YA survivalist story set in the Paris catacombs? Sign me up!

I sat down expecting to chip away at this over the course of a few weeks, and ended up devouring it in 24 hours. Couldn’t put it down. The hero of this book is the pacing - gripping, action packed (internal + external), and quickly gets to the meat of the story while providing enough buildup to feel invested in the characters. Once it picks up, it doesn’t let up until the end.

The setting was fascinating, and set a strong tone right off the bat. Descriptive enough to set the scene and be able to envision it, without taking away from the fast paced action. Shifting POVs offered brief reprieves without detracting from the plot line, but rather deepened it.

My only potential thorn to this rose of a book, is that I would have preferred the ‘villain motivation’ to have gone in a slightly different direction - but that’s ultimately a matter of preference and I think the way it was written works well within the context of the story and the target YA reader audience.

Ultimately I felt like in many ways this should have been a 4 star read. Yet it has je ne sais quoi (Mr. LeBrecque would be so proud!). The writing style, the pacing, and the dynamics amongst the teen characters is captivating in a way that was unexpected and above & beyond a lot of books in this YA genre space.

My hope is that the author will consider writing additional survivalist stories based on true events. Either way I can confidently say that if she writes it, I will read it!

I have always been interested in the Paris catacombs, and so when I saw this book was set there I was really excited. I really enjoyed the storyline and was totally not expecting all of the twists and turns. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!

Under the Surface is claustrophobic, intense, and deeply atmospheric. The synopsis had me at Paris catacombs and survival thriller, and I was not disappointed!

I inhaled this book - it kept me on the edge of my seat. In addition to exploring themes of friendship, loss, and love, the story is imbued with eighteenth century Paris history. The catacombs come to life in the pages - the reverence of being among the many dead, the cloying claustrophobia of being below the surface, and the sights and smells of the dark and damp tunnels.

Under the Surface had all the elements I look for in a thriller, and reminded me of Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, the starter to one of my all-time favorite series. The story delivers in every way! I cannot recommend it enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Under the Surface is the perfect teen read. After finishing this book I realize I was not the target audience, but I enjoyed the read anyway. This books is about friendship, loss, and the connections we can make or lose on the journey through life. I liked the thriller aspect of this book although the scares were not what I expected going into the book. I love the setting of the catacombs (that’s what pulled me in) but I think the setting could use a little more description. Overall I would recommend this book to others.

Wow. I couldn’t stop reading this book, I devoured it in one sitting. Fast paced, terrifying, heartfelt, suspenseful, these are just some words I would use to describe this book. I may be biased because I am and have always been obsessed with the Paris Catacombs and this book just did it so much justice. It also added another favorite topic of mine that added even more to my enjoyment, but I won’t say what that is as it’s a major spoiler. The writing was fantastic to the point where I legit had to take a puff of my inhaler because I was feeling so claustrophobic. I wasn’t expecting this to be as terrifying as it was. I love too that it takes the found footage of the lost explorer that was a real story back in the 90s (you can watch it on YouTube) and adds to the lore, this adds an extra layer of scare factor. I thought I would be annoyed about the teenage drama that was unfolding and I actually really thought it was weaved into the story in a way that I feel real teenagers would act like in these situations they are in. I feel the book was the perfect length and gave time for everything to play out and have answers to questions that come up. This book will keep you guessing, making you constantly need to turn the next page, and pure enjoyment alone, this is my favorite book of the year so far.

Get ready to dive into this heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping, mind-bending YA thriller that unfolds in one of the eerie, haunted real-life locations: the catacombs of Paris! Diana Urban takes you on an underground adventure where danger lurks in the dark, and every second counts!

It’s a tense, exciting, thrilling experience, with expertly crafted suspense that will leave you breathless.

The story follows a group of high schoolers on a trip to Paris with their teachers. Ruby, eager to gain attention for her YouTube travel channel where she explores secret and sacred locations, has a crush on Sean, who helps edit her videos. She's accompanied by her adventurous best friend Val, whose famous TV persona parents add to the mix.

Ruby still feels guilty when she sees her ex-best friend Selena, now attending the same trip with her girlfriend.

Their uneventful trip takes a dramatic turn when Val meets a charming French college student who invites them to an underground party. Despite Ruby's attempts to dissuade her, Val leaves the hotel without informing her. Ruby follows, determined to ensure her friend's safety, only to run into Selena, her former best friend turned nemesis, and Olivia, the valedictorian with a quirky demeanor around Sean. Together, they embark on a search for Val.

Their journey leads them to Julien, a mysterious French boy who dares them to explore the catacombs for the ultimate party experience. Ruby sees this as a chance to boost her YouTube channel, while the others view it as a thrilling challenge. However, their adventure turns perilous when one of them gets injured, and they become lost in the dark, unable to reach the party.

As they struggle to find their way out, they realize they've become prey to dangerous hunters, and their fight for survival begins.

Can Sean uncover the truth about their disappearance and alert the authorities? Or are they on their own in their desperate struggle to escape and survive?

While the main mystery may stretch believability, the action-packed storyline, themes of love, hate, betrayal, and survival are well-developed. The riveting pace keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the satisfying conclusion earns this Parisian thriller four stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/ G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for providing this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book blew me away! It had me in the edge of my seat the entire time. I was so nervous and wasn’t sure who to trust. I loved getting to know everyone’s backstory and their strengths and weaknesses. I loved when the girls came together to survive even though they had problems in the past. I was pleasantly surprised at the depths of the plot and character development. Even though this was YA, the story held my attention and it never felt too young.

Highly recommend this thriller,l and romantic survival story!

I can’t not even fully describe how much this book changed me. As I went through the journey in the catacombs with Julien, Ruby, Olivia, Selena, and Val, I realized that people actually have been through situations like that. This book feels so real and show the true raw feelings in terrible situations. I am glad I read this book and it definitely met my expectations. <3

This was a nerve wracking and claustrophobia inducing read.

Ruby’s on a school trip to Paris and within hours of arriving her friend Val sneaks out to go to a party. A catacomb party. Ruby goes after her to stop Val but the promise of an adventure in the forbidden underground is too great for Ruby, a budding travel vlogger to pass up. Soon Ruby, Val and two other girls from school are lost in the catacombs with limited food and water, no service and no map. I’ve seen it described as a “propulsive story” and that is the perfect description, it was fast moving, I couldn’t put it down. I had no choice but to keep reading and moving forward like Ruby and the others had no choice but to move forward through the dark cramped passages of the Catacombs.

This book had my heart rate up. I was biting my nails. I was crying. I was nervous, scared, sad, hopeful. I was at the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen next! Did I mention I CRIED? Like sobs.

It was also fascinating and I wonder what research the author did on the catacombs. I never want to set foot down there but I am truly intrigued and want to learn more. I’ve been looking at photos and videos. I really was able to imagine these dark, tight passageways with skulls and bones as I read.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

As someone who has been to the Paris catacombs and obsessed over the catacombs and cataphiles, this was a thrilling read. I have wondered what it would be like to enter the not public areas, and I feel like this gave a great glimpse albeit a suspenseful one. I've seen videos of people in the catacombs, and the author really helped build that world out.

I did find the FMC a bit annoying, but this story captured my attention so I was able to to overlook it. If you don't like bones or tight and enclosed spaces or potential cults, maybe don't read this. But if you are like me and love the catacombs, definitely check it out.

The moment this book appeared on my radar, it had my attention. Not only do I love a good thriller book, but over the years I have watched many videos of Urban Explorers going down into the Paris Catacombs. Macabre but fascinating at the same time, and very easy to see how easy they could be to get lost in. So naturally a thriller book about that happening went straight onto my tbr. And I wasn't disappointed.

This was my first time reading a Diana Urban book, but it definitely won't be the last. Her writing style is fantastic, and I loved the dual narration, allowing the reader to know what was going on both under the surface and above it. The various sub-plots (friendships, future planning and romance) tied in well, contributing to the main plot rather than feeling like they were just there for the sake of it.

Filled with twists and turns, some which are teased gradually and others which come as a complete shock, Under The Surface had me gripped right from the start. I could have easily read this in one sitting if other responsibilities had allowed for it - and as it was, the fast pace and short chapters had me struggling to put it down even when I absolutely had to.

*I received this copy in a giveaway from the author, thank you!*
Another incredible and pulse pounding thriller from Diana Urban!! I was hooked from the start and could not put this book down! It had me feeling every emotion possible and I absolutely loved it.

I never really considered myself claustrophobic until reading this book 😅

Under the Surface was SO stressful. I feel like there were no moments of downtime and there was constant tension. Pretty sure my heart rate was elevated the whole time I was reading 🤣

Julien was probably my favorite character. It was so hard to get a read on him and he really kept me guessing. There were quite a few characters that I was suspicious of. Diana Urban did a really great job with the suspense in this book.

I was not expecting so many of the things that ended up happening! I was hooked from the beginning, but as soon as I got to a certain part, I flew through the rest, needing to know how it was going to end.

I had a feeling I was going to love this book, but I didn't expect to cry so often. I truly felt for Ruby and Sean and adored their love story. All of the characters felt like real people grappling with realistic problems and betrayals, and being set in the Paris catacombs made for a stunningly atmospheric read. I couldn't put this down and read it within one day. It's now one of my all-time favorites and I can imagine rereading this many times. HIGHLY recommended.

Word of advice, if a strange man promises to take you to a party underground (especially in the catacombs) don’t go with him… no matter how fun the party sounds.

Okay now that we’ve established that, this book stressed me out in the best way. The book follows Ruby and three other teens who had been visiting Paris with their school and through a series of unfortunate events find themselves trapped in the catacombs with a complete stranger. There’s so much tension, a lot of drama (especially because two of the girls who are stuck with Ruby are her current and former best friends), some moments that kind of terrified me, and also other moments that made me wanna cry.

Oh and there’s also a little romance, it’s definitely a subplot but I loved it. Sean is Ruby’s best friend and the entire time that she’s missing he’s desperately trying to help people find her. Their dynamic in the few scenes that they’re together really melted my heart.

There is so much that I want to talk about, especially some SHOCKING revelations that happen in the last like 30% of the book but I can’t. So, basically, if you like thrillers, people lost in a maze of tunnels lined with skeletal remains, and most importantly baddies who will do anything it takes to survive, then this is the book for you.

Thank you as always to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the early copy.

Under the Surface by @dianaurban is another fantastic thriller from this author. Every new chapter offers some kind of suspense and this book is filled with everything including love, betrayal, secrets, lies, hope, and peril. If you’ve ever even wondered what lurks in the Paris catacombs, then you’ll need to pick up this novel in July. It will be the perfect Summer Thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.

While on a class trip in Paris, France, our main character Ruby and some friends go out on their own to have some non-school sanctioned fun and end up lost in the prohibited section of the catacombs. Not only are they lost, but something is chasing them, pushing them further and further into the deadly maze. Aboveground, Ruby's friend Sean (who could be turning into more than a friend) will not stop searching until he finds Ruby safe and sound.

This book was thrilling and creepy, with just the right amount of claustrophobia from the tunnels mixed with teenage drama and angst. The friendships and relationships felt real and layered, and I love the way that a romance was developed through alternating viewpoints even though the characters were apart for a large majority of the book.

Overall this novel was fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I will definitely be recommending to the teens (and adults) at my library.

This was such a wild ride of a book. I was hooked from the very first page! I loved the dual POVs from rubys perspective being stuck in the catacombs and Sean’s being in the surface desperate to find her. The added conflicts between the 4 girls and the cult aspect really knocked it out of the park.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and a little creepy!

This was my first book by this author and I was hooked! I liked the switched points of view even though it wasn’t every other chapter. Really helped to tell the story.

I also enjoyed the setting - I’ve always thought the catacombs would be a creepy place for a setting and I was right.

There are a few unanswered questions or perhaps things that were a little coincidental but I was hooked enough not to care.

I do take issue with one thing that happens around the 55% mark that I felt like seemed unnecessary - but it’s a personal feeling and didn’t take away from liking the overall book.

Note: Some language.

My rating: 4.5*
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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to the Penguin and to Diana for an early copy of this book. I can’t remember the last time I read a book in a day. I will forever be a Diana urban super fan. This book was terrifying and terrific is the best possible ways. As I previously studied abroad in Paris I loved all of the facts and hot spots that made its way into the book, it was as if I was back on my trip. This book truly kept me on the edge of my seat gripping on for dear life and I loved every moment of it!