I loved the writing and setting in this book! I love a good book set in an academy, just because of all the tension and this delivered! I loved the characters and cannot wait to read more in this series!

The story follows Emma, who enrolls at Dunbridge Academy—the same school her parents once attended—with the hope of uncovering the mystery behind her father's disappearance years ago. Determined to avoid distractions, Emma's plans are upended when she meets Henry, a fellow student. Their connection deepens through secret midnight parties and moonlit walks, but complications arise as Henry is already in a relationship, and Emma fears heartbreak. Anywhere offers a heartfelt exploration of young love and self-discovery within a captivating boarding school setting

✈️ He could be anywhere else… but he’s right here, with me.
Academia, secret missions, and forbidden attraction—Anywhere had all the ingredients to pull me in. Emma arrives at Dunbridge Academy chasing answers about her father’s past, not expecting to get tangled up with Henry Bennington… who just so happens to have a girlfriend. 😬

Set in the moody halls of a Scottish boarding school, this book explores the fine line between curiosity and connection, but the emotional depth I wanted just didn’t land. I wanted to be obsessed with Henry’s green eyes and Emma’s search for truth, but the chemistry didn’t fully ignite and the mystery subplot felt sidelined.

This one has the vibes—academic rivals, family secrets, midnight confessions—but I needed more depth in the character development and pacing to really feel invested.

🎓 Tropes & themes:
• Forbidden romance
• Boarding school setting
• Family secrets
• Messy emotions
• Midnight study sessions
• Slow burn-ish tension

If you love prestige academia meets personal discovery with a whisper of drama, this might still hit the spot for you—especially if you’re in the mood for something soft and lightly angsty.

#Anywhere #SarahSprinz #DunbridgeAcademy #NetGalleyReads #AcademicRomance #ForbiddenRomance #FamilySecrets #NewAdultBooks #RomanceBookReview #BookstagramRomance #SpicyReads #MoodyRomance #DarkAcademiaVibes

He could be anywhere else... but he's right here, with me.
Academia, secret missions, and forbidden attraction-Anywhere had all the ingredients to pull me in. Emma arrives at Dunbridge Academy chasing answers about her father's past, not expecting to get tangled up with Henry Bennington... who just so happens to have a girlfriend.
Set in the moody halls of a Scottish boarding school, this book explores the fine line between curiosity and connection, but the emotional depth I wanted just didn't land. I wanted to be obsessed with Henry's green eyes and Emma's search for truth, but the chemistry didn't fully ignite and the mystery subplot felt sidelined.
This one has the vibes-academic rivals, family secrets, midnight confessions-but I needed more depth in the character development and pacing to really feel invested.
• Tropes & themes:
• Forbidden romance
• Boarding school setting
• Family secrets
• Messy emotions
• Midnight study sessions
• Slow burn-ish tension

From the very first page, the chemistry between Emma and Henry was magnetic. I loved the symbolism of running through their story: they meet by literally running into each other; Emma runs to avoid her feelings; she teaches Henry to run, which draws them closer; Henry runs to release his pain, and in the end, they run to each other in love.

The side characters were perfectly depicted, each adding more depth to the story. I’m hoping we’ll see more of them in future novels. Especially given how some of them seemed to have side stories going on of their own in the plot. Grace’s reaction to the Emma and Henry situation stood out to me, most would have written her as a jealous vengeful ex, but her character was handled with such maturity and grace.

I would describe this as a touching, beautifully layered romance that blends emotional growth with symbolic storytelling. I can’t wait to read about Sinclair and Tori in the next book in Dunbridge Academy series!

Sarah Sprinz's Dunbridge Academy is more than just a boarding school novel—it’s an immersive experience that feels like coming home. From the very first page, Sprinz crafts a world that is both inviting and emotionally resonant, capturing the unique charm of the academy through a writing style that seamlessly blends youthful authenticity with poetic nuance.

Through the perspective of Emma, the story’s protagonist, readers are drawn into the rich atmosphere of Dunbridge. You don’t just read about its ivy-covered halls—you feel as if you're walking them, attending classes, and slipping into secret midnight gatherings in the greenhouse. Sprinz’s ability to bring setting and emotion to life makes for an effortlessly engaging reading experience.

