Seconds to Spare

by Rachel Reiss

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.

Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Yudi · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 on with some things one experiences. It also shows how we can still move on with our lives and try to heal from the trauma.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Amanda Ho · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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**

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Haley Marotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Seconds to Spare centers around a time loop, and subtly invites reflection for readers to think deeply about the choices we make daily, and how we can easily become stuck within our own familiar routines or loops that we fall into. Stayed with me way beyond the last pages. It's packed with thoughtful insights, love, humor, and characters that are easy to fall for - you can't help but root for them! A really wonderful read, thank you to Wednesday Books for the ARC!

[Armany Nava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cool concept that I think was executed wonderfully!! You get attached to the main characters easily and I found myself flying through this book in search for answers. Ending was satisfying and the last page was so realistic lolz

[cass⋆𐙚₊˚⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have won an ARC of this from a giveaway, and started reading it right away. I really wasn't sure what to expect, having never read the novella it was adapted from, but this book really exceeded my expectations. I couldnt put it down, every page had me hooked. I love the unexpected twists. They were (in my opinion) well done, and i didnt see them coming. I like the very realistic parts of dealing with grief and mental health, the way Evelyn was, eventually, able to get over the things that happened with her father. The way Orion was able to make it to his 19th birthday. And, of course, the very real aftermath and trauma of everything that happened after the fact. It wouldnt have made sense if the two of them were just.. over everything?? In the end, when they decide to instead have a long roadtrip, it was so cute. I am so happy that they stayed together even after the loops

I also love Evelyn and Orion (theyre so cute pls 😭💗🙏)

[megan mien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"I'm twenty-three minutes in. Only five minutes left."

With anything else, that could very well be a good thing. But for Evelyn, it's anything but. The sense of impending doom seeps into every fiber of her being. The Boeing 737 is going down... and Evelyn is there to experience it again. And again. And again.

194 times? That's a lot.
Scratch that... 265. Oof.

Evelyn is trapped in a twenty-eight minute time loop aboard a crashing airplane. Every time the plane goes down, the loop resets and she's forced to relive those same moments again. But each repetition reveals small differences- new conversations, new discoveries, and new questions about what's really happening.

What makes Seconds to Spare compelling is how each loop adds new information and raises the stakes. Tiny shifts create massive consequences. My mind was reeling from the number of twists and the amount of mystery unfolding. I genuinely didn't know where the story was going next.

Even with how tense the premise is, the character interactions bring a bit of humor and lightness that keep the story from feeling too heavy. Those moments made the characters feel more human and grounded. It gave the reader room to breathe between the more intense moments.

Time-loop stories can easily become repetitive, but the author avoids that completely. Each loop introduces variables- new bits and pieces that reshape the narrative. I never got bored once.

Then the secondary POV kicked in, which I absolutely did not anticipate. Orion- the boy who slept- suddenly became the one adding further mystery to the story. And it was such a good addition to the plot. His perspective works really well alongside Evelyn's, and seeing that fresh angle (that moment of initial OH NO) was genuinely fun. It added another layer to the story and made an already fast-paced narrative feel even more intense.

One idea that really stuck with me was the line:

"Tomorrow is only a concept."

It's a haunting thought, isn't it? Time kind of creeps up on you in life regardless. But... when you're stuck reliving the same twenty-eight minutes hundreds of times, the future stops being something you move foward to. It becomes theoretical. That thought toyed with my brain for a bit.

Another theme that stood out was the idea of anomalies- those tiny deviations from what you expect to happen. Sometimes they mean everything, sometimes they mean nothing, but they always carry the possibility of changing the outcome. For Evelyn, they might even be the key to normality.

The story also raises an interesting question: what happens when you've exhausted every possibility?

"There were no what-ifs left to explore, no maybes, no fantastical dreams or all-night adventures. One day I woke up and realized this is it."

I loved how the story explores that idea- not just through Evelyn, but through the people connected to her life. It kind of forces both the reader and the MC herself to reconsider the value in life and what motivates you day-to-day.

Lastly, there's the idea of guilt and self-worth. Evelyn carries a heavy emotional burden throughout the story. She constantly tries to brush it off, but she never really escapes it. (And I love the way Rachel Reiss kept looping this back in. Very creative.) The loops force her to confront guilt, morality, and her own sense of worth in ways she can't avoid. She's not just trying to survive the crash; she's trying to understand herself.

I'm genuinely impressed with how the author handled the time-loop concept. Seconds to Spare had tension, momentum, mystery, philosophical undertones, and emotional weight that kept me hooked the entire time. It had me holding my breath. It was a piece of art.

