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Beneath the Urban Stars
Their connection hits fast, and something dangerous follows.Chiara's obsession with the guy on the bus is driving her mad. When she finally speaks to him, everything shatters.
Jasper is terrified, confused, and drawn to her for reasons he can't explain.
Their bus ride turns into a nightmare. Passengers stop acting human. Their reality devolves into fog and doors that open to places that can't exist.
Every moment feels like a countdown they cannot see.
Why would fate have them meet, just to immediately try to rip them apart?
Beneath the Urban Stars is a thriller romance novella written by Venezuelan author Beatrice Lebrun.It is a bi x bi descent into dreams, obsessions, and unraveling realities, where she falls first, but he falls harder. Both characters are neurodivergent, confused, and desperate to understand a world that keeps breaking around them, racing against a ticking clock they cannot see.It is a story about connection in the wrong place, danger in the routine, and two people who were never meant to meet but cannot let each other go.
Jasper is terrified, confused, and drawn to her for reasons he can't explain.
Their bus ride turns into a nightmare. Passengers stop acting human. Their reality devolves into fog and doors that open to places that can't exist.
Every moment feels like a countdown they cannot see.
Why would fate have them meet, just to immediately try to rip them apart?
Beneath the Urban Stars is a thriller romance novella written by Venezuelan author Beatrice Lebrun.It is a bi x bi descent into dreams, obsessions, and unraveling realities, where she falls first, but he falls harder. Both characters are neurodivergent, confused, and desperate to understand a world that keeps breaking around them, racing against a ticking clock they cannot see.It is a story about connection in the wrong place, danger in the routine, and two people who were never meant to meet but cannot let each other go.
174 pages, Hardcover
Published March 31, 2026
About the author
Beatrice Lebrun
5 books34 followersBeatrice Lebrun writes the kind of stories that make people cry, scream, or whisper “I shouldn’t relate to this.” She’s an author and illustrator obsessed with emotional horror, queer longing, and the quiet devastation of being alive.
Born in Venezuela and now based in the U.S., Beatrice grew up living in another world entirely. Dealing with intense maladaptive daydreaming since a very young age, she spent her childhood caught between realities: one
mundane and expected, the other wild, dangerous, and hers. When the world
demanded she stay grounded, she turned to writing since then, just to keep the other realities alive.
Glowrot, her debut novel in English. It’s deeply personal to her, a love letter to the versions of herself she never got to be, and a cautionary tale she once needed to hear. Her protagonists are raw, flawed, and cathartic reflections of her own wounds. If someone wants to call that a self-insert, she’s not offended. It just means they’ve never needed to write themselves back together.
When she’s not writing about haunted girls and broken realities, she’s helping others do the same as the Creative Director of StoryForge, where she builds safe spaces for writers and stories that don’t fit the mold.
You’ll usually find her drawing, dancing, dreaming, or whispering to her characters like they’re real people. (Sometimes, they whisper back.)
Born in Venezuela and now based in the U.S., Beatrice grew up living in another world entirely. Dealing with intense maladaptive daydreaming since a very young age, she spent her childhood caught between realities: one
mundane and expected, the other wild, dangerous, and hers. When the world
demanded she stay grounded, she turned to writing since then, just to keep the other realities alive.
Glowrot, her debut novel in English. It’s deeply personal to her, a love letter to the versions of herself she never got to be, and a cautionary tale she once needed to hear. Her protagonists are raw, flawed, and cathartic reflections of her own wounds. If someone wants to call that a self-insert, she’s not offended. It just means they’ve never needed to write themselves back together.
When she’s not writing about haunted girls and broken realities, she’s helping others do the same as the Creative Director of StoryForge, where she builds safe spaces for writers and stories that don’t fit the mold.
You’ll usually find her drawing, dancing, dreaming, or whispering to her characters like they’re real people. (Sometimes, they whisper back.)
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 10, 2026
This was such a wild ride in the best, most disorienting way possible.
From the very beginning, there’s this underlying sense that something isn’t quite right... and it just keeps tightening its grip on you. What starts as a simple, almost ordinary moment quickly spirals into something surreal, unsettling and completely impossible to look away from.
