Us in Ruins Review

Summary

The mythical Vase of Venus Aurelia hasn’t been seen since 1932, but Margot Rhodes is determined to change that.
Drawn by the vase’s supposed magical properties, Margot embarks on her school’s archaeological trip to Pompeii. Sure, it’s her first time holding a shovel, but she’s got something no one else does: lost teenage explorer Van Keane’s journal.
Poring over the poetic entries that serve as a map to the vase’s missing shards, Margot finds herself falling in love with the boy who wrote it a century ago. She’s shocked when her search leads her to a statue that looks exactly like Van, and then the statue comes to life.
Catapulted into the present, Van is nothing like the wordsmith Margot imagined. He’s all sharp edges, intent on retrieving the relic for all the wrong reasons. But it takes two to survive Venus’s death-defying challenges, and, together, Margot and Van must excavate the treasure—and their buried pasts—before their story ends in ruins.

Evaluation

A rom com meets Indiana Jones and Night at the Museum with all the magic of a myth…

Us in Ruins was an absolute delight! Margot and Van’s banter is chef’s kiss—sharp, witty, and full of chemistry, it had me giggling all the way through. The setting and descriptions are so vivid I could practically feel the heat of Pompeii in summer, the dust of the ancient ruins, and the chill of the catacombs. The adventure was equal parts thrilling and romantic, with just the right amount of mystery and magic, gluing me to my seat and keeping me up late to finish. If you love treasure hunts, time-tossed romance, and two stubborn characters forced to work together, this book is for you. A fun, clean, fast-paced YA rom-com you don’t want to miss!

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