First off I 100% chose this book because I have a fear of small spaces especially things like being buried under ground or stuck in a cave system and yet I always find myself drawn to these types of books.
Under The Surface by Diana Urban follows of group of teenagers on a school trip to Paris.Ruby longs to become a well known youtuber who travels and reviews onknown things about the places she is traveling too and is thrilled to be in Paris where she will hopefully get fantastic footage to boost her subscribers. It helps that her best friend Sean and hopeful boyfriend helps her with her videos. Now if she could get over her fear of abandonement and let him know how she really feels but alas that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. It doesn't help that her friend Val keeps pushing her to get over Sean since he plans on joining the military.
While they are out sight seeing Val meets a man by the name of Julien who mentions an underground party. There begins the next couple of devastating nights.
Ruby sets out to stop Val from going with this strange person to an underground party and in the procecss ends up dragging her best friend turned nemesis Selena, and Olivia along with. She almost convinces Val to leave until Julien throws out the juiciest carrot, parts of the Catacombs no one other than the Cataphiles have ever seen as they are blocked off from general public.
Olivia always the rule follower decides she is going to break the rules this time and Selena finds herself wanting to protect her old friend. So they all decend through a sewer grate into the depths of The Catacombs and disappear for days. Not everyone makes it out alive as deep within these Catacombs a society lurks who believe the bones have magical powers to protect Paris and are worried that the magic is fading and so sacrifice is needed.
Ruby, Selena, Val, Olivia and Julien are in for the fight of their lives as they get lost in The Catacombs and find themselves running from people in skeleton masks. With flooding and cave ins will they be able to find their way out and will Sean with the help of Rubys left behind laptop be able to figure out where they have vanished too before no one comes home?

I want to thank #Netgalley and #PENGUINGROUP, #PenguinYoungReadersGroup/G.P. #PutnamsSonsBooksforYoungReaders for the chance to read a digital copy of #UnderTheSurface by #DianaUrban in exchange for a fair and honest review

“In these halls, those who are forgotten protect those who have forgotten.”
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Ruby has one goal after graduation: become a popular YouTube travel vlogger and the first step to that is exploring out-of-the-way places on her French class trip to Paris. Her crush, Sean, is more of the cautious type, trying to warn her against dangerous situations she seems to be jumping into more and more lately due to her new BFF, Val. When Val gets Ruby, a friend and Ruby’s ex BFF into danger by accepting an invite to a catacombs party, the group gets stuck underneath ground with no way out.
💀
What a wild YA adventure thriller by @dianaurban In addition to the mystery part of the book readers will also learn a lot about the French catacombs. This was what we’ve come to expect from Urban: a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. Thanks to the author for this ARC. Happy pub day!

CW: death, body horror, injury, hospitalization, violence, blood, toxic friendship, death of a parent (recounted), murder

A bit hard to get into 3.75 ⭐️

I really loved this one! The concept was so cool, and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat!

I absolutely loved this book. All the twists and turns, I couldn't stop reading. I can't wait to see what else Diana has up her sleeve.

“I thought I was doing you a favor.” 😟

I saw this book in its pre-publisher form from the author on Instagram reels. I am incredibly grateful to have received an arc of this book I knew for months would exceed readers expectations. So I will do everybody who reads this a favor and recommend this book. You looking for a romance where she’s lost in the Paris catacombs on a school trip with a few friends and an ex-bestie, and her love interest would do whatever it takes to find her? You no longer need to look, you’ve found it.

There are a few darker themes that I did not anticipate, which include cults and cultish…. behaviors, death, and intense claustrophobic descriptions. Reader discretion is advised.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Penguin House Publishing, and Ms. Urban for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not usually a mystery/thriller person but this one really caught my eye. I absolutely love the setting of the catacombs and the tension of if the girls will escape. There are many hard hitting moments in the story that I also really enjoyed. All the characters had quirks that made them unique and helped with the story. I feel like there could have been a bit more to the ending, especially since the kids lost friends, but that's really one of my only notes.

Under the Surface is a wonderfully written YA thriller that explores themes of hope, strength, love, forgiveness, and the social dynamics of life as a teenager.

I had such an enjoyable time reading Under the Surface. It was well-written, well-paced, and perfectly anxiety-inducing. The story flows beautifully with its perfect mix of solvable reveals and shocking twists, while the dual POV will keep you asking "but what happens next?!"

Diana Urban perfectly walks the line between not shying away from dark content and not being overly explicit for shock value. She also wonderfully balances the story between a gripping thriller and a heartfelt story of love, hope, and second chances that relates so well to the YA audience.

I loved (most of) the characters and really enjoyed seeing their growth as they navigated terrifying situations, had epiphanies about themselves and those that they love, and learned to take ownership of themselves and their futures. There's very little, if any, black and white when it comes to the actions and values of these characters, adding a beautiful layer of depth and reality to this novel.

An honorable mention to this absolutely stunning cover that perfectly encapsulates the story.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a fun concept! A teen on a school trip to Paris finds herself lost underground in the Paris catacombs with group of friends. This read wasn’t what I was expecting and some of the dialogue and slang took me out but overall a fun and spooky expedition underneath the streets of the city of love

You just don’t know what is going on under the surface!
The story is full of a foreboding feeling of claustrophobia as what starts as a (fairly) innocent desire to experience a party in the catacombs morphs into something much more scary when Ruby and her friends get lost in 200 miles of tunnels under Paris.
I will absolutely be purchasing this fast-paced horror thriller for my library.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

When I say I picked up this book and could not put it down, I mean it, it genuinely took me a couple of hours to sit down and just speed through the book. The writing was fantastic and the plot twists? Insane! I definitely thought I was kinda on par with guessing where the plot was going and what the ending was going to turn into, and each time I thought I had it figured out, we were worlds away from what I could have anticipated. This was my most anticipated book of 2024 and I am so beyond thankful to have received an ARC of this book. I can not wait to get my hands on a physical copy and sit down and do another reread of what has quickly turned into one of my favorite books in the last several years!

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam’s Sons for access to this enjoyable ARC!

Plot: Ruby and her classmates arrive in Paris for a class trip. Ruby, her friend Val, her ex-best friend Selena, and another classmate Olivia end up following a French boy Julian into the catacombs for a party. But Julian loses their location and they become trapped in the catacombs, and there appears be something sinister lurking under the surface.

Review: I’m not normally huge on YA - but I really liked this! It read like a movie script - the pace was quick, and the characters felt like normal teenagers. I loved the romantic subplot, and I thought that the twist/how the story came together was well done. There were a few moments where I had to suspend my disbelief a bit (e.g the students above continuing along on their trip activities while their classmates remained missing), but not to the extent that it detracted from the story.

Overall, this exceeded my expectations!

4.25🌟

When Ruby's best friend sneaks out to meet a mysterious French boy, Ruby and two of her classmates go after her. Instead of finding an exclusive party in the Paris catacombs, they get lost in the intricate web of tunnels beneath the city. Their lives forever changed as something sinister chases after them as they uncover secrets about the catacombs and each other. Meanwhile, above ground, Sean can't wait to spend a week with Ruby in Paris. He's crazy about her and hopes they can take their friendship to the next level. But, when Ruby and her friends go missing, Sean will stop at nothing to help find them...

Told from dual points of view, Under the Surface hit the ground running and never looked back. I was intrigued from the moment Ruby and Sean were introduced. I loved getting to see the darker side of Paris; the side that most don't even think about. I loved Ruby's devotion to her friends and how she tried to keep a level head despite all the reasons she should panic. I adored Sean. He would do anything for Ruby and it was his determination that forced the police to not give up and look for Ruby and her friends. Together, I enjoyed Sean and Ruby's chemistry. You could tell there was something more building between them. I liked that the romance between them wasn't the star of the story, yet added some much-needed relief from all of the suspenseful moments.

Under the Surface is the kind of story that will keep you up way past your bedtime reading. This story is filled with lots of twists and turns and the suspense will keep you on your toes. Under the Surface is a young adult thriller that will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. If you're looking for an unforgettable and thrilling story of survival, you won't want to miss Under the Surface. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

During a class trip to Paris, Ruby's best friend sneaks off into the catacombs for a party. Ruby and a few other classmates follow her to try and talk her out of it, but when the group gets turned around in the tunnels, they realize they may be trapped, and to make matters worse, it's starting to feel like they're not alone down there.
I really enjoyed being along for the ride in this book. It was an exciting thriller with a really great setting. The characters were interesting, although the main character's backstory and personal conflicts felt a bit flat/shoehorned in to me. Still, it added a bit of depth to the story, and I enjoyed watching the dynamics between the characters play out. It was a really fun read which I read in two sittings because I could barely put it down.
Thanks Penguin Teen for the ARC!

I inahled this book in one day. I love anything to do with catacombs and felt like this was such a good thriller for it.

Soooo....I do not like thrillers, but this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Let's just say that I never, ever want to visit the Catacombs! I could feel every bit of terror that Ruby felt. It was like I was right down in the Catacombs with her.

And Sean...can I please find someone who will never give up on me like he never gave up on Ruby?!

Ummm...every twist and turn (literally, through the Catacombs) of the plot had me gasping. My jaw was on the floor for 80% of this book. Easily one of the fastest books I've read in a long time.

Needless to say, if you can't tell from all of my rambling, please, please, PLEASE, go read this book! I promise you won't regret it! Prepare to swoon, scream, cry, and gasp. This book will make you scared like no other, in the best possible way!

--I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review--

This is Urban’s best work yet. I’ll admit I’m a bit skeptical because she tends to be very hit (and mostly) miss with me but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was very suspenseful throughout and she did a nice job of letting you really get to know the characters on a deeper level. The friendships (both current and former) are very well done. It’s a dual POV with Ruby and someone above ground, so you really get to see what is happening on both sides of things which was interesting and makes you really invested. It is a story of survival, friendship, love and the belief of doing what you believe is right. I liked learning about the Paris catacombs from a historical perspective as well, and through this heart pounding story it made them come alive as the reader. I feel like I can’t say much more without giving away too many spoilers, so let’s just say that I didn’t want to stop reading this one. If you like thrillers then you definitely need to give this one a read!

