This book was everything I expected and more! It was soooo hard to put down. Getting lost in the Paris Catacombs is already scary enough but add in a mysterious French boy acting as tour guide, four teenage girls with complicated feelings toward each other, and being chased by mysterious people? That's a recipe for a good book. I absolutely loved having no idea what was going to happen next and being on the edge of my seat the entire. All the different dynamics and relationships between the characters were also so fun to try to unravel and figure out why people were acting in certain ways. Sean and Ruby's relationship was especially fun with him trying to track her from above the surface and her thinking about him the entire time while stuck in the catacombs.

I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking for a romantic thriller/suspense story!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Teen, and Diana Urban for this arc <3

UNDER THE SURFACE by Diana Urban is a YA thriller that's full of dangerous adventures and teen angst. The plot is interesting and contains some genuinely suspenseful moments. However, the pacing is somewhat uneven, and the contrast between the immediate physical danger and the characters' interpersonal drama can be jarring.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Diana Urban for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Under the Surface coming out August 13, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a couple books by this author and I really love her writing. She always mixes elements of horror and mystery that I love. I think the setting of the Paris catacombs was really interesting. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard some things about them. I think the characters were interesting with their backstories. There were a couple bad decisions made, but that’s to be expected in a horror story like this one.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA horror books!

I’m a big fan of Urban and her writing! Under the Surface by Diana Urban is another phenomenal YA thriller.
An incredible survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger and hope.
Urban's writing is both atmospheric and engaging, drawing readers into Ruby and Sean’s world with crisp prose and vivid imagery.

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Under the Surface by Diana Urban is an exceptional thriller that grabs readers from the first page and doesn't let go. Urban’s masterful storytelling and intricate plotting create a riveting narrative full of unexpected twists and deep psychological suspense. The novel’s well-drawn characters and intense atmosphere make it an unforgettable read, showcasing Urban’s talent for crafting compelling and immersive fiction. This book is a must-read for fans of gripping, high-stakes drama.

My thanks to G.P Putman's Sons/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "Under The Surface" in exchange for an honest review.
First thing I want to do is compliment the publishers and the artist-designer responsible for that terrific cover art.. Clever, precise rendering of what's in store for a reader, a breathless thrill ride that combines YA horror and romantic teen angst all in one package. A genuine rollercoaster ride that makes a reader want to make sure their safety bar is locked in position before they zoom off into danger.
Ruby, Selena Val and Olivia are on their high school trip to Paris when an unwise adventurous impulse leads them into no end of peril. Julien, a charming French boy, promises to lead them into one of the wild secret parties held deep in the city's legendary, but notoriously creepy catacombs.
Big surprise........the girls and Julen find themselves seriously lost within the endless dark tunnels stacked with bones and skulls from centuries of corpses. Stumbling from one literal dead end to another, they also discover they don't just face a fate of dying from thirst or starvation. They're not alone. They've become hunted prey of something or someone sharing the catacombs with them. And some of those ancient corpses appear a little fresher than ancient.....more like newly murdered.
Since nobody knows where the girls went, the suspense generated here is relentless. Main character Ruby and her three companions struggle to survive as they carry the weight of connected backstories filled with friendships ripped apart by betrayals and romantic misunderstanding. As their situation grows more harrowing and dire, up above them Sean, Ruby's longtime crush (and vice versa), makes a desperate attempt to out-think the slow moving police in finding out how and where the girls disappeared into.
A fast fun read, this one, sometimes scary, sometimes heartfelt and all of it designed to keep you glued to it to the very end.

I'm so glad I got an ARC for Under the Surface! It was tense, romantic, and thrilling! From the moment our protagonists set foot in Paris until the very end, this book keeps you engrossed. I admit, I did have to take breaks at parts where it got super tense/scary because I was so sucked in, it felt like I was right there with them. The descriptions painted a very visceral picture of what it was like to be trapped in a creepy bone cave. The ending was beautiful (though in some aspects, bittersweet for spoilery reasons I won't get into).

Overall, excellent writing. Great story. Five stars from me!

I just got back from Paris where I was pick pocketed and had planned to go to the catacombs but did not have the money. After reading this book I want to go even more. I Also had a bit of ptsd reading it. The book starts out as a ghost/horror story but eventually turns. Interesting mystery but the reading kevel was lower than I expected. Some of the dialogue and the situations were too grade school 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.

This was really good. Highly entertaining, with great tension and characters. Highly recommended!

*4.5 stars rounded up*

What would you risk to become a YouTube sensation?