Chiara and Jasper were honestly one of my favourite parts of this. They felt so real in all their confusion, intensity and vulnerability. Their connection is immediate, messy and a little obsessive – and watching it unfold while everything around them literally unravels was addictive.
The plot itself was SO cleverly done. It’s twisty, unpredictable and constantly keeps you questioning what’s real and what isn’t. There’s this dreamlike, almost liminal quality to the story, and it creates such an immersive and eerie atmosphere that just pulls you deeper in with every chapter.
And speaking of chapters, the changing header art?! Such a small detail, but it added 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 to the reading experience. It really enhanced that feeling of descent and transformation as the story progressed.
The writing style was another highlight for me. It’s beautifully descriptive without ever feeling heavy, and it flows so easily that you end up flying through the pages without even realizing it.
Also, I really liked the representation – the characters felt multilayered, diverse and thoughtfully written, which made everything hit even harder emotionally.
Overall, this is one of those books that feels like a blur in the best way! Intense, strange and completely gripping from start to finish. If you love thrillers with a surreal edge and a romance that feels a little chaotic and all-consuming, this is definitely one to pick up.
𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆.
From the very beginning, there’s this underlying sense that something isn’t quite right... and it just keeps tightening its grip on you. What starts as a simple, almost ordinary moment quickly spirals into something surreal, unsettling and completely impossible to look away from.
Chiara and Jasper were honestly one of my favourite parts of this. They felt so real in all their confusion, intensity and vulnerability. Their connection is immediate, messy and a little obsessive – and watching it unfold while everything around them literally unravels was addictive.
The plot itself was SO cleverly done. It’s twisty, unpredictable and constantly keeps you questioning what’s real and what isn’t. There’s this dreamlike, almost liminal quality to the story, and it creates such an immersive and eerie atmosphere that just pulls you deeper in with every chapter.
And speaking of chapters, the changing header art?! Such a small detail, but it added 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 to the reading experience. It really enhanced that feeling of descent and transformation as the story progressed.
The writing style was another highlight for me. It’s beautifully descriptive without ever feeling heavy, and it flows so easily that you end up flying through the pages without even realizing it.
Also, I really liked the representation – the characters felt multilayered, diverse and thoughtfully written, which made everything hit even harder emotionally.
Overall, this is one of those books that feels like a blur in the best way! Intense, strange and completely gripping from start to finish. If you love thrillers with a surreal edge and a romance that feels a little chaotic and all-consuming, this is definitely one to pick up.
𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆.
April 7, 2026
Everything that Beatrice Lebrun writes is somehow encoded with what makes us human. The shadows, the lights, the violence, the tenderness all packed in these pages.
B.U.S has struck me at a time of need. I needed this. The hope, the despair.
I need everyone who feels like they are a failure, useless, cursed to read this book. Beatrice is slowly weaving a story that is telling you that hey, I feel this way too. No you are not alone, not alone at all. I hope Beatrice knows that the words that she's weaved are undoing years of violence and helping me towards light in a time when everything feels like it is melting away from me.
Thank you. Thank you for writing this. I am so glad I got to read this, to watch Beatrice shine. If you don't know her yet, you are about to, and it will change your world forever. She's the moment, and the world will witness the star that Beatrice Lebrun is.
B.U.S has struck me at a time of need. I needed this. The hope, the despair.
I need everyone who feels like they are a failure, useless, cursed to read this book. Beatrice is slowly weaving a story that is telling you that hey, I feel this way too. No you are not alone, not alone at all. I hope Beatrice knows that the words that she's weaved are undoing years of violence and helping me towards light in a time when everything feels like it is melting away from me.
Thank you. Thank you for writing this. I am so glad I got to read this, to watch Beatrice shine. If you don't know her yet, you are about to, and it will change your world forever. She's the moment, and the world will witness the star that Beatrice Lebrun is.
April 30, 2026
This book was amazing! Once again, Beatrice did an incredible job. I loved the storyline, the characters, and especially the artwork. One thing that really stood out was how the art reflected the characters’ physical and emotional states as the story progressed. As I kept reading, you could truly see how much they were going through, which added another bonus to the experience. Beatrice did a fantastic job making me feel connected to Jasper and Chiara. I found myself constantly wanting more with every chapter. This book had me on the edge of my seat and kept my heart racing until the very end. I highly recommend giving this book a chance!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fast-paced fever dream of obsession, connection and the tether between two souls as reality falls apart around them.
