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The Academy #2
The Thoroughbreds
Class is back in session!
It's the start of another school year at Tiffin, with our favorite characters from The Academy returning for senior year - "sixth form" in Tiffin‑speak - a time of college admissions and trying not to crack under pressure, of partying hard and last hurrahs.
In the wake of Honey Vandermeid's exit, will the new college counselor be up to the task? What do the cards hold in store for Tiffin's It couple, Charley and East? What will become of underground speakeasy Priorities? And what was in Cinnamon Peters's final email?
Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham answer these burning questions and more in The Thoroughbreds, a page‑turning story about friendship, treachery, ambition, and sacrifice.
It's the start of another school year at Tiffin, with our favorite characters from The Academy returning for senior year - "sixth form" in Tiffin‑speak - a time of college admissions and trying not to crack under pressure, of partying hard and last hurrahs.
In the wake of Honey Vandermeid's exit, will the new college counselor be up to the task? What do the cards hold in store for Tiffin's It couple, Charley and East? What will become of underground speakeasy Priorities? And what was in Cinnamon Peters's final email?
Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham answer these burning questions and more in The Thoroughbreds, a page‑turning story about friendship, treachery, ambition, and sacrifice.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Elin Hilderbrand
82 books66.5k followersElin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her five previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,184 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
2.5
This sequel unfortunately didn't quite work for me :(
I enjoyed The Academy as an easy to read, slightly dramatic popcorn-fiction type of book. It was just fun following these almost very stereotypical characters making these very stereotypical mistakes - and all we could do was watch from the sidelines as everything crashed and burned.
I feel like this one worked very hard to tie up all the loose ends into neat little endings with a cute little bow, but maybe it all just worked out a little too easily?
In terms of writing style, I do remember the first book including a lot of "TikTok slang" and while I get this is a pet peeve for many readers, I thought it worked in the first book as almost a satirical element. Especially when we were seeing this in our adult character perspectives. In this sequel, it somehow felt less satirical - maybe because we were getting more time with our student characters vs the teachers/staff? And because it seemed less like satire, it ultimately became something that turned me off this book.
I do like seeing this wide view of perspectives that are all tied into this boarding school ecosystem. Seeing everyone battle with social hierarchies, academic hierarchies, with how they want to be perceived, with love in relationships and friendships. It can be just so addictive seeing these familiar feeling humans just live their lives. But I did want this one to push the boundaries a bit more, and it all ended up feeling quite safe.
In the end, I appreciate where our characters end up. It does feel quite wholesome and full circle - but would have preferred a stronger path to get to this point!
My favourite part of this book was just seeing the menus that our school chef whipped up... I will always love that Elin Hilderbrand is first and foremost... a foodie 😂
This sequel unfortunately didn't quite work for me :(
I enjoyed The Academy as an easy to read, slightly dramatic popcorn-fiction type of book. It was just fun following these almost very stereotypical characters making these very stereotypical mistakes - and all we could do was watch from the sidelines as everything crashed and burned.
I feel like this one worked very hard to tie up all the loose ends into neat little endings with a cute little bow, but maybe it all just worked out a little too easily?
In terms of writing style, I do remember the first book including a lot of "TikTok slang" and while I get this is a pet peeve for many readers, I thought it worked in the first book as almost a satirical element. Especially when we were seeing this in our adult character perspectives. In this sequel, it somehow felt less satirical - maybe because we were getting more time with our student characters vs the teachers/staff? And because it seemed less like satire, it ultimately became something that turned me off this book.
I do like seeing this wide view of perspectives that are all tied into this boarding school ecosystem. Seeing everyone battle with social hierarchies, academic hierarchies, with how they want to be perceived, with love in relationships and friendships. It can be just so addictive seeing these familiar feeling humans just live their lives. But I did want this one to push the boundaries a bit more, and it all ended up feeling quite safe.
In the end, I appreciate where our characters end up. It does feel quite wholesome and full circle - but would have preferred a stronger path to get to this point!
My favourite part of this book was just seeing the menus that our school chef whipped up... I will always love that Elin Hilderbrand is first and foremost... a foodie 😂
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The drama was just as good, if not better than it was in The Academy. Some of the twists, turns and reveals had my jaw on the floor.
Full review to follow!
The Academy was featured on BOTM last year and this year it's an add-on. Get your first $5 copy here: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Super easy to sign-up, skip a month (or anytime), pause or cancel at no additional cost to you.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and the author, Elin Hilderbrand for an early copy!
Publication date: September 15, 2026
Full review to follow!
The Academy was featured on BOTM last year and this year it's an add-on. Get your first $5 copy here: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Super easy to sign-up, skip a month (or anytime), pause or cancel at no additional cost to you.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and the author, Elin Hilderbrand for an early copy!
Publication date: September 15, 2026
September 20, 2026
Happy fall!! (Cinnamon’s email was a let down)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5⭐️!!!
THIS is how you write a sequel. If I’m being honest I MAY even like this better than the first book (too close to call). I was BEYOND excited to get this ARC because I loved “The Academy” so much and even had my last book club read it as our monthly selection. In this book we head back to Tiffin Academy where most of our former classmates return and as the popular kids say, “a new bombshell enters the villa” in the form of Phillippa “Pippa” Sacks. Along with a couple of other new faces, this school year gave us all the drama and intrigue from last season, PLUS some new rivalries and student/staff shenanigans. I loved every minute of this book. This book is set up just like the previous one- multiple POV’s, third-person omniscient structure, and quick chapters that will keep you reading late into the night.
Chaotic, messy and actually heart-warming at times, this book tied up all the loose ends from previous book, but gave us so many other intriguing storylines to follow. I think the authors even set up the ending to where the story could continue if they wanted it to. I’d love to return to Tiffin again to follow the new group of Thoroughbreds. And as I said in my review for “The Academy”, RUN this book to a Netflix/Hulu exec and make it into a series! These stories are begging to be put on the small screen.
5⭐️!!!
THIS is how you write a sequel. If I’m being honest I MAY even like this better than the first book (too close to call). I was BEYOND excited to get this ARC because I loved “The Academy” so much and even had my last book club read it as our monthly selection. In this book we head back to Tiffin Academy where most of our former classmates return and as the popular kids say, “a new bombshell enters the villa” in the form of Phillippa “Pippa” Sacks. Along with a couple of other new faces, this school year gave us all the drama and intrigue from last season, PLUS some new rivalries and student/staff shenanigans. I loved every minute of this book. This book is set up just like the previous one- multiple POV’s, third-person omniscient structure, and quick chapters that will keep you reading late into the night.
Chaotic, messy and actually heart-warming at times, this book tied up all the loose ends from previous book, but gave us so many other intriguing storylines to follow. I think the authors even set up the ending to where the story could continue if they wanted it to. I’d love to return to Tiffin again to follow the new group of Thoroughbreds. And as I said in my review for “The Academy”, RUN this book to a Netflix/Hulu exec and make it into a series! These stories are begging to be put on the small screen.
Did Not Finish
April 21, 2026ARC for review. To be published September 5, 2026.
DNF at 13%
I usually stay away from Elin Hilderbrand’s books; I know they are popular but just not for me. However, I made an exception for her last book. THE ACADEMY, since it was set at a prep school and I love boarding school stories. I thought it was just OK, but when I saw there was a sequel I definitely wanted to take a look to see what happened next.
Inanity, that’s what. This just starts off SO badly. On the adult side the new head of school? She’s lost about seven million dollars of the school’s operating expenses because….she wasn’t paying attention?!?! And now she’s just not going to tell anyone while she sees whether she can figure it out for herself WITH THE GUY WHO TRICKED HER INTO LOSING THE MONEY. I’m supposed to feel sorry for this woman? She should be frogmarched out. This is beyond dumb.
On the side of the spoiled children it looks to be a battle of the influencers and the school’s golden boy doesn’t want to go to college. And you just know it’s all going to tie up into a neat little bow for these moneyed, beautiful people. Vomit.
I always get hate from mega fans of the authors when I rate a book a haven’t finished, but I would give this one star. Hilderbrand doesn’t seem like she’s even trying here.
DNF at 13%
I usually stay away from Elin Hilderbrand’s books; I know they are popular but just not for me. However, I made an exception for her last book. THE ACADEMY, since it was set at a prep school and I love boarding school stories. I thought it was just OK, but when I saw there was a sequel I definitely wanted to take a look to see what happened next.
Inanity, that’s what. This just starts off SO badly. On the adult side the new head of school? She’s lost about seven million dollars of the school’s operating expenses because….she wasn’t paying attention?!?! And now she’s just not going to tell anyone while she sees whether she can figure it out for herself WITH THE GUY WHO TRICKED HER INTO LOSING THE MONEY. I’m supposed to feel sorry for this woman? She should be frogmarched out. This is beyond dumb.
On the side of the spoiled children it looks to be a battle of the influencers and the school’s golden boy doesn’t want to go to college. And you just know it’s all going to tie up into a neat little bow for these moneyed, beautiful people. Vomit.
I always get hate from mega fans of the authors when I rate a book a haven’t finished, but I would give this one star. Hilderbrand doesn’t seem like she’s even trying here.
April 6, 2026
I’m so sad this book is over!
Another year at Tiffin! The drama is unreal. All of your favorite characters are back. Charley and East bring the relationship drama. There’s some new characters in the mix as well. I couldn’t put this book down and now I’m sad it’s over. So worth the read!!!
Another year at Tiffin! The drama is unreal. All of your favorite characters are back. Charley and East bring the relationship drama. There’s some new characters in the mix as well. I couldn’t put this book down and now I’m sad it’s over. So worth the read!!!
