The book “Under the Surface” by Diana Urban takes place in Paris, where the main character, Ruby, is on a senior class trip with her friends. They record videos exploring many famous places for her Youtube channel, like the Eiffel Tower and the Catacombs of Paris.

Later on, she decides to go to a party with her best friend, Val, and two other classmates, Selina and Olivia. They meet a random guy their age and follow him into the Catacombs of Paris for a party. They end up lost inside the catacombs with a disoriented guide, Julian, while the love of her life is above ground looking for clues on how to find her. Meanwhile, Ruby and her friends are stuck trying to survive, running away from the dangers inside the catacombs.  

“Under the Surface” is an excellent and carefully crafted book with immense detail. I was able to easily envision each scene and conversation, making me feel like I was there with the characters, which helped make them feel more real and understandable. 

Besides just simple details, Urban is a master of describing the feelings of characters. I felt the emotions and pain the characters were going through. Specifically in the two most powerful moments, when Ruby saw that Oliva and Val died, and the other, when Sean and Aliyah found out Ruby and Selina were missing; I could feel their heartbreak through the pages. 

The ending is the unequivocal highlight of the novel, as it was dismal and left me on the edge of my seat, while still feeling like a satisfying conclusion to the story. I was shocked at how Ruby felt at the end when she said that Julian was misunderstood and deserved a second chance, even though he was associated with the cult. I agree with her, as I loved Julian’s character. It was so well written and thoroughly described, and I enjoyed how she honored him by getting his most-liked crepes at his favorite food stand by the Eiffel Tower. 

This book sparked so many thoughts and ideas in me, not just about the story, but also about other books and ideas for projects of my own. As well as helping me feel calm and relaxed, which made it a very good read before bed. The novel is a page turner, and I would read it for hours if I could. 

Overall, I loved “Under the Surface.” If I could reread it for the first time again, I would without a doubt. Urban flawlessly combines mystery, horror, and romance, so if you enjoy those genres, this is the perfect book for you.