This was definitely not a thriller, or how I imagine a YA Thriller to be. This was romantic suspense at best.

The story is about a "traveling school." A prestigious school, that is on board a cruise ship. They travel around the world, but also provides classes, etc on board and off. A cool concept for a school, if I say so. But, it all starts with teenage drama. A best friend, who stole a boyfriend, comes on the ship with the said boyfriend. Yup... The book did start with a bloody scene, so we know there will be murder, but why or who we don't get to find out till later in the second half of the book, when bodies start to pile up. The first half of the book is just teenage drama, and trying to figure out how it all started, and trying to make the ex boyfriend jealous.

Like I said, romantic suspense. It was definitely not for me. It was completely out there with the plot. But it could be entertaining for certain demographic.

Thank you to the publisher, all thoughts are my own.

A murder mystery set on a cruise ship following college kids? Sign me up. In this story we follow Jade who is so ready for a semester aboard the cruise ship following the break up of not only her boyfriend but also her best friend. However, when she sets sail, she finds out that the new couple is on board with her. Her obsession with trying to find out what happened between the three of them as well as with the couple grows. When one ends up murdered, she will have to clear her name.

I wanted to love this book so bad. The premise was so interesting. However, for the characters to be in college, they read VERY young. The main character was annoying and did not make the best decisions as someone who is in an Ivy League School! The character development was lacking and the twists were just meh. I would recommend this to middle age readers, not young adult.

I had this one partially figured out. But there was still something that was different than what played out in my head. It made this a hard book to put down.

I enjoyed how the murders took place on a ship. There was no way out and it definitely made it more suspenseful. The characters were older than I expected, but I like that for this. Jade was super easy to like besides her somewhat obsession with Silas and Lainey. I adored Felix and Miguel right away. This was just a super fun thriller that made me second guess myself multiple times.

I gave this book 4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 on Goodreads.

Thank you to the publisher for approving my earc on Netgalley.

Thanks so much for this review copy. I really did love this book. It was full of fun twists and turns. Also I do Diana Urban last couple books, All Your Twisted Secerts and These Deadly Games. I'm so looking forward to more book by this aurthor. Thank so much for letting me reading it. I do love discovering new read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I have to admit that I LOVE a murder mystery set on a boat in the middle of the ocean. At their core, these stories are about forced proximity to an unknow murderer, I find that super riveting and spooky!

Lying in the Deep finds the FMC, Jade, in this exact situation. This book was fast paced and kept me intrigued from start to finish. At times, I found the writing to be a bit juvenile but these characters are high school students so that tracks.

There were ALOT of characters to keep up with and alot of them had very small parts in the overall storyline. One these characters were introduced and their role was uncovered, they were quickly forgotten.

Overall, a quick entertaining read! I will be on the lookout for future books from Diana Urban.

Unique YA (ish--college students but they act like high school students) mystery adventure set on a cruise ship semester at sea.

This could have been good. The premise absolutely drew me in--a YA retelling of Death on the Nile--and while I did appreciate the nods to that classic novel, this ultimately didn't work for me.

The main premise is that a group of high achieving college students are heading off on a cruise ship for Campus on Board, a semester traveling to various countries and attending classes on the ship. Jade is a Stanford student looking forward to the new adventure and a bit of distance after being dumped and blocked by her boyfriend Silas, who has now hooked up with her former roommate and best friend Lainey. Yet while in the check in line Jade discovers that Lainey and Silas are also on board. When suspicious things begin to occur, all eyes are on the jilted Jade. How can she prove that she is innocent?

For this being about college students, these characters, particularly Jade, are the most immature, whiny people around. Jade spends SO much time obsessing about Silas and Lainey and side-eyeing them across the room that it just got nauseating after a while. These characters all act stupidly and the armchair detective work is HIGH. Seriously, if anyone would have had the common sense or maturity to sit down and have a conversation instead of spying around corners, the melodrama would have been so much more palatable.

Another thing that annoyed me was that there was one point that some characters do meth of all things, and it comes out that one of them had been doing it for a while. This is so incredibly unrealistic. Adderall, I would believe, but meth? I have two kids who just finished college and I asked them if they ever had heard of college students using meth. They listed alcohol, pot, ecstasy, Adderall, Oxy, even cocaine, but meth never entered either of their spheres of reference.

This book may work for some readers who can ignore the utter immaturity of these supposed college students and appreciate the locked room (cruise ship) mystery. I just couldn't.

the problem with this book was the beginning. It dragged on and made it very hard to stay focused while waiting for something to happen. Honestly, that is the only reason why I took two stars away. Once the book hit a little bit above the 50% mark, the story got so intriguing and I couldn't out the book down.

You can tell that Urban really thought through this mystery, making every revelation a shocker. In fact, I truly had no idea who was behind all of the killings on board the cruise ship. There were so many red herrings which made the book fun to read once it got to the part of solving the mystery.

I do have to say that the ending was a little b it dramatic, but hey, it's fiction. The characters were all somewhat likable and understandable, but a few were dealing with problems way over their heads for college students. Jade was a good main character and I enjoyed her romance with Felix,

Overall, the cruise ship was an interesting setting for a murder mystery and Urban did amazing at describing where the characters were and what was happening. It felt like I was really on that boat watching this story unfold. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this review copy!

When I read the synopsis for this one I was immediately intrigued. I didn’t really enjoy the authors first book as the twist at the end was one I didn’t like so I was a bit nervous coming back to her books but I decided that a murder mystery set at sea was something I had to pick up! I heard this one was similar to death on the Nile and I can definitely see some similarities, stuck on a ship at sea with a killer, and a race against time to find them. As opposed to the authors first book the twists in this one were better executed and I found myself with a notebook in hand trying to solve the mystery along with our main character, Jade. I think if you like mystery’s, especially locked room type ones or trapped with the killer I highly recommend this one!

I really enjoyed this one! I was a little hesitant at first since the authors debut novel wasn’t one of my favourites and her other books didn’t really interest me but I picked this one up because I love books set on ships and this one did not disappoint. The beginning was a bit slow but once you passed that the action picked up. I enjoyed Jade well enough as a main character and I really enjoyed the trap at sea with a killer aspect. There were a lot of twists and turns in this one, some I saw coming and others I didn’t. Overall I really enjoyed this one.

what started as a young adult version of DEATH ON THE NILE turned into the worst characters I’ve ever come into contact with 🥴😵‍💫

every single college student on this cruise (that also teaches classes like what how can I sign up???) is an idiot - like if someone got unalived on my semester long cruise, I’d lock myself in my room and get the heck off that ship

BUT NO our MCs have to solve the mystery before the police do!!!! why? it’s still unclear to me

diana urban is a queen for fast-paced heart-pounding locked door mysteries, and I must admit, I was pretty hooked even though I was rolling my eyes and cringing at these characters and their dialogue more often than not

I just found the entire story a little unbelievable and random for my taste, but for those who love young adult mysteries, definitely give it a go!

thank you to netgalley and razorbill for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: south african pinotage

This one is just pure fun.

It's a little silly and a whole lot of over-the-top crazy, but I loved our main character and absolutely adored the setting - I would have loved to do a semester at sea (maybe without murder, thought).

There's a ton of teen angst and the reasons behind everything definitely stretch the imagination - turn your logic sensors off. But the book was a blast of a read.

Would read the author again!

Lying in the deep

This was one wild ride, a 5 star worthy ride. I had so many different ideas of what was going on that I had to write them down to keep track. I am somewhat proud that I figured out parts of it. There are so many plot twists and additions that are there just to throw you off.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to netgalley, Diana Urban, and the publisher for the opportunity to read the book.

The characters are brilliant, I really enjoyed how they all interacted. I think it was a good idea to have them be college-aged given some of the things that happen. There are hard drugs involved in one storyline, and it wasn't until that point that i realised how vital that age choice was. This is one of those books where if you didn't catch the hints while reading, you will when you're looking back. It was nice to have a little hint of romance even if it seemed to progress quite quickly.

