The Ocean Above Me

This intermittently propulsive debut novel from journalist Sites (The Things They Cannot Say) unfolds mostly off the coast of South Carolina, after former war journalist Lukas Landon climbs aboard the trawler Philomena to write a series of newspaper articles on its crew, who are on an end-of-year expedition to catch enough shrimp to break even. When a storm capsizes the ship, Landon takes refuge in the bathroom deep within the vessel, where an air pocket keeps him alive as the Philomena sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Unsure if there are other survivors, Landon uses his wits to stay alive, all the while waiting for rescue. Sites intersperses Landon’s underwater struggle with the journalist’s articles and his interactions with the crew in the days leading up to the storm. These departures lessen the immediate tension, though they make for engaging character portraits, particularly of Philomena captain Clarita Esteban, a Black woman and Army veteran fighting racism in the fishing industry. As Landon mines the trauma of those around him for material, his own struggles with alcoholism come to light. Landon’s commitment to finding a way to the surface will keep readers turning the pages. Agent: Michael Signorelli, Aevitas Creative Management. (July)