Out of Air

The atmosphere, the eeriness, Reiss did a lovely job of describing underwater scenes, delivering the perfect amount of horror and a touch of romance. I've done a good deal of snorkeling and boating in the Keys where the five members of the Salt Squad reside, and the descriptions brought back all the beauty as well as some of the terrifying aspects of the ocean that I've experienced. I can tell Reiss is a writer who writes what she knows, and it comes through in her beautiful underwater depictions.

The Salt Squad is a tight knit group of five friends, fresh out of high school, who form a bond through their love of diving. When Phoebe finds a handful of gold coins on one of their dives, it launches them into social media fame. Before they show more go their separate ways, the friends decide to take one last journey together, and fly to an Australian island, where they unexpectedly find an underwater cave.

I had some desire to take up scuba diving before reading this book, but now not so much. I felt like I was right there with them exploring the massive underwater cave, the claustrophobia, sharks, deadly box jellyfish, running out of oxygen, but now I think I'll stick to the shallows, or better yet, my comfy book nook where I can safely read about underwater adventures.

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of this book. show less

A fabulous five member dive team heads out on a pre-college, last hurrah trip to a remote island off the coast of Australia, where strange and eerie things begin to happen. Seeped in legend and lore, the story shifts between past and present, taking readers, and the characters, on a wild, unforgettable ride.
The plot is well crafted and the pace keeps things moving. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the twists keep coming. It’s a unique, slightly darker take on the typical beach read, perfect for summer if you're looking for something a little different.
*I was invited to read by the publisher, through NetGalley, for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: LOVED the book and I'll be thinking about it for a long time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: Definitely a good read and would recommend it for most people.
⭐️⭐️⭐️: It was a decent book, but something about it didn't meet expectations.
⭐️⭐️: Didn't really enjoy it.
⭐️: Did not like it at all and probably wouldn't recommend.

If you're a fan of Outer Banks, The Goonies, the Dive Club show on Netflix, or maybe even H2O: Just Add Water, then you will enjoy this book! We follow five dive obsessed teens and along the way they find themselves finding treasure, testing friendships, getting themselves into dangerous and fatal situations, and uncovering secrets the ocean hid within her depths.

I want to show more thank Rachel Reiss and Netgalley for the early access to read this book. I enjoyed this book very much. I had been trying to find something that fit the vibe of Outer Banks for awhile, so when I came across this book I got so excited! It's a fun, atmospheric, yet also creepy read, that has you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I also appreciated that this was not a spicy book. If you're looking for a book that's toned down in that area, this is a great pick. Overall, I believe most people who enjoy YA, thriller, and mystery books would like this book, so dive in and have an adventure! show less

Note to future self, don't read anymore thrillers that take place in the ocean. Your claustrophobia and thalassophobia won't stand for it.