If I had a complaint, it would be the main character is not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you're the main suspect in a crime, don't start breaking into crime scenes and having chats with other suspects. (On that point, they really should have had guards or something) Also, I knew very quickly what she'd done to upset her friend enough that she stole her boyfriend (not that I condone that). Plus, she very much was kind of stalking her cheating ex, and that's not a good look.

I already own one of the authors' other books, and i'm excited to read that one now.

This is definitely one of those murder mysteries where EVERYONE has a motive to keep you guessing! I also really enjoyed the fact that the story was set at a semester at sea (and yay for college-aged characters in YA books!!!!).

I've read a number of books in this genre, but this is the first to take place at a school on a luxury cruise ship (which is something I've never even heard of). I found it to be a fast-paced and engaging suspense. There are numerous twists to keep the reader guessing during this floating mystery.

At times, Jade was a bit annoying in her obsession with her ex-boyfriend Silas and ex-friend Lainey. Jade's relationship with Felix with okay, but it did feel a little forced. In some scenes, the characters felt like they were in high school vs. college, but this did balance out overall.

It was fun to try and figure out who the killer was, and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. I wish a bit more of the action had taken place off the ship so I could've enjoyed the ports a bit more, but I really enjoyed this one. I look forward to reading more by Urban in the future.

Are you ready Dive into the deep end of this chilling tale with a shocking twist?

College at Sea - Jade is spending a semester of college at sea, called Campus on Board, that she has been dreaming of through most of college.
Ex-Bestie - But when she arrives she finds her ex-bestie and her ex-boyfriend there, and they happen to be dating each other.
Found Dead - Jade is still reeling from the abrupt breakup and is even more taken aback when her ex-bestie is found missing with blood all over her cabin.
Body Count - the Body count continues to rise as someone is trying desperately to cover their tracks and potentially frame Jade.

While I had never read anything by this author before, I will absolutely be picking up more. The pacing was fast and I loved the chapters filled with life on the boat as well as some fun excursions in Europe. The twists will keep you guessing for sure. This book would be perfect for a vacation read. Grab a life vest and join the suspenseful journey

I had given up on Young Adult mysteries for a while, but this story was a fun and fast read that I enjoyed.

The story takes place on a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship and features a diverse cast of characters who all have their own secrets and motives. The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing what really happen until the end.

Jade, the main character, is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist who has been betrayed by her ex-boyfriend Silas and former best friend Lainey. She's excited to be embarking on an adventure of a lifetime and hoping to put some distance between herself and the people who hurt her. However, when she discovers that her ex and former friend are also on board, things quickly take a dark turn.

The murder that takes place on the ship sets off a chain reaction of events that lead to even more deaths and a race against time to catch the killer. Urban's writing is fast-paced and engaging, with well-drawn characters and plenty of suspense. The setting of the cruise ship adds an extra layer of tension to the story, as the characters are isolated and unable to escape from danger. While there is a big group of characters, it is easy to remember who is who based on the events that happened before the murder. And this also helps the reader to figure out who is the murdered.

What I loved most about Lying in the Deep was the way the story explored themes of jealousy, love, and betrayal. Urban expertly weaves these themes into the plot, making for a truly thrilling and thought-provoking read. Overall, I highly recommend Lying in the Deep to anyone who loves a good young adult mystery or thriller. It's a page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Summary of review: my favorite part of the book was when I got to close it.

Welcome aboard! Let's throw character development and interesting plots in the belly of the ship and use cheesy tropes and a bad boy to lure you on deck! Hopefully, you'll have such a good time, you can ignore what is being left out.

This book is so cheesy. Generally, I find a lot of books cheesy, but that doesn't mean I can't have a good time. Lying in the Deep is heavily dependent on tropes and comical caricatures of teenagers to keep you reading.

