3.75 ⭐️

In Rachel Moore’s Us in Ruins, the whimsical premise of falling for a resurrected statue while searching for a legendary artifact delivers a delightful blend of romance and adventure. Set against the backdrop of a sun-soaked Italian summer, this novel will captivate fans of The Mummy and high-stakes escapades. Margot Rhodes, a high schooler known for her adventurous spirit, schemes her way onto an archaeological trip to Pompeii, where she accidentally ignites a quest for the mythical Vase of Venus Aurelia.

The partnership between Margot and the stubborn former statue, Van Keane, unfolds beautifully amid Italy’s rich history and stunning architecture. Their journey is filled with yearning and self-discovery, making it a heartwarming exploration of love in unexpected places. Margot’s relatable struggle with her loud emotions and desire for adventure—without sacrificing her femininity—is refreshing, and Van’s emotional depth offers a rare and endearing perspective.

Though I initially mistook this YA novel for something else, I found it utterly charming. It’s a wonderful read for young adults navigating their identities and relationships. The lighthearted tone and genuine emotions shine through, even if some scenes felt a bit disconnected from the vibrant Italian landscape. The whirlwind romance, especially between characters who start off as adversaries, adds a fun dynamic, even if it stretches plausibility at times.

Overall, Us in Ruins is a joyful romp that balances cleverness and heart. While it may not echo the same adventurous spirit as The Mummy, it captures the essence of fun and romance reminiscent of The Lost City, making it a delightful escape that reminds readers to embrace love and adventure wherever they find it.

I loved Moore's The Library of Shadows, so I was pumped to see not only she had a new book BUT it had the most perfect and intriguing plot I've seen all year!! Margot is on a quest in Pompeii to uncover and reassemble an ancient vase with magical properties, she essentially runs away from home and is stuck with a bunch of snooty, uptight, elite archaeology students who don't think she belongs among them. I adored her, I loved how unapologetically feminine she was and wouldn't apologize for throwing on her red lipstick every morning! She happened upon teenage explorer Van Keane's journal, who went missing in 1932, and is determined to use it prove her theories right, poring over his poetic entries, she starts to fall in love with the boy who wrote it a century ago. She stumbles upon a statue that remarkably looks exactly like Van, and then BOOM, statue comes to life!! Van is thrust into the present and is nothing like how she imagined, he's prickly and going after the relic for all the wrong reasons. They are forced to work together to find the treasure and their buried pasts before their story ends in ruin. Ugh I just loved the writing, I loved Van and Margot's chemistry, the mystery was on point, and it was everything I could've wanted!! An insta buy for me cause I need it in my life always!

If you love Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and wish it stared a teenager, than this book is perfect for you! I was so excited to see something set in Pompeii, but it does require the reader to suspend disbelief and go along for the vibes, not necessarily the facts. Being a teen book, it means that a lot of improbable teen like things are going on. But, it is cute and has it's moments. I still wanted to know the ending, but fully recognize that age wise, I was not the target audience. I just couldn't say no to anything inspired by the Mummy!

I found this book on NetGalley and really didn’t know anything about it before diving in head first. I think I read the first line of the synopsis and decided to go for it.

I was very pleasantly surprised. This book is perfect for fans of WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS and Indiana Jones. There’s action and adventure, romance, and high stakes to keep you on your toes. I also loved that it is a standalone story. Would I love more of Margot and Van’s adventures? Yes I would! But the story left me feeling like it’s complete and I loved that.

The romance is a little insta love and rushed but the synopsis is pretty transparent that this has romcom vibes. I’ve questioned the timeline of the love story in MANY a romcom movie so why would I expect anything different here? It’s quick but it didn’t distract from my enjoyment.

Lastly, I listened to a digitally rendered voice galley here so I can’t really comment on the narration. I will say that the computer generated voice has improved tremendously since the last time I listened to one of these but it still lacks emotion and inflection. I loved the way the story read though and would definitely enjoy listening to the final product with a real voice actor.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️