This YA survival thriller was a captivating blend of thrill, disorientation, and claustrophobia, brought to life by a very different type of story; one that I easily pictured in my head as I read the book.
The writing was pretty easy to follow, and I appreciated how the author balanced the mature themes with suspenseful storytelling. The blend of mystery, light horror, and historical theories about the catacombs made it a binge-worthy read. The author’s research shined through, making me as the reader want to visit the catacombs, albeit ones that are guided tours!
The romance had its moments, especially Sean’s devotion to Ruby. The suspenseful twists kept me on edge, even though the main reveal was somewhat predictable. Surprisingly, the friendship conflicts added a relatable layer of drama, capturing the essence of typical teenage chaos. Though the plot and characters were engaging overall, I found myself wishing for more depth in the supporting cast.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a group of teens who are on a trip to Paris. Things quickly go wrong when they go down to the catacombs and get lost.

Positives:
-Great setting
-Spooky vibes

Negatives:
-Too much teenage drama
-Repetitive

I was not a huge fan of this book. I think it started out strong and I loved the catacombs as a setting for this thriller/mystery.

However, as things went on I just kept getting annoyed. I did not like the characters and there was just so much drama. I think because this was YA, it was focusing too hard on the teenage drama part of it instead of the thriller part.

I hope teens like this one but it was not totally for me.

I thought this was going to be more paranormal and was disappointed at first. The more I read though the more intrigued I became. This was one of those books that I couldn't put down. And when I had to I couldn't stop thinking about it. There were some very surprising moments, and I even got emotional a few times. It starts a bit slow but when it picks up, it doesn't stop. A fantastically written book that I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At this point, just tell me Diana Urban wrote it and I will eat it up. The way this author weaves a story that has you feel like you are in it but simultaneously watching from above…. I can’t get enough.

Under the Surface is about a girl, Ruby, who goes on a school trip to Paris with friends, where she wants to create more content for her YouTube channel. Ruby ends up following some friends out of the hotel and into the streets of Paris, where they promptly go missing. Aboveground, Sean won’t give up on finding Ruby and their friends, because he is secretly in love with Ruby and needs her to know. No one knows they are in the catacombs underground until it is too late. Or is it?

Without giving anything away, please just go read this book. The history, the secret love, the mystery and suspense around the missing teens… it is all just done so well.

Thank you to Diana Urban and The Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ruby is thrilled to be spending the week with her friends in Paris. This trip is a chance to prove to Ruby's dad that she can travel on her own and build her YouTube channel that shows the hidden gems of her travels. When one of her friends sneaks out the first night to meet a boy, Ruby is determined to bring her back before anyone notices they are gone. When her friend gives Ruby a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to a party in the catacombs, Ruby agrees to go with two of her classmates. After a series of events, the group finds themselves lost in the catacombs and soon realizes they are not the only ones in the underground maze. Can Ruby and her friends find their way out before it is too late?

If you are a fan of suspense thrillers, I would highly recommend this book. The catacombs give such a creepy atmosphere and the mystery of what is after Ruby and her group made for a great thriller. I enjoyed the dual POVs of Ruby in the catacombs and Sean, who is investigating where the missing girls went. Sean's chapters gave a nice break to the adrenaline-filled chapters of the catacombs. Overall, this was a fantastic read that had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to review Under the Surface. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Very engaging suspense - unique concept. Got a little repetitive at times, but I think ultimately readers would stick with it to see if they make it out alive. Could have potential for Battle of the Books.

Diana Urban delivers another gripping YA thriller with Under the Surface, a fast-paced and chilling story set in the haunting Paris catacombs. I couldn’t put it down—the pacing kept me hooked, and I found myself flying through the pages.

The concept of being lost in utter darkness beneath Paris, surrounded by millions of skeletons and hunted by something sinister, was both terrifying and compelling. Urban captures that fear so vividly that it’s easy to imagine yourself in the characters’ shoes. The claustrophobia, tension, and stakes felt palpable.

One thing that stood out to me was how authentic the characters felt as teenagers—complete with all the impulsiveness and missteps that come with it. That authenticity made them relatable, but also, at times, frustratingly annoying.

The dynamic with Sean and the people above ground was an interesting contrast to the intensity of the catacombs. At first, it was frustrating that no one seemed truly concerned about the missing teens or actively searching for them. However, as the story progressed, the focus on the parents and the media brought a shift in tone. When the parents entered the picture, you could feel the clock ticking down, adding a new layer of urgency that mirrored the tension underground. It elevated the stakes and gave a broader perspective on the girls’ peril.

I also thought the pining between Sean and the main character was sweet and age-appropriate. Their relationship added some tender moments amidst all the tension. Sean’s journey of defying his father’s expectations and making his own decisions about his future was another aspect I appreciated. It added depth to his character and tied into the story’s themes of independence and self-discovery.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was how the friendship riff was explored and, ultimately, resolved. I appreciated the emotional closure and the nuanced handling of relationships. Urban excels at creating complex characters and balancing suspense with heartfelt moments, and this book was no exception.

Such a fun, twisty book full of betrayal and hope. I loved the writing style and how the author portrayed both POVs from above and below the surface. This book sold me from the start with the premise of being lost and hunted in the Paris catacombs but kept me invested with every page turn.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!

This story was so action pact with a mix of romance. The perfect thriller for teenagers. I felt like it was interesting but did not go into too adult topics for the age group which I thought was do very well. I thought the characters were well suited for the age group as well.

This story follows high schoolers who go on a trip to Paris. One of those high schoolers happens to have a youtube channel that is pretty successful. So her hopes are that she can document this adventure to help pay for college in the future. She and her other classmates are taken a back when they get lost in the catacombs and must find their way out. They are met with lots of betrayal and new found trust.

Content: Swearing, blood, death, major injuries

Read if you enjoy:
tad bit of romance
Suspense
Thriller
Young Adult fiction
Adventure

While this had some random twists and a few big surprises, overall it was just an ok story. The ending was incredibly abrupt, and then it was a HEA wrap up that skimmed over the fact that the ending was a mess that should not have worked. There was a lot of angst and personal reveals here, but not a ton of action or real plot, more like one of those harsh confessions while stuck in the dark kind of thing. I am sure others will love this high anxiety story, but I previously read a book with a very similar plot a few years back that was more exciting and felt more unique, so it was hard to not compare the two.

DNF at 70%

I'm deeply sorry for taking so long in reviewing the arc, and i want to thank to Netgalley and the publisher for gave me the opportunity of reading it.
Under the surface was a fun read, but unfortunately i was more invested in the story than the characters themselves, whom gave me a hard time.
The main female character wasn't likeable at all, and the male character POV was even harder to get pas throught. Maybe it wasn't for me, which is a shame :(

This fast paced ya thriller had me from the start the idea of getting lost in the catacombs is terrifying and the high school drama was full force. The characters were great in this book and I enjoyed Sean’s perspective above ground while we followed the others who were trapped. The plot in this book was action packed and did not slow down I was on the edge of my seat a few times in this book. This is my first book from this author but hope to read more in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! I’ve never read a thriller with this kind of setting and it was so fun! I feel like I read this super fast. I also kind of had it figured out but it didn’t take away from the story at all! 5 stars!!

This book definitely hooks you in!! I loved the history about the catacombs.
Def some creepy elements to it and gets you on the edge of your seat! I flew through the ending.

Where I was a little stuck, it got a bit repetitive and I was like come on already in some points. Also these are teenagers which I am fine with but I either wanted them to act like real teenagers or be adults.

Overall good read!

So the premise of this book sounded SO intriguing.... I mean a horror/thriller in the catacombs of Paris. I've always heard stories of how this would make a great story and was looking forward to it in this read.

But.....

This book's structure was sort of a mess. The horror and creep factor of the book didn't happen until the last 20 mins of the book! WHAT? So many amazing concepts that just fell flat when it came to execution. Another thing... why did he get a perspective? It started out great, but when they actually went missing, his perspective took away from the catacombs and didn't add anything else.

Overall, the book was interesting, but not what I wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review! I wasn't expecting the way this storyline to play out the way it did, but I'm not mad about it. I'm a sucker for a YA romance mystery, and this is no exception! It wasn't a 5-star for me because it was still relatively predictable, and the pacing was weird at points, but overall I enjoyed it!

A group of teenagers gets stuck in the catacombs under Paris, where they're not just alone with thousands of bones but are being chased by members of a sinister cult.

Initially, I was a little hesitant about this book, wondering how an entire novel could take place underground, but before I reached the halfway point, I was hooked. Every time it seemed like things were calming down, another twist happened; I had to keep reading. I loved how Sean cared for Ruby and was determined to find out what happened to her, and it added a lot to the story that we got to see his perspective on top of hers as she was in the catacombs and he was on the surface. I was lowkey hoping this book would have some cult vibes when we were first introduced to all the odd things inside the setting, which we definitely got by the end. Although it took me a little bit to get into the book, this is certainly my favorite by the author, and it had some amazing plot twists that made me need to know how things would end!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Under the Surface by Diana Urban.

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 and romantic survival story!

This is a really solid thriller! I like the writing and I was wondering how it was going to end. This was a great immersive story! Special Thank You to Diana Urban, Penguin Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! There was SO MUCH tension and suspense, it felt like I was trapped down in the catacombs with them. The book had so many twists and turns and was truly violent in a way that I wasn't suspecting, but fits perfectly in the thriller-survival genre. I also liked how not everything is tied up neatly at them end.