As a lover of the classic 1999 film, The Mummy, I am a fan of this book. (And so are the characters in this book and that made me love them so much. That is all the information needed to love these characters and to pick up this book.)

If you're looking for a modern-day story that gives you the same feel as The Mummy, then this is so up your alley. This follows Margot, who goes on her school's archeology trip with the journal of an archeologist from the 1930's. But when she comes across a statue that looks like the owner of said journal, it comes to life! Isn't that fun?!

There is bickering and banter, booby traps and adventure, and maybe a bit too many pop-culture references. This was such a fun YA adventure, but those references really threw me out of the story for a second. That may date this book for people who pick it up for a read in a few years.

I do have safety concerns when it comes to the teachers at Margot's school and their willingness to let their underage students wander around a different country, doing as they please. But that's a matter the parents of these students can take up with the school board. I'm just saying, legally, this fictional school could get themselves in some hot water.

This was a super fun book, but there are certain things about the main character that made her seem so YA (in a not-so-good way). She is the main character in this book, but she has main character syndrome when it comes to the people and world around her. That can be quite annoying.

And because this book is YA, I found it to be a super fast read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.

DNF at 40%.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I thought I would love it from the synopsis but struggled to get into the plot and didn’t click with the characters.

Note: I do not post reviews of books I DNF on social media.

This might be one of my favorite reads this year, I admittedly was roped in by the cover but the story and dynamics between Van and Margot kept me enthralled the whole time. This was a brilliantly written and a beautiful story. I’ll be following this author!

With such a beautiful cover I knew Id be in for a treat and I was right. This was such a fun read , fast paced and kept my attention all the way through. The story reads like a movie, as an action packed romcom in Italy. I loved how Margot, our fmc ,was softer compared to the more popular “badass” fmc recently. She was able to be feminine but still fully capable. I adored the tender moments when we got to between Margot and Van, being vulnerable in a way that many of us can relate too- feeling like youll never be good enough. ( you are!)
There are some “cheesy” moments, but those are part of what makes romcom type stories great.


All in all, I loved this story and already started recommending it to some of my friends.

This book was fun and I really enjoyed the dynamic between Van and Margot, but there were a handful of elements that felt under-developed to me.

I felt like Van adjusted to the modern world way too quickly and he kinda just sounded like a modern dude. I really wanted him to feel like he was stuck in time and that didn’t really happen.

Also, the lack of adult supervision was astounding. These are almost high school seniors just traipsing around Italy. The fact that the teacher never cared that Margot was constantly disappearing stressed me out.

I also found the resolution to be a bit too quick and tidy. I was hoping for it to be a bit more complex tbh.

But, I did really like Margot and Van and it was still a good time. Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was SO ready to read a new book by Rachel Moore. Besides connecting with her and supporting her in the book community since 2018 (?) I also read her debut and adored it. Rachel is bringing rom coms back with a hint of magic. Her stories are so much fun and I can't wait to see what she does next.
Read this if you love Brandon Fraser, The Mummy, and some Greek/Roman mythology sprinkled in your book.

The premise was interesting, and for a YA reader this would be relatable and engaging. However, I found the protagonist's blatant disregard for the archaeological process off-putting, and her obsession with romance before she meets her historic beau made their connection seem less genuine. Die-hard romance fans would probably enjoy this, but I stopped at 17% through.

This book was a puzzle solving adventure with a sweet love story. Margot wasn’t just on an actual adventure. She also was on a journey of self-discovery. I enjoyed the development of Margot and Van’s relationship. It took time for them to warm up to each other, which I appreciated. I was surprised at the ease they had evading security guards and their chaperone, but I suspended my disbelief. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy young adult books.

Omg this was omg. Loved this book. I really enjoy the archeological part of it , I like how the FMC is not letting her circumstances stop her to try to do something that she will like. Enjoy the whole dynamic between Margot and Van . This is definitely a must for any fans of What the Rivers Knows . Totally would recommend

This book is a light and quick read perfect for summer. It gives the reader a taste of adventure, archaeology, mythology, and romance. The quest to put together the Vase of Venus will take readers on a ride. They will love watching to romance bloom between Margot and Vance. I also believe young girls will relate to Margot, and her witty, emotionally honest nature. This is a sweet, cozy adventure book perfect for YA readers and readers who just want a light read.

Thank you so much for the arc! I really enjoyed this book! It was just the right amount of action, humor, and romance. I really loved that Margot was more of an emotional character because I feel like with a lot of novels with a female lead they are typically very calm and collected so it was nice to see a character who, like me, will get very emotional when things happen to them. I also do always love a dark and brooding male lead like Van was until they start opening up to the main female lead. All in all I had a lot of fun reading this book. The plot kept me engaged and guessing and I loved the characters!

As someone with a background in classics and archaeology, I knew I had to read this after reading the excerpt--and this book was everything I'd hoped it would be! I loved the immersive feel and the magical realism. In the acknowledgements, the author says that this book is a mash-up of Encino Man and the Mummy, which I think is very accurate--I was thinking the same thing while reading it! I also loved the romance (while sometimes a bit cheesy, but I love cheesy) and while both of the MCs had their flaws, they were still lovable nonetheless. I can't wait to see what's next from Rachel Moore!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

actual rating: 3.25. look, was this the best book in the world? not by a long shot. was the plot incredibly predictable? i could see the ending from a mile away. but the book was fun! it was simple! i didn’t have to think very hard and that’s exactly what i needed.

Do you want a book that's like Percy Jackson (but if it was ROMAN mythology and the main character is a high school girl?!?🥳) AND Indiana Jones?! Then this book, Us in Ruins, would be PERFECT for you!

I got SO pulled into this book and was so intrigued with how this book was going to end! There were plot twists, trials, losses and gains, action, and adventure, and so much more! There's an element of romance (with a grumpy x sunshine vibe) + a coming of age element too! It's such a nice combo and is really a perfect young adult book: it's a fun read if you were in middle school but also a fun read for adults (the PERFECT balance!)!

I really enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see more from Rachel Moore! Thank you so much to HarperTeen for an early copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review!💖

Margot is so sassy and I love her red lipstick. Her impulsiveness makes for a fun, unpredictable ride and conflicts with her classmates. Such a fun stand-alone adventure!

A very fun and fast-paced romp through Italy! The romance was simmering throughout and the twist about Astrid's heritage was well-threaded from the beginning to the end.

This book made me simultaneously want to watch The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Indiana Jones.

Margot is a 17-year-old who sneaks away from her school group to go on an archeological quest in satin short pajamas and 6% phone battery. Which tells you a lot.

<i>Us in Ruins</i> was heavy on plot and I liked the plot, even with all its logistical holes. But the balance between plot and character development wasn’t there because Margot’s, and Margot’s and Van’s, arcs fell short.

3 stars reading this as an adult, but I think I would have really enjoyed it when I was younger. Assuming the intended audience is middle school / early high school, I’ll give it a 4.

4 stars

“ℒ𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒷𝑒 𝒸𝓇𝓊𝑒𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈. ℐ𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓉. ℐ𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓃𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝒸𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓇𝒸𝒶𝓈𝑒, 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔.”

I was thoroughly absorbed by my first Rachel Moore’s novel, which has earned a spot on my ‘must-read-again’ list. the author’s flawless penmanship seamlessly interlaced together heart-pumping Indiana Jones-esque action, intricate family drama, and a dash of mythological and historical insight, effortlessly transporting me to a world of adventure and intrigue.

Margot’s discovery of a mysterious journal in her school’s library sets her on an unforgettable adventure. the journal, penned by the enigmatic archeologist Van Kaene in 1932, reveals a morbid quest to find the mythical Vase of Venus Aurelia. following the cryptic instructions, Margot uncovers hidden treasures and stumbles upon a shocking secret: one of the marble statues comes to life, revealing the true identity of the long-lost archeologist. as Margot and Van Kaene join forces, they embark on a thrilling quest to recover every fragment of the elusive vase. Will their partnership uncover the secrets of the past, or will the treacherous journey claim their sanity?

I adored the striking contrast between Margot and Van, the quintessential grumpy hero and optimistic heroine. the slow-burning romance was perfectly paced, leaving me craving just a bit more of that tender tension. however, the true magic of the book lay in its complex plot, expertly woven with suspenseful twists and turns. the betrayal that unfolded was foreshadowed, leaving me gasping in surprise. the historical backdrop of Pompeii was richly layered into the narrative, and the mythological elements added an air of mystique. from start to finish, this book had me on the edge of my seat, laughing and guessing until the very end. If you’re looking for a thrilling adventure with a healthy dose of humor and wit, look no further!

As someone who is obsessed with ancient history and archaeology, I was really excited for the opportunity to read this book. It's a great story but I did have some issues with the writing. There are several instances of inconsistencies in the story. For example, when the main characters are visiting a museum in Rome, the MFC starts the day wearing a polka dotted dress, (and makes a point to explain why she's wearing the dress) but just a few pages later (in the same scene) she's wearing jeans? I also really struggled with how unbothered the MMC was at having been turned into a statue for 90 years. Like he all of a sudden finds himself in the 21st century where things are SIGNIFICANTLY different than they were in his time, and he's just like 'cool, let's find these vase pieces'. All of that being said, I know this is an ARC and hasn't been through its final edits. I really loved the story and look forward to reading the final copy when it's published!

I love the concept of this story but really struggled with how it was executed. Certain aspects of the story I couldn’t wrap my head around, such as how Margot managed this trip in the first place, and I think it would have benefited being aged up - with college-aged characters instead.
I also feel like the references to pop culture didn’t fit well for this setting and consistently took me out of the story - along with the hurried writing that made me feel like this book was rushed for certain scenes to occur and breezing past others that needed more explanation. Overall, I just feel like this book read a bit younger than I expected with how most young adult novels are that I picked up and that it was missing vital pieces that would have made the story make more logical sense & the characters feel more real. I do think a younger audience who may not think too much of these things and who will just go along with the adventure may still enjoy this but sadly I did not and I do not think this is one of those young adult novels that adults would also enjoy - most anyways.