The queen of beach reads and her daughter take on the elite boarding school world in "The Academy." I love Elin's Nantucket novels and while this one had all of her signature parts - a cast of relatable and complicated characters, a beautiful setting, rich people behaving badly, sumptuous descriptions of food and fashion - something was just missing for me. And I think it might be Nantucket. While it was fun to follow the hijinks of adults and students on the campus of Tiffin Academy, I don't daydream about attending a boarding school. And that's not Elin or Shelby's fault. Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the sequel, but I'll be returning to Nantucket novels for winter escapism.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC copy of “The Academy” in exchange for an honest review.

Is a boarding school really that different from an island? This is still very much an Elon Hilderbrand book for all the reasons I love her writing. She’s an amazing storyteller with such empathy for her characters. And she’s such a good writer!

Thanks so much for allowing me the chance to read this early!
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I was very excited to read this book for a few reasons. I wanted to see how Elin Hilderbrand pivoted from adult romance and drama to teen romance and drama. I also wanted to see how a mother daughter duo co authored together. The Academy, a boarding school drama, is filled with all the things! Secrets, lies, relationships, and so much more. How does this small boarding school's ranking go to the 2nd spot in the country? I enjoyed this book a lot. The one thing that was a bit difficult, was keeping all of the characters straight. So many characters! But overall, I enjoyed this book.

Elin Hilderbrand has and will continue to be an auto-read author for me. I love the way her writing sucks you into the story and this book was no different. As someone who went to a prep school in high school I really loved reading about all the perspectives from students to teachers to administration. There were moments of depth and of lightheartedness. This was a great book and one I will be recommending for a summer read. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this!

This was exactly what I needed - something a little glossy and gossipy, but not vacuous. It’s a little like YA for adults, and I love YA.

Tiffin Academy’s staff and students are in for a dramatic school year, what with the head of school coming to grips with the academy’s new ranking, a new teacher behaving badly, students coming to terms with the death of a friend, and an influencer with an eating disorder. Then there’s the new girl finding her place, a gambling chef, an under-wraps love affair between teachers, and some teens building a secret speakeasy under the dorms.

There’s a big cast, and a lot going on, but the characters are well-developed, and their motives don’t get lost in the details.

Thanks to Little, Brown & Co. and NetGalley for the ARC!

I must admit I probably shouldn’t have requested this book as the material was fairly juvenile and I’m beyond wanting to know what happens in a high school. It was fine but nothing more than that.

“The Academy” by Elin Hilderbrand, co-authored with her daughter Shelby Cunningham, follows students at an exclusive New England boarding school. It delves into bullying, eating disorders, relationships, and drama. Perfect for fans of Gossip Girl. Looking forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read The Academy in exchange for an honest review. I have been an Elin Hilderbrand fan for years and was disappointed when she announced her retirement from the beach read. This book felt absolutely Elin to me but focused towards a much younger audience as she co-writes with her young adult daughter.

Tiffin Academy is a prep school in New England that is starting the school year enjoying a wholly different ranking in the who’s who of boarding schools moving to the #2 spot from #19. But why? The tale follows the lives of the youth of the co-ed academy, coming from all walks of life - from scholarship student to billionaire social media darling. In all cases it is rigorous academically but not surprisingly, even more so socially. We learn how the kids cope.

New girl Charley finds her footing and her popularity soars in a Mean Girl sort of way as she is taken under the wing of troubled but socially top of the heap Davi Banjeree, leaving several of Banjeree’s former clique in the dust. Charley also makes a connection with the campus’ most eligible bad boy, Andrew Eastman, whose dad also finances almost of the extras Tiffin can offer, all to keep East in school. There are a patchwork of other students and teachers, all with problems. It’s a familiar story with new characters.

Things get exciting when an app, ZigZag, starts releasing students’ secrets anonymously, who’s behind it? Everyone wants to know.

I enjoyed the book, it felt very Elin in that the narrator sometimes has a side conversation with the reader, as well as the top notch descriptions of how the upper echelon of society lives, the snacks, the clothes, the “things”.…and the names, she is so good at.naming the characters aptly if not a little over the top. 3.5 ⭐️

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

This one was not quite what I was expecting. Tiffin Academy is a boarding school that rises to the #2 ranking in America Today, a 17 spot jump. During the book we get to know several of the students at Tiffin as they go through a year at the school. We also get to know several of the faculty members. The interactions between the students and the faculty was interesting and also the interaction between faculty members themselves; romantic relationships between students, relationships between faculty members and even a relationship between faculty member and a student. There was a lot going on during this school year besides classroom learning, including the opening of an exclusive club in the basement of one of the buildings by a student. There is also an investigation into how Tiffin jumped 17 spots in the rankings. While an interesting read, probably not my favorite of Ms. Hilderbrand's books but give it a try in September 2025 and decide for yourself.

Tiffin Academy has just jumped to the number two boarding school in the country. But, why? A seventeen spot jump is significant. And it’s all due to the very deep pockets of a student’s family. And of course he is trouble.

I have never not loved an Elin book. This is the first. Too many unformed characters and little about the suicide.

The School speaking was confusing and unnecessary, I felt.

I’m not sure why but this fell flat for me.

NetGalley/ September 16, 2025 Little, Brown, and Company

The Academy offers a fresh departure from Elin Hilderbrand’s signature Nantucket novels, diving into the drama-filled world of Tiffin, an elite East Coast boarding school. The setting is rich with intrigue, from secret tunnels leading to a speakeasy to a Gossip Girl-esque app, Zip Zap, exposing the secrets of students and faculty alike. Hilderbrand succeeds in creating a layered environment where both teens and adults grapple with personal struggles and school politics. The inclusion of diverse perspectives—students like Charley, Davi, Dub, and East, alongside faculty members—adds depth, with romances and scandals providing plenty of juicy drama. The detailed descriptions of school events and social hierarchies capture the boarding school experience vividly, and fans of Hilderbrand will appreciate her exploration beyond her usual coastal backdrop.

That said, I feel the first few chapters are weighed down by an overwhelming number of characters, making it difficult to keep track of everyone’s stories. Several plotlines blend together, leaving some feeling unresolved by the end. At times, the pacing lags, with certain sections dragging longer than necessary. While the teenage voices occasionally feel off, bordering on juvenile, the overall gossipy vibe keeps the story entertaining. The Academy may not be Hilderbrand’s strongest work, but it’s an intriguing start to a new duology. Readers seeking a mix of high school drama, faculty secrets, and a dash of scandal will find plenty to enjoy, even if it doesn’t fully meet the high bar set by her previous novels. Find this on shelves September 16.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter is a fast-paced, entertaining read that delivers exactly what you'd expect from the queen of beach books—drama, intrigue, and sharp storytelling.

Set in an idyllic town with deep pockets and even deeper secrets, the novel offers a compelling glimpse into the elite world of boarding schools. I especially enjoyed the upstairs/downstairs perspectives, which highlight that no matter one's pedigree or profession, everyone has their own challenges to navigate.

For fans of Gossip Girl and witty, quick-paced storytelling, this is the perfect vacation read—engaging, juicy, and hard to put down.

I usually love all of Elin Hilderbrand's books, but this one was a mixed bag for me. I felt overwhelmed by the numerous characters introduced in the first few chapters. The amount of background information was confusing, and not everything was resolved by the end of the book. However, I did enjoy the boarding school setting, and I loved that the plot had a Gossip Girlvibe, featuring a Zip Zap app that exposed the secrets of both students and teachers, along with a secret tunnel leading to a speakeasy. I hope the sequel will address some of the unresolved storylines, and I look forward to seeing what other juicy gossip arises at Tiffin in the second book

Thank you to NetGallery and to Little, Brown and Company for my copy.

I am a huge fan of Elin Hilderbrand, and I especially enjoyed "The Academy." Although it took me a moment to keep track of what year third, fourth, fifth forms were and adjust to some of the quirky character names, this story captivated me from the very beginning. I loved learning about life at a boarding school and fell in love with the characters, each of whom had their own past and present story. I enjoyed seeing how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. The drama unfolded page by page, and I was fully into it. I have many unanswered questions and am already looking forward to the second book!

I really enjoyed this one! My first Hilderbrand book and it was a fun ride. I love rich teenagers having normal but kind of absurd problems.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for provider this read. All opinions are my own.
I haven't read much from Elin Hildderbrand, and I usually love YA so this felt like a perfect time to dive in. This wasn't the book for me! The writing felt choppy and disjointed. It felt like everything was a setup to something mysterious or suspenseful that never really panned out. I did find the premise of the boarding house interesting, and hope this finds its way to the hands of people who will really enjoy it.

I absolutely adored this book by Elin Hlderbrand and Shelby Cunningham. The unique story and characters kept me not wanting to put it down.
I will definitely recommend this book to so many patrons!

I'm already bummed that The Academy is only a 2 book series. This was the perfect blend of what we've come to love about a Hilderbrand novel with new voices and a great setting. Love a boarding school novel but they tend to be limited to the student perspective. I was equally engaged with the adult stories as the students and look forward to the next book. Thank you NetGalley!

A totally different kind of book from Hilderbrand, written with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, that follows the lives of students in an exclusive boarding school in New England. This book has it all- relationships, bullying, eating disorders, and secrets. Looking forward to the next book to see what happens next for these students and faculty.