Initially I had thought this was a horror novel about the Paris catacombs, possibly even paranormal horror, which had me excited. When I looked deeper after I got an arc, not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed when I found out it’s actually just a thriller. But a book doesn’t have to be supernatural to be gripping and scary and I do enjoy a good thriller, so I still had high hopes!

The synopsis is pretty to the point; a group of teens visiting Paris go into the catacombs for the promise of a secret party and end up getting lost. While trying to find their way out, they are being stalked by a group of people in masks, a possible underground cult. I was expecting something similar to The Descent or somewhere in that realm, and this actually was somewhat like that, but a YA version and much, much lighter. I think what kept this from being scarier was that the villains just weren’t convincing to me. The people in masks never feel very threatening because aside from the fact that there’s strangers wearing a mask that’s, they don’t say or do anything else. There was so much potential to make them scarier, even down to better describing scary features they have and what they wear. Aside from just, they’re wearing a skeleton mask and carry knives. There was so much potential to make these villains feel more scary and threatening but you aren’t told anything more about them. There was a chance to be more descriptive about them, what’s their expression like, their stance; there’s just ways to make them feel like more than a cartoon villain. Masked assailants on film may be enough to come off as scary but in book form, they have to have somewhat of more than a description of knife wielding mask assailant to be convincing. This just felt distant and cartoony. You learn more near the end but by then it’s too late to make it gripping if the villains feel cartoonish for all of it until the end.

I was expecting this to be a gripping and claustrophobic read, but I just found most of it felt anticlimactic. But, I really did enjoy the ending though, enough to consider giving this 4 stars! Mehhh first 80% percent but solid last 20%.

Thank you to Netgalley and GP Putnam for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year! A YA thriller set in the catacombs of Paris, this one is The Descent but make it French. I loved the claustrophobic, sinister vibes of the off-limits catacombs and our main character Ruby's introspection about death and what we leave behind. I wasn't a fan of all the boy drama and pitting the girls against each other (give me more creepy tunnels and less bad communication please) but it did feel realistic for the age range. Sean didn't have very much to do in this book, but it was interesting seeing what was going on aboveground while Ruby and co. were running amok underground. Some of the dialogue is a bit cringey (and the French has some mistakes, but I did read an ARC so this might be changed in the final copy) but all in all I couldn't put it down and I would probably reread it. A really fun and surprisingly emotional thriller that I would have loved as a teenager.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome book for YA that explores the underground of Paris - the catacombs that you may have heard of but know little about.

In Under the Surface, Ruby is on her first international trip, to France! She isn't sure if it's a good idea to break some of the rules with her friends and before she knows it, she is underground. At Night. And lost

I didn't necessarily believe everything that lead up to the underground portion but I enjoyed reading that portion very much. If you are a YA fan, A France Fan, or an urban legend fan, this is a book for you! #penguin #underthesurface #dianaurban

If you’re craving another horror/thriller like As Above So Below, where the characters make actually competent decisions, boy oh boy do I have a book for you.

See: Under the Surface, in which a group of teenage girls on their school’s Paris trip get lost in the catacombs and can’t find their way out.

The premise honestly sells this book short in how fleshed out and well written it is. Not only does it keep you on your toes, but UNDER THE SURFACE does a spectacular job at examining friendships, complex female characters, and first loves.

There wasn’t one moment reading this where I felt bored or wanted to scream at the characters for making poor decisions. My biggest crux when it comes to the horror/thriller genre is when the police aren’t doing their jobs and/or when the characters lack critical thinking; both of which thankfully did NOT happen in the entirety of this book.

As an almost cherry on top, there were moments that reminded me of Bodies Bodies Bodies, but also an air of creepiness and mystery similar to the one found in Midsommar.

In short, this was basically a mish mash of all my favorite things ever.

My deepest thanks to NetGalley, Diana Urban, and Penguin/G. P. Putnam for providing a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thrilling. Exciting. Terrifying. I liked this book!
Ever since I saw one of the authors excellent teaser videos on insta a few months ago I have been thinking about this book. Every time she posts I get excited all over it again. Imagine my delight when I got approved for a netgalley of it a few months before I thought I would get to read it!!
It took me a few more chapters than it usually takes me to understand exactly who all the characters were (I kept confusing all the things Selena, Olivia, And Lav and were doing/ saying) but that might have been thanks to reading this after work, and with no coffee in hand!
Once I was fully acclimated to the story I was INVESTED. I was reading faster. I needed the next page. I needed my eyeballs to move faster. I love a good thriller like this where I go from anxious, to terrified, to laughing because the tension broke for just a second. But then I go right back to on the edge of my seat-about-to-hurl-my-kindle-at-the-wall because THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN (um. Spiders. Ew. amongst other things, like impeding doom in the form of a skeleton… and darkness.)
It wasn’t just a thriller though, there was processing past events, trauma, grief, rather annoying adults. Life felt represented in this book. Sprinkle in a cute little romance and call me a happy reader.

Thank you NetGalley and GP Putnam's for the eARC of Under the Surface by Diana Urban.

Are you claustrophobic? Yes? No? This book will yank up your anxiety you'll feel you're lost beneath a city with no way out. Under the Surface follows Ruby Hale and two of her friends who are so excited to visit Paris for the first time. For Ruby, it's a chance to step out from underneath her overprotective father and find some hidden gems of Paris for travel YouTube channel, and her two friends are along for the ride. That is, until one of them, Val, meets a cute Frenchman who offers to take her to the party of a lifetime... in the catacombs. Not knowing where Val went, and fearing the worst, Ruby follows and brings two other classmates along who are trying to avoid getting caught sneaking out by their teacher. When they catch up with Val and enter the catacombs, what should have been a party of their lifetime turns into a harrowing misadventure when one of the girls winds up injured resulting in the whole group getting lost. Will they make it out? Will anyone know they're missing? Great questions, but more importantly, what's going on with their mysterious French guide?

I loved absolutely everything about this book. The drama between the characters, the plot - I mean, come on, getting lost in the catacombs???, the themes of grief and growing up, finding family in those closest to you. This book has a bit of everything too, it explores the history of the catacombs, French culture, American culture, social media's impact on missing person's cases, cults, and so much more. I honestly can't recommend this enough. I couldn't put it down. If you're looking for a book that will make your heart race, make you cry, and constantly worry about the next outcome - this is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Under the Surface!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🔦 want to be a cataphile
💔 have ever lost a friendship
🌍 want to travel the world
🇫🇷 know or speak French

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Ruby is terrified to cave to her feelings for Sean and risk him crushing her heart.

Sean is pumped to spend a week with Ruby in Paris on their senior class trip, and he’ll wait however long until she’s ready to take things further.

But when Ruby’s best friend sneaks out the first night to meet a mysterious French boy, Ruby goes after her with two classmates, but caves to another temptation: attending mystery boy’s exclusive party in the Paris catacombs, the intricate web of tunnels beneath the city, home to six million long-dead Parisians. Only they never reach the party.

Underground, as something sinister chases them, they get lost in the endless maze of bones, uncovering dark secrets about the catacombs…..and each other. And if they can’t find a way out, they’ll die in the dark beneath the City of Light.

Aboveground, Sean races to find the girl he loves as a media frenzy over the four missing teens begins.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

As someone who loves anything and everything about the Paris catacombs, I knew I had to read this book! Wow, was it something else. Diana does an incredible job of sucking us into the story and describing the dark and mysterious underworld of the catacombs that are off limits to people. It reminded me a lot of the movie As Above, So Below in a lot of ways. I felt Ruby’s fear, hunger, thirst, and terror like my own. And some of the situations they found themselves in would have had me bawling my eyes out and unable to do. All in all, this is a great read if you’re into the catacombs!

A great ya thriller! I was engaged the whole time eager to see what would happen. I liked how each character’s backstory was given. It made for great development. Overall, a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

A really engaging and strong YA thriller. Ruby's plot as the group figures out how to escape while also dealing with their relationships developed so well. Sean's plot couldn't quite compete with Ruby's but that's expected, his POV succeeded in keeping the other characters involved in the plot while maintaining momentum between the next Ruby chapter.
It's a strong standalone thriller that is also suitable for teenagers.

From beginning to end, I found Under The Surface to be absolutely one of the best books that I have read this year! It was everything from eerie & chilling to incredibly suspenseful & mind blowing.

I was on the edge of my seat non-stop & I loved every minute of it!

This young adult thriller focuses on 4 high school seniors and their adventure in Paris. I've been interested in the Paris catacombs but most media is horror based which is not my thing. Under the Surface was the right level of creepy without being gory.

This book was such an enjoyable read. It is targeted toward young adults, but as an adult (age 62), I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

I enjoyed the thrilling twists and turns and read the book in one sitting.

The setting is perfect, the characters fantastic, and the book is a truly thrilling ride. You will scream and be on the edge of your seat!

Highly recommend!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, for this wonderful book.

Expected publication August 13, 2024.

This was really good, although I felt there could’ve been a little more character development. There was some, just not enough to feel invested in them. I didn’t care too much one way or the other what happened to any of them. But the plot was really good, unique and interesting and ended nicely. I was kind of hoping for more of a twist or struggle. It is an arc so maybe the author will add a little more development to it. I felt it was a quick, easy read. Definitely recommend!

Thank you very much for this eARC that was generously provided by the publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Ruby finds out about a party in the catacombs, she can't say no to the opportunity, and now she's going to regret it.

Under the Surface is a tense, twisty, YA thriller set in the Paris catacombs and featuring two POVs, a creepy bone cult, and plenty of claustrophobic moments that will set the hair on the back of your neck standing on end.

I DEVOURED this book in two days. Diana Urban's writing is so easy to read yet SO engaging. I HAD to know what going to happen next. I honestly would have finished this in one day if I didn't have to sleep lol. The writing was so vivid in my mind. I also had no idea this was based on a true story and now I might need to watch documentaries on the Paris Catacombs cause this was wild.

On top of all the nail biting scenes, the characters have their own personal turmoil they're hashing out WHILE trapped inside. All the layers of conflict going on inside and outside the catacombs just added that extra "je ne sais quoi" that I had me gripping my kobo.

Oh yeah, and I cried.

I hope this makes it on the big screen one day!!

I absolutely love anything related to the catacombs so I was super excited to get my hands on this book.

For me there is definitely nothing scarier then that feeling of being lost underground and having no idea where to go or how to get out. Am I getting closer to an exit or farther away??

Add to it being chased by masked knife carrying mystery men and you've g9tnone scary ride!

Small Business BookTok ARC Reviews: “Under the Surface” by Diana Urban

Note: This ARC was given to me for free by the author and I am reviewing this book voluntarily.

While on a school field trip to Paris, France, Ruby is struggling to confess her feelings to her friend, Sean, for fear that their relationship will fall apart like her connection with her ex-friend, Serena! Little does she know that Sean also wants to confess his feelings to her, but he's fearful of heartbreak as his strict father is forcing him to join the army. When Ruby's friend, Val, makes a reckless decision that traps her and some of her classmates underneath the Paris catacombs, Ruby will do whatever it takes to make sure her group escapes alive, and it’s up to Sean to figure out where Ruby went before time runs out!

From the author that brought you “All Your Twisted Secrets”, “These Deadly Games”, and “Lying in the Deep”, Diana Urban delivers yet another fantastic YA Mystery Thriller reminiscent of “The Descent” that will leave you on the edge of your seat! Urban's word-building not only brings ingenious lore to the Urban Legends of the Paris Catacombs, but also provides the reader with nods and references to historical facts behind said catacombs! Rose and Sean also had excellent character development in their chemistry throughout the novel. Both characters start out struggling to speak their minds or communicate their needs for fear of disappointing others, including their parents, but throughout their journey, it took fearfulness of Death, the fight to survive, and their fear of losing one another for them to realize that life is too short for them to not take chances on one another and their dreams. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and it took that time apart for these two to eventually grow stronger together! Do you dare to take the path to the Paris Catacombs? Then don’t miss out on this book when it hits online and in-store shelves on August 17, 2024!

Rating: 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

-Tropes to Expect: Psychological Thriller, YA Romance, Friends-to-Lovers, Survival Horror, Pining, Urban Legend Lore, and Secrets and Lies.

-Trigger Warnings: Relationship Angst, Family Conflict, Miscommunication, Toxic Friendship, Tons of Skulls, Explicit Injuries, Brutal Deaths, and Claustrophobic Spaces.

"Under the Surface" by Diana Urban is a thrilling and suspenseful young adult novel that takes readers on a harrowing journey through the dark and mysterious catacombs beneath the streets of Paris. The story follows Ruby and Sean, two high school seniors whose budding romance is put to the test when they, along with Ruby's best friend and two classmates, become lost in the catacombs during a senior class trip.

Urban's writing is fast-paced and engaging, drawing readers in with its vivid descriptions and heart-pounding action. The catacombs themselves are a haunting and atmospheric setting, providing a chilling backdrop for the unfolding events. As Ruby and her friends struggle to find a way out, they uncover dark secrets about the catacombs and each other, adding layers of intrigue to the story.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters, particularly Ruby and Sean, whose emotional journey is at the heart of the story. Ruby's fear and uncertainty are palpable, making her a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, while Sean's determination to find her is both endearing and inspiring.

"Under the Surface" is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. With its blend of mystery, romance, and adventure, Diana Urban has crafted a compelling story that will appeal to fans of young adult fiction. Dive into this thrilling tale and discover the dark secrets that lie "Under the Surface."

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
A once in a lifetime party in the catacombs under Paris, what could possibly go wrong? A lot, actually. What a read. I had to set it down a few times to catch my breath because even I beginning to panic about getting lost in the maze of tunnels. I don’t think what happened in the catacombs is what the characters signed up for, but it was an epic and spine-tingling read for us bookworms. Just remember to please respect the dead that rest down there!

I absolutely, 100% LOVED this book. This will be part of my Top 5 books of 2024.

I don’t even know where to start with this one. Yes, it’s on the creepy, thriller side, but there’s so much more to it than that. I felt like I was walking right along side Ruby and her companions.

Urban brings this story to life by including all the senses. I could clearly visualize the catacombs. I could smell the decay and puddle of murky water. I felt when the characters sustained injuries during their adventure. I heard the screams and the footsteps as they ran for their lives. I felt their terror as they stumbled upon dead ends and skeletons. I could only imagine how parched they were with no water or food. There were enough details that I could tell Urban either did her research or explored those catacombs herself.

There were so many twists and turns in this novel, but I loved that they were believable. I was bug-eyed most of the time and couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. I just needed to know more!

The only issue I had was I wanted an additional Ruby’s POV chapter between chapters 52 and 53. It just seemed to be a pretty abrupt time jump. Otherwise this book was sheer perfection.

Also, side note: Don’t read this at night while laying in bed. You won’t be able to sleep.

*An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review.