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The Boyfriend Academy
Love is forbidden. Truth is dangerous. Survival is everything.
Ganymede’s is no ordinary boarding school. Behind its spiral towers and manicured lawns, boys are forged into the men society demands – strong, obedient, perfect. Graduate, and the world is yours: a home, a career, a wife. But fail… and you’re no longer useful to society.
For Dylan Cecil it should be simple: keep his head down, survive graduation, and earn his place. But when his friend, Blake, disappears, Dylan can’t silence the questions gnawing at him, even as whispers of danger shadow the school’s gilded halls.
As June’s trials close in – eight tests that will decide who is worthy of manhood – Dylan is haunted by Blake’s absence and drawn to Roman Edwards, a boy as magnetic as he is unknowable.
In a world rebuilt on order and obedience, Dylan must decide: will he become the man the academy wants – or the man he really is?
Ganymede’s is no ordinary boarding school. Behind its spiral towers and manicured lawns, boys are forged into the men society demands – strong, obedient, perfect. Graduate, and the world is yours: a home, a career, a wife. But fail… and you’re no longer useful to society.
For Dylan Cecil it should be simple: keep his head down, survive graduation, and earn his place. But when his friend, Blake, disappears, Dylan can’t silence the questions gnawing at him, even as whispers of danger shadow the school’s gilded halls.
As June’s trials close in – eight tests that will decide who is worthy of manhood – Dylan is haunted by Blake’s absence and drawn to Roman Edwards, a boy as magnetic as he is unknowable.
In a world rebuilt on order and obedience, Dylan must decide: will he become the man the academy wants – or the man he really is?
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2026
About the author
J.S. Strange
6 books94 followersAuthor of The Boyfriend Academy: The must-read gripping dark academia debut for 2026.
J. S. Strange lives in Wales surrounded by books, and his three cats. With an interest in the occult, the esoteric, and the paranormal, J. S. Strange often finds himself waiting for Halloween, or thinking how he can make his home more supernatural. Author of The Boyfriend Academy, J. S. Strange is also working on murder mysteries with gay male leads.
He also writes as Jack Strange, with titles including Look Up, Handsome and 25 Days in Athens.
J. S. Strange lives in Wales surrounded by books, and his three cats. With an interest in the occult, the esoteric, and the paranormal, J. S. Strange often finds himself waiting for Halloween, or thinking how he can make his home more supernatural. Author of The Boyfriend Academy, J. S. Strange is also working on murder mysteries with gay male leads.
He also writes as Jack Strange, with titles including Look Up, Handsome and 25 Days in Athens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
January 8, 2026
Awe, I find this a hard one to review. When I read the blurb, I was over the moon and convinced this would be at least a four or five star read, maybe even a new favorite.
At its core, The Boyfriend Academy is a great dystopian dark academia novel set almost a hundred years from now. The theme is compelling: toxic masculinity is fully gone, men can cry, be soft, be caring. They’re taught to respect women. Women are safe with men, and men are safe with women. The boys graduating from Ganymede get to live perfect lives with perfect wives in perfect villages. But what about autonomy? What about diversity? What about choosing your own way of living? What if you don’t want a partner? Or what if you want a same sex partner?
I really liked Dylan and Roman, and I loved the overall story. When I look at the world today, I want women to be able to walk the streets without fear and for femicide to disappear. I also want everyone to be able to make their own choices and be fully themselves. So even though I think The Boyfriend Academy feels more YA than adult, that’s okay, because thematically this is an important story that should reach all ages. Overall the writing was pretty strong, for one exception: filter words (wonder hit the jackpot with 79 times, but realize, knew, remember and others were used a lot too). I wonder why editors don’t cut them more often.
The biggest reason I struggled to review this story is the worldbuilding, which contains significant gaps: timeline issues and logical inconsistencies.
The most obvious example is that chapter one starts in 2105, and three years later it’s still 2105.
There are also structural issues I can’t fully explain without spoilers. The book often behaves as if the characters have no lives beyond the school grounds. Significant events occur that would normally involve family, yet the story keeps everything contained within the school until it suddenly doesn’t.
The story suggests that once the boys graduate, the world opens up to them with a career, a home, a wife. But the book never explains how they get from school to those futures. There’s no mention of higher education, apprenticeships, or any real path toward a career. It simply assumes they’ll move to a hamlet and start families.
Sadly, I was more convinced by the premise than by the execution in the end. And I don’t think that’s entirely on the author. Dear publisher and editor, another round of editing, especially around the world building gaps (and the filter words), might have made a huge difference. It’s a shame, because this is an intriguing dark academia debut with so much potential. It could have been a glorious five star read, even with the plot twists I guessed. But with a sigh, I just rounded down my 3.5 star rating to three stars. That ending was great, though, and if there will be a sequel, I’ll definitely read it.
Thank you, Harper360 and NetGalley, for this ARC.
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At its core, The Boyfriend Academy is a great dystopian dark academia novel set almost a hundred years from now. The theme is compelling: toxic masculinity is fully gone, men can cry, be soft, be caring. They’re taught to respect women. Women are safe with men, and men are safe with women. The boys graduating from Ganymede get to live perfect lives with perfect wives in perfect villages. But what about autonomy? What about diversity? What about choosing your own way of living? What if you don’t want a partner? Or what if you want a same sex partner?
I really liked Dylan and Roman, and I loved the overall story. When I look at the world today, I want women to be able to walk the streets without fear and for femicide to disappear. I also want everyone to be able to make their own choices and be fully themselves. So even though I think The Boyfriend Academy feels more YA than adult, that’s okay, because thematically this is an important story that should reach all ages. Overall the writing was pretty strong, for one exception: filter words (wonder hit the jackpot with 79 times, but realize, knew, remember and others were used a lot too). I wonder why editors don’t cut them more often.
The biggest reason I struggled to review this story is the worldbuilding, which contains significant gaps: timeline issues and logical inconsistencies.
The most obvious example is that chapter one starts in 2105, and three years later it’s still 2105.
There are also structural issues I can’t fully explain without spoilers. The book often behaves as if the characters have no lives beyond the school grounds. Significant events occur that would normally involve family, yet the story keeps everything contained within the school until it suddenly doesn’t.
The story suggests that once the boys graduate, the world opens up to them with a career, a home, a wife. But the book never explains how they get from school to those futures. There’s no mention of higher education, apprenticeships, or any real path toward a career. It simply assumes they’ll move to a hamlet and start families.
Sadly, I was more convinced by the premise than by the execution in the end. And I don’t think that’s entirely on the author. Dear publisher and editor, another round of editing, especially around the world building gaps (and the filter words), might have made a huge difference. It’s a shame, because this is an intriguing dark academia debut with so much potential. It could have been a glorious five star read, even with the plot twists I guessed. But with a sigh, I just rounded down my 3.5 star rating to three stars. That ending was great, though, and if there will be a sequel, I’ll definitely read it.
Thank you, Harper360 and NetGalley, for this ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 rounded up.
Unfortunately this didn't work for me. The premise is a futuristic world where society collapsed from low birth rates and destruction of the environment, the story takes place in a time where they are in the process of rebuilding. We follow our main character, Dylan, as he goes to a school where boys are taught how to be men but it's not how you would think, they actually are taught how to be loving, supporting and sensitive, but the end goal is to find a wife and have a family.
(Now I will talk a little about the plot, but I won't include any spoilers, it's all things you can find in the very beginning of the book).
The thing is... I don't buy it. I don't buy that in a world where misogyny is "eradicated" homophobia would still be going on. I don't buy that in a world where birth rates are low they would treat woman with more respect. That bothered me from the get go because it was so far-fetched.
But it's a dystopia you could argue, and yeah but I also chose a time where I'm not in a good mood to read this lol. Also, there are some garve inconsistencies and the characters don't feel fully developed.
I hate giving a bad review to ARCs, but I have to be honest.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360 for the opportunity to review this ARC.
Unfortunately this didn't work for me. The premise is a futuristic world where society collapsed from low birth rates and destruction of the environment, the story takes place in a time where they are in the process of rebuilding. We follow our main character, Dylan, as he goes to a school where boys are taught how to be men but it's not how you would think, they actually are taught how to be loving, supporting and sensitive, but the end goal is to find a wife and have a family.
(Now I will talk a little about the plot, but I won't include any spoilers, it's all things you can find in the very beginning of the book).
The thing is... I don't buy it. I don't buy that in a world where misogyny is "eradicated" homophobia would still be going on. I don't buy that in a world where birth rates are low they would treat woman with more respect. That bothered me from the get go because it was so far-fetched.
But it's a dystopia you could argue, and yeah but I also chose a time where I'm not in a good mood to read this lol. Also, there are some garve inconsistencies and the characters don't feel fully developed.
I hate giving a bad review to ARCs, but I have to be honest.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360 for the opportunity to review this ARC.
February 17, 2026
4✨ thank you to NetGalley and J. S. Strange for letting me get an e-arc of this book. Honestly this book was not what I was expecting in a good way. This book exceeded my expectations and I was thoroughly surprised and I really enjoyed this book.
Set in a society where everyone is expected to be perfect, have their partners chosen, and to follow all the rules and do what their told. Our main character Dylan Cecil was going to do the same to secure society but then started to get suspicious after his best friend died.
Dylan meets Roman and they get paired as partners for their final tasks to graduate from Ganymede. But as the two get closer and become friends, they have to fight against everything they’ve known and have been told. This book was everything I needed it to be and more.
I loved the dynamics of the story and the friendships that we got. I loved how Roman and Dylan protected each other. I loved the setting and vibe of the school and how it was both dark and light. I loved how I was always sucked into the story because of the beautiful writing. I really liked how you didn’t know who to trust until the end of the book and frankly I still don’t know who to trust.
Everything about this book was both infuriating and poetic. This book caused me to have many emotions and feelings for the characters. Dylan and Roman should’ve been endgame. Honestly this book was so memorable and meaningful that I can’t stop thinking about it and the characters and how they’re doing.
Even though I didn’t get the ending that I was hoping for, I hope J. S. Strange keeps writing and thinking about these characters because I need to know what happens next. These characters are delicate, take your time to read and experience them. Again thank you to NetGalley and the author for approving me for the e-arc of The Boyfriend Academy. I had a fun time and I would love to come back to the world and experience this all over again.
Set in a society where everyone is expected to be perfect, have their partners chosen, and to follow all the rules and do what their told. Our main character Dylan Cecil was going to do the same to secure society but then started to get suspicious after his best friend died.
Dylan meets Roman and they get paired as partners for their final tasks to graduate from Ganymede. But as the two get closer and become friends, they have to fight against everything they’ve known and have been told. This book was everything I needed it to be and more.
I loved the dynamics of the story and the friendships that we got. I loved how Roman and Dylan protected each other. I loved the setting and vibe of the school and how it was both dark and light. I loved how I was always sucked into the story because of the beautiful writing. I really liked how you didn’t know who to trust until the end of the book and frankly I still don’t know who to trust.
Everything about this book was both infuriating and poetic. This book caused me to have many emotions and feelings for the characters. Dylan and Roman should’ve been endgame. Honestly this book was so memorable and meaningful that I can’t stop thinking about it and the characters and how they’re doing.
Even though I didn’t get the ending that I was hoping for, I hope J. S. Strange keeps writing and thinking about these characters because I need to know what happens next. These characters are delicate, take your time to read and experience them. Again thank you to NetGalley and the author for approving me for the e-arc of The Boyfriend Academy. I had a fun time and I would love to come back to the world and experience this all over again.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read The Boyfriend Academy by J. S. Strange in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What really worked for me in this book was the premise. I was intrigued by the dark academia–inspired setting and the idea of a world where people are shaped into “perfect” partners—trained in emotional intelligence, domestic skills, and idealized behavior to fit a very narrow vision of love, family, and success 🕯️📚. The concept raises some interesting questions: what happens if you don’t fit the mold of a perfect future husband or father? What if you resist the path laid out for you? And what about those whose love doesn’t align with the system’s expectations?
While I appreciated the atmosphere and ambition behind these ideas, the execution didn’t fully work for me. I often felt unsure about the direction of the story, and the themes I found most compelling weren’t explored as deeply as I had hoped. In the end, I admired the concept more than the way it unfolded on the page.
Would I recommend it?
Maybe. If you enjoy dark academia settings and stories that explore identity, conformity, and societal pressure—and don’t mind a less focused execution—this could still be an interesting read.
#TheBoyfriendAcademy #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read The Boyfriend Academy by J. S. Strange in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What really worked for me in this book was the premise. I was intrigued by the dark academia–inspired setting and the idea of a world where people are shaped into “perfect” partners—trained in emotional intelligence, domestic skills, and idealized behavior to fit a very narrow vision of love, family, and success 🕯️📚. The concept raises some interesting questions: what happens if you don’t fit the mold of a perfect future husband or father? What if you resist the path laid out for you? And what about those whose love doesn’t align with the system’s expectations?
While I appreciated the atmosphere and ambition behind these ideas, the execution didn’t fully work for me. I often felt unsure about the direction of the story, and the themes I found most compelling weren’t explored as deeply as I had hoped. In the end, I admired the concept more than the way it unfolded on the page.
Would I recommend it?
Maybe. If you enjoy dark academia settings and stories that explore identity, conformity, and societal pressure—and don’t mind a less focused execution—this could still be an interesting read.
#TheBoyfriendAcademy #NetGalley
April 12, 2026
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book since I finished look up handsome and googled the author. Well, of course this is a very different genre. I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I read the first three chapters the minute the book released at midnight, at first my reaction was apprehensive about whether I would enjoy it for based on these chapters, as these lay the groundwork to the world in which we are entering, but when I re-picked up the book later that day chapter 4 onwards hooked me and made me addicted to this world.
The scariest part of this book is that none of it seems that far-fetched with the rise of certain political parties and political beliefs here in the UK and across the world.
Before going into this I had seen the author had said that the book would leave you with more questions and answers and this is the case and I truly hope that JS Strange is able to continue his journey in telling the story of this world.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
I read the first three chapters the minute the book released at midnight, at first my reaction was apprehensive about whether I would enjoy it for based on these chapters, as these lay the groundwork to the world in which we are entering, but when I re-picked up the book later that day chapter 4 onwards hooked me and made me addicted to this world.
The scariest part of this book is that none of it seems that far-fetched with the rise of certain political parties and political beliefs here in the UK and across the world.
Before going into this I had seen the author had said that the book would leave you with more questions and answers and this is the case and I truly hope that JS Strange is able to continue his journey in telling the story of this world.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
January 19, 2026
I absolutely loved The Boyfriend Academy. It’s set in a futuristic United Kingdom that’s trying to rebuild after society has collapsed, with a boys’ boarding school designed to turn students into the “perfect men” for a new, controlled world. But when Dylan realises he’s gay, he no longer fits into that vision, and as he starts to notice things at the Academy that don’t quite add up, darker secrets begin to emerge.
This isn’t just a dark academia romance, it’s a coming-of-age story about unlearning what you’re told to be and deciding who you want to be instead. Dylan’s internal struggle feels raw and real, especially as the pressure to conform increases. The tension is constant, emotional, and at times genuinely unsettling, but it’s balanced by a really touching, forbidden love story.
This isn’t just a dark academia romance, it’s a coming-of-age story about unlearning what you’re told to be and deciding who you want to be instead. Dylan’s internal struggle feels raw and real, especially as the pressure to conform increases. The tension is constant, emotional, and at times genuinely unsettling, but it’s balanced by a really touching, forbidden love story.
April 15, 2026
The Boyfriend Academy has such a cool concept. Dark academia but set in a dystopian future?? Yes please! The vibes were immaculate: moody, a little unsettling, and just enough mystery to keep me hooked!
I flew through this in two sittings because the pacing is fast! There’s always something happening, and it definitely has that “just one more chapter” energy. I was fully invested in what was going on, even when i wasn’t 100% sure how everything fit together.
But that’s also kind of my main issue… I really wanted more world-building. The setting is so interesting but I feel like we only scratched the surface of how this society actually works as we don’t leave the school setting. I kept waiting for a bit more depth that never quite came.
The ending definitely feels like a setup for a sequel with some loose threads, I would pick up the next book because i need to know where this goes!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the E-ARC and physically copy
I flew through this in two sittings because the pacing is fast! There’s always something happening, and it definitely has that “just one more chapter” energy. I was fully invested in what was going on, even when i wasn’t 100% sure how everything fit together.
But that’s also kind of my main issue… I really wanted more world-building. The setting is so interesting but I feel like we only scratched the surface of how this society actually works as we don’t leave the school setting. I kept waiting for a bit more depth that never quite came.
The ending definitely feels like a setup for a sequel with some loose threads, I would pick up the next book because i need to know where this goes!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the E-ARC and physically copy
May 10, 2026
I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would, given that it's not really my genre. I read the first book by Strange back in December and really liked the style/characterisation of the two protagonists, so I decided to give this a try, and I'm so glad I did!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2026
I loved this. A futuristic United Kingdom that is working to rebuild after the collapse of society, a boarding school for boys to turn them into the perfect man who will then go on to work perfect jobs in a new perfect society. But when the mmc is gay, that doesn’t fit into the new society, and when he starts to notice imperfections in the school he uncovers dark secrets which could damage everything the monarchy is trying to rebuild.
May 11, 2026
loved this loved the romance especially but i have so many questions
Did Not Finish
May 12, 2026DNF, not good
May 31, 2026
Lovely writing and imagery even though the storyline itself was unpleasant. 2.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter, NetGalley, and J.S. Strange for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
Imagine a school where young men are groomed to be the perfect husband. Empathy, strength, trust, and survival are required courses, learning revolves around the idea that man's role is to support and protect his wife, all in the hopes of repopulating a decimated planet. Graduate successfully, and you'll want for nothing. Fail to graduate, and there will be consequences. What consequences? That's the mystery that resides at the heart of J.S. Strange's The Boyfriend Academy.
When we begin the novel, we step into the world of Ganymede's, a prestigious finishing school for young men in the U.K. We meet Dylan on his first day, a legacy student with the expectations of his parents and society weighing heavy upon his shoulders. When he says goodbye to his parents, we soon learn that it is for the last time, as tragedy befalls them shortly after their departure. Dylan seeks comfort in fellow student Blake, but that comfort is short-lived. All too soon, Blake has a tragic accident, leaving Dylan reeling with the death of his parents and his new-found friend in a short period of time.
As Dylan comes to terms with their deaths, the specter of graduation looms. The young men of Ganymede's are required to prove their worthiness to graduate through a series of tasks, each designed to prove a specific virtue. Partnered up with the enigmatic Roman, and learning on the members of his fellow "House Saturn" students, Dylan soon realizes that all is not what it seems at Ganymede's, and the pursuit of perfection can have lethal consequences.
This book tackles many questions and issues that are eerily prevalent today: what does it mean to be "perfect"? Who decides what traits should be lauded or decried, and should individuality be rejected in favor of the so-called "greater good"? We learn that in this novel, climate change and political unrest led to the downfall of society, and the British monarchy stepped in to "save" what was left of the people in the U.K. There are several scenes within the novel that could've been pulled from today's headlines, just amplified for dramatic effect, and the whole story itself serves as a bit of a cautionary tale and warning for what we might face in the not-too-distant future.
Where the novel falls short, however, is in its emotional resonance. At its heart, the story questions who has the right to determine what is "perfect" and how your "ideal" match should be determined. Yet, when we see Dylan examine these ideas (or have them face them in class), he seems almost eerily detached. We see him long for someone at the school and explore his own sexuality, but from an emotional standpoint, it falls flat; we're never really "let in" to the angst and heartbreak he's likely feeling.
Similarly, the structure of Ganymede's and the story of society's downfall feels preachy and remote. There are long periods of exposition, which of course make sense in a story like this where the reader is trying to orient themselves, but I felt like I was reading a persuasive essay instead of a novel where the characters are facing real stakes.
The pacing picked up a bit toward the end, with an interesting reveal that kept my attention, but the final act of the novel also seemed a bit rushed, with a climactic scene that seemed, for the lack of a better word, out of place given the premise of the novel.
Overall, I think this book has a solid initial premise and even glimpses of intrigue, but for me it didn't have the emotional resonance I was really craving. It moved too slowly to be a thriller, had too little heat to be a dark romance, and I struggled to truly connect with the characters. I think that this book might resonate with readers who prefer plot-driven as opposed to character-driven stories. I also think that if you're a fan of dark academia, this might be worth trying. It just wasn't the right book for me.
Imagine a school where young men are groomed to be the perfect husband. Empathy, strength, trust, and survival are required courses, learning revolves around the idea that man's role is to support and protect his wife, all in the hopes of repopulating a decimated planet. Graduate successfully, and you'll want for nothing. Fail to graduate, and there will be consequences. What consequences? That's the mystery that resides at the heart of J.S. Strange's The Boyfriend Academy.
When we begin the novel, we step into the world of Ganymede's, a prestigious finishing school for young men in the U.K. We meet Dylan on his first day, a legacy student with the expectations of his parents and society weighing heavy upon his shoulders. When he says goodbye to his parents, we soon learn that it is for the last time, as tragedy befalls them shortly after their departure. Dylan seeks comfort in fellow student Blake, but that comfort is short-lived. All too soon, Blake has a tragic accident, leaving Dylan reeling with the death of his parents and his new-found friend in a short period of time.
As Dylan comes to terms with their deaths, the specter of graduation looms. The young men of Ganymede's are required to prove their worthiness to graduate through a series of tasks, each designed to prove a specific virtue. Partnered up with the enigmatic Roman, and learning on the members of his fellow "House Saturn" students, Dylan soon realizes that all is not what it seems at Ganymede's, and the pursuit of perfection can have lethal consequences.
This book tackles many questions and issues that are eerily prevalent today: what does it mean to be "perfect"? Who decides what traits should be lauded or decried, and should individuality be rejected in favor of the so-called "greater good"? We learn that in this novel, climate change and political unrest led to the downfall of society, and the British monarchy stepped in to "save" what was left of the people in the U.K. There are several scenes within the novel that could've been pulled from today's headlines, just amplified for dramatic effect, and the whole story itself serves as a bit of a cautionary tale and warning for what we might face in the not-too-distant future.
Where the novel falls short, however, is in its emotional resonance. At its heart, the story questions who has the right to determine what is "perfect" and how your "ideal" match should be determined. Yet, when we see Dylan examine these ideas (or have them face them in class), he seems almost eerily detached. We see him long for someone at the school and explore his own sexuality, but from an emotional standpoint, it falls flat; we're never really "let in" to the angst and heartbreak he's likely feeling.
Similarly, the structure of Ganymede's and the story of society's downfall feels preachy and remote. There are long periods of exposition, which of course make sense in a story like this where the reader is trying to orient themselves, but I felt like I was reading a persuasive essay instead of a novel where the characters are facing real stakes.
The pacing picked up a bit toward the end, with an interesting reveal that kept my attention, but the final act of the novel also seemed a bit rushed, with a climactic scene that seemed, for the lack of a better word, out of place given the premise of the novel.
Overall, I think this book has a solid initial premise and even glimpses of intrigue, but for me it didn't have the emotional resonance I was really craving. It moved too slowly to be a thriller, had too little heat to be a dark romance, and I struggled to truly connect with the characters. I think that this book might resonate with readers who prefer plot-driven as opposed to character-driven stories. I also think that if you're a fan of dark academia, this might be worth trying. It just wasn't the right book for me.
May 10, 2026
I hadn’t come across J.S. Strange before picking up The Boyfriend Academy, but the blurb immediately caught my attention. Marketed as a dark academia dystopian novel, comparisons to The Hunger Games feel inevitable, and you can clearly see some of those influences woven throughout the story. Yet beneath the familiar framework, there’s something more philosophical and surprisingly thoughtful going on here.
Dark academia isn’t always the most immersive genre for me, but this version pushes beyond the aesthetic and into genuinely interesting territory. The novel asks uncomfortable questions about masculinity, control, conformity, and what humanity might become after its own collapse. In many ways, it feels like a strange collision between elite boarding school fiction and psychological theory; a dystopian society attempting to rebuild itself by eradicating toxic masculinity and reshaping boys into “acceptable” men.
It’s an ambitious premise, and to the book’s credit, many of its ideas are genuinely compelling. The concept of constructing a future society through emotional conditioning and strict behavioural expectations feels both unsettling and believable. At times, the novel even works as an allegory for dogmatic religion, particularly in the way obedience and ritual are treated as moral absolutes. Those layers add depth and elevate it above more surface-level dystopian fiction.
The queer themes also come through strongly and naturally. Given the all-boys school setting, the cast is understandably male-dominated, which does result in very little female representation, but the emotional tension and questions of identity are handled well. There’s a quiet undercurrent of repression and longing running through the novel that suits the setting perfectly.
However, despite all its cleverness, the story never fully expands beyond the walls of Ganymede’s itself. That becomes the novel’s biggest weakness. The hints about society’s downfall, the “Open Country,” and the outside world are intriguing, but they remain frustratingly vague. You constantly feel as though the book is about to reveal something bigger and more profound, only for it to pull back. The world-building is strong enough to spark curiosity, but not detailed enough to satisfy it.
One of the strongest sections comes during the students’ survival task outside the academy, where Dylan and Roman briefly experience the dangers beyond the school’s controlled environment. These moments finally widen the scope of the novel and offer glimpses of a harsher, more unpredictable world. Ironically, those scenes also highlight what the rest of the book is missing: you want far more of that tension, mystery, and exploration.
The romance follows a similar pattern. The slow-burn dynamic between Dylan and Roman has potential and serves the story well enough, but it never fully ignites. There’s chemistry there, but not quite enough emotional payoff. By the end, it feels like the relationship promised more intensity and passion than it ultimately delivered.
Still, The Boyfriend Academy deserves credit for aiming higher than many dystopian novels in the genre. It’s thoughtful, atmospheric, and full of ideas that linger after you finish reading. Even when it frustrates, it keeps you questioning your own values and assumptions, which is always the sign of a book doing something right.
An enjoyable and intelligent dystopian story that perhaps doesn’t fully realise the brilliance of its premise, but comes close enough to make you wish it had pushed further. Three stars.
Dark academia isn’t always the most immersive genre for me, but this version pushes beyond the aesthetic and into genuinely interesting territory. The novel asks uncomfortable questions about masculinity, control, conformity, and what humanity might become after its own collapse. In many ways, it feels like a strange collision between elite boarding school fiction and psychological theory; a dystopian society attempting to rebuild itself by eradicating toxic masculinity and reshaping boys into “acceptable” men.
It’s an ambitious premise, and to the book’s credit, many of its ideas are genuinely compelling. The concept of constructing a future society through emotional conditioning and strict behavioural expectations feels both unsettling and believable. At times, the novel even works as an allegory for dogmatic religion, particularly in the way obedience and ritual are treated as moral absolutes. Those layers add depth and elevate it above more surface-level dystopian fiction.
The queer themes also come through strongly and naturally. Given the all-boys school setting, the cast is understandably male-dominated, which does result in very little female representation, but the emotional tension and questions of identity are handled well. There’s a quiet undercurrent of repression and longing running through the novel that suits the setting perfectly.
However, despite all its cleverness, the story never fully expands beyond the walls of Ganymede’s itself. That becomes the novel’s biggest weakness. The hints about society’s downfall, the “Open Country,” and the outside world are intriguing, but they remain frustratingly vague. You constantly feel as though the book is about to reveal something bigger and more profound, only for it to pull back. The world-building is strong enough to spark curiosity, but not detailed enough to satisfy it.
One of the strongest sections comes during the students’ survival task outside the academy, where Dylan and Roman briefly experience the dangers beyond the school’s controlled environment. These moments finally widen the scope of the novel and offer glimpses of a harsher, more unpredictable world. Ironically, those scenes also highlight what the rest of the book is missing: you want far more of that tension, mystery, and exploration.
The romance follows a similar pattern. The slow-burn dynamic between Dylan and Roman has potential and serves the story well enough, but it never fully ignites. There’s chemistry there, but not quite enough emotional payoff. By the end, it feels like the relationship promised more intensity and passion than it ultimately delivered.
Still, The Boyfriend Academy deserves credit for aiming higher than many dystopian novels in the genre. It’s thoughtful, atmospheric, and full of ideas that linger after you finish reading. Even when it frustrates, it keeps you questioning your own values and assumptions, which is always the sign of a book doing something right.
An enjoyable and intelligent dystopian story that perhaps doesn’t fully realise the brilliance of its premise, but comes close enough to make you wish it had pushed further. Three stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review. Credits to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity
I've sat here for a few minutes now, struggling to figure out where to begin with this and I'm still at a loss. A warning for vague spoilers at the end of this review
I really loved the first 95% of this book. It was one of my most anticipated reads for the year, I loved J Strange's last book "Look Up, Handsome." I looked forward to reading every night, found myself attached to the characters, so interested in what was going to happen next. I forced my eyes to stay open for just one more chapter before going to sleep, desperate to know what happens. I loved reading about Dylan and Roman, seeing what this dystopian world held. It was an interesting scenario, and I'm always a fan of twists, which this book had plenty of. I was seeing this as an easy favorite, for sure.
Then, the end of the final trial happened. And I kept telling myself, oh it'll be fine. There have been so many twists so far, there's sure to be another one to fix this. This can't be the end, surely not!
I'll be going more in detail in my reviews on other sites where I'm able to censor words and such for spoilers, but here's what I will say.
I was wrong. That was the end. The moral of the story? Conform to your oppressors. And I know that that wasn't exactly what happened, but we don't know what happened for sure after what takes place in this book. We know Dylan's plan, but we don't know if he'll succeed. Instead, he lost everything, and is expected to lead the charge from the inside. But we never know if that happens or not. This book is labeled adult, but all of the students are 17 or younger and there's nothing really... adult? about this book, aside from saying "f*ck." So while it isn't advertised for YA, it feels like YA. But regardless, I understand wanting angst. I understand reality vs fairytales. I understand wanting a realistic ending. But this just did not sit right with me. Ending a book about going against your oppressors with the main character losing everything and just having hope that he'll make change in the future during a time like now is just not something I want to see, personally. It felt cruel to give the reader hope through the entire story and end it like that. It's one thing for a non-HEA to be the love interest dying, or breaking up, or whatever. But this is an incredibly political book that clearly parallels the real world, and is meant to. Now is not the time to be publishing stories that end in queer people conforming to toxic society, regardless of if they're doing so as a plan to infiltrate or whatever. Unless you include an epilogue of how the character does do just that, a queer book ending in, what, hopeful conformity? Is that what I can call it? Is horrifying. Never thought we'd get conformity gate part 2, but here we are I guess.
This book really disheartened me. To see an ending like this come from a queer author I had thought I trusted hurts, especially with how queer people are being treated in tv and movies right now. I'm just really sad for everyone who, like me, is excited for this book and will read the ending, not knowing what will happen.
I've sat here for a few minutes now, struggling to figure out where to begin with this and I'm still at a loss. A warning for vague spoilers at the end of this review
I really loved the first 95% of this book. It was one of my most anticipated reads for the year, I loved J Strange's last book "Look Up, Handsome." I looked forward to reading every night, found myself attached to the characters, so interested in what was going to happen next. I forced my eyes to stay open for just one more chapter before going to sleep, desperate to know what happens. I loved reading about Dylan and Roman, seeing what this dystopian world held. It was an interesting scenario, and I'm always a fan of twists, which this book had plenty of. I was seeing this as an easy favorite, for sure.
Then, the end of the final trial happened. And I kept telling myself, oh it'll be fine. There have been so many twists so far, there's sure to be another one to fix this. This can't be the end, surely not!
I'll be going more in detail in my reviews on other sites where I'm able to censor words and such for spoilers, but here's what I will say.
I was wrong. That was the end. The moral of the story? Conform to your oppressors. And I know that that wasn't exactly what happened, but we don't know what happened for sure after what takes place in this book. We know Dylan's plan, but we don't know if he'll succeed. Instead, he lost everything, and is expected to lead the charge from the inside. But we never know if that happens or not. This book is labeled adult, but all of the students are 17 or younger and there's nothing really... adult? about this book, aside from saying "f*ck." So while it isn't advertised for YA, it feels like YA. But regardless, I understand wanting angst. I understand reality vs fairytales. I understand wanting a realistic ending. But this just did not sit right with me. Ending a book about going against your oppressors with the main character losing everything and just having hope that he'll make change in the future during a time like now is just not something I want to see, personally. It felt cruel to give the reader hope through the entire story and end it like that. It's one thing for a non-HEA to be the love interest dying, or breaking up, or whatever. But this is an incredibly political book that clearly parallels the real world, and is meant to. Now is not the time to be publishing stories that end in queer people conforming to toxic society, regardless of if they're doing so as a plan to infiltrate or whatever. Unless you include an epilogue of how the character does do just that, a queer book ending in, what, hopeful conformity? Is that what I can call it? Is horrifying. Never thought we'd get conformity gate part 2, but here we are I guess.
This book really disheartened me. To see an ending like this come from a queer author I had thought I trusted hurts, especially with how queer people are being treated in tv and movies right now. I'm just really sad for everyone who, like me, is excited for this book and will read the ending, not knowing what will happen.
June 24, 2026
The Boyfriend Academy by J.S. Strange pulled me in with its gorgeous cover and dark academia vibes, then quietly wrecked my emotional stability. One More Chapter, thank you for the gifted copy.
This is one of those books that’s hard to neatly categorize. It’s dystopian, it’s mysterious, it’s a coming-of-age story, and yes, there’s romance woven through it too. But more than anything, it’s about what happens when an entire society decides who you’re supposed to be before you’ve had the chance to figure it out for yourself.
Dylan Cecil has spent most of his life doing what he’s told. At Ganymede’s Academy, that’s the safest option. Keep your grades up. Follow the rules. Graduate. Earn the life you’ve been promised.
Simple enough.
Except Dylan can’t stop thinking about his missing friend Blake. And he definitely can’t stop noticing Roman Edwards.
Roman was probably my favorite part of the book. He’s guarded, frustrating, intelligent, and impossible to ignore. Every conversation between him and Dylan felt loaded with things neither one of them could safely say out loud. I found myself looking forward to every scene they shared.
What really worked for me was the atmosphere. The school feels polished on the surface, but there’s always something slightly off underneath. Every test, every ceremony, every rule made me feel like there was another secret waiting around the corner. I kept telling myself I’d read one more chapter before bed, which is usually a lie I tell myself right before losing two hours of sleep.
The story also asks some uncomfortable questions. What does a “perfect” society actually look like? Who gets left behind when everyone is expected to fit the same mold? And how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice just to belong?
Those themes hit harder than I expected.
I especially loved watching Dylan slowly begin to trust his own instincts. His journey isn’t flashy or dramatic all at once. It’s quieter than that. A series of small choices that eventually become impossible to take back. Those are often my favorite character arcs because they feel real.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Love is forbidden. Truth is dangerous. Survival is everything.”
Was the world-building perfect? Not always. I had a few questions about how this future society actually functions beyond the academy walls. But honestly, I was so invested in Dylan, Roman, Blake’s disappearance, and the growing sense that something was terribly wrong that I didn’t care nearly as much as I normally would.
If you enjoy dark academia with a dystopian twist, queer characters, forbidden attraction, secret societies, and stories that leave you thinking long after you’ve closed the book, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.
And now I need to know: would you rather live in a perfectly ordered world where every decision is made for you, or a messy world where you’re free to make your own mistakes?
This is one of those books that’s hard to neatly categorize. It’s dystopian, it’s mysterious, it’s a coming-of-age story, and yes, there’s romance woven through it too. But more than anything, it’s about what happens when an entire society decides who you’re supposed to be before you’ve had the chance to figure it out for yourself.
Dylan Cecil has spent most of his life doing what he’s told. At Ganymede’s Academy, that’s the safest option. Keep your grades up. Follow the rules. Graduate. Earn the life you’ve been promised.
Simple enough.
Except Dylan can’t stop thinking about his missing friend Blake. And he definitely can’t stop noticing Roman Edwards.
Roman was probably my favorite part of the book. He’s guarded, frustrating, intelligent, and impossible to ignore. Every conversation between him and Dylan felt loaded with things neither one of them could safely say out loud. I found myself looking forward to every scene they shared.
What really worked for me was the atmosphere. The school feels polished on the surface, but there’s always something slightly off underneath. Every test, every ceremony, every rule made me feel like there was another secret waiting around the corner. I kept telling myself I’d read one more chapter before bed, which is usually a lie I tell myself right before losing two hours of sleep.
The story also asks some uncomfortable questions. What does a “perfect” society actually look like? Who gets left behind when everyone is expected to fit the same mold? And how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice just to belong?
Those themes hit harder than I expected.
I especially loved watching Dylan slowly begin to trust his own instincts. His journey isn’t flashy or dramatic all at once. It’s quieter than that. A series of small choices that eventually become impossible to take back. Those are often my favorite character arcs because they feel real.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Love is forbidden. Truth is dangerous. Survival is everything.”
Was the world-building perfect? Not always. I had a few questions about how this future society actually functions beyond the academy walls. But honestly, I was so invested in Dylan, Roman, Blake’s disappearance, and the growing sense that something was terribly wrong that I didn’t care nearly as much as I normally would.
If you enjoy dark academia with a dystopian twist, queer characters, forbidden attraction, secret societies, and stories that leave you thinking long after you’ve closed the book, I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.
And now I need to know: would you rather live in a perfectly ordered world where every decision is made for you, or a messy world where you’re free to make your own mistakes?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Love is forbidden. Truth is dangerous. Survival is everything.
Ganymede's is no ordinary school.
Here, boys are forged into the men that society expect.... forged to be strong, obedient... perfect in every way...
Graduate, and the world is yours. Home, doting wife, and a career.
Fail... and you might as well not exist.
For Dylan, the idea seems so simple at first. Keep his head down, graduate, and he gets everything that a man would dream of.
Until his friend goes missing... and questions begin to flood his mind... questions he shouldn't have while in Ganymede's halls...
As the final trials that will determine whether he is the man that society demands or not loom ever closer, those questions linger in the back of Dylan's mind... and he finds himself drawn to a mysterious and yet attractive boy... and he must decide if he wishes to be the man that society demands him to be...
or the man that he wants to be.
From the cover alone, The Boyfriend Academy pulled at me like the softest little whisper... as if from a novel of dark knowledge whispering for me to learn its secrets... And when I began?
I fell hard.... and proceeded to devour this within a manner of two days. J.S. Strange has truly created a novel that is well-worthy of standing beside the other greats when it comes to dark academia... blending a beautiful story of romance (and even better, it's queer romance!), of coming of age and growing into adulthood... in a dystopian universe that holds all the elements of dark academia that you could ever desire... of secret societies, dangerous trials, and an immaculate school setting.... not only that, but J.S. Strange has managed to make this so much more... blending elements commonly found in mystery novels, or thrillers... adding to the tense, gripping atmosphere.
Overall, The Boyfriend Academy is an absolute masterpiece, and one that will most definitely linger in your mind for ages to come afterwards... not just for the message of sweet love, no matter how forbidden...This was my first work from the desk of J.S. Strange, and I will definitely be spreading the word to the rest of my book-loving friends about this novel. I look forward to reading more works from him, and (hopefully) delving back into Ganymede's halls...
Special thanks to Grace Edwards at One More Chapter for the invite to read this in advanced! Additional thanks go to HarperCollinsUK, One More Chapter, and Netgalley for this copy to read in advanced. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Ganymede's is no ordinary school.
Here, boys are forged into the men that society expect.... forged to be strong, obedient... perfect in every way...
Graduate, and the world is yours. Home, doting wife, and a career.
Fail... and you might as well not exist.
For Dylan, the idea seems so simple at first. Keep his head down, graduate, and he gets everything that a man would dream of.
Until his friend goes missing... and questions begin to flood his mind... questions he shouldn't have while in Ganymede's halls...
As the final trials that will determine whether he is the man that society demands or not loom ever closer, those questions linger in the back of Dylan's mind... and he finds himself drawn to a mysterious and yet attractive boy... and he must decide if he wishes to be the man that society demands him to be...
or the man that he wants to be.
From the cover alone, The Boyfriend Academy pulled at me like the softest little whisper... as if from a novel of dark knowledge whispering for me to learn its secrets... And when I began?
I fell hard.... and proceeded to devour this within a manner of two days. J.S. Strange has truly created a novel that is well-worthy of standing beside the other greats when it comes to dark academia... blending a beautiful story of romance (and even better, it's queer romance!), of coming of age and growing into adulthood... in a dystopian universe that holds all the elements of dark academia that you could ever desire... of secret societies, dangerous trials, and an immaculate school setting.... not only that, but J.S. Strange has managed to make this so much more... blending elements commonly found in mystery novels, or thrillers... adding to the tense, gripping atmosphere.
Overall, The Boyfriend Academy is an absolute masterpiece, and one that will most definitely linger in your mind for ages to come afterwards... not just for the message of sweet love, no matter how forbidden...This was my first work from the desk of J.S. Strange, and I will definitely be spreading the word to the rest of my book-loving friends about this novel. I look forward to reading more works from him, and (hopefully) delving back into Ganymede's halls...
Special thanks to Grace Edwards at One More Chapter for the invite to read this in advanced! Additional thanks go to HarperCollinsUK, One More Chapter, and Netgalley for this copy to read in advanced. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and the rest of my reviews may be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Boyfriend Academy by J S Strange
Love is forbidden. Truth is dangerous. Survival is everything.
And this book absolutely wrecked me in the best way.
From the very first page, The Boyfriend Academy pulls you into Ganymede’s, a prestigious and terrifying boarding school where boys are molded into society’s version of perfect men. Obedient. Controlled. Heteronormative. Graduate and you’re rewarded with a future. Fail and you might as well disappear. The stakes are brutal and suffocating, and the atmosphere is pure dark academia perfection.
Dylan Cecil just wants to survive. Keep his head down. Follow the rules. Graduate. But when his friend Blake vanishes without explanation, the cracks in Ganymede’s polished exterior start to show. Secrets seep through the walls. Questions become dangerous. And then there is Roman. Quiet. Magnetic. Impossible to read. The kind of person who makes you question everything you were taught to believe.
What I loved most about this book is how deeply it explores identity and repression. This is not just a dark academia romance. It is a coming of age story about unlearning what the world demands of you and deciding who you want to be instead. Dylan’s internal struggle felt raw and real, especially as the trials approach and the pressure to conform tightens. The tension is constant. Emotional. Psychological. And at times genuinely unsettling.
The romance is soft and aching and dangerous in the way forbidden love always is. Every interaction between Dylan and Roman felt loaded with meaning. Stolen moments. Lingering looks. The fear of being seen and the longing to be known. My favorite part was watching Dylan slowly reclaim his sense of self through that connection. It was beautiful and devastating at the same time.
The setting deserves its own standing ovation. Spiral towers. Secret societies. High stakes trials. A school that feels alive and predatory. J S Strange blends dark academia with dystopian elements and thriller level tension so seamlessly that I could not put this down. I devoured it in two days and immediately wanted to reread it.
Tropes and vibes
Dark academia
Queer romance
Forbidden love
Coming of age
Secret societies
High stakes trials
Dystopian control
If you liked dark academia with teeth, stories about identity and rebellion, queer romance under pressure, or books like The Secret History, Never Let Me Go, or A Deadly Education, you need to read this.
This was my first book by J S Strange and it absolutely will not be my last. Ganymede’s will haunt me for a long time.
#TheBoyfriendAcademy #JSStrange #SecretSociety #HarperCollinsUK #DarkAcademia
Love is forbidden. Truth is dangerous. Survival is everything.
And this book absolutely wrecked me in the best way.
From the very first page, The Boyfriend Academy pulls you into Ganymede’s, a prestigious and terrifying boarding school where boys are molded into society’s version of perfect men. Obedient. Controlled. Heteronormative. Graduate and you’re rewarded with a future. Fail and you might as well disappear. The stakes are brutal and suffocating, and the atmosphere is pure dark academia perfection.
Dylan Cecil just wants to survive. Keep his head down. Follow the rules. Graduate. But when his friend Blake vanishes without explanation, the cracks in Ganymede’s polished exterior start to show. Secrets seep through the walls. Questions become dangerous. And then there is Roman. Quiet. Magnetic. Impossible to read. The kind of person who makes you question everything you were taught to believe.
What I loved most about this book is how deeply it explores identity and repression. This is not just a dark academia romance. It is a coming of age story about unlearning what the world demands of you and deciding who you want to be instead. Dylan’s internal struggle felt raw and real, especially as the trials approach and the pressure to conform tightens. The tension is constant. Emotional. Psychological. And at times genuinely unsettling.
The romance is soft and aching and dangerous in the way forbidden love always is. Every interaction between Dylan and Roman felt loaded with meaning. Stolen moments. Lingering looks. The fear of being seen and the longing to be known. My favorite part was watching Dylan slowly reclaim his sense of self through that connection. It was beautiful and devastating at the same time.
The setting deserves its own standing ovation. Spiral towers. Secret societies. High stakes trials. A school that feels alive and predatory. J S Strange blends dark academia with dystopian elements and thriller level tension so seamlessly that I could not put this down. I devoured it in two days and immediately wanted to reread it.
Tropes and vibes
Dark academia
Queer romance
Forbidden love
Coming of age
Secret societies
High stakes trials
Dystopian control
If you liked dark academia with teeth, stories about identity and rebellion, queer romance under pressure, or books like The Secret History, Never Let Me Go, or A Deadly Education, you need to read this.
This was my first book by J S Strange and it absolutely will not be my last. Ganymede’s will haunt me for a long time.
#TheBoyfriendAcademy #JSStrange #SecretSociety #HarperCollinsUK #DarkAcademia
April 10, 2026
The Boyfriend Academy is a dark academia post-apocalyptic YA dystopia, set about 80 years in the future. After a societal collapse and disease decimated the population of the earth, the UK government set about rebuilding its population through arranged marriage. Teenagers are sent off to same-sex academies to learn how to be the perfect partner and perfect contributor to society. Dylan is in his third and final year at Ganymede's (the most elite academy), numb and isolated after the sudden deaths of his parents after he first arrived at Ganymede's, and then his best friend Blake during their third year. Leading up to graduation, the boys are given a partner and a series of tasks they must succeed at so that they can graduate, be paired with a wife, and be given a career and home. Dylan gets paired up with transfer student Roman, who he does not really known.
The parts of the book that I enjoyed the most were the actual tasks. I am such a sucker for little competitions and challenges like this in a book (I love me a tournament). And while homosexuality is illegal in this world, doing all the tasks and being vulnerable with your assigned partner was very much an unintended gay matchmaking.
The post-apocalyptic vibes in the story were really interesting because there very little technology throughout the book, despite being set in the future. School records are kept in handwritten books. Nobody mentions phones (cellular or landline). The news is delivered via printed newspapers. The only mentions to technology that I recall are a touchscreen in one task and a reference to electric cars. The intention of this seemed pretty clear - these boys at the academy (and likely beyond) are very isolated and have very limited information about what's happening in the world, which is intentional on behalf of the school and the government. And the less they know about what's going on, the easier they are to control. Dylan, Roman, and their friends are seeking information in pursuit of control of their own lives.
I will say that there are some "reveals" in the story that seemed pretty obvious from the get-go to me, but it didn't really bother me. Also there was a long villain monologue at the end that felt a bit like an information dump. In general, adult readers may feel like they’re being over-explained to. Overall, though, I found the story interesting and compelling, and I'm down to read a sequel.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
The parts of the book that I enjoyed the most were the actual tasks. I am such a sucker for little competitions and challenges like this in a book (I love me a tournament). And while homosexuality is illegal in this world, doing all the tasks and being vulnerable with your assigned partner was very much an unintended gay matchmaking.
The post-apocalyptic vibes in the story were really interesting because there very little technology throughout the book, despite being set in the future. School records are kept in handwritten books. Nobody mentions phones (cellular or landline). The news is delivered via printed newspapers. The only mentions to technology that I recall are a touchscreen in one task and a reference to electric cars. The intention of this seemed pretty clear - these boys at the academy (and likely beyond) are very isolated and have very limited information about what's happening in the world, which is intentional on behalf of the school and the government. And the less they know about what's going on, the easier they are to control. Dylan, Roman, and their friends are seeking information in pursuit of control of their own lives.
I will say that there are some "reveals" in the story that seemed pretty obvious from the get-go to me, but it didn't really bother me. Also there was a long villain monologue at the end that felt a bit like an information dump. In general, adult readers may feel like they’re being over-explained to. Overall, though, I found the story interesting and compelling, and I'm down to read a sequel.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
In many ways I was reminded of Adam Silvestri's works: we have a very moody, morose, and dark view on life and the future, with a hero who often can't decide whether or not life is even worth going on. This is a dystopian but the stakes are low: society now predicates itself on allowing men to be more in tune with their emotions and to respect women better. The titular academy is a feeder into a society where everyone is nice to each other and everyone has their place. Of course, those who don't fit in often experience issues with the formula.....Story: Dylan is an outsider who especially feels keenly a disassociation from a world where being a perfect husband to a chosen female partner is the norm. He has no interest in women and knows he would make a terrible husband as a result. At the Ganymede Academy, where they train men never to make the barbaric patriarchal mistakes of the past, he makes a friend. When Blake disappears and is considered dead, Dylan is devastated. At the same time, he begins to develop feelings for another student, Roman.
So yes, this is a slow burn almost slice of life exploration of disenfranchisement and depression. The plot of Blake's disappearance is honestly kind of silly (admittedly, so is the overall world building) so really this is a slow exploration of Dylan's coming to terms with being so different and also falling for Roman. If you don't mind that type of languid pace, this will work for you. But if you are looking for a thriller with a gripping romance, that isn't this type of book.
In all, it is decently written by honestly far too depressing for me to really enjoy. Also, I felt this should have been called the 'ideal husband and male academy' since the goal is immediate marriage to the pre-chosen partner after graduation rather than creating stepford wives boyfriends. None of the dystopian elements made sense or even worked for me. Nothing felt organic or realistic either - just a reason to do an exploration of what it means to be a gay man. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you so much The Nerd Fam for the arc! 🖤
This book is set in a future dystopian society that doesn’t feel that far from our reality. It’s built on a strictly heteronormative system, where same sex attraction is forbidden in the name of “saving” the population; where boys are girls are send to separate academies to reach their “perfect” gender roles. Because in this world, birth rates have dropped; people from past generations stopped having children due to rising costs of living, climate disasters, women’s body autonomy laws and political systems that make survival harder than ever…. Sound familiar?
So the solution this society comes up with is control. They try to fix everything by engineering a “perfect” world. But what does perfect even mean? Because in their pursuit of perfection, they erase individuality, choice, and humanity itself. Women and men are reduced to their ability to reproduce, and they are stripped of identity and molded into roles.
That’s where Dylan comes in. His only goal is to survive: keep his head down, graduate, and earn a place in this system. If he succeeds, he’s rewarded with the life everyone is conditioned to want (because tbh who wouldn’t want that) a career, a house, a wife, all assigned by the Crown. A “perfect” match, the “perfect” life.
But beneath that perfection is something deeply unsettling. Because this world doesn’t “eliminate” who people are, it just forces them to hide it. Queer people still exist. Complexity still exists. Humanity still exists.
This is NOT a romance book. Romance is present the way it is in real life: part of the human experience, not the focus. There’s a powerful queer couple that adds emotional depth and highlights the complexity of love within a controlled system. But at its core, this book is much bigger than that.
It’s a critique of the world we live in and what we’re willing to accept in the name of “perfection
And that’s what makes this book hit so hard, it doesn’t feel like a distant dystopia. And the ending?!? Is it better to choose yourself, or to sacrifice that choice for the chance to change something bigger than you? It becomes a story about duty over desire, survival over freedom… and whether change is even possible from within a system built on control.
An absolute masterpiece! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is set in a future dystopian society that doesn’t feel that far from our reality. It’s built on a strictly heteronormative system, where same sex attraction is forbidden in the name of “saving” the population; where boys are girls are send to separate academies to reach their “perfect” gender roles. Because in this world, birth rates have dropped; people from past generations stopped having children due to rising costs of living, climate disasters, women’s body autonomy laws and political systems that make survival harder than ever…. Sound familiar?
So the solution this society comes up with is control. They try to fix everything by engineering a “perfect” world. But what does perfect even mean? Because in their pursuit of perfection, they erase individuality, choice, and humanity itself. Women and men are reduced to their ability to reproduce, and they are stripped of identity and molded into roles.
That’s where Dylan comes in. His only goal is to survive: keep his head down, graduate, and earn a place in this system. If he succeeds, he’s rewarded with the life everyone is conditioned to want (because tbh who wouldn’t want that) a career, a house, a wife, all assigned by the Crown. A “perfect” match, the “perfect” life.
But beneath that perfection is something deeply unsettling. Because this world doesn’t “eliminate” who people are, it just forces them to hide it. Queer people still exist. Complexity still exists. Humanity still exists.
This is NOT a romance book. Romance is present the way it is in real life: part of the human experience, not the focus. There’s a powerful queer couple that adds emotional depth and highlights the complexity of love within a controlled system. But at its core, this book is much bigger than that.
It’s a critique of the world we live in and what we’re willing to accept in the name of “perfection
And that’s what makes this book hit so hard, it doesn’t feel like a distant dystopia. And the ending?!? Is it better to choose yourself, or to sacrifice that choice for the chance to change something bigger than you? It becomes a story about duty over desire, survival over freedom… and whether change is even possible from within a system built on control.
An absolute masterpiece! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2026
3.5⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok
This dystopian dark academia had some really strong moments and even had me crying at one point, but it left me with mixed feelings and many unanswered questions.
Set nearly 100 years in the future, in a society where toxic masculinity has supposedly been eliminated. Men are taught to be kind, emotional, respectful, and caring.
The story follows Dylan, a student at the Ganymede Academy, where the boys who graduate are promised perfect lives. The school's purpose is to shape boys into the "perfect man". But when Dylan realizes he's gay, he no longer fits. As he begins questioning the Academy and noticing things that don't quite add up, darker truths start to surface.
Dylan's internal struggle feels raw and authentic, especially as the pressure to conform grows. The atmosphere is tense, emotional, and unsettling at times, while delivering a beautiful forbidden love story.
Roman and Dylan completely stole my heart. Their relationship was beautiful. Watching their love develop was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. My heart genuinely ached for them.
My biggest issue, however, was the world-building. In a society that has supposedly evolved enough to teach men emotional intelligence and compassion, yet homosexuality is outlawed. That never fully made sense to me. And the ending... it genuinely upset me. It wasn't the outcome I was hoping for, and I finished the book feeling more frustrated than satisfied.
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Dystopian
➳❥ Dark Academia
➳❥ MM Romance
➳❥ Forbidden Love
➳❥ Secret Society
➳❥ High Stakes Trials
➳❥ Coming Of Age
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“Why do you fear perfection?”
“Because someone else’s perfect isn’t my perfect.”
“Happiness, to me, is my choice. My choice to live how I want to live.”
“You’re going to destroy me, Dylan.”
“Not if you destroy me first.”
“I’m prepared to risk it all. Let the world burn, if only to allow us to rise from the ashes as glorious phoenixes.”
“When I saw you, I knew I wanted you, no, needed you, and I knew that you were my hope for a better future.”
“I feel nothing but tortured love when I look at you.”
“I knew you would ruin me.”
This dystopian dark academia had some really strong moments and even had me crying at one point, but it left me with mixed feelings and many unanswered questions.
Set nearly 100 years in the future, in a society where toxic masculinity has supposedly been eliminated. Men are taught to be kind, emotional, respectful, and caring.
The story follows Dylan, a student at the Ganymede Academy, where the boys who graduate are promised perfect lives. The school's purpose is to shape boys into the "perfect man". But when Dylan realizes he's gay, he no longer fits. As he begins questioning the Academy and noticing things that don't quite add up, darker truths start to surface.
Dylan's internal struggle feels raw and authentic, especially as the pressure to conform grows. The atmosphere is tense, emotional, and unsettling at times, while delivering a beautiful forbidden love story.
Roman and Dylan completely stole my heart. Their relationship was beautiful. Watching their love develop was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. My heart genuinely ached for them.
My biggest issue, however, was the world-building. In a society that has supposedly evolved enough to teach men emotional intelligence and compassion, yet homosexuality is outlawed. That never fully made sense to me. And the ending... it genuinely upset me. It wasn't the outcome I was hoping for, and I finished the book feeling more frustrated than satisfied.
‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧
➳❥ Dystopian
➳❥ Dark Academia
➳❥ MM Romance
➳❥ Forbidden Love
➳❥ Secret Society
➳❥ High Stakes Trials
➳❥ Coming Of Age
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼
“Why do you fear perfection?”
“Because someone else’s perfect isn’t my perfect.”
“Happiness, to me, is my choice. My choice to live how I want to live.”
“You’re going to destroy me, Dylan.”
“Not if you destroy me first.”
“I’m prepared to risk it all. Let the world burn, if only to allow us to rise from the ashes as glorious phoenixes.”
“When I saw you, I knew I wanted you, no, needed you, and I knew that you were my hope for a better future.”
“I feel nothing but tortured love when I look at you.”
“I knew you would ruin me.”
May 16, 2026
I ate this book up and adored it.
I thought our plot was super interesting and well done, a school for boys to turn them into the perfect men, sweet and sensitive and kind and considerate where they have to go through trials before they can graduate and be paired with their perfect partner and live life and support the monarch.
The trials they had to go through had my jaw dropping right alongside the characters and I felt as betrayed and confused as they did as they were shocked, shot at, alone in the woods, and believed a bomb would go off.
Dylan? My baby. I loved watching him grow throughout the book! This boy who knows he doesn’t fit into society due to same sex attraction, pushing through these trials and his thoughts and desires because that’s what he believes he’s supposed to do. His magician archetype helping him grow stronger and bolder as a leader, especially once he gets introduced to the troubles in the world and the secret society and decides to fight?
Roman had my whole heart. He was a questioner at heart, a lone wolf who only let Dylan in. I loved how he furthered the plot especially with Dylan’s courage, questioning him throughout the early book and making Dylan really THINK about the world and how they’re supposed to live and if it was right or not.
And my two baby’s together? I loved them. I have a million quotes from them I love and adore and I will be thinking about them for years most likely. I’m glad I looked on the authors website before I read this book and found out it wasn’t a happy ending, or else I would have cried more than I already did. And yes, I cried.
I was taken through so many twists and turns with the plot and I never wanted to put it down, and I thought it was so beautifully done. I NEED a second book soon and I know it’s gonna be a wait but I need it regardless. What do you mean it ended like that?! Dylan’s a PRINCE?! His father loved the king? He’s married to the Princess? He knows Blake’s actually ALIVE and no one else does! Not even Roman or the secret society?! HE CANT BE WITH ROMAN.
Oh my god don’t even talk to me about this book. (But do, I’ll talk for hours and pull up all my annotations and quotes.)
I thought our plot was super interesting and well done, a school for boys to turn them into the perfect men, sweet and sensitive and kind and considerate where they have to go through trials before they can graduate and be paired with their perfect partner and live life and support the monarch.
The trials they had to go through had my jaw dropping right alongside the characters and I felt as betrayed and confused as they did as they were shocked, shot at, alone in the woods, and believed a bomb would go off.
Dylan? My baby. I loved watching him grow throughout the book! This boy who knows he doesn’t fit into society due to same sex attraction, pushing through these trials and his thoughts and desires because that’s what he believes he’s supposed to do. His magician archetype helping him grow stronger and bolder as a leader, especially once he gets introduced to the troubles in the world and the secret society and decides to fight?
Roman had my whole heart. He was a questioner at heart, a lone wolf who only let Dylan in. I loved how he furthered the plot especially with Dylan’s courage, questioning him throughout the early book and making Dylan really THINK about the world and how they’re supposed to live and if it was right or not.
And my two baby’s together? I loved them. I have a million quotes from them I love and adore and I will be thinking about them for years most likely. I’m glad I looked on the authors website before I read this book and found out it wasn’t a happy ending, or else I would have cried more than I already did. And yes, I cried.
I was taken through so many twists and turns with the plot and I never wanted to put it down, and I thought it was so beautifully done. I NEED a second book soon and I know it’s gonna be a wait but I need it regardless. What do you mean it ended like that?! Dylan’s a PRINCE?! His father loved the king? He’s married to the Princess? He knows Blake’s actually ALIVE and no one else does! Not even Roman or the secret society?! HE CANT BE WITH ROMAN.
Oh my god don’t even talk to me about this book. (But do, I’ll talk for hours and pull up all my annotations and quotes.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.
A hundred years in the future, society has radically changed. Young men are raised to be caring and thoughtful, the perfect partners and husbands. But Dylan, a young man attending an elite boarding school, is starting to expect there’s a terrible dark side to this narrow vision of society.
Ultimately, the book somewhat reminds me of Naomi Alderman’s The Power– both are explorations of a dystopia formed by the best of intentions, but neither concerns themselves with how likely the scenarios are or how they could come to be. In this book, it’s a world that has eradicated misogyny but not homophobia. I think there’s something really interesting to explore there about the intersectionality of prejudices, meaning one truly cannot be addressed without making progress on others– much like the failure of first wave feminism, abandoning women of color.
However, the book is more concerned with Dylan going through a series of dubious tests as part of his matriculation at the boarding school Ganymede. He’s assigned a partner named Roman, and much of the story involves how his connection with Roman develops under the force of these tests. The trials test things like strength and the ability to tell the truth, qualities that are given a lot of lip service by school administrators.
But the book lacks some elements of worldbuilding that make it hard to engage with broader themes and even the light plot. A few examples. There’s no sense for how this current remarkably ineffective system developed as a means of repopulating the world. And how are perfect matches determined? While we’re repeatedly told the boys are being raised to be perfect husbands and fathers, we don’t really see any lessons to that effect (being taught to cook, sew, care for babies, home repair, estate management, animal husbandry, first aid, interior decorating, mediation, I don’t know). While I respect this is the story the author wanted to write, telling it with such sparse worldbuilding and without really engaging with the implications of the dystopian theme made it difficult to concentrate on the plot. Some readers might still enjoy this story about identity and social pressure, which has appropriately YA stakes.
A hundred years in the future, society has radically changed. Young men are raised to be caring and thoughtful, the perfect partners and husbands. But Dylan, a young man attending an elite boarding school, is starting to expect there’s a terrible dark side to this narrow vision of society.
Ultimately, the book somewhat reminds me of Naomi Alderman’s The Power– both are explorations of a dystopia formed by the best of intentions, but neither concerns themselves with how likely the scenarios are or how they could come to be. In this book, it’s a world that has eradicated misogyny but not homophobia. I think there’s something really interesting to explore there about the intersectionality of prejudices, meaning one truly cannot be addressed without making progress on others– much like the failure of first wave feminism, abandoning women of color.
However, the book is more concerned with Dylan going through a series of dubious tests as part of his matriculation at the boarding school Ganymede. He’s assigned a partner named Roman, and much of the story involves how his connection with Roman develops under the force of these tests. The trials test things like strength and the ability to tell the truth, qualities that are given a lot of lip service by school administrators.
But the book lacks some elements of worldbuilding that make it hard to engage with broader themes and even the light plot. A few examples. There’s no sense for how this current remarkably ineffective system developed as a means of repopulating the world. And how are perfect matches determined? While we’re repeatedly told the boys are being raised to be perfect husbands and fathers, we don’t really see any lessons to that effect (being taught to cook, sew, care for babies, home repair, estate management, animal husbandry, first aid, interior decorating, mediation, I don’t know). While I respect this is the story the author wanted to write, telling it with such sparse worldbuilding and without really engaging with the implications of the dystopian theme made it difficult to concentrate on the plot. Some readers might still enjoy this story about identity and social pressure, which has appropriately YA stakes.
July 6, 2026
I really wanted to love this book. I was so excited when I read the premise-- a dark academia story set in the future? Count me in! And don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this novel. The tasks that the boys had to do to graduate from the academy and the fact that not everyone would pass these tasks kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, the relationship between Dylan and Roman was really well-developed throughout the novel. The little details of them learning to trust and love each other were lovely and well-written.
That being said, I think even just a little more world-building and character development would have turned this book into a masterpiece. Some concepts in this novel seemed under-explained and/or unbelievable. For example, I'm still not 100% certain what the whole "billionth child" thing is and why it's so important.
Also, I feel like the characters could have been fleshed out more. Most of them are unmemorable to me and seem to be attached to certain archetypes (like Taylor is the bully, and Johnny is the funny kid... etc.). It might just be my opinion, but Dylan was a bit of an insufferable narrator. It seemed like 90% of the time he was either whining about his circumstances or pining for Roman's body.
I really hope there will be a sequel to this book. This novel leaves too many loose ends for it to be successful standing by itself.
That being said, I think even just a little more world-building and character development would have turned this book into a masterpiece. Some concepts in this novel seemed under-explained and/or unbelievable. For example, I'm still not 100% certain what the whole "billionth child" thing is and why it's so important.
Also, I feel like the characters could have been fleshed out more. Most of them are unmemorable to me and seem to be attached to certain archetypes (like Taylor is the bully, and Johnny is the funny kid... etc.). It might just be my opinion, but Dylan was a bit of an insufferable narrator. It seemed like 90% of the time he was either whining about his circumstances or pining for Roman's body.
I really hope there will be a sequel to this book. This novel leaves too many loose ends for it to be successful standing by itself.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was on the fence with this book for much of it, to be honest. I saw the world presented, followed along with the clues until the grand reveal, and expected a very formulaic “rah, rah, yay!” ending. Instead the book took a more subtle and, in my opinion, mature approach. Characters established as being clever and manipulative stayed clever and manipulative; characters established as being weak and changeable did just that, whether with the heroes or the villains.
The villains had their nefarious motives … but those motives made a sick kind of sense. They believed that what they were doing was what had to be done, and didn’t hate our intrepid hero and his lover, but instead wanted him to be safe and happy, to have a bright future. Just … their future. All in all I am quite impressed with how the author handled everything. The plot was so well laid out and put together, and the ending worked.
However, I didn’t care for Dylan. He was such a non-entity of a character, designed to be perfect and flawless and … boring. He was the lens through which I viewed the events of the story, but I didn’t care what happened to him at all. Roman, the love interest, is just as flat, and just as bland. He’s tall, handsome — and a ginger, which I really liked — and devoted. Good for him. I just wish they’d been of any interest at all.
Even so, the writing is good, the story is good, and there are interesting questions about obedience, blind trust of authority figures, and how even well meaning people can seem so tolerant, but still despise an entire group of people for not fitting into the mold. In this case, sexuality and gender. It’s a very heteronormative world, cruelly so, in a world where young men are taught that it’s okay to be sad, to have feelings and to express them, to have close friends and take an interest in child care, cooking, cleaning, and supporting their wife.
Very much worth the read. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Reading this, I couldn’t help but think of a quote from the Handmaid’s Tale “Better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse, for some.”
If your favorite assigned reading in high school was A Separate Peace (it was mine)… you’ll probably enjoy this book. That’s one of the reasons I was so drawn to it. The writing is great! The plot fell a bit flat for me in some parts. I guessed a lot of twists from the beginning. I found myself wondering a lot about the hamlets and family structures. There was a bit of a plot hole about the boys disappearing. (SPOILER) We find out that they’re being experimented on to isolate the genes that cause them not to be deemed perfect. But it’s never explained to us how some of them end up living off the land separate from the country. Maybe we did, and I just missed it? I assume they ran away.
It was also a bit outlandish to me that the monarchy is so focused on conformity and perfection, yet there’s the outcasted people living seemingly very close to the school and no one is hunting them? The monarchy is just letting them go on existing?
I liked how we can assume that Dylan’s young life is paralleling his father’s life. He mentions several times that he feels like he’s living for a man he barely knew, but in the end, I feel that Dylan knew his dad like the back of his own hand. He is his dad, in a way.
My favorite line (and a stroke of genius writing) was when they graduated and Dylan listened to the clapping for Roman. “Cheering for the death of Roman and I.”
Overall, I really liked it. I just wish some plot holes/world building issues were addressed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
If your favorite assigned reading in high school was A Separate Peace (it was mine)… you’ll probably enjoy this book. That’s one of the reasons I was so drawn to it. The writing is great! The plot fell a bit flat for me in some parts. I guessed a lot of twists from the beginning. I found myself wondering a lot about the hamlets and family structures. There was a bit of a plot hole about the boys disappearing. (SPOILER) We find out that they’re being experimented on to isolate the genes that cause them not to be deemed perfect. But it’s never explained to us how some of them end up living off the land separate from the country. Maybe we did, and I just missed it? I assume they ran away.
It was also a bit outlandish to me that the monarchy is so focused on conformity and perfection, yet there’s the outcasted people living seemingly very close to the school and no one is hunting them? The monarchy is just letting them go on existing?
I liked how we can assume that Dylan’s young life is paralleling his father’s life. He mentions several times that he feels like he’s living for a man he barely knew, but in the end, I feel that Dylan knew his dad like the back of his own hand. He is his dad, in a way.
My favorite line (and a stroke of genius writing) was when they graduated and Dylan listened to the clapping for Roman. “Cheering for the death of Roman and I.”
Overall, I really liked it. I just wish some plot holes/world building issues were addressed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.
June 15, 2026
An intriguing read with themes of toxic masculinity and sexuality. The book explores a dystopia formed through overpopulation, climate change, and disease, all timely issues. If you like dark academia, dystopian books, or LGBT romance, this book would be for you!
There were some issues I had with The Boyfriend Academy. First, the first two chapters felt like they had a completely separate pace than the rest of the book. It started off quickly, almost like I was running downhill. It leveled out after chapter 2 to a good pace. Without spoilers: the last few chapters had a similar problem. The pace picked back up, and there were more questions that were raised, ideas that needed some fine tuning, and some explaining to do (all of which I’d be happy to read in a sequel!)
Secondly, there were times that the world building felt like I was beat on the head with exposition. A lot was dropped early in the book through Dylan’s internal dialogue, but not a lot was left to the readers imagination. I can appreciate both ways, but I want balance.
That said, I desperately need a sequel. The Boyfriend Academy had me from its premise, character development, dialogue, plot, and setting. The themes that Strange tackled I think were contemporary, important, and handled with nuance and care. Questions of “what is perfection?” really resonated with me. Of course, there is no such thing in humanity. But historically, people have tried to achieve that and failed, often with more devastation consequences. Strange even discussed that within the dialogue he presented.
The book does end with some unanswered questions, which does point towards a potential sequel.
As a whole, I would definitely recommend.
There were some issues I had with The Boyfriend Academy. First, the first two chapters felt like they had a completely separate pace than the rest of the book. It started off quickly, almost like I was running downhill. It leveled out after chapter 2 to a good pace. Without spoilers: the last few chapters had a similar problem. The pace picked back up, and there were more questions that were raised, ideas that needed some fine tuning, and some explaining to do (all of which I’d be happy to read in a sequel!)
Secondly, there were times that the world building felt like I was beat on the head with exposition. A lot was dropped early in the book through Dylan’s internal dialogue, but not a lot was left to the readers imagination. I can appreciate both ways, but I want balance.
That said, I desperately need a sequel. The Boyfriend Academy had me from its premise, character development, dialogue, plot, and setting. The themes that Strange tackled I think were contemporary, important, and handled with nuance and care. Questions of “what is perfection?” really resonated with me. Of course, there is no such thing in humanity. But historically, people have tried to achieve that and failed, often with more devastation consequences. Strange even discussed that within the dialogue he presented.
The book does end with some unanswered questions, which does point towards a potential sequel.
As a whole, I would definitely recommend.
March 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Boyfriend Academy by J.S. Strange
The Boyfriend Academy is a gripping, unsettling, and surprisingly emotional dive into a world where perfection isn’t just expected—it’s enforced. Ganymede’s Academy, with its pristine lawns and spiraling towers, is the kind of place that looks idyllic from the outside, but Strange quickly reveals the rot beneath the surface. Boys aren’t educated here; they’re shaped, molded, and sharpened into the exact men society demands. Strong. Obedient. Useful. Anything less is failure.
Dylan Cecil is an immediately compelling protagonist—quiet, observant, and just trying to survive long enough to graduate and earn the life he’s been promised. But when his friend Blake disappears, the façade of order begins to crack. Strange builds tension beautifully as Dylan navigates whispered dangers, the looming threat of June’s brutal trials, and his growing connection to Roman Edwards, a boy who is as enigmatic as he is magnetic.
The worldbuilding is sharp and chilling, a dystopian system that feels uncomfortably plausible. The emotional stakes rise steadily, especially as Dylan is forced to confront the choice between becoming the man the academy demands or the person he truly is. The pacing is strong, the atmosphere immersive, and the relationships—both tender and tense—add real depth.
My only wish was for a bit more exploration of certain side characters and the broader world beyond the academy, but overall, this is a compelling, thought‑provoking read that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to J.S. Strange, NetGalley, and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book
The Boyfriend Academy is a gripping, unsettling, and surprisingly emotional dive into a world where perfection isn’t just expected—it’s enforced. Ganymede’s Academy, with its pristine lawns and spiraling towers, is the kind of place that looks idyllic from the outside, but Strange quickly reveals the rot beneath the surface. Boys aren’t educated here; they’re shaped, molded, and sharpened into the exact men society demands. Strong. Obedient. Useful. Anything less is failure.
Dylan Cecil is an immediately compelling protagonist—quiet, observant, and just trying to survive long enough to graduate and earn the life he’s been promised. But when his friend Blake disappears, the façade of order begins to crack. Strange builds tension beautifully as Dylan navigates whispered dangers, the looming threat of June’s brutal trials, and his growing connection to Roman Edwards, a boy who is as enigmatic as he is magnetic.
The worldbuilding is sharp and chilling, a dystopian system that feels uncomfortably plausible. The emotional stakes rise steadily, especially as Dylan is forced to confront the choice between becoming the man the academy demands or the person he truly is. The pacing is strong, the atmosphere immersive, and the relationships—both tender and tense—add real depth.
My only wish was for a bit more exploration of certain side characters and the broader world beyond the academy, but overall, this is a compelling, thought‑provoking read that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to J.S. Strange, NetGalley, and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the chance to review! The Boyfriend Academy takes place in a quasi-dystopian United Kingdom in the early 22nd century, after we've destroyed the earth with climate change and the patriarchy. Dylan Cecil is attending school to become the perfect man, a beacon of society, where men are providers and protectors, empathetic and sensitive....and straight. They are expected to procreate and repopulate the planet. While Dylan is attending the most elite Academy, he learns to be the perfect man. but he is hiding a secret that could destroy everything. Is he willing to risk his perfect future to be who he truly is? What secrets are being hidden from him?
I tried really hard to like this. I just didn't. I skimmed through the last 15% of the book. I get what the author was trying to do. And the commentary of climate change, toxic masculinity, all of it leading to the downfall of society is actually quite chilling and on point. But the commentary he was trying to make was just not there in what felt like a YA book. This is set in a high school and had a very immature feel to it. These are big topics but none of the characters had enough maturity to take them on. At no point did I feel any tension or suspense. The "trials" were boring. These characters are too young to have any meaningful character development. But the plot is there. Happening outside the school (maybe with some school flashbacks, or a dueling plotline of Dylan inside the school). If you take this plot, add 7-10 years on your characters, add in some more scenes from what's happening outside, I think you've got a hit. But this isn't it.
I tried really hard to like this. I just didn't. I skimmed through the last 15% of the book. I get what the author was trying to do. And the commentary of climate change, toxic masculinity, all of it leading to the downfall of society is actually quite chilling and on point. But the commentary he was trying to make was just not there in what felt like a YA book. This is set in a high school and had a very immature feel to it. These are big topics but none of the characters had enough maturity to take them on. At no point did I feel any tension or suspense. The "trials" were boring. These characters are too young to have any meaningful character development. But the plot is there. Happening outside the school (maybe with some school flashbacks, or a dueling plotline of Dylan inside the school). If you take this plot, add 7-10 years on your characters, add in some more scenes from what's happening outside, I think you've got a hit. But this isn't it.
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