September 18, 2026
This is the second book in the Academy series by Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham. As it's the second book in a duology, we're back following the lives of many (and I do mean MANY) of the teachers, staff, and students at Tiffin Academy.
I wasn't a huge fan of the first book, but I wanted to read the second book because there were some storylines left open ended at the end of the first book. While all of the storylines were wrapped up by the end of the second book, I wouldn't say they were all wrapped up successfully.
This book struggles with the same issues the first book did. There are way too many characters, way too many storylines, and despite this book being pretty long, there is no possible way to wrap up every storyline, resolve all the drama, and give every character a satisfactory conclusion. I will say I think this book did feature the POVs of more of the students vs featuring the staff / adults as much, when the first book was more of an even split, so I appreciated that, because I didn't enjoy the constant tone changes the first book had.
That being said, this is a book written for adults, primarily written about students, and in other words, children. The sexual content in both books, but especially this book, made me uncomfortable. I think Hilderbrand is used to writing books for adults about adults and she's used to including sex scenes between adults in all of her other books. I'm not delusional to the fact that there will be high school students that have sex, especially with more freedom at a boarding school, but as an adult, I'm not interested in reading scenes where children at this school are having threesomes, and I'm also not interested in reading very detailed sex scenes featuring kids. Especially when this story is featuring sex scenes where one person in the relationship is a legal adult, and one is not, and that happened in both books in this series with multiple of the different relationships. I mean seriously, I don't need to know what sexual position a high school student is in when she's having sex with her boyfriend. The amount of sex scenes in this book and the way the sex was written about in general did not align with what I personally would imagine in a story primarily featuring the lives of high school students.
As I said previously, the biggest issue I think this book suffers from is that there was just way too much going on with way too many characters in this book. We'll have a character going through something personal or dealing with private issues, but there's no time for anything to be explored deeply, so everything is wrapped up super neatly at the end, which is boring. There are also multiple people in this book who break school rules and actual laws and face no legal consequences, and some who face no consequences at all. It's hard to take anything seriously in this series when half the characters are getting away with crimes that they should be arrested for like providing drugs to kids, underage drinking, adults having inappropriate relationships with children, blackmail, computer hacking, etc.
I think this would have been a better story overall if Hilderbrand and Cunningham focused on a much more selective group of students, a handful of the more interesting ones for example, and explored their personal issues on a deeper level, instead of featuring every single student in their grade level. We do have a core group of characters (Davi, Charley, East, Dub, Olivia, and Taylor) who could have been the primary focus. We could have had one really solid book exploring the lives of these kids and maybe one or two of the others at this boarding school, who are all dealing with something privately, vs having two long books featuring 20+ students, who all have issues that are halfheartedly delved into, and everything magically works out for everyone at the end.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company / NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
I wasn't a huge fan of the first book, but I wanted to read the second book because there were some storylines left open ended at the end of the first book. While all of the storylines were wrapped up by the end of the second book, I wouldn't say they were all wrapped up successfully.
This book struggles with the same issues the first book did. There are way too many characters, way too many storylines, and despite this book being pretty long, there is no possible way to wrap up every storyline, resolve all the drama, and give every character a satisfactory conclusion. I will say I think this book did feature the POVs of more of the students vs featuring the staff / adults as much, when the first book was more of an even split, so I appreciated that, because I didn't enjoy the constant tone changes the first book had.
That being said, this is a book written for adults, primarily written about students, and in other words, children. The sexual content in both books, but especially this book, made me uncomfortable. I think Hilderbrand is used to writing books for adults about adults and she's used to including sex scenes between adults in all of her other books. I'm not delusional to the fact that there will be high school students that have sex, especially with more freedom at a boarding school, but as an adult, I'm not interested in reading scenes where children at this school are having threesomes, and I'm also not interested in reading very detailed sex scenes featuring kids. Especially when this story is featuring sex scenes where one person in the relationship is a legal adult, and one is not, and that happened in both books in this series with multiple of the different relationships. I mean seriously, I don't need to know what sexual position a high school student is in when she's having sex with her boyfriend. The amount of sex scenes in this book and the way the sex was written about in general did not align with what I personally would imagine in a story primarily featuring the lives of high school students.
As I said previously, the biggest issue I think this book suffers from is that there was just way too much going on with way too many characters in this book. We'll have a character going through something personal or dealing with private issues, but there's no time for anything to be explored deeply, so everything is wrapped up super neatly at the end, which is boring. There are also multiple people in this book who break school rules and actual laws and face no legal consequences, and some who face no consequences at all. It's hard to take anything seriously in this series when half the characters are getting away with crimes that they should be arrested for like providing drugs to kids, underage drinking, adults having inappropriate relationships with children, blackmail, computer hacking, etc.
I think this would have been a better story overall if Hilderbrand and Cunningham focused on a much more selective group of students, a handful of the more interesting ones for example, and explored their personal issues on a deeper level, instead of featuring every single student in their grade level. We do have a core group of characters (Davi, Charley, East, Dub, Olivia, and Taylor) who could have been the primary focus. We could have had one really solid book exploring the lives of these kids and maybe one or two of the others at this boarding school, who are all dealing with something privately, vs having two long books featuring 20+ students, who all have issues that are halfheartedly delved into, and everything magically works out for everyone at the end.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company / NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Class is back in session! New York Times bestselling authors of The Academy Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham return with The Thoroughbreds: what has more high-stakes drama, tension, and intrigue than senior year at a New England boarding school?"
The Academy left us on a cliffhanger that gets all our questions answered. New college counselor Mav has his hands full with assisting the new senior class with college admissions. Will he be up to the task? Dub and Hakeem seem to be struggling. Charley and East could be on the rocks. A new day student Pippa might be more trouble than she is fun. Finally, what was in Cinnamon's email to Dub?
Senior year is full of secrets, ambition and bad behavior. The cast of characters is fleshed out even further. The Thoroughbreds is the perfect fall read when school is back in session and we're ready for football, parties, college applications and more. This series is definitely Elin Hilderbrand meets Gossip Girl set at an elite boarding school. It's the perfect fall escape! Highly recommend and the ending will leave you with all the feels!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Company, and Elin Hilderbrand for the gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
The Academy left us on a cliffhanger that gets all our questions answered. New college counselor Mav has his hands full with assisting the new senior class with college admissions. Will he be up to the task? Dub and Hakeem seem to be struggling. Charley and East could be on the rocks. A new day student Pippa might be more trouble than she is fun. Finally, what was in Cinnamon's email to Dub?
Senior year is full of secrets, ambition and bad behavior. The cast of characters is fleshed out even further. The Thoroughbreds is the perfect fall read when school is back in session and we're ready for football, parties, college applications and more. This series is definitely Elin Hilderbrand meets Gossip Girl set at an elite boarding school. It's the perfect fall escape! Highly recommend and the ending will leave you with all the feels!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Company, and Elin Hilderbrand for the gifted advance reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
September 19, 2026
I only have myself to blame
won-t-read-bc-nopes
September 15, 2026Yeah fine but are there horses in it? I am not here for metaphorical thoroughbreds, Elin. GIMME THE HORSES.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This series is so ridiculous yet incredibly bingeable. Centered around wealthy high school students at boarding school, it reads like a soap opera. Add in the constant name dropping of pop culture items and hot places and it can sometimes be a bit much.
But the Hilderbrand and Cunningham excel at pulling you into the story--and while there's fluff and intrigue, there's also heart. Rich kids are still people, and some of these kids are dealing with serious issues and topics. Many from book #1 are back, and I was particularly glad to see Charley and Davi again. We also have a new girl, Pippa, who is riling up the sixth-formers. Most of the teachers still seem a bit inept (looking at you, Rhode!) and poor Head of School Audre is making some bad decisions...
Still, I can't lie, I devoured this one like the guilty pleasure that it is, even if I rolled my eyes from time-to-time. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company in return for an unbiased review.
But the Hilderbrand and Cunningham excel at pulling you into the story--and while there's fluff and intrigue, there's also heart. Rich kids are still people, and some of these kids are dealing with serious issues and topics. Many from book #1 are back, and I was particularly glad to see Charley and Davi again. We also have a new girl, Pippa, who is riling up the sixth-formers. Most of the teachers still seem a bit inept (looking at you, Rhode!) and poor Head of School Audre is making some bad decisions...
Still, I can't lie, I devoured this one like the guilty pleasure that it is, even if I rolled my eyes from time-to-time. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company in return for an unbiased review.
September 25, 2026
It was so much fun to be back at Tiffin Academy and to finally find out what was in Cinnamon’s email.
The story picks up in September with our favorite sixth-former students starting their senior year. As in true Elin style there is plenty of drama, questionable characters and amazing food. There was also a lot of fashion with brands I had to google because these kids were wearing clothes from Target or even the Gap.
I enjoyed when the chapters when the kids were applying to college with their likelies/target/teaches and Chef Haz’ menus!
Charley was my favorite, and I even wound up liking Olivia in the end. The characters all come a long way in their senior year. But the biggest ick has to go to Rhodes - the man was a giant walking red flag.
And Cinnamon’s email reveal couldn’t have been better!
"I figure if I present my authentic self, my people will find me."
The story picks up in September with our favorite sixth-former students starting their senior year. As in true Elin style there is plenty of drama, questionable characters and amazing food. There was also a lot of fashion with brands I had to google because these kids were wearing clothes from Target or even the Gap.
I enjoyed when the chapters when the kids were applying to college with their likelies/target/teaches and Chef Haz’ menus!
