🎒 Back-to-School Fiction Guide: From Dark Academia to Swoony Rom-Coms

It's getting to be that time of year. Whether you're hitting the books or just missing that crisp, scholastic vibe, fall is the perfect time to dive into fiction that captures the energy of a new school year. From dark academia to lighthearted campus crushes, here are some top picks to add to your TBR this season.

✨ Spotlight: Jillian Dodd’s School Series

Founding author Jillian Dodd has mastered the art of swoony school settings. If you’re in the mood for private academies, romantic drama, and addictive binge-reading, don’t miss these: 

📖 Eastbrooke Academy Series

Welcome to a luxurious boarding school where secrets, fashion, and first loves collide. Follow Aubrey as she navigates friendships, identity, and a whirlwind of emotions in this glamorous and drama-filled series. Book 4 "First Loves Are Hard To Forget" releases August 13, 2025

📚 London Prep Series

An American girl’s life gets turned upside down when she transfers to a London boarding school—and finds herself caught between charming boys, high society, and major life changes. Sweet, swoony, and filled with British vibes.

🏫 Dark Academia & Academic Mystery

Moody campuses. Intense friendships. Secrets that don't stay buried.

• The Secret History by Donna Tartt
  Elite students, classical studies, and one unforgettable murder.

• If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
  Shakespeare, tragedy, and a conservatory full of secrets.

• Bunny by Mona Awad
  Surreal and sinister—MFA life has never looked so weird.

• In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
  A college reunion reopens old wounds... and a murder case.

🍁 Coming-of-Age & Contemporary

Heartfelt and emotionally sharp, these stories explore identity, family, and finding your place.

• Normal People by Sally Rooney
  An on-again, off-again love story that grows from high school through university.

• Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
  Class, insecurity, and growing pains at an elite boarding school.

• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
  A family mystery centered around academic pressure and identity.

• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
  A shy fanfiction writer finds her footing during freshman year.

• Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
  A creator in hiding, grappling with mental health and internet fame.

🧙‍♂️ Magical School Vibes

Classrooms meet the arcane in these smart, spellbinding reads.

• A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
  A brutal school for magic where graduation is a matter of survival.

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
  Secret societies at Yale—and the dark magic they wield.

• Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
  A PI investigates a magical high school murder—without powers of her own.

• The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  Talented magicians. A secret society. And a deadly selection process.

💀 High School Thrillers

For readers who like their school stories with a side of suspense.

• One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
  Five students. One dead. Everyone’s a suspect.

• The Girls Are All So Nice Here by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
  A reunion reveals the truth behind a college friendship gone very wrong.

• They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman
  Privilege, tradition, and murder at an elite prep school.

💕 Lighthearted Rom-Coms Set in School

Love notes, awkward first crushes, and academic meet-cutes await.

📚 High School

• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
  Fake dating turns very real.

• Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
  A romcom fangirl and her annoying neighbor—pure enemies-to-lovers fun.

• Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
  Academic rivals spend one chaotic, romantic night together.

• Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
  A lost journal leads to secrets, growth, and unexpected love.

• Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
  Twitter feuds and grilled cheese turn into online romance.

🎓 College & Beyond

• The Love Wager by Lynn Painter
  Dating apps and hilarious misfires in this new adult romcom.

• The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
  Friends-to-lovers with fake dating and football star charm.

• The Deal by Elle Kennedy (steamy)
  A sports star and brainy tutor make a risky deal—and fall hard.

• Shipped by Angie Hockman (workplace/college-age blend)
  Office rivals, tropical setting, romance on deck.

• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (lighthearted & sexy)
  A woman hires an escort to help her navigate romance—what could go wrong?

💗 Bonus Boarding School & Study Abroad

• Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
  Italy, family secrets, and summer love.

• Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
  Boarding school in Paris + British boy = romantic magic.

• Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen
  Academic pressure, rebellion, and romance in Taipei.

✏️ Ready to Hit the Books (Or Not)?

Whether you're into broody campus mysteries or sweet academic crushes, these back-to-school reads will take you from syllabus to swoon in no time.

Looking for more? Check out our curated collections on BingeBooks.