♡ Teen Drama
♡ Pairs Catacombs
♡ R.L. Stine Horror Novel Vibes

I had such high hopes for this and was so excited that I got approved for the eARC but now I just feel bad that I didn’t like it as much as I had hoped.

This book felt like reading one of R.L. Stines YA novels. Marketed with thriller theme in mind but that doesn’t really feel like anything other than immature characters doing something stupid. It felt like it was meant for a younger audience, some of the characters seemed way more juvenile and childish for their age. I was annoyed by the characters. It felt way too much like the “I’m not like other girls” or how “quirky” the characters were. Ruby was so toxic towards Selena. Also being over the age of five and calling your father “daddy” still is such a massive ick. Going into the pairs catacombs while laughably unprepared felt like it was setting up the vibe for the rest of the book.

I will say the actual setting was really cool. While it might not have been scary it did have some tension and some good old horror vibes.

I think I've read all of Diana Urban's novels, and despite saying never again after her last one (which I really didn't care for at all) I once again found myself reading one because this one just sounded too good to pass up. And while it was much better than the last one I think I can finally say she's just not for me. I think what it really boils down to is that her characters just bug me because they're so immature. I understand that they're teenagers but good lord I don't remember teenagers being so dumb. The whole plot in this book only happened because the main character(s) decided to go down into the catacombs with some guy they just met without informing anyone of where they are going. It's like they never saw any of the Taken movies or any crime show ever. Putting all of that aside there were some elements of this book that I think worked really well. Urban nailed the atmosphere, and the claustrophobia and general sense of unease was spot-on. I also appreciated the fact that we got some character development, even though the whole thing only takes place over a handful of days. As for the things I didn't love as much. I'm not sure why we needed two POV's for this book. The guy's POV seemed unnecessary. Sure, it was nice to be able to see what was happening above ground with the instigation/rescue effort but it could have just been a random omnipotent POV and worked just as well. My other issue was the ending/big reveal. Without being too spoiler-y for a novel that is so grounded in reality the whole explanation just didn't work for me. It was just a little too ridiculous. I suppose it's POSSIBLE that it could have happened, and it added a terrifying element or two, but I feel like it wasn't necessary for a book about a group of people trapped in the catacombs. You already have everything you need for a thrilling suspense novel right there. Either lean into the absurd or don't, but it just felt too in the middle for my tastes. So in the end a step up from her previous book, and I certainly wouldn't dissuade teens from picking up this title (I think they would be more likely to find fewer flaws with it than I did) I don't think I'll be going out of my way to recommend it, and I think it's the last Diana Urban book for me.

An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope… even when all seems lost. I could not put this book down! I've always been fascinated by the Paris catacombs and its reputation as one of the scariest places on Earth. This book brought me down into the mazes of tunnels below the City of Lights and scared me completely. The characters were so well written, capturing all the highs and lows of teenage angst, the horror of their situation and terror of the unknown monsters stalking them. A fast-paced thriller that will keep you up late with all the lights on!

Under the Surface is perfect for anyone looking for creepy adventure-like thriller or if you liked the movie As Above So Below. It follows a group of students who become lost in the Paris catacombs during a school trip to France - a pair of best friends, a reluctant classmate and an ex-best friend, plus the guy that lured them there. As they become more lost, hunted by a gang of cult of catacomb-worshippers, and desperate to return to the surface, they fight for their lives. As lives are lost and hope dwindles, each have to dig deep within themselves to survive. Fast paced with twists and turns galore, I found this to be a compelling, fast read.

What a thrilling ride! I loved the setting of the Paris catacombs and have always been fascinated by them, particularly since despite how long they’ve been around, it hasn’t been mapped and people can still get lost in there. This definitely adds to the excitement of the story. Being a YA novel, there is a little angsty teen drama that pops up and takes away from the amazing setting and story but otherwise, this was the perfect read to keep your heart racing the whole time.

3.5 stars rounded up. This book didn't really grab my attention until around the halfway mark, but it was worth it in the end. This is the kind of twisty, dark story I could see being made into a horror movie/thriller.

The characters were a bit flat to me and it took me awhile to get them straight, but I did end up caring what happened to them. The story definitely kept me guessing and wondering how/if things were going to work out.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Officially crossing off 'Visit the Catacombs' from my If I Ever Visit France list! This book was intense, and I loved it!

First, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. It immediately draws your attention and does a good job at hinting at the story. The characters and their accompanying teenage drama seemed like a pretty accurate depiction of the teenage experience.

The author did a great job with the world building, as well as keeping the pace going. I have been in a bit of a reading rut lately, and I finished this book in one day. It kept me on the edge of my seat and made me anxious to know what was going to happen next.

Under the Surface is a wonderful survival-thriller perfect for fans of The Woods Are Always Watching. If you like books where the setting itself can be as dangerous as any evil lurking in the dark, then you’ll definitely want to add this to your tbr.

Under the Surface follows high schooler Ruby and her fellow students on a class trip to Paris. Ruby is an aspiring travel vlogger, and plans to get some real cool clips for her channel. Ruby’s best friend Val, sneaks out on their first night in Paris, and not wanting her to get sent home early, Ruby goes to find her and bring her back. Val had plans to go to a party with Julien, a boy she met while her class toured the Eiffel Tower. On her way out of the hotel, Ruby and two of her classmates have to hide from their chaperone, which leads to the two other girls joining Ruby’s search for Val.
When they find Val however, an opportunity presents itself to go down into the Catacombs to a secret party. Ruby knows this could help raise the views on her channel. She and the other girls decide to join Julien and Val and go to the underground party.

When one of the girls, Selena, gets hurt in an accident, the group has to split up so they can get to her. In doing so their guide, Julien, loses his bearings and the group becomes lost. It becomes a race against time to find their missing friend, and before they run out of supplies. Plus they have to work fast before they lose battery power on their lamps and end up in pitch darkness. When they finally find Selena she tells them a story about being chased by skeletons. The group thinks she’s just scared from being by herself in the spooky tunnels. However, soon they come to realize there actually might be something hunting them in the tunnels. It then becomes a race against time and whoever or whatever is on their trail.

I really enjoyed this book. The setting was fantastic and oh so creepy. There are lots of twists and turns in this book and I like how everything kept being revealed. The book alternates pov from Ruby and her love interest, Sean. From Ruby’s perspective you get to see what’s happening to the girls underground. From Sean’s perspective you get to see what is happening above ground. If you are a fan of man versus nature and just thrillers in general, I think you’ll love this book.

A thrilling, nail biting book with a unique setting. Having been to the PAris Catacombs, this book was so fun to read, and I could picture it so clearly in my head. A wonderful read!

TRIGGER WARNING. I don't normally start with these but I haven't seen many people mention it yet, for my fellow asthmatics- mildly graphic and upsetting asthma attack. As much as I loved this book I had to take a breather after that scene, and I don't want anyone else to be caught off guard like I was.

In Under the Surface Rudy and some of her "friends" take a detour from their high school trip to Paris and go to explore the catacombs. They end up lost when disaster strikes. Our other POV character Sean was not with them at the time and is stuck with the class desperately trying to help authority find them.

The plot is thrilling,quick-paced, and gripping. I was on the edge of my seat and read this in two sittings. The only downside was the character-level drama is a little high school, but they also are high schoolers. I also was not the biggest fan of Sean's POV, but it did provide a breather from everything happening with the Catacombs gang. I enjoyed it.

If you enjoy a good YA thriller/horror novel then this is the book for you! It's heart-pounding and had my mind bending in so many different directions! And Catacombs just make everything that much more creepy haha

This is a wonderful adventure story with great visual descriptions and plenty of conflicts. From man vs self, man vs man, man vs cult,, man vs the elements, there’s a lot going on to keep tensions high.

Any student who likes action and adventure would enjoy this book!

Believe me when I say that YOU NEED TO PICK UP Under The Surface! I started reading it after dinner and did not stop until I physically could not keep my eyes open any longer THEN woke up early so I could finish it! There’s something for everyone: action, adventure, mystery & romance (although I could have done without the romance. They could have made Sean her brother & it would have had the same emotional resonance for me.) Everyone should be prepared for me to be recommending this to them for a while.

4..5 stars
Teens getting lost in the Paris catacombs? Say no more! I knew I needed this one but had no idea how much I’d love it. This filled all my spooky and adventurous needs.

Ruby is visiting Paris with her friends and school for their senior class trip. One night, they break the rules and escape the hotel to go to a local party. The party is secretly in the catacombs and seems to be exactly what their Paris dreams are made of. However, they never make it to the party. Through a series of events, they get lost. Lost with all the dead, their bones and all the dark secrets kept in the miles and miles of tunnels underneath the city.

“You’re not going to die. You’re a badass bitch. And once we get through this, we’ll be one step closer to home.”

This one had me on the edge of my seat. The Paris catacombs themselves are fascinating but having the teens lost and experiencing life-threatening situations made it even more fun. I loved the dark secrets, the reveals and the many twists and turns this one took. I highly recommend this to YA lovers who love dark mysteries and lots of excitement!

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the copies!

The book releases August 13, 2024.

Well Diana has done it again with another on the edge ya thriller!

Ruby and Sean are friends that like each other but don’t know how to tell each other. They are in a class trip to Paris, and Sean thinks no better time than now being in the city of love. But when Ruby’s best friend Val sneaks out to meet some French boys, she takes it upon herself to follow and keep them safe. What they didn’t expect is what horrors lie in wait in the catacombs under Paris itself. Something sinister that chases them in the labyrinth of mazes Paris’s catacombs hold. Can Sean save Ruby in time?!

This book is what nightmares could happen in a foreign city on a class trip. Diana’s writing style always keeps me glued to figure out the clues. It definitely has the action to keep you hooked and the characters weren’t too unlikable.. definitely relatable. Ruby and Sean go through growths and challenges in the story.

So if you like the creep factor and really any Diana books, then check this one out!

This book took me on a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end.
Ruby and her class are visiting Paris, and the only thing she can think of is visiting the Catacombs.. The place that runs beneath the streets of Paris that houses many of its dead. When an opportunity for her to visit she couldn't turn it down. She ends up down there with her best friend Val, ex-best friend Selena, another girl Chloe, and the boy showing them around Jacob.

The first page opens with Ruby running for her life in the depths of the Catacombs, I knew this was going to suck me in, and it did. When Ruby finds herself in the Catacombs with the others things begin to go wrong almost from the first moment. There are weird screams, horrible smells, and the sense of being watched. The kids are in danger, and once they get turned around all bets of them finding their way out unscathed drop to zero.
I loved all the twists and turns this story took, Secrets within the group are uncovered, and not all of them are going to make it out alive.

I loved Ruby's POV along with Sean who knows before anyone else that something is wrong when Ruby and the others don't come down for breakfast at the hotel. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book, and I couldn't put it down!

What a ride! This book was an absolute thrill ride. I barely breathed awaiting the fates of Ruby, Selena, Val, and Olivia who are led away from their class trip to Paris into the Catacombs by a stranger with the promise of a secret party only to find themselves trapped under the surface and hiding from masked killers. The second POV of Sean, who knows something is wrong and will do anything to find Ruby, was a nice reprieve from the terror inside Ruby's head. Definitely don't make other plans while reading this book because you will want to drop everything to finish it.

This book it very young adult - you get teen drama, partying and sneaking out. I really enjoyed the setting of Paris catacombs and the story definitely takes you on a crazy roller-coaster ride. Out of all characters Sean was my favorite one. He was smart and very determine to find his friend Ruby.
Overall this was a good read with great intensity and a pace that never slows down. Quick and enjoyable.

Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and the author for a free copy of ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was EVERYTHING I was expecting and so much more.

Diana Urban promises a thrilling, heart pounding story about a girl lost in the catacombs, and a boy desperate to save her. And boy, does she deliver.

Ruby, Olivia, Val, and Selena find themselves taking a trip somewhere that isn’t on any tourist maps or teacher itineraries — the sealed off parts of the catacombs. How did they get there? Val, the friend who does crazy things for the thrill of it, meets Julien. And from there, it all goes down…

Literally.

This book was quick-paced, uncomfortable, and impossible to put down. I was desperate to know what happened next and what was really going on in those catacombs. Who can you trust? Are they going down or up? Is that noise just paranoia or something else?

5 stars for one of my favorite reads this year.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This was such a fun time and I know teens looking for atmospheric thrillers will flock to this. It has something for all types of readers, whether it be intrigue, romance, even some spookiness. People with an Paris Olympics hangover will want to gobble this up.