Girl Underwater by Claire Kells - A Review

Girl Underwater by Claire Kells follows Avery Delacorte, a nineteen-year-old competitive swimmer, whose life is turned upside down when her flight home for Thanksgiving crash-lands in a mountain lake in the Colorado Rockies. She’s one of only five survivors, including her teammate Colin Shea, who’s the one person at college who ever challenged her to be her own person. Now, in freezing conditions with minimal supplies, Avery and Colin must rely on each other in ways neither expected.

The book alternates between her terrifying days in the wilderness and her recovery back home, supported by two men who love her—though only one knows what really happened. Kells does a fantastic job making the wilderness scenes feel realistic and intense. You really feel the danger, the cold, and the desperation. Even though you know the survivors make it out, the tension never lets up.

Avery is a strong, smart, and relatable heroine. She’s flawed but admirable, and while her PTSD and emotional distance sometimes made her hard to connect with, her struggles felt authentic. The writing has a great pace, keeping you engaged without slowing down in the aftermath of the crash.

The story reminded me a bit of Twilight or The Hunger Games in its mix of romance and life-or-death survival, but it stands apart because it’s grounded and believable—no sci-fi twists, just a realistic disaster and realistic people. Kells also does a great job portraying how trauma affects everyone differently and showing the emotional fallout of surviving a life-threatening event.

Overall it’s a compelling, well-written novel that blends suspense, romance, and emotional depth. Girl Underwater is a quick, gripping read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys survival stories with heart, complexity, and romance.

★★★★★

Purchased on my own free will, this is my honest opinion. 

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