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Seconds to Spare
Buckle up for a wild ride with this airborne locked-door thriller. Previously a Wattpad WEBTOON Watty Award winning story.
Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Werth is trapped in what feels like a never-ending nightmare. She's the only person onboard Aloha Airways Flight 1333 who’s stuck in a 28-minute time loop, one that repeats over and over again. During each loop, four things always happen:
1. The Internet goes out and the pilot warns of upcoming turbulence.
2. There are five minutes of moderate shaking.
3. A woman in the very last row collapses.
4. The plane tilts forward and begins to nosedive.
When Orion James –the cute boy who's been asleep the entirety of each cycle– wakes, it triggers an alarming change in the events Evelyn has come to count on. As the two grow closer and learn to trust each other, they discover there’s more to the loop than they initially realized. They must discover the hidden clues, piece together the moving puzzle, and save everyone onboard –before it’s too late.
Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Werth is trapped in what feels like a never-ending nightmare. She's the only person onboard Aloha Airways Flight 1333 who’s stuck in a 28-minute time loop, one that repeats over and over again. During each loop, four things always happen:
1. The Internet goes out and the pilot warns of upcoming turbulence.
2. There are five minutes of moderate shaking.
3. A woman in the very last row collapses.
4. The plane tilts forward and begins to nosedive.
When Orion James –the cute boy who's been asleep the entirety of each cycle– wakes, it triggers an alarming change in the events Evelyn has come to count on. As the two grow closer and learn to trust each other, they discover there’s more to the loop than they initially realized. They must discover the hidden clues, piece together the moving puzzle, and save everyone onboard –before it’s too late.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Rachel Reiss
4 books101 followersRachel Reiss is the author of YA thrillers. Her latest novel Seconds to Spare (out May 12, 2026) was previously a Wattpad WEBTOON Watty-award winning story, and her debut novel, Out of Air, received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist. You can find her online at rachelreisswrites.com and follow her on Instagram @rachelreisswrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
April 24, 2026
5⭐️
this is going to sound freaking insane, but this could maybe be 6 stars??? IT WAS SO GOOD OMG
rtc!!
this is going to sound freaking insane, but this could maybe be 6 stars??? IT WAS SO GOOD OMG
rtc!!
May 8, 2026
There’s something incredibly difficult about writing a time loop story that doesn’t start to feel repetitive, predictable, or stale after a while, but Seconds to Spare completely avoided that trap for me. Rachel Reiss took a really unique thriller concept and turned it into something tense, emotional, addictive, and surprisingly layered. Every time the loop reset, I still felt invested because the story constantly evolved in subtle ways, revealing new clues, new dangers, and new emotional stakes. I genuinely never knew what was going to happen next, which made this such a fun and engaging read.
The setup alone instantly hooked me: Evelyn is trapped onboard a flight that keeps replaying the same terrifying twenty eight minutes before disaster strikes. Certain things always happen, but as small details begin to shift—especially once Orion wakes up—the entire puzzle becomes more complicated and unpredictable. The story did such a great job exploring how tiny choices can completely alter the bigger picture, and I loved how the tension kept escalating with every reset. Even when events repeated, it never felt boring because the author kept finding fresh ways to raise the stakes and deepen the mystery.
I also appreciated how strong the character development was alongside the thriller elements. Evelyn felt believable and easy to root for, especially watching her desperation, determination, and emotional growth build throughout the story. The connection between her and Rion added another layer to the narrative without overpowering the suspense. Their dynamic brought some heart to an otherwise intense and high stakes plot.
This ended up being such a solid YA thriller overall, it’s fast paced, clever, tense, and emotionally engaging. If you like twisty mysteries, survival thrillers, or stories that play with timelines and “what if” moments, this one is absolutely worth picking up. It’s the kind of book that makes you think about how even the smallest decisions can completely change the outcome of everything.
May 25, 2026
4.5*
Seconds to Spare is quite a ride, and frankly, unputdownable. First, the premise: can you imagine a worse nightmare that reliving a plane crash hundreds of times? No go ahead, I’ll wait. So we all agree, it’s pretty much the worst, right? Well, that’s where main character Evelyn finds herself, hundreds of loops into this hellscape. Oh, and bonus awfulness, she’s alone, in that she’s the only one remembering the loops. The other passengers? They’ve no idea, blissfully unaware of what Evelyn knows is coming every time. She’s interacted with almost everyone, except sleeping Orion, who she met before the flight, but has been peacefully sleeping through all the loops. Only, one of her attempts to fix the loop goes awry (well- they all go awry, but this one more so) and wakes Orion. And then the loop changes, and they’re racing to figure it out before they’re really and truly out of chances. (So look at that, the nightmare can get worse!)
There are funny moments, poignant moments, and moments that we learn more about both characters’ backstories that really allow us to care about them outside of this 28 minutes. It also makes the book very readable- it isn’t all doom and gloom, and it nicely moderates the pace that we have both exciting moments and quieter moments. I was absolutely hooked, and could not stop reading until I finished. It was satisfying, entertaining, and heartfelt, which is a win across the board for me.
Bottom Line: Unputdownable but still full of heart, this one hit all the marks.
Seconds to Spare is quite a ride, and frankly, unputdownable. First, the premise: can you imagine a worse nightmare that reliving a plane crash hundreds of times? No go ahead, I’ll wait. So we all agree, it’s pretty much the worst, right? Well, that’s where main character Evelyn finds herself, hundreds of loops into this hellscape. Oh, and bonus awfulness, she’s alone, in that she’s the only one remembering the loops. The other passengers? They’ve no idea, blissfully unaware of what Evelyn knows is coming every time. She’s interacted with almost everyone, except sleeping Orion, who she met before the flight, but has been peacefully sleeping through all the loops. Only, one of her attempts to fix the loop goes awry (well- they all go awry, but this one more so) and wakes Orion. And then the loop changes, and they’re racing to figure it out before they’re really and truly out of chances. (So look at that, the nightmare can get worse!)
There are funny moments, poignant moments, and moments that we learn more about both characters’ backstories that really allow us to care about them outside of this 28 minutes. It also makes the book very readable- it isn’t all doom and gloom, and it nicely moderates the pace that we have both exciting moments and quieter moments. I was absolutely hooked, and could not stop reading until I finished. It was satisfying, entertaining, and heartfelt, which is a win across the board for me.
Bottom Line: Unputdownable but still full of heart, this one hit all the marks.
January 16, 2026
I rarely give five star reviews, but I enjoyed this book that much!
You might think reading a book about the same 28 minute time span would get boring or repetitive, but that wasn’t the case. The book starts in the middle of the action right away as we meet Evelyn in her 192nd time loop. We see her try different things to break the loop but every time the same four things happen and then the plane crashes and the loop resets. But when Orion James wakes up for the first time during one of the loops, they start working together and things start changing. And when they realize that each loop is getting a second longer, they realize they won’t have unlimited tries to correct it.
This book kept me interested right from the beginning and I highly recommend it. I could see it becoming a movie with its mix of action and humor.
Thank you to #GoodReadsGiveaways and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for an arc of this book.
You might think reading a book about the same 28 minute time span would get boring or repetitive, but that wasn’t the case. The book starts in the middle of the action right away as we meet Evelyn in her 192nd time loop. We see her try different things to break the loop but every time the same four things happen and then the plane crashes and the loop resets. But when Orion James wakes up for the first time during one of the loops, they start working together and things start changing. And when they realize that each loop is getting a second longer, they realize they won’t have unlimited tries to correct it.
This book kept me interested right from the beginning and I highly recommend it. I could see it becoming a movie with its mix of action and humor.
Thank you to #GoodReadsGiveaways and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for an arc of this book.
January 2, 2026
This was a fascinating YA thriller that really captivated me! I had to know what they would find out next in their time loop and if they would get out alive! I loved the premise but the only down side was to be expected because it was a stuck in a time loop theme, it obviously took a while for the FMC to understand what was happening, so the first little bit of the book was a bit repetitive; although needed to understand the time loop!
It made me think of all the little things that seem insignificant that can mean the world or in this case, life or death!
Thank you Goodreads giveaway for allowing me to win this ARC
It made me think of all the little things that seem insignificant that can mean the world or in this case, life or death!
Thank you Goodreads giveaway for allowing me to win this ARC
May 11, 2026
I won an ARC of this book via Goodreads giveaway and I am giving my honest opinion.
This was an interesting read for me. I liked the story and how it’s written. Its easy to read and it’s a good pace. I found that the mystery kept me wanting to read more. It’s a time loop so of course things repeat, however, some things do change as the main characters try to figure out how to break out of the time loop.
I liked the ending because it shows the vulnerability of a human being and how it’s ok to not be ok with some things one experiences. It also shows how we can still move on with our lives and try to heal from the trauma.
This was an interesting read for me. I liked the story and how it’s written. Its easy to read and it’s a good pace. I found that the mystery kept me wanting to read more. It’s a time loop so of course things repeat, however, some things do change as the main characters try to figure out how to break out of the time loop.
I liked the ending because it shows the vulnerability of a human being and how it’s ok to not be ok with some things one experiences. It also shows how we can still move on with our lives and try to heal from the trauma.
June 13, 2026
I finished Seconds to Spare yesterday, and I am still reeling from how much I enjoyed it. If I had to put a number on it, I’d land somewhere between a 4.5 and a 4.75 out of 5. It was, quite simply, an incredible experience.
The concept was the initial hook that drew me in, and it absolutely delivered. What is truly impressive is how the author managed to keep the momentum high despite the restrictive setting. Spending almost the entire narrative confined to a plane—constantly revisiting the same sequence of events—could easily have become stagnant. Instead, the author used that framework to build mounting tension.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the book was how interactive the reading experience felt. I wasn't just observing the story; I was constantly trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters. Every time we gained a new scrap of information or a fresh clue surfaced, I found myself obsessively connecting the dots, trying to hypothesize exactly how everything fit into the bigger picture. It was a mental workout in the best way possible—the story truly invited me to use my brain to piece together the mechanics of their situation before the characters did.
