The Academy

the new page-turning novel from the author of The Perfect Couple

Elin Hilderbrand author Shelby Cunningham author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Quercus Publishing

Published:16th Sep '25

Should be back in stock very soon

The Academy cover

'Discovering the secret world of American boarding schools for both teaching staff and pupils was endlessly entertaining. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the sequel!' JILL MANSELL

NOW A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Secrets, rumours, and dangerous liaisons - at an elite New England boarding school, they come with the territory.


It's move-in day at Tiffin Academy and amidst the happy chaos of friends reuniting, selfies uploading, and cars unloading, shocking news arrives: America Today just ranked Tiffin the number two boarding school in the country. It's a seventeen-spot jump - was there a typo? The dorms are dingy, the sports teams always come last and Tiffin students are known for being more social than academic. But the campus is exquisite, class sizes are small, and the dining hall is run by a New York chef. And they do have lots of fun . . .

But as the rarefied air of Tiffin is suffused with self-congratulation, scandalous bulletins begin to appear on phones across campus, thanks to a new app called Zip Zap, and nobody is safe. From Davi Banerjee, queen bee and international influencer, to Simone Bergeron, the young new history teacher; to Charley Hicks, a transfer student who seems determined not to fit in, it seems everyone has something to hide.

As the year unfolds, bonds are forged and broken, secrets are shared and exposed, and the lives of Tiffin's students and staff are changed forever.

Elin Hilderbrand, bestselling author of The Perfect Couple, teams up with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, to deliver a fresh and buzzy look behind ivy-covered walls.

'The perfect back-to-school read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review
'Pure nostalgia' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review
'Prep meets Dead Poets' Society' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review

The Academy has all of Hilderbrand's breezy storytelling, roving points of view, and effortless characterization that her readers love. It adds up to a panoramic view of nine months in the life of a New England prep school, on which her co-author, daughter Cunningham, offers personal expertise. Addictive, dishy fun, with enough loose ends to suggest a sequel might be in the works. . . Hilderbrand's first post-Nantucket novel, written with her daughter, will draw in her legions of readers * Booklist *
The authors employ catchy narrative devices, such as the gossipy collective voice of a clique of Tiffin girls and SAT-word-riddled posts from Davi, and they give the main characters plenty of depth. Readers are in for a treat * Publishers Weekly *
Delicious. . . A boarding-school fantasia, with Hilderbrand's signature upgrades to the cuisine and decor. Sign us up for next term * Kirkus *
A juicy mix of scandal and coming-of-age moments. Fans of Hilderbrand's signature ensemble dramas and readers who enjoy stories about secrets in privileged worlds will likely appreciate this buzzy take on boarding-school life * Library Journal *
Praise for Elin Hilderbrand: I just LOVE her books, they are such compulsive reads * Marian Keyes *
Deliciously escapist * People *
Discovering the secret world of American boarding schools for both teaching staff and pupils was endlessly entertaining. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the sequel! * Jill Mansell *

ISBN: 9781529445237

Dimensions: 230mm x 152mm x 34mm

Weight: 520g

432 pages