The Chandler Legacies

by Abdi Nazemian

From the Stonewall Honor–winning author of Like a Love Story comes a revelatory novel about the enclosed world of privilege and silence at an elite boarding school and the unlikely group of friends who dare challenge the status quo through their writing.

Beth Kramer is a “townie” who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of judgment from her roommate, Sarah.

But Sarah Brunson knows there’s more to that story.

Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah.

Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys’ dorms.

And Freddy Bello is the senior who’s no longer sure of his future but has fallen hard for Spence and knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin.

At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born—and secrets are revealed. Their professor tells them to write their truths. But is the truth enough to change the long-standing culture of abuse at Chandler? And can their friendship survive the fallout?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Queer, Fiction, Audiobook

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2022

About the author

Abdi Nazemian is the author of Only This Beautiful Moment - winner of the 2024 Stonewall Award and 2024 Lambda Literary Award - and Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book and one of Time Magazine’s Best YA Books Of All Time. He is also the author of the young adult novels Desert Echoes, The Chandler Legacies, and The Authentics. His novel The Walk-In Closet won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the films The Artist’s Wife, The Quiet, and Menendez: Blood Brothers and the television series Ordinary Joe and The Village. He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, including Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods, and The House of Tomorrow. He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children, and their dog, Disco. Find him online at abdinazemian.com.

Reviews

[Taylor Reid]

Diving into the exclusive world of boarding schools, The Chandler Legacies follows the intricate lives of five students who are brought together when they’re invited to join a secret writing group at school. Abdi writes stories filled with beauty, hope, and courage. He’s an auto-buy author for me.

[jazmin ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nonfiction is about telling the truth. Fiction is about telling your truth. Fiction is a mystery only its author can solve. You."

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Thanks to HCC Frenzy and HarperCollins Canada for providing an ARC of The Chandler Legacies in exchange for an honest review.

⇢Description

At a prestigious boarding school, students are selected to join The Circle, a secretive and exclusive writing group where the members are said to become as close as family. This year, 5 students are chosen, each of them with plenty of secrets they don’t want shared. Together, they grow, and hope to eventually change the way things work at their school.

⇢Thoughts

I absolutely love when YA books aren’t afraid to tackle heavier topics, because there is absolutely a need for stories like this one to be told. Teenagers face homophobia and sexual assault and many of the issues shown in this book, and as long as they’re handled in a way that’s appropriate for the genre, I think they’re fantastic. And this book definitely reached that standard.

This book combined a lot of things that I love, and the found family trope is one of those things. The way these characters started out leading completely different lives and then grew to become connected was really well done, and I was definitely convinced of their friendship. The romance wasn't as convincing, but I'm not too torn up about it because the main characters were only in high school.

Honestly, the only thing I wanted was more. More detail from the ending and the way things were resolved, and more detail about the characters and their relationships. Everything was so well done that I think there was room to expand the story beyond what it was. In particular the writing- since it was such a big part of this story, I would have liked to see more of the characters in relation to their passion for writing!

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

MY LINKTREE ❦

BOOKISH PRODUCTS: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦

[Noah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wouldn't say this was terrible, I'd just heavily imply it.

[give me books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75

Trochę nie moja tematyka, ale ładna książka

[paige (ptsungirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sometimes stories are the only way to make sense of complicated emotions."

°•*⁀➷

I find that I have very conflicting thoughts about this book. I liked it, and I didn't, and I have no idea which feeling outweighs the other. So I'm going to start this review off by saying that I'm so happy the author wrote this story for himself, used this as a way to confront his past, and found a sort of healing because of it. These are such dark and painful feelings that are surrounded by such love and devotion. I think most of the reason I didn't like it is because I just don't understand any of this particular pain.

It's very difficult to connect with something I don't understand. And in saying that, I'm so heart broken for anyone that does understand.

The thing I did truly enjoy about this book was that their teacher, Douglas, has them write their first assignment, and hands it back to them with one word they used more than others circled. That word being the thing they need to dig deeper into to figure out who it is that they are. I love reading about teachers who help children to thrive rather than make them feel small. That is something I will always be lucky enough to relate to.

The reason I'm so conflicted about this story is because then something happens that hurt me, as a reader, but also as a person that knows this work of fiction has some base in reality. Forgiveness in fiction can be so easy, because these characters are more often a part of a world we don't inhabit ourselves. I'm finding it very hard to forgive in this one because of how real and purposeful it felt.

Uncomfortable feelings are sometimes just as important as the happiest ones when you read a story. So maybe I just need some more time to reflect on that.

There were so many quotes I loved in this story and the friendship built between our five characters is what true found family is all about. Maybe I'll pick this book up again one day in a different mind space and feel differently. Maybe this will be the story you find yourself in. Maybe it's a good thing I don't understand. Whatever it might be, the quote above is what being human is all about, and I love that Abdi Nazemian wrote this for himself.

- Paige

[sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

spoilers below --

making a lesbian feel predatory and protect a pedophile/rapist AND having the gay guy defend the lesbian's actions and refuse to expose her made me feel sick. no just no.

[CW ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found family, a legacy of secrets, and a nuanced portrait of boarding school come together in The Chandler Legacies, and, my god, is it riveting and incredible.

The story follows five very different teenagers who are selected to be part of the coveted 'The Circle', a writing workshop led by an enigmatic English teacher. All five characters (four of five are queer and three are characters of colour) were well-developed with their own distinct voices and internal struggles and trauma; one of the characters will certainly resonate with you.

If you've wanted a story that takes place in a boarding school that's so much more than a setting, but actually explores the dynamics, issues and how a legacy of silence places a role in perpetuating abuse, then this is a book for you. The Chandler Legacies doesn't shy away from the 'heavy' topics and from depicting violence within such institutions, a reflection of, as the Author Note says, the author's own experiences at boarding school. What's depicted in the story aren't easy topics to explore, but Nazemian does so with nuance, the complexity these discussions deserve, and sensitivity.

At the heart of this story is a heartfelt story of friendship - how different people can come together, find acceptance and a safe haven in one another. More, the story explores how writing can reveal the truth about others and ourselves. Will knowing the truth and sharing the truth set you free? That's a question that the story asks.

A fantastic and searing story, one that is also full of so much hope and tenderness amid all the ugly and violent.

Read my full review at my blog, The Quiet Pond.

I was given an eARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger/content warnings: explicit account of hazing (of a sexual nature), bullying, racism, sexism, casual misogyny, recount of sexual assault

[kosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

when people say dark academia books are pretentious, they mean this book. most of the 'important topics' were so poorly executed i wanted to scream. i appreciate this kind of exposing the boarding school system but it could've been done better. characters could've been really interesting and relatable but they turned out to be dull... i just couldn't believe in their tight-knitted relationship. a found family trope felt just so forced to me. i think it was a writing style that made it such a terrible experience but i'm highly disappointed :/

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Like a Love Story, the messiness, the hurt, the pop references. Just everything. And when I read the blurb of The Chandler Legacies, my heart jumped up. The nineties, a boarding school, abuse, five teens brought together in a writing project, queerness, all ingredients I love to read about.

BUT

The next part is a me thing, so don’t let this review discourage you from reading this book. The average rating right now is 3.95, so many people like the story. Please check out other reviews if you think of reading this story.

This story is written in third person/present tense. It’s my least favorite, and in my opinion, it can only be used by exceptional authors (Fredrik Backman, Casey McQuiston, Antony Doerr) and preferably not in young adult. Add five POVs and long chapters (only after one-third of the book every teen had had their first chapter) and a relatively short book, and lines formed between my eyes, and I started to mutter. Eventually, I hated every single thing I’d usually just shrug about but don’t like very much (using surnames as nicknames, chapters with the full names of teens instead of just their first name).

While reading, I had a soft spot for Ramin and Freddie, and I kept thinking, why hasn’t this story been written from one of their POVs? Or from both of them? Now the story lacked depth, and the girls' voices were too indistinguishable for me. I even asked myself why Abdi Nazemian gave Spence a voice.

So, once again, it’s probably a me thing. When this story would have been written from one of the boys' POVs, this story might have been easily a four or five-star rating for me. Now, I rate this story somewhere between two and a half and three stars, and although I have been thinking of rounding it down, I generously round it up to three.

I really hope Abdi’s next book will be written from a gay Iranian’s POV because I think that’s what he writes best.

[Mads Browse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just about scraped a 4 for me! I thought this would be a new favourite but for some reason it just didn’t grab me! I will admit I am a bit slumpy at the moment so that probably isn’t helping

[micah ➳ canonicallychaotic · Rating 4 out of 5]

no one writes an epilogue that will break you like abdi nazemian.

“thinking of the students who came before them opens something up in her. it makes her realize that someday, she’ll be the student who came before. and she has the power to make things better for the next kids to come to the school searching for answers.”

at chandler academy, there is the circle—an exclusive writing group made up of new students every year. in 1999, five students are chosen—beth, an anxious townie; brunson, her roommate from the year before; spence, the popular theater actress; ramin, just immigrated from iran; and freddy, the star athlete. in the circle, they learn to write their truths and share those truths with each other. they uncover secrets about themselves, but also secrets that the school has been covering up for years.

high school is such a strange time.

you’re figuring yourself out. what kind of person you want to be, who you like; who your friends are. what you’ll do for the rest of your life.

through all this—you don’t do it alone. you’re surrounded by others your age who are doing it, too. for better or for worse, you are with them all day, every day.

in between it all, you find your truth.

the chandler legacies is not exactly what i expected, but just the book that i wanted to read. boarding school a a writing workshop, found family and a surprising amount of queer characters. somehow, just light enough to not make the heavy stuff—hazing and homophobia and statutory sexual assault—not feel too dark.

with five points of view, you are stretched a little thin. but each character has a story and truth to tell. and they learn how to navigate their lives here together, finding the perfect words to share these truths.

abdi nazemian writes what he knows. he pulls from his own experience in boarding school, from the friends he made there. he has an absolute knack at ruining me with his epilogues and author’s notes.

i don’t often look back at high school with fondness, mostly because i didn’t feel like i was my authentic self. for the five in the circle, they had a space to be that and more. i only hope every high school kid should be so lucky.

cw: statutory sexual assault, hazing, homophobia, underage drinking, depictions of anxiety (the content warnings are discussed at the beginning of the book)

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I’m one of those readers who really enjoys books that take place in boarding schools. There is something about that setting which drives me into reading books with that theme. The Chandler Legacies is no different. Based on the experiences of the author, the book takes place at an elite boarding school in CT. Readers follow the perspectives of 5 different characters: Beth, Spence, Ramin, Freddy, and Sarah. In edition to learning more about their experiences at the boarding school, readers follow their drive/ambition to make it into the exclusive writing club called the Circle. It is there and through more detailed interactions with each other that they begin to learn more about themselves and each other. CW: sexual assault, bullying, hazing, homophobia, racism

One of the things that I enjoyed about this novel was the way in which Nazemian refused to shy away from the disgusting and harmful legacies behind some boarding schools. There isn’t much that he doesn’t cover in terms of character experience and I appreciated that readers receive the opportunity to learn more about these environments in a way that isn’t completely jaded. I will say that for the most part I think a lot of the situations were handled with care and grace as Nazemian explores them in the context of each character. They go through it, but it never felt unrealistic or like a “stretch” for entertainment value. It is extremely clear through his writing that the author saw some of these accounts first hand. There was also representation of trichotillomania through one of the main characters. This is the first time that I’ve read this in a YA book. I can’t speak to the accuracy of the representation, but it may be something that many individuals will see for the first time.

Unfortunately, there were a few elements of this story that I don’t think were done successfully namely the pacing. Readers should expect to find themselves spending a major portion of the book simply getting to know the characters. By the time the actually plot development begins for a major reveal, the book is close to ending. This leaves the last third of the book feeling rushed and not fleshed out well. There was an opportunity to do more with the story, but it was ultimately stifled by the length. I can only imagine how much more I would have enjoyed this if it was extended by 100 pages or so. I also think that there was some iffy character development with the teacher who led the circle. While I can’t go into specific details because of spoilers, there was some complicit activity that didn’t sit well with me. I could understand how the decision fits into the overall narrative of the pressures and toxic natures of some boarding schools, but it never completely sat right with me.

Overall, this was an interesting and solid read. I would recommend at least giving it a try if you’re interested in boarding school themes at all. This is my first book by Nazemian and I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of the books in his back list.

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.

The latest YA book from Abdi Nazemian, The Chandler Legacies , is a powerful book about finding your tribe and finding yourself, while coming to terms with some hard truths.

Chandler is an exclusive boarding school in Connecticut. Some students are second-, even third-generation, many raised in worlds of privilege others could only imagine. Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is one of those students, but although she is idolized for her beauty and her acting talent, she wants so much more than people expect of her.

Beth is a “townie”—she lives in the town where Chandler is located. She had a horrible first year of school with her roommate, and she hopes this year will give her a fresh start. And Beth’s old roommate, Sarah, would also like to put the memories of that year behind her, for very different reasons.

Ramin left Iran because of the dangers of being gay. Yet he has no idea that a New England boarding school is in some ways no less oppressive a place for a young man who is different. And Freddy, who is training to be an Olympic pole vaulter, is finally having his eyes opened to the hazing culture that exists for anyone who appears weak.

The five students come together in the Circle, an exclusive writing group where they learn to express themselves and their fears through writing. At the same time, as their friendships grow, they are challenged by some hard truths about their school and the secrets it hides, secrets which have proved damaging to many.

I’m a huge fan of Nazemian’s writing, and The Chandler Legacies was based on his own experiences at boarding school. It’s an amazing story about finding friends who become your family, those who give you the chance to be seen and finally see yourself the way you deserve to.

The book does deal with sexual assault, homophobia, and hazing, so it might be triggering for some, but it’s not as difficult a book as I expected. It’s just an incredibly moving book, and I can’t wait to see what Nazemian does next!

Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

C/W:bullying, hazing, harassment, homophobia, sexual assault, racism

The Chandler Legacies was an important look at how the culture of prestigious institutions can encourage and/or ignore horrible offenses happening on their campuses. I enjoyed the concepts the story grappled with but was left wanting more from the book in a variety of ways.

There are 5 POV characters in The Chandler Legacies. All five are members of the illusive group The Circle, which is a writing seminar run by Professor Douglas. The main characters each have different backgrounds and bring their own unique experiences to the group. I wish there had been a bit more character development to make the main characters feel more like people and less like the stereotype they represent in the group. The narrative voices all felt the same and I often forgot whose perspective we were supposed to be seeing events from. There's also little characterization of Professor Douglas despite the fact that she's portrayed as a pivotal figure in the main characters' lives.

It was frustrating that the story ended abruptly. Roughly the first two-thirds of The Chandler Legacies focuses on introducing the main characters and exploring their relationships with each other. The main conflict of the story is introduced late, explored at only a surface level, and then resolved in basically one chapter at the very end of the story. After reading intense descriptions of the bullying and hazing happening on campus, it seemed odd that the plot point that was supposed to provide some resolution was skimmed over.

There's also no real development of Chandler as a setting. It's a boarding school set in Connecticut and after the end of the story, I know basically the same amount about it as I did when I picked up the book. If Chandler is playing such an important role in the main characters' growth, the school as a setting deserved some more focus.

I liked the ideas this book grappled with but the execution left me wanting a lot more.

[Nev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the other two books I read from Abdi Nazemian (Like a Love Story & Only This Beautiful Moment) so I was really excited to pick up The Chandler Legacies. But it ended up not really living up to my expectations. There was still a lot that I appreciated about the book, but some aspects felt pretty underdeveloped.

The Chandler Legacies follows 5 teens at a boarding school in 1999. They are all chosen to be part of a prestigious writing group on campus. Through spending time together they become close friends, begin romantic relationships, and share secrets about harmful things happening on campus. I did enjoy seeing the 5 of them grow closer and learn more about one another. The found family aspect of the story spoke to me. The characters were all bringing something interesting to the table in terms of their backgrounds. But because there were 5 POV characters in a 330 page story, sometimes they ended up feeling a bit underdeveloped.

Also, the plot about them using their writing to discuss harmful acts that are happening on campus comes in way too late in the book. I just wish that more page time was dedicated to this part of the plot. Because it felt so rushed in the end. I would’ve preferred to see more time with the characters dealing with the impact of the assaults and also the outcome of the actions they choose to take at the end of the book.

I appreciate what Abdi Nazemian was going for. His author’s note about his own experiences at a boarding school and what led him to write the book was very impactful. I just wish that the pacing of the story was better. I feel like if certain aspects of the plot were introduced earlier on, and maybe if there were fewer POV characters then I could’ve LOVED this book like I have with the others I’ve read from him.

[Athena of Velaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nonfiction is about telling the truth. Fiction is about telling your truth. Fiction is a mystery that only the author can solve. You.".

This book is what the Breakfast Club could have been. It takes high school stereotypes and gives them flesh, blood, and character. It is raw and real, and so very painful to read. It is, essentially, the story that should be told to every high schooler because in many ways, it is the story of every high schooler. While every experience is different, and thankfully, not everyone endures what happens to these characters, every person can find themselves reflected in at least one perspective. And is that not the point of literature? To see ourselves reflected back at us, and to step into the experiences of others?

"There is no right or wrong way to be creative. Creativity is the only true purpose we have. It's our power, and we have a duty to use that power responsibly."

Told through five different perspectives, The Chandler Legacies follows members of a prestigious high school writing group as they confront the horrors of wealthy academia and the centuries of trauma that hide behind ivy-covered walls. With an autobiographical element, each perspective was handled with care, even as the individuality of every character shown through. The writing was wonderful, and the dialogue flowed naturally and realistically. It read like walking around a high school campus and listening to the conversations taking place.

Now for the characters of the book:

"My legacy isn't about living up to my past by trying to be perfect. It's about the future I'll help create by being myself. We make our own legacy."

Spence is the princess. Rich, pretty, talented, and popular, she is the girl who would be easy to despise. And yet she is trapped by the perfection everyone places on her, isolated by the very pedestal people envy her for. She is talented, but she is also complicated, and will not stand by when her friends are hurting for the sake of her future. I loved her development as she opened her eyes to the world around her, and was so very glad that she wasn't villainized for being feminine. Hers especially is a story of women supporting women, which was so comforting to see.

"Think of all those young girls who dream of coming to this school. We can stop them from going through what you went through."

Brunson is the caregiver. Having raised her little sister because of her mom's chronic illness, Brunson packs her days so full of activities that she doesn't have time to think. At the start of the story, her identity is defined only by what she gives to others. Writing and being part of a group that doesn't expect her to save them allows her the resources to value herself. As the story progresses, darker truths come to light. Yet even in the face of trauma, Brunson is always more than a victim. She is a person first, and what has been done to her never defines her. Such a narrative is essential, especially in a world that loves to make women victims and nothing more. Brunson writes the narrative with the help of her friends, and her story was brighter than a single moment of darkness.

"Are you two different people?"
"I was for a long time. But not anymore. Not I'm just Beth Kramer, of the Connecticut Kramers."

Beth is the invisible girl. Dealing with chronic social anxiety and compulsive habits, she is used to fading into the background. But the Circle challenges her to be more, and watching her accept her own potential was awe-inspiring. When Beth explores her sexuality and opens up, her world expands. She becomes a rallying point for all those who are left in the background, but who have the strength to stand in the spotlight (Spence would approve of my analogy).

"You know, the hardest part of pole vaulting isn't physical it's mental. It's learning how to forget about a**holes and pressure and fear and be in the moment."
"And how do you do that?" she asks.
"You meet people who make you feel good about yourself."

Freddy is the varsity athlete. Measure only by his physical ability, joining the Circle gives him a place to be more than a medal. He confronts feelings of inferiority and the constant pressure to succeed, while also exploring a new side of himself that allows vulnerability. He doesn't excuse bad behavior from other athletes, and never turns a blind eye, even when it would be easier for him.

"Anything we write is a reflection of who we are."

Ramin is the outcast. Perhaps the most complicated character in the novel, he flees his home country for the New England boarding school, only to find that the danger followed him. Dealing with intense hazing and homophobia, Ramin's chapters were heart-wrenching.

"She's filled with love for this place. That's why she wants to change it. Because she loves it."

Again, The Chandler Legacies needs to be in every high school library, and on every teacher's bookshelf. I would expand further (trust me, there's a lot more to say), but it's almost eleven o'clock at night, and I have things to do tomorrow. So excuse the numerous grammatical errors because I don't currently have the energy to proofread and go read this book. You won't regret it.

[zahraa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Hcc Frenzy, Netgalley & the author for this ARC!

+check tw’s!! [a lot of heavy topics]
+release date: february 15th, 2022

I’ve always been a sucker for boarding school books, and this has been on my radar for a while! As the author stated this book is based off of his experiences, this book isn’t a romance, it isn’t a cute comedy, this book is real. it tackles all the issues that come with boarding school, that come with finding yourself, your identity and your passion.

I do wish this book was a bit longer and we had more development in the ending, especially when the “conflict” was being solved.

[drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

o this was very much … not good….

(1) lesbian teacher is complicit in an inappropriate student/teacher relationship and helps the teacher get a new job. the main gay dude (who is iranian) adamantly defends her actions and says that they shouldn’t expose her…. his friends (2 of whom are white) all disagree.

(2) the writing… was just bad………..

(3) literally know jack shit about the setting? it was a fancy boarding school in ct? thats all we got

this book is for fans of primal animals by julia lynn rubin. they both try to accomplish similar things and they both sucked at them.

would i recommend? to a friend - no. to someone i hate - honestly maybe.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars 🌟

I liked this quite a bit. It has been a few years since I read it so don't remember much honestly.

Reviewed on 11th April, 2025.

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite

[janeee :D · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was so special and heartbreaking 😕😕

[Jay G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

Five students from differing backgrounds attend Chandler, an elite private school. They are selected to participate in a writing group called The Circle where its said the members become like a family. As secrets are revealed, the five must decide how to shed light on them and foster change at their school.

I think the best part of this book was the found family aspect. I love how close these 5 grew to one another, and how they each supported one another through their varying problems. I liked all of the characters for the most part, and liked how they were all so different from one another. I think they were all well-developed and had their own distinct voices and unique personalities. The biggest complaint I have is definitely the romance, I wish it was left out and we had just gotten the platonic relationships instead. I enjoyed how the book tackled some heavier topics and didn't shy away from the nitty gritty of those topics. I do think it took a bit long to get to the main "reveal" and wish we had gotten to it sooner so it could have been explored more thoroughly. I also felt the chapters were very long, which definitely brought me out of the story at times as they felt like they were never ending.

[Jack Nix · Rating 2 out of 5]

All you need to know about this book is that they do Angels in America (which is famously over 7 hours long) as their high school play.

[Amelia Oswald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this book. Abdi Nazemian did it again with these diverse characters. Everyone has their own trauma and they both draw into each other life through writing and that is a beautiful thing.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 reads: 5/300

2025 tbr: 4/111

content warnings: bullying, homophobia, sexual assault, racism, mental illness, parent in remission from cancer

this book follows five teens as they go through a year of boarding school. there’s beth, the “townie” who’s coming back after a not-so-good experience with her roommate last year, sarah brunson, whose side of the story seems to be a bit different. spence is the daughter of NYC elites, who wants to use this privilege to make a difference. ramin is a new student who’s escaping the dangers of being gay in iran, only to realize that things aren’t perfect here, either. freddy is a star athlete who’s learning he needs to stand up to his friends. these five are brought together through the circle, a coveted writing group in which they quickly get to know one another. as they learn about the dark secrets around chandler, they work toward changing this cycle of abuse.

