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 didn't know I needed Elin Hilderbrand to jump genres, but apparently I did,

Tiffin just became the #2 ranked boarding school in the country, but did it deserve such a jump on the list? After the unexpected death of a student, Charley has been admitted in their place. She needed an escape. In fact, it seems like most people at Tiffin need some sort of escape. Their reasons why are getting blasted on an app called Zip Zap (Hello, Gossip Girl/ Yik Yak), and it seems like no one's secrets are sacred at Tiffin.

I loved this. I'm a total sucker for darker academia books (hello, I work at a university) especially when they take place at boarding schools. There's one loose end I can think of, but maybe it was resolved and I forgot. Overall, sheer perfection, no notes.

Thanks, NetGalley!

This book was SO much fun. “Gossip Girl” meets “In My Dreams I Hold A Knife” although not really a thriller. This novel is great because you hear what’s going on about the students AND the teachers and staff. So much happened in this book and it was left open-ended to become a series or maybe even a TV show or movie. Can’t wait to see what Elin and Shelby work on next.

I wasn't sure how I was going to do with an Elin Hilderbrand book outside of Nantucket, but I absolutely loved this one! At first, I was confused. There was a lot going on and a lot of characters to sort out. Once I pushed through that part, I really enjoyed the read. Loved the descriptions of boarding school life, and of course, all the drama that came along with it. Can't wait to read the next year!

This book really threw me for a loop. I picked it up due to Elin Hilderbrand's reputation (I have enjoyed a few of her other novels) and had no expectations but thought it was cute she was writing a novel with her daughter. One chapter in and I was hooked! The cast of characters, both student and faculty, is well developed and what unfolds is a year at Tiffin, an upscale boarding school in "the middle of nowhere" in Massachusetts. Drama, comedy, ingenuity...there is much here. And with the ending I am curious of there will be another. If there is, I will be back for sure!

I love drama playing out in a school setting! Students are arriving to campus and scandals are being uncovered at an elite private high school. The plot unfolds over the course of the school year when secrets come to life and students connect in unexpected ways. There are a lot of characters to keep track of but the storyline keeps you invested in each one. The book did feel a bit long and drawn out but the ending wrapped up well and I felt very satisfied. I do think this could turn into a series or at least a sequel, based on some things that weren't touched on. I will be excited to read what comes next! Thanks to Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed The Academy... it’s got that classic Elin Hilderbrand feel, the kind of book you want to read by the water with a cool drink in hand. The story digs into family dynamics and personal ambitions in a way that feels real and relatable. The characters stuck with me, and the setting added just the right amount of atmosphere without overwhelming the story. It’s not a fast-paced thriller, but the emotional depth kept me turning pages. Overall, a solid read that I’d recommend to anyone who likes thoughtful, character-driven stories.

The Academy is an addictive, page-turning book that is perfect for everyone who is feeling nostalgic for Gossip Girl. I love reading about boarding school life, and Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham have created a fictional New England school, Tiffin Academy, that is peopled with a fascinating cast of characters. The diverse cast includes the New Girl, the Athlete, the Influencer, the misunderstood Bad Boy, the Teacher Behaving Badly, as well as many more students and faculty. The book covers an entire momentous school year, and is full of drama, food descriptions, and secrets. I really hope that we get a sequel, so we can finally find out what is in that letter! Thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown, and authors Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham for the librarian preview copy.

The Academy in the title is none other than Tiffin Academy- an elite private school that does well, but not too well. They hold their own, but don't necessarily shine. They focus on the "well-rounded" student over the academic-driven student.

During the chaos of move-in day, head mistress Audre is navigating texts telling her to view the private school standings and respond to board members immediately. As she anxiously deals with move-in day minutia, she can't help but wonder if the Tiffin Academy ratings have slipped so significantly she will be out of a job. Surprisingly, just the opposite happened - Tiffin zoomed up to number 2 in the rankings. Suddenly, Tiffin was an "it" school, and Audre has to navigate jealously from other school heads and how to keep certain secrets like the student death the prior year, the double standard treatment of the school's greatest donor's son, plus potential staff misbehavior under wraps so as not to tarnish this new and noticeable standing. All this not to mention the new ZipZap app that has been circulating boarding school campuses exposing deeply buried secrets,

I am an enormous Elin Hildebrand fan, so the author name alone caught my attention for this title. I was unsure of what to expect from a mother/daughter collaboration, and I ended up really liking this book. The authors really managed to capture the differing voice and perspectives of the adult headmaster and the students. Interspersing the book with views from The Academy personified was brilliant and allowed the reader to have a Birds Eye view as all the events played out. I zipped through this book way too quickly, but I simply couldn't put it down. I hope to see more from this writing team!

It took me a minute to get into this book but once I did I loved it! At first I struggled to remember all the characters, but by the end I wanted more details about each and every one of them. I loved reading about the lives of the children and staff at Tiffin Academy. This was such a fun idea from Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham. I really hope they continue to write together and add on a sequel to this book so we can follow this group of kids into their sixth form (senior year.)

The one plot hole that has left me annoyed is Cinnamon's email! We never found out what is said and I am so curious what it was! There were several story lines that didn't get wrapped up which leads me to think we are in store for a sequel.

This was a great book that I knew would not disappoint! Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review.

This will be a cozy fall read for the back to school season. I enjoyed the boarding school setting, which in typical Elin style, received a good deal of attention, with details from the brand students wore to the menus served by their fancy chef. The story rotates narrators, which worked, and there wasn’t one perspective I found myself more invested in than others. Again, Elin does something so particular with her shared narration, writing occasionally from the perspective of everyone in the school community (as she often did with the perspective of the Nantucket community), and it adds an important dimension to the book.

Although this moves between teacher, student, and administrator narration, it did generally feel very YA. That’s not a bad thing, but worth knowing what you’re in for. It also felt a bit long - hard to say since my version didn’t have page numbers, but this one probably could’ve been a bit shorter and still hit.

I really appreciated the ending! They pulled it off!

Hilderbrand is always a great choice for a good read. This is a good read. Great for summer time, not the normal setting for her, interesting that it's a co-written piece. Solid.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!! I need another one ASAP!! The characters the setting was everything to me!! I loved East and Charley I need to know what happens next!!’

I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Elin Hilderbrand's new book, The Academy. It is written with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham and centers around life at a boarding school called Tiffin Academy. I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book as much as I have her others, but I was pleasantly surprised. The stories involving the students and staff were interesting and kept my attention. I'm hoping there's a sequel so I can find out what happens at Tiffin Academy next.

The Academy covers an entire school year at Tiffin Academy. The beginning of the story was a little overwhelming, as the authors introduce the entire cast of characters (there are a ton), many of whom have nicknames. Once settled into the story, though, I enjoyed the plot. It had Gossip Girl vibes at times, which was fun as someone who watched the series in high school. Not my favorite by Hilderbrand, but still entertaining.

I love a boarding school book. Ever since reading Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld I’ve been hoping to find another one to enjoy. Well, Elin and daughter Shelby have provided an excellent read.

All the characters represent the best and maybe some not so best, students, teachers and staff that make up a boarding school. Kind of a, ‘all the usual suspects,’ group. The popular kids, the smart kids, the shy kids and everyone in between.

I loved the shenanigans the teenagers got into. Fortunately nothing awful. I even rooted for the kids not to get caught in one questionable endeavor.

I hope there’s a sequel so I can find out what’s in the letter Dub can’t open till his graduation.

Fun and fabulous ladies!

This story gives what feels like a realistic peek into a year in the life of a high class boarding school. There's romance, intrigue, suspense, and of course backstabbing. The characters have depth and are relatable. There's also one part of the storyline left open ended leaving the reader with the question of will there be a part 2?

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham is an engaging, fast-paced read that pulls you right into the privileged yet pressure-filled world of Tiffin Academy. What starts as a deep dive into the lives of several students, and a few staff, quickly turns into a gripping drama when a mysterious app, ZipZap, hits the scene and starts broadcasting the kind of secrets no one wants shared.

The authors do a fantastic job painting a vivid picture of boarding school life, capturing everything from late-night dorm drama to the silent pressures of academic and social expectations. Each student perspective feels fresh and distinct, giving readers a broad and balanced view of what life at Tiffin is really like. Just when you start to feel connected to the characters, the story takes a twist, and suddenly, no one is safe from ZipZap’s reach. The resulting chaos is both addictive and all-too-real in today’s tech-heavy world.

One downside? The book ends before we find out what’s in the mysterious email ~ such a tease! I was genuinely sad to turn the last page without that reveal, and I’m really hoping this means a sequel is on the way. There’s still so much more I want to know!

Overall, this was an exciting and immersive read with just the right mix of drama, mystery, and heart. Perfect for fans of boarding school intrigue with a modern tech twist.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my review for NetGalley. It's always refreshing to read a new Elin Hilderbrand book, and "The Academy" was no exception. Co-written with her daughter, it takes place at a private school in New England and lets the reader in on a school year's events. Haven't never attended a boarding school, I don't have a basis for comparison. But knowing that her daughter, Shelby, did attend boarding school makes the events believable. As a proud Gen-Xer, I was glad to relate to most of the vocabulary used in the book (my knowledge of the songs in the book was sadly much less). The style of the writing is pure Hilderbrand (scenes fully set with many characters, some characters with more backstory than others). I eagerly await the next book in this series!

Just as Elin Hilderbrand's beach novels are perfect for summer, this one will be perfect for the fall. It gave both Grease and Breakfast Club vibes. The characters were filled with flaws that made them relatable. My only qualm is I wished a few of the plot lines were a little more fleshed out and explored.