The characters are thoughtfully developed, marked by distinctive quirks and, importantly, their imperfections. Their mistakes and self-reflections lend a refreshing depth and relatability that make them feel genuinely human.

The narrative strikes a satisfying balance between heartwarming moments and subtle intrigue, avoiding overused dramatic tropes in favor of a more grounded and emotionally layered plot. It’s a compelling start to what promises to be a captivating series, and I’m eager to see where the story goes next.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary coming-of-age fiction with emotional depth, vivid settings, and character-driven storytelling.

This was a strong start to the Dunbridge Academy series, it uses that element in a way that was unique and worked well in this dark academia. The story was engaging and worked well as a romance novel, it uses the overall as a introducing to the world and characters. I enjoyed how good Sarah Sprinz wrote this and left me excited to read the next book in the series.

Anywhere brings us to Dunbridge Academy where students learn and develop skills useful for college or after academia. The MFC Emma decides to study abroad for a year in hopes of finding out more about her father. Henry is captain, friends of the son of the dean, athletic and just plain good at being a Dunbridge student. Until he's hit with tragedy that changes the course of things for him.
Emma and Henry work hard together to get him trained and in the best shape for the team. They both do well in school until tragedy and a certain teacher who's out to get Emma cross paths.
What I loved? The characters. They were the typical high school group. Some cliques. Some best friends. Some acquaintances that wished they were friends and did things out of spite or jealousy. The characters worked well together. I loved them or loved to hate them.
The storyline was great. I read the whole book in one sitting because I loved the way things were playing out and wanted to know more. I love academia and reading about a small crew of characters that build and grow together.
Overall, this book was great. There wasn't anything that stands out to me that I didn't like. I was hesitant about losing things or content with the translation, but even still, it was a great book and took away nothing.

I absolutely love this book, and am so excited to continue the series. This is just a cute, easy read that deals with heartbreak, grief, love, etc. It's just such a good story and I can't wait to see what's next.

I have been wanting to read this forever as I've seen all the TikTok's and Pinterest boards but it wasn't available in America. I loved it and I can't wait for everyone to become OBSESSED!

⭐ ARC REVIEW ⭐
I received an advanced reader copy of Anywhere by Sarah Sprinz from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Anywhere by Sarah Sprinz is a captivating contemporary romance set in Scotland at the picturesque Dunbridge Academy boarding school. While marketed as dark academia, I found it to be a beautiful and heartfelt contemporary romance with some spice, and I absolutely loved it from start to finish.
The story has all the elements of a great read: a boarding school setting, a wonderfully slow-burning romance, a compelling mystery, plot twists, and a touch of tragedy. 
The characters thought the story really grow. 
I adored the friendship between Emma, Henry Tori and Sinclair, and I love Grace's character and how positive she is uplifting girls and never bad mouthing
Overall, Anywhere is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a cute easy contemporary romance with a hint of mystery.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Welcome to Dunbridge Academy! I need a t-shirt hahah! Talk about a truly beautiful and poignant novel that captures the heart from the very first page.

This book is an immersive journey, not just across a physical landscape, but through the emotional terrain of its characters. Sprinz has a remarkable talent for crafting a narrative that feels both deeply intimate and universally resonant. The connection between the characters is built with such care and authenticity that you can’t help but become completely invested in their story.

This is a novel about more than just a destination; it's about the paths we take to get there, the people who walk with us, and the courage it takes to confront the past.

Without giving anything away, I can say that this is a deeply moving experience, filled with beautiful prose, powerful emotions, and an ending that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. For a story that is both heartfelt and unforgettable, this is a definite five-star recommendation.

Thank you to NetGalley and LYX for a temporary e-ARC!

This book is fast paced and held my interest all the way through. I loved the descriptions and would continue on with the series.

Thank you to LYX Books and NetGalley for an e-book ARC of this book for an honest review.
3.5/5
As a girl who’s been caught between people as a teen, loved fan fiction, One Direction, Taylor Swift, and is currently experiencing high volumes of grief, this book really spoke to me. Normally books that are very modern and casual in vocabulary and tone come off cringey or out of touch with the way real people act. However, this book understands the nostalgic pull that fanfic has and nails the tone completely. There are some ridiculously contrived things you’d expect out of every Harry Styles fanfic and they sure are present here. That I think is kind of iconic in this case and I love being able to read the clues of where this piece of writing used to be a fan fiction (I presume because it reads that way, we stan brown curly hair and green eyes) and how it was adapted into a published book.

When Emma deals with her father, it is such an honest depiction of her feelings and it doesn’t feel overstated or random or exaggerated. It felt honestly very real and grounded and I was not expecting that from this book. Additionally when dealing with grief in the book, as a person who is currently experiencing boat loads, it is very comforting to read something that offers a relatable experience yet accounts for how unique grief is to everyone. Again another banger that I did not know the author had waiting.

I’ve been in a place where I’m returning to activities and hobbies I loved when I was a teenage– listening to My Chemical Romance, reading fan fiction, making edits on Pinterest. This romance book felt like such a nice surprise that nestled right into my new resurgence of these interests. Is this a perfect book with extensive research and political commentary? No. But is it a romance that fulfills that feel good want, that fast thrilling read, that exciting relatable feeling of undeniable first true love? The rush of being a teen and making mistakes? Yes! I enjoyed this book so much!! I would totally recommend if you used to be a wattpad girl like me. This book also has vulnerable and emotional parts without completely destroying you in case you’re worried about that kind of thing! Parts of it are simply hilarious and I care about the characters and their relationships very naturally, not in a way that I feel forced to feel some type of way about their sidekick friends. A genuinely good experience for book one!

Okay so this one I loved! I was really happy when I got picked to arc read this one because dark academia as we know is my vibe and this one was an academia romance with just a little twist. Overall the entire vibe just really hit for me. The new girl meets boy, the found family aspect, the twist at the end. I really loved getting to know the entire group of friends and look forward to continuing the series as it gets released. Thank you NetGalley and LYX for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Rounding up from 3.5 stars.

Anywhere is a sweet romance set in a boarding school, Dunbridge Academy, in Scotland. The story starts with 18 year old Emma hoping to find answers to questions she has about her absent father. She travels from Germany to Scotland to board a year at Dunbridge. She makes quick friends with her fellow pupils. But not everyone is as welcoming.

I would like to preface this saying I chose this after reading “dark academia” in the description. I did not find this to be dark academia. Contemporary Romance do not tend to be my cup of tea, however I still found the story sweet and enjoyable.

I know this version is still going through edits, but I will still point out there are many areas that were lost in translation from its original language. Several out of place sentences that I know were meant to say something else.

The story began pretty slow and then about half way through became more exciting. For me, it slowed back down toward the end. I did feel the story would be best targeted to a younger crowd. I also really enjoyed the maturity of the female relationships.

Thank you NetGalley and LYX for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book - it's an easy read, but there are some turns of phrase and sentences that make it clear it's been translated. I found the relationship between Henry and Emma exciting and I appreciated the steps taken between them as we see past relationships fizzle out and new ones flourish. I do think the plot was a tad slow at times, and maybe a little scattered. We have a lot of "side quests" happening on Emma's side and on Henry's side, and I'd love to learn more about their friends as well because I found their personalities and relationships fun and interesting. Regardless, I found it fun to read and I will absolutely be picking up the next book in the series - thanks for the opportunity!

Dunbridge Academy is a young adult novel set against the backdrop of a Scottish boarding school. The story follows Emma and Henry after their airport meet-cute turns into romance, woven together with the drama, friendships, and secrets that come with student life at Dunbridge.

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its setting. The boarding school atmosphere is richly drawn and provides the perfect stage for the characters’ stories.

That said, my interest began to wane during the second half of the story. While the beginning felt fresh and engaging, the later chapters lost some of their momentum and emotional pull, which made it harder for me to stay invested.

I do appreciate that this is the first book in a series, with two follow-ups already planned for release next year. However, I’m still undecided if I’ll continue with the series.

3.5 stars