Beneath the Urban Stars is a thriller romance with an ever intensifying atmosphere and an unseen countdown allowing for a truly gripping read.
Author Beatrice Lebrun excels at evoking a sense of dread wrapped in a vivid dreamscape, featuring aspects of mental health for an unforgettable story.
I had the honor of reading this as a Beta read and an ARC and absolutely devoured it!
Beneath the Urban Stars is a thriller romance with an ever intensifying atmosphere and an unseen countdown allowing for a truly gripping read.
Author Beatrice Lebrun excels at evoking a sense of dread wrapped in a vivid dreamscape, featuring aspects of mental health for an unforgettable story.
I had the honor of reading this as a Beta read and an ARC and absolutely devoured it!
Review of advance copy
Thank you to BookFunnel for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Fun fact: if you read a book where dreams are a major theme when you're pretty tired, doesn't in fact make you less tired lol.
I absolutely loved the premise of bi x bi, but make it thriller romance focused on dreams with two confused, neurodivergent characters and a dash of obsession that made me think of Hannibal & Will (NBC version, still crying over it btw).
Beneath the Urban Stars gave me the vibe of the game I'm almost sure I played years ago as a teen, Yume Nikki. It was the RPG Maker horror era and that was one of the games that was popular back then, along with Misao, Mad Father and a lot of titles that I still think about sometimes. Yume Nikki let us control a young girl and as far as I remember it didn't really have either plot or any dialogues, just weird dreams and us, players trying to figure out what is happening there. The book brought a specific kind of nostalgy, one that you can feel, but not fully grasp. It might also just be me and the fact that I totally love the dreams/dreaming trope in books, so there's a chance I'm a bit biased.
On top of everything, despite being on a bit heavier (maybe darker is the better word?) side, there were two moments where I wanted to snort, so there was also slight humor.
I can't believe I almost forgot to mention it, but definitely in love with those small character arts that we got on top of every chapter.
If I get any weird dreams after reading this book, at least I will know why, right?
Fun fact: if you read a book where dreams are a major theme when you're pretty tired, doesn't in fact make you less tired lol.
I absolutely loved the premise of bi x bi, but make it thriller romance focused on dreams with two confused, neurodivergent characters and a dash of obsession that made me think of Hannibal & Will (NBC version, still crying over it btw).
Beneath the Urban Stars gave me the vibe of the game I'm almost sure I played years ago as a teen, Yume Nikki. It was the RPG Maker horror era and that was one of the games that was popular back then, along with Misao, Mad Father and a lot of titles that I still think about sometimes. Yume Nikki let us control a young girl and as far as I remember it didn't really have either plot or any dialogues, just weird dreams and us, players trying to figure out what is happening there. The book brought a specific kind of nostalgy, one that you can feel, but not fully grasp. It might also just be me and the fact that I totally love the dreams/dreaming trope in books, so there's a chance I'm a bit biased.
On top of everything, despite being on a bit heavier (maybe darker is the better word?) side, there were two moments where I wanted to snort, so there was also slight humor.
I can't believe I almost forgot to mention it, but definitely in love with those small character arts that we got on top of every chapter.
If I get any weird dreams after reading this book, at least I will know why, right?
Review of advance copy received from Author
im so glad i saved this one as a treat because it's a quick yet remarkable read i read in one sitting and stayed up past my bedtime for... bi4bi thriller romance, experimental fiction, liminal spaces... trans mc, latine mc, neurodivergent mc's.. everything i could ever want from a book... i love the experimental formatting and genre bending and all the details work to elevate the storytelling.. the characters leave strong impressions and the dual pov showcases their distinctive voices.. i love flawed and developed characters.. i love how obsessive chiara is... hashtague my literal dream girl..!! going feral.. and jasper.... i love bi men to the point of sickness..... i want to put them in a box and shake them idk .. also the setting itself is its own character.. a liminal bus, lucid dreams.. disorienting like i wanted it to be.. the tension infused with the dream elements and setting just works so well... and the romance... they're stuck together... she's obsessed... he's in lorve... them against the literal universe... the banter.. they understand eachother... theyre in this together.. (crying) i would describe this book as a hallucinatory psychological thriller romance for fans of house of leaves.. even the title blew me away because it's an acrostic!! i love codes and puzzles.. im just in awe.. i feel i need to read again to search for details i missed and that's how rich the writing is.. i need more omg
“Jasper, don’t you DARE LEAVE ME ALONE AGAIN!”
“Jasper, don’t you DARE LEAVE ME ALONE AGAIN!”
Review of advance copy received from Author
It's weird and weirdly compelling. I love the poetics of it. The imagery.
❤️
A lot of mixed feelings with this book. Good mixed feelings.
Some boredom. At a certain point, the amount of angst got too much for me, and it felt like it was filler. So I skimmed to get back to the good parts. And they did come.
I loved the beginning of the story, when I didn’t quite know where it was going yet, just that it was going places.
I also loved the ending, and a lot of little bits in between.
All in all it’s a very tender story, about two people who feel out of place and meet each other in a place that is out of place.
Beatrice Lebrun catches the unreal feelings of dreamworlds perfectly. And the touch of horror that comes with it was also very well executed.
Favourite quotes:
"A sliver of hope with black hair with silver strands."
I could just dissappear into myself, become whomever I wanted to be."
"Her voice whispered pieces I didn't have the puzzle for. "
Last thoughts:
@Beatrice_Lebrun
Are you okay? Do you need a hug?
❤️
A lot of mixed feelings with this book. Good mixed feelings.
Some boredom. At a certain point, the amount of angst got too much for me, and it felt like it was filler. So I skimmed to get back to the good parts. And they did come.
I loved the beginning of the story, when I didn’t quite know where it was going yet, just that it was going places.
I also loved the ending, and a lot of little bits in between.
All in all it’s a very tender story, about two people who feel out of place and meet each other in a place that is out of place.
Beatrice Lebrun catches the unreal feelings of dreamworlds perfectly. And the touch of horror that comes with it was also very well executed.
Favourite quotes:
"A sliver of hope with black hair with silver strands."
I could just dissappear into myself, become whomever I wanted to be."
"Her voice whispered pieces I didn't have the puzzle for. "
Last thoughts:
@Beatrice_Lebrun
Are you okay? Do you need a hug?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beneath the Urban Stars conveys a visceral experience, delivering exactly what’s promised - a thriller romance like you won’t believe. The unraveling will pull you in and keep you reading chapter after chapter.
The obsession was a bit much for me, but I knew that going in and I do think that'll really click for some readers. I also found the ending a bit abrupt. I wanted a little more to hold onto.
I loved the painting of some of those scenes, especially in the second half - when I got immersed in the magic, thoroughly enjoying the sparks of thriller coming through and seeing it through both characters' perspectives.
I read the whole thing in like 2 sittings, just diving into the world and forgetting my own for a while.
The obsession was a bit much for me, but I knew that going in and I do think that'll really click for some readers. I also found the ending a bit abrupt. I wanted a little more to hold onto.
I loved the painting of some of those scenes, especially in the second half - when I got immersed in the magic, thoroughly enjoying the sparks of thriller coming through and seeing it through both characters' perspectives.
I read the whole thing in like 2 sittings, just diving into the world and forgetting my own for a while.
April 11, 2026
I absolutely enjoyed and loved this book. The writing style of the author is so descriptive it pulls you in from the beginning. The emotions I felt while reading this book. The plot twists . The character development the relationship the connection the pull obsession between Chiara and Jasper was beautifully done .Everything was top tier . I highly recommend this book. I received this book as an ARC and these are my honest views.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
A dream that turns into a nightmare...
A darker version of Alice In Wonderland...
I have re read this twice now! Twice!! This was something different than what I usually read but dang nab it, it was so good! The way the author makes everything so vivid and so surreal. There is a couple scenes that I just had to laugh about because I was like that would so be me in that situation 😂
A dream that turns into a nightmare...
A darker version of Alice In Wonderland...
I have re read this twice now! Twice!! This was something different than what I usually read but dang nab it, it was so good! The way the author makes everything so vivid and so surreal. There is a couple scenes that I just had to laugh about because I was like that would so be me in that situation 😂
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews