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The Academy #2
The Thoroughbreds
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
14 days and 05:52:20
25 copies available
U.S. only
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
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Elin Hilderbrand
75 books64.2k 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 271 reviews
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
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.
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!!!
March 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Thoroughbreds in exchange for an honest review. This book is scheduled to be published in September.
The Thoroughbreds is the second book in The Academy series by mother-daughter duo Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham. The story returns to the elite boarding school setting introduced in The Academy, where wealth, privilege, friendships, secrets, and the pressures of the future all collide.
I have always been a fan of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels and was so sad when I heard she intended to retire. When I learned she would be writing a series with her daughter, I was incredibly excited. I really enjoyed The Academy and always described it as Gossip Girl at a boarding school, and the first book definitely left readers with questions.
I’m happy to say I really enjoyed The Thoroughbreds. The book does a great job refreshing readers on what happened in the first novel. You quickly remember the students you met before, while also being introduced to some new characters who add to the story. I found myself rooting for these kids during their college searches and life decisions, and also cringing for them as they made the kinds of mistakes teenagers often do. The authors did a wonderful job making you care about these characters and their futures.
I especially enjoyed the storyline and was really touched at the end when we finally learned what was in Cinnamon’s email. It felt like a satisfying and emotional wrap-up to the story.
If you enjoyed The Academy, you will be very pleased with the wrap-up in The Thoroughbreds. Fans of boarding school drama, coming-of-age stories, and character-driven novels will definitely want to pick this one up when it releases in September. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Thoroughbreds is the second book in The Academy series by mother-daughter duo Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham. The story returns to the elite boarding school setting introduced in The Academy, where wealth, privilege, friendships, secrets, and the pressures of the future all collide.
I have always been a fan of Elin Hilderbrand’s novels and was so sad when I heard she intended to retire. When I learned she would be writing a series with her daughter, I was incredibly excited. I really enjoyed The Academy and always described it as Gossip Girl at a boarding school, and the first book definitely left readers with questions.
I’m happy to say I really enjoyed The Thoroughbreds. The book does a great job refreshing readers on what happened in the first novel. You quickly remember the students you met before, while also being introduced to some new characters who add to the story. I found myself rooting for these kids during their college searches and life decisions, and also cringing for them as they made the kinds of mistakes teenagers often do. The authors did a wonderful job making you care about these characters and their futures.
I especially enjoyed the storyline and was really touched at the end when we finally learned what was in Cinnamon’s email. It felt like a satisfying and emotional wrap-up to the story.
If you enjoyed The Academy, you will be very pleased with the wrap-up in The Thoroughbreds. Fans of boarding school drama, coming-of-age stories, and character-driven novels will definitely want to pick this one up when it releases in September. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 8, 2026
The sequel delivered! The drama continued and I found more characters I liked. I definitely enjoyed this one more than the first, and was glad everything was resolved by the end. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact these were high school students, some were more mature than others and still the partying was similar to college. Most of the parents still don’t have redeeming qualities and some of the other adults I didn’t like. There were a few dramatic story lines but I do like how it wrapped up their high school experience and talked about the colleges they’ll be going to. However, without giving a spoiler, Cinnamon’s message wasn’t at all what I expected. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.
March 26, 2026
I LOVED this so much. I can’t get enough of these books and these incredibly well written characters. The cringey ones were SO cringey and the stories were clever and it was so much fun from start to finish. I ate this up and now I want to go back and re-read The Academy. Then read this again. Thats how much I loved it.
The writing throughout was incredibly strong and I wonder what the process is like between Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham.
I wish I went to boarding school. I hope we get to keep following these characters because I need to know what they all do next.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the gift of getting to read this early in exchange for my honest review.
…quick note as someone who grew up in Flushing, Queens. Liam didn’t need to go to Flushing High School. He would have easily gotten into Townsend Harris or tested into one of the specialized schools (like Stuyvesant, where Yardley works!) or gotten in to a program at another good high school (ex, Cardozo has a law program that could be a way in). But that’s me being nitpicky for knowing specifics the authors likely didn’t know about.
The writing throughout was incredibly strong and I wonder what the process is like between Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham.
I wish I went to boarding school. I hope we get to keep following these characters because I need to know what they all do next.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the gift of getting to read this early in exchange for my honest review.
…quick note as someone who grew up in Flushing, Queens. Liam didn’t need to go to Flushing High School. He would have easily gotten into Townsend Harris or tested into one of the specialized schools (like Stuyvesant, where Yardley works!) or gotten in to a program at another good high school (ex, Cardozo has a law program that could be a way in). But that’s me being nitpicky for knowing specifics the authors likely didn’t know about.
March 28, 2026
Extremely immersive & super fun to read. The hundreds of 2026 pop culture references are a little silly but once you just accept them it’s like yeah ok I’m having fun
April 11, 2026
Love Elin, most of her books walk the line of cringe and cute but unfortunately this one was just not good. Tried to do way too much and went overboard.
April 12, 2026
5 🌟
I cannot say enough good things about this book wow. I truly couldn’t put it down. The introduction of new characters brought fresh energy to the story and each one added a unique layer that made the plot even more engaging. The drama unfolded perfectly with a balance of heartbreaking moments and heartwarming ones that kept me fully invested.
The characters were incredibly well developed; some you deeply empathize with, while others are so intentionally frustrating that you can’t help but appreciate how well they were written.
This was an amazing sequel and I’m genuinely sad to be finished with it.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC.
I cannot say enough good things about this book wow. I truly couldn’t put it down. The introduction of new characters brought fresh energy to the story and each one added a unique layer that made the plot even more engaging. The drama unfolded perfectly with a balance of heartbreaking moments and heartwarming ones that kept me fully invested.
The characters were incredibly well developed; some you deeply empathize with, while others are so intentionally frustrating that you can’t help but appreciate how well they were written.
This was an amazing sequel and I’m genuinely sad to be finished with it.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC.
May 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for the ARC of this book! ‘The Thoroughbreds’ was a dramatic, fast-paced read that I absolutely flew through. That being said, I found myself feeling a bit conflicted overall. While the plot was engaging, some elements didn’t fully land for me, and I had a hard time connecting with certain aspects of the story. I do think it wrapped up most of the story in a satisfying way, but it didn’t quite have the same impact for me as ‘The Academy.’ It was definitely an entertaining read though, with plenty of drama that I think many will enjoy!
May 23, 2026
So thankful to Netgalley and little brown and company for an ARC!! This was so good really enjoyed this series! I am glad that I gave it a chance. Once I heard that Elin was done with her Nantucket novels I was so upset but this one definitely still has some of my favorite aspects of her writing style!
May 22, 2026
I enjoyed this way more than The Academy. Had to savor it because I don’t know when we will get new Elin!
March 26, 2026
The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I was SO EXCITED when I saw this on Netgalley - it doesn’t come out until the fall. I loved The Academy last year, the first part in the series, and The Thoroughbreds was just as good if not better. It felt a bit more fast paced and I really enjoyed it. Part of what makes a great book for me is the feeling of “I cannot stop reading”, “I cannot wait to keep reading”, or “I wish I was reading this right now” and I definitely had that with The Thoroughbreds. Go ‘breds!
#thethoroughbreds #netgalley
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I was SO EXCITED when I saw this on Netgalley - it doesn’t come out until the fall. I loved The Academy last year, the first part in the series, and The Thoroughbreds was just as good if not better. It felt a bit more fast paced and I really enjoyed it. Part of what makes a great book for me is the feeling of “I cannot stop reading”, “I cannot wait to keep reading”, or “I wish I was reading this right now” and I definitely had that with The Thoroughbreds. Go ‘breds!
#thethoroughbreds #netgalley
April 13, 2026
3.5. In this sequel to The Academy, the authors continue the stories of the students, teachers and administrators, and parents we met in the first story at a prestigious boarding school. The book is filled with drama, so I appreciate it reads as a summer beach read while still being able to resonate any time of year as it follows the academic year. I appreciated the development of everyone’s story and the finale.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
March 28, 2026
ust finished this early release by Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter Shelby Cunningham.
Thank you @netgalley and @littlebrown for this early release copy!
As everyone knows, I love all things Elin. This is the follow up of The Academy and I loved that one, so I couldn't wait to read this one.
We follow all our favorite teens again, Charley, East and Davi, as well as our teachers and staff.
They are seniors at Tiffin Academy and you have all the pressure of college early acceptance and just last year angst. They have added a new student to the mix and she's a doozy. Also, two new teachers who become a big part of our teens lives.
I loved this and am so pleased with how they delved into our characters.
#crazybooknerd
#bookstagram
#netgalley
#littlebrownandcompany
Thank you @netgalley and @littlebrown for this early release copy!
As everyone knows, I love all things Elin. This is the follow up of The Academy and I loved that one, so I couldn't wait to read this one.
We follow all our favorite teens again, Charley, East and Davi, as well as our teachers and staff.
They are seniors at Tiffin Academy and you have all the pressure of college early acceptance and just last year angst. They have added a new student to the mix and she's a doozy. Also, two new teachers who become a big part of our teens lives.
I loved this and am so pleased with how they delved into our characters.
#crazybooknerd
#bookstagram
#netgalley
#littlebrownandcompany
May 1, 2026
Thankful to have received an early copy of this one as I’m a huge Elin fan!
I was so happy to be back at Tiffin Academy. We still had the multiple POV and same writing style as the first book which I loved! I was so ready to find out what was in the email and it was not what I was expecting but I was delighted!
All of the storylines were so engaging once again. The ending was beautiful and came full circle! I do think it would be fun to keep this series going by following an upcoming class at Tiffin. I could also see this series becoming a series on tv.
I was so happy to be back at Tiffin Academy. We still had the multiple POV and same writing style as the first book which I loved! I was so ready to find out what was in the email and it was not what I was expecting but I was delighted!
All of the storylines were so engaging once again. The ending was beautiful and came full circle! I do think it would be fun to keep this series going by following an upcoming class at Tiffin. I could also see this series becoming a series on tv.
June 25, 2026
Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
I loved The Academy the first book in this duology so I was really looking forward to reading this sequel. However for me it didn’t hit the way the first book did. I found the chapters too jumpy between different character and honestly felt that not much happened. The email from Cinnamon reveal was also a bit of a letdown . That being said the book was really easy to read and I’m glad I finished the series to see what happened with all the main characters 3.75⭐️ rounded down
I loved The Academy the first book in this duology so I was really looking forward to reading this sequel. However for me it didn’t hit the way the first book did. I found the chapters too jumpy between different character and honestly felt that not much happened. The email from Cinnamon reveal was also a bit of a letdown . That being said the book was really easy to read and I’m glad I finished the series to see what happened with all the main characters 3.75⭐️ rounded down
April 21, 2026
Thanks to Book Huddle and Little, Brown, and company for the opportunity to read this ARC! I shouldn’t be as invested in the lives of high school children as I was, but WOW was I! I loved going through their heartbreaks, triumphs, and lessons learned as they prepared to enter the next stage of their life. You’re never too old to learn about the importance of friendship, self growth, mental health, and good old fashioned effort.
March 25, 2026
I was provided an ARC of this book on NetGalley.
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this book early as I have loved Elin Hilderbrand’s work for a while. I really enjoyed The Academy and was thrilled to revisit the place and these characters.
This book dove deeper into the characters and once again took place over the course of a school year and skipped around to stories of the different characters. It is filled with gossip and drama. If you enjoy boarding school/campus books, this is definitely for you! They do a truly wonderful job of describing the intricacies of boarding school life, and if you know it, it makes it even more enjoyable to read!
April 1, 2026
Thank you Net Galley for an early copy of this book! Throughout the book I felt like I was immersed with the characters’ lives and emotions . Elin Hilderbrand never disappoints when it comes to vivid, engaging stories. The middle of the book dragged a bit but of course it all came together nicely in the end.
June 25, 2026
Upgraded to 3.5⭐️ Sequel to The Academy this continues the sort of life at Tiffin boarding school. We catch up with Charley, East,Davi and others in their final year at Tiffin. Thought the book was a bit of a filler if I’m honest with not much plot and the revelation at the end felt very anticlimactic. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC but not as good as the first book.
March 28, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC! This was SO fun and such a good sequel. It really picked up nicely from the first book and I loved seeing the character development and where they went next. Fun and unique characters, toxic prep school drama, and such growth. A fun read!!
March 30, 2026
I was offered an ARC of this book and was excited to be able to continue reading the stories of Tiffin’s sixth formers. The writing is excellent and the characters are well developed. There are a few new faces within the staff and student body and they integrate nicely with the returning characters from The Academy. As a big fan of books about academe, I loved the book.
May 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!! I am so sad our time at Tiffin is over. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel when I started The Academy, but after that first book, I couldn’t wait to get back to the school and see what everyone was up to. This was wrapped up really nicely. Selfishly, I wish we started earlier with this crew and could have had more years with them at Tiffin.
June 16, 2026
Another chaotic year at Tiffin for literally everyone. I enjoyed following the characters from the first book and seeing them through graduation. If there are more books in the series, I’ll read them but this didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.
May 2, 2026
An unstoppable mother/daughter author team! They’ve done it again! I enjoyed the brief reminder of the ending of The Academy and then launching into sixth-form. A quick read with a lot of unexpected twists!
April 15, 2026
It's senior year, and Charley, Davi, Dub, Hakeem, and all the others are back for another amazing year at Tiffin. If anyone thinks that this year will be calmer than last, they better buckle up because they are in for another ride! Lots of drama- friendships, rivalries, love triangles, staff shenanigans, and the stress of whether or not that college acceptance letter will arrive all combine to make a sequel at least as good as the first in the series! This would make a great TV series. I hope that the series continues, either with a new set of Tiffin adventures or with the continued adventures of this year's graduates and staff.
May 24, 2026
A fun return to Tiffin Academy with the usual Hilderbrand mix of drama and romance and outsized characters who seem to have a tendency to make lots of questionable choices. If you like Elin Hilderbrand, you'll enjoy it, although there are a LOT of characters, and I had a tough time keeping track of them all at first. But once you get into it, it moves quickly and is a fun, easy read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (September 2026) [reading in March]
Academy #2
388-page Ebook story pages 12-383
464-page Kindle Ebook Kindle
Genre: Academia, Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Featuring: Bibliography for Elin Hilderbrand, Map, School Year - September - June, Titled Chapters, Boarding School, Who's Who at Tiffin Academy - Character List, Faculty, High School Students, Previous Book Recap, Menus, Sex, Drugs, Menus, Fictional Small-Town 90 minutes from Williamstown, Massachusetts; Secrets, Drama, Multiple POVs, Third-Person Multiple-Point-of-View Perspective, Kiss-Cheat, Baltimore, Maryland; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York City, New York; College Admissions, Holidays, School Events, Family Dynamics, Football, School Politics and Management, Harbour Island, Bahamas; Affluent People, Acknowledgments
Rating as a movie: R for adult content and situations
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½🏫👩⚖️📚🎒🐎🍂
My thoughts: 📘 - It's been a long time since I read a Hilderbrand without the narration of Erin Bennett, voice of Nantucket. I'll finally know if it's the voice or the story.
🔖193 of 388 [Chapter] 17. Rivalry Weekend - So even though I don't have Erin I can hear her in my head. This is okay, it seems to be taking longer to build than the previous book, and I'm wondering if the story will end here or if we'll see the next class graduate in the next book.
Instead of Nantucket Reds we have Bahamas Blues, this book is not crammed full of Easter eggs and I could waste time comparing it to Summerland or something, but I won't. Because it's another school year this story had to navigate a balance between familiarity and repetitiveness, you didn't want to repeat the previous book through school events but you do need to have the same events for it to be the same school. I think they did a great job, I did not feel like I was reliving the same story twice even though there were similar events primarily because she did not spend as much time describing the events I do think this book was very title heavy with music and songs but I lived for the menus and food descriptions. I was right about the email but not 100% and the final chapters are what pushed me to and a ½-star and round it up to 5 stars. It ended on a good note and it could be a good ending or Book 2 in a trilogy. I'm looking forward to seeing which one it is. Let me say again this is not a YA book, and I think if it was called The Faculty people would accept that. This reads just like other Hilderbrand books, the storylines are familiar, the settings have changed. I still felt like Shelby Cunningham did more consulting that writing. I really need to read something solo to learn her voice. FYI I love Erin Bennett but it's definitely the story.
Recommend to others: Yes! If you love Elin Hilderbrand this is her style, just inland.
Academy (with Shelby Cunningham)
1. The Academy (2025)
2. The Thoroughbreds (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Prep-School Gangsters" by Vampire Weekend, "Supercut" by Lorde, "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" by Outkast, "Senior Skip Day" by Mac Miller, "Starting Over" by Chris Stapleton, "7 Summers" by Morgan Wallen, "I Know The End" by Phoebe Bridgers, "Whole Wide World" by Cage The Elephant, "F*ck You" by CeeLo Green, "Lately" by Rüfüs Du Sol, "No Broke Boys" by Tinashe, "neck on a yacht" by Gunna, "The Percocet & Stripper Joint" by Future, "Getting Better" by The Beatles, "Shallow" by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, "Memories" by David Guetta, "You Should Be Dancing" by Bee Gees, "Heaven" by Bryan Adams, "The Spins" by Empire of the Sun and Mac Miller, "Just the Two of Us" by Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr., "Dancing On My Own (Tiësto Remix)" by Calum Scott, "Jessie’s Girl" by Rick Springfield, "Only In My Dreams" by Debbie Gibson, "Watching The Detectives" by Elvis Costello, "Don’t Do Me Like That" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Fool In The Rain" by Led Zeppelin, "Break My Stride" by Matthew Wilder, "Silver Springs" by Fleetwood Mac, "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack, "You Are the Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne, "Semiramide Overture" by Gioachino Rossini conducted by Riccardo Muti with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, "Kiss The Bride" by Bon Jovi, "Jungleland" by Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band, "Racing In The Street" by Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band, "Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons, "You're On Your Own, Kid" by Taylor Swift, "Let's Twist Again" by Chubby Checker, "Up, Up And Away" by The 5th Dimension, "Let The Sunshine In" by The 5th Dimension, "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli, "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan, "People Are Strange" by The Doors, "Dark Lady" by Cher, "Girl$" by Dom Dolla, "Delilah (pull me out of this)" by Fred Again, "Blame" by Calvin Harris featuring John Newman, "Rich Girl" by Daryl Hall & John Oates, "Where Have You Been" by Rihannan̈ "Stay The Night" by Zedd "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All" by The 5th Dimension, "Witchy Woman" by Eagles, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, "bad guy" by Billie Eilish, evermore by Taylor Swift, "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne, "I Had Some Help" by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" by Dropkick Murphys, "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, "Freedom! '90" by George Michael, "Holiday" by Weezer, "Come as You Are" by Nirvana, "Big Me" by Foo Fighters, "Go with the Flow" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" by Them Crooked Vultures, "Limelight" by RUSH, "Deck The Halls" by Pentatonix, "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives, "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" by Andy Williams, "Buddy Holly" by Weezer, "Pitorro de Coco" by Bad Bunny, "The First Noel" by Frank Sinatra, "(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" by Perry Como, "Runaround Sue" by Dion DiMucci, "What Child Is This" by Andrea Bocelli, "You Make Loving Fun"Fleetwood Mac, "The Sweetest Thing" by Refugee Camp All-Stars featuring Lauryn Hill, "Love." by Kendrick Lamar, "The Little Drummer Boy" by The Harry Simeone Chorale, "Don't Be A Jerk (It's Christmas)" by SpongeBob SquarePants, "Badlands" by Bruce Springsteen, The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, "Somebody’s Problem" by Morgan Wallen, "Thinkin Bout You" by Frank Ocean, "Winter Wonderland" by Amy Grant, "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Sometimes" by Britney Spears, "Find Your Love" by Drake, "This Is What You Came For" by Calvin Harris and Rihanna, "Murder on the Dancefloor" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, "Diet Coke" by Fallon, "Messy" by Lola Young, "Girl You Loud" by Chris Brown and Tyga, "Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake, "Breakin’ Dishes" by Rihanna, "Lavender Haze" by Taylor Swift, "Baby Don't Hurt Me Remix" by David Guetta, Anne-Marie, and Coi Leray; "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins, "Beyond The Sea" by Bobby Darin, "The Boy From Ipanema" by Diana Krall, "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus, "Fool In The Rain" by Led Zeppelin, "Pomp and Circumstance Marches" by Edward Elgar, "Have It All" by Jason Mraz
Books and Authors mentioned: Edith Wharton, Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian, H. G. Wells, E. M. Forster, A. M. Homes, S. E. Hinton, The Best American Short Stories 2026 by Viet Thanh Nguyen and Nicole A. Lamy, A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh, Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, Sula by Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Bridgerton by Chris Van Dusen [based on] Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn; Old School by Tobias Wolff, The Palace Thief by Ethan Canin, Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, The Fall of Rome by Martha Southgate, I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, Truman Capote, Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Robert Southey, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout, Amgash Series by Elizabeth Strout, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, The Addams Family by Charles Addams, Karen Blixen, Howl by Allen Ginsberg, Evening by Dorianne Laux, Evening by Susan Minot, The Good Mother by Sue Miller, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, First Love by Ivan Turgenev, The Collected Stories of Isaac Babel by Isaac Babel, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Anne Enright, Kiran Desai, Atonement by Ian McEwan, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, "The Kiss" by Anne Sexton, American Fantasy by Emma Straub, William Shakespeare, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Beach Blanket Bingo by Leo Townsend and William Asher, Star Wars by George Lucas, Claire Lombardo, Lauren Groff, Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen, Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, Wonder by R. J. Palacio, The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Flannery O'Connor, The Holdovers by David Hemingson, Heartwood by Amity Gaige, Natchez Burning by Greg Iles, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm X, Emperor of the Air by Ethan Canin, Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar, Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand, Elf by David Berenbaum, Footloose by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie [based on] Footloose by Dean Pitchford; The Balthazar Cookbook by Keith McNally, Lee Hanson, and Riad Nasr; Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction by J.D. Salinger; Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger, The Mourning Bride by William Congreve, Scarface by Oliver Stone [based on] Scarface by W. R. Burnett, Ben Hecht, John Lee Mahin, and Seton I. Miller [and based on] Scarface by Armitage Trail; Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Dr. Seuss, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett
Academy #2
388-page Ebook story pages 12-383
464-page Kindle Ebook Kindle
Genre: Academia, Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Featuring: Bibliography for Elin Hilderbrand, Map, School Year - September - June, Titled Chapters, Boarding School, Who's Who at Tiffin Academy - Character List, Faculty, High School Students, Previous Book Recap, Menus, Sex, Drugs, Menus, Fictional Small-Town 90 minutes from Williamstown, Massachusetts; Secrets, Drama, Multiple POVs, Third-Person Multiple-Point-of-View Perspective, Kiss-Cheat, Baltimore, Maryland; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York City, New York; College Admissions, Holidays, School Events, Family Dynamics, Football, School Politics and Management, Harbour Island, Bahamas; Affluent People, Acknowledgments
Rating as a movie: R for adult content and situations
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½🏫👩⚖️📚🎒🐎🍂
My thoughts: 📘 - It's been a long time since I read a Hilderbrand without the narration of Erin Bennett, voice of Nantucket. I'll finally know if it's the voice or the story.
🔖193 of 388 [Chapter] 17. Rivalry Weekend - So even though I don't have Erin I can hear her in my head. This is okay, it seems to be taking longer to build than the previous book, and I'm wondering if the story will end here or if we'll see the next class graduate in the next book.
Instead of Nantucket Reds we have Bahamas Blues, this book is not crammed full of Easter eggs and I could waste time comparing it to Summerland or something, but I won't. Because it's another school year this story had to navigate a balance between familiarity and repetitiveness, you didn't want to repeat the previous book through school events but you do need to have the same events for it to be the same school. I think they did a great job, I did not feel like I was reliving the same story twice even though there were similar events primarily because she did not spend as much time describing the events I do think this book was very title heavy with music and songs but I lived for the menus and food descriptions. I was right about the email but not 100% and the final chapters are what pushed me to and a ½-star and round it up to 5 stars. It ended on a good note and it could be a good ending or Book 2 in a trilogy. I'm looking forward to seeing which one it is. Let me say again this is not a YA book, and I think if it was called The Faculty people would accept that. This reads just like other Hilderbrand books, the storylines are familiar, the settings have changed. I still felt like Shelby Cunningham did more consulting that writing. I really need to read something solo to learn her voice. FYI I love Erin Bennett but it's definitely the story.
Recommend to others: Yes! If you love Elin Hilderbrand this is her style, just inland.
Academy (with Shelby Cunningham)
1. The Academy (2025)
2. The Thoroughbreds (2026)
Songs for the soundtrack: "Prep-School Gangsters" by Vampire Weekend, "Supercut" by Lorde, "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" by Outkast, "Senior Skip Day" by Mac Miller, "Starting Over" by Chris Stapleton, "7 Summers" by Morgan Wallen, "I Know The End" by Phoebe Bridgers, "Whole Wide World" by Cage The Elephant, "F*ck You" by CeeLo Green, "Lately" by Rüfüs Du Sol, "No Broke Boys" by Tinashe, "neck on a yacht" by Gunna, "The Percocet & Stripper Joint" by Future, "Getting Better" by The Beatles, "Shallow" by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, "Memories" by David Guetta, "You Should Be Dancing" by Bee Gees, "Heaven" by Bryan Adams, "The Spins" by Empire of the Sun and Mac Miller, "Just the Two of Us" by Bill Withers and Grover Washington, Jr., "Dancing On My Own (Tiësto Remix)" by Calum Scott, "Jessie’s Girl" by Rick Springfield, "Only In My Dreams" by Debbie Gibson, "Watching The Detectives" by Elvis Costello, "Don’t Do Me Like That" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Fool In The Rain" by Led Zeppelin, "Break My Stride" by Matthew Wilder, "Silver Springs" by Fleetwood Mac, "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack, "You Are the Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne, "Semiramide Overture" by Gioachino Rossini conducted by Riccardo Muti with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, "Kiss The Bride" by Bon Jovi, "Jungleland" by Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band, "Racing In The Street" by Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band, "Whatever It Takes" by Imagine Dragons, "You're On Your Own, Kid" by Taylor Swift, "Let's Twist Again" by Chubby Checker, "Up, Up And Away" by The 5th Dimension, "Let The Sunshine In" by The 5th Dimension, "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli, "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan, "People Are Strange" by The Doors, "Dark Lady" by Cher, "Girl$" by Dom Dolla, "Delilah (pull me out of this)" by Fred Again, "Blame" by Calvin Harris featuring John Newman, "Rich Girl" by Daryl Hall & John Oates, "Where Have You Been" by Rihannan̈ "Stay The Night" by Zedd "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All" by The 5th Dimension, "Witchy Woman" by Eagles, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, "bad guy" by Billie Eilish, evermore by Taylor Swift, "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne, "I Had Some Help" by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen, "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" by Dropkick Murphys, "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, "Freedom! '90" by George Michael, "Holiday" by Weezer, "Come as You Are" by Nirvana, "Big Me" by Foo Fighters, "Go with the Flow" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" by Them Crooked Vultures, "Limelight" by RUSH, "Deck The Halls" by Pentatonix, "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives, "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" by Andy Williams, "Buddy Holly" by Weezer, "Pitorro de Coco" by Bad Bunny, "The First Noel" by Frank Sinatra, "(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" by Perry Como, "Runaround Sue" by Dion DiMucci, "What Child Is This" by Andrea Bocelli, "You Make Loving Fun"Fleetwood Mac, "The Sweetest Thing" by Refugee Camp All-Stars featuring Lauryn Hill, "Love." by Kendrick Lamar, "The Little Drummer Boy" by The Harry Simeone Chorale, "Don't Be A Jerk (It's Christmas)" by SpongeBob SquarePants, "Badlands" by Bruce Springsteen, The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, "Somebody’s Problem" by Morgan Wallen, "Thinkin Bout You" by Frank Ocean, "Winter Wonderland" by Amy Grant, "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age, "Sometimes" by Britney Spears, "Find Your Love" by Drake, "This Is What You Came For" by Calvin Harris and Rihanna, "Murder on the Dancefloor" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, "Diet Coke" by Fallon, "Messy" by Lola Young, "Girl You Loud" by Chris Brown and Tyga, "Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake, "Breakin’ Dishes" by Rihanna, "Lavender Haze" by Taylor Swift, "Baby Don't Hurt Me Remix" by David Guetta, Anne-Marie, and Coi Leray; "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins, "Beyond The Sea" by Bobby Darin, "The Boy From Ipanema" by Diana Krall, "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus, "Fool In The Rain" by Led Zeppelin, "Pomp and Circumstance Marches" by Edward Elgar, "Have It All" by Jason Mraz
Books and Authors mentioned: Edith Wharton, Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian, H. G. Wells, E. M. Forster, A. M. Homes, S. E. Hinton, The Best American Short Stories 2026 by Viet Thanh Nguyen and Nicole A. Lamy, A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh, Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, Sula by Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Bridgerton by Chris Van Dusen [based on] Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn; Old School by Tobias Wolff, The Palace Thief by Ethan Canin, Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, The Fall of Rome by Martha Southgate, I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai, Truman Capote, Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Robert Southey, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout, Amgash Series by Elizabeth Strout, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, The Addams Family by Charles Addams, Karen Blixen, Howl by Allen Ginsberg, Evening by Dorianne Laux, Evening by Susan Minot, The Good Mother by Sue Miller, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, First Love by Ivan Turgenev, The Collected Stories of Isaac Babel by Isaac Babel, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, Anne Enright, Kiran Desai, Atonement by Ian McEwan, Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, "The Kiss" by Anne Sexton, American Fantasy by Emma Straub, William Shakespeare, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Beach Blanket Bingo by Leo Townsend and William Asher, Star Wars by George Lucas, Claire Lombardo, Lauren Groff, Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen, Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, Wonder by R. J. Palacio, The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Flannery O'Connor, The Holdovers by David Hemingson, Heartwood by Amity Gaige, Natchez Burning by Greg Iles, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm X, Emperor of the Air by Ethan Canin, Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar, Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand, Elf by David Berenbaum, Footloose by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie [based on] Footloose by Dean Pitchford; The Balthazar Cookbook by Keith McNally, Lee Hanson, and Riad Nasr; Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction by J.D. Salinger; Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger, The Mourning Bride by William Congreve, Scarface by Oliver Stone [based on] Scarface by W. R. Burnett, Ben Hecht, John Lee Mahin, and Seton I. Miller [and based on] Scarface by Armitage Trail; Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Dr. Seuss, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett
April 5, 2026
This is the kind of book you have to settle into. It’s deeply character-driven — senior year at Tiffin Academy means college apps, friendships, and secrets. Not a lot happens in the traditional sense, but honestly? That’s the whole vibe. This one rewards slow reading. It’s a book for a blanket and a hot drink, not a beach-read sprint. Perfect cozy fall companion. 🍂
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this eARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this eARC!
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