The Secret History
Donna Tartt
The Secret History by Donna Tartt is one of the books I’m jealous of other people for getting to read for the first time. In the opening sentence, you learn that a boy has been murdered, and the narrator, Richard, has helped murder him — the mystery, of course, is why. We go back in time, following Richard as he transfers to an elite New England college and becomes fascinated with a tight-knit, charismatic group of friends. The first time I read this book, I was completely carried away by the plot. The second (and third and fourth) times, I’ve been able to appreciate its exploration of beauty, morality, and the allure of belonging.
If We Were Villains
M.L. Rio
Shakespeare-obsessed acting students, one dead body, everyone a suspect. Dark academia catnip — if you liked The Secret History, start here.
Trust Exercise
Susan Choi
Teenagers at a performing arts school — and then a twist that makes you rethink everything you just read. Slippery and brilliant.
The Truants
Kate Weinberg
A group of students falls under the spell of a charismatic Agatha Christie scholar, and things unravel. Smart, moody campus novel.
The Art of Fielding
Chad Harbach
College baseball, a fielding slump that spirals, and a handful of lives colliding at a small Wisconsin school. Warmer and more addictive than 'baseball novel' sounds.