The real heart of the book, however, lies in the character work. Often in books like this one, the characters can feel secondary to the mystery, but that was not the case here. I felt a genuine, deep connection to both leads; they didn't just feel like vehicles for the plot—they felt like people I actually knew.
Their dynamic was easily my favorite part of the book. Our female protagonist was incredibly witty, and her humor added such a necessary layer of personality to the high-stakes environment. Our male lead was just as fantastic, acting as the perfect foil to her. Their personalities often felt like total opposites, and watching that spark and chemistry evolve while they were trapped in an impossible, repeating nightmare added a brilliant emotional weight to the story.
I haven't read a real-world, grounded thriller in a long time that managed to keep me so completely captivated. I started reading and simply didn't stop until I reached the final page. It was an exhilarating, immersive ride from start to finish.
Thank you to netgalley and the punlisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The concept was the initial hook that drew me in, and it absolutely delivered. What is truly impressive is how the author managed to keep the momentum high despite the restrictive setting. Spending almost the entire narrative confined to a plane—constantly revisiting the same sequence of events—could easily have become stagnant. Instead, the author used that framework to build mounting tension.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the book was how interactive the reading experience felt. I wasn't just observing the story; I was constantly trying to solve the mystery alongside the characters. Every time we gained a new scrap of information or a fresh clue surfaced, I found myself obsessively connecting the dots, trying to hypothesize exactly how everything fit into the bigger picture. It was a mental workout in the best way possible—the story truly invited me to use my brain to piece together the mechanics of their situation before the characters did.
The real heart of the book, however, lies in the character work. Often in books like this one, the characters can feel secondary to the mystery, but that was not the case here. I felt a genuine, deep connection to both leads; they didn't just feel like vehicles for the plot—they felt like people I actually knew.
Their dynamic was easily my favorite part of the book. Our female protagonist was incredibly witty, and her humor added such a necessary layer of personality to the high-stakes environment. Our male lead was just as fantastic, acting as the perfect foil to her. Their personalities often felt like total opposites, and watching that spark and chemistry evolve while they were trapped in an impossible, repeating nightmare added a brilliant emotional weight to the story.
I haven't read a real-world, grounded thriller in a long time that managed to keep me so completely captivated. I started reading and simply didn't stop until I reached the final page. It was an exhilarating, immersive ride from start to finish.
Thank you to netgalley and the punlisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2026
Happy death day, YA airplane edition, kinda? A time loop is one thing (repeat the whole day time loop stories are done fairly often) but a time loop that lasts less than 30 minutes and ends with a plane crash is another. Almost 400 time loops alone, reliving the same 28 minutes over and over, ALL ALONE because is no one else aware of it, sounds like actual hell.
Until, she gets close to loop 400, and Rion, who had been sleeping in all previous loops, accidentally is woken up by Evelyn. After that, he becomes conscious and aware of each loop, and just like that, Evelyn is no longer alone in awareness! And a few loops after that, after over 385 for Evelyn, things actually slowly start to change in the loop. But, the whole time I was wondering, what even happens if they manage to break the loop? The plane nosedives, it doesn’t reverse time, so they all crash and die? It’s choosing between an eternity living the same 28 min over and over, or death?
To be honest, this whole book was giving lifetime movie, and not one of the stand out ones. The thing is, this kind of plot provides limitations. After so much of this, you do get a bit disillusioned. The entire book takes place on a plane, with the characters reliving the same scene over and over, and there’s not much character development. I mean, there’s not much you CAN do with character development or world building because the plot concept itself is very restrictive. It does start feeling repetitive and I got antsy by the 40% mark. And when you find out what all of this is actually over around the halfway mark, oh my gosh it is so anticlimactic and the most overdone crime plot ever. By 70% I was so disinterested I just wanted it to be over.
BUT! By the 80% mark it does get better and things ended very nicely. It was more like, a solid start, mehhh middle, and solid ending. The majority is fairly monotonous but things tie up nice. It was kind of a rollercoaster; I started out liking it, then I didn’t like it, then I did. I’ll go back to the lifetime movie comparison; it’s not exactly memorable, but I liked how it ended. If you need some sort of mindless beach read, I wouldn’t discount this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday for sending an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Until, she gets close to loop 400, and Rion, who had been sleeping in all previous loops, accidentally is woken up by Evelyn. After that, he becomes conscious and aware of each loop, and just like that, Evelyn is no longer alone in awareness! And a few loops after that, after over 385 for Evelyn, things actually slowly start to change in the loop. But, the whole time I was wondering, what even happens if they manage to break the loop? The plane nosedives, it doesn’t reverse time, so they all crash and die? It’s choosing between an eternity living the same 28 min over and over, or death?
