
Member Reviews

Thank you @penguinteen for the copy of this eARC!
Ooooh hot doggy! I loved this young adult thriller that made me want to immediately book a trip to Paris and go see the catacombs with my own eyeballs! I have been to Paris once before and am floored I knew nothing about this until the last couple years of my life. I most certainly want to see this IRL so it just seems I must book another trip to Paris and maybe take Diana with me! She clearly knows the ins and outs! She did such a wonderful job setting this eerie, creepy, cold, dark, damp oppressive stage that I could envision every nook and cranny making it so I wanted to wrap myself in a blanket and grab a flashlight to explore (and run screaming) with these characters! This book was heart pounding, adrenaline inducing, stressful and the extremely fast paced! From start to finish this book was action packed and I loved this race against time, edge of my seat thriller! Definitely my favorite I’ve read by her! If you love a young adult thriller that will leave you feeling a bit claustrophobic make sure to grab this one! It’s out on August 13th!
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In this book we follow a class trip to Paris where teens sneak out to meet a French boy to go to a party in the catacombs. What could be more mysterious and memorable than real footage to post on social media to such a forbidden spot with a cute boy?! But as you likely can guess things don’t go as planned and they end up going missing😱 Their classmates (and love interest) fight to continue to look for clues and will keep pushing the police for answers in hopes they will find their friends underground before it’s too late!

"Under the Surface" by Diana Urban presents a captivating premise: four teens find themselves lost in the eerie labyrinth of the Paris catacombs, facing physical and psychological challenges. The book creates a suspenseful atmosphere, with the catacombs' dark and claustrophobic tunnels amplifying the sense of danger and mystery. This setting is vividly brought to life, providing a compelling backdrop for the story's unfolding events.
While initially intriguing, the characters do not fully develop throughout the narrative. Ruby's hesitation about her feelings for Sean is introduced as a central emotional conflict, yet the more immediate survival elements overshadow this aspect. The dynamic between the characters, including Ruby's best friend and the other classmates, lacks depth, and their interactions sometimes feel superficial. The story hints at deeper backstories and motivations, but these are not in-depth explored, leaving some characters feeling underutilized.
The novel's pacing is another area where it falters. While the initial setup promises a thrilling adventure, the middle portion slows down with repetitive scenes of the group navigating the catacombs. The climax brings some unexpected twists, but they do not all feel fully earned or well-integrated into the story. Overall, "Under the Surface" offers an engaging read with a unique setting but does not fully deliver on its potential due to uneven character development and pacing.

This book was astoundingly good!
The setting is phenomenal and I love the dual pov's of Sean and Ruby.
I loved the conflict between the characters forced in close proximity and I feel that added greatly to the tension of being lost and trapped.
There were some passages where I definitely felt tight and enclosed due to the masterful writing.

*Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*
Honestly while I was listening to this in the weeds at work, I just kept telling myself "Well, at least I'm not trapped in the French catacombs. And honestly that's really the entire vibe of this book. There are two parallel tracks - inside and outside of the catacombs - that really run this story. Every time things got to a delightful tension, we'd switch tracks in an expert fashion. Diana Urban really ran the controls perfectly. I also liked how we got to delve into the lore of the catacombs, the relationships of all 4 girls down below, and to Tiktok true crime fans. The narrators also did an excellent job, seeing as they had to convincingly voice teenagers and also speak french! I'm still curious about the ending, and also what exactly was in that crepe because mmmmmm...

A fantastic thriller! I was initially interested in this because of the Paris catacombs setting, and it did not disappoint. I really enjoy the single setting of it being underground in the catacombs and feel like Urban did a fantastic job of portraying the fear of being down there. The fact that it bounced between Ruby and Sean's perspectives gave a nice breather as well. Sean's storyline is done nicely as well. I like the view we received of his struggles and the development he receives even with the short chapters. The friendship between Ruby and Val and Selena is done well, too. The conflict felt genuine and their motives helped push the story along. I also enjoyed the thriller aspect of there being someone chasing them in the catacombs. Overall, this is a great book! I would recommend to people who like As Above So Below and stories that take place in a short timespan in a single setting.

Ruby and classmates are on a trip to Paris. For many this their last adventure before graduation. Ruby is also hoping to take advantage of the location or her YouTube channel on traveling. With her best friend Val and Sean, whom she secretly loves, this trip is sure to be fun. And it is until Val sneaks out to a party and Ruby has to go after her before she gets in trouble. Little does she know how much trouble lies ahead. Or underground. Soon Ruby, Val, and two other girls find themselves lost in the Paris Catacombs. Can they make it out alive?
What a great premise and a great setting. It's unique and creepy and we learn some history of the catacombs. Ruby leads us on their harrowing adventure underground while Sean remains behind on the surface to tell us what's happening while the girls are away.
Sean is probably my favorite character. I'm glad we got to see his perspective which added to the story. He's smart and doesn't give up. The other characters vary in their liability and a couple of them don't feel developed enough.
The scenes in the catacombs are claustrophobic and creepy, but I also had a hard time imagining their surroundings. I feel like the setting isn't developed to its full potential. Although we are following their desperate attempt at escape, most of the time the majority of the focus is on the relationships between the characters. There are some secrets to be revealed but it's not nearly as exciting as I was hoping. A little more attention to details like the effect of lack of water would have created tension and believability.
Overall this book let me down. I was expecting more survival thriller instead of such focus on character relationships and secrets..

Is it me or is there an abundance of survival stories flooding the market recently? Especially in YA. Under the Surface has been hyped all over my social feeds for the past few months. Which overhyped books usually never live up to their fame imo. And I haven't really been able to get into any other of Diana's books. I have tried because they've all sounded amazing. Her books are 💯 the ones that need to be made into movies. But something about this book kept calling to me so I finally picked up the arc to give it a try anyway. It was definitely worth it.
Under the Surface is a survival thriller about four American teens on a school trip who get lost in the Paris catacombs on their way to a party. But they never make it. Ruby's friend Val sneaks out to meet a French boy promising fun and adventure. Ruby and a few others sneak out to stop her. Once in the tunnels they become lost. After a few injuries and the fact someone seems to be chasing them through the endless maze of bones, emotions boil over and secrets and betrayals come to light as everyone fights to stay alive. Aboveground, Sean is desperate to find Ruby and finally admit how he feels about her before it's too late. It may already be too late.
Under the Surface gives you a whole new view of Paris. It's extremely fast-paced and eerily atmospheric. I couldn't put it down. Rebecca Soler and Max Meyers did a phenomenal job giving voices to Ruby and Sean in the audiobook. I'm begging Diana to give us a sequel. I want to read more about the Guardians and more about what comes next for for Ruby and Sean. And I need to know more about Julien. I want to see him redeemed. And kudos to the marketing team for releasing Under the Surface at the tail end of the Paris Summer Olympics.
***Thank you to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Listening Library for providing me with a review copy.***

I received Under the Surface as an ARC. When I first requested it I didn’t realize it was a YA book. I was a little disappointed when I received it because it was YA. I was pleasantly surprised though! The writing was a bit young compared to what I’ve been reading lately (aka not YA books) but the plot and characters were interesting and engaging. The ending felt very abrupt and anti-climactic. There wasn’t much detail and it was very fade to black. It almost ruined the book for me but I still enjoyed it. The plot definitely for older teens. The characters are high school seniors who are on a trip to France with their high school French teacher. The main character Ruby wants to be a travel blogger and ends up lost in the catacombs with a couple classmates.

I really liked the premise of the book. I felt like I had to read a bit to get into the book, but besides that it was a great book!

I was not expecting to like this story as much as I did. I am not usually a fan of thriller/horror books, but the premise of getting lost in the Catacombs just drew me in. I had a recent trip to Paris and went through the pubically accessible Catacombs tour. Being able to recall the vastness of just that area and then thinking of how much is still left unaccessible upped the stakes of the characters for me. I feel the ending was wrapped up like a present all nice and neat. That felt weird for something labeled as a thriller but overall I enjoyed the story as a whole.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and PENGUIN Group Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting this book to be really creepy and suspenseful, but I was bored most of the time reading this.
The setting in the Paris catacombs was definitely creepy and claustrophobic so the atmosphere was a plus. However, the main female characters behaved more like 13 year olds than seniors in high school. Ruby was annoying and selfish. Val was manipulative and aggravating. There wasn't much to establish the romance between Ruby and Sean so I was not invested in him finding her. The description of the book made it seem like there was a long simmering tension between the two, but it was written as them not even knowing each other until the beginnging of the school year. The "sinister" something chasing them was lame. I was expecting something supernatural and, while I love a good thriller with real human creeps, these villains were underdeveloped. The most shocking thing that happened was Stefan slamming Val's head into the stone and thinking she wasn't going to die from that.
Overall, I was disappointed, but it seems like I am in the minority and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book.

Honestly I think this is one of my favorite books of the year. The writing style was done so well I felt like I was down in the catacombs with Ruby fighting for my life. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes mystery and adventure with just a splash of romance.

Finished this book in one day. It’s was captivating and riveting. It pulls you in so much so you quite literally can’t put it down. I loved the personality behind Ruby. And the touching on love between her and Sean. The dramatics between the friend group. And even had my heart strings pulling for Julien. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a whole book in a day. But I would reread this book over and over again. The ending is just phenomenal. I can’t wait for more reads from the author she captured the whole story line so well. It’s almost as if I were there in person. We need this in a movie asap.

I love locked room mystery/thrillers. They are so much fun if done right, and that was the case here. This book was filled with so much suspense and angst, it really had me on the edge of my seat. It’s not often that a book keeps me so engaged that I conjure up ways to listen to it, but that was what happened here; I just needed to know what was happening! The setting was also wonderful and eerie. I felt like I was in the catacombs with Ruby and it was great.

Under the surface
By Diana Urban
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you @netgalley for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I saw this book on social media a while ago and thought it sounded really good. I was shocked when I got the arc of this book. I was so excited to read it.
This book is a YA thriller set in the Paris catacombs. It did a good job at having the story of the characters as well as the thrilling aspects. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

This book was right up my alley and it did not disappoint! I wasn't sure was to expect going in--will there be a murderer on the loose? Ghosts? Zombies? Buried treasure? Whatever there could be, I'm here for it because the Paris Catacombs--let's GO!!
Ruby and her friends are on a class trip to Paris. Ruby is an aspiring travel vlogger and her friend, Sean, helps edit her videos while her friend Val is the life of the party. Their uneventful trip takes a dramatic turn when Val meets a charming French college student who invites them to an underground party. Ruby tries to reason with her, but Val sneaks out without her. Concerned for her safety, Ruby follow sonly to run into Selena, her former best friend turned nemesis, and Olivia, the school valedictorian. Their adventure turns perilous when one of them gets injured, and they become lost in the dark tunnels, unable to reach the party they were promised. As they struggle to find their way out, they realize they are not alone in the catacombs and have become prey to dangerous hunters. Meanwhile, we also read Sean's perspective back at the hotel trying to piece together where his best friend could be as he interacts with his classmates, teachers, and the Paris police to find the missing girls. This book had amazing atmosphere describing the claustrophobic catacombs, a twisty ride encountering the villains, emotional and frustrating teenage drama, also a nice message in the end. Overall topping out at a 4.5 rating for me!

I really enjoyed this book! It was super unique, the characters were well-developed, and I loved the setting!

Diana Urban always provides top notch adventure and suspense to her readers, and this book didn't disappoint. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to live on the edge of the seat.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Penguin Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.7 stars
Four high school seniors on a class trip to Paris go into the Catacombs with a young Parisian man and chaos ensues. I toured the Catacombs 10 years ago and I can't imagine being there for a prolonged amount of time and little to no light. Lots of bad decisions made but an enjoyable read.

I had heard good things about this book, so I was interested in reading it. Sadly, it took me much longer to get into it than I expected. It became repetitive with the characters making bad choices time and time again. However, partway through it, Ruby did start to grow on me. I never really connected with the writing, in general, but it did improve as the story went on. The pacing was a bit uneven. The book is right on the line between YA/NA, though there are some part that felt very immature and petty. I don't think the romance between Ruby and Sean did much for the overall storyline. I really enjoyed the unique setting of the Paris catacombs.