Very conflicted feelings about this book - I cannot decide if I liked it or disliked it. There are some main themes that are dark, painful - which, for the author, I am glad they created this piece of work. However, I found it to be pretentious at times, and overall poorly executed. I do love a found family trope, but just did not connect with this one as much as I wanted to (felt forced).

I’ve always been a fan of boarding school type stories — since I was in high school myself. However, the way this book told the story and how the important topics were addressed poorly left a lot to be desired.

This story was engaging and heart wrenching. Characters were so real and nuanced. This one I could not put down!

No words. 4.5/5 stars. The characters, setting, and story were so fascinating. I could not stop reading it. I wanted to see more of the characters!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of The Chandler Legacies for me to preview.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

3.5 ✨ rounded up! This was a really interesting book with some important social commentary! I liked how the multiple POVs in this book gave the entire story but the ending felt a little rushed, despite the rest of the story being really well done. Loved the boarding school vibes and the idea of the Circle!

I loved this book! Such unique characters, an interesting setting, and profound and relevant themes. I was captivated the whole time and appreciate the consideration that power can be abused. This is a book I would recommend to a high school students.

This book was so heavy but worth the read. I can see why it was a Georgia Peach Book Award nominee. I feel like the cast of characters could have been a little more diverse, but as the book is set in the 90s at a boarding school, it's actually much more believable that the cast isn't more diverse than it is.

I think this book suffered by having too many characters that were difficult to tell apart. I think it would have been much clearer if there was one POV because I really liked the bones of this book.

The boarding school experience is described - including the hazing and the inappropriate behaviour of some teachers. This is a thought provoking read that I highly recommend.

The Chandler Legacies is a unique take on the boarding school story told only in the way that Abdi Nazemian can. While the novel explores many aspects of pain and heartbreak as a part of growing up, I was most struck by how these emotions impact art and vice versa, and the beauty with which Nazemian writes about these things.

I loved this book! The characters were all so unique and fun, and I connected to each of them in my own way. The setting was probably my favorite part, I'm a sucker for boarding schools, especially ones in Connecticut since I live there. I adored the queer representation, it made me so happy.

The Chandler Legacies

The Chandler Legacies is a gripping novel about young adults at a prestige boarding school. The main characters although seemingly very different, all have one thing in common. They want to find out where they fit in, searching for a sense of belonging. Professor Douglas, hones in on this idea and creates a group called the circle. The circle is a writing club, where if chosen you are working with other selected students along with Professor Douglas, on your writing and perfecting your story telling. Though this club, the 5 students learn more about themselves and each other, all while trying to find where they fit in.

This book had me right from the beginning, the characters are so uniquely different, but yet work so well together. I liked the idea of Professor Douglas circling one word for each of the students and trying to write about those individual ideas. In reviewing this book, my 5 words are:

Belonging
Friendship
Understanding
Forgiveness
Justice

I think these words and ideas encompass the story of the chandler legacy in different ways, all of which bring the 5 students together and developing a unique friendship. This story discusses sexual assault, hazing, bullying and problems with power dynamic relationships including student and teacher relationships. The way the author depicts hazing, and assault was dealt with a delicate manner but also depicted it in a way that shows how it happens to students in dorms and in school in general, through classes and extracurricular activities. Although these topics can be hard to discuss, I think the author did an excellent job at portraying what the students went through, and how they coped with these experiences, and finding a way to report and put an end to the harassment, and assault that was taking place at the Chandler school. Overall, I thought this book was well written, and had excellent character development.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this novel based in experience.

The Chandler Legacies was unfiltered look at some of the abuse suffered in prep schools around the. country. It shines a light on experiences that have been kept in the dark for far too long, and adults should be reading this book and demanding better.

The topics in this book were very heavy but interesting. I would strongly suggest checking the trigger warnings before you dive in.

A book for lovers of writing ✍️ 📚🌿

“We need light to grow.Just like our stories do.”

I loved loved LOVED these characters and the setting. The story follows 5 POVs of students at an elite boarding school in the 90s and a small writing group they are in. I adored seeing the five characters spend time together and become so close knit throughout the story. The story handled VERY complex and triggering topics but I think handled them with care.

I feel like the book should’ve been longer! There is a fallout in the book that we don’t get to see much of, the book kinda just…ends. Plus with 5 POVs a longer story could’ve really provided more depth to everyone. Still, solid 4⭐️ read!

*Look up triggers before reading! Author’s note at the start of the book was perfectly written and placed!*

“Maybe a little chaos is necessary when you’re trying to blow up a century of secrecy.”👊🏻📖

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC! Looking forward to more from the author!

This was a brave story that showed teens dealing with real, heavy issues. Plus it was set at a boarding school.

The Chandler Legacies started out really well, then at about the 75% mark I seriously considered closing the book and not returning. The characters were initially so well fleshed out and felt so real, but as the story moved along I couldn't see what the characters motivations for doing certain things was, and it all got super confusing. I think the main crux of the plot needed to be introduced a lot earlier; 75% of the book felt like just vibes and then comes the real plot (which is a teacher SA-ing students and deserves way more attention) which is only about 25% fleshed out. Needed either another 50 pages or a lot less fluff in the beginning. It could have been so much more, but in the end, I was slightly dissapointed.

2.5 stars - rounded up.

I liked that there seemed to be a character that everyone could connect with. However, I almost feel like the characters weren't fully developed. Still a good read.