To be honest, this whole book was giving lifetime movie, and not one of the stand out ones. The thing is, this kind of plot provides limitations. After so much of this, you do get a bit disillusioned. The entire book takes place on a plane, with the characters reliving the same scene over and over, and there’s not much character development. I mean, there’s not much you CAN do with character development or world building because the plot concept itself is very restrictive. It does start feeling repetitive and I got antsy by the 40% mark. And when you find out what all of this is actually over around the halfway mark, oh my gosh it is so anticlimactic and the most overdone crime plot ever. By 70% I was so disinterested I just wanted it to be over.
BUT! By the 80% mark it does get better and things ended very nicely. It was more like, a solid start, mehhh middle, and solid ending. The majority is fairly monotonous but things tie up nice. It was kind of a rollercoaster; I started out liking it, then I didn’t like it, then I did. I’ll go back to the lifetime movie comparison; it’s not exactly memorable, but I liked how it ended. If you need some sort of mindless beach read, I wouldn’t discount this one!
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday for sending an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
May 27, 2026
I had no expectations, but this was so good! This is like Happy Death Day on a plane and you’d think this would get a bit repetitive, but that was definitely not the case.
June 18, 2026
Mini blurb: On a plane apparently doomed to crash, a girl keeps reliving the 28 minutes before the nosedive and trying to find a way out, until a boy joins her in the loop and the two band together to change the future...if that's even possible.
***
Rated 3.5 really.
Time loop meets locked-room mystery by way of the butterfly effect: the result is an entertaining, adrenalinic story (if with enough reflective/emotive beats) that, despite its premise, never gets repetitive. I have a few qualms about it (hence my rating): 1) the (purported) explanation for the loop sounds flimsy, to say the least, and straddles the line between sci-fi and magical realism; 2) does every loop reset the sleep/wake cycle for those who are aware of it? because by the last one, the female main character (Evelyn) has technically been awake for more than one week...; 3) we're told-not-shown that Evelyn has an endearing personality (if anything, she clearly struggles with boundaries, even before the loops...her very meet-cute with Orion at the airport feels off, to put it mildly); 4) I don't completely buy that, in almost 400 loops spent actively looking for clues, Evelyn would never notice a certain thing (we're given an explanation, but I found it questionable); 5) when Evelyn and Orion try to change things, the drama escalates to over-the-top heights that hardly seem justifiable (if at all - that's gratuitous violence in my book, especially if aimed at teens); 6) there's some corny dialogue ("To know you, Evelyn, is to love you." 🙄). BUT! the actual loop is very well done, and trying to beat it doubles nicely as a metaphor for choosing to face the future and not remaining prisoners of the same patterns in life. That's why STS will appeal both to adults who enjoy temporal paradoxes with an emotional layer, and teens who love action, mystery, coming-of-age and a pinch of romance.
TW: death/graphic violence, life-changing illness, trauma, grief, loss.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
***
Rated 3.5 really.
Time loop meets locked-room mystery by way of the butterfly effect: the result is an entertaining, adrenalinic story (if with enough reflective/emotive beats) that, despite its premise, never gets repetitive. I have a few qualms about it (hence my rating): 1) the (purported) explanation for the loop sounds flimsy, to say the least, and straddles the line between sci-fi and magical realism; 2) does every loop reset the sleep/wake cycle for those who are aware of it? because by the last one, the female main character (Evelyn) has technically been awake for more than one week...; 3) we're told-not-shown that Evelyn has an endearing personality (if anything, she clearly struggles with boundaries, even before the loops...her very meet-cute with Orion at the airport feels off, to put it mildly); 4) I don't completely buy that, in almost 400 loops spent actively looking for clues, Evelyn would never notice a certain thing (we're given an explanation, but I found it questionable); 5) when Evelyn and Orion try to change things, the drama escalates to over-the-top heights that hardly seem justifiable (if at all - that's gratuitous violence in my book, especially if aimed at teens); 6) there's some corny dialogue ("To know you, Evelyn, is to love you." 🙄). BUT! the actual loop is very well done, and trying to beat it doubles nicely as a metaphor for choosing to face the future and not remaining prisoners of the same patterns in life. That's why STS will appeal both to adults who enjoy temporal paradoxes with an emotional layer, and teens who love action, mystery, coming-of-age and a pinch of romance.
TW: death/graphic violence, life-changing illness, trauma, grief, loss.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
May 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! This book was so unbelievably perfect. The way the characters are written feels like such a breath of fresh air from characters I usually read about. The suspense in this story kept me going and I completely binge read this book! I think this book is perfect for anyone who loves thrilling stories with emotion and depth. I’m gonna miss reading about Evelyn and Rion because they were so perfectly curated for each other and their story is one of my favorites (i’m a sucker for thrillers with romance). You can clearly tell the author put a lot of thought into the details and structure of this story as I was always shocked and surprised with how everything connects! Also a thank you to NetGalley!
June 24, 2026
4.5 stars, rounded up
So, I loved this. I love books that have a time loop or play with time in some way, but this was a really unique take on that theme in that there was also a mystery to solve. I really liked seeing Evelyn and Orion figure out what was happening. They each had a different skill set and I liked seeing each of them use those talents. I really liked the resolution as well. The story was fast paced and I read it very quickly. Highly recommend if you like YA thrillers or time loop stories. This was really well done.
So, I loved this. I love books that have a time loop or play with time in some way, but this was a really unique take on that theme in that there was also a mystery to solve. I really liked seeing Evelyn and Orion figure out what was happening. They each had a different skill set and I liked seeing each of them use those talents. I really liked the resolution as well. The story was fast paced and I read it very quickly. Highly recommend if you like YA thrillers or time loop stories. This was really well done.
April 19, 2026
When I read Rachel Reiss’ debut novel I was blown away at the fresh and unique story. Seconds to Spare is no different. In a book market where plots often seem to all be a bit familiar, Second to Spare takes readers on a time loop journey. Throughout this trip, Evelyn and Rion grow both as individuals and together. The book not only has the mystery of how to break the loop but looks at topics like accepting death of a loved one as well as your own mortality. While our two main characters are 18, nothing about this reads like it’s YA but it’s still very accessible for readers of all ages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the arc.
February 25, 2026
Happy Death Day at 40,000 feet in the air is the perfect backdrop to a thriller that promises to make your stomach drop with each nose dive!
When Evelyn finds herself in a time loop upon her return flight to LA she makes do with the oddity, stealing candy from passengers bags, seeing a therapist in the back row and watching downloaded tv shows with nearby passengers only to start over again every 28 min right when the plan begins to crash. After a few hundred loops a passenger who has spent the entire even asleep wakes and soon joins her on this Groundhog Day nightmare trying to solve the mystery behind the loop and make it home in one piece but with the loops changing they find themselves running out of time.
I loved every second of this book! As a big fan of loop stories I think it offers a unique challenge of propelling a story forward without making it feel repetitive while still hitting the beats needed to keep track of where you are in this nightmare. Evelyn was so much fun and absolutely hilarious as you watch her take advantage of the reset and has her way with the snacks and personal details stolen from other passengers all the while dealing with her own grief. Rion is the first break in her cycle and through his eyes we see what that first time experience feels like where it is all new and unpredictable and frightening which goes against Evelyn’s more routine like attitude for it all.
The plot was fast paced and never once felt like space was wasted. Between Evelyn’s humor and Rion’s panic we race forward on the mystery of the events that lead to the nose dive and try to see if that makes a difference with the ending and with the added stake of it changing I couldn’t get through it fast enough to see how it would all play out. It’s truly a scary background where so much can go wrong in an isolated and finite space of an airplane but offers a good deal of fun when you can only really turn to the people with you for help even if they won’t remember it later.
Such a fun read and absolutely one I will recommend to anyone but maybe wait until you reach your destination!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
When Evelyn finds herself in a time loop upon her return flight to LA she makes do with the oddity, stealing candy from passengers bags, seeing a therapist in the back row and watching downloaded tv shows with nearby passengers only to start over again every 28 min right when the plan begins to crash. After a few hundred loops a passenger who has spent the entire even asleep wakes and soon joins her on this Groundhog Day nightmare trying to solve the mystery behind the loop and make it home in one piece but with the loops changing they find themselves running out of time.
I loved every second of this book! As a big fan of loop stories I think it offers a unique challenge of propelling a story forward without making it feel repetitive while still hitting the beats needed to keep track of where you are in this nightmare. Evelyn was so much fun and absolutely hilarious as you watch her take advantage of the reset and has her way with the snacks and personal details stolen from other passengers all the while dealing with her own grief. Rion is the first break in her cycle and through his eyes we see what that first time experience feels like where it is all new and unpredictable and frightening which goes against Evelyn’s more routine like attitude for it all.
The plot was fast paced and never once felt like space was wasted. Between Evelyn’s humor and Rion’s panic we race forward on the mystery of the events that lead to the nose dive and try to see if that makes a difference with the ending and with the added stake of it changing I couldn’t get through it fast enough to see how it would all play out. It’s truly a scary background where so much can go wrong in an isolated and finite space of an airplane but offers a good deal of fun when you can only really turn to the people with you for help even if they won’t remember it later.
Such a fun read and absolutely one I will recommend to anyone but maybe wait until you reach your destination!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
May 17, 2026
4★'s Found this on a whim because the summary sounded interesting and WOW, one of those books that makes you realize adults really should read more YA thrillers and magical realism.
Two teens must work together to solve a mystery and survive a repeating plane crash that traps them in a 28-minute time loop.
Seconds to Spare gave me intense golden-era Wattpad nostalgia. It felt like being back in 2012, staying up way too late reading stories that were a little cliché but impossible to put down because the plot was just so entertaining, topped off with a satisfying romance.
plot ⋆˙⟡
I’ll be honest, I probably would’ve ignored this because of the cover. It really isn’t that eye-catching, but it turned out to be one of those stories you’ll definitely remember because there’s nothing quite like it. Imagine dying in the same plane crash again and again, while the only other person aware of the loop is the cute guy sleeping through it.
The first chunk can feel repetitive and exhausting, added with some flashbacks, but honestly that comes with the territory when the plot revolves around a time loop.
No matter how many times they try, the plane always crashes, but there’s a hidden detail woven into the loop that they don’t catch until around the 50% mark. From there, the mystery becomes even more intriguing as each loop reveals something new.
romance ⋆˙⟡
The romance isn’t actually slow burn since there’s an instant connection right from the start, but what makes it so satisfying is that it never overshadows the main plot. There’s enough buildup for them to truly get to know each other and work together to solve the mystery, so their relationship never feels forced and underdeveloped.
Reis really gave us a mystery and a romance worth rooting for and an ending that felt satisfying!
I highly recommend it.
Two teens must work together to solve a mystery and survive a repeating plane crash that traps them in a 28-minute time loop.
Seconds to Spare gave me intense golden-era Wattpad nostalgia. It felt like being back in 2012, staying up way too late reading stories that were a little cliché but impossible to put down because the plot was just so entertaining, topped off with a satisfying romance.
plot ⋆˙⟡
I’ll be honest, I probably would’ve ignored this because of the cover. It really isn’t that eye-catching, but it turned out to be one of those stories you’ll definitely remember because there’s nothing quite like it. Imagine dying in the same plane crash again and again, while the only other person aware of the loop is the cute guy sleeping through it.
The first chunk can feel repetitive and exhausting, added with some flashbacks, but honestly that comes with the territory when the plot revolves around a time loop.
No matter how many times they try, the plane always crashes, but there’s a hidden detail woven into the loop that they don’t catch until around the 50% mark. From there, the mystery becomes even more intriguing as each loop reveals something new.
romance ⋆˙⟡
The romance isn’t actually slow burn since there’s an instant connection right from the start, but what makes it so satisfying is that it never overshadows the main plot. There’s enough buildup for them to truly get to know each other and work together to solve the mystery, so their relationship never feels forced and underdeveloped.
“Even though I haven’t known you for all that long—“ I begin.
“Only twenty-eight minutes,” she interjects.
My eyes lock on hers. “If I could’ve chosen one person in the world to be my partner in endless—but not really endless—time loop on a crashing airplane, it would be you, Ev.”
Reis really gave us a mystery and a romance worth rooting for and an ending that felt satisfying!
I highly recommend it.
May 24, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.
📖 Book Review 📖 Have you ever had a moment that you just wish you could replay over and over again? This is not that story…because I’m pretty sure being stuck on repeat of your plane taking a nose dive might be my worst nightmare. Seconds to Spare delivers a gripping story that simultaneously imparts the panic of being stuck in the same terrifying situation while building the plot in perfect harmony. A lot can happen in twenty-eight minutes and Rachel Reiss explores the many dynamics that can unfold in this suspenseful nosedive for the passengers.
If kids these days understood what a glitch in the matrix was, Seconds to Spare would be it. The idea of an impending plane crash is terrifying in its own capacity, and the further eighteen year old Eve goes into this time loop, the dicier circumstances reveal themselves. With the help of fellow passenger Rion, the race is on to change their trajectory. Seconds to Spare is one genre-blending thriller that I highly recommend to read anywhere but on a plane…unless living on the edge is your thing.
📖 Book Review 📖 Have you ever had a moment that you just wish you could replay over and over again? This is not that story…because I’m pretty sure being stuck on repeat of your plane taking a nose dive might be my worst nightmare. Seconds to Spare delivers a gripping story that simultaneously imparts the panic of being stuck in the same terrifying situation while building the plot in perfect harmony. A lot can happen in twenty-eight minutes and Rachel Reiss explores the many dynamics that can unfold in this suspenseful nosedive for the passengers.
If kids these days understood what a glitch in the matrix was, Seconds to Spare would be it. The idea of an impending plane crash is terrifying in its own capacity, and the further eighteen year old Eve goes into this time loop, the dicier circumstances reveal themselves. With the help of fellow passenger Rion, the race is on to change their trajectory. Seconds to Spare is one genre-blending thriller that I highly recommend to read anywhere but on a plane…unless living on the edge is your thing.
June 6, 2026
About time I got a page turner! This one read very quick, and its premise was made for my time loop-loving heart. The short chapters and the twists-and-turns kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to learn what happened next.
So why only three stars? Well, the thing is, I didn’t like Evelyn all that much. Her constant ‘I don’t know science or technology, or math, or boy things, lol lol’ didn’t do anything to endear her to me. And the fact that there were entire plot-changing questions she didn’t think to ask for almost four hundred loops—before Rion woke up—cemented my impression of her as kind of a dim bulb. Evelyn’s supposed best trait: her ability to connect with others, mostly manifested off page, before the novel started, so it felt more informed than anything else. The Evelyn I saw on the page was abrasive (something I wouldn’t blame her for, given the stress of the loops) and liable to trample over others’ boundaries. And that part, I do lay at her feet. Her supposed ‘meet cute’ with Rion, before the loops begin, is boundary busting at its finest. Consequently, whenever Rion gushes about how awesome or empathetic she is, it feels like shilling and only makes me like Evelyn less.
I did like Rion a great deal, and wish we’d actually gotten to see Evelyn bond with the plane’s other passengers, some of whom sound like interesting people. And, again, the tension and stakes were on point!
So yeah, you almost can’t go wrong in giving me a time loop novel. But that still doesn’t mean I let you off the hook entirely. Three stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review All opinions within are my own.
So why only three stars? Well, the thing is, I didn’t like Evelyn all that much. Her constant ‘I don’t know science or technology, or math, or boy things, lol lol’ didn’t do anything to endear her to me. And the fact that there were entire plot-changing questions she didn’t think to ask for almost four hundred loops—before Rion woke up—cemented my impression of her as kind of a dim bulb. Evelyn’s supposed best trait: her ability to connect with others, mostly manifested off page, before the novel started, so it felt more informed than anything else. The Evelyn I saw on the page was abrasive (something I wouldn’t blame her for, given the stress of the loops) and liable to trample over others’ boundaries. And that part, I do lay at her feet. Her supposed ‘meet cute’ with Rion, before the loops begin, is boundary busting at its finest. Consequently, whenever Rion gushes about how awesome or empathetic she is, it feels like shilling and only makes me like Evelyn less.
I did like Rion a great deal, and wish we’d actually gotten to see Evelyn bond with the plane’s other passengers, some of whom sound like interesting people. And, again, the tension and stakes were on point!
So yeah, you almost can’t go wrong in giving me a time loop novel. But that still doesn’t mean I let you off the hook entirely. Three stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review All opinions within are my own.
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March 30, 20263.75 🌟
Wholly entertaining but you have to love suspending realism for this one.
YA thriller with magical realism mash up lends its backbone to the sophomore novel by Rachel Reiss. Picture this: you’re on an aircraft, the pilot makes an announcement, a woman faints and the plane takes a nosedive. As you’re waiting to die, a flash happens and the loop begins again. Cue the pilot, the woman and the nosedive.
In the last couple years I’ve really started to enjoy magical realism as a perfect escape. And when done in an entertaining way, they can give the reader the fun of realizing how small things can alter the path they’re on.
As I said at the start. Entertaining. Bingeable but go into it knowing it’s YA magical realism to enjoy it.
Wholly entertaining but you have to love suspending realism for this one.
YA thriller with magical realism mash up lends its backbone to the sophomore novel by Rachel Reiss. Picture this: you’re on an aircraft, the pilot makes an announcement, a woman faints and the plane takes a nosedive. As you’re waiting to die, a flash happens and the loop begins again. Cue the pilot, the woman and the nosedive.
In the last couple years I’ve really started to enjoy magical realism as a perfect escape. And when done in an entertaining way, they can give the reader the fun of realizing how small things can alter the path they’re on.
As I said at the start. Entertaining. Bingeable but go into it knowing it’s YA magical realism to enjoy it.
December 31, 2025
I enjoyed this book so much it has taken me a pause before being able to write a proper review. Apologies for that, as I do greatly appreciate having been gifted the chance to read this as an ARC
This was a unique read that combined suspense, sci-fi, and introspection into a gripping story that was hard to put down. And romance, which I very rarely enjoy being part of the plotline. It was not a spoiler in this case, and I give high props to any author who can accomplish making me enjoy (cheer for even) young love.
I found it interesting how, from just the limited perspectives included, so many characters became well developed through just those two person's interactions and reports. It made me think of our impact on others in those small pieces of time, and the dynamic of shared space.
Overall, while it was also exciting, for me this was a "thinker", which I enjoyed. Lots of topics touched upon, particularly "the bag". I feel that was handled so beautifully. I loved the end also. This was amazingly satisfying.
This was a unique read that combined suspense, sci-fi, and introspection into a gripping story that was hard to put down. And romance, which I very rarely enjoy being part of the plotline. It was not a spoiler in this case, and I give high props to any author who can accomplish making me enjoy (cheer for even) young love.
I found it interesting how, from just the limited perspectives included, so many characters became well developed through just those two person's interactions and reports. It made me think of our impact on others in those small pieces of time, and the dynamic of shared space.
Overall, while it was also exciting, for me this was a "thinker", which I enjoyed. Lots of topics touched upon, particularly "the bag". I feel that was handled so beautifully. I loved the end also. This was amazingly satisfying.
May 13, 2026
18 year old Evelyn is trapped in a 28 minute time loop and forced to relive the moments before the plane she is on nosedives over and over again. During one loop, a passenger who had previously slept through the events suddenly wakes up, and they discover that he is trapped in the same loop as well. Together, they search for clues to understand why this is happening and whether they can stop the plane from crashing. I loved this fast paced YA story. With each loop, readers learn a little more about the characters and uncover new pieces of the mystery, which keeps the story exciting and engaging. I can’t wait to add this book to our middle school library. I think students will really enjoy it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.
May 17, 2026
Such a gripping premise. Imagine being stuck in a 28 minute time loop, only you’re on a plane that keeps crashing…. and everything resets as soon as the nosedive begins. Horrifying right? Our main character relives that moment almost 400 times before something changes - a boy who has been asleep during every other loop suddenly wakes up.
This is a YA thriller but honestly held my attention the whole way through. Although we experience the same 28 minutes over and over (with some subtle changes) the book never felt repetitive. I really enjoyed it and I think this would play out well as a movie one day! It’s a never-ending nightmare, but I loved the characters and FLEW (no pun intended) through it in just a few hours.
This is a YA thriller but honestly held my attention the whole way through. Although we experience the same 28 minutes over and over (with some subtle changes) the book never felt repetitive. I really enjoyed it and I think this would play out well as a movie one day! It’s a never-ending nightmare, but I loved the characters and FLEW (no pun intended) through it in just a few hours.
June 15, 2026
Seconds to Spare was a fast-paced thriller, that surprisingly was not repetitive with its groundhogs day loop theme. Reiss was able to keep each loop original, not losing the reader or having boredom set in. Once things began to unfold, I was thinking what I would do to try to stop the loop. I don’t think I would have been as bold as Evelyn, but hey if it’s just going to start again why not try. I enjoyed the plot of Seconds to Spare a lot more than Reiss’ first novel, Out of Air, which felt a little cheesy towards the end. If you need a good mindless, fast-paced YA thriller, Seconds to Spare is the book for you.
February 26, 2026
A big thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I was so excited about this book based on the description and the few reviews it already had. After reading it through, I can say that it did not disappoint.
I thought the plot was great and I was engaged throughout. It kept you guessing the whole time and really showed that everything is not always what it seems. I love the idea of time lopes and having to figure out what is happening that you’re not seeing. I liked the writing style and never felt like it was repetitive or dragging. I would definitely recommend.
I thought the plot was great and I was engaged throughout. It kept you guessing the whole time and really showed that everything is not always what it seems. I love the idea of time lopes and having to figure out what is happening that you’re not seeing. I liked the writing style and never felt like it was repetitive or dragging. I would definitely recommend.
May 16, 2026
4.3/5!
This was such a fun action packed read! You may think writing an entire book that takes place within the same 28 minute window over and over again in the same location each time would get boring and repetative but that really is not the case!
If you love a good twisty YA thriller mystery with time loops, you will love this one! Super excited that I won this book from the author and enjoyed it immensely!!
This was such a fun action packed read! You may think writing an entire book that takes place within the same 28 minute window over and over again in the same location each time would get boring and repetative but that really is not the case!
If you love a good twisty YA thriller mystery with time loops, you will love this one! Super excited that I won this book from the author and enjoyed it immensely!!
May 12, 2026
I couldn't put this one down ! Our main character is in a timeloop of a plane going down. We join her after over 300 unsuccessful attempts to stop the timeloop, she accidentally wakes up the cute sleeping teen boy for the first time . Turns out he's also stuck in the loop , at least she's not alone in the nightmare anymore .
Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss is a fast paced , page turning , timeloop story. At first we have solo pov from Evelyn and as soon as Orion wakes we get his as well. Both were fantastic main characters with depth and character growth. I was literally on the edge of my seat and I couldn't have asked for a better ending!
Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss is a fast paced , page turning , timeloop story. At first we have solo pov from Evelyn and as soon as Orion wakes we get his as well. Both were fantastic main characters with depth and character growth. I was literally on the edge of my seat and I couldn't have asked for a better ending!
May 13, 2026
As a frequent flyer, this book was TERRIFYING! This was Groundhog Day on steroids. Evelyn gets caught in a time loop and begins to try to figure out why and how to get out of it. So much suspense before each reset, but also a great touch of comedy. Highly recommend!
April 27, 2026
Really wanted to love this one but…I didn’t. Time loops when done well can be so interesting, but this one just leaned on the repetitive side that didn’t keep me hooked. The backstory (not apart of the time loop) didn’t flow naturally into the story and I don’t think it really added much to the characters. Just not the one for me!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
June 19, 2026
GODDDDD
I literally cried at the end. It’s too good to be true guys!!!
I literally cried at the end. It’s too good to be true guys!!!
June 23, 2026
3.5 rounded up
May 22, 2026
5/5
This book was so freaking good?!? I love when I convince myself to read groundhog day esc books because I usually don’t like them, because things get repetitive, but this onee. I loved Eve and Rion dual povs and there was just so much action in it I was obsessed. This book reminded me so much of the movie Non-Stop (2014) with a time loop in it!
This book was so freaking good?!? I love when I convince myself to read groundhog day esc books because I usually don’t like them, because things get repetitive, but this onee. I loved Eve and Rion dual povs and there was just so much action in it I was obsessed. This book reminded me so much of the movie Non-Stop (2014) with a time loop in it!
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