i’ve read and enjoyed two of abdi nazemian’s other books, and i tend to enjoy books with academic settings, so i was very excited to dive into this book! i loved how these five were so different, but their love of writing connected them. there were also so many heavier topics explored here, such as those mentioned in the content warnings, and though this wasn’t a very long book, i think each topic was explored well enough and handled with care. i appreciated how the nuance between the horrors of boarding school and the joys of boarding school was depicted.

i would recommend this book to any contemporary YA reader. i look forward to reading more from abdi nazemian!

[Tammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars

It's been a while since I've picked up a YA contemporary novel as I feel like I've really outgrown them, but I was interested in this one because the premise sounds a lot like my own experiences with boarding school, and one of the main characters has trichotillomania, so I wanted to see how the rep was done. Honestly, I was really pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, and how emotional of a read it was for me.

I know that the author has said that this story is heavily influenced by his own experiences, and I think that comes through in the emotions and lessons conveyed in this book. I also personally really related to a lot of what happened here, both in terms of the environment of the school, the characters' personal struggles, as well as the aftermath and having to come to terms with the part I'd played in perpetuating the toxic and harmful culture of these types of elite academic institutions.

One thing I really loved about this book is that while the themes of privilege, abuse, and complicity are all very heavy and the severity of these things is never downplayed, the overall tone of this book is still very hopeful and empowering. A lot of the lessons that this book teaches, especially in terms of how complicity makes us all part of the problem, are all things that I already know now as an adult, but I think would be absolutely invaluable to a teenager (which is, of course, the actual target demographic of this book). This book ultimately tells the story of a group of teenagers who had been failed by pretty much all the adults in their lives who were supposed to be taking care of them, thought they were completely powerless, but found strength and courage in each other.

My main criticism of this book is that I felt like it was too short and all of the various plotlines that were carefully set up came to a resolution way too quickly for my personal liking. I really wish this book was ~100 pages longer and took more time and care with these storylines, especially since they touch on such serious issues (especially the storylines that touched on sexual assault and institutional cover-ups). I also felt like while the trich rep was mostly well-done, it was sometimes presented in a way where it almost seemed like a symptom of Beth's anxiety, rather than a disorder in and of itself. I do think it's important to differentiate that trich is a compulsive disorder, and while people with trich (like myself) can also have anxiety issues that trigger/aggravate it, it is a separate thing entirely. That being said, I am definitely nitpicking here and I think the rep in general is so important - I can't explain enough how much I wish I had seen this represented in a book as a teenager, and think it's fantastic that Nazemian has included it here.

Overall, I think if you are a fan of YA contemporaries and/or books that take place in boarding schools, you will really enjoy this one. It also at times feels like a love letter to the art of writing, so if you're a writer, you might also really love those parts of the book as well.

[Vritti ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’re right,” she says.
“We make our own legacy.”

For some reason, I thought this book was a thriller, clear not so moving on. At chandler academy, there is an exclusive writing group called ‘Circle’. Every year Professor Douglas selects some students to be part of the writing program, this year the lucky ones are Beth a townie, Spence a popular theatre kid, Ramin an immigrant from Iran, Freddy star athlete and Sarah Brunson or Brunson as everyone calls her. Even though I feel she is the star of the book her whole description for her(even in the synopsis) is that she is Beth’s ex-roommate. When we read from Beth’s pov we just see that Brunson is a bad person clearly because of misunderstanding and even when we start reading her pov we don’t get much from her character besides she is an overachiever and has some secret which when revealed starts the growth for a character which wasn’t till the 2nd half of the book started. In one sentence, We went from disliking her to sympathising for her.

"Nonfiction is about telling the truth. Fiction is about telling your truth. Fiction is a mystery only its author can solve. You."

In the circle, they just don’t learn about writing but also about trusting and sharing their stories with each other. In this process, they build friendships, and love and uncover secrets school has been trying to hide for years. Lastly how to use their voice and write your story which has been one of the important themes of the book.
I really love the fact of how diverse the group is and how they together learn to navigate high school. It's a really good YA book and I would definitely recommend this book but I feel it would be cool if we could get pov from the first person and in the epilogue, they come together & just talk and maybe if we could see there some writing stuff. Also, I feel the book could be longer as I mentioned earlier how the main story doesn’t start till the end of the book.

[Sarcastic Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5

[ współpraca reklamowa ]

Kiedy sięgałam po "Dziedzictwo Chandlera" miałam spore oczekiwania, z czego może wynikać mój mały zawód. Słyszałam zewsząd jaka ta pozycja jest wspaniała i na coś takiego się nastawiałam, a dostałam trochę takiego średniaka. Sama jednak w sobie historia była ciekawa oraz wciągająca. Muszę też przyznać, że negatywnie na mój odbiór mogło wpłynąć to, że postanowiłam zabrać się za nią w audio. Czemu? Bo sięgając po tę pozycję musicie się nastawić na parę różnych perspektyw, przez gdy jej słuchacie to bohaterowie mogą zacząć wam się mieszać.

Ale przejdźmy jednak do pozytywów, bo tak jak wspomniałam historia była dobra. Mamy tutaj parę osób, które dostają się na zamknięte zajęcia z kreatywnego pisania. Każdy z uczniów pochodzi z zupełnie innego świata, ale jednak z czasem wszelkie bariery tym wywołane znikają, bo im lepiej się poznają, tym lepiej zaczynają się dogadywać. Jednak nie to jest najważniejsze! Ponieważ wielkim plusem tej książki jest fakt, że z czasem zaczynają oni mówić więcej o swoich problemach oraz o problemach, które panują w szkole. Ze względu jednak na to polecam przed sięgnięciem po tę książkę zapoznać się z ostrzeżeniami!

[cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

this was fine but the ending felt a bit rushed. it's a good example of how pop culture references can age a book in a negative way (there's a line about partying with p*ff d*ddy). i'm usually a defender of pop culture references but some of them end up aging like milk

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Being part of the Circle was a sought after honor at Chandler Academy. A place to hone their writing skills, it became a safe space where they found friendship, love, and their truth.

Two things drew me to this book: the author and the setting.

I know I am not alone in my penchant for boarding school books. I find the whole concept of living away from home before college so intriguing. But, alas, I am a middle class girl from Brooklyn, and it was public school for me. At least I could delight in that world via books, such as The Chandler Legacies. Nazemian made this school its own character, and he did a wonderful job pulling me into this world. He exposed the good, the bad, and the ugly side of it all while the main characters struggled with their place in it.

Each member of the Circle was unique, bringing something important to the story. I enjoyed watching these people, who came from very different circumstances, bonding and learning from each other. The friendship was probably the star of this story for me, but I also loved each character’s individual journey.

Nazemian tackled multiple “tough topics” in this book in a thoughtful and organic way. A focus on friendship and a touch of romance kept the story from becoming too heavy while still allowing those issues to have impact. I am still smiling just thinking about the ending. I was given a peek at the future of each Circle member, and I was quite happy for them. There was one thing I had wished for, but overall, Nazemian gave them fantastic lives.

Overall: A moving story of friendship, being your true self, and standing up for what’s right.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Daryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to Harper Collins Canada for gifting me this ARC!

this is the second book i've read from abdi nazemian and i absolutely love his writing. i loved this book even more than like a love story mostly because of the characters. i cared for our main cast of characters so much and even though they were all flawed, they all had such good development throughout the novel. i thought nazemian handled the topic of sexual assault very well and loved the discussions on the abuse of power and how one's privilege affects us. i love books set at boarding schools and this is probably one of the best ones i've read. this book just makes me even more excited to read anything nazemian writes.

tw: sexual assault, homophobia