At its core, this story asks a powerful question:
If tomorrow isn't guaranteed, what do we do with today?

And more importantly:
When you hit a wall in life... do you stay there, or do you find a way to move forward?

This one lingered on my mind long after the final page. A thoughtful, tense take on the time-loop concept.
Five stars.

[Indra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss ✈️⏳💥

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. 💛

This one absolutely commits to its premise, a 28 minute time loop on a plane, repeating over and over again, and it was genuinely hard to stop turning pages. Even when the loop structure brings some repetition (it has to), the story keeps finding ways to stay tense and fresh as Evelyn tests new variables, watches tiny details shift, and realizes the rules are not as stable as she thought. 🔎🧩

Evelyn is a great YA lead for this setup. She is exhausted, hyper-observant, and carrying the mental weight of reliving the same terror again and again. The book does a solid job showing how time loops are not just a puzzle, they are trauma, and survival becomes both physical and psychological. 😮‍💨💔

The moment Orion wakes up and disrupts the pattern is where the story really clicks into a new gear. Their partnership adds momentum, warmth, and a new layer of stakes because now Evelyn is not alone inside the nightmare. I also liked that the mystery element stays central, it is not only about stopping the nosedive, it is about understanding why this is happening in the first place. 🧠⚡

By the end, I appreciated that the book leaves room for emotional aftermath. It is action-forward, but it does not pretend something like this would be easy to shake off, even if you survive. 🌙🩹

What I Loved
• The high-concept, high-tension airplane time loop ✈️⏳
• The puzzle-solving momentum, with meaningful changes each cycle 🧩🔎
• Evelyn’s resilience, and the way the story shows the mental toll 💛
• Orion’s presence raising the stakes and shifting the dynamic 🫶

What Didn’t Work for Me
• The early loops can feel a bit repetitive while the story establishes the pattern 🔁
• A few explanations felt like they moved quickly near the end

⭐ Star Rating: 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like YA thrillers with claustrophobic settings, a looping timeline, and a steadily escalating “we have fewer chances than we think” dread, this is a really fun ride. ✨

[Sophia Dyer • bookishly.vintage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Wednesday books for an advance copy, all opinions are my own.

Last year I absolutely loved Out of Air so I was SO excited for this one to cross my email! First off, the cover is GORGEOUS. Second, I love a good time loop story!

I do not recommend reading this while on a plane.

I do, however, recommend reading this book. Weiss does a good job with the time loops, they never felt too repetitive, despite having repeating elements. The main character goes through 400 loops throughout the book, but we only get to see key ones that are essential to the story. The elements that are repeated are all essential to the story, so they all play a part in one way or another.

Then we have a bit of romance between the characters, which is very sweet. They both help each other process feelings they don't want to tackle, and together they are able to figure out the time loop. This is a two person team, they both noticed something the other missed! Plus, the addition of another character really amps things up, so my anxiety was definitely increasing along with the duration of the loops.

The characters do deal with grief and long term medical issues - which again do play into the larger story at hand.

Overall, this book kept me on my toes and I enjoyed the journey the whole way through. I loved the characters, and even the ones in the background are worth getting to know. Time loop fantasies are a favorite of mine, and I think Weiss does this well. This book isn't even out yet and I am already excited to see what the author does next!
Content warnings: medical trauma, loss of a loved one, grief, murder, violence, blood

[Susan Beamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley, and I managed to finish it in the time allotted. It's a fast read and engaging. It is one of those thrilling locked room mysteries that you get involved with, trying to figure things out.
Here Evelyn is on a plane going home from Hawaii after picking up her father's ashes. There had been a family estrangement shortly before his unexpected death, and Evelyn hasn't come to terms with either. She finds herself seemingly stuck in a time loop. About midway through the flight she finds herself repeating the same 28 minutes. Each loop she tries something different, hoping this time the loop doesn't reset, even if it means the plane might crash. She has talked to all of the other passengers, except for Orion James, who is asleep during the loops.
Orion, or just Rion as his friends and family call him, is returning from a visit to Hawaii. He has a heart problem. The trip was supposed to relax him, but notification of an appointment for potential heart surgery has kind of made that difficult. He and Evelyn first meet in the airport terminal, before realizing they will be on the same flight. Rion is asleep for most of the 400 or so loops Evelyn has gone through. Then, one of her attempts to end the looping wakes him up. He stays awake for the remaining loops.
Two things happen after Rion's awakening. The loops get longer, by only minutes, but still longer. Evelyn is no longer alone. She has someone to bounce theories off of and make plans with. Do both of those things help solve the problem? You will have to read the book to find out.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is outside of my general genre of reading but I loved Out of Air so I was really looking forward to Seconds to Spare - and it did not disappoint.

I imagine it's difficult to write a story that takes place in essentially one room, and even harder to rewrite the same 28 minute (but not) stretch in a way that keeps the reader engaged. I found myself unable to put it down because I really wanted to solve the mystery and see if I could catch on to anything (I didn't really lol)

Evelyn and Rion are two passengers on a plane from Hawaii to Los Angeles - they're also the only two on the plane aware that they're stuck in a time loop before the plane is about to crash. They obviously try all kinds of things to the break the loop and are met with varying levels of success each time - I really enjoyed seeing their characters develop and their relationship with one another deepen each time through.

I wouldn't classify this as a romance per se, but there are definitely romantic undertones throughout the story between the two main characters. The mystery of the time loop is front and center of the plot with two sort of side plots regarding why Rion and Evelyn were in Hawaii in the first place.

The ending was a bit meh, but honestly, I feel that way with basically all mystery/thriller endings so I'm pretty positive that it's a me thing lol.

If you like the vibe of Final Destination (w/o the gore and the premonition part is looped) along with some parts that have a Doctor Who episode vibe (I'm thinking the Midnight ep specifically) it's probably worth a read for you!

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine reliving a plane crash every 28 minutes… hundreds of times.

Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss is a YA time-loop thriller where time resets on an aircraft every 28 minutes. Evelyn is taking her father’s ashes home when her flight suddenly loses internet, hits severe turbulence, and then nosedives—only for time to reset and force her to live through it again. And again. And again. Over 400 times.

I love a good time-loop story, and this one stands out because of how brief the loop is. Evelyn is a well-developed protagonist, and I especially appreciated the creative way she sought therapy while trapped in the loop. One of my favorite aspects was watching her learn about the other passengers and start using their knowledge and experiences to piece together what’s happening and how to stop it.

Originally a novella, the story still works well as a full-length YA novel. The pacing felt strong and kept me engaged the entire time. The last 25% really ramps up the tension and action, and I flew through those final chapters.

Rion was another standout character I found myself rooting for. Overall, this was a refreshing entry into a genre YA doesn’t explore nearly enough—time loops and time-travel thrillers. If you enjoy high-stakes mysteries with a sci-fi twist, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to Wednesday books and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. #smpearlyreaders #gifted

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seconds to Spare follows Evelyn as she’s trapped in a 28-minute time loop on a crashing plane. She goes through hundreds of cycles trying to get the loop to end with no use. But when Orion, the cute boy who’s asleep for each cycle, wakes up, it triggers changes. The two grow closer as they work together to stop the loop only to realize more danger is going on and they might not make it out alive.

This was a really intense, fast-paced, and engaging read. The concept of the book really intrigued me. Especially the plane crashing element. There’s definitely a heavy layer of intensity and dangerous intrigue laced throughout the novel. It was really easy to fly through as I was very curious to see what would happen. There were some slow parts, but I enjoyed the book overall. The ending is super wild and explosive and I really liked the reveals.

Evelyn was a really interesting main character. I enjoyed the exploration of her grief and coming to terms with everything. I thought it was really cool how she learned and retained so much of the people on the flight. She definitely has a big heart. I really liked her romance with Rion. They fit really well together and it was very sweet.

If you like fast-paced, intense time loop stories, I’d definitely recommend checking this out!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the arc!

[Noelle Haycraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pitched as Groundhog Day mixed with an airplane tragedy. We start the book out with Evelyn on her 194th time loop on the airplane that suddenly started nose-diving towards the ocean. (If you have any fear of flying, then maybe make sure you're in the right headspace before reading this book. Otherwise, I feel like that's where I want the plot description to end for people who want to read this.) I think if you're in the mood for a more suspense-filled YA book, then this might be the one for you!

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book. It will for sure be ordered for our libraries once it comes out.

Getting the chance to read the book from Evelyn's POV is interesting because we're almost starting the story after she discovered the time loop and still isn't sure what to do. But, on one of her loops, the boy that's been asleep on the flight the whole time has now suddenly woken up. Will this change everything? How will they get out of the time loop? And what will they have to sacrifice to do so?

Y'all, this book was wild from start to finish and I freaking loved it. The premise was so fascinating and it absolutely delivered. I can't wait to read more from this author and hopefully she'll go on tour so I can tell her that I loved her book this much!! Highly recommend.