Charley was my favorite, and I even wound up liking Olivia in the end. The characters all come a long way in their senior year. But the biggest ick has to go to Rhodes - the man was a giant walking red flag.
And Cinnamon’s email reveal couldn’t have been better!
"I figure if I present my authentic self, my people will find me."
August 14, 2026
Absolutely loved this sequel! The new characters brought so much fresh energy to the story, and I was completely invested from beginning to end. A perfect mix of drama, heartbreak, and heartwarming moments. I’m genuinely sad to be finished with it!
October 1, 2026
3.5⭐️ I love this Tiffin Academy world that Elin and Shelby have created! I absolutely devoured book 1 so the second and final book was high on my 2026 release radar. I liked it but didn’t love it as much as the first. I always love Elins 3rd person omniscient writing style. For me I found the first book a compulsive read - when I couldn’t have the physical book in my hands I was listening on audio bc I couldn’t get enough. I didn’t get that same feeling here. The drama just didn’t hit the same for me this time around. It was wrapped up in a nice bow by the end, and while I enjoyed my time at Tiffin I’m fine with closing that chapter!
September 28, 2026
The Thoroughbreds was such a fun, juicy read! This book gave me major Gossip Girl vibes with all the secrets, drama, friendships, betrayals, parties, and wealthy teenagers trying to navigate the pressures of their final year of high school.
I loved being back at Tiffin and following these characters as they dealt with college admissions, relationships, ambition, and plenty of drama. There were definitely some twists and surprises along the way, and I enjoyed seeing how all the different storylines came together.
If you love Gossip Girl style drama mixed with secrets, friendships, and a little bit of scandal, this is definitely a book to pick up!
I loved being back at Tiffin and following these characters as they dealt with college admissions, relationships, ambition, and plenty of drama. There were definitely some twists and surprises along the way, and I enjoyed seeing how all the different storylines came together.
If you love Gossip Girl style drama mixed with secrets, friendships, and a little bit of scandal, this is definitely a book to pick up!
September 17, 2026
4.25 stars. We’re back at Tiffin Academy for another school year of privileged students, messy friendships, secret hookups + plenty of scandal! Charley and East’s relationship is crumbling, Dub and Hakeem are suddenly at odds, new girl Pippa is shaking up the social hierarchy + Head of School Audre is scrambling to save both her job (and Tiffin after a disastrous financial mistake!) And then there’s the mysterious attachment Cinnamon sent Dub before she passed. Even though there were are a LOT of characters and storylines to keep straight, I had so much fun being back in this drama-filled world. Rich-kid chaos, betrayals, secrets + some surprisingly heartfelt moments—such an entertaining follow-up to The Academy (for me this sequel easily topped it). ❥ Pub. 9/15/26
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2026
Loved this little series! I give this one 5 stars!
September 22, 2026
A book that really needs to figure out what its target audience is
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
still deciding on my final rating but somewhere between 3.5-4⭐️ this was a fun follow up to The Academy & it did a great job refreshing you on all the characters and drama from book one, which was absolutely necessary because there are A LOT of characters. I loved being back at Tiffin for all the messy friendships, secrets, college drama, and finally getting answers to some lingering questions. My only complaint was the constant Gen Z slang, pop culture references, and brand name dropping, but maybe I’m just aging myself! Also, this is such a perfect transition read from summer into fall with all the back to school vibes! 🍂
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 4, 2026
It felt really good to be back at Tiffin and I honestly really love the whole premise behind how the book has been written.
I think it's incredible that Shelby has already pursued a writing career at her age, and brings such energy and emotional depth to this story - I am really envious of both the circumstance and talent of the authors!
Beside this, the story was very compelling. We explored new emotional highs and lows with a range of characters (including those who might not have been as fully fleshed out in the first book), and new characters (Pippa, Liam, Coop etc) were welcome additions to the novel.
There were relentless unpredictable twists which took the story in many directions but they all culminated into a messy melange of boarding school life - I imagine your life always feels like a movie in such an environment. It created a rich picture of the community within Tiffin and if felt very immersive to the reader.
I still loved East and Charley's stories/ trajectories (unlike a teacher, I am allowed to have blatant favourites) and I think their stories developed with the appropriate amoutn of realism and compassion.
Finally, the ending did have me shedding several tears. Although it was something I was anticipating throughout the book, once the moment came it felt so tender and all-encompassing, I couldn't help the rise of emotions.
Well done to both authors for the beautiful mother-daughter collaboration and the immersive portrayl of a unique community!
I hope more collaborations are to come!
I think it's incredible that Shelby has already pursued a writing career at her age, and brings such energy and emotional depth to this story - I am really envious of both the circumstance and talent of the authors!
Beside this, the story was very compelling. We explored new emotional highs and lows with a range of characters (including those who might not have been as fully fleshed out in the first book), and new characters (Pippa, Liam, Coop etc) were welcome additions to the novel.
