Gold vibes, but more thrilling, chilling and haunting 🏴‍☠️

Thank you kindly to @rachelreisswrites @wednesdaybooks @stmartinspress @netgalley for my #gifted advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on May 13, 2025!

“The sea doesn’t give two shits. The ocean’s a ruthless beast. It doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, pretty or ugly as sin. When it strikes —not if, but when — it’ll rip everything away in a heartbeat”.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

LMAO! Well, this YA certainly held me in the palm of its hand. I wasn't sure if I would call this a sci-fi( supernatural) or not. That's the genre that came to my mind the most. Reminded me of Annihilation a bit. Again, I am just trying to find some way to explain this book. Then again, other reviewers are calling this a mystery thriller. So, maybe I am the one adrift at sea?

A group of high school graduates who are spending their last summer before college, enjoying what they love the most-scuba diving and searching the ocean's floor. They stumble upon a few things they shouldn't and get in a heck of a lot of trouble. The chapters alternate from the present to several months before, and it is soon evident that the past and present will collide.

So, I did like this even if some of the characters grated on my nerves, and I questioned how well teenagers could scuba dive without any supervision. The ending certainly still has me thinking, and it's been over a week since I finished.


Love that book cover.



Expected Publication 13/05/25
Goodreads Review 28/04/25

DNF at 19%

I realize I'm likely not the intended audience for this one. I couldn't get over how a group of 18 year olds have enough dive experience in the two year timeline she gave to be able to dive by themselves. No more experienced/older divers on the trip to the middle of nowhere because "our rich parents trust us and MCs grandmother won't remember anyway."

The disrespect for the dangers of the ocean and adults just gave me the ick.

Then there's some kind of romance subplot that feels forced.

Overall just wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed this Out of Air. It was my first time reading anything from a diverse perspective and I found it interesting. It was a little more on the YA side than I was expecting but was still very enjoyable.

Out of Air is everything I could want in an underwater thriller and horror. It helps that this was a fast-paced thriller There were elements that reminded me of 80s and 90s ocean horror movies where divers and exporers encounter strange things and strange new beings. It was interesting to read this story and feel as though I was holding my breath oe feeling the tightness of claustrophobia as the characters were. It was a really good book


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this outstanding action packed YA adventure! Vivid and detailed descriptions allowed me to feel immersed in the underwater world. The characters seemed to leap off the page. Numerous twists were a wonderful surprise!

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.