Happy Reading!!

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of this novel is bananas! Don’t ask why or how, but Evelyn is stuck in a 28-minute time loop in the worst of circumstances, a plane nose-diving into the ocean. She’s lived through it so many times that she knows all the passengers, even if they have no idea who she is, as they forget everything after each reset. Then, Rion wakes up during one of the loops, and he can also remember what’s happening. Both Evelyn and Rion are insanely likable and it’s not hard to root for them. The rest of the passengers are also quirky and fun so, when the loops start getting longer, you are really hoping that they will figure it out and survive. I loved how all the supporting cast’s behavior changes as Evelyn and Rion try crazier and crazier schemes to fix the problem. So, there are two problems, not only how to end the loops, but also what to do when time doesn’t reset and the plane plummets and kills them all. The plot is insanely suspenseful and very well constructed. Every little change affecting the outcome and all the clues they discover slotting into place. It is also poignant and emotional at some points. Very enjoyable.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books.

[Lisa Garber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss is the high-stakes, heart-pounding airborne thriller I didn’t know I needed. Trapped in a relentless 28-minute time loop on a doomed flight, Evelyn Werth races against the clock (literally) to save everyone on board—including herself. When the mysterious (and very cute) Orion finally wakes up, everything changes in the best way.
Reiss masterfully builds suffocating tension in such a confined space—every cycle feels more desperate, more claustrophobic, and more impossible to escape. The time-loop concept is executed brilliantly: smart clues, clever resets, and just enough emotional depth to keep you invested beyond the pure adrenaline. The budding romance between Evelyn and Orion feels earned and adds a sweet, human layer to all the chaos without ever slowing things down.
If you love fast-paced YA thrillers with sci-fi twists (think Before I Fall meets The Final Girls), confined-space suspense, or anything that keeps your pulse racing, grab this one the second it drops in May 2026. I flew through it in one sitting—pun very much intended.
Rating: ★★★★½
(Thank you for the ARC!)

[Rosie Rizk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A flight of adrenaline.

Evelyn is flying home, but the plane she's on suddenly nosedives. Before it all ends, she restarts 28 minutes in the past, and with the urgent need to figure out how to stop the plane from nosediving for the final time.

This book is a bit out of my usual genres, but it quickly grabbed my attention & kept me reading until the end in a single sitting. I haven't done that in a long while.

I'm a fan of time loops, but it's not always easy to recreate the same scenes while constantly introducing enough new changes to keep the readers' attentions. This one was done very well. Even the constant tension & fear of the final moments of each loop remained fresh & at the perfect level to keep me reading without scaring me away.

Both Evelyn & Rion have their own issues to deal with, their own reasons for wanting to avoid the reality awaiting them at the end of their flight. They were strangers at takeoff, but slowly become friends as they share the loop & work together to solve it. I really enjoyed this book.

[Autumn Danner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more exciting than any other impending disaster novels! The cast of characters is limited, but the sequence of events and the information about what is happening on board the plane is built up in increments. Since the 28 minutes of 'the beginning of the end' is repeated, Evelyn learns a little more and makes both big and little changes each loop. Each do-over is as exciting as the last because you don't know what you don't know, and you can't guess what each change will precipitate. Even told from a teen's point of view, the emotional toll is evident since each loop brings the manifest closer to death, and the actions from each loop have no real consequences. I connected with Evelyn's inner monologue, and I love Rion as a character. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book - once I started, I could barely put it down! And the ending - a little too hopeful, a little mystical with a realistic twist! This book is an edge-of-your-seat, hold on tight thriller!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for the ARC!

✈️ Seconds to Spare by Rachel Reiss
🗓 May 12, 2026
📚 YA thriller/sci-fi

~~
"We're all living on borrowed
time, Rion. Every single person on this planet. There are no guarantees in life."

The truth of her words washes over me. I know she's right. Tomorrow is only a concept. It's not a reality. And in life, there are never any promises."

~~

Review:

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

This was excellent! I was on the edge of my plane seat! 😛

Seriously though, I really enjoyed this mystery. I think aviation mysteries are one of the most interesting things to read about.

Seconds to Spare had likeable characters, a terrifying atmosphere, and a lot of humor despite the circumstances. I loved Evelyn joking about her four minute therapy sessions on the plane, and all of her shenanigans - because there's no consequences when everything is going to reset in 28 minutes anyway, right?

