Dark Academia has become wildly popular in the last few years, but even if that vibe isn't your scene, there are still plenty of campus-set novels for you. Here's some school-setting novels I plan to read this Autumn!
Study break : 11 college tales from orientation to graduation
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Study
"This collection of interconnected contemporary YA short stories, written by Gen Z authors, explores different parts of "the college experience," from questioning your major to questioning your identity"--
The Chandler legacies
Nazemian, Abdi, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Nazemian Abdi
"Beth Kramer is a "townie" who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of tension with her roommate, Sarah. But Sarah Brunson knows there's more to that story. Amanda Priya "Spence" Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah. Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys' dorms. And Freddy Bello is the senior who's no longer sure of his future but knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin. At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born--and secrets are revealed. Their professor tells them to write their truths. But is the truth enough to change the long-standing culture of abuse at Chandler? And can their friendship survive the fallout?"--Provided by publisher
She gets the girl
Lippincott, Rachael, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lippincott, Rachael
Alex Blackwood is really good at getting the girl she wants, but coming from a broken home with an alcoholic mother, she finds commitment difficult - even when she thinks she is in love. Impossibly awkward Molly Parker has a crush on the cool Cora Myers, but she does not know how to even start a conversation, much less make a connection. At college together in Pittsburgh, Alex decides that helping Molly snag Cora will prove to her own flame that she is not totally selfish - but things do not work out as the two have planned.
The lesbiana's guide to Catholic school
Reyes, Sonora, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Reyes Sonora
Sixteen-year-old Mexican American Yami Flores starts Catholic school, determined to keep her brother out of trouble and keep herself closeted, but her priorities shift when Yami discovers that her openly gay classmate Bo is also annoyingly cute.
Forward march
Quinlan, Skye, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Quinlan Skye
Harper McKinley is many things: a band geek, the daughter of the school dean, the daughter of the Republican presidental candidate... and the alleged owner of a lesbian profile on Tinder. Since Tinder profiles are forbidden for students at her school, and being gay is not in line with the family values of her father's political party, Harper faces serious consequences on two fronts if anyone finds out, but since she didn't make it, she can't delete it! Now that drumline leader Margot swiped right, and Harper doesn't immediately hate the idea, she has to think about her sexuality, her politics, her family ties, and whether she even knows what "her truth" is to stand up for -- or if she even can.
As a former marching band member, I am super excited to dive into this one!
- Bailey
First-year orientation
YOUNG ADULT FICTION First
"Sixteen acclaimed authors--including a National Book Award nominee, a New York Times best-selling novelist, and a beloved actress--join forces for a cross-genre YA anthology of linked short stories about the first days of college. Jilly cannot believe her parents keep showing up at all of her orientation events. (Except, yes, she can totally believe that.) Isaac wants to be known as someone other than the kid who does magic and has an emotional support bunny. Lilly is stuck working at the college bookstore during orientation (but maybe new friends are closer than they appear). Hira, meanwhile, just wants to retire from ghost hunting once and for all, but a spirit in the library's romance section has other ideas. For their sophomore effort, the contributing editors behind the critically acclaimed Battle of the Bands admit us to opening day at a fictional college, with a collection that makes an ideal high school graduation gift or "summer-before" read. This colorful array of stories spans genres and moods--from humorous to heartfelt to ghostly--tackling with sensitivity, humor, and warmth what it feels like to take those first shaky steps into adulthood."--Publisher marketing.
It sounds like this
Meriano, Anna, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Meriano Anna
"Yasmín Treviño didn't have much of a freshman year thanks to Hurricane Humphrey, but she's ready to take sophomore year by storm. That means mastering the marching side of marching band--fast!--so she can outshine her BFF Sofia as top of the flute section, earn first chair, and impress both her future college admission boards and her comfortably unattainable drum major crush Gilberto Reyes. But Yasmín steps off on the wrong foot when she reports an anonymous gossip Instagram account harassing new band members and accidentally gets the entire low brass section suspended from extracurriculars. With no low brass section, the band is doomed, so Yasmín decides to take things into her own hands, learn to play the tuba, and lead a gaggle of rowdy freshman boys who are just as green to marching and playing as she is. She'll happily wrestle an ancient school tuba if it means fixing the mess she might have caused. But when the secret gossip Instagram escalates their campaign of harassment and Yasmín's friendship with Sofia deteriorates, things at school might be too hard to bear. Luckily, the support of Yasmín's new section--especially introverted section leader Bloom, a sweet ace and aro-spectrum boy--might just turn things around"--
The chosen one : a first-generation odyssey
Brown, Echo, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Brown Echo
"A YA coming-of-age novel about a first-year, first-generation Black student at Dartmouth College."--
Echo Brown's follow-up to BLACK GIRL UNLIMITED continues where the story left off as Echo begins school at Dartmouth College. I loved Brown's blend of magical realism and autofiction and I am keen to pick this one up soon!
- Bailey
This is the way the world ends : a novel
Wilde, Jen, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Wilde Jen
Wealthy, popular Webber Academy senior, Caroline, permits her new friend and classmate Waverly, an autistic, gay, scholarship student, to attend the annual Masquerade Ball disguised as her; but the evening becomes a nightmare when there is a global blackout, and Waverly and her friends discover what the school's dean and top donors really have planned.
Though this may be technically considered dark academia, I couldn't exclude this new release from a back-to-school list!
- Bailey
Set in college, this sapphic romance sounds sweet and lighthearted!
- Bailey