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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
**Thank you, NetGalley and Avid Reader Press, for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**
This book takes no time to get the tension and suspense going. Starting from the first chapter, we're met with increasingly tough challenges and wild circumstances that seem impossible to get out of alive.
There's something about aviation thrillers that I love. Combine a plane crash with the claustrophobic, terrifying depths of the ocean, and you've got a recipe for a novel I was eager to read. And T.J. Newman does plane thrillers well. Her first novel, "Falling," gave me a newfound respect for flight attendants. "Drowning" cements her as a pro at crafting page-turners.
While this novel's suspense is A+, I wasn't overly enthralled by the characters. They were OK and had some fun moments, but I didn't feel myself connecting that much with any of them. I do have to give props to Newman for writing no-nonsense female characters in traditionally male roles, though, and for allowing them (and most of the male characters) to have vulnerability too.
But if you, like me, were looking for a book that's hard to put down, you won't be disappointed. "Falling" would be great to read on the beach... or maybe on a flight if you're masochistic.
Apparently, "Falling" is going to be adapted into a film, and I can't think of a better novel I've read all year that would be great for the big screen. I'll be looking forward to it!
This book takes no time to get the tension and suspense going. Starting from the first chapter, we're met with increasingly tough challenges and wild circumstances that seem impossible to get out of alive.
There's something about aviation thrillers that I love. Combine a plane crash with the claustrophobic, terrifying depths of the ocean, and you've got a recipe for a novel I was eager to read. And T.J. Newman does plane thrillers well. Her first novel, "Falling," gave me a newfound respect for flight attendants. "Drowning" cements her as a pro at crafting page-turners.
While this novel's suspense is A+, I wasn't overly enthralled by the characters. They were OK and had some fun moments, but I didn't feel myself connecting that much with any of them. I do have to give props to Newman for writing no-nonsense female characters in traditionally male roles, though, and for allowing them (and most of the male characters) to have vulnerability too.
But if you, like me, were looking for a book that's hard to put down, you won't be disappointed. "Falling" would be great to read on the beach... or maybe on a flight if you're masochistic.
Apparently, "Falling" is going to be adapted into a film, and I can't think of a better novel I've read all year that would be great for the big screen. I'll be looking forward to it!
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
It’s no secret in my reviews that I am not a big thriller fan. But I was getting burnt out on my audiobooks, because I only choose nonfiction (usually read by the author), and I thought picking up an action thriller, rather than a creepy one, would be fun.
This was entertaining, but it was like the plot of several blockbuster movies smashed together: mainly Die Hard re: family dynamics (and even an iconic Bruce Willis quote, “put it on my tab!” was used), mixed with The Abyss (estranged wife being the topside brains who puts her life in danger to save her family) and Titanic of course (more direct quotes used, and not just the one acknowledged by the characters about “a woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets” but also “I’ll be goddamned” and “you’ll want to take this call!”) every character felt like a caricature, so the high stakes drama ended up feeling silly to me.
Though I will say, I would totally watch this movie and maybe that’s what the intention is for its eventual end state.
This was entertaining, but it was like the plot of several blockbuster movies smashed together: mainly Die Hard re: family dynamics (and even an iconic Bruce Willis quote, “put it on my tab!” was used), mixed with The Abyss (estranged wife being the topside brains who puts her life in danger to save her family) and Titanic of course (more direct quotes used, and not just the one acknowledged by the characters about “a woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets” but also “I’ll be goddamned” and “you’ll want to take this call!”) every character felt like a caricature, so the high stakes drama ended up feeling silly to me.
Though I will say, I would totally watch this movie and maybe that’s what the intention is for its eventual end state.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
literally could not put it down i was so hooked. unfortunately a lot of the technical jargon went way over my head but the emotional/action beats still kept my attention. the fast pacing and constant pov switches really brought the chaos of the situation to life.
i still can’t determine whether chris is dead or not? her last chapter felt so definitive that i was genuinely confused when she showed up at the end. i figured it was will’s imagination, but also the whole vibe at the reunion didn’t feel necessarily sad? i don’t really think chris last chapter works if it was meant to be a death fake out since there was literally no indication that she lived, but that’s my only major gripe with the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No