Our characters are text-book cardboard with single-trait personalities. Felix, the bad boy; Miguel, the Instagram star; Lainey, the b*tchy ex-best friend; and Jade, our sweet but sassy main character. These are just some of the characters that made up our main cast. Since they are spending a college semester aboard, I was expecting it to be a little more mature in dialogue. Yet, no college-age kids talk like our characters do (proof of point: IM a college-age kid). The book is filled with a lot of stilted dialogue and awkward one-liners that were supposed to be funny. I do not have a problem with large casts of characters, but when not a single one of them is interesting, I get lost and confused. All of the relationships between them are so shallow you wouldn't dare to dive into them. Since meeting the characters is the first 15% of the book, I had a bad feeling just after that section alone.

The mystery is badly written. In an effort to not make the culprit obvious, the author gives a bunch of red herrings that are incredibly obvious. Jade is, unfortunately, quite dumb and doesn't pick up on any clues until the end, when she is trapped with the murderer. Instead of fighting like hell to get free, she decides to let the murderer explain themself. Absolutely ludicrous. As silly as that is, it gets even worse. The murderer twists the plot on its head in an unending dialogue that is made up of "that's what you think happened, but really I...." It was a valiant effort to save a mystery, but it just made me laugh through the pain.

Warning: do not board this book boat. There is a 90% chance of boredom.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with the eARC! I really enjoyed Diana's These Deadly Games so I was intrigued by her next book, even more so when I got to read an excerpt from it(thank you BookishFirst).
I have second degree hate for Laniey already omg. Usually it's the best friend dates my bf trope is a cliche but it works here in a very good way, I can already tell. Jade's interaction with Miguel is giving me strangers on a train vibes but ofc they're on a cruise. And the prologue with the opening scene...I love that Jade has no qualms about finding her ex bestie dead, she just like "welp, its what she deserves' it's cold but I love it because ofc she feels that way. I like her murderous imagination. Also the shirt thing with the twins(how are you gonna buy someone a shirt, give them it, and you expect them to pay it back?) When I read it I thought "ohhh, so they're like that. Ok". Also the way Lainey acts whenever Jade tries to talk to her and Silas as if she's a psycho ex makes me question if she told badmouth Jade around Silas, cause she's definitely mindfucking with everyone on the cruise. Made me wonder what she's setting the stage up for because it seemed manipulative to me. I kept on wondering how Jade had enough time to wander about a ship( whenever there's a teen sleuth you have to give them the benefit of the doubt and throwaway some logic), cause there was 18 hours until they docked at the next port and she never really got tired or seemed hungry, I understand she was on adrenaline probably but for the entirety of the 18 hours, never resting or eating at least a little bit? She shouldn't have been able to function imo. I did still enjoy reading the book, I liked her and Felix's banter and ofc with Diana Urban the love interest is not what they seem which seems to be a pattern in her books. I like the shock of that.

I'm such a sucker for adaptations, and this one exceeds all expectations!

Though the story is inspired by Death on the Nile (Agatha Christie), all the modern twists and turns in the plot take it to another level.

I can't wait to see what Diana writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Razorbill for providing me with an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!

The +s:
- I enjoyed reading this book! I liked the setting and enjoyed the descriptions. I also did find myself wanting to pick it back up whenever I had to set it down.
- The romance was cute and fun to follow!
- It was fast paced and action packed, especially in the second half. I tend to turn off my brain when reading mysteries so I did enjoy the twists, though some were predictable.
- I was definitely waiting throughout to find out what happened between Jade, Lainey, and Silas. I found that plotline intriguing and had no way of guessing what had happened.

The -s:
- It did feel a little juvenile at times and I found myself often forgetting that the characters were college students.
- I did not feel very attached to the characters nor did I find most of them very memorable.
- Though there was plenty of action going on, it was a little frustrating to follow as the characters kept making stupid decisions that ultimately led nowhere. The discoveries they made did not really help Jade solve the mystery. Rather, they came together to form a clear picture after the answer was revealed.

Overall, an enjoyable 3-star read in a unique setting with some fun twists. Pick it up you're looking for something light and fast paced!