I think this is a great book for both teenagers and adults. It kept me entertained and I think Rachel wrote a wonderful book!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

SECONDS TO SPARE by Rachel Reiss (May 12, 2026)

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eArc

Evelyn Werth is stuck in a time-loop. 28 minutes of torture as things keep repeating before the plane begins to nosedive. When Orion James wakes up (after being asleep the whole time) the cycle begins to change. It gets longer. Together, they must save everyone before it's too late.
SECONDS TO SPARE is a YA time loop thriller. This book is fast-paced, interesting, and even with the repetitiveness that occurs throughout some of these loops, there is never a dull moment. Reiss' debut OUT OF AIR was fabulous, SECONDS TO SPARE is on a while different level. I might be biased because I love a time loop book; nonetheless, this is so, so great. The dual-pov offers insight into what both Evelyn and Rion are going through---besides, of course, being stuck in a time loop. They're also likeable characters, and I rooted for them. I wanted them to get out of the loop, to survive.
SECONDS TO SPARE. I know I've managed to write a review, but I am speechless.

[Gina Malanga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really creative idea. I really enjoyed this book mainly because I’ve never read anything like it before. Evelyn is stuck in a time loop that seems as though it’s going to end in a plane crash. She has no idea how to stop it even after having been looped through the same events almost 350 times. But then in one of her attempts to try to figure out what’s going on, she wakes up Orion who has been asleep for the entire plane ride. Something about his waking up sets off a chain of events where they may just be able to break the loop. Beyond being a really cool concept it’s also a message around taking risks and living your life and not getting stuck in your routine and never trying anything new. I really thoroughly enjoyed this. I’ve read it in a day and you would think reading the same sequence of events over and over would get boring but because it’s always growing in evolving it’s super engaging.

[Starr ❇✌❇]

"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."

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book instantly caught my eye, and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the combination of a sci fi time loop, a thrilling race against time, and a budding romance.

Evelyn meets Rion in the airport, and after a brief but intense encounter, they board the plane. All seems normal until Evelyn finds herself in a terrifying 28 minute time loop—and she’s the only one experiencing it for hundreds of times, until a slight change in her behavior causes Rion to awaken and join her. Together, they’re in a race against time to figure out how to stop the chain of events leading to a horrific nosedive and, presumably, the deaths of all onboard. It’s exciting, well-paced, and all around enjoyable.

Loved this one, and I hope you do, too!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun fast YA thriller. I really enjoyed how the author played with a time loop, especially the fact that the book starts in the middle of the story. Evelyn has already lived the same 28 minutes 200 times when we first meet her, and you really feel her desperation in the time we spend with her before Orion wakes up. It was fun to follow these two get to know each other, the situation they were in, and their attempts at problem solving. I could have done without the romance, but I'm not the biggest fan of insta-love stories, but it just felt underdeveloped by the time they were madly in love at the end.

The chapters were short and quick to move the plot along, which I absolutely love in a thriller. It was compulsively readable and the story had me picking up the book to read it in short stints even when I only had a few extra minutes to read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond grateful to receive and ARC of Seconds to Spare! How does one change the course of a flight?

After an electric handshake with a very cute traveler, Evelyn Werth boards Aloha Airways Flight 1333. During the flight things shift and time repeats itself every 28 minutes. Stuck in a time loop, Evelyn learns about all of the passengers, including the boy she shook hands with.

That cute traveler? He's on the plane too. Orion has been sleeping through hundreds of the time loops until a turn of events wakes him from his slumber.

Now, Evelyn and Orion must team up to stop the chain of events before it's too late.

Fast paced and action packed this is a flight you don't want to miss!

[Christina L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of time loop books lately, but this one is definitely my new favorite. The concept of such a short time loop as opposed to the usual day long time loop upped the stakes of this book. It was clear time was limited and the mystery of the book was wonderfully done, with everything right in front of your and the characters' faces, it takes just the right observation in order to figure it out before time runs out. Although the book moved incredibly fast and had my adrenaline racing the whole time, I loved how it slowed down at some points in order to really get to know Evelyn and Rion, but also the side characters that are woven into the plot of the book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Candace Mahieu · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️I thoroughly enjoyed into this! Right from the start, you find yourself in Evelyn’s 194th 28-minute time loop. She’s such a quirky main character. Honest and kind, she’s facing a lot, which is evident in her numerous attempts to escape. In contrast, it was fascinating to watch Orion go through the initial stages of being caught in a time loop. Both characters must unite to break free from the cycle. I enjoyed how they worked together, drawing on each other’s strengths while also offering support and encouragement. Even though I’ve read a time loop story before, Reiss manages to keep it engaging by skillfully balancing complete chaos with heartfelt emotions. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the ARC!