Ruby’s Hidden Gems is a budding travel channel in which high schooler Ruby (with some editing help from her classmate-but-maybe-more-than-just-a-classmate named Sean) finds & films obscure locations, discovering & documenting the beauty in being anywhere & everywhere. On a class trip to Paris, Ruby & two other students on the trip get talked into descending into the restricted areas of the catacombs beneath the city by her friend who’s essentially in it for the adrenaline rush & the cute French boy that’s promised to guide them. Sean didn’t realize the girls snuck out, but he starts to wonder where exactly Ruby & the three other girls went when they don’t come back…

This YA thriller has so much going for it! The creepy setting with an array of hazards, the multiple POVs as Sean is aboveground trying to citizen detective & use the media for good while the girls are simultaneously down in the dark being pursued by an unknown presence, the normal teenager relationship drama mixed in with the very real possibility of death, & skeletons (lots & lots of skeletons). I also loved the Lord of the Rings & Star Wars references! I had never read a book from this author before but now I’m a fan.

Thank you to NetGalley & G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I read this book in one sitting.

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve actually been to the Paris catacombs, but the terror in this book feels so real. Like the protagonist, I visited France with my French club in senior year of high school, and the catacombs are what I remember most vividly. Our tour guide talked about “running ghosts”—souls who got lost down there and are forever searching for a way out. That concept still haunts me and gives me goosebumps.

So, a spooky YA thriller about getting lost in the catacombs? Absolutely sign me up!

And can we just take a moment to celebrate short chapters? I love them! It was so easy to say, “Okay, just one more chapter,” until suddenly the book was finished.

Anyway, I don’t want to give too much away but I definitely recommend this! It was quick, fun, had solid character development, and just enough spooks to make you want to sleep with the lights on.

Trapped in underground Paris with a friend at the surface racing to save his friends? Count me in! This book was built on an original, exciting premise. Pacing was a little hit or miss. Parts were slow to build and others happened so quickly. I had to reread that section. The story was exciting overall and a quick weekend read.

Honestly this reminded me of a YA version of the scary movie As Above So Below. This just wasn’t for me. I thought it was going to be a little bit different but it just wasn’t as good as I was hoping it would be in my opinion. Friendships, broken friendships, lies, romance, suspense, and teens missing.

Are you the type of person to break the rules?

Under certain circumstances Ruby is, but her friend Val is definitely the type to break the rules. Flaunt them, even. Val’s an attention-seeker and a risk-taker. When on a school trip to Paris, Val nabs them an invite to a party down in the catacombs, but that’s a bridge too far for Ruby. When Val decides to risk it and go by herself, Ruby chases her down to try and stop a possible disaster before it happens; however, her ex-bestie and the class valedictorian insist on coming with to make sure both girls return. Val is excited, Ruby is reluctantly intrigued, and their escort is promising they’ll only be gone for a few hours and when else will they get this kind of adventure? Doesn’t a lack of fully-formed impulse-control centers suck?

I was never a person that felt a need to conform when I was a teenager, but I’m familiar with the feeling of chafing at the bit, of wanting to be let loose from the restraints that are holding you back and explore the world without constant supervision over your shoulder. That’s what this book reminded me of: The rush of adrenaline that comes from being out in the world for the first time but also the feeling that follows soon after once the adrenaline wears off resounding throughout your psyche telling you it’s too much too soon and you still need your support systems. At your age you shouldn’t have to be alone. You weren’t meant to be.

Diana Urban never lets me down in writing perfectly-paced and well-plotted YA thrillers. My favorite of hers still remains These Deadly Games for the sheer mind-screwiness, but the pacing and suspense in this book absolutely thrums with intensity. Part of the genius behind this book I guarantee is due to Urban’s love of the subject in conjunction with her dedicated research to the topic. The other part of the credit I feel can only be due to her insane dedication to atmospheric detail: the darkness, the claustrophobic nature of the catacombs, humanity’s inherent fear of being trapped underground, our collective beliefs surrounding the dead and death, and engagement of the senses in such foreign spaces.

This book is definitely more plot-forward than character, but that doesn’t mean the characters are flat. They’re not fully-realized, adult humans, but no teenager is. I liked that they’re not completely cynical, world-weary, or sexualized. They’re not without their trauma at the start of this book, but it’s the manageable kind. Which is good, because they’re not leaving this book in that shape.

It’s another really solid read from Diana Urban, and now I’m going to have to sit here and wait until she delivers another great thriller.

I was provided a copy of this title by Netgalley and the author. I was also provided a finished copy by the publisher and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: YA Fiction/YA Suspense/YA Thriller

This was a fun, fast paced read! I really enjoyed it. It was creepy and intense sometimes, but always action packed. I enjoyed the characters, and I loved the setting. I will definitely read more by this author!
Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!

4.25 stars

"As Above, So Below" meets "Anna and the French Kiss" is not a combo I knew I needed, but This. Was. So. Good. 
Ruby and Sean, best friends on the cusp of something more, are on a trip to Paris with their high school French class. Ruby is a travel YouTuber hoping to make it big, so when a local boy invites her other bestie, Val, to a secret party in the famous catacombs, the temptation is too great. Ruby, Val, and two of their classmates follow the boy underground, telling no one where they're going. On one hand, I really wanted to be mad at these girls. But on the other, I'm pretty sure all someone would have to do to get 18-year-old-me to dive into the Paris catacombs would be to dare me, so.

The group quickly gets lost trying to find the party, and when something starts chasing them and the injuries are racking up, the situation gets dire. Ruby is pretty sure they're all going to die in the dark under the City of Light. Meanwhile, on the surface, Sean is panicking. Why would Ruby have gone somewhere without him, and why aren't their chaperones and the Parisian police more concerned about this? Positive something is really wrong and the girls didn't just run away, Sean posts on social media and Ruby's YouTube channel about the missing girls, bringing down an international media firestorm. People fly in from all across the globe, and all eyes are on Paris as the world comes together to try to find four missing teenage girls. 

This was so atmospheric and genuinely creepy, I was surprised at how claustrophobic and tense I felt while reading, like I could really see and feel the catacombs. I read it in a few hours and couldn't put it down, and most of the twists really got me. I gasped, got choked up, the full range of emotions. I will say I was not very interested in Sean, or the romance plotline really, but the thriller parts more than made up for that for me. If you're into YA thrillers, horror, or adventure, definitely check this out. Thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

It should have been the greatest trip of their lives as a high school French class travels to Paris to take in all the sites. That changes as a few students sneak out and find themselves lost and fighting for their lives in the infamous underground catacombs.

This book had me biting my nails and my stomach in knots. An absolutely heart pounding thriller that takes you deep into the “off limits” catacombs beneath the city of Paris. The detail Urban uses to describe and set the scene was so extraordinary, I really felt like I was there with those kids.

Oh what a RIDE!!! Most def this book is a YA through and through, with the teen drama and getting trapped in the catacombs in Paris, how this whole thing unfolded pissed me off, I wanted to smack them, but I had to keep on going. The survival mode that these girls have to go through kept me up all night, I had to finish this book and see how it ended, had anxiety wanting to get to the point. I had to remind myself that this book is a YA and that I won’t like certain things and I will not relate to any of the characters, lol.

Thank you Net Galley and the publishers forgiving me the opportunity to read this book.

A young adult version of the movie “As Above, So Below” and “Catacombs”, I was excited to finally get to this one. As a fan of Diana Urban with these “These Deadly Games” and “Lying in the Deep” still waiting on my shelf to be read, I went in with a little higher expectations. And Diana did not disappoint.

Ruby, a YouTube sensation with her channel Ruby’s Hidden Gems, gets an opportunity on a class field trip in Paris to explore catacombs. Definitely influenced by found footage horror movies, the interesting parts of the story lie with Ruby and a handful of her female classmates down in the catacombs. There really didn’t feel like much of a point to pause that journey and flash back to Sean’s point of view. In fact, the Sean chapters were boring and to a point almost distracting from the actual story. I’m glad there were just a few but would prefer none.

Many scenes were written very well, the swimming scene, I could feel myself nervous and rooting for all the girls at the same time. The big reveals at the end did feel a little lackluster. Most of the scares from this book will come from claustrophobia. But if tight spaces and dark places isn’t something that can terrify you, this book may bore you. But I liked it.

I would round this up to a 3.5 star. It was a little boring at the beginning, but once we started to get to the middle and the ball was rolling, I was hooked.

I do think this is one of those suspend your beliefs types of novels for a few things:

1. You have four girls who are smart (at least one 3/4 are) and they should have deduced that this was some rando in France that likely could be a murderer. Are you seriously gonna trust him to take you underground with people you don’t know in a claustrophobic place where you can’t find your way out? It’s giving…. Bffr
2. If my friend was making a dumb ass mistake and was not listening to me or the two girls I brought for back up…. I’m taking my ass home. I’ll have regrets later, but I’m not doing something stupid asf
3. Val was an awful person but what happened to her was foul.
4. Olivia….
5. Should this have been for a YA audience? Idk
6. The ending was not good at all

Thanks ᵕ̈