Day’s YA: OUT OF AIR

OUT OF AIR by Rachel Reiss
9781250366146
5/13/2025
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18

Egalley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

Phibs and her friends—Will, Gabe, Isabel, and Lani—collectively known as the Salt Squad, have been scuba diving together for years. But everything changed a few months ago when they accidentally went viral for finding some ancient gold coins while diving in the Florida Keys. Their little group has been cracking under the pressure of social media fame, but it’s their last summer together after high school, so they take a trip to a remote Australian island to stay with Lani’s uncle and spend a couple of weeks diving together. When Phibs and Gabe discover a spectacular underwater sea cave rumored to be the location of buried treasure, they think they’ve hit the jackpot. But after surfacing, they begin to experience strange changes to their bodies. Suddenly Phibs and Gabe must deal with oozing gashes and whispers in their heads, along with complicated group dynamics and their burgeoning feelings for each other. Not to mention the dangerous treasure hunters who show up demanding to know the location of the cave. Phibs will do anything to keep her friends safe, but the ocean is a vicious beast, and Phibs might be turning into one herself.

Rachel Reiss’ debut novel is gorgeous and terrifying, just like the ocean. The prose is atmospheric and lyrical, and the plot is gripping, full of adventure and mystery. Rachel Reiss is an experienced scuba diver, which comes through in the passionate and immersive way she writes about it. I felt like I was deep in the ocean with Phibs and her friends, exploring reefs and caves, encountering deadly jellyfish and sharks. Phibs is a powerful main character, and her relationships with her friends are complex and relatable. OUT OF AIR is a mesmerizing tale of deep sea exploration—I was hooked from the first dive into the water. It has the found family and treasure hunting of Outer Banks, the hauntingly gruesome body horror of WILDER GIRLS, and the captivating blend of horror and romance of HOUSE OF HOLLOW by Krystal Sutherland. 

Happy reading!
<3 Emily

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