A review by phantomparagrapher7
The Four by Ellie Keel

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 

There's something deeply unsettling about returning to the world of boarding schools through fiction when you've lived that reality yourself. As I cracked open The Four by Ellie Keel, memories of my own three years at Hadlow from 1997-1999 came flooding back. I had won a scholarship too, just like the protagonists Rose, Sami, Lloyd, and Marta, and that shared experience made every page feel intensely personal. 

This YA academic thriller had been sitting on my physical bookshelf for months, practically calling to me. My friend Liv Royal had recommended it, and I'm grateful she did. The story follows four scholarship students whose dreams materialize when they're accepted into an exclusive boarding school, but their bond is forged through something far darker than academic achievement. 

What struck me most powerfully was how Ellie Keel captures the unique dynamics of scholarship students in elite institutions. Having lived that experience, I recognized the mixture of gratitude, imposter syndrome, and fierce loyalty that develops among those who've earned their place through merit rather than privilege. The author understands that scholarships don't just pay for education—they create a different category of student entirely. 

The pivotal moment when Marta suffers her accident and retreats to the stables resonated deeply. Boarding schools have these hidden corners, these sanctuary spaces where students can disappear when the pressure becomes overwhelming. I remember my own refuge spots at Hadlow during particularly challenging moments. The stables in Ellie Keel's narrative become more than just a hiding place—they're where the foursome's bond transforms from friendship into something unbreakable and potentially dangerous.

While clearly targeted at the 13-18 age range, this novel doesn't condescend to its young audience. The psychological depth and moral ambiguity rival any adult thriller, making it equally compelling for older readers who appreciate sophisticated YA fiction. 

The Four by Ellie Keel succeeds because it understands that boarding schools aren't just educational institutions—they're pressure cookers where intense relationships form under extraordinary circumstances. For anyone who's lived that reality, or simply enjoys a well-crafted academic thriller, this book delivers on every level.