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astoriareader's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
SYNOPSIS:
- Shortly after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. In the process of evacuating, 12 passengers end up remaining onboard the plane, which proceeds to sink 200 feet underwater. They try to remain alive, while a rescue team tries to save them.
MY THOUGHTS
- Usually, books are so much better than movies, but this is one that I think would be a better cinematic experience.
- This is completely plot-driven with no real character development. The characters are all very flat & one-dimensional. I wasn’t into the writing style either.
- I do think the author did a lot of research, and I have read she is a former flight attendant as well. Kudos to her. But, I personally felt like the book was way too technical, and the technical plane descriptions didn’t serve a lot of purpose.
- Despite using fancy aviation lingo, the book is really hard to visualize. It felt like I was reading a manual in some parts.
- The premise is an interesting one, but the execution is lacking for me.
- The book is soooo predictable, and it is completely unbelievable.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️mehhh. in the minority here, but this didn’t live up to the hype. plot-driven, predictable, no character development, & extremely far-fetched.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
ruthypoo2's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such an enjoyable and taut thriller. I easily read this in one day because it engaged me right from the start and the urgency of the situation described in the story never let up. I found the events and actions of all the characters believable.
This is a very well written story and the audiobook narration by Steven Weber and Laura Benanti was top notch. Their ability to inhabit the unique personalities of the distinctive characters really brought the story to life, especially as there are many emotionally charged situations that required thoughtful delivery in order to avoid being overly dramatic.
I highly recommend the book in any format and will be on the lookout for more from this author!
This is a very well written story and the audiobook narration by Steven Weber and Laura Benanti was top notch. Their ability to inhabit the unique personalities of the distinctive characters really brought the story to life, especially as there are many emotionally charged situations that required thoughtful delivery in order to avoid being overly dramatic.
I highly recommend the book in any format and will be on the lookout for more from this author!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, and Death
Minor: Blood
ksuazo94's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, and Medical content
Minor: Terminal illness
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Cursing, Suicide, Blood, Confinement, Child death, Grief, Vomit, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Cancer
heyjude1965's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Girl power that’s not annoying
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
jessyhayward's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Drowning by T.J Newman is a survival thriller based on one terrifying situation: being trapped in a plane that is submerged in the ocean. It follows Will and his young daughter Shannon as they navigate this terrible and rare dilemma while being surrounded by a diverse range of strangers. Unfortunately, air is running out and so is time.
This novel is short and suspenseful and I finished it in a few hours. I enjoyed it. The writing is engaging and transports you straight to the setting of the characters. It is descriptive and very good at showing rather than telling; I empathised with all characters and even came close to tears throughout the story. It felt…real, I suppose. The characters were very realistic and reacted as I’d expect anyone to. I loved Will, Shannon, Chris, Bernadette, Maia, and pretty much everyone else, honestly.
My only “criticism” is that it’s a little too quick. The pacing was far too fast and I did feel like the ending could’ve lasted longer. I also would’ve liked to see the impact of this event on the main characters. This is just my opinion, though, and I’d still recommend it to those who like this sort of book.
This novel is short and suspenseful and I finished it in a few hours. I enjoyed it. The writing is engaging and transports you straight to the setting of the characters. It is descriptive and very good at showing rather than telling; I empathised with all characters and even came close to tears throughout the story. It felt…real, I suppose. The characters were very realistic and reacted as I’d expect anyone to. I loved Will, Shannon, Chris, Bernadette, Maia, and pretty much everyone else, honestly.
My only “criticism” is that it’s a little too quick. The pacing was far too fast and I did feel like the ending could’ve lasted longer. I also would’ve liked to see the impact of this event on the main characters. This is just my opinion, though, and I’d still recommend it to those who like this sort of book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Child death and Alcohol
schnaucl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really liked it. It was tense and well written. I'd read more from this author (though perhaps not on a plane).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Cancer
roksyreads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
An excellent, tense, and well-written thriller.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
_thelitlibrarian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? No
4.25
4.25 stars
-
TW: Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Cancer, Infidelity
-
As someone who has a fear of flying, this probably wasn't the best choice for me. That being said, I LOVED Drowning by T.J. Newman. I applaud this book for jumping straight into action, six-minutes after taking off, flight 1421 is forced to make an emergency water landing. During the rough landing, the engine explodes and chaos ensues. Passengers are forced to make a choice - and fast. Leave the plane and die, or stay in and fight for survival.
We're left with twelve passengers left on the plane, as they start to sink to the bottom of the ocean. We get a glimpse into the passengers lives as we deal with the fact that they may not survive. Their only hope? An elite rescue team led by diver Chris Kent, who's daughter Shannon and soon-to-be ex-husband Will just so happen to be on board of the plane. The stakes are high, and it seems like nothing can be done. This is a page-turner! Once you start it, you won't want to put it down. This thrilling novel allows us to see the 'ins' of a flight and crew, and what happens once disaster strikes. Although I appreciated all the technical flight terms, sometimes it got a little too detailed and was a little hard to follow along.
I really enjoyed the different POV's one from the plane, and the other from the crew above the water. It really added to the tension of how they were going to pull off the rescue, I really liked Chris' determination, although her rescue plan was not first choice, she didn't give up as she knew it was the ONLY way to have everyone on board survive. I've always avoided disaster and rescue movies, and books so I was hesitant going into this one, but in the end it had me in tears.
-
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
-
TW: Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Cancer, Infidelity
-
As someone who has a fear of flying, this probably wasn't the best choice for me. That being said, I LOVED Drowning by T.J. Newman. I applaud this book for jumping straight into action, six-minutes after taking off, flight 1421 is forced to make an emergency water landing. During the rough landing, the engine explodes and chaos ensues. Passengers are forced to make a choice - and fast. Leave the plane and die, or stay in and fight for survival.
We're left with twelve passengers left on the plane, as they start to sink to the bottom of the ocean. We get a glimpse into the passengers lives as we deal with the fact that they may not survive. Their only hope? An elite rescue team led by diver Chris Kent, who's daughter Shannon and soon-to-be ex-husband Will just so happen to be on board of the plane. The stakes are high, and it seems like nothing can be done. This is a page-turner! Once you start it, you won't want to put it down. This thrilling novel allows us to see the 'ins' of a flight and crew, and what happens once disaster strikes. Although I appreciated all the technical flight terms, sometimes it got a little too detailed and was a little hard to follow along.
I really enjoyed the different POV's one from the plane, and the other from the crew above the water. It really added to the tension of how they were going to pull off the rescue, I really liked Chris' determination, although her rescue plan was not first choice, she didn't give up as she knew it was the ONLY way to have everyone on board survive. I've always avoided disaster and rescue movies, and books so I was hesitant going into this one, but in the end it had me in tears.
-
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Child death, Cancer, and Cursing
stephsbookedout's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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? No
5.0
Gripping from beginning to end. This action packed thriller had me on the end of my seat and gasping for air. Despite the constant state of panic this book had me in, j didn't want it to end. I can't wait to read more of T. J. Newman's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders