Anywhere

Dunbridge Academy #1

by Sarah Sprinz

He could be anywhere else but he's right here, with me.

Emma didn’t come to Scotland to fall in love. Arriving at Dunbridge Academy—the prestigious school where her parents met—she has one uncover the truth about the father who abandoned her.

Enter Henry Bennington. Gorgeous, charming, and very taken. He’s in her advanced classes, on her morning runs, at the midnight parties. Emma vows to keep her distance—until Henry discovers her secret mission and offers to help. She tells herself she’s only saying yes for his knowledge of the school’s history... not because of those impossible green eyes.

But when late-night research sessions turn into moonlit walks, their carefully drawn lines begin to blur. Emma knows she’s falling for him. Henry can’t deny his feelings either. And just as happiness seems within reach, fate intervenes. Now Emma has to uncover the truth about her past or fight for a future with Henry—knowing either choice might break her heart.

Genres: Romance, Academia, Contemporary, Dark Academia

480 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Sarah Sprinz wurde 1996 in Tettnang geboren. Für ihr Medizinstudium verschlug es sie nach Aachen, bevor sie zurück in ihre Heimat am Bodensee zog. Wenn sie nicht gerade schreibt, lässt sie sich dort während langer Spaziergänge am Seeufer zu neuen Geschichten inspirieren und plant ihre nächsten Reisen nach Kanada und Schottland. Sie liebt Schreibnachmittage im Café, Ahornsirup und den Austausch mit ihren Leserinnen und Lesern auf Instagram (@sarahsprinz).

Reviews

[ChronicallyYou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anywhere, the first book in the Dunbridge Academy series, is a hallmark young adult boarding school romance— there's plenty of yearning, angst, and personal adversity—but it left me feeling like it could have gone deeper. That could also be the adult in me...

Emma Wiley arrives at Dunbridge Academy determined to uncover the truth about her father, but quickly finds herself drawn to Henry, the school’s golden boy. Emma is driven, stubborn, and at times frustratingly self-righteous, while Henry is charming, loyal, and caught in a complicated situation that makes their growing connection all the more forbidden. The side characters including Sinclair with his charm and humor, Tori’s grounded friendship, Grace's kindness even through the drama, and even the more antagonistic presence of Olive help balance out the main romance. Still, I wish they’d been given even more page time, as their dynamics were often just as engaging as Emma and Henry’s.

One thing that did pull me out of the story was the translation from German to English. The writing was clunky, with odd sentence structures that could have used a smoother edit. Overall, this was an okay read that rang true to a YA romance in tone and tropes.

Thank you NetGalley and LYX for the eARC!

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy of this novel.

Starting out, I started to be concerned that this book might be a little too young adult for me. However, mid way through, the author takes the characters and their storylines deeper in a way that felt as though it matured the novel. I enjoyed the emotional connection between each of the characters, the messiness of young adults finding their way, and even the mental health representation in the story.

If you enjoy reading novels within a modern boarding school setting, this is for you.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man this took me to those days of Wattpad when I was reading peak teen romances. this is peak fr

[Swaantje van Gellekom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit of teen romance, a bit cliché but in a good way and plot is made special trough unexpected twists. Very easy to envision because of how well written it is. A few sentences are repeated slightly to often from my pov but it also kinda rounds the story, thus all good. Would recommend 🤌

[reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to LYX Books and NetGalley for an e-book ARC of this book for an honest review.

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

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

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

[Sarah Magatelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had a rough time with this book. It was very slow and anticlimactic! Her main conflict is trying to find her father, however finds him around the halfway point and it’s just a simple meet up and he’s just out of the picture, other than some random conversation at the end. For that being her whole reason to go to that academy, an entire different country, I was surprised that the plot line was so short and again, anticlimactic.

Also, it’s easy to miss in the summary, but it says “he’s very taken,” and I didn’t catch that before I requested this book (my bad). HOWEVER he was still with his girlfriend (who was not the main love interest) for over half of the book, which drove me nuts. Lines were crossed and I just wasn’t here for it, especially because the girlfriend was actually nice!!!

Another thing I noticed was that the timeline occasionally went a bit quick, especially when they were fighting or on iffy terms. They’d time jump a few days and suddenly, their demeanors changed for no reason. Sometimes, there would be off book conversations where she shared things, but never got to read. “I told him everything,” like okay?? I would have been happy to be there for that???

At the end, there was a conflict with a teacher than had sort of been a long lasting issue, however was just sped up at the end and strange? Like, it didn’t have the closure I would have expected or desired, more like fizzled out.

I wasn’t completely bored with this book, I did enjoy how they cared for each other, however honestly felt like it would have been so much better as a friendship. I enjoyed their morning runs, how they both worked their self improving, idk. Anyway, lowkey long and drawn out, but not terrible.

[Bluesworldofbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So where can I apply to Dunbridge Academy? Because I am lowkey obsessed with the found family this academy brings.

The feelings the characters had in this book felt so raw and emotional. It felt like I was in their heads seeing how they process their thoughts and reasoning behind their actions.

The pacing was also enjoyable; nothing felt rushed or unfinished. We get to read about Emma and Henry's day to day life in the Academy and watch their struggle to do the "right" thing. They are both selfless characters that cared too much. Especially when it came to the feelings of abandonment and grieving. Their feelings were so relatable and I liked how it wasn't rushed, how it showed all the ups and downs a person goes through without sugarcoating it.

I also liked how running was a huge part of the group. I liked how it was a form of escapism, running until they couldn't think anymore. Making it feel like the more you run, the more you run away and avoid all the issues. It ties up running in such a heartwarming way at the end, the epilogue had me tearing up. I loved it so much.

I was laughing at the book every time Emma “tortured” Henry with running. There is nothing funnier than reading how the MMC is slowly dying because he took up running and he hates every second of it. I love how we got to know about this since beginning because it just became one of my favorite things.

Thank you Lyx Publishing for the physical ARC of this book!

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Tia Turben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5 stars- being objective- this book isn’t really my taste, but I can see why others would enjoy it.

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

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

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

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

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

[Emma S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for any academia thing, like boarding school??? Of course I'll read it. So basically this book was kinda the equivalent of XO, Kitty, where the main character goes to find her dad who left her when she was a child. Honestly, good premise, so I was excited to read it. But... several issues with it. My first problem was the writing, honestly, it annoyed me to the point I had to put the book down. In short, it felt like I was reading something my 14-year-old sister wrote. Secondly, the main character was really really really annoying. Like please. For like 50% of the book she was monologuing that she never does not reach a goal, she pushes past pain, yada yada. Just like especially self-righteous. And ANOTHER THING WAS why why why was the cheating happening?? Completely unnecessary? For this reason, I could not get on board with the romance because I just felt like the guy was kinda a douche. A plus for me however was the side-characters and the plot. I mean, some of the plot was really random, like a death, what?? But it was entertaining.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma enrolls at Dunbridge Academy, a prestigious boarding school, hoping to secretly reconnect with her estranged father—something she keeps hidden from her mother.

At the airport, she quite literally bumps into Henry, a fellow student returning to school. Their unexpected meeting sets the stage for a heartfelt journey as the two navigate the challenges of school life, complicated and heartbreaking family dynamics, and their growing feelings for each other.

Originally written in German, the story has been translated, and at times the structure and phrasing feel slightly off—likely a result of the translation. While the plot doesn't dive especially deep and leans heavily into familiar YA themes, it still offers a charming and engaging read. The "meet-cute" between Emma and Henry is genuinely enjoyable, and the emotional core of the story adds warmth.

Though YA might not be my preferred genre, I’d still recommend this book to readers who enjoy school settings, young romance, and coming-of-age narratives.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had me in the first half!!! The premise was really intriguing to me and I was hooked in the beginning. I really wanted to like this and there are definitely good parts in the story, but I’ve concluded I’m not the target audience.

This was more YA than I expected (especially given the spice) and I wanted it to deliver more than it did. I felt like this was 3+ different storylines that ended kinda weird and didn’t really satisfy me.

Emma’s whole reason for embarking on this journey is to reconnect with her dad, but that storyline falls off so early. Also, the MMC has a girlfriend for their entire buildup, and I kept on waiting for him to break it off but he definitely crossed some lines first. Then, the other half of the book dragged out and the plot went in like 3 different directions that I did not like. I wish the characters’ stories played out differently.

Also, I definitely think the trigger warnings should be in the beginning of the book instead of the end.

Thank you NetGalley and LYX for the eARC 🫶🏼

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm… I wanted to love this because the idea of forbidden love, an academic setting, and a bit of a mystery on top of it all sounded good, but I don’t think the execution was done well.

Emma and Henry meet on their way to Dunbridge Academy. Henry has been going there his whole life so he kind of takes Emma under his wing. He has a GF, so when Henry and Emma get closer… it gets a bit messy.

Emma is also going to this Academy because she wants to find and reconnect with her father and there is a bit of a mystery going on with that + a professor at school.

Idk. Here’s the thing-none of it was flushed out well enough. I didn’t feel emotionally connected to either MC so it made it hard for me to care what happened to them.

It also felt like the whole line w/emma finding her father took a backseat.


Definitely new adult so I appreciate that being correct.

Overall I wouldn’t recommend.

Thank you NetGalley && LYX for the ARC!

[Maci-Bookishlyeverafter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anywhere hit me right in all the feels.
Emma’s journey-trying to figure out why her dad bailed all those years ago, what that did to her sense of belonging—is perfect in the messy and beautiful kind of way.
And Henry? Ugh, those green eyes, that charm, and also the guilt plusss complexity of being with someone else, trying to do right, but being pulled toward Emma anyway.
What I LOVED: the twists. Just when you think things are calming, something else drops. Family secrets, teacher drama, friendships that test your loyalty. Grace- massive MVP energy. She could have been jealous, bitter, shady, but instead she’s real, and gives the story balance. I really liked how the teachers and atmosphere connected to both Henerys and Emma’s parents past as well!
Overall? If you like romance with trauma, searching for identity, friendships, boundaries, twists, and emotional rollercoasters- this is for you.

[Elisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anywhere really didn’t land for me. The writing felt awkward and clunky, with sentence structures that constantly pulled me out of the story. It desperately needed a tighter edit. On top of that, the pacing was so slow that it made everything feel heavier than it needed to be.
What frustrated me most was the main plotline. The entire reason the main character goes to an academy in another country is to find her father—and then she actually finds him halfway through the book. The moment itself is incredibly underwhelming, almost casual, and after that he basically disappears from the story, aside from a brief, random conversation at the end. For something that was supposed to be her driving motivation, it felt shockingly short and emotionally flat.
By the time I finished, I was left feeling like the story never fully committed to its own premise. It builds toward something that never really arrives, making the whole experience feel anticlimactic and unsatisfying.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

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

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

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

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

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anywhere follows Emma as she travels to Dunbridge Academy to learn more about her estranged father. As Emma gets to know Henry, she feels drawn to him in ways she tries to resist. Because, shocker -- he has a girlfriend. Emma navigates a new school, being away from her mom, trying to learn the truth about her father, and trying desperately to not fall in love with a taken man. This love story blends deeper themes of grief and morality into the romance genre, providing a truly captivating story. This is the first installment in the Dunbridge Academy series and I will be picking up the next one!

Emma and Henry's chemistry is sultry and soothing. The complexities of the plot add to what you may think is your standard romance fluff at first. Trust me, this one has substance.

[Heather Mcsweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book Anywhere by Sarah Sprinz. This book is set at Dunbridge Academy, which is in Scotland. Emma, a young adult trying to answer questions about her father, travels to the boarding school to see what she can find out, since both her parents were former students. What Emma doesn't expect is to meet Henry, a dashing and charming student who captivates her attention. I was particularly drawn to this book because of the genre dark academia, but I really didn't feel the darkness as much as I thought. I'll be interested to see what happens in subsequent books in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Megan Martire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I didn’t end up loving this one, I can see why so many readers would. It had so many of the elements I usually adore — a beautiful Scottish setting, found family, and that cozy academia vibe. I especially loved Emma and Henry’s meet-cute in the beginning; it was such a charming start that immediately pulled me in.

Originally written in German, the story’s translation occasionally made the structure and phrasing feel a bit off. It kind of gave me that “dubbed film” vibe — and if you know me, you know I cannot handle a dubbed film, lol.

The romance was filled with tropes I typically fall for, but in the end, I think it just leaned a little too YA for my taste. It’s a sweet story with plenty of heart; I just wasn’t the right audience for it.

[Merkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I think that Anywhere leaned a little young for me. I struggled because this is more of a character driven story vs plot drive. But I wasn't necessarily prepared for that going into it. I just kept waiting for the story to get off the ground and for something to happen. There are a few conflicts throughout the story but all seem to be resolved fairly quickly and without much effort. The relationship between Emma and Henry was interesting. Their friendship foundation that was established early on I personally thought was more interesting than their actual relationship. I know there is a second book in this series next month. I am interested to see the direction that it takes.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me in so many emotional directions, and I honestly wasn’t prepared for how cute and how heart-tugging it would be. I picked it up expecting a sweet story and ended up way more invested than I planned to be.

I loved how easy it was to sink into the characters and their connection. There were moments that had me smiling like an idiot, and others that hit unexpectedly hard. It’s emotional without being heavy, tender without feeling unrealistic, and the kind of soft (but real) romance that slowly works its way into your feelings.

I finished this one feeling a little emotional, and already thinking about it after I closed the book. If you like romances that feel genuine and make you feel something without being over the top, this is such a good pick.

[Aricka · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ 2/5🌶️

Thank you LYX & Netgalley for the eArc!!

Honestly idk if it was my expectations or I read the blurb wrong but i thought this book would be so much more… I was catfished by the blurb tbh and Im sorry but I was bored with this book. The translation to English didn’t mix well I fear because this does not flow well at all. It was very Hard to connect with the characters and There was a whole lot of nothing happening,too many plots going on and what was that super random ending about the MMCs sister?? But it was the only time i feel like this book got interesting…Idk this just was not my cup of tea and should have DNFd around 20%.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had an interesting premise and some emotional moments, but overall it felt a little too young for me. The pacing was uneven, some parts lingered longer than I thought that they needed to, while others wrapped up before I could really connect.

I also found myself wishing for more depth in the character work so I could understand certain choices better.

Not a bad read, just not quite my style or age group. I think younger readers or fans of lighter contemporary stories might enjoy it more than I did.

I received this book as an ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie (words.aremagic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off this book is gorgeous! I love the pink edges. Anywhere follows Emma who is heading off to boarding school in Scotland in the hopes of finding her father. On her way there she runs into Henry, who attends the same boarding school, and is trying to decide how to be his own person. The original story was written in German and I always think it’s so cool when I get to read a translated book. This is the first book in the series all centered around students at this boarding school. I will be reading more.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a stressful read in the best way. It is never easy to read about a parent abandoning their child, but Emma’s journey felt honest and heartfelt, and I really appreciated how she handled everything that came her way. The school setting and relationships kept the story engaging, and the emotional moments landed well. I was satisfied with the conclusion and felt the story wrapped up in a way that honored her growth.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC.

[Barbara Mann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this as an ARC read and had to DNF at about 25% of the way in. The story is promising and I see that there are a lot of good reviews for it, but it is too slow of a move for me. At this point in the book the FMC hasn't really progressed toward what her goal is and the back and forth storyline isn't really leading the plot in any direction either.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and thought the author really showed the raw emotion of the characters. I liked the side characters to. I did not care for half of the book Henry the mmc was in a relationship with someone else but other than that it was good.

I can't wait to read more from this author.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to a copy of this arc!

this book was just very meh. the plot line didn’t really jump out at me, and the characters were almost forgettable. which is sad, i had been waiting for the official english translation since seeing a post about this book well over a year ago on tiktok. it kept me entertained and the story was easy to follow.

[Julle Comer · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh. the third act conflict would NEVER have resolved that way in real life and was also just…weird? wild? not flushed out how it probably should have been? at the beginning I was like “oh I’m gonna eat this up” and then I got halfway through and was regretting finding it appealing at the store. would I read it again? Perhaps. But…likely not

[Hei Yin Tsui · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a quick read. Maybe some things got lost in translation but writing was a bit clunky. It is a good coming of age story dealing with grief and growing up. It is a bit slow as well and the conflict at the end seems added in at the last minute.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC