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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this new book from Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham. The Academy takes you into the world of an elite private boarding school, where everyone is keeping a secret! The story starts with the head of school greeting children and their families on the first day of school and follows staff and students as the year progresses. Much like Hilderbrand’s beloved Nantucket novels, The Academy hosts a wide variety of lovable characters (and characters you love to hate!) and is interfused with chapters in the collective voice of Tiffin Academy, which is absolutely charming.
While some of the plot lines were a little far fetched, the antics of students and staff overall hit the spot for a fun cozy fall read. This is a four star read for me and I’m crossing my fingers we get another year at Tiffin to follow these characters (and find out more about Dub’s secret)!
Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions my own!
While some of the plot lines were a little far fetched, the antics of students and staff overall hit the spot for a fun cozy fall read. This is a four star read for me and I’m crossing my fingers we get another year at Tiffin to follow these characters (and find out more about Dub’s secret)!
Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions my own!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Alcohol
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book Report: The Academy
At First Glance: Ooohhhh that author… and co-author… her daughter! My heart!
The Gist: A scandalous story of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school.
My Thoughts: ELIN!!!! SHELBY!!! please tell me we will be back at Tiffin in the fall of 2026 🙏🏼 because this one was a pure comfort to read. It felt nostalgic and highly addicting. From sun‑dappled beach dramas to the polished yet unruly world of elite boarding‑school life… you still get Elin’s signature rich multi POV, scandal and drama! The book felt very youthful and authentic which is where her daughter Shelby came into play and I thought the two delivered and I could only hope that this is just the start!
My Question for Elin and Shelby: Of course I’m going to ask this question…. Can readers expect a sequel or spin-off? If yes, was that always part of the plan?
Thank you Little, Brown and Company for the gifted E-Arc
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.Andthebookshelf/
emotional
medium-paced
I loved this fun book about a boarding school and the shenanigans young teens get into even with the supervision of adults. Getting to know the adults and the difficulties that comes with watching other peoples children was spot on. This was a first time read from this Author for me and it was fun to read that her daughter collaborated with her. Overall you want to get lost in the luxurious world of a boarding school and encounter the secrets it holds, then read this one. I want to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read of the world at Tiffin Academy.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received this early copy through Book Huddle. I loved it. It was a book about high school without feeling YA. There was mystery, excitement, tension, hope, intrigue, and more. I really enjoy reading flawed characters and we definitely got the point of view from some flawed characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder
Minor: Suicide
medium-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
CW: Student/teacher relationship (student is over 18 but still....)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder
Moderate: Suicide, Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Little Brown and Company & NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was so excited to read this one, especially because I’ve been a longtime fan of Elin’s stories & writing, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me.
The story was extremely lengthy and wordy in places it didn’t need to be; and was literally being told from over 20 different points of view. It was nearly impossible to keep up with so many storylines, because it changed so rapidly every couple pages. The book also ended with so many loose ends not being tied up, it will literally aggravate me for the rest of time that we never got to see the email that was teased the entire book, being opened.
To be honest the book felt like Gossip Girl fan fiction? Just too much going on, trying to fit as many cliches as possible into the “boarding school” niche. I really wanted to love this one, but it just fell completely flat.
If you are a fan of Boarding school Prep reads you might enjoy this one though!
I was so excited to read this one, especially because I’ve been a longtime fan of Elin’s stories & writing, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me.
The story was extremely lengthy and wordy in places it didn’t need to be; and was literally being told from over 20 different points of view. It was nearly impossible to keep up with so many storylines, because it changed so rapidly every couple pages. The book also ended with so many loose ends not being tied up, it will literally aggravate me for the rest of time that we never got to see the email that was teased the entire book, being opened.
To be honest the book felt like Gossip Girl fan fiction? Just too much going on, trying to fit as many cliches as possible into the “boarding school” niche. I really wanted to love this one, but it just fell completely flat.
If you are a fan of Boarding school Prep reads you might enjoy this one though!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated