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.

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.

Fast paced YA thriller set in the Paris Catacombs? Yes, please. Survivalist thrillers are a favorite genre of mine to begin with and I love a good spooky setting on top of that. I think this easily would have been a favorite of mine if I read it as a teenager. As an adult it was still a fun, fast read overall. I enjoyed the twists and turns. The interpersonal drama between the main characters definitely read as YA which was a little boring to me, however, that’s fully on me because this is a YA book with YA dynamics and I do think it works well within the story. I will definitely be keeping this one on my books to recommend for teen readers who like thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!

If you’re looking for an intense YA adventure / thriller with a unique setting, this is the book for you. This book is about four high school students attempting to make it to a party taking place in the Paris catacombs but get lost. What follows is a survival thriller with cults, betrayals, and low supplies.

I did like that this book also had a POV from above ground so you could see how close they were getting to finding the girls. This also provided the perspectives of the girls’ friends and families who had no idea what was going on even when you did.

Overall this book took a little to get into, some of the language and actions of the characters feels a bit juvenile considering their ages but this feel away a lot once the action started. It’s an interesting thriller with lots of facts about the Paris catacombs throughout so if that’s something you would like definitely check this book out!

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinteen for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Under the Surface is out August 13, 2024.

Wow! High school students who love thrillers with a little clean romance will eat this book up! Great for fans of Ally Carter, the story happens mostly in the Paris catacombs when a group of high schoolers on a school trip make a poor decision and end up trapped and in danger in the off-limits section of the catacombs. The twists and turns will keep you guessing til the end!

Another winning thriller from Diana Urban! Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The descriptions were vivid and the vibes were creepy and tense throughout. The pacing was also fantastic and kept me turning the pages!!

I absolutely loved this book! I feel like I just watched a movie. The writing is very atmospheric and the storyline keeps you guessing the whole time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller definitely kept me on my toes, the plot was so unique and interesting. The dual POV added so much more depth to the story but I do think there were some plot lines left unfinished. Overall I would definitely recommend.