When I heard the premise of this book it instantly became a MUST READ for me! A spooky thriller about getting lost in the Paris catacombs? YES PLEASE! I got sucked down the catacombs TikTok rabbit hole shortly after and have impatiently been counting down the months until the release date. When I got the email from NetGalley saying I was approved for the ARC I was beyond stoked! I devoured this book! Diana Urban did not disappoint! I loved Lying In The Deep and All Your Twisted Secrets but this one was even better! It was thrilling, captivating, and there were so many twists and turns! A great YA Thriller for sure! I would LOVE to see this in a movie! The cover is stunning too! It really fits the book perfectly!

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

I read UNDER THE SURFACE in one sitting, staying up until after midnight, because I literally could not put it down without finding out what would happen to Ruby! Diana's pacing is absolutely perfect and her character work so thorough that I cared just as much about the girls' interpersonal conflicts as I did about their survival. I also really appreciated how she sprinkled in historical info for extra context in a way that felt natural. Loved it!!

(Please note: I read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. #UnderTheSurface #NetGalley)

Count for number of annotations I have that mention how "brutal" and/or "gruesome" this was: 15

I haven't yelled (in a good way) over a book like this in quite some time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you had a chance to party in the Paris Catacombs, would you take it?

Ruby and her classmates are in the City of Lights for one whole week, and she's determined to make it count. This is her chance to show her dad she's ready to travel the world, get great footage for her YouTube Channel with a possibility of going viral, and finally tell Sean her feelings.

So when Ruby's new bestie Val gets invited to a party in the Catacombs, Ruby goes for confidence and independence and follows Val, along with their cataphile guide Julien and two of their classmates, down the literal rabbit hole.

But they never make it to the party.

What follows is life and death nipping at their heels, the darkness closing in only to reveal conspiracy, betrayal, and a fight to reach the surface. Matters of girlhood drama and existence that revolve around serious matters like previous loss, first love, and their futures are amplified Under the Surface. And I'll let you know now, Diana Urban makes you, the reader, work for it.

Urban hangs lanterns for you to follow, every page turn a slight hesitation of what's around the corner, only for the light to blown out and rearranged entirely. There were times I couldn't read fast enough.

This book is a love letter to a darker side of Paris with some history of the catacombs woven in. To learn there's a kernel of truth in the pages about the catacombs and what the girls find down there — I had trouble sleeping for a couple nights. This is indeed a survival thriller that is not for the faint of heart. I'd even dare to say Diana Urban is giving Mindy McGinnis (Female of the Species, Heroine) a run for such brutalistic writing here, and god knows McGinnis' work still keeps me up some nights, years later.

Sean's perspective is—quite literally —a breath of fresh air. Coming above the surface for him to ground us, even if briefly getting us out of the disorienting maze, is a huge gold star for this book. With Ruby's perspective alone, you're sure to feel claustrophobia — the darkness of something grim and time ticking by nips at your feels. Plenty of times while reading where my heart started pounding, my palms were sweaty, and suffice it to say, I will not be visiting the Paris Catacombs any time soon. It was a wildfire of conspiracy theories while reading, about the girls themselves as well as the catacombs.

Each character is inherently flawed, capable of great feats, f***-ups, and forgiveness. I appreciate the human nature of these teens and had to remind myself often that they ARE teenagers, trying to get their first taste of life before they possibly take their last breath.

At times, the plot is reaching but the severity of the situation reminds you that anything is possible, and Urban makes it work. A YA thriller unlike any I've read before plus incredibly gorgeous cover art, I was excited to read this and was not disappointed. I will say though, don't read this if you're claustrophobic. To answer my earlier question, after this book? I don't think I'll be able to make a trip to the catacombs anytime soon. And that's the sign of a good book scaring the wits out of you, I'd say.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Teen, and the author, Diana Urban, for this ARC of Under the Surface in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fantastic YA thriller set in the Paris Catacombs. I hadn’t heard much about the Catacombs prior to reading this, but GOD THEY’RE TERRIFYING. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time— horrified, but I couldn’t put it down.

Honestly, I would categorize this book as a thriller/horror. I wasn’t expecting the level of gore and horror in a YA book, but it was done in a way that still kept it at a YA level. This book could’ve easily been an adult horror novel, which I absolutely would not have been able to read, so I appreciate this slightly watered-down version.

The only reason I dropped a star is that I found the teenager aspects of this story not relatable as an adult— so nothing against the book at all, since it’s YA. However, I did find it a little unbelievable that the girls were fighting about friendship troubles when they were literally trapped underground with a cult hunting them down… but teenagers! right??

Overall, I think Under the Surface will take the YA world by storm!


*Thank you to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.