There were relentless unpredictable twists which took the story in many directions but they all culminated into a messy melange of boarding school life - I imagine your life always feels like a movie in such an environment. It created a rich picture of the community within Tiffin and if felt very immersive to the reader.
I still loved East and Charley's stories/ trajectories (unlike a teacher, I am allowed to have blatant favourites) and I think their stories developed with the appropriate amoutn of realism and compassion.
Finally, the ending did have me shedding several tears. Although it was something I was anticipating throughout the book, once the moment came it felt so tender and all-encompassing, I couldn't help the rise of emotions.
Well done to both authors for the beautiful mother-daughter collaboration and the immersive portrayl of a unique community!
I hope more collaborations are to come!
September 21, 2026
Thank you Little Brown for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
Before you proceed, this book is the sequel to The Academy and the books must be read in order. I will get into some spoilers in my overall thoughts, so if you plan on reading it, beware.
I think overall, I enjoyed this book more than the first one. I felt like the character development was there and the drama kept me intrigued. But it also felt like a book about nothing? There were a lot of elements and plot points that were introduced and then not solved. This author doesn’t typically write series (though she has a few) so maybe that’s why.
It’s a juicy, festive Fall read and really captures the vibes of life on the campus of an elite New England school. But it also left a lot to be desired. I read it quickly, as the pacing and content was easy to digest, but when finished felt like I didn’t really learn anything.
Synopsis:
“September at Tiffin Academy is always a heady time, especially for the senior class—“sixth formers,” in Tiffin-speak—a season of college applications and intense pressure, of partying hard and last hurrahs. As the chapel bells ring in students and staff, everyone has something to look forward to—but in the midst of the anticipation and excitement, nagging questions and dark secrets lurk beneath the surface…Are Tiffin’s It Couple, Charley and East, on the rocks? What sparked the rift between football star Dub and his best friend Hakeem? Will Pippa Sacks, posh day student, topple the delicate social hierarchy—or wreak even worse havoc? Can Head of School Audre Robinson save her job—and the school—after a disastrous financial mistake? And what was in that email attachment Cinnamon Peters sent to Dub before she died?Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham answer these questions and more in The Thoroughbreds, a page-turning story about friendship, treachery, ambition, and growing up, at any age.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Fall/New England School Vibes—The majority of the book takes place between September-December, aka a favorite time of year for most of us. It really captured the vibes and was perfect to read in September.
The Attention to Detail—One of the reasons why I’ve always been drawn to the author’s work is how much detail is put into her stories. The food, the fashion, the backstory. It’s fun and easy reading.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
SO MANY CHARACTERS/POVs—I feel like I never really got to know the characters because there wasn’t really a “main character.” I suppose the school could be considered the main character but I would have liked a bit more through line on who I was supposed to care about. Also, I feel like we never got a resolution for a lot of things introduced, namely the college counselor Mav. Was he a creep? Did he do something bad involving a student at his previous position? I don’t know because we never found out. And what the heck happened to Pippa and her desire for revenge? And Taylor and Joey?!
The Ending—It was a bit too saccharine for my taste. There wasn’t any conflict blow up, which felt like we were building to the whole time. And everyone wanted to know what was in Cinnamon’s email…nothing juicy or revealing. It was a sweet ending, but I don’t know if I’m satisfied with it.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings:
mentions of suicide, homophobia, overdose, fire, miscarriage, bullying
Before you proceed, this book is the sequel to The Academy and the books must be read in order. I will get into some spoilers in my overall thoughts, so if you plan on reading it, beware.
I think overall, I enjoyed this book more than the first one. I felt like the character development was there and the drama kept me intrigued. But it also felt like a book about nothing? There were a lot of elements and plot points that were introduced and then not solved. This author doesn’t typically write series (though she has a few) so maybe that’s why.
It’s a juicy, festive Fall read and really captures the vibes of life on the campus of an elite New England school. But it also left a lot to be desired. I read it quickly, as the pacing and content was easy to digest, but when finished felt like I didn’t really learn anything.
Synopsis:
“September at Tiffin Academy is always a heady time, especially for the senior class—“sixth formers,” in Tiffin-speak—a season of college applications and intense pressure, of partying hard and last hurrahs. As the chapel bells ring in students and staff, everyone has something to look forward to—but in the midst of the anticipation and excitement, nagging questions and dark secrets lurk beneath the surface…Are Tiffin’s It Couple, Charley and East, on the rocks? What sparked the rift between football star Dub and his best friend Hakeem? Will Pippa Sacks, posh day student, topple the delicate social hierarchy—or wreak even worse havoc? Can Head of School Audre Robinson save her job—and the school—after a disastrous financial mistake? And what was in that email attachment Cinnamon Peters sent to Dub before she died?Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham answer these questions and more in The Thoroughbreds, a page-turning story about friendship, treachery, ambition, and growing up, at any age.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Fall/New England School Vibes—The majority of the book takes place between September-December, aka a favorite time of year for most of us. It really captured the vibes and was perfect to read in September.
The Attention to Detail—One of the reasons why I’ve always been drawn to the author’s work is how much detail is put into her stories. The food, the fashion, the backstory. It’s fun and easy reading.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
SO MANY CHARACTERS/POVs—I feel like I never really got to know the characters because there wasn’t really a “main character.” I suppose the school could be considered the main character but I would have liked a bit more through line on who I was supposed to care about. Also, I feel like we never got a resolution for a lot of things introduced, namely the college counselor Mav. Was he a creep? Did he do something bad involving a student at his previous position? I don’t know because we never found out. And what the heck happened to Pippa and her desire for revenge? And Taylor and Joey?!
The Ending—It was a bit too saccharine for my taste. There wasn’t any conflict blow up, which felt like we were building to the whole time. And everyone wanted to know what was in Cinnamon’s email…nothing juicy or revealing. It was a sweet ending, but I don’t know if I’m satisfied with it.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings:
mentions of suicide, homophobia, overdose, fire, miscarriage, bullying
October 1, 2026
My review can be summarized with the following statement: “POV,” i.e. the TikTok meme format, was used in this book. Twice.
Since we’re just throwing POV in front of anything, POV: I’m disappointed and feel personally victimized as a Gen Z with this book.
Another few snips from the book that bothered me:
- “What the helly,” which I saw maybe four times
- “You hit your vape and chill”
- “Omg, she thinks”
- When Davi is considering what she wants to say she’s grateful for at Thanksgiving, “nor can she say she’s grateful for Alix Earle”
- “I’ve seen it on your TikToks”
- “Pulling you for a chat”
I was really disappointed with this book. I found this book to be cringe rather than camp, which I typically love about an Elin Hilderbrand book, including the first book of this duology, The Academy. In addition to feeling personally victimized every ten pages, I found the book to be a bunch of short stories that didn’t really tie in nicely, and none of the plot lines were jaw dropping to me.
And don’t get me started on Cinnamon’s email. I read two books and waited a whole year for the second book to get to THAT ending?
This was unfortunately a really big miss to me.
Since we’re just throwing POV in front of anything, POV: I’m disappointed and feel personally victimized as a Gen Z with this book.
Another few snips from the book that bothered me:
- “What the helly,” which I saw maybe four times
- “You hit your vape and chill”
- “Omg, she thinks”
- When Davi is considering what she wants to say she’s grateful for at Thanksgiving, “nor can she say she’s grateful for Alix Earle”
- “I’ve seen it on your TikToks”
- “Pulling you for a chat”
I was really disappointed with this book. I found this book to be cringe rather than camp, which I typically love about an Elin Hilderbrand book, including the first book of this duology, The Academy. In addition to feeling personally victimized every ten pages, I found the book to be a bunch of short stories that didn’t really tie in nicely, and none of the plot lines were jaw dropping to me.
And don’t get me started on Cinnamon’s email. I read two books and waited a whole year for the second book to get to THAT ending?
This was unfortunately a really big miss to me.
September 18, 2026
I wasn’t crazy about the first book in this series but had enough questions that I had to read the sequel… and I loved it!! I liked this WAY more than the first. The number of characters/storylines is a bit overwhelming but the drama was excellent and so was the pacing. Such a satisfying conclusion, too. A great start of fall read!
September 24, 2026
The Thoroughbreds covered another juicy, drama-filled year a Tiffin Academy. I loved catching up with the whole cast of characters and diving back into all the secrets, scandals, and messy relationships that made The Academy so good. Between college admissions stress, the drama surrounding Charley and East, and the mystery of Cinnamon’s final email, there was plenty to keep me hooked. I will say I was slightly let down by the reveal of the email, but it was a nice way to cap off the story. I know Elin Hilderbrand has said she's not writing any more Nantucket books but I really hope she chooses to continue writing books in other genres!
September 30, 2026
I really wanted to love this book but as with most series the first one was better for sure. I expected a more climactic finale unless they intend to write another book about Tiffin!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 - This was a fun follow up to The Academy. I think I preferred the first book - the drama was a little over the top this time and resolved a bit too fast, and I felt it dragged on a bit in the middle. But I love the boarding school setting so much. This is easy to read and full of ridiculous moments (last book we had someone named Lace Ann, this time we have a Yardley). The characters are so over the top and cringey but you can't look away!!
Is this the best book ever? No. Is it entertaining and light and a fun read? 100%.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company & NetGalley for the ARC.
Is this the best book ever? No. Is it entertaining and light and a fun read? 100%.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company & NetGalley for the ARC.
September 25, 2026
OMG YALL DONT UNDERSTAND I LOVE THIS CHARACTERS SO MUCH AND WISH THIS BOOK NEVER ENDED!
This is like everything I want in a book it’s like a school drama tv show but in words which is my DREAMMM because I much prefer reading to watching.
Charley and East is like top five favorite couples ever they are so adorable like perfect opposites attract and they just make sense. This book Davi really grew on me and she is one of my favorite characters to.
Wish we got more Liam he didn’t really make any sense we only got one page of his POV wish I knew what he was thinking abt especially when he was with Pippa.
One thing that pmo is that I did not like Rhode or Cordelia there povs were such a bore. In the The Academy they were better but here it was just meh.
My sleep schedule is forever changed because of this book I could not stop reading only complaint was there wasn’t enough Charley and East haha
Something that ticks me off is Taylor and Hakeem’s relationship cuz they were so toxic in The Academy and still kinda do but they authors portray them as a couple you should root for which dosnt make sense to me and add up to the information in the first book.
(Spoiler paragraph) What also dosnt add up and I am VERY FRUSTRATED about is that Dub is gay. I was mad crushing on him in the first book and when I read that he came out I was in the middle of English class and I visibly gasped and shut the book and just stared at the white board I was so disappointed. Now who was I going to crush on? East? Who sucks on his vape every .5 seconds? No thanks.
Anyways Shelby and Elin you BETTER give me a third about the freshmen or something cuz this can’t be the end. I need more closure! Also the end Charley says that Davi is more important to her then East which dosnt really make any sense because this whole book they just said they were friends but never showed it. What they did show is how much Charley and East loved eachother no matter what. Anyways that pmo
FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS AMAZING AHHHH this one I like better then the first just because I knew all the characters and was already invested. WOULD RECOMMEND TO LITERALLY EVERYONE !!!!
This is like everything I want in a book it’s like a school drama tv show but in words which is my DREAMMM because I much prefer reading to watching.
Charley and East is like top five favorite couples ever they are so adorable like perfect opposites attract and they just make sense. This book Davi really grew on me and she is one of my favorite characters to.
Wish we got more Liam he didn’t really make any sense we only got one page of his POV wish I knew what he was thinking abt especially when he was with Pippa.
One thing that pmo is that I did not like Rhode or Cordelia there povs were such a bore. In the The Academy they were better but here it was just meh.
My sleep schedule is forever changed because of this book I could not stop reading only complaint was there wasn’t enough Charley and East haha
Something that ticks me off is Taylor and Hakeem’s relationship cuz they were so toxic in The Academy and still kinda do but they authors portray them as a couple you should root for which dosnt make sense to me and add up to the information in the first book.
(Spoiler paragraph) What also dosnt add up and I am VERY FRUSTRATED about is that Dub is gay. I was mad crushing on him in the first book and when I read that he came out I was in the middle of English class and I visibly gasped and shut the book and just stared at the white board I was so disappointed. Now who was I going to crush on? East? Who sucks on his vape every .5 seconds? No thanks.
Anyways Shelby and Elin you BETTER give me a third about the freshmen or something cuz this can’t be the end. I need more closure! Also the end Charley says that Davi is more important to her then East which dosnt really make any sense because this whole book they just said they were friends but never showed it. What they did show is how much Charley and East loved eachother no matter what. Anyways that pmo
FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS AMAZING AHHHH this one I like better then the first just because I knew all the characters and was already invested. WOULD RECOMMEND TO LITERALLY EVERYONE !!!!
September 30, 2026
The perfect conclusion to the characters & their stories that we saw first begin in " The Academy!"
Some things were predictable, while some were not, but overall it was the typical Elin Hilderbrand (along with her daughter Shelby Cunningham again this time!)novel that all her fans have come to know and love!
Definitely recommend, and I know that I'll be re-reading it again myself in the future!
Some things were predictable, while some were not, but overall it was the typical Elin Hilderbrand (along with her daughter Shelby Cunningham again this time!)novel that all her fans have come to know and love!
Definitely recommend, and I know that I'll be re-reading it again myself in the future!
October 6, 2026
just as obsessed as I was with the academy --well done
September 23, 2026
It's senior year at Tiffin Academy, and you know what that means: SATs, college applications, and the last of all the fun parties. Senior year is shaping up to be a fun one, but Tiffin Academy's favorite couple, Charley and East, seem to be disagreeing a lot about things lately. Plus, Dub and Hakeem, the resident football players and best friends, also seem on the outs. Then enter new girl Pippa Sacks, who is a day student, but is upsetting the apple cart at Tiffin Academy along with Liam, another new student. Audre Robinson is still Head of School, but is dealing with some financial difficulties that are threatening Tiffin's very existence. Then there's also Cinnamon's email to Dub before she died. What did it say, and has Dub opened it yet? Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham's The Thoroughbreds, book two in The Academy series, is a fun and frothy novel that will keep readers flipping the pages; it's perfect for readers who love a boarding school story.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
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